Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Twin Canyon (5)
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The standoff before the flames dragged on.
Helia glared at Enrico. Even with her hair singed and her clothes charred, the inspector showed no sign of backing down. It was the attitude of someone utterly convinced she couldn't harm him. She bit her lower lip hard enough to draw blood.
This was a headache. She'd thought he was just some upstart rich boy with a handful of private soldiers. Who could've guessed he was the inspector for this district? His shabby appearance and the scant number of troops had given her no clue.
If it were anyone else, I could just burn him to silence him. But an inspector... that's not so easy...
The ragtag remnants following the inspector weren't the issue. The real problem was the council backing him.
If an inspector came to harm, his council would investigate every detail of the cause and effect. Internal political infighting might let it slide quietly, but if outsiders were to blame, it was different. If the culprit turned out to be an imperial paladin, it wouldn't end with mere diplomatic friction.
They'd surely demand massive reparations or territorial concessions from the empire. His Majesty the Emperor is unlikely to accept, and that could spark a real war between the empire and the alliance...
The Lucaonia Empire was the world's greatest power, and the Elga Church's influence spanned the continent. But that didn't mean a single paladin could ignite the spark of war on a whim.
She had to avoid extreme measures if possible. Helia dimmed the flames slightly and murmured in a low voice.
"Step aside, Inspector. I am currently carrying out the will of the sublime Guide of Light, Elga Himself. The man behind you is a heinous demon who slaughtered innocent paladins and fled. If you stand down quietly and help detain this demon, I'll finish my duty and leave at once."
Enrico flinched and turned his gaze.
The barbarian's face remained as hard and unyielding as a rock, showing no agitation. In stark contrast, the paladin's eyes blazed with excessive fury. Time passed as he glanced back and forth between them, deliberating.
Finally, he reached a decision. Enrico asked the paladin in a sharp tone.
"Got any proof? An arrest warrant or judgment decree stamped with the church's seal, detailing the criminal's name, description, and charges?"
"...We spotted evidence and gave immediate chase, so we don't have that. But we'll deliver the proper documents to your council through post-procedure..."
"Then how am I supposed to believe you? This man saved my soldiers from total annihilation. You expect me to betray my benefactor based on your word alone, without a shred of real evidence?"
"..."
Helia was genuinely flustered.
Why was the inspector defending the demon? Saved his soldiers from annihilation? Did it make any sense for that brutal demon to save lives?
In her confusion, she slowly closed her eyes. The wavering emerald-green gaze vanished behind firm lids.
She couldn't fathom the circumstances at all. But if the inspector was taking this stance, there was no answer. This was alliance territory, after all, and she was the uninvited intruder. Even if she slew the demon and returned to the church, she'd likely face more criticism for her recklessness than praise for her功.
Then again, the only option is to withdraw for now, prepare, and come back...
But was that truly Elga's will?
Did Elga desire her to be bound by petty human affairs and retreat with such a dangerous demon right before her?
No, that couldn't be.
"...!"
In that instant, a thunderbolt of realization pierced her mind.
Her darkened vision cleared. The storm clouds of worry and concern parted. The glacial delusions and heart demons melted away. Only pure faith and divine mission shone brilliantly like the noon sun.
Everything became crystal clear at last. Why the demon had saved lives, why the inspector defended him, why no one cooperated with her. She'd nearly fallen for some cunning trick and walked away with her mission within reach.
No more... I won't dance to the demon's tune.
Helia twisted her lips into a sneer. Then she thrust her divine weapon, 'Flames of Gehenna', toward Enrico.
"How laughable, you thrall bewitched by the demon. I now know the words you spoke weren't from your own will."
"...Hm?"
"Fear not. This divine weapon's flames are purifying fire. If you offer your life as sacrifice, the sins of serving as the demon's vanguard will be washed clean..."
Rumble, roar—!!!
A sudden cacophony cut off the paladin's words.
The source was ahead. The paladin halted her blade and looked up. All eyes turned at once. Astonishingly, the blocked rear path had partially cleared.
Kadim had used a tree as a lever to shove aside the burning debris. He tossed the thick log aside and said,
"Inspector, lead your soldiers out of the canyon first. I'll kill that paladin and follow."
"W-what? You said kill the paladin?"
"Yes, that woman's mad. Probably burned her brain with fanatic flames. Words won't reach her, so the only solution is to split her skull and cool that fever."
Enrico stared blankly, at a loss for words. Fury blazed in Helia's eyes.
"How dare you wag that filthy tongue! You think I'll let you vermin slink away?"
She drew back her hellfire longsword. With a sweeping arc, she intended to incinerate every fleeing soldier.
But the attempt was blocked by a flying axe blade.
Roar, clang—clang!
"Ugh!"
The heavy impact slamming her blade made Helia stagger back. The vicious shock traveled up the sword, stinging her wrist. Without her divine aura, her wrist might have snapped.
She regripped the hilt and eyed the demon. A bloody aura swirled in his impassive gaze. His ferocious muscles writhed and swelled even larger.
Showing his true colors right away. Sneaky bastard...
The others had mostly escaped. Dealing with stragglers could wait. She focused on slaying the demon first. One hand to her chest, she offered a solemn prayer.
Elga, grant me the power to face this mighty demon.
Crimson divine energy flared fiercer. Power far beyond mortal limits surged through her body.
Rooooar...
Judgment time had arrived.
*
Kadim had roughly assessed the paladin.
Cunning, but excessively reckless. Her mind was too shattered for sound judgment, and she lacked seasoned experience. Still, her gear befitted an Arch Paladin.
Her armor doesn't melt or scorch in hellfire, so it's special... And that red sword is surely a divine weapon.
Unlike 'blessed weapons' consecrated by Elga's priests, 'divine weapons' received Elga's direct blessing. They differed in symbolism and power. Even the weakest were Unique grade; most exhibited Epic or higher performance.
As expected, the divine weapon's power was overwhelming.
――――Roar, crackle, roar!!
Helia swung her longsword, and ferocious hellfire painted the air. Flame afterimages lingered along the blade's path, burning the air like tinder. Even dodging with margin, the searing heat stung his skin.
The hellfire extended several times the blade's length. No clashing blades in that inferno. Kadim lowered his stance to close the distance.
But Helia anticipated and countered first.
"Where?!"
Boom—!
She slammed her glowing blade into the ground. Moisture evaporated instantly, pillars of fire erupting at her feet. Surging flames encircled, blocking all approaches.
――――Roarrr—!!
No gaps to exploit. Kadim retreated before getting engulfed. Helia sneered, yanking the blade free and raising it skyward.
The flame heads bent downward. Pillars morphed into a wave of fire, sweeping threateningly in all directions.
――――――――Rumble...
Kadim hadn't retreated blindly. As he fell back, he retrieved his thrown axe. Gripping the haft, he aimed, coiled his strength, snapped his wrist for spin, and hurled.
Whirr, clang—clang!
Direct hit. Sparks exploded, shaking the paladin's longsword. Leaderless, the flame wave scattered. Lingering afterimages faded. Helia gnashed her teeth, glaring fiercely at Kadim.
Meanwhile, Kadim resolved himself.
From now on, I'll have to fight while enduring the burns.
He'd wanted to avoid hellfire. A mere blessed weapon's wound had nearly killed him before. Injury from a divine weapon would be worse.
But the flames' range was too vast. Dodging it all to reach her was like swimming dry. To slit her throat, he'd have to brave the fire.
With that demon blood in me, it'll be fine somehow...
Kadim kicked off and charged. Helia smirked, swinging her blazing blade to block.
Roar—
Her check failed. Kadim didn't dodge. He raised his forearm and barreled through. Helia's eyes wavered perilously.
"What...!"
Whoosh—hum!
Mosquito's blade thrust sharply. Helia ducked reflexively. The throat strike missed her blood.
Whoosh—hum, clang, clang—clang!
Kadim gave no respite, slashing at armor gaps. Helia yanked her longsword inward to block. Her eyes twitched with unconcealed agitation.
"H-how... How can you shrug off hellfire like that..."
Kadim smiled bitterly inside.
It wasn't painless. His blocking forearm was charred skin-deep, muscles cooked. But regeneration mended it instantly.
That snake-head's fire-adapted regeneration is unexpectedly helpful.
Hydra blood's regen effect. The demon's boast of withstanding hellfire wasn't empty.
But no innate fire immunity or pain nullification. Severe burns would slow recovery. Kadim pressed close, fighting cautiously to minimize burns.
"..."
Helia soon realized. She reined in the extended hellfire, concentrating on the blade's reach. But each time, Kadim parried or evaded masterfully—attacks failing repeatedly.
The fight devolved into close-quarters targeting vitals and disarms.
Clashing blades, scraping steel scattering sparks, step back then two forward, flashing slashes in split-seconds, counters, deflections bending guards, power struggles.
Clang—clang, clang—clang, screee, roar!
The fierce exchange dragged, but any observer could tell.
It was unfair.
Gear gap too wide. The plate-armored Arch Paladin vs. Kadim's exposed body. Mosquito was no slouch, but outclassed by a divine weapon. Parity came solely from Kadim's superior combat sense.
But limits loomed.
Her skill was formidable too. Heat and metal fatigue made Mosquito ring ominously. Minor burns and cuts appeared and healed on Kadim. His demonic vigor waned while her Elgan aura intensified.
Kadim's lips tightened. Damn Elga. A buff growing stronger over time felt like cheating. At this rate, his would expire first, defeat certain.
...Time for desperate measures.
Helia, dominant, herded him back, seeking a finisher. In that moment, Kadim deliberately loosened his grip on Mosquito's hilt.
Helia pounced. Like a hawk, she slashed upward diagonally. Shriek—ear-splitting metal rang; Mosquito spun from his hand far away.
Lightning-fast, her blade pierced.
Stab, roar—!
The red blade impaled his gut. Scorching flames burned flesh and organs from inside. Seeing his agonized grimace, Helia sneered vilely.
"You got careless, demon. Even the mightiest evil can't defy the light's judgment... Time to atone for your deep, dark sins."
Kadim didn't retort. He just gripped the divine weapon's blade with both hands, trapping it. His palms sizzled and melted, but he ignored it.
"Do you know the most common mistake green, arrogant, reckless, impulsive paladins make?"
Helia's golden brows twitched.
A sudden chill gripped her. Ominous premonition coiled her nape. She tried withdrawing, stepping back. But the blade was stuck like in a mountain boulder.
Kadim shoved it deeper, advancing. His massive shadow blanketed her face in pallor. Only at her throat did the berserker reveal the answer.
"Forgetting the most vital armor: the helmet."
Then he drew his hidden axe and smashed down like thunder.
Crack—splurch!
Crimson divine aura scattered. The Arch Paladin's fanatic fevered brow split in two.