Chapter 76
"You fool!!"
Slap-!
"Ugh! F-Father! The one at fault! The one who insulted me was that bastard! But why..."
"The one who gave you the emblem is Callias of Zerban!"
"Callias? It was that bastard Callias!? But his aura was..."
Above an average Paladin.
Even most knights couldn't move their bodies due to his imposing aura!
"Viore. The reason I've been lenient when you caused trouble all this time was because you at least had the eye to see value in things. However, if you can see objects but not people, there's no reason to leave you be!"
"There's no way he could have become like that! Tell me the reason. Please tell me the reason!"
"When will you come to your senses. Even the kingdom's number one rogue is now playing his part."
A rogue playing his part.
"What does that..."
Count Altemion let out a sigh.
"There was a great war in the North. The barbaric Orcs invaded, they say. Do you know who ended that war?"
"Surely not."
That's right.
"The kingdom's number one rogue. Callias ended that war. It might seem absurd, but they say he beheaded the Warlord."
"Th-that's impossible! How..."
How could a rogue end a war! Behead the Warlord!!
"After that, he marched south and beheaded all the corrupt nobles. The epithet 'Judge' probably belongs to him."
"That can't be! Such..."
But the imposing aura he showed then was indeed remarkable.
Was he truly a rogue?
"There are many things to say, but if what you heard is true, the price of the holy stone should be paid with your life. Tsk."
The debt imposed on him was vainly blown away.
Because of the useless son.
"It hasn't been accurately grasped yet. So don't act rashly."
No more.
"Don't bring shame to the family."
Thud!
Stepping out of the office, Viore clenched his fists tightly with bloodshot eyes.
"Callias...!"
Viore immediately ran.
Running and running, he headed to his separate building and went underground there.
"I'll make you regret this, Callias!!"
In that place, numerous demonic beasts were locked in iron cages.
* * *
Leaving the tavern, I walked through the streets of Caladi. Unlike the North, the weather was cool and quite pleasant. With the good weather, there were many people on the streets.
Unlike being called a fallen nation, the people of Caladi seemed to have leisure.
"The North almost had its castle fall not long ago, but this place is peaceful."
"Um, my lord. Is this really okay? Still, if he's a count's son..."
He seems worried about having touched a count's son. I told Brans one fact.
"I'm also a count."
"Ah! That's right! Hehe, I had completely forgotten!"
Leaving Brans with his meaningless smile, Helena joined the conversation.
"Even among counts, the meaning and weight are different. The Four Great Noble families have their rank fixed at Count, but their status and speaking rights are no different from Dukes."
The founding king of Carpe, concerned that the power of the Four Great Nobles would grow too large, granted them such uniqueness.
It doesn't seem to have been of much use, though.
"But Helena. How long do you plan to follow me around."
"Who's following whom! You're really delusional. I'm just taking the opportunity of visiting Caladi after a long time to meet some friends and stop by the Order."
"Then let's part ways here."
With Helena around, it's easy to attract attention.
It's not that she's not helpful, but I wanted to go quietly to where I'm heading from now on.
"What are you going to do? The letter of recommendation has been delivered, so you have nothing to do."
"I have things to do on my own."
"Uh... okay then. See you later."
Leaving Helena who disappeared into the shadows, Callias immediately moved his steps.
"She seems upset?"
"Stop talking nonsense."
Why would she be upset over something like that.
"But my lord, what are you going to do?"
"I'm going to find a Sacred Gold Alchemist."
The priority was to find a Sacred Gold Alchemist specializing in potion-making who could refine the troll's blood.
If possible, it would be good to also commission extracting dragon blood from the Thunder Wolf Dragon's blood obtained this time, and making the byproducts into artifacts.
If it's Caladi, there's a suitable fellow.
I'll just go find him.
And just in case, I need to find the Order's blacksmith.
I had left behind the Strong Spirit Sword, but considering when Dexter couldn't do anything, I needed to prepare other alternatives.
"Until contact comes from the Order, I'll have to wander around various places."
Though there's no possibility, I need to look into the Defeated Seed and the Holy Grail, and there are many things to do.
"Might as well investigate how the kingdom is crumbling while I'm at it."
Come to think of it, it's about time Cedric of Trista returns, so it's good to prepare for that.
If he found the holy relic as I expected, I should help the Twin Gods Church settle in Carpe, and if he returned without finding it, I'd have to find it myself.
For Carpe's reconstruction, various gods' orders would be needed.
'Cedric, huh.'
Now, unlike before, I won't be ridiculously crushed.
It will be a good match.
"I have no such intention, but."
"Yes?"
"It's nothing. Let's go."
A short while later.
Halt. My steps stop.
I could feel someone's gaze.
"What's wrong?"
"About four, no, fourteen."
"What?!"
Seeing their blatant killing intent, are they assassins?
Purpose, and motive?
"Surely Viore wouldn't have sent assassins right away. Did the nobles who are getting nervous send them?"
That could be it.
On the way to Caladi, I beheaded every corrupt bastard that came.
"Callias. What face did you come to Caladi with. If you had just died, we wouldn't have to see your face and we'd all be better off."
They reveal themselves from an alley.
They were several figures wearing black hoods.
"Hmm...?"
However, Callias's expression changes.
Though wearing black hoods, their soft curves indicated they were women.
Just as I was wondering if nobles these days also use female assassins, words different from what I expected popped out of her mouth.
"Because of you, the Sisters are still wandering and struggling."
"Sisters?"
As soon as her words ended, resentful glares appeared from all around.
The more than ten assassins were all women.
'Twelve Pilgrims, one Paladin.'
All of them were Pilgrims and a Paladin.
They were clergy of the Order.
"Didn't I clearly say three years ago? Never set foot in this place!!"
Three years ago?
"Ah..."
Three years ago.
Back then, I almost died once.
『The Prodigal Son of the Order』
Because of this damn trait.
"My lord! I'll handle this! This kind of romantic quarrel is my specialty!"
"A guy like a smashed pie, get lost!"
"Urk!!"
Boom!! Smashed through a building wall, Brans didn't move an inch.
Seems he fainted in one hit.
"Truly useless."
Even having experienced the Northern war.
Brans was truly useless then and now.
"Die!!"
Amid the nuns rushing in frenzy.
"Phew."
Callias could only let out a low sigh.
* * *
『The Order』
The Valterus Order gathers priests from childhood and puts them through several tests to make them ascetics.
Ascetics train in swordsmanship and go through the process of becoming Pilgrims.
In that process, they constantly repeat arduous training under the single-minded devotion to god.
Naturally.
Not only relationships between men and women, but even interaction is rare in reality.
Of course, just because relations between men and women are physically demanding doesn't mean they don't exist, but the structure makes it quite difficult for the term "playboy" to come up.
First, the training for men and women is separated and the buildings are also separate.
Men far to the east. Women to the west.
It's hard to even see each other's faces in the first place.
But. Callias accomplished that difficult feat.
He's not an ordinary remarkable fellow.
"I was just staying still."
He didn't even do it himself.
If he just said a word, they would climb over the wall at night on their own—it was the Sisters, not Callias.
Anyway.
'I shouldn't have added this kind of setting.'
Even if I regret it, there's nothing I can do.
It's already happened.
Honestly, even if it wasn't a setting, Callias would have inevitably gotten involved with women.
What can I do when this handsome face gathers women even when I stay still.
It's because I was born looking like this!
'The sin of being handsome.'
I was paying the price dearly.
"Die!!"
"Enemy of all women! Just die!!"
"Why didn't you love only me!"
Slash! Crush!
I didn't even draw my sword.
I just avoided their attacks by a hair's breadth with an embarrassed face.
The misdirected attacks headed toward the boxes between the shops. Amidst the debris flying from being smashed, the Pilgrims' swords vied to reach right before my eyes.
But to me, they were just slow attacks.
'Definitely.'
I had grown incomparably compared to three years ago.
I fought across battlefields in the North, transcending life and death.
Numerous Orcs and Grand Warriors.
The Warlord's axe couldn't be cut with just this level. Three years ago, it was certainly enough to kill me, but now it felt like child's play.
Having fought them, I could clearly feel it.
'Slow and full of openings.'
Their coordination doesn't match either.
They're just expressing their emotions and swinging their swords as they please.
There are Pilgrims and then there are Pilgrims, but their level wasn't that high.
Should I call this fortunate? But it's true that it's somewhat anticlimactic.
Moreover, the reason for fighting is also somewhat awkward.
It was ambiguous to even draw my sword.
So I grabbed the handle of a long, round flower vase that was lying around and struck down on a Pilgrim's head.
Thud, clang-! Crash!
"Urk!"
Crash! I run past the fallen Pilgrim.
Lowering my upper body and approaching in an instant, a startled Pilgrim thrust her sword.
Seeing her holding a rapier, she seems skilled at thrusting.
I turn my head to dodge and strike her abdomen with my palm.
Thud!
"Kuaaagh!!"
Boom!
Even without wrapping divine power, my body enhanced by Grace overwhelms the Pilgrim.
"So annoying."
"Ugh...!"
Sweeping my hair back as if annoyed.
Then the nuns who were about to rush in blushed and hesitated.
"With that face!"
"Don't seduce us with that voice!"
"Get a hold of yourself, Sisters! We swore to God we'd kill that bastard!!"
"......."
Something was getting worse and worse.
If I stayed like this, I'd only see more unsightly scenes.
For now.
"Running away seems to be the best option."
"This son of a bitch, the Sister!!"
Whoosh! Clang-!
I grab another Pilgrim's hand and deflect her sword, then swing it as is.
The Pilgrim caught in my grip tries to shake me off, but it's futile.
Like dancing a waltz, I suppress and face the Pilgrim's body.
"Release your strength."
"Wh-what..."
Her face turns red.
Even in this situation, she's not in her right mind.
Well, they were people who had held Callias in their hearts, so they probably weren't normal.
"Maria! What are you doing!"
"Sister Maria! Have you forgotten our oath!?"
"I, I can't help it either! And he smells good!"
"We were feeling that too! You devilish bastard! Hand over Maria!!"
Listening to them, it felt like even my mind was being polluted.
I needed to use this woman as a shield and quickly escape, but.
That was when.
Whoosh-!
Clang-! Screech! Screech!
Sparks fly from a sword that flew in like the wind.
'A Paladin is indeed a Paladin.'
Different from the Pilgrims.
Fierce timing.
A surprise attack that caught me off guard.
The killing intent in the sword is different.
"Callias. You're still playing with the Sisters."
A Paladin wearing a black hood blocked Callias's path and raised a blue-tinged blade. Being criticized for something I didn't even do was so absurd I couldn't help but say something.
"I was staying still then and now. It's them who were eager."
"Don't insult the Sisters, you rogue."
Swish- Clang!!
The power, speed, and precision were on a different level from the previous Pilgrims.
I moved the wrist of the Sister named Maria and deflected the Paladin's sword.
In the final fight with the Warlord, I gained a realization about deflection through Sasijakbi. There were few opportunities to test it, but this was quite a good opponent.
"Maria, release your strength."
Embrace.
Maria, whose face turned as red as if it would burst, answered with hazy eyes.
"Yees..."