Paladin of the Dead God

Chapter 249:

What is the highest honor and position a human can attain in this world?

In the world Isaac came from, achieving heroic feats might get one immortalized in a game as a character. However, in this world, one becomes an angel named by the gods.

Receiving a new name and being reborn anew—that is the status of an Archangel, the highest rank a human can achieve.

‘As long as they don’t entertain thoughts of daring to challenge the gods, that is.’

Among the Nine Faiths, there were gods who had been betrayed by angels, but none had fallen from power because of it, so let’s set that aside.

Anyway, Isaac was stunned by the possibility that such an immense position could be bestowed upon him.

His first thought was, ‘Is this even okay?’

Even the Lighthouse Keeper would know that beneath Isaac’s skin, there wasn’t just blood and bones. Furthermore, Isaac was a Nephilim. The angel who birthed a Nephilim inevitably became a fallen angel, an undeniable proof of sin.

Could it be possible to become an Archangel despite such adverse conditions?

There was no reason he couldn’t.

Belonging to another god’s retinue?

There had been angels who committed apostasy and became gods themselves.

There were those who renounced one faith and committed apostasy to join another faith and became angels.

Isaac could do the same.

Nephilim? There were already exemplary precedents like the Red Chalice and the Dancer. They weren’t angels but gods, yet Nephilim were evidence of sin, not the sin itself. If that were a reason for punishment, Isaac’s head would have been off long ago.

‘But still, an Archangel?’

As Isaac was lost in thought and failed to respond, Horhel smiled, understanding it as him being overwhelmed.

Isaac was indeed shocked.

“You seem surprised. Well, even I didn’t expect to deliver such a proclamation twice in my lifetime.”

Isaac barely managed to pull himself together at Horhel’s words.

“…So, you must have delivered it to Kalsen as well.”

“That’s right. The opportunity to become the messenger of an angel is not given to just anyone. It’s truly a blessed and glorious thing.”

Horhel observed Isaac’s complexion and slowly tilted his head.

“But you don’t seem as pleased as Kalsen was, Brother Isaac.”

Isaac quickly corrected his demeanor. He hurriedly knelt on one knee before Horhel and bowed his head. Following protocol, he unbuckled his sword and placed it on the ground.

“I dare not open my eyes to such unexpected radiance. Forgive me for not accepting it with proper etiquette due to my bewilderment. It is a glorious matter, but it feels burdensome for my undeserved reputation. Please withdraw it.”

Isaac had thought he would succeed and live well under the Codex of Light. If becoming a Archangel of the Codex of Light was foretold, he could certainly live a life of abundance.

But he couldn’t just accept it happily.

There’s no such thing as a free lunch. Promising generous rewards meant that severe trials were prepared. If he accepted it just because it seemed nice, it might end up being like signing a slave contract.

However, Horhel seemed to take Isaac’s humility as sincerity or deliberately ignored it, picking up the sword and handing it back to him.

“Stand up straight, Holy Grail Knight. I am merely delivering the proclamation, not an angel. It’s natural to feel burdened, but all this is the judgment made by the angels with their clear eyes.”

“But…”

“There haven’t been many heroes who achieved such feats at a young age like you, Brother Isaac. Even Kalsen, who was destined to become a Archangel, didn’t accomplish such feats at such a young age. Think of how many more feats you can achieve in the future.”

“…”

“And the Lighthouse Keeper only said there’s a reserved name. It’s not decided yet. Names are given after death, not immediately. Until then, they will watch if you accumulate enough feats, so don’t feel burdened.”

Cold sweat ran down Isaac’s spine.

That statement sounded like, ‘We’ll use you as much as you’ve achieved so far and keep using you until you die.’ It wouldn’t be much different in reality. But he couldn’t continue to refuse while pretending to be humble.

Horhel had already mentioned Kalsen, who was similar to Isaac.

If he kept refusing, they might suspect, ‘Come to think of it, Kalsen also refused the glory of becoming an Archangel by becoming an apostate. Are you planning the same?’

‘Damn you, Kalsen.’

In the end, Isaac concluded that he had no choice but to accept while cursing the innocent Kalsen.

Seeing Isaac’s reluctance to answer quickly, Horhel smiled.

“It seems you’re genuinely burdened, not just humble.”

Isaac seized the hope that he might not have to answer immediately.

“I doubt whether I’ve achieved feats suitable to become a Archangel. I’m young and lack the qualities to set an example for others. At best, I’m just a swordsman who knows how to kill and cut things. How can someone like me be suitable to spread the order of the Codex of Light as a Archangel?”

His words flowed smoothly when making excuses to refuse. But there was some truth in Isaac’s words.

Archangels symbolize the values pursued by their respective gods.

In the Codex of Light, there was only one Archangel from the Paladins, the Sword of May.

Even that was recognized more for creating the title of Paladin and devising the Paladin’s swordsmanship than for achievements in battle.

‘Kalsen was destined to be an Archangel but failed.’

Horhel seemed pleased with Isaac’s humility and said with a smile,

“Brother Isaac’s humble words seem to show why you should become an Archangel even more.”

‘Damn, do I have to go around extorting money now that I’ve become an Archangel?’

Isaac thought bitterly. But Horhel, seemingly not intending to pressure Isaac, sat down right in front of him.

“Alright, let’s discuss the qualification for receiving a name.”

“Yes?”

“The Archangel, I mean. Let’s speculate why the Lighthouse Keeper intends to make you an angel. Kalsen is a close example.”

Horhel leaned closer to Isaac.

“Brother Isaac, do you know why Kalsen was to be given a name?”

***

Isaac pondered how much he knew about Kalsen.

The Honorable Paladin Kalsen Miller.

The Saint of the Sword, leader of the Milishar Paladins, Skull Crusher, a figure who built his legacy through the blood and bodies of countless enemies. He had also been given the opportunity to be named. Horhel must have approached him, as he did now, to deliver the glorious proclamation.

Had Kalsen been a paladin with a normal mindset, he would have wept with joy or praised the gods to the fullest. But instead of fulfilling the glorious mission and becoming an Archangel, he chose the path of apostasy.

‘Why?’

Isaac recalled an interrogation he conducted long ago when Archbishop Al Durad invaded his territory. Al Durad had said that to prevent the Nameless Chaos from returning, they aimed to make Kalsen the new ninth faith.

Kalsen had agreed to this, resulting in a collaboration between the Codex of Light and the Immortal Order.

At that time, Isaac wasn’t sure if it was Kalsen’s decision or an order from the Church. But seeing how things unfolded now, it seemed more likely to be the latter.

Kalsen, who was supposed to become an Archangel, was thus made an apostate and expelled to the Immortal Order by the organization.

Anyway, it was true that he had once been a candidate for becoming an Archangel.

So, what achievements had he made to be considered for such a position?

“Brother Isaac, do you know about the Archangels of the Codex of Light?”

Isaac nodded.

The Codex of Light had four Archangels.

“I know of the Lighthouse Keeper, the Blind Sentinel, the Sword of May, and the Burning Maiden.”

Originally, there was ‘the General’ Elil between the Lighthouse Keeper and the Blind Sentinel, but due to the Elil faction’s disastrous events, he was excluded. Perhaps Kalsen could have been the fifth or sixth name added. But he too failed due to apostasy.

The Codex of Light didn’t particularly have many apostates. It just appeared that way because the organization was large and numerous. Even the Red Chalice had the Prophet of Red Flesh running away.

“You are well-informed. Kalsen was supposed to be given the name ‘White Hunter.’ But now, that name will never be used.”

Horhel murmured as he snapped his fingers in order.

“Do you know how Kalsen got the opportunity to become a Archangel?”

Isaac shook his head. Kalsen had won numerous victories on the battlefield and defeated countless enemies. He was the undisputed strongest in the White Empire. But it didn’t seem likely that he would be appointed an Archangel just for that. By that standard, even Waltzemer would qualify.

“It’s natural you don’t know. Because his true achievements have been erased.”

“…Erased?”

“Actually, about 20 years ago, there was one more Archangel in the Codex of Light.”

Isaac felt a chill down his spine at the mention of 20 years. The fact that he had no knowledge of this Archangel implied that the angel had fallen and been erased from history.

Isaac also felt a sense of déjà vu with the number 20.

“That Archangel committed a severe sin and went on the run. The Lighthouse Keeper ordered Kalsen, along with the Sword of May and the Burning Maiden, to find and eliminate that angel. Subsequently, the angel was punished by falling and erased from history.”

Despite two angels being involved, Kalsen’s help was needed, probably for the same reason Isaac was with the Kingdom of Elil. Entering certain places was impossible for angels alone, or Kalsen’s ability, ‘Lighthouse of the Watcher,’ was needed.

“Have you heard of the Teachings of the Owl?”

“Pardon?”

Isaac was taken aback by the sudden question. He feared the inquiry might be about Camille, but Horhel’s topic was entirely different.

“The fallen Archangel’s name was ‘White Owl.’ She created the Teachings of the Owl. Though her name has been erased from history, her knowledge and traces persist stubbornly.”

Isaac felt a strange ringing in his ears. At the mention of White Owl, fragmented memories resurfaced, echoing repeatedly.

It was a memory from Urbansus of Elil.

“It seems the newly named angel, White Owl, is making significant contributions in the Codex of Light. We cannot keep up with her movements in Urbansus. At this rate…”

The name echoed repeatedly in Isaac’s mind, making him feel nauseous.

***

Horhel patted Isaac’s shoulder as if understanding his reaction.

“I understand. It seems you’ve heard her name somewhere before. When erased knowledge is restored, it can cause headaches. I’ve experienced it several times myself.”

However, Isaac was experiencing something entirely different from what Horhel described.

White Owl, 20 years, Al, Baelbaden, Teachings of the Owl.

These words combined, leading Isaac to a hypothesis.

‘Could the fallen angel White Owl be my biological mother?’

If so, her falling and being erased made sense. The gods strictly forbade angelic procreation. That could be a greater sin than the radical Teachings of the Owl.

If true, Kalsen and the Sword of May would be enemies of Isaac’s parents.

‘Kalsen, you bastard. You kept this hidden?’

Isaac gritted his teeth, barely containing his emotions. Kalsen likely didn’t even know that Isaac was the child of White Owl. The Sword of May, too, seemed unaware of whose child he was, only recognizing him as a Nephilim.

‘Or maybe they just didn’t care. That’s more like them. It’s not like Nephilim are common in the world.’

Of course, bearing Nephilim was a grave sin, but as long as it wasn’t discovered, there was no punishment. That’s why a few Nephilim existed in the world.

Isaac calmed himself.

The only evidence that White Owl was his biological mother was the timing. Even if it were true, she wasn’t his real mother, so he had no obligation to seek revenge.

An Archangel mother he’d never met—more nausea-inducing than nostalgic. Besides, his targets for revenge were Archangels.

It wasn’t a goal that would help him live long.

Seeing Isaac trying to maintain his composure, Horhel continued calmly, as if Isaac had regained his composure.

“Anyway, because of that situation, Kalsen couldn’t publicize his great deeds to the believers. White Owl’s name remained in only a few records and among the priests.”

“…I see.”

“Although she was an Archangel, White Owl committed grave sins and went on the run for a long time. The Lighthouse Keeper was so pleased with Kalsen’s accomplishments in this regard that he reserved a name for him. In that respect, looking at Brother Isaac’s accomplishments…”

Horhel smiled.

“Indeed, your achievements may seem somewhat lacking compared to how much they contributed to the celestial grand plan. But as you mentioned, aren’t you still young?”

“…”

“The Millennium Kingdom is imminent. If you assist in the coming new order, I will show you the path to becoming a prophet of the new era, Brother Isaac. Thus, finally, your name will be inscribed as the fifth Archangel.”

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