Vice Captain Berter, who leads the Knights of the Church.
The Paladins, including him, advanced with vigilance.
They were currently in a cave within a mountain range near the Sail Kingdom.
Traces of the target vampire entering here were found, so they followed.
Under Berter’s command, the Paladins were searching for the vampire inside the cave.
“Everyone, focus!”
They had already confirmed this was not a dungeon. Although no dungeon energy was detected, the Paladins could not afford to relax even a little.
Above all, their opponent was a vampire.
Even if it was a trapped rat, a monster was still a monster.
To prepare for any unforeseen circumstances, two Paladins were stationed at the cave entrance.
Including Vice Captain Berter, a total of 18 people had entered the interior.
No matter how much the vampire raged, it was impossible to escape through this many Paladins.
Another reason Berter was on edge and vigilant was this:
“It’s too clean. Someone is constantly maintaining this place.”
Berter muttered softly.
The torches they had seen so far as they walked through the passage.
They were plastered on the walls, without a speck of dust on them.
All the torches were burning well, with none extinguished.
This was proof someone was continuously changing them.
“Vice Captain!”
Paladin Eric, who had been leading the way, shouted.
Berter went forward at Eric’s shout to check it out.
An unexpected variable had appeared before them.
“A three-way split.”
The path they had been following well suddenly branched into three.
Contrary to its appearance, the cave’s interior was a much larger place.
Berter pondered for a moment.
‘What to do?’
The best option at the moment was to split up and search.
What if they all went in one direction and the vampire escaped?
The current situation was a chance they had managed to get after days of pursuit.
If they missed it here, all their hard work would go to waste.
In that case, they would end up in the worst-case scenario, losing not only the vampire but also the demonic sword they desired.
‘I’ll have to split up the personnel to search.’
The only fortunate thing was that this was not a dungeon.
Therefore, there was less burden in splitting up the personnel.
Of course, the fact that someone was managing this place lingered in his mind, but he didn’t pay much attention to it.
‘Surely they wouldn’t dare touch the Paladins of the Church?’
Who were we?
We are the sole Church on the continent of El Dorado.
There would be no one bold enough to dare touch the sacred Paladins of the Church.
However, there was one more problem for Berter.
Others might also notice the existence of the demonic sword upon seeing the vampire.
Perhaps even those without greed would be captivated by the sight of the demonic sword.
‘As long as I have the demonic sword, it’s all over.’
Berter clenched the hand holding his sword as he resolved this.
He vowed to end the life of anyone who tried to stop him.
Even if that being was the Church.
Thinking so, Berter began to divide his forces.
There were 18 people, including himself, and three paths.
They would form 3 teams of 6 people each, and each team would take one path.
At most, it was just catching one young vampire.
Six Paladins going after just one?
It was more than enough, an excessive number.
Berter began assigning personnel in order.
“First, for Team 1, Eric, Thomas…”
As per the instructions, the first team formed was assigned the leftmost path among the three.
“…The personnel I just called, along with myself, form Team 2!”
Team 2, formed after Team 1, was assigned the middle path.
“…The team comprising the personnel I just called, including myself, is Team 3!”
Team 3, including Vice Captain Berter, was assigned the rightmost path among the three.
“Everyone, stay focused and do your best until the end! That’s all!”
The three teams headed towards their assigned paths.
* * *
Celia, who was eating dessert with Aren, fell into thought.
It wasn’t a particular worry.
It was simply about how to deal with the Paladins who had entered the dungeon.
She had already heard from Aren.
Those Paladins had probably followed Aren here.
‘A dilemma.’
First, there was her role.
If she stepped in herself, the dungeon would be easily defended.
But would Master want that?
Recently, Celia had been absent from her post on Master’s orders frequently.
Her consistently stepping in meant fewer opportunities for others to act.
This, in turn, meant problems in dungeon defense.
What would happen if such a situation arose when she was absent?
To prevent such a situation, she had to minimize her direct involvement.
‘It seems it is correct for me not to step in this matter.’
Celia decided to observe from behind rather than stepping in herself.
Master would probably want it this way.
And the second concern was Master’s command.
Initially, Master had ordered them to show mercy to all the Paladins.
What was this mercy Master spoke of?
Celia had thought and thought about it.
And she concluded that mercy was being in Master’s embrace.
That was why she had intended to turn the Paladins into ghouls and keep them within the dungeon, which was Master’s embrace.
‘I was too foolish.’
But that wasn’t it.
Recently, Master had again ordered that all things be offered as sacrifices.
‘He must have realized I misunderstood.’
That must be why Master had rephrased the order in simpler terms.
*…*
In Celia’s opinion, mercy was indeed Master’s embrace.
But the outcome was different.
To summarize, it was this:
Those offered as sacrifices would become nourishment and a part of Master.
Ultimately, even if offered as sacrifices, it was no different than being in Master’s embrace.
It didn’t necessarily mean they had to be turned into ghouls, but rather that the merciful Master would embrace them directly.
In other words, the mercy and sacrifice Master spoke of were the same meaning.
‘As expected, my benevolent Master. Today, this Celia gets one step closer to understanding Master’s thoughts.’
As Celia nodded her head quietly, Aren asked.
“What are you thinking about, pretty older sister?”
“I was simply admiring the wisdom of our great Master.”
Their tea time continued.
* * *
The Paladins, divided into three teams.
The first to arrive were from Team 2.
The Paladins who had headed towards the middle of the three paths were unable to hide their astonishment.
“What! Why are there Goblins here!”
They had been told this was not a dungeon.
But there were Goblins, monsters.
The Paladins raised their weapons and drew their guards.
“The only fortunate thing is that they are just Goblins.”
“That’s right! It’s only Goblins anyway.”
All the Paladins nodded in agreement.
Even if there were only six of them, weren’t they the proud Paladins of the Church?
Moreover, all their equipment was of the highest quality.
No matter how many Goblins there were, it wouldn’t affect the overall flow.
Although some of the Goblins’ equipment was unfamiliar to them, they didn’t pay much attention to it.
In the end, they were just Goblins.
However, the problem was elsewhere.
There were simply too many of them.
Goblins were continuously emerging from their huts even now.
The number of Goblins kept increasing.
Therefore, their strategy had to change.
“Damn it! We have to hold out as long as possible until reinforcements arrive!”
Hold out.
They had to hold out no matter what.
It seemed that monsters only existed in their current location.
Otherwise, such a number of Goblins wouldn’t make sense.
Even if they just stalled for time, the other teams would come to help.
If that happened, they would have a chance to win, no matter how numerous the opposing Goblins were.
Thus, the Paladins clashed with the Goblins, buying time. At that moment, Paladin Kabl’s eyes caught sight of a figure at the very back.
“Is that…”
It looked different from the other Goblins. His gaze was drawn particularly to the golden crown placed on its head.
“…A Goblin Lord!”
The Goblin Lord was a formidable 5-star monster.
Furthermore, it wasn’t alone, with numerous Goblins positioned around it.
It was not a situation that only six people could confront.
Even Paladins armed with excellent equipment were at a disadvantage in terms of numbers and momentum, which were the most crucial factors.
“Shouldn’t we retreat first?”
The priority was to report the existence of the Goblin Lord.
They all nodded and slowly, very slowly, began to back away.
Showing their backs in such a place was equivalent to death, which was why they acted that way.
They were still facing the Goblins, retreating while keeping their swords aimed.
Just then, the Goblin Lord began to move.
The Goblin Lord picked up a long staff and then pointed it towards the Paladins.
“What is that?”
“Could it be poison darts?”
Poison dart rods, one of the weapons Goblins frequently used.
Perhaps the long stick the Goblin Lord was holding was also a poison dart rod.
“Goblin poison won’t harm us anyway! Don’t worry and keep retreating slowly!”
Fortunately for them, Paladin training included resistance training against poison.
If not all poisons, they were sufficiently resistant to at least the poisons used by Goblins.
As they retreated.
*Thump-*
A loud sound echoed through the interior.
Simultaneously, one Paladin collapsed. His face was precisely pierced in the center.
Such a swift event paralyzed everyone.
What on earth had happened?
In the blink of an eye, a comrade had met his end.
*Thump-*
Another deafening sound rang out, and another comrade fell.
*Thump-*
No one could properly react.
*Thump-*
As the sound continued, one person lost their composure and charged at the Goblins.
However, the Paladin’s sword was blocked by the Goblins’ unfamiliar armor.
“Huh…?”
*Thump-*
He too could not escape the sound of death.
With each boom, one more person fell.
It was like a death knell played by demons.
It was a secret sound that brought sorrow and pain to those who heard it.
Or despair.
The last remaining Paladin, Kabl, cast aside his equipment, closed his eyes, and clasped his hands together.
Then he began to pray.
“O, Goddess… please protect this lost young soul. P-please…”
Fortunately, the sound of the demon’s symphony stopped.
But this was not because the Goddess had heard his prayer.
The demon’s symphony had stopped, but the demons themselves were reaching out towards Kabl.
Only regret and silence lingered.
