Chapter 82
Chapter 82
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: Skeleton Holy Knight (4)
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The skeleton that emerged from the forest left everyone aghast.
'What the hell is that thing?'
The same thought flashed through everyone's mind at once.
A skeleton dressed in a maid outfit.
It was a horrifying combination.
But the real issue was the peculiar aura emanating from that skeleton.
The ferocious energy pouring from the sword it held was dominated by the power of darkness, yet there was something familiar mixed in as well.
'No way...'
That energy was the holy and sublime source of power known to every member of the Church.
Yes, it was definitely holy power.
Yet that sacred power was emanating from an undead creature.
Liana, the vice captain, and all the Holy Knights realized this fact and recoiled in horror.
It was too confusing.
A skeleton had suddenly appeared wearing a maid outfit, wielding a sword brimming with dark energy in one hand, while its body radiated a holy aura. It was a contradictory scene.
Even if they wrote a report on this situation and submitted it to the Church, it would undoubtedly be rejected as nonsense.
It was that absurd.
Regardless of their reactions, Maru, clad in the maid outfit, gave a slight nod.
He was quite satisfied with his current appearance, which Celia had orchestrated.
Maru replayed what Celia had told him earlier.
- Maru, listen carefully. If you go out right from the start, it won't have the dramatic effect we want on the enemy.
Celia had said that while dressing him in the maid outfit.
The Death Knight had wailed in anguish when they peeled the maid outfit off its shield, but that wasn't Maru's concern.
Anyway, Celia had suggested another approach.
- We'll send out the skeleton soldiers first to test the waters.
This is like warning them, 'Something big is coming soon.'
And the key here is that you absolutely must not move or speak first, Maru.
She had emphasized those last words.
Never move first, she said.
That was the epitome of composure and dignity in the enemy's eyes.
To illustrate, she had pointed at the Death Knight and Arch Lich, asking if they looked dignified.
That was when Maru had his epiphany.
He remembered everything Celia had said.
And when the enemies approached, he sent out the prepared skeleton soldiers ahead of him.
- Don't send out all the skeleton soldiers at once here either! It's very important. Send them out little by little at first.
Celia's advice had proven spot-on from start to finish.
Just look at their faces now.
They were staring at him in shock.
Maru made a mental note to remember Celia's words for later use.
A brief standoff ensued between them.
The Holy Knights observed the bizarre skeleton in the maid outfit, while Maru refrained from moving first, just as Celia had instructed.
And soon enough.
"Everyone, form up!"
Vice Captain Liana was the first to break the silence.
No matter what aura the enemy had, their job was simply to carry out the mission.
Over twenty of them couldn't possibly fail to take down a single undead.
At the same time, Liana had another thought.
'Is that thing the culprit?'
The missing priests and Holy Knights had likely fallen to its hands.
The Sail Kingdom's royals must have known this as well.
'To dare point a sword at the Church.'
The Sail Kingdom had made a foolish mistake.
Once they subjugated this freakish creature before them, they would show the kingdom the Church's might.
"Maintain formation and press the enemy!"
With her command, the quiet forest transformed into a battlefield.
It was a clash between the Church's Holy Knights and the holy skeleton in the maid outfit.
The Holy Knights infused their swords with holy power and swung, but they were blocked by the skeleton's blade.
"Ngh...!"
Even when they unleashed barrages of holy power, the skeleton black knight remained unfazed.
The sacred energy flowing from the skeleton's bones withstood every attack from the Holy Knights without faltering.
Clack!
Maru, aware of this fact, moved a bit more aggressively.
The maid outfit Celia had dressed him in reduced damage from holy attacks by 90%.
Though some unblocked holy power seeped into his body, it didn't matter.
Even as an undead, the holy power actually made him feel good.
Maru's Holy Power stat.
It was only E-rank, but it was why the Holy Knights' attacks weren't landing.
Maru didn't care either way, but the Holy Knights wore frustrated expressions.
No matter how they chanted sacred spells and closed in, it was all for naught.
Their swords were halted by the monster's dark-energized blade, and for some reason, their holy spells were useless.
"Why? Why aren't our attacks working?!"
One Holy Knight shouted in panic.
But they were the Church's blades.
They must never yield, even in dire straits.
Despite their bewilderment, they didn't stop searching for the skeleton black knight's weaknesses.
"Push harder! Land stronger blows!"
Liana's orders came thick and fast from midway through.
The Holy Knights swung with greater force at her shout, but they inflicted no damage on the skeleton.
No discernible weak point appeared, no matter what they tried.
Only then did the Holy Knights exchange glances.
Confusion was etched on their faces.
In that brief gap as their assault halted...
Maru raised his sword high.
And he felt the flow of the blade.
Instinctively, he knew.
How to swing it.
Light began to emanate from the demonic sword Maru held.
Holy power rose around the black blade brimming with savage energy.
Clack clack!
The demonic sword swung toward the Holy Knights.
Sinister and sacred energies intertwined, wreaking havoc on their formation.
"Gah!"
"Urk!"
Fortunately, it didn't claim any lives.
Black blood merely trickled from their mouths.
But that didn't make the situation any less dire.
The previous attack was no joke.
Shadows fell over their faces.
Some eyes even wavered.
Their resolve shook as much as their gazes.
'Should I run?'
This mission was unofficial anyway.
Fleeing wouldn't bring severe repercussions, right?
Dying here would just be a pointless death.
Doubt crept in.
Their minds housed devotion to the Goddess alongside a sweetly whispering demon.
And victory leaned toward the demon.
Of course, Liana noticed this too.
The momentum had shifted.
But what was a vice captain's role?
She had to rally her allies in a moment like this.
"Tch."
Liana clicked her tongue briefly and pulled an artifact from her bosom.
"I didn't want to use this..."
The artifact was made of leather, bleached pure white by infused holy power.
"False faith can never defeat us! O Goddess, grant me your strength!"
Liana tore the artifact apart immediately.
"Grant me the authority to purify this impure deceiver who dares mock the Goddess!"
Soon, the forest blazed with pure white light.
"So those guys are the Holy Knights, huh?"
Celia had submitted a report.
It detailed how Holy Knights disguised as adventurers would enter the dungeon, and that Maru would greet them.
With nothing else to do, I was watching Maru fight through the smartphone screen.
Watching the battle confirmed it: granting Maru holy power was a brilliant choice.
The Holy Knights' attacks couldn't touch Maru, who now wielded holy power.
It plugged the undead's weakness perfectly.
And with the outfit Maru wore on top, it created an even more airtight defense.
"...The maid outfit suits him pretty well, too."
At least he looked better in it than the Death Knight did.
Anyway, it was about time for Maru to wrap up the fight.
As Maru swung his demonic sword, Holy Knights began collapsing to the ground.
But their resolve was something else.
I had to admit they were impressive, getting back up even after falling.
Just as Maru raised his sword for the finisher...
"......"
One figure in the center activated an artifact.
The dark forest instantly turned blindingly white.
"What the—?"
That wasn't the problem.
"Sacred Mark Engraving?"
An A-rank trait, no less.
I immediately pulled up Maru's status window.
Whoa...
The moment that trait appeared on Maru, his holy power vanished.
For the trait alone to nullify holy power...
What kind of ability was this?
I tapped the trait immediately.
Reading the description, it was an insane trait.
Essentially a debuff.
"...This is bad."
I hadn't expected an artifact like that.
Even during my time in the Church, I only had access to limited info, so I never imagined such a trait existed.
Above all, Maru was in immediate danger.
The Holy Knights knew it too and were charging at him.
The maid outfit was holding them off for now, but he couldn't just stand there forever.
This was a situation where Celia might need to step in.
Thinking that, I reread the trait description.
"Mark imprint... Maximizes holy damage..."
And most importantly.
"Only on those who do not believe in the Goddess's existence."
The trait only worked on non-believers in the Goddess.
Unfortunately, as an undead monster, Maru could safely be considered a non-believer.
I had given Maru holy power by reinforcing him—
"Reinforcing?"
A idea struck me.
The traits and skills from the three sacrificed Holy Knights.
I'd used the skills, but there was an unused trait.
It was only D-rank, but it arose from excessive loyalty and faith in the Goddess.
If I used this, I might not even need to call Celia.
"But is it okay to reinforce Maru with this?"
What happens if an undead believes in the Goddess?
Besides, Maru already had a skill.
Loyalty as a Knight.
"Hmm..."
But I didn't hesitate long.
Maru was being pushed back bit by bit on the screen.
One wrong move, and he might vanish first.
I tapped reinforce right away.
Skill 'Loyalty as a Knight (S)' conflicts with trait 'Goddess's Faith (D)'.
Higher-rank skill 'Loyalty as a Knight (S)' absorbs trait 'Goddess's Faith (D)'.
Applies skill 'Loyalty as a Holy Knight (S+)'.
Maru (★★★★)'s Sacred Mark Engraving (A) trait is released.
Thank goodness the debuff trait was gone.
But the alerts didn't end there.
+ Holy Power Greatly Increased
The Holy Knights, who had been squeezing out their last reserves to press the attack, froze in place.
"...?"
Something was off with the skeleton.
"What’s happening?!"
Liana shouted.
The undead that had been powerless moments ago was changing somehow.
"N-No way!"
The 'Sacred Mark Engraving' they had inflicted with the artifact was fading.
"Attack now! Squeeze out every last drop of power!"
They had to settle it before the mark vanished completely.
Otherwise, all their efforts would be for nothing.
Liana gripped her sword and charged as well.
"No time! Take it down quick!"
And soon, the mark on the skeleton disappeared entirely.
"......"
But that wasn't the end of it.
The undead was absorbing the holy power the Holy Knights unleashed.
"Ah..."
The skeleton black knight's black bones were transforming.
They took on a gray hue, then fully turned into gleaming white bones in no time.
No, beyond white—they shone with a soft glow.
"Ahh."
A familiar aura emanated from the being before them, from this undead monster.
"G-Goddess... This is..."
Beyond familiar—it was a massive surge of sacred power.
They had witnessed a miracle.
At the same time, they realized this entity was no mere undead monster.
"...The Goddess's messenger has descended!"
The sword it held still exuded an ominous energy, but what did that matter?
This had to be the messenger sent by the Goddess to punish them for their greed.
Tears streamed from the Holy Knights' eyes.
Some even dropped to their knees in prayer.
Amid the scene, only Liana screamed.
"Snap out of it, everyone!"
She shook the prostrated Holy Knights.
"That can't be a messenger—it's just a monster!"
But no one listened.
They were all entranced.
Biting her lip, she glared at the skeleton hailed as a messenger.
Then she raised her sword.
If her subordinates couldn't, she would.
The skeleton, maid outfit fluttering, sword in one hand.
She advanced slowly, eyes fixed on it.
One strike.
One strike to end it.
Strength surged into Liana's grip.
The moment she raised her sword...
The glowing skeleton spread its bony arms wide.
As if inviting her into its embrace.
"Ah..."
It was too beautiful.
How could such a holy and beautiful being exist?
The sword slipped from her hand.