chapter 12
escaping the dark
Hyeon-jun approached to finish off the two still alive. They’ll die soon, but it’s neat to deal with them. Dying from blood loss takes quite a while. What would you do if a strange energy suddenly came out and rushed at you?
“Hick, hick!”
As Hyeon-jun approached, he collapsed on the floor and worked hard on his legs. I tried my best to get away from you, but I couldn’t help it. He stepped closer, stepped on his forearm with his foot, removed his hand, and stabbed him deeply in the neck. The other one was treated the same way.
After confirming that they were all dead, Shosanna wiped the blood off the axe. Hyeon-jun was only slightly smeared on the tip of the knife, so he quickly finished cleaning and rummaged through the corpse. To find things that can be made money.
“Do you have anything?”
“Isn’t there anything worth making big money on?”
The weapons were also a mess because they were not well maintained. Even if you sell it, it will only come out at the price of iron. In fact, if Hyeon-jun hadn’t met Barnes, he would have finished the maintenance of the equipment with only blood.
“I should also take care of Gambison.”
Gambison is also made of cloth, but the price is quite expensive because it is armor. Except for Gambison, which Hyun-joon cut off, I took off all of them, put them on top of each other, and put a string in the part where the arm goes in to fix it. I also took off my shoes and put them in a sack along with their weapons. Shoes are also quite expensive.
After searching every nook and cranny, he got up to 12 fairy tales and stood up. Luke, who had recovered himself, poked his head out over the wagon. He inspected the corpses around the wagon with a pale face, then hurriedly got up, as if relieved.
“Are you done?”
“It is over.”
Hyeonjun and Shosanna dragged the body and threw it into the forest. The beasts will take care of it. moral? It’s been a while since he dried up and died in prison.
Luke flinched as Hyeon-jun approached. It was because he was afraid of Hyeon-jun, who had been urging him to stop.
“I’m sorry about that. I couldn’t help it because if I ran as it was, everyone would die.”
“no. I am truly sorry.”
Just two people killed five people at once. It is the power that makes Luke, who used to be a jerk because of the commission fee, control his anger well at once. Of course, they were scary to the crippled merchant Luke, but to Shosanna and Hyeon-jun, they were easier opponents than the goblins. The goblin side, which had been dragging its intestines and rushing at it, was cold even though it physically fell, because it had evil and thugs.
“I will look into the woods a bit. Shosanna, guard the carriage. I’ll look for their camp.”
“okay.”
Luke wanted to get out of here quickly, but sat quietly without making a sound.
Hyeon-jun went into the forest. We came out shortly after receiving the signal, so the campsite shouldn’t be far away. Fortunately, I was able to quickly find the campsite by scanning the surroundings.
There are traces of a fire, and blankets and luggage are scattered around it. The blankets were rags, so it didn’t look like it would make any money at first glance, so I turned my luggage over and rummaged through it. One sack had food in it, but the sour smell made it vibrate and put it away. Fortunately, I was able to find 7 more fairy tales. Other than that, small items seemed like burdens and couldn’t be sold or used.
When Hyeon-jun returned, Shosanna asked.
“Have you got anything?”
“Seven fairy tales.”
“Better than nothing.”
At once, I got 19 fairy tales, 5 weapons, 4 Gambisons, and 5 shoes. I could see why the thieves didn’t disappear here.
‘Status window.’
[Hyeonjun Kang]
Attribute: Analysis
Protection: Protection of the Goddess of Education and Growth
Karma: 29
Karma increased by 8. It gives a lot of karma that can’t even be compared to goblins. That would also mean they killed people.
‘Wouldn’t it be bad to become a bounty hunter?’
There may be war mercenaries, but war is a different situation. No matter how outstanding an individual’s skills are, it is a battlefield where people die like ephemera hit by pesticides.
“What about this tree?”
“It will take twenty people to clean this up?”
The tree is too tall. Its thickness is so thick that even if an adult man hugs it, the fingertips can barely reach it. In addition, the length is long, so it goes over to the other side of the road and stretches for a long time.
“Luke, can’t we turn around?”
“Yaya…”
At Hyeonjun’s question, Shosanna spoke softly.
“I can go, but I need some help.”
At those words, Hyeonjun looked at the side of the road. It is flat, but it is hollow on the side of the road and overgrown with bushes. It’s damn good to go down, but you have to cut through those bushes and make your way. As long as the tree is long, it has to turn around, but there is no way the floor is straight. On top of that, you have to push the wagon up from behind to get back up the road.
“Oh, damn it.”
“Let’s shut up? huh?”
“sorry.”
Shosanna, who had already foreseen what would happen, gritted her teeth. Luke is lame. Since there must be a person driving the horse, Hyeon-jun and Shosanna inevitably have to push the wagon through the bushes.
“I’m sorry, but how about taking a little break? There were also battles.”
“Okay.”
At Hyeonjun’s words, Luke nodded willingly. In fact, he couldn’t escape the shock either. Hyun-joon caught me, but I was shocked in a situation where I was completely unprepared, but I can’t be completely fine. Luke also wanted to rest a little because his back and neck were sore.
They climbed into the wagon and rested for a while. Luke sat alone in the driver’s seat and dozed off, while Shosanna and Hyeon-jun sat in the luggage compartment, drank water, and talked softly. All three of them woke up at dawn, so they were tired without knowing it. Even if you go a little slower, you should be able to reach the village by the river before sunset.
At that moment, Hyeon-jun heard the sound of horses hooves. It’s coming this way from afar. It is on the other side of the fallen tree on the road.
“It is.”
“what?”
“I’ll check and come back.”
Hyeon-jun jumped off the wagon and, as before, avoided the leaves and branches, and came out on the other side. A horse gallops frantically, raising dust in the distance. His sharp vision caught the shape of a man on a horse. Wearing full plate armor.
“A knight!”
“What article!”
Hyeonjun shouted, and Shosanna shouted from the other side. Hyeonjun studied the article with concentration for a moment. The distance quickly came so close that it was clearly identifiable.
Although covered in dust, he wore full plate armor and a red cape reaching down to his elbows. A shield that is large enough to look ignorant is hung on the horse. Hyeonjun looked at the article and saw a flag pinned to his back. A white square shield on a red background. A scale that overlaps the shield to keep it level.
“Paladin of Karios!”
“oh my god! what?”
Shosanna exclaimed in surprise at Hyeonjun’s exclamation. Hyeon-jun will never forget that pattern for the rest of his life. Isn’t it the temple that helped him on the day of the emancipation of slaves!
Shosanna was shocked. The temple does not hastily grasp the sword. Paladins are the sword and shield for mankind. It is the true protector of humanity and the light that destroys evil, dedicating its entire life to killing monsters and lightening the darkness. It is almost impossible for an ordinary human to meet such a paladin. For they wield their swords only in Hell. In other words, the place where the paladin can be seen is hell.
The horse that was running like crazy gradually slowed down and then stopped. The horse was frothing and could not stand up straight as if it were about to collapse. However, when the paladin of Karios gently brushed the horse’s neck, the red light that did not lose its brilliance even under the sun was in his hand, and the horse immediately regained energy. The paladin of Karios jumped out of the saddle. At first glance, the armor is thicker and heavier than normal armor, but it is a light body movement as if not wearing armor.
“Is there a problem?”
A thick male voice echoed through the helmet. The paladin spoke in a surprisingly low voice.
“I met a robber. We are stranded because they have fallen trees to block the road.”
Hyunjoon said politely. The paladin seemed to be looking at Hyeon-jun. For a moment, Hyeon-jun felt waves of unknown power sweeping through the paladin’s body. It was a tremendous power, but it was not threatening at all, and it was a power that gave relief as if wrapped in a cozy blanket. When Hyeon-jun was startled, the paladin looked straight at Hyeon-jun.
“You felt it.”
“yes.”
“If you have a chance later, would you like to stop by the temple? God’s light is shining on you.”
“Ah, I see.”
Hyeonjun barely spoke in a trembling voice. There was also a desire for power, but the power of a paladin is the light that shines on humanity. Even if you are an evil human being, you can’t help but feel moved in front of that light.
“Can you help me clear the tree?”
“yes. of course.”
Then the paladin pulled out the sword from his waist. The pure white blade of the sword sharply split the sunlight, revealing its appearance. As Hyeon-jun looked at the ecstatic sight in awe, the paladin spoke quietly.
“Please step away for a moment.”
“Ah, yes. Shosanna! It’s dangerous, get back!”
“uh!”
Hearing Shosanna’s answer, Hyeon-jun stepped back and the paladin swung his sword. There was no preparation and it was so fast that I had no idea how it was moving. The reason Hyeon-jun could tell that the paladin had swung the sword was because a bright red light remained along the sword’s trajectory. Ah, at the moment dozens of sword paths were drawn and the paladin was moving to the side of the path.
Empty! Thuddeong! Chow!
The beautiful tree fell to pieces in one fell swoop. While admiring Hyeon-jun, he was struggling to remember the red trail that had already disappeared.
“wow!”
A startled sound was heard from the other side. The paladin silently began clearing aside the trees he had cut down. He stuck his fingers into a chunk that weighed at least 100kg and tossed it into the woods. It is an unreal sight.
thud!
Hyeonjun, who came to his senses at the sound, hurriedly ran and began to move things he could carry.
“Shosanna! Help me clear the tree!”
“okay!”
The tree was quickly cleared. In fact, it was as if the paladin had cleaned up the wounds by himself, but he politely took an example and expressed his gratitude.
“Thank you for your help.”
“no! I am truly grateful!”
Then he walked to the side of the forest and knelt down. He lowers his head and mumbles softly. It’s like a prayer. I found out exactly where the gang corpses were piled up, as if I had figured out when I was releasing the power earlier.
It was self-defense because they were the ones who rushed to kill me, and I actually killed them casually, but now I’m feeling restless. Shosanna seemed to be the same, but she froze and winked at Hyeonjun.
‘oh my god?’
‘I don’t know.’
After praying, the paladin didn’t say anything about the corpse, got on the horse and spoke.
“Soon the wagon will pass. It’s urgent, so please stop the wagon. please.”
“Yes, I understand.”
The paladin bowed his head and started running again at breakneck speed. In an instant, it disappeared from sight.
“What is this…”
Luke, who was lame and was sitting in the driver’s seat, muttered softly. Hyeonjun and Shosanna looked at each other with hard faces.
“Are you skinny?”
“okay.”
He spoke in a low voice so that Luke couldn’t hear him. Even if I ran at full speed from now on, I wouldn’t be able to make it on time. This is why the lord of Bimarn was prepared to burn the city. But you can’t blame the paladin. All human beings are indebted to them.
They moved the wagon to the edge of the road as the paladin said. And decided to sit down and rest until the wagon the paladin said passed by.
“Oh my God, seeing a paladin. I can’t believe it.”
“It was amazing. I should have seen you swing your sword.”
“saw? how was it? Was it great?”
“No, actually it was so fast I couldn’t see anything.”
“Ayy!”
Everyone was very excited. Luke was also itchy because he wanted to be part of the story, but he only listened because he noticed. It wasn’t long before the sound of hoofs was heard again. This time Shosanna and Luke knew right away. it sounds great There are many.
Everyone jumped up and looked at the road. A lot of dust rises in the distance and is approaching.
“That’s a lot!”
Hearing Shosanna’s exclamation, Hyeonjun naturally felt the back of his neck get cold.
“They are paladins.”
“what?”
“They’re all paladins.”
“oh my god! Seeing so many paladins at once!”
“This is not the time to like.”
“what?”
“Because that means there are jobs that require that many paladins.”
Shosanna’s face hardened as she shouted with excitement. Stories of paladins are heard everywhere. Few people actually met them, but their exploits are unforgettable. There is no human being who can keep his mouth shut and endure such a great story. Thanks to this, its strength is widely known as well as the noble sacrifice of the Paladin. Dozens of strong paladins. After hearing Hyun-jun’s words, Luke’s face also died.
Hyeon-jun is a flag of wheat with a white light and a bowed head on a green background in a crowd. And I saw a blue wind flag on a white background.
“There are also the flags of Behbine and Shan Taros.”
“oh my god···.”
Behbine is the goddess of agriculture and life, and Shan Taros is the god of freedom and wind. Even so, the fact that the Paladin of Shan Taros was with them informed the seriousness of the situation.
They usually work alone. When they meet by chance in the same place aiming for the same goal, they join forces, but they do not go out together in such a large-scale campaign. By the way, there were 6 Paladins in Shan Taros. It means sent directly from the temple.
In addition, there are 7 Paladins of Verbine and 14 Paladins of Karios. There are a total of 28 Paladins, including the Paladins who passed before them. Moreover, there is even a large carriage in the back. It’s hard to tell exactly because it’s wrapped in white cloth, but it looks like a structure.
Shosanna and Luke could only tell that there were a lot of them, but Hyeon-jun was able to accurately grasp the number and composition. It is thanks to the sharpened eyesight due to the strengthening of the body.