〈 271 Chapter 〉 The Holy Knight Doesn’t Believe in God (1)
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Galahal is by no means a strong hero.
Compared to Kyle, and even lesser than Destel, who summoned ‘Berserker of Cleavage’ known as the strongest hero prior to Kyle, Galahal is weaker.
‘I’m not sure about when he exhausted his lifespan, though…’
From what I remember, Galahal had a strength that was slightly below that of a superhuman. However, it’s not like he didn’t have some injustice in this comparison.
“Your assessment of being below a superhuman has much to do with your comparison subjects.”
“Is that so?”
“Your comparison subjects were Kelharlem, Draka, and Uncle Kuntel… those kinds of people.”
Bam!
Braver, Kelharlem.
Sword Demon, Draka.
The last successor of Kirmelt Canyon, Uncle Kuntel.
The superhumans compared to Galahal were those characters. Naturally, there wouldn’t be many superhumans like the three of them. They have lived as superhuman for at least several decades, or more than a hundred years.
‘There’s no need to mention Uncle Kuntel, who withstood Death’s Blade…’
Kelharlem has a record of dealing a blow to Skebal, a natural enemy of wizards, using a wizard’s style.
‘As for Draka…’
About ten years ago, during Draka’s prime, he even drew in a match against Uncle Kuntel. Although in his last days, with his body worn out, he lacked the sharpness of those days…
In any case, apart from personal characteristics, it’s clear that his skills were at the very top tier among superhumans.
“Our generation’s superhumans are particularly strong. Uncle Kuntel was almost the strongest among all superhumans in history.”
If we account for ancient times, one strongest superhuman and hero exists, but excluding that one from the discussion, Uncle Kuntel could certainly be called the strongest knight.
If we look at eras excluding ancient times, it’s hard to find another era where the level of superhumans was this high.
“If you fight against those who just became superhumans, or those who have been superhuman for less than ten years… you’d probably win.”
“You think highly of me.”
“I’m not overestimating. Even if you have become a superhuman, it amounts to just surpassing growth limits… your physical abilities just slightly increase. What’s important is what comes next.”
I took a short breath.
The words I was about to say were the main point.
“So even if you use the Holy Grail to make someone a superhuman, they wouldn’t fully take your place. Keep that in mind.”
It would be nearly impossible to replace Galahal’s spot both in terms of material strength and symbolic significance. The possibility would appear only after Chloe became a hero.
“…Is that so.”
Galahal smiled wryly.
“The more I hear, the more I want to stay on the battlefield. Should I ask the Knights Order Leader to delay my retirement? Even just a year…”
“Stop that.”
I shook my head.
“Uncle Heinkel is a man of his word. And I think it would be better for you to retire.”
I shot a glare at Galahal with narrowed eyes.
“If you stay, you’ll definitely wear out your lifespan.”
“I can’t deny that.”
“Honestly…”
I sighed.
Galahal seemed reluctant. It seemed he was particularly worried about his absence.
“If it doesn’t work out, I’m also considering stepping up, so don’t take it too seriously.”
“…Huh?”
“When the kids reach a certain level, I’m also considering going back to the battlefield. For now, I need to stay in Apuria because my hands are still needed here.”
With two years left in work.
Once the kids start actively participating in actual combat, I thought about heading back to the battlefield then.
“But Raniel, you have limited time left…”
“Don’t worry. I have a little more time than you. Well, let’s finish this gloomy conversation here.”
I clapped my hands together.
“So, is there anything you’re curious about?”
“Curious about… what do you mean?”
“Like what I did after I retired… or stories about the disciples I’m raising in Apuria. You can ask anything.”
At my words, Galahal stroked his chin.
“Well, there is one thing.”
I nodded for him to go on.
Galahal hesitated while glancing at me. He looked uncertain if he should ask this.
“Actually…”
“Yeah.”
“I should have asked this first, but considering the mood, I saved this question for later.”
“Oh?”
“Can I really ask anything?”
“I told you to ask!”
What on earth was he attaching all this extra crap before asking?
“Uh…”
“Yeah? What is it?”
Just as my patience was reaching its limit, Galahal pointed at me with a hand.
“What on earth happened to that body of yours?”
Ah.
‘What the hell…’
I was wondering why he hadn’t asked until now.
I slowly raised my hand and brushed my eyes.
“There’s a lot of circumstances surrounding this…”
I wanted to pass this off in one sentence, but looking at Galahal’s subtle expression… it didn’t seem like it would be easy to get away with it. I would have to spill the whole story to Galahal for a while.
2.
“Indeed, that’s how it happened.”
After hearing my explanation, Galahal nodded.
Raniel was lowering her head, blushing. Explaining changes in gender and body to others was something even a thick-skinned person would find embarrassing.
‘Why is he taking this so seriously?’
Especially because the other person was a serious old colleague who knew nothing about jokes. Throughout the explanation, Galahal often asked questions, all of which were quite hard to answer.
And the questions didn’t stop even after the story ended.
It showed no sign of ending.
“You must have gone through a lot. Is it hard to adapt to your body? I think there are issues that I wouldn’t know about. For example…”
That example was unnecessarily realistic.
Unable to hold back, Raniel shouted, “Shut up!” as she covered Galahal’s mouth with her hand.
“Stop! Stop asking…!”
Given how serious he was, Raniel had to respond seriously as well… but it was definitely not something she could bear. It was something she had never thought about.
“I know you’re worried, but please stop asking. Why are you worrying about things I haven’t even thought of…?”
“It’s strange not to be worried when a friend suddenly shows up like that.”
“Uh… I get it, so please stop asking.”
“If you say so… then okay.”
Once that conversation settled down, Galahal and Raniel headed towards where the Knights Order Leader was staying.
“I’ve already informed Uncle Heinkel in advance. I received the Holy Grail and plan to let the candidates try it out.”
“Candidates, you say?”
“Yeah. Among those who faced the wall… they picked the ones who are relatively sane.”
There aren’t many of them.
According to Raniel, it was said there were no more than three. Most were either driven mad by confronting the wall or their bodies wrecked.
“To be honest, I’m not expecting a superhuman to emerge.”
The Holy Grail.
Though it’s called a miraculous artifact, Raniel knows it’s not just a convenient tool. Confronting the wall and throwing a candidate into the Holy Grail won’t guarantee a superhuman will pop out.
‘Even Kalt had to overcome trials of that magnitude.’
Kalt, who survived three disasters and eventually inflicted significant damage to the disaster, was the person closest to being a superhuman.
He had already confronted the wall and was just one step away from surpassing it. It means he could have reached superhuman status without the Holy Grail.
Yet even Kalt had to use almost four chances to pass the trials of the Holy Grail.
“The trials of this Holy Grail aren’t easy at all.”
“Are they similar to the hero’s trials?”
“Essentially similar. But from what I hear, they seem even harder.”
“Indeed…”
Galahal nodded slowly.
“You mentioned the candidates are gathering at Kateron Castle, right?”
“Right. Just three of them… one of them might be someone you or I know.”
“I think it’s highly likely.”
Facing the wall means having reached a certain level. They would have made a name for themselves on the battlefield, increasing the chances of meeting someone familiar.
With this light thought, Raniel headed towards Kateron Castle, where the candidates were gathered…
“They’ve been waiting.”
She unexpectedly encounters someone right there.
“I figured you would come. Who else would come besides you? Even if that pitiful wizard showed up, it might make things quite interesting…!”
Pink hair like a harlot.
Dull green eyes reminiscent of moss-covered stones by the riverbank. As the Grand Magus would say, a crass person devoid of any roots.
Saint, Sara.
Faced with the Saint grinning confidently in front of her, Raniel’s expression instantly soured. Cold sweat ran down Galahal’s back, who was standing next to Raniel.
“Ra, Rania. Calm down…”
Just as Galahal was hastily trying to hold onto Raniel.
Before Galahal could grip Raniel’s shoulder, she was quicker to reach out.
“So, today is different… Kyaaaahhh!”
Raniel grabbed Sara’s hair.
3.
“I came for a reason, you know??! Do you think I wanted to come here? Seriously, a pathetic wizard’s disciple like me just can’t help but react…!”
Sara huffed as she untangled her messy hair. Raniel, with bulging eyes, watched, and a vein popped on her forehead.
“Then why are you here?”
“That Holy Grail, you’re using it this time, right? So naturally, I came to monitor from the Deloheim Church. That’s a sacred relic, you know? An ancient artifact at that!”
Sara touched her chest.
The bulge of the robe had an emblem representing the Deloheim Church engraved on it.
“The Deloheim Church has the right and duty to manage and supervise sacred relics. And of course, for an ancient sacred relic, someone of my caliber needs to supervise directly.”
“Who do you think you are?”
“Don’t ask if you don’t know?”
At Raniel’s question, Sara scoffed haughtily.
“I’m a saint of the Deloheim Church, blessed by Deloheim, and I’ve sworn to love only Deloheim.”
Funny, since she’d whisper sweet nothings to Kyle every night, you harlot.
Swallowing the curse that rose to her throat, Raniel glared at the Knights Order Leader. Her gaze demanded an explanation. The Knights Order Leader, dripping with cold sweat in the tense atmosphere, handed Raniel the paperwork.
“I’m not just here to supervise. Among the candidates visiting today, one is someone the Deloheim Church has produced.”
Raniel frowned severely.
“…You mean there’s a candidate from the Deloheim Church?”
Among cowardly fellows who shy away from important battlefields and shout only for gods in times of danger… there’s a candidate who faced the wall?
Raniel found it hard to believe.
Clutching the paperwork, she quickly skimmed through the contents. There were three candidates, and the one mentioned by the Knights Order Leader was introduced on the first page.
Immortal, Karioth.
When Raniel confirmed that name, she tilted her head.
“What?”
Pointing at the document bearing Karioth’s name, she said.
“This guy is a Holy Knight who’s been branded a heretic by the Deloheim Church, isn’t he?”
The Immortal, Karioth.
Originally, the name attached to Karioth was not ‘immortal.’
From what Raniel remembered, the name attached to that middle-aged knight was ‘blasphemer.’
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