Chapter 474

======[ Plaza in front of the Cathedral ]======

The Light of Judgment poured down with such density that it could completely fill the area.

Ai-shan Gi-or Ha-shal-leur, swept up in the overwhelming miracle of the Golden Scales’ justice that annihilates sinners…

“What is this…?”

Amazingly, she was standing perfectly fine.

As if she felt almost no pain, her calm face was filled only with suspicion.

The golden waves, pouring down like a waterfall, struck her shoulders and left arm, creating a spray of light.

It was a sight far removed from the scene of total destruction everyone had expected.

“This is impossible! She’s withstanding the Light of Judgment?!”

“How…?!”

The paladins surrounding Ha-shal-leur couldn’t hide their shock.

Even if only half of the rumors about her infamy were true, she should have been torn apart like wheat in a thresher the moment the Light of Judgment poured down.

But instead of being reduced to shreds of flesh, Ha-shal-leur stood still, bathing in the light as if it were nothing.

As if she were a paladin of the Astraea Church Order!

An incomprehensible event. The morale of the paladins plummeted.

For those who fought with unwavering faith, the sight before them…

Made it seem as though Astraea herself had acknowledged her.

—

‘…We’ve lost.’

Wilhelm, watching from afar, also confirmed the defeat.

There was no shock. It was a battle with slim chances of victory from the start.

Against a woman who had crushed the full might of the Grimnir Church Order, the forces of the Arad Diocese stood little chance.

The Purification Formation of Spirit Slaughter, trapping her and pouring down the Light of Judgment, was the only method they had, but even that had just been proven futile.

‘Seeing her shoulder and arm shake, it’s not like she’s completely unharmed. But if it’s just that much, she could endure for hours. There’s no way to win.’

Truly, the Empire’s Greatest Sword. Even high-ranking paladins blessed by high-ranking priests fell like children.

Though Beron and Pellman still remained, even if they fought to the death, it wouldn’t change anything.

‘…Astraea, is this your will?’

The scales of justice are always fair.

The fact that the Light of Judgment descended in response to his prayers proved that Wilhelm’s justice was not wrong.

The fact that Ai-shan Gi-or Ha-shal-leur remained unscathed by the Light of Judgment meant that her justice was also not wrong.

If both sides have justice, then victory or defeat depends on the will and ability of the people.

His ability fell short of that young woman.

That was all there was to it.

‘Is this as far as I go?… How shameful. The weight of a lifetime of faith, unable to match the will of a woman not even twenty.’

Wilhelm sighed deeply within.

He had only two choices left.

Either order a meaningless group charge, sacrificing every last person for his justice, or admit his inadequacy and stop here.

“…Priest Vanuel, bring ‘that.'”

Wilhelm made his decision.

To follow his justice until the very last breath.

======[ Ha-shal-leur ]======

I was just dumbfounded.

I had been running around non-stop, wary of the Light of Judgment, even resorting to Reversed Heaven to fight… but the actual Light of Judgment I got hit with was just a bearable attack.

My upper chest and the back of my neck stung as if getting a tattoo… but that was it.

The pain wasn’t even as bad as getting cut by a sword.

What is this, did I just scare myself and suffer for nothing?

If Freide had seen this, she’d probably be clutching her stomach laughing.

Covering my head with my left arm, I approached Pellman and Beron, who was gripping a longsword with his one remaining arm.

They just stared at me with dazed expressions as I approached, not even taking a defensive stance.

“This is unbelievable…! To remain so calm in the midst of the Light of Judgment…!”

“What trick did you pull?!”

In response to the paladins shouting hysterically, I gave them a triumphant smile.

“Well. Seeing as the light disappears the moment it touches me… I guess your goddess decided I don’t need judgment.”

I don’t know the reason… but it seems Astraea has decided to show me considerable mercy.

It’s not like she’s punishing a sinner, but rather disciplining a naughty child.

Maybe it’s because I didn’t take the lives of the believers?

I don’t know. How could I possibly understand the thoughts of gods?

Anyway, now that things have turned out this way, there’s nothing left to fear.

I just need to move forward and subdue them all.

With Durandal slung over my shoulder, I smiled at Beron and Pellman.

A smile resembling a well-fed predator. They gritted their teeth and pointed their dimly glowing swords at me.

No need to use Reversed Heaven. I’ll just charge in and break their arms and legs.

I lowered my stance and took a deep breath.

That’s when it happened.

“Pellman, Beron! Further combat is meaningless. Retreat!”

Wilhelm shouted at the top of his lungs.

A ridiculously abrupt declaration of retreat.

Considering there were still hundreds of paladins left, it was hard to believe.

They couldn’t beat me, but… I thought stubborn fanatics like them would fight until their entire force was destroyed, but retreat?

“Your Eminence…?!”

“Retreat? Are you serious?”

Even the paladins forming the encirclement couldn’t hide their shock.

They’d be less surprised if the sky itself fell. They were so startled they almost dropped their swords.

“Further losses would be meaningless. Gather the wounded and regroup with the main force! No objections!”

As Wilhelm shouted again, the paladins forming the circle hesitated but began to retreat.

Pellman and Beron also retreated, carrying the high-ranking paladins with missing limbs.

Regrouping with the main force…

Strategically, it was the right decision.

Rather than throwing all their forces at an unbeatable enemy and being annihilated, it was more reasonable to retreat and wait for another opportunity.

I just didn’t expect fanatics like the Astraea Church Order, who are far from reasonable, to choose such a strategy.

“Ha, now you’re running away? You think I’ll just watch?”

I pointed Durandal at Wilhelm, who stepped forward through the priests.

To retreat just because you think you’ll lose if you keep fighting… isn’t that a bit… cowardly?

“And what do you plan to do? Will you slaughter every paladin gathered here to satisfy yourself?”

“If necessary, why not?”

If they retreat peacefully, I’d have nothing more to ask for, but that’s only if they completely give up suppression.

Saying they’ll regroup with the main force means they’ll come back to fight another day.

Rather than facing hundreds of fully intact paladins again, wouldn’t it be better to reduce their forces now?

If I just break their arms and legs, they’ll be too busy recovering to fight.

“Well… as long as I stand here, it won’t be so easy.”

Wilhelm shook his head and stepped forward.

In his right hand, which had been empty before the battle, he now held an ornately decorated long staff.

A staff with a golden scale at its head.

Judging by the faint divine light swirling around it, it must be some kind of divine artifact… Is he planning to fight me with that?

No. The fact that he stepped forward after ordering a retreat suggests his goal is to buy time.

Well, that works out perfectly.

I was planning to kill him anyway, so him stepping forward like this is convenient.

“Not easy? No one who’s talked like that in front of me has survived more than a day.”

I bared my teeth at him, taunting with murderous intent.

Even if the protests were incited by Belcus, this guy was the one who turned it into a civil war. So he has to die.

Countless people died because of you, so shouldn’t you at least take responsibility with your own life?

“I’ll burn you to death. Since you seem to like executions by burning.”

“Burning, huh. We agree on that at least.”

Agree, my foot. That’s annoying.

Let’s see if you can keep talking like that while your whole body is on fire.

“…You’re going to burn me to death? That’s quite the goal. If you can do it, go ahead.”

It’s not like I’ll burn anyway.

“You’re mistaken.”

Wilhelm shook his head and raised the staff high.

The scale at the tip of the staff grew brighter, illuminating the surroundings.

The paladins, who had been watching the standoff between me and Wilhelm while retreating, stopped in their tracks, shocked once more.

“That staff, could it be…?!”

“Your Eminence! Stop! That artifact…!”

“Did you not hear me say retreat?! This is an order from your Archbishop! Retreat with all your might and leave Arad!”

Only after Wilhelm shouted again did the knights, who had stopped, grit their teeth and start running back.

Instead of chasing them, I focused on the staff Wilhelm was holding.

That staff… seems like a pretty dangerous item.

Considering they stopped retreating and tried to stop Wilhelm.

…If I leave it alone, things might get troublesome.

I didn’t feel any particular sense of crisis, but that doesn’t mean I can let my guard down.

It’s better to cut him down before he does something.

I stopped talking to him and charged forward, pushing off the ground with both legs.

– Kwaang!

A sprint like a beast pouncing on its prey.

The distance between us closed in an instant. Durandal, swung back, was filled with immense power.

Yeah, whatever it is, just cut him down before he activates it!

“…The one who will burn is not you.”

At that moment, Wilhelm slammed the staff into the ground.

Golden divine light enveloped the world.