Paladin of the Dead God-Chapter 399: Beneath the Lamp (3)

The Lord of the Graveyard felt a chill of fear at the Immortal Emperor’s solemn words.

It wasn’t Isaac himself who inspired this fear. In fact, the Lord of the Graveyard still harbored a faint sense of superiority, dismissing the young Isaac as merely an arrogant mortal.

But the profound emotion conveyed by the Immortal Emperor—the one who had elevated Sarka Noir into the Lord of the Graveyard—carried the weight of divine authority, a decree no angel could disregard.

When the words of a god are spoken, the duty of an Archangel is singular: to obey.

[I shall yield to the commands of the one who always waits at the end.]

The Lord of the Graveyard bowed deeply, and the Immortal Emperor reiterated his grave instructions.

[Subdue the Holy Grail Knight and the Dawn Army traveling from the west. Angels will accompany you as your aides.]

Among the ranks of the Issacrea Dawn Army were at least two other heroes under the protection of Archangels, even aside from Isaac. While the Lord of the Graveyard was formidable, it was prudent to counterbalance these forces with additional strength.

Calling upon Dead December was one possible option. However, Dead December remained stationed at Fortress Gehenna, a presence that alone threatened the Dawn Army significantly. If the Lighthouse Keeper were to break their agreement, Dead December could be unleashed, bringing catastrophe.

Fortunately, the Immortal Order still retained reserves capable of resisting the Dawn Army’s advances.

[Choose any additional forces you deem necessary. I grant you command over the Eclipse Army.]

[Understood.]

The Lord of the Graveyard was slightly taken aback by the grant of authority over the Eclipse Army.

The Codex of Light believed that the entire Eclipse Army was stationed to defend Capital Ushak, but this was far from the truth. The Eclipse Army stationed there was merely a fraction of its true might.

The Eclipse Army had been mobilized only three times in the past 300 years, while the Dawn Army had been assembled thirteen times in the same period.

A full-scale mobilization of the Eclipse Army occurred only in the most dire scenarios—when the Holy Land Lua was overrun or faced an existential threat.

For the Immortal Emperor to grant command over the Eclipse Army to the Lord of the Graveyard signified that Isaac posed an unparalleled threat.

With this tremendous responsibility, the Lord of the Graveyard began considering the most powerful forces he could muster.

[I will assemble my strongest resources, Your Majesty.]

***

“...It’s flowing too smoothly. Is this all there is?”

On the day the Issacrea Dawn Army emerged from the maze-like valley, Edelred stood outside the military camp, gazing eastward as the troops prepared to set up camp.

The moment he muttered those words, Tuhalin stormed over and delivered a resounding slap to his backside, causing him to nearly topple over.

Witnessing the scene, Lianne was so stunned she couldn’t even scream. It took her several deep breaths before she managed to speak.

“While I understand the need for stern reprimand, Sir Tuhalin! His Majesty Edelred is the King of Elil! Anointed by God with rightful sovereignty over an entire nation! Please, show some decorum!”

But Tuhalin merely glared at Edelred. The latter, aware of his verbal misstep, neither displayed anger nor pain.

“It was just an expression, Storm Hammer. We’re almost through this ‘White Wasteland,’ aren’t we? And beyond it lies the Holy Land Lua itself. I merely found it odd that we passed through the maze-like valley—where I expected our enemies to halt us—without a single battle.”

“You heard him, didn’t you?” Lianne exclaimed. “His Majesty Edelred is merely expressing caution in light of how smoothly this campaign is proceeding!”

Tuhalin snorted.

“Hmph. For a moment, I thought you were frustrated like some warmonger who hadn’t gotten their chance to win honor and glory.”

“Others may pine for such trifles, but not me. I’m a commander. Securing the Holy Land Lua alone will suffice for both honor and valor. Why would I crave the severed heads of a few skeletons?”

Tuhalin had a deeply ingrained bias against the followers of Elil.

In most cases, his stereotypes weren’t far off, so he didn’t believe Edelred’s words for a second. But Tuhalin wasn’t angered by Edelred’s apparent carelessness in his comment.

“No matter your intentions, you should mind your words. You—no, Your Majesty’s words often carry an unsettling aura.”

“An unsettling aura?”

“Yes. If you say, ‘What a fine day today,’ it’s bound to rain. If you remark, ‘The enemy is unusually quiet,’ it’s a sure sign they’re coming. So, don’t voice such feelings aloud.”

At Tuhalin’s comment, Lianne finally snapped.

“You mean to say it’s because of some superstition?!”

“Superstition? It’s life experience.”

Tuhalin grumbled, his expression sour.

“In any case, it’s wise to be cautious. Something feels off. We’re like a dagger that’s pierced deep into enemy territory, ahead of the main Dawn Army. If the enemy’s nowhere to be seen, it likely means they’re readying a hammer blow.”

“Hmm, I’ll remain vigilant,” Edelred replied.

At that moment, a voice interrupted their conversation.

“What’s all this commotion?”

Isaac emerged from the barracks as Edelred, Lianne, and Tuhalin conversed. While Edelred and Lianne said nothing, Tuhalin was the first to speak.

“Nothing important, Holy Grail Knight. His Majesty Edelred made a careless remark about the situation, and I overreacted. He’s the face of a nation, after all, and I may have been a bit rude.”

Isaac quickly deduced the context of the conversation, his eyes widening slightly.

“Are you referring to the absence of enemies? I already mentioned that there would be no problems here. Still, you seemed tense while traversing the maze-like valley. I see you’ve finally started to relax a little.”

“…As you said, Holy Grail Knight.”

Edelred admitted with a hint of embarrassment. Isaac had assured them that the maze-like valley posed no threat, yet he and his knights had remained on high alert, vigilantly scanning their surroundings. It was an ideal location for an ambush, after all.

But, as Isaac predicted, nothing happened. That, however, did not mean their troubles were over.

“But it won’t be so easy from here onward. The Immortal Order’s forces are far more dangerous on open plains than in confined valleys.”

Fighting the Immortal Order’s army was always chaotic. Fallen comrades could rise again, or hidden troops could burst forth from the ground, turning any engagement into a melee. Such a strategy was much more effective on open plains than in narrow valleys.

Previously, the presence of Pallor and the fort had constrained the Immortal Order’s tactics. However, with the Holy Land Lua now in their sights, a grueling and chaotic battle was inevitable.

Isaac had prepared for such eventualities, but he knew the enemy was just as cunning, and hard battles awaited them.

“For now, it seems the enemy has chosen to prepare their defenses rather than attack us. Rest while you can.”

“Understood.” ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm

Isaac ended the conversation and turned to leave. As he made his way back toward the camp, Tuhalin followed, his sharp eyes scrutinizing Isaac from head to toe before speaking.

“When is the Holy Grail Knight coming back?”

***

Isaac gave Tuhalin a slightly awkward look.

Until now, no one—not even Hesabel—had been able to distinguish between Isaac and the fragmented Isaac. And with Hesabel, Isaac had specifically told her in advance.

Only Tuhalin had managed to figure it out.

“…I don’t know how you tell the difference, Tuhalin. But I assure you, I am Isaac Issacrea, the Holy Grail Knight. My experience, knowledge, and thought processes are entirely the same.”

There might be some slight differences in ability due to the unequal distribution of power, but everything else—down to their ability to share thoughts—was identical.

“I understand your skepticism, but it would be troubling if you saw me as a fake or an impostor. I am every bit the Holy Grail Knight, and I believe the original Isaac would agree.”

“Hmph, I see. I suppose I’ve harassed you so much that the real Isaac left you here.”

It was, in truth, a fortunate confluence of circumstances that allowed Isaac to leave his fragment behind and accomplish what he needed. But Isaac couldn’t share such details with Tuhalin and chose to stay silent.

“It’s not that I think you’re lacking. I’m more worried about the real Isaac, out there suffering on his own.”

Isaac, wandering the outskirts, had followers in the form of the Nameless Chaos’s minions. But even so, his journey was far from easy.

If the Dawn Army grew uncooperative, the Issacrea Dawn Army alone wouldn’t be enough to reclaim the Holy Land Lua.

In the end, Plan B would have to be enacted.

It wasn’t an option Isaac wanted to take, but in this world, you often had to return what you were given.

“I saw the traces in the maze-like valley. You hid them well, but there were signs of recent destruction, collapse, and battle. I take it the threats in the valley were dealt with by the Holy Grail Knight, and that’s why you said it was safe?”

Isaac flinched.

Tuhalin’s assessment was correct. Above the valley, Death Angels had planned an aerial assault. Without countermeasures, the Issacrea Dawn Army wouldn’t have stood a chance.

“I understand. But from my perspective, the Isaac fighting out there feels more like my true ‘commander.’ I might not like his methods, but I chose to follow him knowing that.”

“If I left to fight as well, wouldn’t you be the one to suffer most, Tuhalin?”

“Exactly. That’s why I’m saying this. Bah.”

Isaac knew he needed to remain in the camp, at least symbolically. While his presence served as a rallying point, he wasn’t without combat capabilities.

The greatest strength he retained was his swordsmanship, recognized even by Elil. Furthermore, the original Isaac had left him with additional power before departing.

“In any case, don’t you think you should choose a name for yourself? Even if you’re the same being, it’d be easier to differentiate between the Isaac here and the one out there.”

Isaac considered the suggestion for a moment but ultimately shook his head.

“Giving me a separate name might be more dangerous than you think, Tuhalin. I don’t want to separate myself from myself. It could lead to confusion later.”

“Fine. Then I’ll just keep being confused.”

Tuhalin grumbled as he walked back to his tent.

Isaac turned his thoughts toward the other Isaac, wondering where he might be. The power he had passed on to his counterpart was not insignificant. Yet Isaac had promised to continue sending strength and experience through his fragment.

Where Isaac had ventured, impossibility was irrelevant. At the same time, his journey confirmed Tuhalin’s fears: the danger he faced was real.

Isaac thought of the place known in the game as the “Edge of the World.”

“By now, he’s likely reached the Outer Boundary.”

***

The Outer Boundary, long synonymous with terror and dread, was a land so desolate that even those at the ends of their wits avoided it. Here, even solid earth and stone twisted under the chaotic forces enveloping the land.

Yet a strange change had begun to ripple through this nightmarish realm.

To hear of change in a place defined by unrelenting chaos was itself a paradox, yet this anomaly was significant enough to draw the attention of the monsters inhabiting the Outer Boundary.

“The traitor has come!”

A twisted crow, its head bent unnaturally, cried out, its voice echoing through the land. Tears of blood streaked down its malformed face as it proclaimed:

“The traitor! The traitor! The traitor has come! To this land! To the north! Go north!”