Berter, the vice-captain who led the paladin order.
The paladins, including him, were advancing with caution.
They were currently in a mountain range near the Kingdom of Seil—in one of its caves.
There had been traces of the vampire they were pursuing entering this place, so they had followed it in as well.
Under Berter’s command, the paladins were searching the inside of the cave for the vampire.
“Everyone, stay focused!”
They had already confirmed that this place was not a dungeon. No dungeon aura had been detected, but the paladins could not relax in the slightest.
Above all else, their opponent was a vampire.
Even if it was a rat trapped in a jar, a monster was still a monster.
As a precaution, two paladins had been stationed separately at the entrance of the cave.
The number of those who had entered the interior now was eighteen in total, including Vice-Captain Berter.
No matter how wildly the vampire thrashed about, it would be impossible for it to break through this many paladins and escape.
In particular, there was another reason Berter remained tense and on guard.
“It’s too clean. This is a place someone keeps maintaining.”
Berter murmured softly.
The torches he had seen while walking through the passage so far.
They were lined densely along the walls, without a single speck of dust.
The torches, too, were all burning well, not a single one extinguished.
It was proof that someone was continuously replacing the flames.
“Vice-Captain!”
Eric, the paladin leading the way, shouted.
At Eric’s cry, Berter stepped forward to check.
An unexpected variable had appeared ahead.
“A three-way fork?”
The path they had been following had suddenly split into three.
Contrary to how it looked from the outside, the interior of the cave seemed to be an even larger place.
Berter pondered for a moment.
‘What should I do?’
For now, the best option was to split their forces and search.
What if they all went down one path for no reason, and the vampire escaped?
The current situation was an opportunity they had barely obtained after several days of pursuit.
If they lost it here, all their hardships until now would come to nothing.
If that happened, the worst situation would unfold: he would lose not only the vampire, but also the demonic sword he desired.
‘We’ll have to split up and search.’
If there was one fortunate thing, it was that this place was not a dungeon.
Because of that, splitting their forces felt less burdensome.
Of course, the fact that this place was being maintained by someone lingered in his mind, but he did not pay it much heed.
‘Surely they wouldn’t dare lay a hand on the paladins of the Order?’
Who were they?
They were the sole Order on the continent of Eldorad.
There would be no one bold enough to dare touch the paladins of the sacred Order.
However, Berter had one more problem.
The others might also see the vampire and notice the existence of the demonic sword.
Perhaps even those who had no greed might lose themselves at the sight of the demonic sword.
‘As long as I have the demonic sword, everything will be over.’
Berter made that resolve and tightened his grip on his sword.
He vowed that if there was anyone who stood in his way, he would end their life himself.
Even if that being was the Order itself.
Thinking so, Berter began dividing the personnel.
Their current number was eighteen including himself, and there were three paths in total.
They could form three teams of six and have each team take one path.
At most, they were only catching a single young vampire.
Six paladins were being deployed just to catch one?
It was more than enough—excessive, even.
Berter began assigning the men one by one.
“First, Team One will be Eric, Thomas……”
Following his orders, the first team formed was assigned to the path on the far left of the three-way fork.
“…and Kable. Those I just called are Team Two!”
Team Two, formed after Team One, took the middle path.
“…The team made up of those I just called, including myself, will be Team Three!”
Team Three, which included Vice-Captain Berter, was assigned to the path on the far right of the three-way fork.
“Everyone, do not let your guard down, and do your best until the very end! That is all!”
The three teams headed down their respective paths.
* * *
Celia, who had been eating dessert with Aren, fell into thought for a moment.
It was not a particularly serious worry.
It was merely a question of how to deal with the paladins who had entered the dungeon.
She had already heard the story from Aren.
Those paladins had likely wandered in while tracking Aren.
‘This is a dilemma.’
The first issue was her own role.
If she stepped forward herself, the dungeon would be protected with ease.
But would Master truly want that?
Recently, Celia had often left her post under Master’s orders.
If she continued stepping in herself, it meant there would be fewer opportunities for the others to act.
That, in turn, meant problems could arise in the dungeon’s defense.
What would happen if such a situation occurred while she was away?
To prevent such circumstances, she had to minimize the times she acted personally.
‘I believe it is right that I do not step forward in this matter.’
Celia decided to watch from behind rather than act directly.
Master would likely want things to proceed in this direction as well.
And her second concern was Master’s command.
At first, Master had told her to show mercy to all the paladins.
What, exactly, was the mercy Master had spoken of?
Celia had thought and thought again.
And she had concluded that such mercy was to be held in Master’s embrace.
That was why she had intended to turn the paladins into ghouls and place them in this dungeon, which was Master’s embrace.
‘I was far too foolish.’
But that had not been it.
Recently, Master had once again commanded that everything be offered as sacrifices.
‘He must have realized that I misunderstood.’
That was likely why Master had given the command again in simpler words.
‘……’
In Celia’s mind, mercy was ultimately still Master’s embrace.
However, the result was different.
To summarize, it was this:
Those offered as sacrifices would become nourishment and become a part of Master.
In the end, even if they were offered as sacrifices, it was the same as being in Master’s embrace.
It did not mean they had to be made into ghouls, but rather that merciful Master would personally embrace them.
In short, the mercy and the sacrifices Master had spoken of were the same thing.
‘As expected of our benevolent Master. Today as well, this Celia takes one step closer to understanding Master’s thoughts.’
As Celia nodded quietly to herself, Aren asked,
“What are you thinking about, pretty lady?”
“I was simply admiring our great Master’s insight.”
Their tea time continued.
* * *
The paladins had split into three teams.
Among them, the first to arrive was Team Two.
They were the team that had taken the middle of the three paths, and the paladins included in it could not hide their bewilderment.
“What the hell! Why are there goblins here?”
This place had definitely been said not to be a dungeon.
And yet goblins—monsters—were here.
The paladins thrust their weapons forward and raised their guard.
“If there is one fortunate thing, it is that they are only goblins.”
“He’s right! They’re just goblins anyway.”
All the paladins nodded in agreement.
Though there were only six of them, were they not proud paladins of the Order?
On top of that, all of their equipment was of the highest quality.
No matter how many mere goblins there were, they could not affect the overall outcome.
Some of the goblins’ equipment was unlike anything they had seen before and irritated their eyes, but they did not pay it much mind.
In the end, they were only goblins.
However, the problem lay elsewhere.
There were too many of them—far too many.
Even now, goblins were continuing to emerge from inside the huts.
The number of goblins kept increasing.
In that case, they had to change their strategy.
“Damn it! Hold out as long as we can until support arrives!”
Hold out.
They had to hold out no matter what.
It seemed that monsters existed only in this place they had entered.
Otherwise, this number of goblins made no sense.
If they simply bought time, the other teams would come to help.
Then, no matter how many goblins they faced, they would have a chance of victory.
And so the paladins confronted the goblins and stalled for time.
At that moment, Paladin Kable spotted a certain being at the very back.
“That thing…”
It looked different from the other goblins. In particular, his gaze was drawn to the golden crown sitting atop its head.
“…It’s a Goblin Lord!”
A Goblin Lord was a five-star monster.
And it was not even alone; numerous goblins were arrayed around it.
This was not a situation six people could fight through.
No matter how well-equipped the paladins were, they were being overwhelmed in the most important aspects: numbers and momentum.
“Shouldn’t we retreat for now?”
The first priority was to inform the others that there was a Goblin Lord.
They all nodded and began backing away, slowly, very slowly.
Showing their backs in a place like this was the same as death, which was why they moved that way.
They continued retreating while keeping their swords pointed toward the goblins.
Then the Goblin Lord began to move.
The Goblin Lord picked up a long staff-like object and soon pointed it toward the paladins.
“What is that?”
“Don’t tell me it’s a poison dart?”
A poison dart tube was one of the weapons goblins commonly enjoyed using.
Perhaps the true identity of the long rod the Goblin Lord was holding was also a poison dart tube.
“Goblin poison can’t hurt us anyway! Don’t worry, and keep retreating little by little!”
If there was one fortunate thing for them, it was that the training of paladins included resistance training against poison.
Even if they were not resistant to every poison, they had more than enough resistance against the kind of poison goblins used.
As they were retreating—
Bang!
A tremendous sound struck the interior.
At the same time, one paladin collapsed. To be exact, with a hole pierced through the center of his face.
At the event that had unfolded in an instant, no one could move.
What in the world had happened?
In the blink of an eye, one of their comrades had died.
Bang!
Another thunderous roar rang out, and one more comrade collapsed.
Bang!
Not a single one of them could respond properly.
Bang!
As the sound continued to ring out, one of them lost his reason and charged at the goblins.
However, the paladin’s sword was stopped by the strange armor the goblin wore.
“Uh…?”
Bang!
He, too, could not escape the sound of death.
Each time the roar echoed, one person fell.
Like the sound of death played by a demon.
It was secretive, and yet it inflicted tragedy and pain upon those who heard it.
Or perhaps despair.
Paladin Kable, left alone until the very end, threw aside even his equipment, closed his eyes, and clasped his hands together.
Then he prayed.
“G-Goddess… please protect this lost young soul. P-Please…”
Thankfully, the demon’s performance stopped.
But it was not because the goddess had answered his prayer.
For though the demon’s performance had ceased, the demons themselves were reaching their hands toward Kable.
Only regret and silence lingered.