The Paladin Owns the Relic

180 – To the wire (4)

The knight of the forest came slowly down the stairs. I couldn’t say anything.

Natural cave. The entire space was filled with the sound of his footsteps. The sound of trampling grass. The sound of the wind blowing through him.

At last, his feet touched the floor. His hand was on top of the sword tied to his waist.

“…Go back to prison.”

“Why are you here? Didn’t you follow the queen?”

“He sent me here. Maybe he was aware of your intentions.”

“Bugs.”

It can’t be. Even if he noticed it, it wasn’t something he would have the knight closest to him do.

A messy situation. But rather than embarrassment, anger soared first.

That stupid bastard.

“…Hey, you stupid bastard. Why are you here?”

I growled.

“Did you run away to the end? Huh? Did you come all the way here just with the thought of obeying orders? The Queen’s intentions are obvious to anyone.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“I didn’t send you here because my heart is shaking! You sick bastard! You have that kind of notice! I’m not worth letting you go! The Queen has already given up on the truth about me!”

“…His Majesty always has a plan.”

“Isn’t that what you want to believe?”

“I will not say more.”

A sword sticks out halfway from its scabbard.

“Go back. To prison. Then I will spare her life.”

“This… Asshole…”

I glanced behind him. In a situation without holy power, can I break through that guy and escape to the ground?

Impossible. It’s a goddamn extrovert.

It is right to go back.

My head judges that.

But…

“…How is the situation outside?”

“……”

“Answer me. Duran.”

Duran closed his eyes. His sigh was long. The words he spat out were also mixed with irritation.

“All you have to do is go back to prison. Paladin.”

“Don’t talk bullsh*t. Say.”

“…Even knowing it wouldn’t help.”

“Tell me.”

Duran made an impression.

“…Why do you bother to listen to other people’s stories?”

“Because everything is my story. sh*t. Shut up and talk.”

“Do you want to achieve despair by doing that? Did you think I wouldn’t even notice the rats in your room?”

I wonder if that was consideration.

“Then send me away like this.”

“Your Majesty’s will. Sent me back to stop you, no more mercy. Go back to prison If you don’t want to die.”

“If you tell me the situation outside, I will think about it.”

“……”

The knight of the forest gritted his teeth and said as if chewing.

“Okay. I’ll tell you. The spirit’s army and your party are currently in conflict. Garnet is before the fall, and the time for the ceremony is imminent. Your party was stronger than expected and struggled, but other collaborators joined us as well.”

“Cooperators? The Crown Prince’s gang?”

“These are the people who helped us in our work from behind the scenes. I don’t know the details. They are only those who have been in contact with His Majesty.”

Duran said coldly.

“Do not wish for salvation. Paladin.”

“…What?”

“The skills of my collaborators are equal to or higher than mine. There is no outcome in which your party wins. The plan to rescue you will fail.”

“…Is stronger than you, who was made the incarnation of the world tree? What kind of organization is that?”

“I don’t know. But one thing is certain. No one will come to rescue you. All blocked Don’t hold out your false hopes, go back to prison.”

Duran glared at me.

“That is the only option left for you and me. Paladin.”

“…The escape plan was also blocked.”

My head was always complicated. But with that one word, everything was cleared up.

I turned my wrist. The body was heavy. Since there was only a handful of holy power, there was no self-regeneration, and there was no means to reinforce the fallen stamina.

“There is no reason not to go out.”

But it’s not like there’s nothing.

I was passing by and stole all my belongings that were kept separately. Pockets, of course, can’t be used, but the sacred object was also attached to the body.

The risk remains, but it is not completely hopeless.

I moved my hand slowly. I checked my body condition.

“…I think you intend to fight.”

Duran came down the stairs. Stood in front of me

“You have to see it with your own eyes to believe it. Priestess in the first place. Why are you resisting? I would have promised to free you.”

“I heard that sh*t from upstairs, so I told you to stay alone?”

“…That’s right…”

Duran drew his sword.

“You were brought here because you were such a man. I forgot. Paladin. You were a man who put the lives of others before his own. Okay. He’s a weirder guy who stays here. Because you… Were a fool who helped me when I was an enemy.”

“It’s hard to keep looking at that pitiful face, so damn it. Just shut up and attack.”

“…What do you mean I’m pathetic?”

“All. He said he didn’t like everything, starting with his face like an abandoned puppy that didn’t suit him.”

Thung.

The sword fell out of the pocket and fell to the floor.

“Then attack me. You stupid bastard.”

“…Are you even sympathetic to me?”

Duran laughed bitterly.

“It’s like… A ‘hero’.”

“Maw.”

“I will go. Paladin. Under this underground where even the voice of God has been cut off… I will see what your voice means.”

The sword of the tree spirit.

The sword of the one who couldn’t win even in its original state aimed at me at an angle.

“Do not die.”

. . .

「Mere theory is not enough. Zahard. That sword is not meant to be used like that.”

「I just need to know the theory.」

「I know your talent. But… There will come a day when that isn’t enough. You cannot move forward if you are content with what you have.”

The words Beatrice told me.

「Try to hold in your hands more than what you can reach. Talent is obviously important. But more than that… don’t forget that ‘mind’ is also important.”

Why does that word come to mind now?

The sword breaks. The blade he was holding shattered at Duran’s simple gesture.

A sharp sword strike that could pierce the shoulder. The body rolls on the floor. It rolls and rolls and crashes into the wall.

The back of a sword. I got hit with that, but that’s about it. Stumble and stand up

Isn’t it possible to get rid of it with a simple physical level?

“Give up. Paladin.”

The insurmountable wall is coldly telling you. I didn’t answer.

Stand up. Moved forward. He threw away his broken weapon and took a new one.

[Unbreakable Faith (A)]

The lifted spear was spun around. There was no spark by holy power, but I threw it out.

An eerie spear that pierces the air.

[Holy Destruction – Use Luin (S).]

The extended light split into three branches. It aimed for Duran’s body, arms, and thighs and flew rapidly.

But everything was smashed. The spear was broken in one blow.

“You can’t get over me.”

My face went back to the casually swinging fist. It bounces back as much as the distance it narrowed.

“…Cool…Lucky.”

My head hurt. He forcibly changed his face. The pain ran through his bones as if they had been cracked.

I forced myself to stand up. I threw down the broken spear and took out my greatsword.

[Executioner’s Greatsword (A)]

「Come on. Try following me. One like this two.”

“……”

Leaned on me. I caught my breath.

I took my foot off.

“It is already serious. Paladin. There is no reason to stand up again.”

The outstretched greatsword glistened in the sunlight filtering through the holes in the ground. A handful of remaining holy power gathered at the edge of the blade.

[Heavy Slashing Darkness – Use Stomp (S).]

Duran reached out. A huge tree trunk rises like an awl from an underground cavity and lunges at me.

I moved my greatsword. He burrowed between the shredded tree fragments.

One foot.

One step forward.

Broken pieces obscured my vision. The footsteps I forced out were twisted.

I missed a rushing tree trunk. The missed blow was slammed into his body.

“Keuuugh?!”

I tried to catch it with the sword, but my body was pushed back again. I was pushed back as far as I had walked.

The shock swept through my body. It was thrown into the long rising dust.

Every bone in his body shook. Breathing did not return. The cracked executioner’s greatsword was completely broken.

“It is an impossible attempt. Paladin.”

“f*ck…Kla…!”

He raised his sword.

[Infiltrated Darkness – Use Sanajeh (S).]

It was broken.

I picked up a dagger.

[Black Swamp – Use Favela (S).]

It was broken.

I picked up an axe.

[Crush Guillotine – Use Guillotine (S).]

It was broken.

He kept drawing his weapon. Broken and broken again, all the distant weapons returned to nothing.

The Tomb of Metal. I stood in the middle of it and gasped. The last remaining sword was lifted with difficulty.

“…A paladin.”

I heard Duran’s voice.

I heard it very far away.

I couldn’t see it properly because my vision was not properly captured. A sound came from afar, as if half of his face had been crushed.

“There are places in the world that cannot be reached no matter how hard you try.”

Damn Seon dialogue.

I staggered. A tree trunk piercing the air passed by me.

A clear threat.

“Do not move.”

I walked.

“Paladin. Your steps mean nothing.”

I walked.

“It’s a sound that will never reach anyone.”

I walked.

“…I.”

I walked.

“I must have said I would take it out. I must have said that if I waited there, I would take you out.”

“……”

“Why don’t you listen to me? Why are you forcing me to move?”

“…Duran.”

“I don’t want to kill you…Paladin.”

A distant voice trembled. I could tell even though my vision was blurry and I couldn’t see her face properly.

“I don’t want to kill you.”

“…Just…Having been together for a few months…To show condescension…”

f*ck.

More than anything else…

I really hate that f*cking expression.

“Hey… You idiot…”

I raised my sword. Looked down on me

It’s bleak. The last remaining weapon was at least a B-rank, slightly better iron sword.

Being sharp is all you have. Anything beyond that means nothing.

From noble mtl dot com

But I strained my hand into the hilt. He exhaled slowly to clear his blocked breath.

「Grab your sword and whisper to yourself.」

I can hear Beatrice speak.

Now that the supply of holy power has been cut off, voices that should not be heard are naturally heard.

「What do you want?」

What…You want.

I opened my mouth. A few teeth were pulled out, so no words could come out. His tongue was also bruised and twisted.

But he said.

I said it because I felt I had to say it.

“As you said…Just wait…”

Raise the corner of the mouth.

“It’s too late… You idiot…”

“…….”

Duran moved. My last sword is broken.

Duran’s eyes flashed through the scattering debris. The sword, which I stabbed with sincerity, pierced my shoulder.

“Big…Billion…?!”

“What did that mean?!”

Duran growled. As if the eyes behind the helmet were on fire, he vomited anger.

“Nothing changes like this! Paladin!”

“What… I don’t have…?”

“The result was the same! My heart hasn’t cleared at all! Damn it! It’s just…Everything has limits! That’s what life is! Holy Knight…! Destiny is predestined from birth! Even your suffering here is predestined!”

“That… Is…”

I grabbed the sword. The blade he clutched dug into his palm.

I swayed and drew my sword slowly. I tried to push away Duran’s unmoving hand.

“Accept! That’s… That’s life! We can’t do anything but accept! Nothing changes just by struggling! Give up! Give up and you’re done! If you just sit down, everything will be over!”

“You… From earlier… Bastard…”

I gritted my teeth.

“You’ve been… running away… you know…”

“Life!”

The sword digs deeper into my flesh.

I swallow a scream.

Duran shouts. It makes my ears ache.

“Life is like that! That’s how life is! I was born that way, so I can’t help it! Paladin! Everyone has limits. A line that cannot be crossed!”

“A bastard… who didn’t even try to overcome…”

“I did!”

The sword was drawn. The stomach that had been kicked went in.

Blood poured from his mouth at the broken intestines. He swallowed the dust and rolled on the floor.

A foot trampled my back. The sword lodged next to his face.

“I… Did it! Paladin! Didn’t you see! How I tried…!”

“Yeah… f*ck… I did…”

The words didn’t come out right. There was no weapon left to take out.

…But.

Isn’t there still something left?

“Did you…Really…Do your best…?”

“…What?”

“Did you try hard enough to die…? Did you sacrifice your life enough to leave no regrets…?”

「If you set your mind to it, you can overcome anything.」

“Damn it… You bastard…!”

I gritted my teeth. The chewed mouth was stained with blood.

I clenched my fists. I took out the last item hidden deep in my pocket.

“If you…Seriously…Was going to try…!”

I can feel the tremors riding on Duran’s feet. I raised my head as I fell to the floor.

The underground cavity was damn quiet. Duran’s voice is so empty that it just echoes.

「Please show me. Zahard. What you have.”

So…

So…!

“You…Shouldn’t have been here…!”

I have to speak out.

[Warning]

[Warning]

[Warning]

[Erosion begins.]

[The body is becoming contaminated.]

[Use ‘Demonic Sword Surt (EX)’.]

[Available time: ???]

[Surt comes from the south]

[Along with damaging tree branches]

[The sun of the dying gods]

[Flashes from her sword.]

Squeeze out all the remaining blood. Ride your burning heart and sing from limit to limit.

Exploding fireworks. Voices singing destruction reach my ears.

【What you have on your body is the barrier of an ancient spirit. Even the country can’t release it carelessly. You… You’ll die in that state.]

“……”

Stand up. I push the foot that is trying to press me down with force.

“What?!”

Immerse yourself in the bursting flames. I pushed myself into the pit of ruin.

There is only a difference between a miracle and misfortune anyway.

Gentle your teeth in your burning body. It forcibly supports the deteriorating body.

Duran took a step back as if jumping. Sincerity dwelled in the sword that sensed the ominous.

“What have you done?!”

“What are you doing?”

Forcibly restores the crumbling body. The demonic sword Surt makes the impossible possible.

Even if it’s my time being crushed.

I paid the price, so I vomit the result of that much.

“Something you couldn’t bear to do.”

It burns time.

Play misfortune to catch a miracle.

I grabbed the demon sword Surt. An extreme demonic sword whose life is in danger just by taking it out in a state without holy power.

I hold in my hands the worst misfortune that my body cannot handle.

“Now I…”

Ignore the pain and step out.

The flame burns.

Brilliantly with my heart more than ever.

“I am doing my best.”