Ch.308EP.65 – The Knight Remember and Repay (3)

Deng, daeng-.

Ihan struck the bell again.

In the south, most bells had attached clappers, but this was a rare external-strike bell hit with an iron hammer or wooden club.

Though rusted in places and utterly plain, its sound was clearer and carried further than any other bell.

The resonance was impossible to dismiss as a mere bell sound; it was more beautiful than any instrument, cleansed the ears, and washed away the stuffiness and confusion in one’s head.

The bell’s sound seemed to seep into the body, and at some point, vitality began to overflow.

“…Song of the Stars.”

Was there someone versed in archaeology or theology?

Someone recognized the holy relic’s identity and uttered its name in astonishment.

[Song of the Stars].

One of the temple’s ten great holy relics, and despite its plain appearance, it was a top-tier holy relic recorded even in mythical times.

It was said that hearing its sound could save even corrupted souls.

“-Maha Prajna Paramita Heart Sutra, Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva practicing the profound Prajna Paramita-.”

And as if proving that legend true, with each toll of the bell, the demon’s malice that had penetrated to the marrow disappeared. As the mysterious prayer was added, the resonance of the Song of the Stars grew increasingly solemn, calming the mind.

[Stop! I said stop!!]

Conversely, as the bell’s resonance and prayer spread, the demon writhed in agony.

It let out a terrible shriek along with vicious protests.

Yet the horrific wailing no longer caused suffering.

Though the voice remained terrible, thanks to the bell sound and prayer, there was no wavering at all.

Then.

Deng-.

“Here, keep this safe.”

“Muh, muung…”

Ihan stopped the prayer and ceased striking the bell, placing it on the ground, but the bell continued its song.

According to legend, it would sing endlessly as long as the bell-striker remained conscious—truly a historic scene proving that legend.

Swoosh-.

However, Ihan didn’t know the bell’s identity.

He only knew its use and how to use it, without any interest in its history or value.

Even if he had known the historical value of the Song of the Stars, his attitude likely wouldn’t have changed.

Because.

“…Just keep working until I catch that thing.”

Deng-.

If he could catch that filthy fiend, he would consume any ancient relic or whatever necessary.

Ihan took out a long cloth from his bosom and began wrapping it around his fist.

Tightly, like hand wraps used in boxing.

Proving it wasn’t ordinary cotton cloth, a subtle light surrounded it.

It looked like something prepared specifically for this moment, and,

Hwak!

With two fists clenched, emanating a subtle white light like illuminating darkness, Ihan kicked high into the air and…

Kuwoong!

“Now I’ll really hit you…!”

He reached the demon’s face in an instant and delivered a punch.

Pueoeok!

So cleanly that even onlookers felt satisfied.

* * *

Kwaang!

[Aaaack…!!]

With a pain-filled scream, the High Demon plummeted to the ground.

Already suffering from the bell sound, the strike that seemed to penetrate the demon’s body sent that terrible form crashing down.

But seeing this…

“No! You can’t just hit a demon with bare hands!”

The veteran knights with extensive demon-fighting experience were horrified.

The knight’s punch was admirable, but the opponent was a demon!

It was no exaggeration to say its entire body was made of poison, and touching it with bare hands was absolutely forbidden.

At minimum, one should attack with a sword or spear soaked in holy water for over a hundred days, otherwise one’s hand would rot immediately…

“…But it’s fine?”

“Why…?”

“??”

The knight who struck down the demon not only had perfectly intact hands, but they even emitted a subtle white light as if showing off their well-being.

“That, that must be a holy relic too.”

“How is this…”

The veteran knights were dumbfounded as they confirmed he had wrapped his fists in holy cloth, or something close to it.

They had never heard of cloth that remained intact after striking not just a low-level demon, but a High Demon.

Could it be cloth blessed by a saint?

But more eye-catching than the cloth’s impressiveness was,

Kwaang!

The gallant sight of him beating the High Demon as if toying with it.

[Aaaack! S-stop!!]

It was a pitiful scream.

The scene might appear like bullying a helpless weakling, but that was a misunderstanding.

A being belonging to evil.

A High Demon, by its very existence, drains life from all living beings within dozens of kilometers and makes the land barren.

Meeting its gaze or hearing its voice alone could drive one mad, and humans naturally died from irresistible hallucinations and incurable diseases.

It was literally a terrible being by its very existence.

But now,

“The Song of the Stars has completely blocked the demon’s mysteries.”

“Even the physical advantages it had are now useless.”

“It’s like facing a natural predator.”

The top-tier holy relic “Song of the Stars” was continuously purifying the evil demon’s mysteries with its song, and the holy cloth wrapping his hands thoroughly nullified the advantages of the demon’s physical form.

A complete strategy.

His rampage seemed as if he had been waiting for this moment, and it was no exaggeration to say this was the easiest demon subjugation ever witnessed.

And to this…

“N-no!!”

Paaat!

Ninshubur rushed in at incredible speed to help her master.

‘Why would the deity make such a choice!’

That form was literally the fully manifested appearance of a soul, and attacking that form was like shooting arrows at a soldier without any armor.

Meaning, it could truly be “annihilated”!

Of course, normally no being could harm that form, but unfortunately, this hero had devised every method to neutralize divine power and was striking the deity.

If this continued, before long…

‘That cannot happen!’

Ninshubur showed formidable spirit, unwilling to lose her master.

It was a spirit determined to break through regardless of the opponent, but,

Kung!!!

“That won’t do.”

“Your speed is impressive, but I’m tired of this.”

“Y-you bastards!!”

There were opponents that could not be overcome by spirit alone.

Ninshubur charged forward with a howl, and the two knights thoroughly blocked her.

The exorcism had to be completed.

Kuwoong-!

* * *

Bang!

He struck.

Kwaang!

He struck, and struck, and endlessly delivered punches.

Crackle!

With each blow containing his full body’s strength, he clenched his fist tightly again.

Kwaduk!

To end this tiresome battle with the evil spirit.

[Aaaack!]

As expected, the evil spirit’s body was disgustingly tough.

Despite striking with all his might, it only screamed in pain while continuing to endure.

‘Persistent bastard!’

[You’re the persistent one! You annoying bastard! Why do you keep interfering with me!!]

The evil spirit shouted, suddenly reading his thoughts.

It was a voice tinged with what seemed like indignation, and as if this wasn’t an illusion.

[I never harmed you! My target was only Modred! So why! Why do you keep interfering! You have nothing to do with this! You’re not even a human living in this land! So why? Why?! Why do you keep hindering me and blocking my path! Why are you attacking me!!!]

It seemed to be not just indignation but also mixed with curiosity.

He, this person called Ihan, truly had no connection to this land.

He wasn’t someone with ties to Wales, nor did he owe Modred anything.

He had only stayed for less than a month, building very brief relationships.

And humans aren’t creatures who become attached to or develop lingering feelings for a land, treating it as precious as their hometown, in less than a month.

Rather, they would consider it a casual connection.

…Yet Ihan was looking at Inanna as if she were his mortal enemy.

With firm resolve to eliminate her somehow.

And having read his surface thoughts, Inanna felt wronged.

Wondering what grudge he could possibly have to drive her into such a corner.

And to this intense reaction, he,

“…What are you babbling about!”

Pueok!!

He only answered with his fist.

[Kwaack!]

Crackle-.

– I know I’m making a shameless request.

[??]

Kuwoong!

Crackle-.

– But you see, you’re the only one I can ask.

– …Maid elder, please stand up. Why are you kneeling!

– I’m sorry. I’m only burdening you…

Crackle…!

[…You? Youuu…!?]

Suddenly Inanna shouted.

With each of Ihan’s strikes, Inanna read his subconscious like watching images, and she was shocked as if seeing something unbelievable.

At this moment, she realized why this human was attacking her so fiercely, and this made Inanna furious.

[Just! Just because some old human knelt and begged, you’re hostile to me! Just for that reason-!!]

Inanna glared with bulging eyes and flapped her wings, shooting a formidable mass of demonic energy.

“-It’s not just about kneeling.”

Puhwaak!

…Pathetically, the mass of demonic energy Inanna shot was shattered.

Leaving only the result of one wing being torn off.

[Aaaaaaack!]

Despite Inanna’s endless screaming, Ihan spoke deliberately with a fiercer glare than ever before.

“-A person who wasted 50 years of their life solely to eliminate you knelt and begged. And that…”

Hwaaaaak!

“That knee is so valuable that after eliminating scum like you, I should give change, you disgusting demonic bastard!”

Flower petals scattered around Ihan’s body.