Chapter 758

Jin, marching at the front, caught sight of a strange movement in the distance.

A bizarre figure, shrouded in black from head to toe, its form indistinct. There was no need to ponder deeply what it was.

“Monsters.”

Creatures that had slipped out from the royal palace.

It was running frantically, as if being chased by something, but when it spotted the imperial army advancing from the opposite side, it hesitated for a moment.

Whatever thoughts crossed its cruel mind didn’t require much consideration either.

—Kieeeek!

Even the smallest of these creatures was desperately trying to throw Bariel into confusion.

The standard-bearer waved the flag vigorously—a signal that an obstacle had appeared. The once fierce and desperate chorus of the national anthem began to fade little by little.

Jin gripped his sword tighter and issued a command.

“Keep singing! Let the song steady your minds. Through constant prayer, we will manifest our faith.”

“Continue without pause!”

Dun! Dun-dun! Dun!

This war was unlike any they had faced before. Victory or defeat hinged on faith and morale.

As emperor, Jin needed to lead the charge, to strike down the enemy more fiercely than anyone else, proving to his soldiers that victory belonged to Bariel.

“Your Majesty, I will go.”

At that moment, Xiaoshi stepped forward. There were only three monsters, crude and unimpressive. Surely it would be better for him to handle it without the emperor stepping in.

But Jin shook his head.

“No. It’s settled.”

Xiaoshi’s resolve was strong, but it lacked significance. At a time when every action mattered, the efforts of an imperial officer alone wouldn’t inspire the troops. Just as Jin was about to say he would take the lead himself—

“If I must, then I will go.”

It was Eirin.

Her tangled hair was tied back in a rough knot, and her worn sleeves were rolled up carelessly. From beneath her horse, she looked up at the emperor with eyes full of confidence.

“Your Majesty, I am no different from the soldiers behind me. I wear the same armor, wield the same weapons. If I defeat that monster, it will give them great courage.”

If Eirin succeeded, it would instill in them the belief that they could succeed too. Besides, she was a paladin—proof that divine blessing truly existed.

She was the perfect choice, but there was another concern.

“Eirin, do you think you can do it?”

Xiaoshi asked cautiously. Whether she could defeat those monsters was the key. If she acted recklessly and was crushed, it would be a devastating blow.

But Eirin nodded confidently.

“I understand better than anyone the meaning of stepping forward now. I will win. Even if I die, I will die victorious.”

Her determination was unwavering.

Jin withdrew his hand from drawing his sword and gave a nod of approval. Just as Eirin was about to move ahead of his words, Jin called out to her.

“Eirin.”

He leaned forward and reached out his hand.

Their eyes met in midair. Eirin smiled softly and took his hand warmly—a handshake from a ruler to encourage a departing knight.

But that gesture carried so much more: a warning to be careful, a sign of trust, a command to succeed and return, and above all, a message of care.

With the emperor’s encouragement etched into her heart, Eirin drew her sword and slowly approached the monster.

Ssshhk!

She tore off her ragged sleeve. A cross-shaped scar appeared on her dust- and blood-stained arm—a mark she had carved with her sword during the great monster flood in the northern region.

“This time, I will not retreat.”

Compared to that flood, this was a trivial threshold.

Eirin gripped her sword firmly, lowered her stance, and then sprang forward without hesitation toward the monster.

—Kiiik!

The monsters opened their jaws wide, as if mocking her charge.

“I’ll tear you apart alive. Your shattered bodies will be seen by all—!”

Sssshhh!

In that instant, the monsters sensed it—the holy energy swirling at the tip of Eirin’s blade.

So pure and bright that touching it would threaten their very lives. Even from a distance, just the faintest touch made their skin burn.

“You’re too late.”

Swish!

Eirin muttered as she slashed decisively at the retreating creatures.

Even a light graze sent them reeling, shrieking in terror. Unfortunately, their screams were drowned out by the loud chorus of Bariel’s name.

Swish!

She pressed the attack relentlessly, enduring the monsters’ counterattacks with her whole body. Though tangled with three monsters, she showed no sign of backing down.

To be honest, she staggered and was pushed back a few times, but her posture was so upright and resolute that it almost looked like part of her swordplay.

“Eirin didn’t even know she was a paladin.”

“No way. Really?”

“That’s why she volunteered.”

“Amazing. She didn’t even realize it herself.”

“So don’t lose hope. Who knows? Maybe you’re a paladin too.”

“What? Ha ha! That’d be great.”

“Anything’s possible! Eirin was just like us before. Really.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

Even after awakening to her identity as a paladin, Eirin fought alongside the soldiers, enduring the war from the front lines.

Her presence was a beacon of hope for the troops—a reminder that they too could be chosen by the divine, that one day they might awaken and become something special, just like her.

“I too…”

Thanks to her, countless soldiers who had passed by caught sight of her and recognized her.

Even now, the soldiers singing the national anthem raised their voices again, inspired by Eirin.

Ba-ri-el!

They prayed fervently for her victory. If she could win, so could they.

Ba-ri-el!

Thud!

Eirin’s sword pierced the center of a monster’s body. Black blood splattered everywhere, soaking her.

But her brown eyes still shone brightly. No impurity could tarnish her pure spirit.

Ba-ri-el!

“In the name of God—!”

The last monster.

Eirin gritted her teeth, fury blazing.

“I will annihilate you!”

—Kieeeek!

A sharp tentacle brushed close to her neck, but Eirin’s sword was faster and more precise. The spot where the blade pierced melted away weakly, then lost its form and dripped down.

Swish!

The monsters’ bodies lay scattered across the road.

Eirin forced her pounding heart to calm and slowly turned around. Jin, Xiaoshi, and the entire imperial army were watching her.

She wiped the grime from her face with the back of her hand and raised her sword high.

Clang!

“I have won. A mere laborer from a back-alley tavern has defeated monsters by the power of God. If I can do it, so can you.”

“These creatures are nothing. With faith, the divine will answer, and we will return home safely!”

“Waaah!”

“Eirin! Eirin!”

Cheers erupted all at once—part song, part tears of joy. Eirin smiled brighter than ever before, her eyes sparkling.

Swoosh.

Then, a shadow loomed over the triumphant Eirin. A massive, dark silhouette.

The jubilant soldiers fell silent, and Jin’s expression stiffened. His pupils dilated and trembled in an instant.

“Th-that—”

Eirin slowly lifted her head and looked upward. Her pupils widened too, but only for a moment. She straightened her posture, gripped her sword, and began to back away.

“It’s the Shadow God!”

Whoever the Shadow God was, it had peeked down at Eirin. Even from a considerable distance from the palace, just bending over was enough to reach her so easily. The sheer size of the creature was overwhelming.

As the soldiers panicked, the commanders shouted.

“Stay calm! Hold formation!”

“The Shadow God has arrived!”

“Ahhh!”

“Keep your focus!”

Yes, keep your focus. The fact that it moved meant something was changing.

Jin was certain that the gray smoke and flames rising all around were causing cracks in the creature. The faithful were dying, and amidst it all, Bariel’s faith was growing stronger. The creature must have been wondering what was happening.

Then, a voice thundered, shaking the world.

—You are the Emperor of Bariel.

All the soldiers covered their ears. Their spines tingled. Only Jin stood firm, facing the voice head-on.

“How dare you, a shadow of God, speak of the emperor.”

—Pathetic, human.

“You are a monster. Who’s the pathetic one here?”

—Indeed. Humans have always been foolish and dull. That’s why you’ve come this far. Emperor, you should have been content driving out your brothers. Had you done so, you might have enjoyed power for your lifetime and died in peace.

“…Silence that foul mouth.”

The voice belonged to Arsen, the monster who had infiltrated the royal palace. There was a hint of laughter in the creature’s tone.

“Did you really believe that having Ian Hielo by your side would make everything alright? Your confidence is misplaced. Unlike Ian Hielo, you were nothing more than a fool, easily swayed by mere juvenile monsters.”

Jin clenched his molars tightly. He knew the intent was to shake the imperial army, but he could no longer tolerate it.

“What… what did he just say?”

“That His Majesty was swayed by monsters?”

“Madman! That’s blasphemy!”

“Wait a moment, it’s true that the brothers were driven out.”

“Juvenile monsters…?”

For the soldiers who had their ears covered, this conversation was shocking. The Arsen incident was a closely guarded secret.

Half of the central nobles who witnessed the event were beheaded, and the other half were silenced by the magic department’s sealing spells.

During the rebellion, the imperial palace was completely sealed off—no outsiders knew the truth: that monsters had taken root within the royal family.

“You bastard—!”

Jin lost his patience and struck the horse’s side hard. The emperor’s white steed reared up, neighing loudly, then charged fiercely toward the shadow figure. Even Xiaoxi couldn’t block the sudden assault.

Neither the mages nor the magic swordsmen could handle such a formidable opponent, but Jin was Bariel’s emperor. He couldn’t just stand by and watch.

With a swift motion, the shadow figure crossed its arms, as if to snatch the charging emperor.

“Your Majesty!”

Whoosh!

Bang!

But just in time, a group stepped forward to block the path—Captain Jaret and the palace guards, bloodied but unyielding. Among them was Beric, his face pale with fear.

In the blink of an eye, the magic swordsmen formed a semicircle around Jin, shielding him.

“No, this can’t happen.”

But it was too late. And they were outmatched.

The shadow’s attack caught one swordsman’s ankle. Helpless against the unprecedented force, the swordsman’s body was lifted off the ground and vanished from sight in an instant. The ankle that had been grabbed had long since crumbled to dust.

“Do not make contact under any circumstances!”

Kuuung!

Ziiing! Ziiing!

Jin stared blankly at the backs of the guards who had turned to protect him. One by one, those precious to him crumbled into ash.

Whoosh!

Then, through the gaps in the magic swordsmen’s formation, the shadow’s claw shot forward, intent on devouring everything it touched.

“…!”

Raising his sword to block the attack, Jin had a sinking feeling. There was no way he could stop it.

Clang!

At that moment—

Amidst a flash of white light, golden hair shimmered. The warmth of sunlight, the freshness of green eyes… As he registered this, it felt as if time itself had stopped.

“…Ian.”

Bang!

Without a word, Ian unleashed a burst of magic, repelling the shadow’s claw. Then, he radiated an energy Jin had never seen before, spreading it in all directions.

Jin felt it—something had changed.

Something beyond explanation…