Chapter 273
Chapter 273
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 273
Chapter Title: The Paladin Doesn't Believe in God (3)
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Right after Kariot headed to the smithy, Lania rested her chin on her hand and toyed with the Holy Grail on the table. The previous two challengers had failed to become transcendents.
"Honestly, I thought Lord Nadion had a real shot."
Though he was an old man with snow-white hair from age, Nadion had always set his sights high. In Lania's eyes, he was more than qualified to become a transcendent.
He stared at the wall. He felt his own weakness down to his bones.
He bowed his head in frustration but never gave up. He lifted his head once more and gazed upward. He yearned to reach what was out of reach.
That was the essence of a transcendent—or so it seemed—and Nadion's mindset. Lania felt a pang of bitterness that even he couldn't overcome the wall.
The reason Nadion couldn't surpass it was just too cruel.
"If only I were a bit younger, I could have broken through. What a shame. Time is merciless."
Senescence.
Nadion's soul yearned to be strong, but his flesh could no longer keep up. His body, swept away by the flow of time, had already crumbled.
"...Time has passed too much."
Even heroes from history grow old and decay.
Born human, no one can escape time's flow, and eventually, everyone ages and dies. As Lania mulled over the world's natural order, she suddenly let out a chuckle.
"Neither you nor I will have to worry about dying of old age."
Was it the price for meddling with means to escape that order?
Lania's words drew a wry smile from Galahal.
"You're right about that."
The time granted to them both wasn't long.
They lived worlds apart from ordinary lives. Naturally, a mundane end like dying of old age was out of the question.
"By the way, Lania."
Galahal changed the subject.
"Who is this Kariot fellow?"
"Hm?"
"You said his epithet is 'Immortal,' right? I've never met him myself."
"Hmm."
Lania rubbed her chin.
What kind of person was Kariot? It wasn't an easy question to answer. He was someone who couldn't be summed up in a single sentence.
"What Kariot's like, huh? Honestly, not an easy question."
"You call him 'Uncle,' so he must be someone you like?"
"Huh? Why do you say that?"
Lania tilted her head, but Galahal narrowed his eyes in response.
"You curse at people you don't like, no matter the age gap."
"Gotta treat 'em like people first."
Lania brushed off Galahal's remark and rubbed her chin again.
The Immortal Kariot, or perhaps the Blasphemous Kariot.
The first time she met him was when she received word that the Delorhim Church's reinforcements were delayed, and she headed to their grounds. There, Lania saw it.
"Step aside, Kariot."
"Not even in death. Your Eminence, I can't yield on this."
Kariot standing alone against the church's forces.
And the Delorhim Church soldiers facing off against him.
"I'd rather knock you punks out here than send you to the battlefield. Easier on my conscience."
...The Delorhim Church had many orphans.
Abandoned by parents, they were taken in and raised as church soldiers. The kids facing Kariot were just like that.
But even accounting for that, they were far too young.
As Raniel—who hadn't known the reinforcements were assembled in such a sorry state—frowned, Kariot spread his arms wide and shouted.
"I won't kill you. Just make it so you can't walk for a month or so. Uncle here's merciful like that."
Recalling the words Kariot spat at the cardinal afterward, Lania answered Galahal's question.
"...Someone who doesn't believe in God?"
There was no conviction in Lania's words.
Galahal blinked in surprise.
"Doesn't believe in God... you say?"
"Yeah."
"But he's a paladin, isn't he?"
"He is."
"And he doesn't believe in God?"
"Hmm. It's complicated to explain."
Lania wore a subtle expression.
"He doesn't believe in God, but he thinks God's existence is necessary. Something about people needing an object of faith..."
"That's a tough one."
"Honestly, I don't fully get it myself. Just the nuance."
Lania shrugged.
"If you're that curious, why not go meet him?"
She pointed toward the smithy.
"You'll get it right away once you do. What kind of person Uncle Kariot is."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 2.
What is God's will?
And where is it to be found?
Sara blinked at the question. It wasn't confusion or surprise at something obvious. She blinked because the man before her, asking about the obvious, was utterly ridiculous.
"You asking 'cause you don't know?"
"I wasn't taught. Can't the smart Saintess lady teach this old uncle?"
Kariot grinned sheepishly.
Sara opened her mouth with a reluctant expression.
"Save the people. Head where the light points. Salvation is Delorhim's desire. It's the most basic verse."
"Does the Saintess see God's will in that?"
"Of course. The perfect Delorhim desires humanity's salvation... so isn't that our ultimate goal?"
As the church's face, Sara had plenty of experience standing before crowds. Stringing together plausible words to explain vague concepts was her specialty.
"Humanity's salvation. That's God's will."
Sara shrugged.
But it wasn't an answer for Kariot.
"Delorhim desires salvation... Then why doesn't the omnipotent Star save humanity?"
Kariot was part of the church too.
Having been with it far longer than Sara, he pressed her further.
"Salvation doesn't come despite the world being like this. Delorhim remains silent. Doesn't lift a finger for dying children."
Kariot said flatly.
"Can't God intervene in this world? That might've been a decent answer centuries ago. But not now. Something godlike is already poisoning this world."
The Demon King.
"Even with that, God stays silent. Who knows how long. Maybe the world has to end before He speaks."
"God sends heroes and saints..."
"A history repeated for centuries. Forcing fate on kids—it's downright cruel."
A nasty hobby.
Kariot muttered, frowning. At his reaction, Sara narrowed her eyes.
"Sounds like atheist talk. Kariot, are you an atheist?"
"Not an atheist. No matter what anyone says, I'm a paladin who borrows God's power. I don't deny His existence."
"Really?"
Sara shot back irritably.
"Then why do you spout words doubting God's existence?"
"Not doubting God's existence."
Kariot tapped his forehead.
"Doubting His perfection."
"...What?"
"God isn't perfect. Delorhim doesn't always provide answers. And He sure doesn't hand down lofty intents."
He reached out the window.
His fingertips pointed to the sky. Beyond it, the radiant star watching this place.
"God's will isn't anywhere, Saintess."
If it really existed.
Kariot pointed to his head.
"It'd be here."
"...What does that mean?"
"If you believe in God and act on what you think is right, then God's will dwells there."
"Heretics would love that logic."
"Haha. Fair point."
Kariot smiled wryly.
"But didn't I say, Saintess?"
"Say what?"
"God's will isn't always right. Countless people pursue it in their own ways. But not all are correct. The heretics you mention are those claiming wrong paths are right."
Some walk wrong paths, proclaiming it God's will. Kariot had seen them. Buried many with his own hands. Too many.
"More shout God's will on wrong paths than not. The church right now is a prime example."
"...No wonder you're branded a heretic. It's nonsense I hate hearing."
She was getting fed up.
Sara ruffled her hair and glared at Kariot. In her emerald eyes, his well-trained body looked impressive even to her. And it bore divine power.
The divine power dwelling in fainted believers.
The mysterious force that grew with faith.
His was greater than any paladin in the church. Comparable to the Pope's. That fact irritated her more.
"Then what is the God's will you believe in?"
Sara snapped irritably.
Kariot answered without hesitation.
"A God who reaches out to children."
A God extending hands to crying children, orphans, broken children.
"If I hold God's will, that would be it."
He muttered, then pointed at Sara.
"To me, you look young too, Saintess."
"Do you know how old I am?"
"Twenty?"
"Twenty-five."
"Still a kid then."
Kariot chuckled, hoisted his spear, and started walking again.
"Anyone younger than me is a kid."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 3.
On the outskirts of Cateron Castle stood a smithy.
Small in size, but the forging equipment inside rivaled any grand workshop in the capital.
"I think I heard someone once called a master smith moved all their gear here."
I never had business at a smithy myself, and Kyle's holy sword never needed maintenance anyway...
"Isn't the smith here Lord Stos? We owe him a lot."
I remembered Kalt favored this place.
The sword Kalt used now was made by this smith at Uncle Kuntel's request, or so I heard.
"I've only heard rumors myself, never met him. My weapons don't break..."
"Heroes' weapons are ridiculous."
I glanced at the holy spear on Galahal's back. Even for a long spear, the shaft was excessively long. A normal one made like that would snap after a few swings.
"That crazy long spear doesn't break?"
"Haha. It bends."
"That's what makes it annoying. You don't jump off the recoil and stuff?"
"Exactly. Spears can do more than you'd think."
As we bantered idly, we arrived at the smithy. The heat wafting out made me frown slightly.
Clang, clang!
The sound of hammer on metal echoed from the open door. Following it, we stepped inside.
Clang!
Beyond the sweltering heat, someone shirtless hammered away at metal. Was that the smith Stos? I thought so briefly, but it seemed unlikely.
His back was covered in scars.
Bite marks, sword slashes, burn scars like from branding irons.
The man etched with every scar imaginable turned to look at us.
"Oh, what're you guys doing here."
It was Kariot.
He set down the blade he'd been working on and waved at us.
"The lady from before. And the Holy Spear Hero too. What's up?"
"I've heard so much about you, but this is our first meeting. Thought we could chat."
Galahal approached with a sheepish smile.
Kariot blinked, then burst out laughing.
"The most hero-like hero shows interest. What an honor."
He set down the blade and hammer, stood, and offered his hand to Galahal.
"Looks like you've got a lot of questions for me."
"Yes, a few..."
"But I can't just tell you for free."
Kariot pointed outside the smithy.
"How about a spar?"
"Pardon?"
"Wanna see the Holy Spear Hero's skills. Hobby of mine, picking fights with you young ones."
Galahal, flustered, looked back at me.
I shrugged and mouthed,
'You get the idea?'
He'd reacted the same when we first met, and when he met Kyle.
'No, I don't...'
Galahal mouthed back. I smiled.
'You'll find out soon enough.'
The Immortal Kariot.
A paladin who'd lived thirty years in the Demonic Realm.
One bout, and he'd know even if he didn't want to.
What kind of person this man was.
How he lived.
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