Chapter 121
Chapter 121
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 121
Chapter Title: The Star that Pierces Truth (6)
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The paladin sat cross-legged on the ground. He'd tossed his helmet and spear shaft far away. Kadim had also dispelled his divine aura. Maintaining it any longer placed too much strain on his body.
Still, he didn't let his guard down and pressed the axe blade against the enemy's throat.
The paladin opened his mouth calmly, unperturbed by the chilling edge.
"Let me reintroduce myself. I am Hendark El Vernieta Elgarus, the Arch Paladin of the Elga Church, third seat of the Decagram, 'The Star that Pierces Truth.' And you... you're the mercenary who slaughtered demons on the Golden Highway, the 'Demon Slayer,' correct?"
"......"
"Hm, that seems to be the case. As I said before, I'm not here to fight you. I'm here to talk. So there's no need to keep holding that axe up so tiringly."
"......I'd sooner trust a back-alley peddler than a dog of Elga."
"Hmmm. Then I swear on Elga's name that I won't lie to you in our conversation."
"......"
Kadim didn't budge an inch.
Three hundred years ago, back when the Elga Church was still righteous, he might have believed such words. But now? Not a chance. He'd been burned badly several times by the stubborn, arrogant paladins of this era...
The Arch Paladin Hendark gave a wry smile, as if understanding.
"I can guess what you're thinking. Yes, because of those scoundrels who treat the gods' names lightly, even that sacred name has lost much of its weight. But you can trust my words. Because I... can never lie."
"......"
"If you don't believe me, I'll show you."
Kadim stared intently, wondering if his nose would suddenly grow.
It didn't. Hendark removed his gauntlet, revealing the back of his hand. A vivid ten-pointed star was etched there as well.
He raised his hand toward the sky and solemnly declared,
"......I am an Atalain."
Then, from the distant sun, a sharp beam of light poured down, striking his hand.
―――――― Tzzzzzzt!
A acrid smell of burning flesh filled the air, grayish smoke rising from the back of his hand. Hendark grimaced and shook his hand vigorously.
Kadim's eyes widened in shock.
He had no time to dwell on the absurd content of the lie. He'd witnessed something almost identical before.
When Ilenia had revealed a truth that shouldn't be known to the world—that 'Elga' was fake.
"What was that? Wasn't that Elga's 'divine punishment'?"
"Urgh...? You even know about 'divine punishment'? That's surprising. Not many in the Church do... Then do you also know the saying, 'The sun is Elga's eye gazing down upon the world'?"
Kadim silently nodded in affirmation. Hendark stuck out his tongue in amazement, slipped his gauntlet back on, and muttered that this would make things quicker before continuing his explanation.
"What I just showed you is the 'stigmata.' It's the sacred mark given only to the ten specially selected Arch Paladins of the Decagram. Once etched into the flesh, it grants one transcendent ability. However, it comes with a great restriction. Violating that restriction brings divine punishment from the Lord of Eternal Light Himself, just like that."
It wasn't an entirely unfamiliar concept. Much like a main character's 'unique trait' or a high demon's 'authority.'
But it was astonishing that even Arch Paladins had gained such new powers. They were already troublesome enough without them...
"The stigmata I received is 'The Star that Pierces Truth.' It discerns the truth and lies of all things, pierces through false disguises and impure presences. No deception or lie, no matter how clever, can fool me."
"......"
"But to see all the light in heaven and earth, my own form must be laid bare to it as well. The restriction I bear is that I 'cannot lie.' A harmless white lie ends like that, but persistent major lies would surely bring divine punishment, burning me to charcoal."
Hendark kept pressing his gauntlet over the wound, which must have throbbed. For a man who'd been fine after taking an axe to the forehead, this was clearly a fatal drawback.
In any case, since no punishment had come yet, his claim of coming to talk must be true.
Of course, Kadim didn't fully drop his suspicions. If anything, spilling secrets and weaknesses from the start only made him more suspicious. The stigmata itself might be a ruse...
Kadim pressed the axe blade closer, until it bit into flesh.
"That might be grounds to trust your words."
"......"
"But not to spare your life. Didn't you come here under orders to kill me? Better to cut out the root of future trouble now than let you go."
"......I won't deny it. I did receive orders to execute you. But continuing to fight me head-on from here wouldn't be a wise choice."
Kadim glared at the assertive paladin, his lips curling into a savage grin.
"You think you're lacking the strength? That you can't kill me?"
"......"
Hendark lowered his eyelids and calmly denied it.
"No. Honestly, I have no confidence in emerging victorious against you unscathed. I was referring to the aftermath around us."
"......"
"If you and I went all out, at least a 10-kilometer radius would be reduced to rubble. Nearby villages would be annihilated, countless innocents turning to bloody mist. And... that man who seems to be your comrade wouldn't escape unharmed either."
At those words, infernal flames flickered in Kadim's pupils.
That was a line he shouldn't have crossed. Kadim crushed the axe blade down with full force, as if to sever the throat muscles right then. Hendark choked, tensing his neck, and hurriedly added,
"Guhk, not... a threat....... You must have... experience with... bystanders harmed by... paladins....... I understand. But... I have similar... experiences too......"
"......"
"The Arch Paladin... Helia Munel... you killed a few months ago... was my disciple... whom I raised from infancy......"
Slowly, the force on the axe blade eased from the paladin's throat.
The emotions in his eyes died down like a campfire under rain. In their place settled cold, mechanical calm. Kadim looked down at the paladin impassively and asked,
"Helia Munel—the Arch Paladin who wielded the flaming sword?"
"......Yes."
"My condolences. I had no choice; if I hadn't killed her, I'd be dead. But why aren't you seeking revenge on me?"
"......After gaining the stigmata, my view of the world changed greatly. I trust the truths I've seen and experienced myself over others' words or inner emotions. Helia was already showing signs of going astray... Have you ever unjustly killed an innocent paladin up to now?"
"No."
"Then are you perhaps in league with followers of the Forgotten God, a fiend who accepts demonic power?"
"......Not a fiend."
"That's enough. All that is truth. I won't treat you as an enemy."
It was proof so absurdly simple.
Memories of enemies plugging their ears and spouting whatever suited them flooded his mind, leaving even a twinge of emptiness. Kadim's expression slackened as he plopped down onto the ground. He roughly rubbed his face, pondered briefly, and decided not to kill this strangely detached Arch Paladin just yet.
Letting out a dry sigh, Kadim spoke.
"Out with it."
"......You mean why I went to such lengths to talk to you?"
"Yes. Let's hear why you'd come to chat with the enemy who killed your disciple instead of getting revenge."
A faint, bitter smile ghosted across the paladin's lips for an instant. But it vanished like a mirage, replaced by a grave gaze.
"You must know this too. The current Elga Church is riddled with corruption. One of them is the shortsighted obsession with executing heretics, unbelievers, and demons right in front of us."
"......"
"That coercive stance may have bolstered the Church's power, but it does nothing to solve the world's problems. If anything, our enemies grow daily, and resentment swells. For the Church to truly become a force worthy of Elga's will, we must raise the banners of mercy and order over violence and oppression, and seek to eradicate the root causes of the demonic outbreaks..."
"......Too long a prologue. Skip to the point."
Hendark gladly obliged.
"I believe the Magic Tower is behind the demonic outbreaks plaguing the continent."
"......"
Silence.
Kadim's sharp gaze wavered for a moment. He'd told him to skip ahead, but this jumped too far. Hendark waited for him to refocus, then explained calmly.
"To be precise, they may not be the direct culprits, but I infer they have significant involvement."
"......Evidence?"
"The first official record of demonic outbreaks dates to Imperial Year 28—exactly 220 years ago. That's when the Magic Tower was firmly established and rapidly expanding. And that period coincides almost perfectly with one massive event."
"What event?"
"The disappearance of 'ancient mana' across the continent."
Kadim's brow furrowed slightly.
Ancient mana—the supernatural energy that had been the source of magic until 300 years ago.
He recalled his conversation with the mage who'd been Lemtana's advisor but died in an ogre's body. Ancient mana had been depleted, so now magic required 'mana,' or so he'd said.
That's why even Kadim, with his extremely low mana sensitivity—no, ancient mana sensitivity—could detect modern magic. It was faintly laced with demonic energy. Still, it was puzzling. How could the ancient mana, which Melissa had expended lavishly on grand spells with plenty to spare, vanish all at once?
This might be a chance to resolve that lingering question. Kadim asked,
"Why did ancient mana deplete?"
The answer was disappointing.
"I don't know that either. And investigating it is one of the things I want to ask of you."
"Hah."
Kadim let out a cold, empty laugh. Naturally, only the Tower Lord and elder mages knew about it. Hendark licked his dry lips and continued.
"Think about it. Demonic outbreaks and the depletion of ancient mana—two cataclysmic events happening one after another. Too neatly aligned to be coincidence, no? Moreover, the Magic Tower faced the loss of their power source yet didn't collapse. Instead, as if they'd anticipated it, they discovered this substitute they now call 'mana.'"
"......"
"My cautious speculation: perhaps the Magic Tower conducted a worldwide-scale magic experiment that failed. As a side effect, ancient mana depleted, demons rampaged, and the Tower executed their contingency plan to create mana..."
"Then why not investigate the Tower yourself? If going alone is daunting, use the Elga Church as backup."
Hendark slowly shook his head.
He desperately wanted to, but it was impossible. The hypothesis was too sensitive for mere suspicion; approaching the Tower with the Decagram would spark war outright. Even coming this far was a huge risk, he explained.
Kadim's reaction remained lukewarm, but Hendark pressed on undeterred.
"The Grand Bishop, with his usual narrow view, ordered me solely to execute you, this one fiend. Since my disciple died by your hand, he figured I'd be motivated."
"......"
"But I saw it as a broader opportunity—to uncover the root of the outbreaks. You struck me as the perfect candidate for this vital mission, not an enemy. You're unaffiliated, and even if cornered, you have the strength to escape the mages' lair..."
"......"
"Don't you have business at the Magic Tower too? Please investigate the demonic outbreaks and ancient mana there. If you uncover the truth, we might find a way to end this protracted scourge. Then the continent's people would praise your name eternally, and even the Elga Church couldn't touch you."
The paladin's perspective—unbound by personal grudges, focused on the greater good—was undeniably noble.
However... the crucial role still fell to him, and saving the continent didn't guarantee escape from Church pursuit or eternal praise.
Kadim pondered, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
"......"
After deep deliberation like sinking into quicksand, he decided to accept the request.
He'd been curious about ancient mana's disappearance anyway. The reason for the demonic outbreaks was the same. Though the paladin spoke only of suspicions, Kadim had more concrete evidence.
Hydra's words: one of his comrades had revived and unleashed the demons.
And the fact that the Magic Tower collected demon corpses and used demonic energy for magic.
Perhaps... Melissa was involved in all this.
Besides, there was information he could demand from the paladin in exchange.
"Fine. I accept your proposal."
"Really? Thank you! I'll do anything within my power as reward—just name it openly."
"......My condition is simple. I'll ask one question, and you tell me everything you know, without lies."
Hendark bared his stigmata and nodded solemnly. Kadim took a slow, deep breath and parted his lips.
"Gordon Elgarok—a priest in the Elga Church about 300 years ago. He executed a great demon alongside a hero who received the god's revelation. Yet for some reason, his name has been completely erased from the world. Do you know anything about him?"
A question that might determine his path after the Magic Tower.
But he didn't expect much. The Arch Paladin—his disciple—knew nothing. If the Church had deliberately purged the records, perhaps no one in the world remembered Gordon anymore.
Yet Hendark murmured the name gravely, then suddenly widened his eyes and shuddered.
And cautiously asked back,
"......Gordon—do you mean perhaps 'Gordon Who Turned His Back on the Light'?"
In response came only a narrowed, suspicious gaze.