Chapter 224:

Chapter 224:

However, this conversation could not take place in front of Dietrich. As the Duke of Brant, he was among the highest ranks in society, second only to the Emperor. Dietrich wasn’t just an observer in this situation; he was someone who needed to take responsibility.

He often blamed the ignorance of the poor, speaking condescendingly, but that was because he was well-fed and his living conditions were more than adequate.

Thus, Isaac had no choice but to keep his mouth shut.

Since he decided to accept Isolde, he had inevitably become part of the same group.

By accepting one side of this world, Isaac too had become a part of that world. The more he intervened, the more he became entangled in it.

***

From one of the execution platforms where the flames had died down, a charred skeleton still trembling was retrieved, and a new victim was brought forth. The new victim, dragged by the soldier, was a girl who seemed barely over ten years old.

“Wait.”

Isaac approached them. As an armored figure drew near, the soldiers flinched, but the priest, consumed by madness, did not. The priest glared at Isaac and shouted.

“Who are you? Do you dare to interrupt the sacred purification ritual?”

Instead of answering, Isaac sighed and climbed onto the platform. The blackened logs crumbled under his feet, but the foundation, made of stone, remained intact. The priest, initially startled by Isaac’s calm demeanor, grew even more enraged.

Soon, soldiers and knights began to gather, as if they were accustomed to such confrontations. It seemed that similar disputes had occurred before.

Among those who approached was a paladin. Standing at two meters tall, the paladin had a cold expression and wore a silver helmet. The priest, reassured by the presence of the paladin behind him, sneered at Isaac.

“This is Sir Leohen Ostara, the Chief Paladin of the Ostara Knight Order! The Skull Destroyer, the Hammer that Crushes Atheists, the Herald of Dawn! And you, a mere wanderer knight, dare!”

Isaac was secretly pleased with the drawn-out introduction.

“I am Isaac.”

Having become part of the ruling class, it wasn’t a bad idea to wield that authority freely. After all, he had aimed to rise to power to do as he pleased.

The priest thought he had heard the name somewhere before, but before he could recall, Isaac swung his sword, slicing through the execution platform in an instant. The sword energy from Kaldwin reduced the platform to sawdust.

The priest’s thoughts about Isaac’s name vanished.

“Sword energy, sword energy! It’s the heresy of the Supreme King!”

Isaac was satisfied. He had deliberately used Kaldwin instead of the Luadin Key to reveal his identity slowly. However, it seemed the priest didn’t even recognize Isaac as an ally of the same White Empire faction.

As the girl, who was about to be hanged, stared blankly at Isaac, the paladin named Leohen stomped forward and swung his mace at Isaac.

His body was surrounded by various miracles, emitting a dazzling light. Seeing his quick reaction, it was clear he knew what a swordmaster was and how strong they could be.

‘Now that I think about it, I’ve never properly fought the paladins of the Codex of Light.’

Isaac had sparred with the paladins of the Briant Knight Order led by Rotenhammer but had never fought them in battle. Now, this opponent was definitely trying to kill him. Leohen’s mace fell with the ferocity of a meteor.

Bang. Instead of taking it head-on, Isaac lightly deflected it. Leohen, wary of the swordmaster’s energy, also sneered at him.

Thinking a mace’s weight would slow its movement was a common misconception. Paladins could swing their weapons twice as fast as other knights and could handle them even faster with skill.

Especially if using advanced swordsmanship.

Leohen aimed to crush the swordmaster’s head with a swift strike.

His body spun like a whirlwind, closing in on Isaac in an instant.

In contrast, Isaac’s attack seemed lazy, almost slow. His sword had just begun to move.

It seemed certain that Isaac’s head would be shattered by Leohen’s advanced swordsmanship.

That would have been the case if Leohen’s wrist hadn’t suddenly been pierced by Isaac’s sword.

“Ugh!”

Even hidden under armor, the blade accurately struck the artery. When Leohen hastily pulled his arm back, the wound, slashed by the sword energy, tore even wider. Blood flowed profusely through the gaps in his armor, soaking the dry logs.

Isaac shrugged as he watched.

‘I was just mimicking it, but it turned out pretty well.’

He had merely imitated part of the swordsmanship that Elil had used to mock him.

A technique that targeted the weakest point before the opponent’s attack began.

Seeing that, even those who feared death would reconsider subscribing to life insurance. Isaac, recalling the chaos life insurance policyholders almost caused in the Kingdom of Elil, couldn’t blame the “procedure.”

However, if those who confessed and wished to cancel their contracts met such a fate, the remaining ones would have no choice but to turn to the Immortal Order.

It was a shortsighted and foolish act.

Above all, he could not agree with burning children as examples.

“I understand. But don’t you think it’s a bit excessive?”

“We will be more cautious in selecting apostates.”

Only then did Dietrich approach, sensing the situation had calmed down.

He seemed to be pondering how to handle the aftermath, yet he looked somewhat amused.

Isaac fiddled with his sword before drawing it. The priest, relieved to be alive, lifted his head.

In that instant, Isaac’s sword shot upward. The priest’s head, severed without resistance, spun and crashed into one side of the platform.

‘Come to think of it, the reason I obediently followed authority was to ensure no backlash when cutting down people like him.’

Until now, Isaac had complied with the Codex of Light to survive.

However, with the celestial authority recognizing him as “useful,” there was no need to cater to the church.

A much higher authority than any on earth acknowledged him.

‘If I’m a useful tool, you must also show your usefulness to establish a give-and-take relationship.’

Having become a part of the ruling class, Isaac decided to exploit that authority to his advantage.

“It was as light as cutting grass.”

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Isaac muttered as he kicked the headless priest’s body, ensuring everyone remembered his name.

“I am Isaac Issacrea.”

He made sure they wouldn’t forget by toppling the headless corpse.

“Remember what you saw and spread the word. Faith doesn’t justify everything. Divine punishment might not come as lightning but in the form of a wandering knight.”

***

Dietrich swiftly boarded the ship with Isaac and departed immediately. The priest’s beheading was shocking, but they feared the immediate arrival of enraged local lords, abbots, or paladin orders.

“What can a mere local abbey do to the Saint of Resurrection who fulfilled an angel’s command?”

“That’s a story that works in the capital or the holy city! Unless an angel descends to give a warning, the local folks value their relationships more!”

Dietrich retorted, exasperated.

“If the abbey priests gather to argue or attack, what will you do then? Will you behead all of them?”

Reflecting on Dietrich’s words, Isaac also felt some regret.

One priest could be punished for violating doctrinal principles, and the church would overlook it.

But beheading a hundred abbey priests would undeniably label him a heretic.

Dietrich’s quick move to get him on the ship was precisely because of this.

“I thought you were a clever son-in-law, but I never imagined you’d do something so insane.”

“I did it because I’m clever.”

Isaac responded with a faint smile.

It wasn’t just for the satisfaction of beheading the priest.

–TL Notes–

Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 20 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156