Chapter 216
Chapter 216
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 216
Chapter Title: Star Pulverizer (5)
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A dingy underground chamber with a decagonal star emblem embossed on the ceiling.
There wasn't even wallpaper here. The walls were entirely covered in scriptures from Elga's canon—the "Gospels." The obsessive, densely packed script radiated the author's fanatical faith even from the handwriting alone.
The man who had written it all sat in the center of the room, looking gaunt and haggard. His cheeks were sunken, his frame skeletal, suggesting he was far removed from any physical exertion. Yet surprisingly, he was clad in full plate armor. The breastplate bore the clear emblem of the Elga Church and its holy knights: the decagonal star.
The name and title by which this man was called were as follows.
Decagram's 8th Seat, "The Star that Spreads the Gospel", Angelion El Drémus Elgardieta.
Once, those lacking faith had doubted whether his frail appearance qualified him for the Decagram, judging solely by looks. Indeed, his personal combat prowess was pathetically meager compared to other Arch Paladins. But now, no one in the Church dared to disparage him.
Because Angelion had single-handedly conquered Delutana.
And he had done so without stepping foot outside this room—without spilling a single drop of blood.
The news that Delutana had fallen to his Gospel Bodies in a single night had already spread throughout the Elga Church. Ecstatic praise poured from the glowing orb floating in the air.
Those participating in the remote communication via holy law were all prominent high-ranking figures of the Elga Church: bishops from the Holy Law Edict Sanctuary and Gospel Doctrine Sanctuary, inquisitors from the Heresy Inquisition Sanctuary, attendant bishops from the Grand Archbishop's Office, and Decagram seats from 5th to 10th...
Above all, even the Grand Archbishop Erensko—the de facto ruler of the empire, surpassing even the emperor—was among them.
"Yes... This 'Star that Spreads the Gospel', Angelion, humbly receives the holy archbishop's benediction with utmost devotion."
Indeed, Angelion's accomplishment warranted such lavish praise.
Conquering Delutana wasn't particularly difficult in itself. But to take the city without razing it to the ground, preserving the spoils of the precious "Golden City" intact, and even turning the enemy into Elga's vanguard—all while conquering them? That bordered on the impossible.
The resources saved and gains to be had from his feat were astronomical, to say the least. Moreover, it was a victory perfectly in line with the crusade's banner of eradicating unbelievers. Pleased, the Grand Archbishop offered an exceptionally generous reward.
"...!"
A hint of promotion to a higher seat in the Decagram.
Higher seats wielded greater influence within the Church and received priority when the Grand Archbishop reinforced their "stigmata" and "divine weapons." It was a reward every star coveted. Of course, it was unwelcome for those whose seats might be taken...
Seats 5 through 7 fell into uncomfortable silence. But the Grand Archbishop pressed on, ignoring them, urging Angelion forward.
"...I am deeply honored, Your Grace. Though I am utterly unworthy, I shall henceforth strive with utmost zeal as the vanguard of light, spreading Elga's Gospel far and wide."
"All for the Light."
After a brief discussion on Delutana's administration and spoils distribution, the orb vanished, ending the communication.
After setting a historic achievement, receiving lavish praise, and even securing an unprecedentedly swift promotion from the Grand Archbishop, the first thing Angelion did was...
Sweat pouring down his face as he pressed against the wall, frantically reciting the scriptures.
"Even if spirit and flesh fall into the valley of death, following the Light grants new life... O sovereign Guide of Light, lead us not into temptation, lead us not into temptation, lead us not into temptation..."
They didn't know yet. Only he truly understood Delutana's current situation. But once the crusade army crossed the border and arrived, everyone would see it clearly.
Delutana hadn't actually fallen.
Well, strictly speaking, it had come right up to the brink. He had seized every district except the east gate area and assembled nearly 5,000 Gospel Bodies in the central plaza for the final assault. At that point, victory seemed inevitable, so he had reported success to the Church preemptively.
Then, out of nowhere, a barbarian smashed through the gates, pulverized countless familiars with overwhelming force, summoned a grotesque head that neutralized every Gospel Body in the plaza.
A bolt from the blue. Thanks to that, Angelion's plan—which had seduced the council healers, fractured the city factions, and nearly toppled Delutana—teetered on the verge of utter collapse.
But there was a bigger problem.
His stigmata, "The Star that Spreads the Gospel", brainwashed and controlled those who earnestly recited the Gospel, turning them into Gospel Bodies. These possessed strength comparable to a decent Paladin, with no limit on the number controllable at once—making it a nightmarish ability against numerically superior foes.
But like all stigmata, it had a fatal constraint.
One must never allow someone to recite the Gospel while doubting it repeatedly.
He had always eliminated targets before it could happen. But if that monstrous barbarian recited the Gospel...
The constraint would trigger inescapably.
"O Light brighter than the brightest, save us from the darkness of the abyss, from the darkness, from the darkness..."
The floor grew slick with his dripping sweat. In desperation, as he chanted the scriptures, Angelion finally summoned the communication orb and pleaded for aid.
"Um... Sir Vitares, do you have a moment to talk?"
This was one of the Decagram's Arch Paladins, marching toward the border. Irritated at having his glory stolen by a shut-in weakling from the holy city, his tone dripped with sarcasm.
Angelion soothed his anger by insisting he had no desire for a higher seat—even if the Grand Archbishop insisted, he would decline. Then he urgently requested support at Delutana as soon as possible. But the Arch Paladin showed no inclination to help his rival.
As he pondered how to lure him in, a scene witnessed through a Gospel Body flashed in Angelion's mind.
In a Delutana workshop, the miracle summoned by an old crippled blacksmith.
"However, Sir... I have a story that might interest you."
Though a miracle from a minor god... its product held value surpassing even Elga-blessed "divine weapons."
"In truth, I've discovered a most pernicious heretical abomination here... but it seems beyond my humble capabilities to handle..."
"Yes. A 'divine weapon' consecrated by the manifestation of the 'Dwarven God' of metal and frost... I was planning to entrust it to you immediately if you came..."
The casual responses suddenly sharpened.
The "Star that Spreads the Gospel" had finally found the light to escape the darkness.
*
That feeling.
The sense that something has gone terribly wrong.
Even ordinary people get such premonitions now and then. How much more so for Kadim, whose senses were honed to the extreme and who had navigated countless death traps? Long before reaching his destination, the nagging chill down his spine warned him things were fucked.
And that feeling materialized as brutal reality upon entering the workshop in shambles.
"..."
It was a relief he hadn't brought Gullak's granddaughter. The girl had teared up, insisting on rushing to help her grandpa. God knows what scene she would've caused seeing her grandfather's head severed.
He had left finding the Wheeled family in the evacuation zone to Duncan. Prioritizing rescuing Ironhammer old man, Kadim had rushed here alone, shoving everything else aside. In the end, it was for naught... but he showed no sign of it.
He approached the severed head beneath the anvil.
Gently closed eyelids, kindly curved lips. For a man decapitated to death, Gullak's face was remarkably serene. The root of that smile was undoubtedly the fulfillment of completing his duty to the end.
There was little he could do for the departed. At best, recover the body, claim the legacy, and exact vengeance in his stead.
Kadim had intended the first or second, but circumstances demanded a change in order.
The killer of Ironhammer old man stood brazenly before him.
"[You... Why... have you come here...?]"
Without hesitation, he swung the hatchet haft like a gale.
Squiiiish-crack, paaatter-crack, clack—!!
It was faster than even he expected. To the foe, it must've looked like he'd merely drawn his throwing axe and twitched his hand.
―――――― BOOOOMCRASH-SPLATTER—!
Szzzt, huuuum, huuuuum...
But the crumbling walls and tearing radiance proved Kadim had hurled and retrieved lightning in a heartbeat.
"..."
The culprit was a stocky man wearing a ring emblazoned with the council seal. The bloodstains on his robes and collar left no room for doubt.
But from the prattling voice, it was clear the one possessing the body wasn't the council healer himself.
No matter. Whether it was the healer's body, a bishop's, or the emperor's, Kadim would gleefully slaughter this "Gospel Body" for vengeance. He held off killing it immediately for a reason.
"Why'd you kill Ironhammer old man?"
"Never mind... You'd just spout unbeliever nonsense. Tell me where you put the old man's legacy."
"From the old man's expression, seems he finished the legacy before dying."
A hollow gaze swept the empty workbench. The Gospel Body's eyes rolled thoughtfully, then curled into a sneer.
"Kinda. He promised that legacy to me."
"...Cut the crap. Hand it over before I split your skull."
Smug confidence gleamed in the white eyes. No matter how you rage, you can't harm my true self.
It wasn't unfamiliar. Kadim had seen that attitude before—from possession demons hiding their cores, or... in his original world, from anonymous forum trolls rampaging in virtual spaces.
That confidence wasn't baseless.
Killing this Gospel Body wouldn't touch the mastermind beyond. He'd neutralized thousands with "Akulanos's Tattoo" yet the bastard remained fine. But beneath that bravado lurked undisguised anxiety.
And Kadim knew. What the puppeteer, Gullak's true killer, this Decagram Arch Paladin feared most.
How to drag the bastard from his nest to this spot.
"...By the way, why aren't you peddling the 'Gospel' anymore?"
The Gospel Body flinched, shuddering. Kadim's indifferent gaze pierced it.
"When we first met, you pushed it so hard. Recite the Gospel to save spirit and flesh, blah blah."
"Too bad. But how about one more chance? Feels like I could recite it sincerely now."
Sensing the ominous intent, the Gospel Body clamped its mouth shut, refusing the Gospel. A futile effort. Kadim pulled a sheet of paper from his bosom.
"Fine, if you won't share, I'll recite it myself."
"...?"
"From the beginning, the one true sovereign who watches over this land and illuminates it with light is solely Elga, who to the yearning frail creatures of the world... What a load of bullshit they've written out long-windedly."
A paper carried by other Gospel Bodies while proselytizing.
The Gospel Body's face drained whiter than the sheet.
Squiii—splurt! Thunk, splat—!
The interruption was swiftly blocked by the thrown axe blade. The recitation—devoid even of ant-shit faith—repeated over ten times. The brand on the Gospel Body's back writhed and began protruding.
Crunch-grind, cruuunch-griiind—!!
The spine hunched like a hunchback, flesh bulging. The protrusions swelled larger than the head. When stress hit its limit, the back split open, spewing foul radiance.
Huuuum, huuuuuum, huuuuuuum—!!
It resembled angelic wings sprouting. But the thing bursting from the back wasn't sacred or beautiful.
A scrawny, haggard man in full plate armor.
"Ah, ahh, huuuuuh..."
Kadim twisted his lips in a savage grin. It was all true, then—the info that Arch Paladin had spilled.
"Decagram's eighth seat, Sir Angelion's 'The Star that Spreads the Gospel' constraint is..."
If someone recites the Gospel in disbelief repeatedly, no matter where, he must summon himself there to "personally judge."
Silent thanks to the honest snitch, Hendark. Gripping the hatchet haft, he approached the corner-dwelling Arch Paladin finally dragged from his nest into the world.
"Nice to meet you. In my original world, there's a ritual you must perform when meeting someone you thought you'd never encounter in the flesh."
"Ah, ahh, huuugh... What, what is this..."
"Forgot the details after so long, but the ritual's name was probably..."
The axe blade rose, brimming with bloodthirsty intent.
"...a facepalm, or something like that."
"Ah, aaagh!! Nooooooo!!!"
"The Star that Spreads the Gospel," Angelion, screamed as if plummeting into the abyss.
