CH 28.1

Deep in the mountains, in a small cave.

Evan, who had been sleeping in the darkness, opened his eyes.

He blinked. Blinked.

His eyes prepare to adjust to the absence of light.

As Evan rose to his feet, a murmur reached his ears.

A chill ran down his spine as he slept against the cave.

“Surely something is…….”

It was an unidentifiable sound that woke Evan from his sleep.

Evan grabbed his sword and moved to find the source.

Tuck. Tuck.

His footsteps echoed through the cave with each step.

With no one else in the cave, the only sound was Evan’s footsteps.

Once out of the cave and looking around, Evan began to search for the source of the sound.

“I don’t see anything suspicious.”

But there were no signs of life outside the cave.

There was no sign of anything, not even of animals passing by.

All he could see was the tranquil forest landscape under the glittering night sky.

Evan couldn’t understand what had woken him up.

The sight of the peaceful forest made him want to get some fresh air.

– [Accept your fate.]

Just as Evan was about to move further away from the cave.

A spear of lightning appeared from the sky.

It struck.

The spear of lightning scattered thunderbolts and then slowly began to change direction.

The lightning spear was aimed at Evan, and Evan quickly ran into the cave.

BANG! Wham!

A terrifying rain of thunderbolts rained down on Evan as he dashed into the cave.

He raised his sword with both hands as thunder rumbled violently outside the cave.

“Goddess–!”

A bright light radiated from his sword grip.

It was the Divine Power that only paladins with a firm faith in God could possess.

The radiant Divine Power was a beacon that illuminated the dark cave.

Evan hid in the cave and prayed, waiting for the lightning storm to pass.

All he could cling to now was the hilt of his sword, glowing with light.

“Lead the way.”

A desperate cry for survival.

Or a desire for salvation.

Unable to conclude which, Evan continued to stare at the shining sword.

The moment of redemption had not yet come.

He wasn’t even sure when it would come.

Nevertheless, Evan held onto the sword and continued to pray.

That was what it took to be called a paladin.

****

It had been three days since Evan was trapped in the cave.

During this time, Evan has been sitting, praying, and sleeping steadily.

Of course, there were times when he wanted to go outside.

Hunger and thirst rose up impulsively.

– [Accept your fate.]

Each time, Evan would try to go outside, only to see a spear of lightning strike and crawl back into hiding.

Storms of lightning raged each time he attempted to step outside.

Evan hadn’t eaten or drunk in days, and his body was weakened.

He wasn’t even sure he could fend off the Evil God’s attacks like he had before.

In the end, Evan had only one option.

“…… Goddess. I swear that I will be a paladin who follows your will.”

I’m hungry.

And thirsty.

His hand gripped the sword firmly, but with no real strength.

But Evan continued to recite the paladin’s oath through his dry, cracked lips.

The present pain is only temporary.

To forget the pain before him, it was better to concentrate fully on prayer.

What he chose for him was the paladin’s oath, the one Evan had sworn in when he first became a paladin.

“I swear to uphold your honour.”

His lips cracked with each word.

His throat, which was losing moisture, periodically cried out in tearing pain.

The words that came out of his mouth gradually diminished.

But Evan continued to pray.

“I vow to fight for your honour.”

There are many trials in a person’s life.

This was just one of many.

Only those who overcome them can move on to something more worthy.

Evan was a man of that mindset.

He chose faith and prayer as the way to overcome it.

“I swear to destroy the wicked and save the weak.”

As long as he lived, he continued to follow the light.

He believed that saving others and eliminating evil would be the light that would one day save him.

The brightest light, shining in the distance, would be the answer.

So now he must move toward that light.

The shining light in front of him would be the only guide to the path ahead.

“So, Goddess, lead me to the right path.”

So, Goddess.

If you are listening to this voice,

if you see me with your eyes,

lead me to the right path.

* * * * * * * *

Five days have passed since I was trapped in the cave.

The hunger was manageable, but the thirst was unbearable.

So Evan continued to quench his thirst using the water stagnant at the bottom of the cave.

But there is a limit to how much water a cave can hold.

Without water, a man cannot survive and will die.

Reaching his limit, Evan drew his sword.

“Goddess. Lead me.”

He couldn’t stay in the cave forever.

Starve to death. Or fight and die.

Evan had only two options left.

If he was left with nothing but irrational options, there was only one path he could take.

He would not wait for a hollow salvation.

It was up to him to create his own path.

He might die fighting, but he would not die in disgrace.

Determined, Evan prayed, drawing on his divine powers.

“Help me stay on the right path.”

With a clang.

Evan’s raised sword glowed with divine light.

The intense glow was more majestic than ever.

A sacred light that burned with everything he had.

Evan gripped his sword and stepped out, knowing that this moment would be his last.

If the Evil Gods came, he would fight back.

If an apostle of evil approached, he would cut them down with his sword.

That was the way of Evan the Paladin.

– [Accept your fate.]

The Evil God’s voice echoed in Evan’s ears as he stepped outside.

But Evan ignored him and moved on.

To live as a man, he had to step out.

Following his convictions, Evan drew his sword and continued forward.

With each step Evan took away from the cave, a spear of lightning appeared from the distant sky.

The bolts of fierce malice pointed at him, demanding that he flee.

“I will decide my fate!”

It is his destiny to meet his end as a paladin.

Evan poised, he aimed his sword at the falling lightning bolt.

If he swung, he could parry.

If he parries, he can move forward.

As he gripped his sword, a fierce shout erupted from his mouth.

“Come at me, evil fiend!”

One more step forward.

Evan swung his glittering sword.

Clang! Clang!

With each swing of the radiant sword, the Evil God’s blows were cut down one after another.

Evan at this moment was stronger than his previous self.

Filled with determination, Evan’s eyes met the Evil God looking down at him.

“I am Evan Alemire, Inquisitor of the Holy Land!”

There was only one thing he wanted to protect.

He is proud of who he is.

Evan was supposed to be a paladin of the Holy Land.

He was to be an Inquisitor of the Holy Land.

That was the destiny Evan had chosen for himself.

“Evil god! Be condemned!”

Evan shouted in a commanding voice at the demon.

A strong resolve blossomed in Evan’s heart as he fought against the Evil God.

Only to take one step forward.

He swung his sword with everything he had.

And he failed.