Ch.57Chapter 57. The Community Belongs to the Paladin (1)

# 57. The Community Belongs to Paladins (1)

Harry was standing with Luna in a space with geometric patterns drawn on it.

“Is that a warp gate? I don’t feel anything.”

Lakye slightly wrinkled his face at the terrible smell of the sewer.

“It’s been deactivated because no magic stones have been supplied for a long time.”

Warp gate. An installable magic circle that enables group teleportation.

After installing two warp gates in different places and connecting them, it allows for instantaneous movement.

Only those who have reached the level of archmage can create one, and it takes enough magic stones to maintain a magic tower for a year just to keep it running for a week.

“It’s poorly maintained and will need repairs, but I can do it. The problem is the magic stones.”

Harry insisted on gathering magic stones to open the warp gate.

“The fact that such a high-level magic circle is in a place like this means there must be something at the connected location. I can’t predict what, but it must be very important.”

I accepted it. It clearly looked like an event where we could find a hidden piece.

The game ‘Surviving as Paladin’ has many hidden pieces.

Whenever you enter somewhere unusual or unmarked on the map, it would give you something, whether an item or a skill.

The drop rates were extremely low, and many skills weren’t great, like the “Zombie Control” I got, but there’s still romance in those four words: “hidden piece.”

Words like “only me” or “just me” tend to stir a man’s heart.

It was my romance too.

I just didn’t expect it would become “my only totem.”

Anyway, since only those with the title of archmage can create this magic circle, it might give something good.

If the warp gate connects to a dangerous place, I can use the Chaos Totem to return here.

After completing some investigations, I returned to the altar and summoned Rachel.

“There are three magic towers in Blutan. I’m not sure if they have magic stones.”

As expected, civilized people know this information very well.

Harry didn’t know because he’s not originally from this region, but Rachel is a noble who was born and raised in Symphonia.

She even roughly knew about the nearby estates. Of course, that was before the destruction.

“Shall I mark them on the map?”

The map has expanded a lot since the civilized people joined us.

Thanks to that, we can now take a map with us when going on subjugation or reconnaissance missions. Kanto and the warriors showed the most enthusiastic response.

Lakye has good mobility, so it doesn’t matter if he goes a bit off course, but those guys are on foot, so once they stray from the path, it’s hard to come back.

They were happy that they wouldn’t get lost anymore.

– Good.

Rachel sat at the round table and checked the maps placed on it.

Then, using a quill pen, she marked the magic towers on the map with such a neat posture that it looked like she was doing calligraphy.

EunuchBro, no, MeleeSpy… the woman who admires you is living well here.

Come visit when you stop writing clickbait posts and start living a decent life.

“That’s all.”

Rachel slowly stands up after finishing the markings.

– Thank you for your hard work. You may go now.

As always, Rachel is busy. That’s because she’s practically responsible for Symphonia by herself.

Last time, I assigned a barbarian lady known for being a smart assistant to her, but it seems she hasn’t been much help.

“Thank you for your consideration, Great One.”

“Let’s go.”

Rachel left, escorted by three barbarian warriors. They are her assigned bodyguards.

– …

Things that were proceeding haphazardly are gradually becoming orderly.

They’re entering a normal orbit.

In other words, I have nothing to do again.

…I connected to the community.

This is my reward for working hard. I really did work hard.

I quickly skimmed through the previous posts, and the atmosphere was very different from before.

[IbelievedInMonkeyUncle: The community belongs to paladins! The community belongs to paladins!]

[PuPuPung: It means monsters like that might come here again]

[CorruptedPowerKnight: I hope the next people who come here aren’t all monsters instead of paladins?]

[TakashiKakashi: Is AtomicRex really dead? He insulted my country’s representative special effects show]

[Bramanda: I sent AtomicRex a private message. It says the user doesn’t exist]

[Dondurmah: I’m trapped in a cave right now please help me]

Anxiety and anger have gripped the community.

This is the effect brought on by the alien presence called AtomicRex.

I expected this would happen. Many things have happened in the community so far, but there has never been a threatening presence hiding here.

Now my plan to gain Roa’s favor is ruined.

Those Roa guys wrote that “if my identity is revealed, I will pay a great price” as my final goal.

Even without such a condition, I would never reveal my identity in the community.

The mess that cannibalistic monster made is so huge that the aversion to beings who aren’t paladins has grown too strong.

They wouldn’t listen to anything I say. With things like this, “revealing my identity” is sealed.

It’s a choice that brings me no benefit. If I make a mistake, I might be chased by paladins and die from a “Lakye punch” while trying to avoid the bamboo spears of barbarians.

[Ghooulr: Guys, never go to Dubenheim

I went there out of curiosity because some user said it was full of zombies,

Fuck. It was no joke.

There are all sorts of weird magic circles and several buildings that seem to be made of corpses.

It’s not magi, but it’s filled with an ominous aura.

Demons turned into zombies wander around with glowing red eyes.

Whoever it is, they’ve recreated hell.

I’ll say it twice. Don’t go there. Seriously.]

The Charon issue has finally exploded.

Magic circles and buildings, huh?

So he wasn’t just resting while I was conquering Symphonia.

Just as I ran my estate simulation, this guy must have pioneered his territory in his own way.

…As expected of a fellow hidden boss, he’s really dangerous.

AtomicRex seemed to have a high floor but a low ceiling, but Charon seems to have both a high floor and a high ceiling.

Then what does that make me, who was so weak at the beginning?

[DeliciousTang: Saw a commander-type entity controlling zombies

Not in Dubenheim, but a paladin living nearby.

A guy wearing paladin armor led zombies to invade a city, killed mid-level demons, and turned them into zombies.

Necromancer, death mage, something like that.

Where did this guy come from?

Had to escape, so can’t answer questions.]

– Comments –

[Ghooulr: Death mage? That’s too cute a title. The scale is more like a Necrolord]

ㄴ [CowBikiniDance: Necrolord. Sounds fucking cool. Let’s go with that]

Charon is now known as “Necrolord” in the community.

While various opinions were being shared, one user dropped a bomb.

[IbelievedInMonkeyUncle: What’s with this ‘Rinojohnnson’ guy?] (58)

I can guess the content without even looking.

And seeing the 58 comments, I can imagine what kind of ripple effect it caused.

They’re probably suspecting that Rinojohnnson, who they thought was just a concept troll, is actually an entity that infiltrated the community through some method.

A lot of comments were posted on the “Dubenheim recruitment post” that Charon had posted before.

[BamBam: Are you the Necrolord?]

[3rep500: Who the fuck are you?]

Everyone still seemed to be uncertain, but it probably didn’t take long for them to make up their minds.

Because the next day, the person himself posted.

[Rinojohnnson: Now you believe my words.

I’ll say it again. My name is Charon.

I am a necromancer who stood against the gods who toyed with the surface world.

I see there are also those who have spied on Dubenheim.

How was it? Were you afraid?

The demons will feel that emotion too.

My legion grows very quickly. All I need is time.

With your help, I can shorten that time significantly.

Help me. Join my army and face the demons with the fate of the world at stake.

Do not fear rest. The body will eventually perish.

Isn’t sacrificing oneself for victory the quality of a paladin?

Remember.

Only I can fight and win against demons.

Come to Dubenheim. I will bring you victory.]

This bastard. My blood is boiling.

Of course, he received criticism from many users, but Charon remained composed.

[Rinojohnnson: It seems you don’t understand the situation.] (41)

These are the posts that were uploaded previously.

And this is the post that was uploaded today.

[Rinojohnnson: I will come find you myself]

This time, there were no comments.

Perhaps everyone subconsciously realized it.

That Charon isn’t just all talk, but someone who will actually do it.

It’s Charon who entered the community created by a transcendent being through his own power, and who completely transformed an entire city.

I could understand the fear the users must be feeling.

The community.

This world’s only healing space and safe haven that makes you feel at home.

An unidentified entity has infiltrated it.

…This is when I need to step up.

As long as I don’t reveal that I’m Roa, it should be fine.

I left a comment.

[UltraSansMadWithMoonlightMassacreMode: Mr. Charon]

ㄴ [Rinojohnnson: What?]

ㄴ [UltraSansMadWithMoonlightMassacreMode: Do you perhaps not have a mother?]

He might be better at controlling zombies, but I have more experience in the community.

Charon, I’m not afraid of you.

Let’s settle this fair and square with a ‘keyboard battle’.