Paladin of the Dead God

Chapter 348.2

Noticing their worry, Isaac offered a reassuring explanation.

“True, these are creatures from the Outer Boundary, but those that have wandered this far into the boundary are weakened. And just like us, this cursed sun and salt are lethal to them too. Just ensure the soldiers don’t suffer any casualties, and we’ll be fine.”

“Hm, in that case, I’ll take the vanguard,” Edelred volunteered, stepping forward. Isaac had been planning to ask him for this very role, so he was pleased.

“Would you? That’d be a great help.”

“Of course. This salt desert looks suited for a horse’s gallop. I’ve never actually encountered an Outer Boundary creature myself, but I did see a skull of one in the sanctum beneath the Holy See.”

“I’ve faced them before,” added Lianne. “Though I doubt they’ll be exactly the same...”

Those from the Gerthonia Empire, the heartland of the Codex of Light, rarely saw these beings, but those living in the outskirts had glimpsed creatures from the Outer Boundary. However, this wasn’t the task Isaac needed them to focus on.

“If you push forward while clearing out these creatures, your horses will tire quickly. First, reach Miarma as fast as possible and prepare a campsite for the following troops. That way, we can tend to the heatstroke victims when they arrive. Look for any wells and buildings that can be used for shelter.”

It was more of an advance party than a vanguard. Edelred looked a bit taken aback by the change from his expected role, but this task was crucial. The greatest enemy was not a few stray monsters but the relentless sun that had defeated even the Seventh Dawn Army.

“Tuhalin, I’d like you and the priests of the Forge to clear a path by handling the creatures. If anyone can withstand the heat, it’s a World’s Forge artisan.”

Tuhalin grinned. The Salt Desert was a wide, flat expanse with nothing but Outer Boundary monsters to hinder them. Without those creatures, they could move even faster.

“This is barely a warm-up.”

“Perfect. I’ll leave it to you.”

“Commander, what’s our role then?” Rottenhammer asked. Isaac already had a plan for the Codex paladins, who would face the miracle of the Lighthouse Keeper head-on.

“I have the most important task for you.”

“Oh? And what would that be?”

“Pray for us to cross this desert safely.”

***

Isaac knew exactly what they were hoping for, which made him feel a bit guilty.

“I hate to disappoint, but I don’t have a way to break through the Salt Desert and let the sea flood in... yet. It’ll be a while before that can happen. But I’ll be looking into it.”

A lie. Isaac knew exactly how to achieve their dream, having reached an ending with the Salt Council’s help in the past. But he didn’t have the necessary resources now, and it might interfere with reclaiming the Holy Land.

Their wish would have to wait until after Lua was reclaimed.

Aidan nodded understandingly. “That’s alright. I didn’t expect everything to be solved the moment we arrived in Miarma.”

Yenkos smiled. “Honestly, my biggest fear was that you’d say, ‘It’ll be easy.’ I’ve never seen anything go smoothly when you’ve put it that way.”

“...Me?” Isaac blinked, caught off guard.

“Think back,” Yenkos continued, “the Drowned King, the kingdom of Elil, fighting Dera Heman in Odryf, even the Nightmare Strait... Every time you said, ‘It’ll be simple,’ things got pretty rough, didn’t they?”

Isaac stared at them blankly for a moment.

That was true. He’d scraped by, often by a stroke of luck or a near brush with death. It dawned on him then that his idea of “simple” might not align with that of others.

Whenever an angel obstructed his goal, things teetered on the edge of impossible.

That was just how this world worked. But Isaac knew how to make things happen “despite” angelic interference, even if it meant facing near-death situations along the way.

Many failed to succeed even in death, so if he achieved his aim despite an angel’s interference, wasn’t that “simple” enough?

‘Maybe it’s a difference in how we value life,’ he mused.

Isaac was living in this world with the mindset of a player. Life was precious, of course, but he saw it differently than those born and raised here. To him, victory was still victory, even if he barely survived with 1 HP left.

“This time, there’s no need to worry,” Isaac said confidently.

Yet Aidan and Yenkos exchanged glances, their expressions darkening slightly.