Paladin of the Dead God

“Did you say I’m to lead the Ciero Dawn Army?”

Soltnar frowned at the interruption but didn’t chastise Isaac.

“Yes, that’s right. Priest Ciero has recognized his own shortcomings and has stepped down from his position. It is truly a blessing that you, Sir Isaac, will now represent the voice of the Dawn Army. Thus, His Holiness the Pope has appointed the Saint of Resurrection to wield the sword of the church in his stead.”

Though Soltnar’s words were polite, Isaac found them difficult to accept.

It was clear that the clergy had no intention of strengthening Isaac’s position. In fact, they were trying to rein in the Issacrea Dawn Army.

“…The Issacrea Dawn Army has a unique nature. If I don’t lead them, there’s a high chance they’ll splinter by faction or fail to perform effectively.”

“You needn’t worry. A great paladin will soon arrive to lead in your place. With the blessings and miracles of the Codex of Light, the Issacrea Dawn Army will soon wield an even stronger sword and shield.”

Isaac struggled to suppress the deep rage welling up inside him.

‘So, this is their move, huh?’

The Pope’s intentions were obvious. The Issacrea Dawn Army was too different from the main Dawn Army, as it was a coalition of Isaac’s personal soldiers and heretics. Naturally, this would make the church uneasy.

Their plan was to remove Isaac as the head, mix in various soldiers, priests, and paladins, and blur the army’s identity.

The problem was that Isaac had no clear grounds to refuse. If he rejected the offer, it would be like admitting that the Issacrea Dawn Army was just his personal force. But if he accepted, he would be stuck leading the ragtag Ciero Dawn Army instead.

‘Could I still reclaim the Holy Land with them… Probably. Yes, damn it, I could.’

Honestly, Isaac was confident that even with that disorganized army, he could reclaim the Holy Land. His vast experience and knowledge of strategies gave him that confidence. But doing so would mean sacrificing much of what he had been preparing and accepting a significant loss.

Isaac now understood why the church had sent an Inquisitor instead of just a simple letter.

They were already suspicious of him.

They wanted to know if he had any hidden intentions.

They were likely already questioning his soldiers or associates through the Inquisition outside the camp.

‘The Lighthouse Keeper hasn’t decided to eliminate me. That much is clear. But this is still a warning to not get any foolish ideas… Now, what do I do?’

If Isaac were purely focused on ensuring the victory of the Codex of Light, he would have accepted the offer. He could have even begged the Pope to allow him to keep the core of his current forces intact.

‘But…’

Convincing his allies would be a challenge, and the remaining Issacrea Dawn Army would likely be sent into the most dangerous battles or used as mere cannon fodder.

“Can I get an answer?”

Soltnar asked, pressing for a response.

“An answer?”

Isaac knew there was no other choice.

In truth, the answer had been set from the start.

Isaac had no intention of handing over his people.

The only question now was how to refuse in a way that Soltnar would accept.

But there was one problem.

He was getting more and more annoyed by those glassy eyes constantly pressing him for an answer.

‘Now that I think about it, if I’m going to refuse anyway, there’s no need to be polite to this bastard.’

Wham! In the next instant, Isaac’s hand struck Soltnar across the face.

Thud! Soltnar went flying. Whether it was because he had no real combat skills or because he was too shocked to react, Isaac wasn’t sure. But considering how well Isolde fought, the latter seemed more likely.

Isaac didn’t stop there. Before Soltnar could get up, he kicked him again. At times like this, it was fortunate that his opponent was a high-ranking cleric—he didn’t have to worry about killing him by accident.

“W-Wait, hold on, ugh—just wait a second—!”

Wham, bam, wham. The fact that Isaac hadn’t drawn his sword or summoned his tentacles already indicated that he had no intention of killing Soltnar. The Inquisitor tried to retaliate several times but failed miserably. Isaac didn’t give him any room to chant a prayer or make a gesture for a spell.

Just as Isaac was pummeling Soltnar relentlessly, a commotion arose as others rushed toward the scene. Among them were the other Inquisitors, as well as Tuhalin and Lianne, who had been keeping watch. Only then did Isaac stop the one-sided beating. He crouched down in front of Soltnar.

“What do you think will happen if I say ‘no,’ Inquisitor?”

Soltnar, panting heavily, glared at Isaac. His face was covered in bruises, and his bloodstained teeth were visible. Despite the beating, those glassy eyes remained intact. Apparently, they weren’t actually made of glass.

Isaac smiled and slapped Soltnar in the face again. The other Inquisitors tried to rush in, but when Tuhalin and Lianne unsheathed their weapons, they froze in place.

Isaac, feeling that he had embarrassed himself enough in front of his allies, spoke once more.

“I asked what happens if I say no, you piece of shit.”

“…You’ll die.”

Soltnar spat out a broken tooth as he muttered.

“Dera Heman will come. The Golden Lion Paladins are already on their way to replace you.”

Isaac frowned.

Now he understood why Soltnar had brought up the story of Dera Heman and Kalsen Miller earlier.

If Isaac refused, they would use Dera Heman’s arrival to intimidate him.

‘Dera Heman… Do I really have to face that monster again?’

Dera Heman, while powerful, was born with a congenital deformity. This was a closely guarded secret of the church, but Isaac knew it. Dera Heman’s movements were restricted, and he could only act freely in places blessed with divinity, under the care of priests, or with the aid of special relics.

His arrival had no purpose other than to bind Isaac and the Issacrea Dawn Army.

“You throw around the word ‘death’ pretty lightly.”

Isaac pondered whether to kill Soltnar or not. Whether he killed him or spared him, he would still have to deal with Dera Heman.

After a moment of thought, Isaac decided to let him live.

There were too many witnesses. Killing Soltnar now would only be an impulsive act that cut off his options.

He could teach Soltnar the weight of death another time.

Isaac stepped aside. The Inquisitors immediately rushed in to tend to Soltnar.

Soltnar shot a venomous glare at Isaac, but when Isaac glared back, Soltnar quickly looked away. He must have realized that Isaac wouldn’t hesitate to hit him again before he left.

As the Inquisitors hurried off with Soltnar, Tuhalin approached Isaac, looking bewildered. Isaac, knowing the gravity of what he had done, was prepared to apologize.

But Tuhalin gripped Isaac’s bloodstained hand firmly and said:

“You’re a real man. I didn’t know the Codex of Light had men with such backbone.”

Isaac chuckled bitterly and replied:

“…Gather the allies. I have some things to share.”

Isaac’s eyes gleamed with a violet light.

‘Even if it’s a death trap, I’ll walk into it on my own two feet. I’ll never be dragged or strung up.’