Chapter 617 - The Nature of Divinity
"Even if the cold wind blows, warmth remains."
"What do you think about making monasteries to take care of the children?"
To sum it up, Overdier knew how to handle people.
He hadn't aged in vain.
"Isn't it said that when people grow old, they become more bitter in the West?"
Enkrid, who was listening beside him, had that thought.
He was drinking some cheap tea in the modest reception room of the monastery.
Overdier didn't immediately tell Noah to join the order and take a position.
He didn't ask him to dedicate himself to the cause or the order.
"If there are people going out to fight on the battlefield, surely there are also people needed to take care of and save the children?"
Overdier simply brought up something Noah was already doing and had done.
As he listened, Enkrid thought he knew what
Overdier would say next.
"Come to the order. There, you can find people like yourself, and you can create monasteries like this one. I won't allow the search for false saints anymore. It's too much for me to do alone. Help me."
He pushed the chair back and knelt, his words delivered with dramatic flair.
'It feels like watching an old fox,' Enkrid thought.
The image of the highly regarded holy knight of the order kneeling and asking for help was unexpected.
It wasn't the attitude one would expect from such a prominent figure.
It seemed like a tactic to put pressure on Noah, making it difficult for him to refuse.
Noah, however, wasn't blind to why Overdier was acting this way.
Despite seeing Overdier kneel, Noah remained calm.
He didn't rush to stop him, nor did he try to pull him back up.
He simply responded in a calm manner.
"You don't need to do that."
Enkrid, having observed this, decided he didn't need to stay any longer.
With or without him, Noah was not the type to follow someone's lead.
Instead, he would follow his own intentions—faith, belief, will—those things guided him, and there was light shaped by them within Noah.
Though he was not born with divine talent, he still carried something sacred.
'Then what is divinity?'
That was a question that suddenly crossed his mind.
There was no need to stay here any longer.
Overdier wasn't fazed by Noah's calm response, and instead, he seemed satisfied.
Enkrid decided it was time for him to leave, as the rest was for those two to figure out on their own.
"I have some business to take care of."
Enkrid said as he stood up.
"I never asked you to stay."
Overdier mumbled as Enkrid began to leave.
It wasn't exactly a scolding, but it was a slight complaint, as though he were asking, "You don't trust even this much?"
It was a playful remark, though.
"We'll talk later. Friend."
Noah said with a soft smile.
Even when he had no need to intervene, he had let it be, and now that Enkrid was leaving, he did the same.
His attitude was one of respecting the other's will.
"Friend?"
The word coming from Noah's mouth made Overdier blink in surprise.
What was this about?
The expression on the old priest's face was full of meaning.
"It is so. A friendship has formed between us."
Enkrid replied casually, and Overdier asked,
"Didn't you say you're also friends with the king of Naurilia?"
"Yes, that's right."
Overdir's expression became strange.
It was as though he had just tasted a pie with a peculiar flavor—neither pleasant nor unbearable, just strange.
After a moment, he spoke.
"Shall we be friends too?"
"No."
Enkrid answered immediately and walked away without looking back.
"Why?"
Overdir asked from behind, but Enkrid had no intention of answering.
"Do you need a friend?"
Noah's voice, tinged with amusement, followed Enkrid out of the room.
He looked around the monastery as he stepped outside.
It was the night after the battle, and everyone was busy sorting through the situation and tending to the aftermath.
Overdier, not too busy himself, had stayed behind to speak with Noah.
As Enkrid observed the monastery, still dark before the sun rose, he noted the difference in the atmosphere.
It was a far cry from the night before, filled with vitality from the people who had survived the battle, their spirits high despite the late hour.
Enkrid made his way toward the area where the Madmen Unit had rented a large room.
The energy there was even more intense than what filled the monastery.
"Shiny bear, I'll send you to your god."
A shout from Rem rang out.
"Do you want to go pay your respects to Father the Lord? I'll say a prayer for you."
There was a bear that emitted light in the middle of the night.
"If you can't escape, you'll die."
Ragna's voice also echoed.
Yes, it was obvious that they wouldn't leave without causing some chaos.
Audin, in particular, was shining and making noise, drawing onlookers.
Among them were members of the heretic-destroying crusaders, and some of the monastery's people watched with uneasy eyes.
Was it fortunate that Jaxen and Shinar hadn't joined in?
Or was it more likely that the sight of these people still full of energy after the battle was disheartening?
Enkrid didn't sigh, though.
"Aren't you going to include me?"
Instead, he voiced his frustration.
Why was he excluded from this?
After all, he had just developed curiosity and questions about divinity, and now that Audin had awakened something sacred in him, he hadn't even had the chance to exchange a word with him before leaving.
Naturally, he felt like it should be his turn first.
"I'm the captain."
Enkrid unhesitatingly inserted himself between them.
With a sharp ting, he unsheathed his sword, extending the moment as he released his Will.
At the same time, he crossed his legs and gained speed, slipping through the brutal onslaught with ease.
As the situation accelerated, Enkrid's invisible Will settled in his arms, allowing his blade to move at a speed that was imperceptible to most.
Just as Ragna was about to strike downward with his sword and Rem swung her axe horizontally, Audin spun in the middle of the battle.
In that moment, Enkrid slipped into the space Audin had vacated, suddenly inserting himself between Ragna and Rem's strikes.
Though it would have been a cause for alarm and confusion for most, Enkrid, grateful for Audin's consideration, deflected both weapons.
Thud!
Despite deflecting both weapons, the sound that rang out was as if only one strike had been made. Enkrid blocked Ragna's sword with his sword forged by Aetri, in his right hand, and deflected Rem's axe with the spark in his left.
He struck simultaneously, and the impact of their weapons was felt at the exact moment.
It wasn't simply a matter of blocking with strength; Enkrid had aimed to disrupt their balance, flowing energy from the weapons' impact, but both Ragna and Rem swiftly recovered without any apparent effort.
"Hmph, you think that would work on me?" Rem scoffed.
Fatigue from the battle?
It certainly existed, but it wasn't enough to hinder him from wielding his axe. He didn't believe in always being in peak condition; that would be naive.
Holding a weapon meant being ready to fight at any moment. He believed the real reason for this duel was something simple — the desire to fight.
"Come on! You should know how much I've grown!" Audin greeted Enkrid with a voice full of joy.
"Yeah, I'm not surprised," Enkrid responded, though he had originally intended to ask Audin about the divine power.
However, that could wait for later.
For now, he simply wanted to enjoy the sparring.
"It's hard to call this normal."
That was an inquisitor's comment.
'Did they call him mad?'
The thought crossed the head inquisitor's mind as he watched the duel unfold.
"I see it that way as well," the captain responded calmly.
Training the body was exhausting; no one would deny that.
However, some people enjoyed it instinctively.
Watching them in action was impressive, to say the least.
What's more...
'None of them seem like someone whose skill can easily be measured.'
In the Holy Kingdom, where would he place himself if he were to rank among the ten strongest?
As a knight, he knew that strength couldn't simply be measured by a list.
Ranking the strongest to the weakest was futile.
Where the battle took place, the circumstances, and the mindset all played a role in determining the outcome.
Still, it was in the nature of anyone who wielded a sword to estimate the capabilities of others.
Though he didn't think himself among the top ten, he couldn't deny that he was within their ranks.
Looking at these madmen now, he saw none of them as weak.
'What does it mean to have this level of power?'
The head priest knew there were still hidden forces within the Holy Kingdom.
He had seen a genius once, someone who had grasped Will before turning twenty.
He had glimpsed this individual in the holy city, and the talent was like a shining star.
But now, watching the warriors before him, the young genius seemed like nothing more than a distant memory.
Each one of them was monstrous in their own right.
If they were to compare swordsmanship, the blond man with a languid expression stood out, but in terms of reflexes and destructive power, the grey-haired Western man was no slouch either.
As for the others?
It was impossible to say who had the upper hand at this point.
The inquisitor continued to observe intently.
"…Captain?"
The vice-captain called out, noticing that the captain had been staring blankly at the scene.
"What is it?"
"You're holding your weapon."
The vice-captain's words brought the captain back to reality, and he realized he had been gripping the hammer at his waist.
"Ha."
He couldn't help but chuckle.
What was this?
Why did his body tense up on its own?
Was it because he wanted to join the battle?
He had chosen the path of vengeance, a member of the Heretic Slaughter Priesthood, and yet, seeing Enkrid move, he couldn't suppress his excitement. The memories of his youth — training, learning, and advancing — flooded his mind.
Watching them now, especially Enkrid, filled him with a longing to join in the fun.
"They really seem to be enjoying themselves," the captain commented, though he held back his words.
Some of the other members seemed to share his sentiment, but the sparring session was nearing its end.
"We'll continue tomorrow. We need rest," the Frog interjected, wrapping up the situation.
The sparring wasn't a life-or-death struggle.
Though it appeared intense, they hadn't used their full strength.
The captain observed quietly.
After some rest, some members of the Priesthood would visit the Madmen Knights' quarters.
"Would you mind sparring with me?"
These were people who had been impressed by Enkrid's display the previous night.
Not only was his skill remarkable, but his spirit was equally inspiring.
They hadn't approached him rudely.
"I'll accept," Enkrid said.
There was a quick sparring session, lasting only a few exchanges.
The crusader bowed respectfully.
"I've learned a lot," he said.
There were no further words of advice.
As the divine energy had been repelled by the rejection of Will, the crusader had few options left.
"Can I have a go too?"
Their captain, too, stepped forward, and once again, Enkrid nodded.
Honestly, it was Enkrid who was eager to have a turn, itching for a brief engagement.
The captain drew his weapon — two slightly longer hammers, each heavier than a shortsword.
"Lord watch over me."
As he muttered, the man holding the hammer caused a soft glow to emanate from it.
In the end, this did not determine a clear winner or loser.
"Should we kill each other here?"
In the middle of the clash, Rem intervened, swinging his axe.
"Master!"
Seeing their leader bounce back after being hit, several members of the clergy rushed to grab him.
"If this continues, one of us will die."
The leader spoke calmly.
"I don't think it will be me."
Enkrid responded awkwardly, and the leader merely smiled, letting out a soft laugh.
The clergy stayed for another two days, often joining Enkrid in sparring matches.
During their social interactions, they also shared some warnings.
"Be cautious. You be wary of assassins and similar individuals."
Such words were offered.
These people knew more about the heretics than anyone else on the continent.
They were also aware of the death of the apostle and Enkrid's involvement in it.
After Overdier left a few paladins behind and the clergy departed, Enkrid packed up and prepared to leave as well.
"Training will have to continue back at the Border Guard, right, brothers?"
Audin greeted them in the morning.
"Training? Training? Do you want to die?"
Rem responded, his voice full of cheer as the bright sunlight made him happy.
Noah stood in front of Enkrid.
"Are you leaving now?"
"Yes."
Noah remembered a conversation he had had with Enkrid a few days ago.
"There are no guarantees that we'll win."
From that conversation, Noah learned an important lesson: there was no guarantee that his actions would help.
Even if he entered the order, there was no certainty that things would go as planned.
The dangers would increase, and more often than not, things would not go as desired.
That was the reality.
Still, he decided to do what needs doing, and Enkrid's influence on his decision was undeniable.
"I've received help."
Noah said.
"Yeah."
"Will we meet again?"
Noah's tone had softened since their last exchange.
Enkrid simply nodded, without adding anything else.
"Probably."
There was no need for further explanation about something that was bound to happen.
As they left the monastery, the people bowed their heads.
"I am grateful."
"May the Lord protect you."
"I will pray for you morning and night."
The darkness that had hung over the monastery had passed, and now, hearing their words, warmth spread through his chest.
Even though the winter wind bit at his skin, he was unlikely to forget this warmth.
"It's freezing."
Of course, Rem complained about the cold.
But that was only as they left the monastery.
Inside, he had been somewhat respectful, even ruffling a child's hair when they expressed their gratitude.
On the way back, Enkrid revealed his curiosity.
"What is divinity?"
He asked Audin, who was riding a large horse, his feet lightly tapping as he approached.
They were parting ways, and Audin was riding the strong battlehorse that Overdier had given him as a gift.
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