The Holy Order was thrown into chaos the moment the paladins returned from the Mandarin Kingdom.
“Are you saying the beasts that attacked the central branch in the Mandarin Kingdom were not humans, but hybrids?”
Combining different life forms was not unheard of. The necromancers of the Grotesque School had long been creating chimeras, creatures made by fusing various monsters. However, these chimeras were typically low-intelligence beings, with only one monster serving as the central mind.
In contrast, the hybrids the paladins encountered this time housed two intelligent entities within a single body. Such a combination usually led to internal conflict or physical rejection.
“And it wasn’t just ordinary humans they combined. They fused a dark knight with a necromancer.”
“I heard it wielded both swordsmanship and dark magic simultaneously during battle.”
While both dark knights and necromancers used dark magic, their methods were entirely different. Combining the two, and enabling the use of both swordsmanship and dark magic at once, was beyond ordinary capabilities.
What was even more shocking was the dark magic the hybrid used.
“It could pull people into a dream and show them nightmares.”
“Even a first-class paladin couldn’t resist this dark magic.”
The Holy Order took this incident very seriously and began devising countermeasures. For Damian, this was a welcome development. In his past life, the Order had failed to uncover Dorogo’s identity until the War of Destruction was upon them, leaving them vulnerable to his dark magic and war machines. But this time, although Dorogo himself remained hidden, the Order had glimpsed a fragment of the threat and was on high alert.
“But who exactly is this necromancer named Victor?”
The next shock to the Holy Order, after the hybrids, was the dark sorcerer known as Victor the Woodcutter.
“I heard he put all the paladins of the Windbound Order to sleep with a curse.”
“And he left the hybrids in such a gruesome state…”
One hybrid was reduced to mere bones, as if a bomb had exploded inside it, while the other was shriveled like dried fish. Such horrific methods of killing were unprecedented for the Holy Order.
“Victor the Woodcutter… It’s a name we’ve never encountered before.”
“Victor… It’s a common enough name that you’d find a few in any territory.”
“What could the nickname ‘Woodcutter’ possibly mean?”
The priests whispered among themselves about the name Victor.
“Regardless, he’s undoubtedly dangerous. We should add him to the kill list.”
And so, a new name was added to the Order’s list of targets.
While the Holy Order was in an uproar, Damian found himself at the headquarters of the Sect of the Scorched.
“I, Blue Flame, am deeply disappointed in you all.”
The revered Blue Flame spoke with his hands clasped behind his back. Before him, the four paladins who had gone to the Mandarin Kingdom knelt with their heads bowed.
“I sent you to deal with the beasts, and you return having succumbed to some dark magic?”
Thanks to Damian’s intervention in dealing with the Hangar couple, the paladins of the Scorched were unharmed. Though they suffered from nightmares, they were otherwise unscathed. The nightmare-inducing dark magic was indeed fearsome, but not lethal to first and second-class paladins.
“Paramon.”
“Y-yes, sir!”
“And you, my so-called disciple, couldn’t accomplish anything?”
“I-I’m sorry! This unworthy disciple has tarnished your honor!”
“For someone who’s sorry, your posture is getting sloppier.”
“I-I’ll correct it immediately!”
Paramon hastily straightened up, prompting the other paladins to follow suit.
“To think you almost died to such insignificant foes… In my day, we overcame such dark magic with sheer willpower.”
As Blue Flame’s lecture began, the paladins’ faces turned pale.
‘This is rather uncomfortable.’
Damian watched the scene unfold from a nearby seat, exempt from Blue Flame’s wrath as an outsider. Still, being the only one at ease felt a bit awkward.
“Everyone, sit down.”
At Blue Flame’s command, the paladins collapsed to the floor, gasping for breath.
“Starting tomorrow, we’ll commence intensive training.”
The paladins’ eyes widened in shock at his words.
“M-master, did you say intensive training?”
Surprisingly, the usually composed Agnes stammered as she asked.
“Why? Do you have a problem? Want to bow your head again?”
“N-no! I’m just so thrilled!”
“I’m thrilled too!”
“I’m so happy I could die!”
Following Agnes’s lead, the other paladins shouted in unison, bringing a satisfied smile to Blue Flame’s face.
“Look forward to it. The new training will be less dangerous but more intense. No more broken legs like last time.”
Damian couldn’t help but wonder what kind of training had previously resulted in broken bones.
“Sir Damian, I apologize for putting you in danger.”
Blue Flame turned to Damian, who shook his head.
“Not at all. We all volunteered knowing the risks.”
“Indeed… Sir Damian, you are a devout man, ready to sacrifice even your life for the divine.”
Blue Flame nodded, seemingly moved.
“In that spirit, how about joining our training, Sir Damian?”
The suggestion snapped Damian to attention. He looked up to see Blue Flame’s expectant face, and behind him, Agnes frantically shaking her head.
“I need to return as soon as possible…”
“Oh, but if you send a letter saying you’re training to better serve the divine, your family will surely understand.”
“Surely the sect’s training methods are a secret. As an outsider, I shouldn’t…”
“Don’t worry about that! If I permit it, who would dare oppose?”
As the conversation seemed to spiral beyond his control, Damian began to sweat.
Knock, knock.
A knock on the door interrupted them. Agnes opened it to reveal the Holy Sovereign.
“Ah, everyone is gathered here.”
The Holy Sovereign limped inside, followed by priests in white robes.
“Your Holiness! What brings you here?”
Blue Flame rushed to assist, but the Holy Sovereign waved him off.
“I came to see Sir Damian. But… Sir Damian, you don’t look well. Has something happened?”
Instead of answering, Damian glanced at Blue Flame, who was shaking his head with a pleading look.
“Blue Flame here is trying to force me into the sect’s training.”
Damian promptly reported the situation, causing the Holy Sovereign to glare at Blue Flame.
“Blue Flame… After all I’ve said… you’re at it again…!”
“Y-Your Holiness! It’s not like that…”
“Silence. We’ll discuss this later.”
The Holy Sovereign’s words left Blue Flame deflated.
“Sir Damian, if this happens again, come to me immediately.”
“Thank you.”
Damian expressed his gratitude sincerely.
“But what brings you to me?”
“Oh, I almost forgot. I have something for you.”
At the Holy Sovereign’s gesture, a priestess approached and opened a wooden box, revealing a silver necklace.
“This is a sacred relic given to those appointed as paladins.”
Damian looked puzzled.
“Why give this to me…?”
“We intend to appoint you as an honorary paladin.”
Everyone in the room, including Damian, was taken aback. An honorary paladin was a title occasionally bestowed upon ordinary knights who had rendered great service to the Order. It was typically reserved for those of high rank, like High Class or Master Class. A Middle Class knight had never been appointed before.
“Given your contributions, we thought it best to forge a closer relationship. After much deliberation, we made this decision.”
The Holy Sovereign picked up the necklace.
“With this relic, you’ll be under the Order’s protection wherever you go.”
For Damian, it was an incredibly valuable gift.
‘As an honorary paladin, I can avoid conflict with the Almond Count’s family.’
Damian planned to head to the Almond Duchy to deal with Gastal. If any disputes arose with the Almond family, he could simply invoke the Order’s authority.
“Are you sure it’s okay to give me something so precious?”
The Holy Sovereign smiled at Damian’s question.
“We trust that you won’t misuse it, Sir Damian.”
Damian felt a pang of guilt, as he had already planned to exploit it.
“I’ll accept it gratefully.”
He didn’t refuse the necklace offered by the Holy Sovereign.
Afterward, Damian left the Order and headed home. Not to the mansion in Haxen Territory, but to Spring Castle on the Gargari Plains, where his family had relocated.
As soon as he passed through the castle gates, Demian spotted Victor chopping wood in the courtyard.
“Haah!”
With each swing of Victor’s axe, the thick logs split cleanly in two.
When Victor noticed Demian approaching, he jumped in surprise and shouted, “Young master! You’re back!”
“Yeah, everything alright here?”
“With me around, what could possibly go wrong?” Victor replied, thumping his chest with confidence. Demian couldn’t help but chuckle at his bravado.
“But why are you chopping wood? Couldn’t you have someone else do it?”
When they moved to Spring Castle, the Haxen family decided to hire a large number of servants. This meant that people like Victor, who had been with them for a while, were promoted. Menial tasks like chopping wood could easily be delegated to others.
“Well, my hands were itching for some work. Keeps me from getting bored,” Victor explained.
Demian couldn’t help but admire him. “That’s so like you, Victor the Woodcutter. I really nailed that nickname, didn’t I?”
“Sorry, what was that, sir?”
“Nothing. Keep up the good work.”
After parting ways with Victor, Demian headed inside the castle.
“We should change these curtains,” he heard as soon as he entered. His mother was in the hallway, directing the servants.
“Demian!” she exclaimed, rushing over to embrace him. Demian hugged her tightly.
“Mother, I brought you a gift.”
He handed her a bracelet he had received from Vigo. Her face lit up as she took it.
“Oh, it’s beautiful. What kind of bracelet is it?”
“It’s a relic from the Order. It will protect you, so you should wear it all the time.”
“A relic, you say?” She examined the bracelet with fascination.
“I brought one for each of the family. Where is everyone?”
“Your father, Abel, and Olivia went to inspect the estate. Louise is in the music room.”
“Then I should visit my sister first.”
Just as Demian was about to leave, his mother stopped him.
“Demian, it might be better to wait a bit. Your sister isn’t alone.”
“Who is she with?”
His mother blushed slightly as she replied, “Ballad is visiting.”
There was only one Ballad Demian knew of—Ballad Vigo, Louise’s fiancé.
The moment he thought of the man, Demian frowned. “That good-for-nothing is here?”