Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: Ruby
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Should We Really Crumble Like This?
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I'll become a strong holy knight and come find you, mister!
Diaz recalled the words she had spoken.
Her pupils shook greatly.
It was the biggest agitation she had shown since I met her.
The her I had seen these past few days had only been wandering around with half-dead eyes.
"This can't be......"
But after hearing my words, Diaz's eyes changed.
As if someone who had lost their life's goal had found another purpose.
'Uh......the reaction is bigger than I expected?'
Of course, my words right now weren't complete lies.
In the demo version playthrough, I had saved her several times.
There were endings where she died if you couldn't save her in time, but I had strangely cleared only Diaz's rescue quest perfectly.
The biggest reason was that even though it was a game, I didn't want to see the kid die.
Naturally, the memories from that time remained clearly in my head.
Still, her reaction was stronger than I had expected.
'Well, according to the original story, she would have suffered great heartbreak here and turned to being a mercenary.'
Leanoa's death was such a major event that it completely changed the course of Diaz's life.
She probably lost faith in herself as a holy knight and felt disgusted with the profession.
But just before escaping from here, I appeared and brought up that story.
Me, who had been the reason she became a holy knight.
I looked at her and smiled.
For the first time since coming to this world.
"You became a strong holy knight. Really."
It wasn't a false smile.
It was sincere.
I too had been vague about it until recently.
Just how many years ago had that been?
Honestly, even when I was pretending to know her name, my plan was to just do it first and attach a reason later.
But surprisingly, facing her in person brought back the memories.
Strangely, even her childhood face remained in my memory like it was real.
As if it was something I had actually experienced.
That's why I smiled.
Because I was amazed that such a small child had grown up so spiritedly and well.
Because I was proud that she had survived without dying.
Diaz nodded her head.
"Yes. I really struggled to become one. A holy knight......"
She hung her head and continued in a small voice.
"But......I don't know anymore. I felt I was too incompetent. In the end, even after becoming a holy knight, I couldn't protect her."
She must be talking about Leanoa.
Seeing her lose spirit, I asked back.
"Do I look incompetent too?"
"What? No. I've never thought that at all. Sir Rohan even defeated Sir Andrew......"
"Back then. In that village. Most people died. Do I look incompetent for not being able to save them?"
In the demo version, I had tried again and again to save the others as well.
But because it was originally made that way, I only saw the same results in the end.
Other people just ended it there......but I seemed strangely obsessed.
Even though I knew in one corner of my heart that it couldn't possibly work.
In the end, I gave up too.
Because I accepted that what couldn't be done, couldn't be done.
"What can't be done can't be done, and what's past is past. How long do you plan to stay buried in that place?"
"......"
"And. Do you think Leanoa passed her divine power to you so you could grieve like this?"
At my words, Diaz raised her head.
Her eyes were wide.
"H-how do you know that......I didn't even tell the diocese head......"
Oops.
She was keeping it secret.
I hastily glossed over it vaguely.
"Well......there are ways to know."
"That's right. Sir Rohan has looked the same from then until now......it wouldn't be easy for me to understand."
Diaz convinced herself.
Thanks to that, I didn't need to tell unnecessary lies.
"Sir Rohan."
She called me with eyes that had regained some life.
"Do I......still have the qualification? The qualification to hold a sword and face demons?"
Of course you do.
With that unique skill, if you just grow a little more, you'll become a monster who can just slice through most demons in one strike.
What's the point of saying it?
Instead of a long explanation, I simply nodded briefly.
In times like this, being concise was more effective than saying too much.
Having lived company life and read the room for years, I knew how to conduct myself that much.
And seeing my nod, Diaz's face brightened.
"Then, should I trust Sir Rohan......"
Just before her words ended.
I reached out and covered her mouth.
"Shh."
Diaz held her breath and stayed still.
I frowned and focused my hearing.
Then.
Faint vibrations and noise flowed in.
Something......seemed to be marching.
I hurriedly got up and opened the window.
Then I could smell demons approaching.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
At the north gate of Straun Monastery, sudden combat was taking place.
"Damn demons!"
"These bastards! How dare they come to this place!"
"Get back!"
A sudden attack by a horde of ghouls taking advantage of the darkness.
Fortunately, the well-trained holy knights of Straun Monastery didn't get swept away easily and began responding.
Boooooo!
They sounded the horn to wake the monastery.
Realizing it was an actual situation, the holy knights burst out from everywhere, ready for battle.
However......
"Keeeeek!"
"Kuruk!"
"Kyaaaaaaah!"
The ghouls pressed forward without fearing death.
The holy knights who had drawn upon their divine power were fighting well, but blocking the countless horde of ghouls was more difficult than expected.
"They're pushing in!"
"If we're breached, it's over! Hold on!"
"Ahhh! My, my arm is torn......guhk!"
Just when the defensive line began to shake little by little.
"Now, now. Should this Straun really crumble like this?"
A gentle yet magnificent voice was heard.
"Diocese Head!"
"Please step back, Diocese Head! You must preserve yourself!"
"That's right!"
However, Diocese Head Haint shook his head.
"Have you forgotten? All the clergy of this Straun Diocese are......holy knights! I too am still a holy knight."
Diocese Head Haint drew the sword at his side.
Then.
Light like the sun burst forth.
"Grrrrrrr!"
"Kyaaaah!"
"Kruk! Kruk!"
Intense light that swallowed all the surrounding darkness.
The ghouls screamed like beasts at it.
However, they seemed to have trouble approaching, showing hesitant movements.
Right behind Diocese Head Haint, Monted appeared.
Along with Andrew, a member of the Seven Knights Order.
"I was just about to go to sleep. These persistent bastards. Sigh......"
He slung a new sword over his shoulder, rubbed his eyes, and sighed deeply.
And the next moment.
Whoosh.
Just as he seemed to disappear, wasn't he swinging his sword in the middle of the ghoul horde!
His slashing attacks were different from ordinary swordsmen.
Every time he swung, an acrid burnt smell arose.
Bang! Babang!
Every time he struck, explosions burst out.
This was Andrew's unique skill, Flame Slash.
"Ooh! The Knight of Flames!"
"Hahaha! Yes, sweep them all away!"
"As expected......even though he seems useless normally, his swordsmanship is outstanding."
With Andrew's fierce fighting, the holy knights also coordinated and broke through.
As the situation reversed, some of the holy knights threw jokes.
"I'm remembering everyone who badmouths me!"
Andrew retorted with a raised corner of his mouth.
Having lived together under Monted since childhood, such seamless coordination was possible.
Watching them, Monted barked out.
"We're still in combat! Don't lose focus!"
"Yes!"
"We know!"
The Straun holy knights rallied instantly.
Their forces began pushing back the ghoul legion.
However, as always.
Not everything went as planned.
At someone's cry, the situation began to change rapidly.
"Hel, Hellfire Buster! It's a Hellfire Buster!"
Mid-level demon, Hellfire Buster.
Its massive 5-meter body was revealed in the moonlight between the trees.
These creatures that crawled slowly on six legs like insects were demons that shot hellfire masses from their mouths.
Fwoooosh......!
"It's, it's coming! Dodge!"
"Damn it!"
"Uaaaaaaah!"
The hellfire shot in a parabolic arc struck the holy knight formation.
Whoooosh!
The flames of hell burned everything around, sending up terrible smoke.
"Uhhh! Uaaaahhh!"
"Keeeeek!"
"Kruk!"
The hellfire burned everything without distinguishing friend from foe, whether ghoul or holy knight.
It never went out until movement stopped.
However, the ghouls weren't afraid of it.
That was the problem.
Eventually, the pressing ghoul horde and hellfire collapsed the holy knight defensive line.
"Kyaaaaahk!"
"Grrrrrr!"
The ghouls' advance began again.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Once a gap was breached, it began to relentlessly expand its range.
Diocese Head Haint's brow furrowed.
'At this rate, we'll all die.'
He who usually only wore a smiling expression showed a surprisingly scary face when he frowned.
This was exactly his appearance from his past days as an inquisitor.
That expression, which had retreated from the front lines for many years and was thought to have disappeared, was slowly creeping back up.
The current front line was in an extremely dangerous state.
The holy knights swept up in the hellfire were annihilated without even leaving bones.
Even those who had been nearby weren't safe.
Anyone touched by even a small spark writhed in agony and rolled on the ground.
"Aaaahhh!"
"Sa, save me......no, kill me......"
"Stop talking nonsense! Get a grip!"
The battlefield was truly pandemonium.
Diocese Head Haint was sick of his own incompetence.
Of course, his swordsmanship was still shining even at this moment.
Despite his age.
He was cutting down ghouls while swinging his great sword wrapped in light.
But that was all he could do.
He had no power to revive those already dead, nor could he save the wounded.
All he could do was protect those still remaining.
"Bring the surviving wounded behind me! We'll rebuild the front line with me as the vanguard! Start first aid from behind me!"
"Yes, yes!"
"A-alright!"
The holy knights began moving in unison.
But they all knew.
That they couldn't hold out like this for long.
They just trusted and followed because it was the diocese head's words.
Meanwhile, Diocese Head Haint's pure white vestments were gradually becoming redder with the dark red blood of ghouls.
Monted came up beside him.
"Diocese Head! I'll help!"
"Yes. Hurry up with these damn ghouls......"
At that moment.
Andrew's urgent cry could be heard from far away.
"Dodge! Dodge! I said dodge!"
Diocese Head Haint stopped mid-sentence.
No, it would be more accurate to say he couldn't continue speaking.
It was the same for Monted.
When they turned their heads at Andrew's voice, the second hellfire that had somehow flown over was already right in front of them.
Monted muttered lowly.
"Ha. Damn......"
Diocese Head Haint too only didn't curse out loud.
But he felt the same way.
There was......no way to block that hellfire mass anymore.
Even if he threw his body away, he wanted to protect the holy knights standing behind him.
But that too was impossible.
He was truly utterly incompetent.
A revolving lantern flashed through his mind.
'Is this......the end......'
Just as he was slowly closing his eyes to accept reality and face death.
Slash!
An incomprehensible sound was heard, and the hellfire split left and right before his eyes.
Diocese Head Haint felt goosebumps rising.
Through the center of the hellfire's flash as it split and exploded left and right, one person's back was visible.
"Ro, Sir Rohan?......"
It was Rohan, a knight of the new Seven Knights Order.