Ch.65Chapter 65. The Paladin Training Plan (4)

Chapter 65. Surviving as Paladin (4)

[Is he just mumbling meaninglessly?]

[NotACatfish: He’s looking at the map and saying region names. Act like a human]

[NotACatfish: What kind of guys are they?]

[Demon worshippers with free will?]

If they’re worshippers under a high-ranking demon, maybe they have limited free will?

They could also be a new species that evolved through a demon’s favor.

Of course, that’s just my theory.

[NotACatfish: They came too close so I hid]

[NotACatfish: I’m going to stay hidden for a while. There are quite a lot of them. They seem stronger than ordinary worshippers too]

[Good job]

[NotACatfish: Can’t you stop using that speech style? You didn’t use it when we were beating up that Charon bastard]

[Don’t wanna]

That was ‘serious mode’ Sans.

To explain now, my username ‘Sans’ is a character and hidden boss from a game called ‘Undertale.’

He’s usually witty and laid-back, but when he enters ‘massacre mode,’ he becomes cynical and violent, and that gap made him very popular.

The meme “Wow Sans!” even became a thing.

…Anyway, I’m different from concept-obsessed people like MeleeSpy.

I was just momentarily angry, like Sans in the game.

[NotACatfish: ㅗㅗ Yeah eat shit ㅗㅗ]

Hannah evacuated safely. Good thing nothing happened.

I checked the situation briefly.

“Wow, sis! You’re amazing!”

“Haah! Huap! Yah!”

Noah is hunting infected while receiving plenty of praise from Luna.

Like watching a dog that dances when you clap.

“She’s getting carried away. That’s rookies for you.”

Lakye is looking around while petting Totem #3.

She’s not petting me for any special reason; it’s just a habit she developed recently.

Does she know I can feel her touch?

Whether she knows or not, it would be awkward for both of us.

I missed the timing to stop her, so I’m just letting it be.

Good. Everything’s going well, so I can do something else for a bit.

Maybe I’ll contact Siwoo.

[How are you?]

[MorningTentInstallationTechnician: Wow Sans!]

[MorningTentInstallationTechnician: I’m doing well 🙂 I’m an ace now]

[Ace?]

[MorningTentInstallationTechnician: Professional infected slayer]

[MorningTentInstallationTechnician: I officially became a warrior]

Oh. That’s quite impressive.

Barbarians don’t recognize someone as a warrior unless they’re a comrade they can trust with their backs.

During the previous Blutan operation, they moved together with civilized people because I ordered them to fight together.

That clueless Siwoo passed the barbarians’ strict test. I’m proud.

[How’s the language coming along?]

[MorningTentInstallationTechnician: I can say all the basics now]

That’s good. Those barbarians now have an interpreter.

[MorningTentInstallationTechnician: I think I’ll hit level 3 soon?]

This is the best news.

[What skill are you going to take?]

[MorningTentInstallationTechnician: Well. Light’s Blessing? Holy Shield also looks good, so I’m thinking about it]

Light’s Blessing is a DoT healing skill, and Holy Shield is a skill that deploys a shield that absorbs damage.

Both are good skills for protecting allies.

[MorningTentInstallationTechnician: Come to think of it, our tribe doesn’t have a healer. I should go with Light’s Blessing]

[Good]

Should I tell Noah to take the Holy Shield skill when she reaches level 3?

Since I already have healing skills, having one shield might be good.

[MorningTentInstallationTechnician: Ah! I can get it up well now too 🙂 I got one yesterday too ]

I didn’t want to know that.

[Congrats]

Siwoo had become a “man” in many ways.

Compared to him, Noah…

“Take this! Tsubame Gaeshi!”

She’s just excited. Killing infected while shouting random things.

Is this what Japanese high school girls are like?

No. Noah must be the abnormal one.

“I got another skill point!”

– How many points do you need to upgrade Light’s Protection to intermediate?

“Um… 3 points.”

– Let’s wait until you reach level 2.

“Yes!”

At least she does what she’s told.

Noah diligently hunted infected to earn experience.

“This is Blutan from here.”

Luna checks the map.

We’ve come quite far.

– Keep going.

Our cavalry cleared all threats.

They must have killed them all since demon worshippers don’t have the option to flee.

Worshippers’ bodies don’t disappear like demons. There’s a good chance infected will come down to eat them.

We’ll catch them and grow stronger.

We needed to search Blutan anyway. Two birds with one stone.

“There are infected ahead. Quite a number of them.”

Lakye, who twitched her ears a few times, drew her curved sword.

Sure enough, a group of infected had gathered in the village, tearing apart worshipper corpses.

“What are they eating…? Ugh-“

Noah, who was peeking, dry heaves.

I didn’t stop her. The distance was far enough that they couldn’t hear.

– Are you okay?

This must be her first time seeing monsters eat people.

Technically they’re not people but worshippers, but to Noah right now, they must look the same.

I need to be understanding about this.

– Compose yourself.

The image of a child worshipper being crushed under Lakye’s foot flashes in my mind again.

Though I didn’t show it much, I was as shocked as Noah is now.

If I had a human body, I would have vomited properly.

– Noah, this world was destroyed by demon attacks. You will see countless scenes like this in the future.

“Ah, ah…”

– It will be difficult, but you must adapt.

I comforted Noah, who was covering her mouth and sniffling.

“…Malak is too kind.”

“That’s why he came down to earth.”

Luna responded to Lakye’s words as she watched bitterly.

“I suppose so.”

Lakye nods slightly.

I suddenly became Sweet Loa.

It’s just that I formed a connection with Noah, another possessed person.

– …

I can’t say anything.

We waited for Noah to regain her composure in the awkward atmosphere.

“Phew… I’m okay now.”

Noah pulled herself together again. That’s a quick recovery.

– Can you handle seeing the corpses?

“…I’m trying my best not to look.”

She can’t adapt all at once.

“There are too many of them.”

Luna glances at the infected with distaste.

The number of infected exceeded several dozen.

“Can Sister Noah handle it alone?”

– I will help.

It’s time to test my newly acquired blessing, ‘Malak’s Domain.’

Actually, that’s why we came this far.

I can’t use an area debuff on just one or two infected.

– Go. I am with you.

“…Should I hand over the totem?”

– Let’s go together.

I followed Noah with Lakye, who had hesitated briefly.

The novice paladin, moving with heavy steps, stood before the infected.

Unlike usual, her eyes were filled with determination.

No, it might be closer to anger than determination.

After all, both her hands were trembling.

“C-come at me!”

She’s stuttering as she charges. Was she just frozen with fear?

Anyway, she passed for finding the courage to move.

I immediately used the ‘Malak’s Domain’ blessing.

Blue energy gathered in the air, taking the form of a cloud.

It looked like blue cotton candy and was large enough to cover half the village.

Swoosh-

Rain fell on the infected’s heads.

The ones hit by the rain shivered.

They didn’t seem to lose their will to fight, but they appeared quite intimidated.

As expected, it wasn’t as powerful a debuff as the Totem of Confusion.

But it’s better than nothing. Even minor status effects can create good synergy when stacked.

“Hiyah~!”

Noah cut them down.

Some individuals tried to resist the status effect, but the results weren’t good.

Clang!

They suddenly collapsed while running.

Is it the effect of cold and slowness?

Growl!

The infected howled while exhaling breath, but the angry paladin’s sword didn’t stop.

A few infected attacked her body, but she seemed fine, probably due to the defense increase from ‘Light’s Protection.’

“Die!”

Noah dealt with dozens of infected like that.

It’s pitiful to see Noah trying hard not to look at the worshippers’ corpses.

“Ah… I, I reached level 2! And I got another skill point!”

The skills at level 2 are Light Edge, Magic Barrier, and Holy Flame.

A personal buff skill, a trash skill, and a DoT damage skill.

Honestly, none of them are necessary.

– Upgrade Light’s Protection to intermediate.

“Yes!”

The white light surrounding Noah’s body became more vivid.

Suddenly, I’m curious.

Are there any crazy people who invested all their skill points in just one skill?

Like upgrading the notoriously trash level 1 attack skill ‘Holy Strike’ to the highest level.

…No one would play with their life like that.

While dealing with infected around Blutan with Lakye, Luna, and Noah, it happened.

“Wait a moment.”

Lakye, who was guiding the way, stopped and took a deep breath.

“The foul smell from the tunnel is coming from around here.”

– …!

We’ve got a lead.