Chapter 33

Isaac felt a bit tense. Gebel was arguably the closest person to him in this world. He was the first person Isaac had met and knew the most about him. It wouldn't have been surprising if Gebel had some inkling about Isaac's true nature.

"I truly don't care whether you're a saint or a demon. I decided that the day I brought you here. Especially since the day I started teaching you swordsmanship."

"For revenge?"

"For revenge."

It was a story Isaac had heard from Gebel before. About the annihilation of the Avalanche Knight Order he belonged to.

Gebel, now seeming fully resolved, continued, "I told you the Avalanche Knight Order was annihilated. But it didn't end there. Their bodies were all taken by the Immortal Order and turned into Death Knights. Since a soul must consent to become a Death Knight, they effectively committed apostasy. Consequently, the Avalanche Knight Order is now practically branded as traitors in the borderlands."

"No..."

"There's no one left who recognizes the Avalanche swordsmanship. Unless they are a knight practicing the same technique. So you don't need to worry."

Isaac felt awkward but considered saying he never really worried. The Avalanche swordsmanship was too taxing on his body. The Isaac style he created himself was far more efficient.

That's when Gebel dropped a bombshell.

"And I believe someone from the Dukharian Faction is behind the annihilation of the Avalanche Knight Order."

Isaac looked at him with a stern expression. The Dukharian Faction was a derogatory term for the core of the Order of the Codex of Light. Even if the Avalanche Knight Order being labeled traitors was unjust, this statement could be seen as hostile towards the entire Order.

"Why do you think so?"

Gebel looked intently at Isaac and said, "Remember Kalsen?"

Kalsen Miller.

Impossible to forget. He was Isaac's first devouring target, and his talent in swordsmanship was the basis for Isaac's abilities.

"Kalsen was expected to become an angel, even a Seraph. But just a few years after the Avalanche Knight Order was wiped out and branded traitors, Kalsen also became a traitor. Coincidence?"

"Are you saying Kalsen wasn't a traitor?"

"No, he was, undoubtedly. He betrayed his subordinates and mercilessly killed his fellow believers."

Gebel tapped his fingers, continuing, "But someone tempted Kalsen to apostasy, just like they pushed someone to sacrifice their subordinates like the Avalanche Knight Order."

"The Immortal Order..."

"They must have been involved, but they couldn't have done it alone. There's a real traitor within the Order."

Conflict and murderous intent flickered in Gebel's eyes. Sharing this information was risky for both Gebel and Isaac.

But Gebel felt this might be his last chance to speak with Isaac. If not now, he might never have another opportunity.

"I couldn't openly investigate due to my branded status. That's why I placed the burden of my revenge on you..."

Gebel looked at Isaac with an apologetic expression.

"I don't know what you're hiding, but it's better to keep hiding it. I trust your character, but powers of unknown origin can instill fear, even if used with good intentions, especially with the current suspicious Order leadership."

"Yes."

"You said becoming a Paladin was your dream, Isaac."

Gebel cleared his throat and spoke again.

"You'll definitely become a great Holy Knight. Maybe even someday..."

Gain access to the heart of the Order.

Gebel hoped Isaac, unlike Kalsen or the Avalanche Knight Order, would instead reach the core of the Order and cut out its corruption. For that, he needed to get Isaac away from here.

"Alright, it's time."

"For what?"

"You don't need to return to the monastery. No need to go to Lancel Monastery either. The Briant Knight Order is much larger and more skilled. Rotenhammer, though ruthless to heretics, is a person of great character and ability towards allies."

Isaac looked stunned, understanding Gebel's implication.

"Join the Briant Knight Order?"

"I'll talk to Commander Rotenhammer. He owes me a favor, so he'll listen. The Inquisitor will also put in a good word, so joining shouldn't be hard."

Isaac pondered Gebel's sudden proposition. Lancel Monastery's knight order wasn't bad, but it would take time to become a knight through regular training there. Joining the Briant Knight Order would expedite the process.

Considering that, it was a no-brainer to join the Briant Knight Order for more practical experience and learning opportunities.

***

Rotenhammer returned around sunset.

The area glowed brightly, like daytime, thanks to the celestial creatures summoned by priests, as per the Codex of Light. This was a display of the Knight Order's grandeur, but Rotenhammer looked displeased.

'He must not have caught any Wallachia hunters,' Isaac thought. Before joining, he had scoured the entire valley with his chaos spawn. There were no Walraika hunters left after Heinikel Gulmar, his last devouring.

"It looks like they all escaped."

"Uh-huh, seems like it. Found their den and rummaged through their belongings - they were definitely Wallachia hunters. The horses were gone too, probably bolted as soon as we arrived."

The horses brought by the hunters were all eaten by Zihilrat, a necessary move to eliminate evidence. Now Zihilrat was so full it wouldn't need to move for weeks.

"Thought the hunters would be sluggish in the day, but Duke's direct hunters are different. They might be hiding underground for all we know. We've released celestial creatures for the search, but I don't hold much hope."

Just then, Isolde peeked out from behind him. She emerged with an awkward expression, realizing she couldn't avoid the situation.

"I owe you my life three times over. I don't even know what to say..."

'Three times? Did I save her that much?'

Recalling the wolf encounter, the monastery incident, and the valley situation, he realized her misfortune.

"It's better if you leave this area quickly instead of thanking me. It seems this region is unlucky for you."

Isolde blushed at Isaac's comment, and Rotenhammer seemed conflicted between concern and irritation.

But Isaac didn't really want to rebuke Isolde. She had done her job well, uncovering a conspiracy to resurrect a plague god at the monastery and discovering the hidden ones in the valley. She even confidently summoned the Knight Order swiftly, sure of her findings.

Excluding the variable of Isaac, everything was a rational decision, and Isolde acted competently as an Inquisitor.

She almost became a dead Inquisitor, though.

'Considering how rare it is for Inquisitors to die on duty, Isolde might not be as unlucky as I thought...'

"Well, let's leave that aside. Thanks to you, Gebel could be treated and saved quickly."

"No. Since I owe you three times, I will repay that debt three times. As an Inquisitor of the Codex of Light, as a member of the Brant family, and personally."

Owing a debt not just once, but thrice. Isaac, looking into Isolde's determined eyes, thought that as long as she didn't meet her end as a guest, she might be well worth leveraging.

Rotenhammer seemed quite surprised by Isolde's declaration but soon smiled.

"Miss, you should go in and rest. You haven't slept since yesterday, have you? We've sent out messages to the surrounding lords and expanded the search area, so there's nothing left for you to do."

"...Thank you, Commander."

After finishing her apologies and thanks, Isolde, relieved, staggered back to her tent.

It was time for her to collapse in exhaustion.

"Then shall we go inside and continue our talk? I have many questions about what you did in the valley."

***

The place where Isaac and Rotenhammer went to talk was the tent where Gebel was resting. Initially, they were going to use the commander's tent, but Isaac wanted to include Gebel in the conversation, so he called him. As Rotenhammer and Isaac entered, Gebel sat up.

"Oh, the holy monk. Have you rested? How's your wound?"

Rotenhammer seemed to know Gebel only as a simple monk. However, Gebel greeted him with a wry smile and a bow.

"You still look strong, Commander Rotenhammer."

Rotenhammer tilted his head, recognizing the tone indicating Gebel's familiarity. Gebel then covered his beard-strewn chin with his hand.

Rotenhammer's eyes widened.

"Gebel? The crazy ruffian? No way, you've aged a lot since then."

The crazy ruffian... Isaac became curious about what Gebel did in his youth.

Gebel smiled wryly at the nickname he hadn't heard in a long time.

"Thank you for recognizing me even after all this time."

"Of course! How can I forget the great deeds of you and the Avalanche Knight Order during the War of Dawn! Right, that makes sense. Miss Isolde praised your skills highly. It's hard to believe you're in a monastery now. How unpredictable life is."

Rotenhammer's admiration continued, his gaze flickering towards Isaac, hinting he somewhat understood how Isaac had survived.

Attributing it to Gebel was only half true.

"But what about Commander Linde? I thought you lacked the temperament to lead but could have been a senior knight at least. Why are you in this monastery?"

"Commander Linde is dead. The Avalanche Knight Order too."

The tent fell silent. Rotenhammer paused before speaking.

"Both the Order and Linde were alive after the War of Dawn, so it's not because of the war. Frankly, if Linde had died, I would've thought you lost your temper, killed him, and fled to a monastery."

"I did think about killing that stubborn old fool more than once. And I wasn't the only one."

"Right, I can't say I never thought the same."

Isaac watched the two old men chuckling and reminiscing. It seemed like their way of mourning someone they'd known on the battlefield. After a while, Rotenhammer took a deep breath and spoke again.

"Who killed them?"

"I don't know."

"You don't know?"

"It's not certain. I fled and haven't seen or heard anything since. I've been hiding in this monastery ever since. A fitting end for a coward."

Isaac knew Gebel had sharpened his blade for revenge, ready to use someone else if he couldn't do it himself. But revealing everything would put Rotenhammer at risk, so Gebel chose the coward's path.

"I see."

But Rotenhammer didn't condemn Gebel as a coward, seeming to understand there were unspeakable circumstances.

"So, I hope you can take care of this young man in my stead."

Rotenhammer's gaze shifted from Gebel to Isaac.

"I may have messed up teaching him the basics, but I believe he'll greatly improve under your guidance."

"...Miss Isolde also praised this young man to no end."

Rotenhammer examined Isaac's hands and arms. Compared to Rotenhammer's iron-like hands and thick limbs, Isaac's body seemed frail, but Rotenhammer wasn't deterred.

"Do you want to become a Paladin?"

"Yes."

Rotenhammer seemed satisfied with that answer and looked back at Gebel.

"I can take care of him, but I can't make him a knight on my own authority. I'll take him as my guest and apprentice to assess his skills. But if he's been trained by you... he might already be able to outperform my trainees."

"Well, he won't be lacking."

"Good. So, your name is Isaac? I'll take responsibility and get you into the Briant Knight Order."

Rotenhammer's assertion made Isaac feel the atmosphere might turn awkward, but he had no choice but to speak up.

"Um, about that, Commander Rotenhammer."

"Yes?"

"I don't plan on joining the Briant Knight Order."