Chapter 42: A Noble Death
Gregor's appearance brought about a great change to the battlefield.
"The indomitable Gregor has come!"
"Damn it, I knew I could count on him!"
"That damn old man! He's still in great shape!"
Tididdik, hwareureureu!
As falling flames scattered throughout the cave, casting light everywhere, the Mountain Rabbits regained their strength and charged at Viscount Erchi once again. Additionally, some who had been confused also came to their senses and joined their allies.
The appearance of the veteran mercenary alone had tremendous influence. But as if that wasn't enough, Gregor's blade soon pierced into Draug's torso, leaving a deep wound.
[Cursed flames! Do you seek to tear my flesh!]
Though it wasn't a strike to the creature's fundamental essence, cutting away a chunk near its side prevented easy regeneration and caused it to suffer.
Kuwoong!
[Vraak!]
And repeatedly striking with his shield, the monster's screams echoed throughout. This was because his shield contained 'silver', a material that suppresses evil things.
As a result, it bought the time that Calix had so desperately wanted.
Of course, the situation itself hadn't improved. Gregor would also weaken as time passed, and above all, Ella's condition was not good.
'Are humans truly better than monsters?'
She stared blankly at the corpses approaching her. The elderly and children were reaching out their hands, begging for mercy.
What was the faith she had believed in?
She claimed to follow God's will, but she didn't even know what His will truly was.
She had struggled to maintain her faith, but it wasn't saving the world.
Kriya still didn't respond, so her inner thoughts naturally spilled out without her realizing it.
"My path... Is the path I'm walking wrong?"
At that moment, Ella trembled. The weak power that had been remaining in her grasp disappeared. Kria's light had completely departed.
"Ella! Snap out of it!"
Then suddenly, the figure of a young man clearly caught her eye. He had the appearance of a well-raised young master, but Ella wasn't examining his looks.
Chwaaaaak!
He blocked the wave of blood that the Draug had sent flying instead of her, and
[Will you kill the poor sacrificial lambs yet again? To show off your cruel skills?]
Kwaak!
Without even reacting to the evil whispers, he gave rest to the elderly and children. All of this was possible because of a power that existed in a deeper place.
Ella saw it.
The power she had lost, Calix possessed it.
"You're protected by Kriya. But... How?"
She tried reciting prayers and taking out the sacred object from her bosom, but nothing changed. She couldn't regain her lost divine power, yet someone without faith was displaying stronger divinity than anyone.
She couldn't understand it.
***
The first to react to the mental change was none other than the Draug. Though fierce storms still raged in Ella's heart, what mattered was 'who was causing the confusion'.
[Sorrowful, that the dead should be insulted.]
[Woman, where exactly is your god?]
The monster changed its target and tried to grasp her heart once again.
Calix's gaze briefly turned toward Gregor, then followed the evil aura spreading through the air to reach Ella's face. He could clearly see the dark red energy and the Draug's whispers as well.
'Something feels like it's boiling inside me. As if I could cut it away with a sword.'
But would that be the best approach?
[Where is Kria?]
No. Cutting away the evil energy wouldn't restore shaken faith. It would be better to approach it raw and direct.
As it is, honestly.
Persuade.
"That's not what's important."
"...?"
[...Impure being, do you say that God is not important?]
Though Ella's shoulders trembled at the Draug's terrible murmuring, Calix paid no heed and continued with a calm expression.
"Is God's existence important? Humans are beings who create their own faith. And that faith has meaning."
[Vraka! You are not a believer.]
"That's right. I don't have faith. But I do have dreams. When I was young, I wanted to become a knight because of the storybook my mother read to me."
Though he answered the Draug, the one listening was Ella.
"Of course, the reality of knights was different from my childhood imagination, but that doesn't mean what I dreamed of, my beliefs and hopes, changed. Your question is the same. Just because God doesn't respond doesn't mean everything becomes meaningless. Faith isn't about someone giving you answers - it's about creating them yourself. At least that's the only thing I believe."
[That is how humans become monsters. Will you be any different? You too will eventually sacrifice someone.]
"That might be true. I might become a monster. But only oneself can correct that. I'm not denying human evil deeds. Everyone has committed irreversible sins at some point. That's why we struggle to change those mistakes. It's the process that matters, not the result."
[Do you know how cruel your words about 'the process being important' are? Humans have always driven out the weak with plausible reasons. So you too will be twisted. You will feel fear and terror in the face of change, feel doubt and confusion.]
"Indeed, you're right."
In the moment of silence following this unexpected affirmation, Calix turned his head to look directly into Ella's eyes.
"She was afraid. She was in pain, felt doubt, and ultimately fell into confusion. But is that bad? Is it wrong? Why?"
[...It's wrong! Even Kriya doesn't respond-]
"Behold, you evil thing!"
[.....]
Hwaaaaak-
Suddenly, the 'divinity' concentrated in his heart responded to a single word, and the Draug's whispers rapidly lost their power.
The mass of light that had only been circulating inside his body came outside and engaged with the evil energy. Though the amount was originally small, so it was closer to diluting rather than destroying the dark red energy, Ella couldn't help but be shocked just by this.
This was an unexpected result even for Calix.
The advice he gave to enlighten the other person was instead to raise his own abilities.
"You mock her past, but in the end, there was only one person who sought to save the poor. And that was you, Ella."
"I..."
[In the end... Did not... Practice it.]
"That creature's words are correct. You didn't act in the end. You failed to put your convictions, your faith in Kriya, into practice."
"..."
"That's why it has meaning."
As Ella seemed to have something stuck in her throat, unable to say anything, a gentle voice made her downcast eyes return.
"Guilt and doubt, confusion and fear lead us to tomorrow. Being shaken is the essence of humanity. Conversely, that monster probably neither worries nor regrets. This is definitely a much more difficult path. You have to doubt God's will, reflect on your own path, and judge right and wrong every time. Because mistakes cannot be undone, you must strive not to repeat the same mistakes, and sometimes even when the results are insufficient, you'll have to comfort yourself by giving meaning to that process."
"..."
"Then Ella, what will you do? Will you give up? Will you just wait for Kriya to respond, as if you have no choices at all?"
"I..."
"I don't want that."
At the same time, Calix's mindset also became firm once more. Since words gain power the moment they leave one's mouth, his attitude toward life naturally organized itself.
[Unbeliever..., you're an unbeliever!]
Sensing the ominous atmosphere, the Draug made its worst, desperate attempt, but the voice containing 'divinity' rendered everything futile.
"I'm speaking regardless of faith. I hate such a version of myself. I wouldn't be able to forgive myself."
"...Is that so."
"Yes. And now it's your turn to answer. Ella, what do you want? For what purpose do you need goodness, faith, religion, and Kriya?"
Calix used exactly the same question he had received from the commander in the desert, borrowing only the very last words.
And soon,
"Oh Kriya. I confess that I do not know your will. Since the faith I know is simply the practice of a good heart, if that is wrong... please punish me."
Hwiiiiii-
Rays of light swirled around Ella's body. Waves of light swept through the entire cave like a tide.
***
Divine power was unsuitable for killing living beings, but it was specialized in repelling corrupt things. The pure white petals spreading throughout the battlefield were just like that. The evil energies couldn't offer any resistance and were pushed to the outskirts, and once their connection to the main body was severed, they seeped into the earth.
This was thanks to Ella's blooming flowers. This wasn't just a metaphor - white flower buds had actually bloomed from her chest.
'The fundamental contradictions humans possess cannot be resolved. That's precisely why they can become life's goals. Wavering, doubting, but moving forward... That's what it means to be human.'
The enlightenment led her to a more mature path of faith, and as a result, sacred flower buds took up residence in her body while maintaining their complete form.
What did this mean?
The condition for surpassing the 1st rank of the holy orders was Germination - realizing divine power and planting seeds, and the 2nd rank was Sprouting - making divine power sprout based on firm faith.
And when one surpasses the 3rd rank-
Blooming.
Faith imbued with conviction blooms into flowers.
This meant Ella's abilities had risen to an even higher level, which soon had a direct impact on the Mountain Rabbits as well.
"Huh...? Output has increased!"
"It's back to normal!"
Thanks to this, the precarious battle situation was reversed in an instant, but the person who had brought about the change was busy preparing the next prayer.
Kwaak!
Meanwhile, Calix also left her side and charged toward the Draug.
The main force was in danger.
Pajijijik-peoeong!
"Gregor!"
The veteran mercenary was thrown several meters as if caught in a magic stone explosion. Afterward, he staggered to his feet, seemingly having deflected some of it with his shield. However, it looked difficult for him to continue fighting.
One arm hung limply - clearly broken.
"Heueuup!"
Puk, puuuk!
Royce's situation was no different. His blade no longer produced flames, and blood flowed from various parts of his armor pierced by thorns. However, the bigger problem was that the wounded areas were being eroded by dark red energy.
Though he didn't know what great price had to be paid to use techniques like Wind Scar or Falling Fire, it was certain that both Gregor and Royce had reached their limits.
"Calix! Protect Ella!"
"Normal attacks don't work at all! This isn't your place- keup!"
Even so, both men immediately tried to stop him once they noticed Calix's presence. They meant he had done his share, so he should go protect the cleric in the rear.
It would be right to listen to those words. Just as Ella followed her god, he followed Royce and Gregor.
However, Calix also had convictions. To examine various conditions in detail, establish clear standards, and once a judgment was made, never look back.
[Battle Acceleration Activated]
[Reality Acceleration '2.3'x.]
[User achieves swift speed]
Kwaaaak!
Soon, time slowed down, his heartbeat rose to its extreme, and fierce power was infused into his striding feet.
"Calix!"
Yes, that was the name of the child who had dreamed of becoming a knight.
[Insignificant human, do you dare to challenge this body!]
At the same time, the Draug's angry voice pierced his ears. But naturally, he hadn't charged to win. Dealing the fatal blow was someone else's role.
"Scattered petals do not resent the wind, dying flames do not fear the darkness, and flowing rivers continue to flow even without knowing their end."
He just needed to buy time for Ella's prayer to finish. And for that, he had to overcome the wall. He would need 'Wind Scar' to deflect even once.
Could he do it? - he didn't ask such a stupid question.
After raising his concentration to its limit, he called up past memories layer by layer.
'Cook comrade, it's not the feet that go first. The feet go where the body goes. Do you understand that difference?'
He didn't understand then.
'The final movement is to gather all your strength and swing. What's important here isn't swinging strongly and fast. Wind Scar isn't completed just by the neural accelerator's output alone.'
Strength wasn't important. Even if the cutting motion was long, the 'position where the blade cuts' was only one place from start to finish.
Now he knew.
In addition, he called up experiences from sparring with the knight commanders into his mind. He decided for himself what to use and what to discard, from one to ten.
And at the end, only one thing remained.
'Remember the basics! Why would I sing about basics, basics?'
Surprisingly, what remained in his mind wasn't swordsmanship but 'fundamentals'. The single movement that Gregor had first shown him - cutting.
What he had learned from experiencing various sword techniques had actually been hidden within the simplest single movement.
[Sleep in eternal shadows!]
The Draug's cry had no effect on him. Calix simply devoted his entire mind to swinging his sword. A position right in front of the Draug's nose. Since the posture was ingrained in his body, there was no need to be conscious of it or force power into it.
He breathed in. His heart pounded. As all sounds grew distant, only his body and the line called a sword remained.
Centering on a single point, he cut smoothly, and his feet followed where his body went. At that moment, it wasn't the sword chasing the wind, but the wind flowing along the sword. The flesh became the sword, and the sword became the wind.
The simultaneous manifestation of 'divinity' was a bonus as the mana in his heart exploded outward.
Swaeeeeeak, seogek-
What exactly was Wind Scar?
Gregor had said it was 'cutting without touching'. Those words were correct. The hand the Draug extended crumbled, was severed, and flew in chunks to crash on the floor even before touching the blade.
It felt like an invisible blade had been added.
Indeed, the monster born from shadows couldn't even let out a groan as it watched the darkness surrounding it collapse. Its flesh that boasted immortality was already disappearing, even though it hadn't been cut.
However, even in the midst of this, the Draug's other hand transformed into something sharp like an awl and flew toward his chest... But Calix ignored the enemy's attack.
Shuuuuk, kwaak!
The following impact was considerable. The sensation of his entire body being thrown back from his chest. It wouldn't be strange if his chest had been pierced through. However, even as his body was being pushed back, he cut to the very end.
That fact was important.
Kugagagagak!
Wind Scar didn't lose power even after severing the monster's forearm, and after penetrating and penetrating again, it finally tore open the Draug's core.
As flesh exploded and meat chunks flew away, the 'core' inside its head was revealed.
[Zrakk... Zrakk...]
[Keueu... keueueu...]
[Vraak... shaak...]
[Cursed... power...]
After whispers that could have been screams or curses spread, the monster born from shadows let out pain-filled groans and writhed its hideous flesh. From the wounded area, blood-red mist spread darkly, struggling to cover the torn gaps.
Though the attack worked because his swordsmanship had reached a higher level, the creature's body couldn't regenerate thanks to the divinity contained in Calix's mana.
And into that space, Kriya descended.
"I do not ask God's will. I do not rely on God's name, and I will silently walk the path given to me. Impure thing, please behold."
[No... No! This cannot be! Stop!]
"Having embraced sacred light, in the holy grail... A flower has bloomed."
Ella's holy spell was completed in time. Her prayer was both quiet and passionate. Though tears flowed from her eyes, she didn't look weak, and though her frame was small, she had dignity.
And soon, as she stretched out both arms, a holy grail welled up from her chest.
The sacred object made of transparent light floated up into the air as if descending from heaven, and under the rippling waves of light, a single flower slowly bloomed. This wasn't physical, but it was sacred by its very existence.
Shwaaaaaa!
Then, waves of divine power washed away all corrupt beings. The overwhelming waves of power shattered the Draug's core, burst its flesh, and liberated the captured souls.
[Kiiaaaaa-]
The monster shrieked with a tearing sound, blood flowed backward up the cave walls, and evil spirit shadows screamed in the air. Darkness was torn apart while screaming.
"Ah..."
Still, Ella felt regret because she couldn't completely annihilate the impure being.
[I... will not be extinguished... When this place becomes dark again..., surely...]
The demon born in the shadow lands returned to where it was born, leaving behind its death throes. Fragments of its soul escaped outside the cave, so it would return someday.
Whatever happened afterward, the abnormal phenomenon had ended. With this, the cleric who had reached the 4th rank suddenly came to her senses and rushed forward.
"Calix!"
Like Royce and Gregor, she too was worried about the one who had allowed the Draug's final attack. Among them, the old man ran over first and frantically searched through the young man's chest with his one unbroken hand.
Inside, instead of blood, thin ochre-colored scales glittered.
"...Sand Worm scales! Ha, hahahaha. This damn rascal."
"Sand Worm scales? Then he's okay?"
"Yes. Fortunately. It seems Basim made them. He lost consciousness for a moment, but his life shouldn't be in danger. He's breathing well."
Kuleuk, kuleuk.
As Calix coughed and regained consciousness as if he'd been waiting, both men let out sighs of relief in unison. However, that was only momentary - they looked toward one side of the cave again.
There was still one thing they hadn't resolved.
***
In the silent cave, the blood stuck to the floor remained. Though the eerie whispers, evil beings, monsters and corpses had all disappeared, one person remained - Viscount Erchi.
Kuwoong!
"Th-this... Get up!"
When Viscount Erchi's beloved horse collapsed, foaming at the mouth, he looked around and breathed heavily. Before he knew it, the Mountain Rabbits had surrounded him.
Euheuheuheu.
He tried to suppress his fear with thin laughter. At some point, as the body enhancement drug wore off and he regained his reason... The situation didn't look good at all.
All around were lowly mercenaries. Even the monster he had inwardly considered an ally was nowhere to be found.
He had fed it hundreds of people!
"The Anomalous phenomenon, the Anomalous phenomenon is..."
"It's over."
"..."
To make matters worse, the body enhancement drug's overload reached its limit.
His heartbeat became irregular, and his vision blurred. His legs trembled and couldn't support the weight of his armor, so when he tried to stand up, he ended up kneeling with a thud.
However, the Mountain Rabbits had no intention of showing mercy.
"I say, my lord."
"Why are you doing this...?"
"Do you know how many died today thanks to your lordship?"
"Me? Because of me?"
With servility added to his face dried with bloody tears, it was quite disgusting. Just as the fight with the main Draug body had been fierce, this side too had paid a great price.
"Six official members plus twenty more died. Fifteen of them died by your hand."
"...I'll compensate."
"Compensation?"
How thorough the Mountain Rabbits' discipline was became evident in the reaction that followed. They laughed. To suppress their killing intent.
"Hahaha, well now... Give us a reason instead of compensation."
"A reason...?"
"A reason not to kill you."
There was no way such a thing existed.
Viscount Erchi desperately gasped for breath and made his final struggle. Instead of force, he used his status to put on airs.
"Y-you! Don't you know what happens when you kill a noble? The royal family won't stand for it! I'm very close with Duke Saitz-"
"Ah, that bastard."
"Uh..."
"You're close with that son of a bitch? Suddenly I'm happy he showed up, damn it."
"..."
Crazy bastards.
They were completely insane. To dare compare Duke Saitz to a dog - even ten necks wouldn't be enough. Yes, this was treason.
That's when it happened.
Commander Royce asked a question with a tired voice.
"That's not enough reason to spare you. The knights you killed... Were they different from you?"
"Of course, they're different! Weren't they under me! I have the right to do that! The right to..."
Viscount Erchi turned pale as he spoke. He suddenly realized he had confessed to killing the knights. Now even excuses wouldn't work.
After that, Royce exchanged glances with each of his members one by one. A silent question of what they thought.
And when it came to the dwarf Basim's turn at the end, he broke through the suffocating silence and answered directly.
"Viscount Erchi was truly a remarkable person. He was a great man that even I, a dwarf, acknowledged."
"...?"
As everyone turned at the unexpected words, he recited in a calm expression. What the Mountain Rabbits needed. A definite excuse that would make it okay to kill him had occurred to him.
"To meet death while fighting against such an evil being as a Draug. How regrettable yet... How noble an end, isn't it?"
"...!"
The faces of the mercenaries who understood the meaning changed one by one. The commander's permission had already been given, so if a reasonable cause was provided as well, was there any need to hesitate?
Seureureu-
The blades of veteran mercenaries who had sent off their sworn companions and newcomers who had lost comrades since their conscription days flashed in unison.
"...W-wait, wait a moment!"
Puuuk!
Puk, puk, puk, puk, puuuuk!
He tried to block with his bloodied hands raised, but no one listened. And Viscount Erchi's final words were-
"Heueu, m-money, I'll give you gold and land... keueuuk."
As a noble, it was utterly undignified.