Paladin of the Dead God

Chapter 185:

Lianne was not considering reconciliation at all.

Isaac was certain of that much. If she were considering reconciliation, she could not have acted this way.

If both sides continue to fiercely clash until they are utterly exhausted, only then might they discuss reconciliation. They were wearing down each other’s anger by colliding with one another.

This has been the way the Kingdom of Elil has preserved its form without falling, even amidst incessant strife, a frequent occurrence in the history of Earth as well.

Lianne was merely following that tradition.

‘In that sense, Edelred, who wants to achieve peace without sacrifice, is the exception.’

And judging by the current flow, it was likely going to turn out as Lianne intended. Both Lianne and Edelred wanted peace, but breaking away from centuries of tradition and the pressures from their predecessors and society was not an easy task. On the contrary, Lady Rosalind’s forgiveness and reconciliation seemed almost like a divine miracle.

“What do you think, Master? Will this war end only after thousands of our people have been sacrificed?”

Edelred spoke with a tone of regret.

Isaac understood his sentiment, but he was worried about an even grimmer future. In fact, he thought it would be a great fortune if things unfolded as Lianne envisioned.

Though much blood would be shed, neither side was planning to annihilate the other completely.

Unlike during the Saltain era, the Georg family was merely trying to regain their lost honor, and the Aldeon royal family aimed to solidify their rule, so there was room for compromise.

“If you’re asking for my opinion.”

Isaac began lightly before speaking up.

“There’s a possibility that the situation could worsen much more than expected.”

“Worsen? Could there be a worse situation than both sides being utterly drained and dying?”

“Your Majesty, you consider the end to be marked by reconciliation. But you’ve overlooked something. There’s a chance that even after this war, we could remain the worst of enemies. Because of the Dawn Army.”

“The Dawn Army…”

Edelred murmured with a sigh.

Among the nobility cooperating with the Georg family, there were those hesitant to join the Dawn Army. Isaac suspected this isolationism was the doing of an angel. And, unknown to others but known to Isaac, this angel was also preventing a prophecy from Elil.

Isaac’s goal was to travel to the Holy Land of Elion to conduct a ritual and meet with Elil himself. It was a risky endeavor, but worthwhile.

He could not press Edelred about the Dawn Army’s involvement until he resolved the scenario with the Elil cult. Even if the followers of Elil enjoyed quarrels, the Dawn Army represented a foreign, unfamiliar battle between heretics across the sea.

“…I’ve heard that there are those who hesitate to join the Dawn Army. Some of my own subjects are skeptical too.”

Edelred spoke and then as if remembering something, muttered.

“Oh, right. What if they declare their refusal to participate… no, that’s not right. I misspoke.”

Edelred checked Isaac’s reaction, heavily reliant on him but momentarily forgetting Isaac was ultimately a delegate dispatched under the command of the Gerthonia Empire’s emperor, a follower of the Codex of Light from across the sea. And Isaac had one goal.

To help Edelred restore his authority and lead the participation of the Dawn Army.

If Edelred declared a refusal to participate in the Dawn Army, Isaac would have no reason to struggle here.

Isaac noticed his thought and gave a wry smile.

“Don’t worry too much about that. We don’t need to follow Lianne’s thinking at all.”

“Ah, right? As expected of you, Master.”

Receiving Elil’s prophecy would resolve both the recognition of Edelred’s kingship and the decision of the Dawn Army’s involvement. It seemed an issue Elil would have no reason to refuse, so reaching the Holy Land of Elion seemed not too difficult.

But Isaac had another worry.

“In fact, there’s another problem. There might be another force involved in this war. I’ve been collecting evidence since the battle with the Georg army began, and it seems increasingly likely.”

“Another force? Who are you speaking of?”

“The real threat in this war might be lurking behind the Georg army.”

Isaac deliberately spoke in circles. It was also Edelred’s duty to ponder this. As a king, he needed to broaden his perspective beyond domestic matters.

Isaac turned his gaze across the lake towards the Holy Land of Elion.

“The Holy Land of Elion is still under threat. We need to reclaim it quickly.”

***

As Isaac anticipated, the atmosphere inside the Elion fortress was no different.

Returning from a fiery battle, the knights of the Georg army boasted about their exploits, loudly discussing the recent fight. The insults they had received from Yulihida at the start of the battle seemed completely forgotten.

“Did you see those Aldeon fools, fleeing in panic? If they came all this way to run, why bother!”

“Haha! I thought they were city slickers, but they’ve got some strength! Now I see why we were told not to arm wrestle with Aldeon knights!”

“It’s been years since we’ve had such an intense battle. Almost five years, wasn’t it? It felt good to experience such a thrilling fight again!”

The voices filled the fortress, creating an atmosphere akin to a festival. Indeed, for many knights gathered here, war was a sort of festival. While strategies like ambushes and flanking were enjoyable, the followers of Elil truly reveled in large-scale engagements.

This time, due to the siege, they hadn’t expected a fiery rotation, but thanks to Lianne’s unexpected order, they were able to engage in a vigorous clash.

However, even amidst this festive atmosphere, there was a space where the air was heavy with stagnation.

It was the intensive care ward, unconsciously or consciously ignored by the knights.

This place gathered those who had fought the fiercest battles, yet they couldn’t boast about their great deeds or the strong enemies they had faced. Most patients were in a state too critical to be healed, even by the miracles of Elil.

Most of the patients lying on the floor were soldiers. The knights either died quickly on the most violent battlefields or chose to end their lives with the help of comrades rather than lying in the intensive care ward. However, the conscripted soldiers wanted to survive by any means possible.

In the ward filled with groans and weeping, only a few priests hurried about, consecrating, healing, or performing rites for the dead.

Villon Georg sat quietly, holding the hand of a knight. This knight, almost the only one among beds filled with soldiers, had suffered a crushing injury to his jaw. Though he was still alive, it seemed unlikely he would survive the day.

“That’s why I told you not to rush in recklessly.”

Villon muttered quietly to his son, Beowul Georg. Beowulf mumbled something in response, but it was only a bubbling sound mixed with blood and phlegm.

Villon did not blame the one who had inflicted such wounds on his son. Anything could happen on the battlefield, and whatever happened was considered the will of Elil, whether one was struck from behind, fought outnumbered, or tripped over a corpse.

Having survived similar fates numerous times and having killed many enemies himself, Villon found it ridiculous to blame his adversaries.

If there was anything regrettable, it was that his son had not been killed outright but left alive to suffer. Normally, comrades or friends would end his life, but Villon had brought him to the intensive care ward.

“Aren’t you still afraid of death?”

Villon asked, tightly holding Beowulf’s hand. Beowulf quietly shed tears in response. The tears, mixing with the blood on his cheeks, streaked down increasingly red.

Villon had seen this sight countless times before. Young knights who boasted fearlessness towards death, only to be terrified when faced with Elil’s battlefield.

Both dying knights felt shame, and their comrades felt embarrassed. Thus, ending their lives early was both a kindness and an act of bravery.

His son too had always cried out about dying a glorious warrior, but only now could Villon see his true feelings. Beowulf wanted to live. He desired to enjoy glory on this earth, not just in the afterlife.

“Don’t worry, my son.”

Villon leaned in, forehead to forehead with Beowul. A moment later, a priest who had been checking on the patients approached Villon.

“Shall I proceed with the rites?”

“Please.”

The priest moved next to Beowulf, scattering holy oil and waving incense around. After the rite, most of the dead soldiers would be buried, and the offspring of high-ranking nobles would be cremated.

But Beowulf would belong to neither category.

Villon thought grimly about the battlefield where he would reclaim his honor.

***

Similar battles repeated several times thereafter.

Aldeon army’s provocations and duels, Georg army’s taunts and fights. They exchanged blows like actors in a rehearsed play, spilling blood and fueling their fighting spirit.

Isaac realized that these battles were intricately orchestrated by Lianne.

In fact, since the Georg army, as defenders, had almost unilaterally advantageous positions, the fact that both sides were bleeding was a concession from Lianne. Was it a loss for the Georg army? Not really. Most of the battles ended in a clear victory for the Georg army, and their morale was higher since they could retreat to the fortress after the fight.

‘Georg’s resentment was stronger from the start. This could be a plan to satisfy their clan’s pride and wear down their anger.’

Isaac thought as he analyzed the battle. Though he was displeased with being drawn into Lianne’s schemes, if this was the ‘traditional’ method of conflict resolution in the Kingdom of Elil, it had to be tolerated.

‘If it were only Elil’s kingdom’s fight, that would be one thing…’

The problem was that this fight wasn’t just among knights.

The unification of Elil under the Aldeon royal family meant the participation of the Dawn Army, and the Dawn Army’s involvement meant that the Kingdom of Elil would break its isolation and become entangled with other faiths and interests. Just as Emperor Waltzemer had dispatched Isaac, other interest groups could also intervene.

Isaac wondered if Lianne had considered that as well.

“Right wing! The right wing is breached!”

Mors roared with a hoarse voice, moving his troops. Soldiers who had been on standby in the rear quickly filled the gap. Edelred watched the unfolding battle with a tense expression. As a king, his role wasn’t just a morale-boosting totem but also to intimidate the enemy.

If either side suffered severe damage, Edelred might join the battle wielding Kaldbruch, a pressure that even kept Lianne from participating. Thanks to this, the battle remained purely human. Though some knights achieved miraculous feats, none changed the overall situation significantly.

“General Mors, the Georg cavalry…”

“Again? These damned…”

Mors cursed under his breath upon receiving the report from his aide. The recurring defeats of the Aldeon army were due to the Georg cavalry continuously disrupting from the rear.

They didn’t attack but merely showed themselves intermittently to irritate.

But this time was different. Mors wasn’t foolish enough to be fooled the same way several times.

Mors and Delfric exchanged glances.

“For Elil, forever!”

As Delfric suddenly roared, the Aldeon army’s offensive surged unexpectedly. The battlefield, which had been reaching a stalemate, was caught off guard by the Aldeon army’s unexpected aggression. With Delfric and Reyna leading the charge as if there were no tomorrow, cracks began to form in the Aldeon army’s left flank.

Only then did the Georg cavalry begin to move. The Aldeon army, focused entirely on the front, was full of gaps. It was clear that their formation would collapse the moment the cavalry struck.

However, that was exactly what Mors, and Isaac, had hoped for.

Dududududu! The moment the Georg cavalry charged towards the rear of the Aldeon army, waiting for this exact moment, someone suddenly rode out from the woods in the rear. Some of the Georg cavalry felt a strange sense of déjà vu.

Isaac was charging towards them.

“Falling for the same trick again.”

Bang! Without waiting for a response, Isaac immediately decapitated the lead cavalry commander.

–TL Notes–

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