Chapter 8
Chapter 8
Episode 8.
Rutian Theocracy, 2nd-rank Paladin Aaron Burnecker of the Abundance Order.
He was here now to carry out a very special mission.
The anti-Rutian Secret Society, Night Crow, which was operating covertly in the border city.
The objective this time was to capture the head of the Silver Compass Merchant Guild, who had been revealed as a member.
‘This is my chance.’
Normally, such a critical mission would have been assigned to a Paladin of higher rank.
However, thanks to the opportune timing and location, Aaron was able to make this mission his own.
It wouldn't be difficult.
According to the information, Kalian Ladenbach was someone with no combat ability.
‘He was described as a personnel manager, not a combat operative.’
Someone who knew a lot, but was powerless in a fight.
If he could be captured alive, a flood of information was bound to pour out.
What’s more, luck was on his side.
He hadn't brought any Night Crow combat operatives with him.
At most, a few escort soldiers from a regular merchant guild and some mercenary riff-raff wouldn't be enough to stop a Paladin like himself.
…Or so Aaron thought, until the fighting began.
‘Something is wrong.’
In front of the merchant guild's formation, Aaron felt an inexplicable sense of unease.
Of course, he had expected resistance.
But the method of resistance was strangely orderly.
A formation that seemed as if they had been waiting.
Using the wagons as barricades to establish a front line.
Behind them, crossbowmen and archers stood in precise positions.
At the very front of the line were heavily armored infantrymen with spears.
On both flanks, stakes and obstacles were densely placed to prevent any flanking maneuvers.
A formation that looked like it belonged to a regular army.
This was not spontaneous resistance.
Even the Holy Army would have been taken aback.
‘…Did they know we were coming? How?’
But that wasn't all.
‘There’s a commander.’
Invisible.
But palpable.
The troops, who should have scattered in fear, were moving calmly, almost organically.
This phenomenon meant only one thing.
…Someone who understood war and knew how to command a battlefield was leading them.
‘Is there a former military man among the mercenaries or escorts?’
Just then.
Grrrrl—!
A foul nausea surged from deep within his stomach.
An unpleasant sensation, as if something greasy had stuck to his heart.
Aaron quickly lowered his body.
‘I am sorry.’
The Divine Rank he had contracted with, the ‘Bloated King,’ was displeased.
His own training was still insufficient to hear the deity's message directly, but he could feel its wrath on his skin.
‘…I will hurry.’
The deity did not wish for friendly casualties to increase.
He needed to finish this quickly, even if it meant taking some risks.
Otherwise, the deity would demand a price again.
He would have to chew and swallow raw meat until his stomach acid refluxed and his intestines twisted.
Just the thought sent cold sweat down his spine.
Kugugung—!
Aaron unleashed his Divine Power.
Then, without hesitation, he charged into the center of the formation.
The target was the merchant guild leader's carriage.
It was the point where the troops were most concentrated, but it didn't matter.
“G-Get back!”
“A Paladin is coming!”
The escorts instinctively flinched and retreated at Aaron's momentum.
Soon, the escorts dissolved like a disorganized mob.
One contractor of some minor god lingered, dragging things out…
‘As expected.’
After a couple of exchanges, they quickly turned tail and fled.
How could those without faith or conviction stand their ground against a Paladin to the end?
Tactics? Command?
None of that mattered.
The gap between one favored by the gods and one who was not was insurmountable.
Aaron finally managed a smile.
‘It’s over.’
Now, all that remained was to drag Kalian Ladenbach out of the carriage.
Aaron had even brought an antidote, just in case he attempted suicide.
The sweet fruit of mission success was within reach.
With a triumphant expression—
KABOOM—!
He kicked open the carriage door.
.
.
.
At the same time.
Amidst the chaotic battlefield,
Kalian, disguised as a mercenary, let out a sigh of relief.
Beside him stood a handsome young man, still radiant despite being stained with blood and soot.
His identity was not yet certain, but the strategic insight and action he had displayed were astonishing.
“From now on is what’s important.”
His tone was calm but resolute.
A voice that instinctively inspired trust.
“Whether you hide or run, please buy as much time as possible without being discovered.”
Kalian nodded vigorously.
* * *
Resistance stronger than expected.
The Paladin's reckless charge, driven by impatience.
Confusion caused by the disappearance of the merchant guild leader.
Everything proceeded exactly as planned.
‘Now he’ll issue orders.’
Indeed, a booming shout followed.
“The target has disguised himself and infiltrated. Search the battlefield thoroughly!”
“Do not kill indiscriminately! Confirm their identity first!”
It was the natural reaction.
The order given to the Paladin must have been ‘capture Golden Fox alive.’
The superiors wanted information, not corpses.
Therefore, with the merchant guild leader disguised and hidden within the chaotic battlefield, the fight became much more advantageous for their side.
[The Three Deities admire your ingenuity]
What if he killed the merchant guild leader by randomly killing anyone he encountered?
That would be mission failure.
Ultimately, all the low-ranking Paladin could do was frantically search, eyes bloodshot, confirming identities one by one as he hunted them down.
His own allies, who had been instructed to use guerrilla tactics and were scattering in all directions.
‘You damn cultist, run around and tire yourself out.’
The point of this tactic was to force him into the most inefficient combat possible and wear him down.
Of course, I had no intention of idling around either.
“Ryan.”
“Yeah?”
“Let’s start moving too.”
“Sounds good.”
Ryan slung his hammer over his shoulder with a grin.
While the Paladin was searching for the merchant guild leader, there were two things we needed to do.
First, eliminate the mid-level commanders to induce confusion.
And then…
Ssk—!
My sword pierced the neck of a Decurion who had been wildly attacking.
Immediately after, a thunderous roar followed as a hammer descended upon the soldiers, who were thrown into disarray by the loss of their superior.
The group scattered in all directions.
I immediately pursued one and plunged my sword deep into his back.
“Second, earn Karma diligently.”
“Ka… what? He’s spouting nonsense again.”
Ryan laughed cheerfully.
.
.
.
A dozen minutes passed.
This operation was successful in terms of results.
[Level Up!/Lv.29]
[Strength 24 → 25]
[Level Up!/Lv.30]
[Agility 21 → 22]
I had leveled up twice—
[Amidst relentless combat, the body finds its optimal movements]
[Swordsmanship proficiency increases]
As I continuously defeated formidable enemies, my swordsmanship proficiency also showed a steep growth curve.
I probably earned quite a bit of Karma too.
“……”
So now it was time to confirm the end of this life.
“…We’ve done enough, haven’t we?”
“Yeah. No argument here.”
Ryan and I stood tall on the silent battlefield.
Blood-soaked ground, burnt wagons, bodies scattered everywhere.
Among them was Eddie.
Allies, annihilated.
The merchant guild leader, as requested, had done his best to flee until I took his head.
His reason was that he didn't want to spend the rest of his life in the Theocracy's torture chambers.
He said he had handed over the unilateral decision to Yor.
However, I lost track of her midway through the battle, so I had no way of knowing what happened to her.
“Because we can definitely win.”
The people who believed I had a way and burned with a sliver of hope.
However, in this life, I could not save them.
I merely used that hope to lay the groundwork for the next life.
Guilt gnawed at me, but there was no time to dwell on sentimentality.
Thump—
The Paladin was walking towards me through the noticeably diminished Holy Army.
His face was more exhausted than in any previous life.
The target he intended to capture alive was dead, and he had lost most of his subordinates.
Catching a glimpse of despair in his eyes, I let out a smirk.
“Welcome, cultist.”
“Haa….”
It was the moment anger gave way to emptiness.
He drew his sword and pointed it directly at me.
His cracked voice echoed.
“It was you.”
“Yes.”
“…How in the world did you know we were coming? Tell me the truth.”
Ryan and I opened our mouths simultaneously.
“We came from the future.”
“Your mom told us.”
Ryan grinned and patted my shoulder.
“What’s with you, opening your mouth for once?”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I, you idiot.”
…While we were having fun, it probably wasn't a pleasant sight for the object of our mockery.
Veins bulged on the Paladin's forehead.
Ssssk—!
As his sword shot out, we also raised our weapons.
A terrifying killing intent.
‘But, it’s more manageable than last time.’
We were tired, but he was even more so.
He probably couldn't even use his Divine Power properly.
This would be a much more advantageous fight than in previous lives.
Of course, victory was impossible, but that wasn't the important part.
‘A new route has been opened.’
Now, we could reach this point, where a favorable one-on-one duel was possible, without any variables.
In simple terms, we had secured a shortcut to the first two phases.
‘So, it’s time to take one more step forward.’
Last life, as I died meaninglessly, I thought.
Until now, I had tried to gain Karma simply by killing many enemies.
But upon reflection, the status window had never stated that Karma was given solely for simple kills.
Karma is the weight of my ‘footprints.’
In other words, it is given based on how meaningful the battles I have fought are.
Repeatedly killing mobs would only yield a meager amount of Karma.
‘To obtain a large amount of Karma….’
So-called achievements.
Meaningful accomplishments that are difficult to achieve through ordinary means.
And I think I knew how.
‘What if I cause an anomaly in this fight, where a one-sided defeat is certain?’
It doesn't have to be a victory.
This world is convinced that I will be helplessly trampled without any resistance.
I just need to overturn that expectation.
To endure to the end, to counterattack, to create an unexpected outcome.
‘For example, landing a solid blow on him.
At that moment, Karma will surely react.
Therefore, the next goal is the fight itself.
Increase stats, increase skills, engrave his movements and habits into my bones.
Using everything I can as a regressor, I will achieve the ‘achievement’ of landing a blow on him.
‘It will be a much faster shortcut than accumulating Karma by repeatedly dying an ordinary death.’
If I accumulate 500 like that, I can say goodbye to this damn Act 1, Scene 1.
I took a breath.
The metallic scent of the battlefield filled my lungs.
“Come at me.”
Before I could finish speaking, the Paladin, with a ferocious expression, arrived right in front of me.
Then, fifteen exchanges, more intense than ever before, ensued.
Ssk—!
This time, my neck was severed first.
My vision spun askew.
The last thing I saw was Ryan, who had charged in with a frenzied expression, being cut down.
.
.
.
[You have died]
[Counting death records]
[5/99]
[NEW! Organizing the growth of this life]
-
Your level has increased by ‘2’.
-
Your ‘Knight’s Swordsmanship’ proficiency has risen sharply and is expected to reach skill level ‘2’ soon.
.
.
.
[#5 The Life of a Butterfly]
[Gunter, can your flapping wings truly create a storm?]
[Karma for the fifth life: 48]
[Owned Karma: 95]
[Accumulated Karma: 195]