Barbarian in a Failed Game

019. The Fallen One(2)

Aries’s “scent” was a power derived from the Goddess of Justice.

The beacon handed down by the justice-minded god, who took pity on a girl who had vowed revenge after losing her foster father to a dark mage.

Her excellent divine compatibility and innate genius were merely incidental; it was the role of that “scent” that allowed Aries to single-handedly pursue Darkin from a young age.

That’s why Aries never took pride in herself.

Her strength was not her own; it derived from her god.

‘There’s trouble at the monastery…’

Thus.

Normally, she would not have hastily reacted upon sensing the remnants of dark magic emanating from the monastery.

Currently, she was acting with Khan, having promised to move according to Khan’s plans.

But she couldn’t hold back.

The remnants of dark magic from the monastery carried the malice of an entity she had despised for half her life.

‘Darkin!’

Darkin Perayas, the necromancer who took her foster father from her and committed numerous heinous acts over the years. The vile stench of that monstrous figure was unmistakable.

Leaving only a hurried note about her departure to the monastery, Aries kicked off from the tavern.

Her physique, forged with the blessing of a god, allowed her to sprint with such force that it reminded one of a warhorse charging.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

Her figure, leaving footprints on the road as she raced, swiftly reached the vicinity of the monastery.

Dark, sticky, and evil—the stench of dark magic seemed to intensify as she approached the front of the monastery.

Even she, accustomed to divine powers, felt a momentary dizziness from its intensity.

‘I must enter first.’

She didn’t hesitate.

Clad in the “Divine Armour,” a staple for paladins, she forcefully pushed open the monastery’s doors.

Bang──!

The interior of the monastery, which she entered abruptly, was eerily silent and dark.

Naturally dark since all lamps were extinguished, but the stench of dark magic made it feel particularly chilling.

Simple darkness couldn’t limit the vision of a paladin, though.

Aries, with her violet eyes glowing white, cautiously stepped forward.

‘There’s no sign of life.’

To be precise, ‘traces of people having been there’ were all too evident.

Neatly folded priest robes, the bible, and the like. However, as if their owners had vanished into thin air, none were present.

Aries carefully observed these items as she progressed.

These weren’t signs that the priests realized the manifestation of dark magic and hurriedly fled.

Otherwise, it would have been more chaotic. So, where did everyone go?

‘Inside.’

To find out, she knew she had to go towards the origin of the stench. Aries, keeping a fitting level of tension to suppress her anger, silently drew her sword.

Slish….

The origin of the stench, the chapel, had its door firmly closed, denying entry to anyone.

Aries, muffling her presence, put her ear against the door.

“…….”

‘…….”

Beyond the door. There were sounds resembling human voices from the chapel. Aries hardened her expression.

The cadence of the voices was disturbingly familiar. These were definitely prayers-.

“Dear Lord, into the light.”

With a low voice, Aries offered a prayer to the divine and carefully pushed open the door of the chapel.

Screeech- The old door made an unpleasant noise as it scraped the floor.

Aries grimaced and boldly pushed herself inside.

The interior was at once bright yet also seemed dark and sticky.

Despite the interior being well lit with lamps, Aries felt engulfed by a darkness so profound it seemed to swallow her whole.

“In the name of the Lord, lead these lambs….”

Shaken by the chanting that assailed her ears, Aries shook her head.

Inside the spacious chapel.

Multiple people seemed to be seated on the long benches typically for several individuals, heads bowed, indicating by their faint breathing that they were unconscious, as Aries assessed.

And at the center of the chapel.

“Ah, you’re here. It was almost too late and the service nearly ended. Really, such a valuable person you are.”

An elderly priest greeted her with a faint smile. A familiar face. It was Norman, the vice-abbot she had conversed with just a few hours ago.

Aries’s face hardened.

The stench of dark magic wafting from no other than Norman.

“What are you?”

“Oh. Does a venerable paladin consider an old priest unworthy of memory? Pity.”

Norman sneered.

The dignified and pious appearance of the priest had vanished, and his tone had changed so drastically that one could mistake him for another person entirely.

Aries grimaced and shifted her gaze to the floor of the chapel.

Twisted characters drawn with blood covered the chapel’s floor. Aries realized these were the symbols of dark magic and the source of the stench.

And that Norman was the culprit….”Degenerate.”

“Oh, degenerate, he says. How am I a degenerate? Don’t equate me with those wretched beings who have been seduced by demons and lost the power of God.”

“Using humans as sacrifices for black magic is heresy. The price for that…”

Swift judgment.

Aries vanished from the spot.

Though the distance between Norman and Aries was easily over twenty steps, for Aries, who was strengthened by divine power, it only took a couple of steps.

At the heart of the magic circle. Aries appeared right in front of Norman, thrusting the tip of her sword at his throat.

It was a speed and power beyond what an aging paladin aspirant could block.

However.

Clang──!

What followed was an event that even Aries couldn’t help but be surprised by.

“How light. Is this all there is to the mighty paladin’s sword!”

Norman, who should have been spilling blood and falling, blocked Aries’ sword with a ceremonial dagger. He blocked the blow of a paladin with what was essentially a decorative weapon.

No, even more preposterous was the fact that the aged priest reacted to Aries’ sword strike in the first place.

Aries grimaced, attempting to leap back with a light movement.

Thud─! Boom!

It was the right decision. Norman’s fist, which surged with a loud sound, demolished the spot where Aries had been.

“The body is nimble.”

Despite Norman’s tone suggesting disappointment, his face did not show it.

Instead, he was filled with a smile that brimmed with exhilaration.

“The sharpest sword in the pantheon, projecting God’s will into this Midland. That a paladin could…”

Bang! Bang!

Each time the old priest stomped the floor, the chapel’s floor sunk in.

His fists made sounds like tearing drums, and occasionally, when he swung the ceremonial dagger, it seemed as if the air itself was being slit.

Aries, unable to launch a proper counterattack, was forced to retreat under the relentless assault of the old priest who had once aspired to be a paladin but never achieved it.

“Is running away all you know how to do!”

Norman did not hide his emotions.

The sight of Aries retreating haplessly touched upon some deep-seated emotions.

“Just born with the right compatibility, wielding the power of God so carelessly! You look down on me─ someone who was always faithful!”

“……”

Of course, Aries had never looked down on Norman.

She wasn’t even interested enough to do so.

Thus, Norman’s anger was nothing more than misdirected venting.

However, Aries didn’t completely disagree with his rage.

Being born with talent and receiving more reverent treatment than priests who served God their whole lives, and acting like an agent of God, was an undeniable reality.

“Even so, corruption is not the answer.”

“Shut up─!”

Aries, dodging Norman’s furious punch with the flat of her sword, flicked her left hand as if shaking it off.

Pop!

With a crisp sound of impact, Norman staggered as Aries’ right foot hammered into the old priest’s chest like a mallet.

Thud-!

Norman’s body tumbled lifelessly. The sight of Aries, who had been incessantly retreating moments ago, seemed like an illusion. Or perhaps, it was an inevitable outcome.

“Even if powerful. Useless if not wielded properly.”

Aries, who had even parried a strike from Khan.

She wasn’t someone to be overpowered by a reckless assault that only relied on brute force.

“Cough. Cough.”

“Rage is justified. But, if you truly desired God’s love, you shouldn’t have resorted to the power of black magic.”

Becoming a paladin wasn’t just about ‘innate divine compatibility’; unknown to many, there were also cases of becoming a paladin through divine selection.

Hence.

Norman’s anger was justified. However, the decision he made was wrong.

“Khhhh… Me, resorting to black magic’s power? What nonsense you speak! Do you think my power comes from black magic?”

Aries did not bother listening to Norman’s delirium.

For an old priest to overpower a paladin physically, there was no way other than corruption through black magic.

Thus, when the blood-spitting Norman stood up and shed divine light to heal his body, it was an occurrence that should not have been possible.

“……!”

“Do you still think I am a degenerate swayed by black magic now? Girl. Then deny this brilliant divine power as well.”

“How is this possible.”

The ‘Light of Healing’ was one of the most emblematic powers wielded by the priests of the pantheon.

It wasn’t strange that Norman could skillfully utilize it; that is if he hadn’t fallen.

But Norman had fallen.

Using black magic as a priest and achieving a physical prowess comparable to a paladin was proof. It should have been…

‘He used a blessing?!’

“You look curious. Haven’t I said? I have not fallen. The fact that I can wield divine power is proof against your claims.”

“You were using black magic…”

“Oh, this magic circle you mean.”With a slight curl of his lips into a sneer, Norman drew a necklace from his robes. The necklace, embedded with a large piece of black onyx, emitted a ghastly stench.

“I merely borrowed the power of this item. I’ve never used black magic. And this body… it’s merely undergone a somewhat unique procedure, completely untouched by black magic. That’s why I can do this.”

As Norman cast ‘Healing Light,’ it naturally transformed into a divine radiance, wrapping around his body like a suit of pure white armor.

“Divine Armor…!”

“Something of the sort, though the effects are similar!”

Aries blocked Norman’s rushing dagger, the ground caving under her feet from the increased strength.

Wincing at the heightened power, Aries twisted her wrist to push the dagger away, then struck Norman’s chin with her palm.

Thud! The hit was spot-on, yet ineffective due to the significant strength of the divine armor Norman had activated. Most of all, she couldn’t exert her full power given the situation.

‘They’re still alive.’

The clergy, who had lost consciousness, bowed their heads. The aftermath of the battle made it difficult to properly fight, fearing they might get caught in it.

“It tickles!”

“Ugh!”

Trying to restrain Norman’s wild rampaging only limited her movements, allowing obvious attacks through.

Norman’s fist struck Aries in the abdomen with precision.

The shock of penetrating the divine armor involuntarily contorted her face.

But she didn’t back down, as there were benches with unconscious clergy right behind her.

Then, Norman’s eyes glinted.

‘Foolish woman!’

He couldn’t believe a paladin couldn’t fight properly because of hostages. He hadn’t expected ‘those people’ would be of help now, but saw no reason not to use them.

Stopping his attack on Aries, Norman launched himself toward the direction where the clergy were.

As Norman predicted,

The naive, foolish paladin blocked Norman’s path to protect the hostages. A proper paladin might have tried to strike from behind, but…

‘I knew she’d choose to definitely protect the hostages over uncertain odds of penetrating the divine armor!’

Crash─!

Sparks flew as she brought down her ceremonial dagger, blocking Norman’s path, her sword forcing down his.

Naturally, Aries’ awkward positioning from her forceful advancement put her at a disadvantage, and Norman was not foolish enough to leave it unexploited.

Bang!

It was inevitable that Aries would allow an unguarded attack.

“To think I so looked forward to fighting a paladin after acquiring this power. To end up facing a half-pint like you as the first opponent.”

His tone was genuinely regretful, but the curve of Norman’s eyes indicated he was merely taunting Aries.

“…Ugh.”

Struck in the chest by Norman’s kneeing, Aries let out a faint groan as she managed to lift her frail body, the impact evidently having knocked a few bones out of place.

The grin on Norman’s face deepened.

‘The situation unfolded earlier than expected, but it’s not necessarily bad.’

After all, his target was this naive paladin.

‘And that barbarian isn’t here. I was told to capture them if possible… Well, it’s fine.’

Having finished preheating the black magic he had prepared beforehand, and with his primary target, the paladin woman, unwittingly stepping into the trap,

Might as well make sure to finish things properly.

“Then. Let’s end this.”

Norman shattered the black onyx necklace. Its fragments fell to the ground, activating the blood-drawn black magic circle that began to emit light.

“This is a high-level black magic that teleports everything in the magic circle to a predetermined location.”

Aries, who had just healed internal injuries with ‘Healing Light,’ flinched, surprised that Norman openly revealed the black magic’s nature.

Within the circle meant… stepping outside the chapel would be the end of it, right?

‘Why reveal such a weakness?’

“What about these clergy here, though?”

Aries’ expression darkened.

The dilemma whether to escape by herself to plan for another day, or to struggle in an attempt to save the clergy, was clear.

Unable to contain his laughter any longer at the ludicrous sight, Norman burst into uncontrollable laughter.

“Hahaha─! Foolish woman. It’s too late!”

Rumbles─!

The dark emanation rising from the center of the circle started to take shape.

It was the harbinger of black magic, the spikes resembling teeth and the massive maw made of darkness seemed like a demon’s visage.

Aries failed to make a decision until the last moment, by which Norman was certain he had fulfilled his mission.

Bang─!

Bang─!

Bang─! Crack…….

Had ominous breaking noises not come from the ceiling…

“What, what’s happening?”

Before he could discern the source of the noise.

Crack!!

“Woahhhh! Wait, wait a second! Brother!”

Two figures broke through the monastery’s ceiling, falling directly onto Norman.

Woosh!

Simultaneously, sensing the danger, the black magic moved as if sentient to engulf Norman in an attempt to protect him, swallowing along with it the intruders who had suddenly appeared…