Ch.140Sacred Flame Guardian Knights (1)

While accompanying the Helm Knight, Najin learned a few things about him that he would have preferred not to know. Contrary to his first impression of someone weighty and serious, he was actually a lighter person than Najin had expected.

For one thing, he talked a lot.

“Don’t you think it’s quite narrow-minded to lump all people together under the word ‘human’?”

“What are you suddenly talking about?”

Moreover, most of what he said was abstract nonsense and deeply philosophical questions.

“Think about it, Najin. Animals eat animals. Do you find anything awkward about this sentence?”

“Isn’t that obvious?”

“Right. Then what about: humans eat humans. How does this sentence make you feel?”

“It feels wrong. Barbarians come to mind first.”

“Yes! That’s exactly it.”

The Helm Knight snapped his fingers.

“Animals are divided into numerous species within the animal kingdom. Predators hunt animals. No one questions this hunting. It’s natural. Obviously, no one considers lions and deer to be the same species. But what about humans?”

He raised his voice as he continued.

“Different ethnicities. Different countries. Yet we lump them all together under the single word ‘human.’ That’s why the phrase ‘humans eating humans’ feels like ‘cannibalism.’ It instinctively evokes revulsion. Even though they might actually be completely different species.”

“Animals need to eat other animals to survive, but humans don’t need to eat other humans to live, right? It feels disgusting because it’s not done out of necessity.”

“Hmm. That’s also correct.”

But, the Helm Knight said.

“What about the Outer Continent?”

“Pardon?”

“In the Outer Continent, there are those who can only survive by eating human hearts. Then, is their act of hunting humans disgusting? Or should we turn a blind eye because it’s essential for their survival? According to your logic, you could answer ‘there’s no problem.'”

“That’s…”

“Don’t rush to answer. Think about it more. Until we reach our destination.”

He smirked.

“We have plenty of time.”

The Helm Knight walked ahead.

He said he would introduce Najin, who was ignorant of the Outer Continent’s geography, to a battlefield suitable for his level. He claimed to know many things from wandering this land for a long time. Hearing this, Najin suddenly glanced to his side.

-Hmm.

Merlin mumbled.

-Is it just me? Why do I feel like my role has been stolen?

‘It’s not just you.’

-……

While the Helm Knight volunteered as the “guide,” Merlin remained silent. She clung tightly to Najin’s side, wrapping her arms around his neck. As if making an excuse, she held up a paper in front of Najin’s eyes.

-Well, I was going to tell you too! I have some destinations picked out. Look at this! Top 10 Outer Continent tours! A perfect route to accelerate your growth. A route I carefully planned from the continent…

‘I’ll look at it later.’

-R-really? Okay. Make sure you do, okay?

Leaving behind a dejected Merlin, Najin continued walking. He would eventually visit the destinations Merlin recommended, but right now, he was more interested in the destination the Helm Knight was talking about.

“Look at that.”

Standing at the top of a hill, the Helm Knight stretched out his hand. At the end of his finger was an abandoned castle.

“That castle is our destination.”

The Helm Knight pronounced the name of the castle.

“Atula Fortress.”

And, he added.

“A fortress occupied by the Star Fire Guardian Knights.”

2.

Najin looked at Atula Fortress.

There were many such “fortresses” in the Outer Continent. He had seen quite a number of old castles on his way here. Not just castles. Cities, towers, ruins, and so on. Abandoned structures could be found frequently throughout the Outer Continent.

Structures left behind by fallen or forgotten nations. Or cities that were swallowed up as the boundaries of the Outer Continent expanded. In addition, the Outer Continent was filled with buildings that were abandoned for various reasons or built by Constellations.

And the styles of these structures were not uniform.

A tower from the ancient era 1,000 years ago.

An old castle from a nation that perished 700 years ago.

Ruins from 500 years ago.

300 years ago, 200 years, 100 years…

From 1,000 years ago to the present, buildings from all eras coexisted in the Outer Continent. Even in this land where transcendents dwelled and rules were broken, structures built by humans existed.

“The Star Fire Guardian Knights. A knightly order that was active about 200 years ago. Are you familiar with them?”

“Somewhat.”

“Yes. The entire order committed themselves to the Outer Continent. About 200 years ago. With the noble purpose of fighting demons and misguided transcendents in the Outer Continent.”

They committed themselves to the Outer Continent, declaring that their star fire would not be extinguished but would burn fiercely even here. That’s what the Helm Knight said.

“But after some incident, the Star Fire Knights became a group of the undead.”

The Helm Knight didn’t explain what that incident was. Instead, he continued.

“Now they hunt humans. They eat humans and protect their star fire. Can you see the smoke rising from that fortress?”

It was visible. Though partially obscured by the walls, white smoke was rising from above the fortress.

“It’s evidence that the star fire is still burning. They continue to light the star fire. They’re trying to protect it by any means necessary. Even if it means hunting humans. Do you think that’s right?”

“It doesn’t seem very knightly.”

“Is that so.”

The Helm Knight neither denied nor affirmed Najin’s words. Instead, he nodded and walked toward the fortress.

“There are no answers in the Outer Continent. Only what you yourself think is the answer. So, deliver your answer. To the master of that fortress.”

After descending the hill and passing through a dense forest, Najin and the Helm Knight approached Atula Fortress. Knights were positioned on the fortress walls and towers, and knights also guarded the tightly closed iron gate.

At first glance, it looked like a normal fortress… but the problem was that those guarding it were far from normal. The knights’ eyes were empty, and their movements showed no signs of intelligence.

“If I remember correctly, one-third of the Star Fire Knights were Sword Seekers. The order consisted of about 30 people, so around 10 would be Sword Seekers.”

“Not easy opponents then.”

“Indeed. But as I said, they’ve been active in the Outer Continent since 200 years ago. That’s more than enough time for at least ten more Sword Seekers to emerge.”

A minimum of 10, with the possibility of more.

The Helm Knight, hiding behind a tree despite his size not being suited for concealment, was explaining the situation to Najin. It was questionable whether someone of his size could actually hide, but given that the knights guarding the fortress hadn’t noticed them, it seemed effective.

‘Or maybe those undead just have poor eyesight.’

It seemed more likely to be the latter.

“How should we get in? It doesn’t look easy to assault the castle.”

“What do you mean, how do we get in?”

“Well, climbing the walls or creating a diversion for a surprise attack. There are many ways, aren’t there?”

“Tsk.”

The Helm Knight clicked his tongue.

“We are visiting the fortress as knights.”

“Right?”

“Knights are honorable. Especially when we’re claiming ‘you are wrong’ about someone else’s beliefs, we must be even more righteous and upright. Isn’t that the way of Atanga?”

He slowly rose to his feet.

“How could a knight climb walls?”

“…What?”

“How could a knight climb walls and launch surprise attacks? That’s unacceptable.”

Then with a boom, he stomped the ground. When he did, the forest shook. Indeed, the knights guarding the fortress could no longer ignore this and turned their attention to the forest where Najin and the Helm Knight were hiding.

Ignoring their gazes, the Helm Knight puffed up his size as if shouting “Look at me!” He bent his knees, leaned forward, and tucked his spear under his arm.

“A frontal assault. That’s romance.”

With his spear blade raised, the Helm Knight kicked off the ground. Each step he took made a “boom!” sound. The ground cracked wherever he stepped.

Once he had built up enough power, the Helm Knight began to sprint almost like he was leaping. With each step, the distance closed instantly. The knights guarding the gate also reacted, but by the time they noticed, the Helm Knight had already arrived right in front of the gate.

And then.

KWAAAAAAANG!

The gate shattered with a thunderous sound. The thick iron gate didn’t crumple but broke into pieces. As a bonus, the walls also shook. Quite a lot. Stone fragments fell from the walls.

“Wow.”

Following the Helm Knight, Najin expressed admiration.

A lance charge that shattered the gate head-on. It was a perfect lance charge.

I see. With enough momentum, a person can perform a lance charge even without a horse. As the knights caught in the lance charge were thrown far away, Najin looked inside the shattered gate.

The movements of the undead wandering inside the fortress had frozen stiffly. Their gazes were fixed on Najin and the Helm Knight. Even though they were undead who had lost their sense of self, did they feel surprise at this sudden attack?

A moment of silence.

Then.

CLANG CLANG CLANG!

They drew their swords, spears, and halberds and began charging toward Najin and the Helm Knight. Their momentum was alarming. Even more so because auras containing mental images were rising above their weapons.

“Is this right?”

“Well, even if romance is a frontal assault…”

To hell with romance.

3.

Faced with attackers who had suddenly shattered their gate with a lance charge, the knights stationed at the fortress responded quite effectively. They immediately formed ranks and began to surround the intruders.

Despite having lost their sense of self, their movements were disciplined and precise. Unlike solitary wandering undead, they moved as a single unit.

SWOOSH!

More than a dozen cold weapons coming at them in formation. It was definitely threatening. As Najin swung his sword to parry them and stepped back, the Helm Knight swung his spear widely to deflect the incoming weapons.

Twirl.

He spun the shaft of his spear once and gripped it in reverse. He handled the long spear, which looked to be at least three meters in length, as if it were a short spear. Despite its considerable weight, he gripped the spear with one hand and pulled his arm back.

Then, whoosh.

He swung his arm and threw the spear. The launched spear pierced through a knight who was trying to snipe them from a distant tower. No, “pierced” isn’t quite right. It completely destroyed the top of the tower.

The spear, which had demolished the tower along with the knight who was drawing his bowstring, curved in mid-air and returned to the Helm Knight’s hand when he gestured. Snap! Catching the returning spear, he struck the shaft on the ground.

“What technique was that?”

“It’s an essential skill for anyone who handles spears in the Outer Continent. Throwing and retrieving. I’ll teach you later when we have time.”

Shrugging his shoulders, the Helm Knight exhaled deeply. Then he let out a roar toward the approaching undead, as if demanding their attention. It was closer to the growl of a beast than a human voice.

After focusing the undead’s attention on himself.

“See where the smoke is rising? The master of this fortress is probably there.”

The Helm Knight slapped Najin’s back hard.

“Go.”

He twirled his spear shaft and smiled.

“The undead should be faced by the undead. Your opponent is not the undead but the master of this fortress.”