Episode 120: Nemesis (2)
The pursuit team wasn’t large.
The “Burning Ones” consisted of just five members: led by the first-class paladin, Paramon, with three second-class paladins and Demian Haxen.
The “Dazzling Pain” group was similar, with one first-class paladin and three second-class paladins.
There were two reasons for the small numbers.
First, the pursuit team had been assembled in haste. For the order, which was perpetually short-staffed, it was a stroke of luck to even deploy two first-class paladins.
Second, they needed to move quickly. The more people involved, the more logistics to manage, making a smaller team a necessity.
Thus, a total of nine people set off for the central branch of the Mandarine Kingdom.
”…”
Upon reaching the central branch of the Mandarine Kingdom, the pursuit team was met with a shocking sight.
The central branch was the hub for all matters related to the order within the country—disseminating doctrine, expanding influence, and tracking heretics.
It was a large, well-fortified place, designed to withstand external attacks.
Yet now, only the eerie cawing of crows broke the silence.
Bloodstains covered the walls, and decaying flesh littered the ground.
What shocked the team most was the statue at the entrance.
The massive statue, meant to symbolize the greatness of the divine, was now a grotesque display with dozens of corpses hanging from it.
Even in death, the bodies’ eyes remained open, frozen in terror and agony.
“So, this was their twisted hobby all along.”
Demian looked at the corpses with a disgusted expression.
This was why they would later be known as the Hangman Couple.
“Tin can! You wouldn’t know, but dark magic has a flavor!”
“My darling and I love the dark magic that seeps out when we hang them!”
They committed such atrocities simply because it suited their tastes.
“Paramon, let’s move. We need to meet the Bound Wind.”
The first-class paladin leading the “Dazzling Pain,” Servos, spoke, snapping Paramon out of his shock.
”…Let’s head inside.”
Paramon said in a heavy voice, and the pursuit team moved into the branch.
Inside, they saw several paladins throwing bodies into a pit.
“Move quickly. We don’t have time to dawdle. We need to clean up and track them down.”
A man was directing them.
With his glasses, he looked more like a teacher than a paladin. His features were delicate, and his eyes lacked intensity.
But a long scar over one eye changed that impression entirely.
Sensing their presence, the man turned to the pursuit team. On his chest was the emblem of the “Bound Wind.”
“Paramon, Servos. You’re both late.”
He addressed the two first-class paladins in a stern tone.
“We came as fast as we could.”
“The branch has been annihilated. You should have run as if your life depended on it.”
Paramon replied with a friendly smile, but the man only frowned.
Demian turned to Agnes and asked, “Who is he?”
“He’s Nadine, a disciple of the Green Wind and a first-class paladin of the Bound Wind.”
The name was unfamiliar. Even searching his past memories, Demian couldn’t recall it.
“Are the only reinforcements from the Burning Ones and Dazzling Pain?”
“Yes, we’re counting on you.”
“The Holy One has made a pointless decision. The Bound Wind alone would have sufficed.”
Paramon’s smile faded at those words, but the man didn’t seem to care.
“Not the most considerate personality, is he?”
Demian whispered quietly. Agnes gave a wry smile.
“Sir Nadine is known for that. He’s considered the strongest among the first-class paladins.”
An intriguing assessment.
“The strongest, you say?”
“Yes, his talent is so exceptional that he’s seen as the closest to reaching the White Rank.”
White Rank.
In other words, he was expected to become a master. His talent was undeniable.
“If you’re here, lend a hand. We need to clean up before the dead rise as undead.”
The area with the most bodies was teeming with undead.
The lingering resentment and decay of the corpses created a miasma that spawned undead.
Paramon approached the pit, then tilted his head in confusion.
“The bodies have no wounds. What’s the cause of death?”
“I don’t know. They’ve probably developed some new dark magic. It’s typical of heretics.”
Demian moved closer to the pit, needing to confirm something.
As Paramon said, the bodies were unscathed, showing no signs of injury.
Only their faces were twisted in agony.
”…So they used that.”
A faint trace of dark magic emanated from the corpses. It was identical to a dark magic Demian knew.
Nightmare Kill.
A dark magic that steals life or shatters the mind by showing horrific visions.
Despite its terrifying lethality, it was quick to cast and had a wide range.
It was a destructive dark magic born from Dorgo’s genius and malice.
“Damn it.”
It was the first time since his return that Demian had encountered Dorgo’s dark magic.
Something boiled within him. His mind felt like a pot of simmering stew.
Memories of the past flooded back. The days of being modified by Dorgo, killing people under his orders, and finally…
Dorgo’s voice echoed from the time Demian killed his family with his own hands.
That voice, those eyes, that laughter came back vividly.
He felt his sanity slipping. Demian barely held onto his reason. It was a close call.
“Sir Demian!”
Agnes grabbed Demian’s hand, channeling her holy power into him.
The divine energy spread through his body. Agnes’s holy power was warm and soothing.
“Are you sure you’re alright? Your expression just now…”
“It’s nothing.”
Demian withdrew his hand. He couldn’t let Agnes worry any further. If he wasn’t careful, he might be sent to the rear for mental health reasons.
That was something he couldn’t bear. Demian had to kill the Hangman Couple here.
Otherwise, he feared he wouldn’t be able to maintain his sanity.
“Wait, who is that man?”
At that moment, Nadine noticed Demian.
“I can’t sense any divine power from him.”
“Ah, well, you see…”
Paramon stepped in to explain, but Nadine pushed him aside and glared at Demian.
“He’s not a paladin, is he? Paramon, what’s going on?”
“Sir Demian is a regular knight. But there’s no need to worry. He’s very devout…”
“You’re insane.”
Nadine spat out the words.
“Allowing an outsider to join? You’ve lost your mind.”
“Nadine, I’d appreciate it if you’d watch your words. Sir Demian’s participation was approved by our master.”
“Then you should have stopped it. Did you just stand by and watch?”
Nadine spoke firmly, glaring at Paramon.
“I can’t allow an outsider to participate. Send him back immediately.”
“That’s not going to happen.”
Paramon replied firmly. Nadine’s face grew harsher.
“I’m not your subordinate. And as I said, Sir Demian’s participation was sanctioned by the Blue Flame.”
“If you don’t expel that man, the Bound Wind will carry out the mission alone.”
Nadine’s words made Paramon’s eyes widen slightly. After a moment of contemplation, he spoke.
“Then there’s no choice. Let’s each do our best.”
Paramon remained unfazed by Nadine’s warning. The two men stared each other down.
”…Tarbulah!”
Then, Nadine raised his voice. One of the paladins from the “Bound Wind” stepped forward.
“Yes, senior.”
“Go and restrain that man. Use force if necessary, but don’t kill him.”
“Understood.”
The paladin approached Demian. Paramon glared at Nadine.
“Are you really going to do this?”
“If you had opposed the master’s decision from the start, this wouldn’t be happening.”
Paramon furrowed his brow and spoke.
“Agnes! Protect Sir Demian at all costs!”
Agnes stepped in front of Tarbulah. Tarbulah looked at her with a condescending expression.
“I heard you just became a second-class paladin… Do you really think you can stop me with such meager skills?”
“You talk too much. If you don’t want to see blood, you’d better back off.”
“Then try and stop me.”
Tarbulah moved. In an instant, he was behind Agnes, like a gust of wind.
“Ugh!”
Agnes turned in surprise. At that moment, Tarbulah drew his sword and swung it.
A fierce wind lashed out. The invisible force struck Agnes all over.
“Ugh!”
The wind carried weight. It felt like being pummeled by an unseen fist.
Agnes was sent flying through the air, her body skidding to a halt as she dug her hands into the ground.
“Sir Damien!” she cried out urgently, her eyes fixed ahead. But it was too late—Tarbul had already reached Damien.
“Outsider, if you don’t want to get seriously hurt, you’d better come with me,” Tarbul warned, pressing a blade to Damien’s neck. A thin line of blood trickled down as the blade nicked his skin.
In that instant, a wave of revulsion surged through Damien. The emotions he had been holding back boiled over, slipping beyond his control.
Snap.
The sound of something breaking was unmistakable.
It happened just after Tarbul had raised his blade to Damien’s shoulder.
Damien Haxen ducked and moved inward, seizing Tarbul’s wrist in one swift motion.
“So, you’re going to resist, huh? I’ll cut off every one of your fingers!” Tarbul snarled, attempting to swing his blade despite his captured wrist.
At that moment, a surge of magic flowed through Damien’s hand. A sharp pain shot through Tarbul, and his strength drained away.
”…?!”
By the time he regained his senses, he was already on his knees, unable to muster the strength to stand. It felt as if his magic and divine power had been completely severed.
Damien Haxen placed a hand on Tarbul’s head, and with a swift motion, drove it into the ground.