SFRW-Chapter 215

Ch. 215 Sword God From The Ruined World

Though it was Seo Do-jun and his party who declared they would carve a bloody path to the Holy Empire, Bekha did not simply stand idly by with his hands behind his back. He lent his strength—more precisely, the most formidable power the former Holy Empire possessed: Seraph.

Seraph’s reputation as the Holy Empire’s strongest paladin in history and the former captain of the 1st Order of Knights was anything but insignificant. Among paladins, her popularity was second only to the Pope’s, making her presence unimaginably immense. 

When the Pope expelled the three apostles from the Holy Empire, even Seraph’s departure caused an uproar among the paladins. Yet, she soothed the shaken paladins and prevented their division, believing that the paladins must hold their ground firmly for the Holy Empire to eventually reclaim its rightful place. Of course, it took ten years for Seraph to realize just how far her ideals had strayed from reality.

“You heartless bastards!”  

When Choi Kang-soo erupted in anger as if it were his own matter, Seraph shook her head lightly.  

“The first principle of a paladin is to protect the Pope and the Holy Empire. Rather than cursing them, the greater fault lies with me, who abandoned my duty as a paladin.”  

“No matter how important principles are, does it make sense to protect evil? If the water in a well is poisoned, shouldn’t you do everything to drain it?”  

At Choi Kang-soo’s rebuttal, Seraph only responded with a bitter smile.

Truthfully, even Seraph had never dreamed things would escalate and prolong to this extent. She had believed that, despite immediate disagreements, they would eventually reconcile and serve the God Deision once more. 

But the Pope, seemingly never intending such an outcome, began assassinating the expelled apostles. In the process, two apostles lost their lives, and Seraph realized how futile her hopes had been.

『Seraph made the best choice from her position. Had she remained in the Holy Empire, the former faction would have collapsed by now, leaving her without even a shred of hope. Conversely, had she denied the Pope and led the paladins out, she would have faced inevitable criticism regardless of whether her actions were right or wrong. Whichever path she chose, it was a frustrating situation—one not easily understood. But this, too, is something you must observe and learn from. Reflect deeply on how dangerous it is when those obsessed with their own convictions act with stubbornness and arrogance, and the immense harm such individuals in high positions can inflict upon their order. You must carry this lesson with you forever.』  

Despite the solemn tone of the Divine Sword, Choi Kang-soo couldn’t immediately accept its meaning. 

Yet the Divine Sword was patient, believing he would come to understand in time.

As Seo Do-jun’s party traveled with Seraph into the northern region, they immediately noticed the starkly different atmosphere.  

“It’s nothing like the chaotic south.”  

“It seems peaceful… but doesn’t it feel off?”  

“Right? It’s like there’s no vitality. On the surface, everything appears normal, but it feels unsettling.”  

At Hyun Joo-yeon’s remark, Gloria frowned, scanning their surroundings as if they had wandered into a ghost town or a city of dolls.  

The northern region no longer housed any royal families or empires—only the Holy Empire. A single colossal entity ruled over everything, effectively marking the birth of a Holy Empire. 

Even Seraph, setting foot in the north for the first time in years, wore a troubled expression. The people, aware of their presence yet indifferent, engrossed only in their own tasks, felt alien and unnatural. 

And the occasional glances shot their way were chilling.  

“I’ve got goosebumps! I don’t know about other places, but this is downright unpleasant!” Veronica rubbed her arms in disgust.  

“The people’s behavior is unnaturally forced, as if they’re being suppressed,” Rakun remarked, clicking his tongue at the abnormality.  

As Seo Do-jun’s group advanced at a brisk pace, a crowd of over two hundred blocked their path.  

“Oh! By the gods! It really is Seraph!”  

A man with sharp, slanted eyes and a hooked nose stretching to his upper lip shouted as he spotted her.  

“Who’s that creepy guy? Someone you know?”  

At Veronica’s question, Seraph shook her head.  

“I don’t recall him, but judging by his attire, he seems to be the bishop overseeing this region.”  

The man burst into laughter at her response.  

“Hahaha! Well, ten years ago, I was just a lowly priest! Of course, Seraph, you wouldn’t recognize me!”  

Introducing himself as Kozalt, the man confirmed Seraph’s guess—he was indeed a bishop, a figure of considerable authority.  

“A bishop, huh? That means there’s a lot we can ask him,” Kusak said, stepping forward eagerly, but Seraph blocked him.  

“I’ll handle this.”  

“I’ll fight alongside you,” Choi Kang-soo quickly offered, but Seraph firmly declined, emphasizing the importance of this first battle to her.  

“Still, you might get hurt—”  

As Choi Kang-soo sighed deeply at her refusal, Kusak chuckled. “Looks like you got rejected twice now.”  

“Seraph, what an honor to face you like this! Ten years ago, I wouldn’t have dared dream of it!”  

Ignoring Kozalt’s rambling, Seraph fixed her gaze on the five paladins beside him. Had ten years been so long? Only one face among them was familiar.  

“Jerome.”  

At the call of his name, the paladin on Kozalt’s left gave a slight, solemn nod. Once, they had trained together in the paladin order. Though not part of the 1st Order, Jerome had been one of many who admired Seraph.  

“You and Sir Jerome know each other! How tragic that former comrades now stand as enemies, blades drawn!” Kozalt clicked his tongue.  

“It’s not too late to repent. The benevolent god Bahat will forgive even a paladin as beautiful and capable as you a hundred times over.”  

“Enough nonsense.”  

Seraph drew her sword from her waist. The blade, freed from its pristine white sheath, was as beautiful and sharp as its wielder.  

“To stubbornly cling to foolish pride even after being offered redemption!”  

Kozalt, seeing no further room for negotiation, ordered his men:  

“Engage Seraph! Subdue her, but do not kill! We have much to ask of her.”  

As he licked his lips, Seraph’s eyes turned icy at the sight of his slimy desire.  

Kozalt was confident. Unlike other regions, his territory bordered the south, making it a focal point for military strength. In addition to the five paladins assigned to every bishop, forty more had been stationed here due to the unpredictable risk of conflict. He had also brought 150 elite soldiers of the Holy Army, painstakingly trained by the Holy Empire. Even if Seraph had once been hailed as the greatest paladin, that was a decade ago—and alone, she stood no chance.  

Of course, the group accompanying her was a slight concern.  

‘Those rowdy ones from the south? Even if the rumors are true, they’re just mercenaries who hunt monsters.’  

Dismissing them as non-threatening, Kozalt still took no chances and decided to detain them.  

Clutching a pendant around his neck, Kozalt began chanting an unintelligible prayer.  

“━━. ━━━. ━━━!”  

A crimson light emanated from him, soon enveloping Seo Do-jun’s group.  

“Stay put until this is over. Not that you could escape even if you tried! Hahaha!”  

As Kozalt gloated, Kusak reached out and touched the crimson barrier.  

“Well?” Veronica asked.  

Kusak smirked. “Not even worth dealing with.”  

Confident he could shatter it instantly, Kusak paused as Seo Do-jun watched Seraph’s back, signaling to wait.  

***

Knights who serve the divine but wield their will solely through force are paladins. Thus, their martial prowess rivals—if not surpasses—that of royal knight orders or imperial guards.  

In fact, with the addition of divine power, paladins form the core of the world’s mightiest military force. Among them, Seraph was hailed as the Holy Empire’s strongest in history.  

“Uaaah!”  

Seraph raised her shield and charged, colliding with a hulking Holy Army soldier using only her seemingly delicate shoulder. The result was staggering.  

Crash!  

“Guh—!”  

The soldier was sent flying, shield and all. Two more lunged at her with impeccable swordsmanship—worthy of the Holy Empire’s elite training. Yet—  

Clang! Thud! Crash!  

Not only did they fail to touch her, but lightning-fast kicks sent them spinning through the air before they crumpled to the ground.  

Seraph’s speed and destructive power, achieved without divine energy, left Seo Do-jun’s group in awe.  

“Just how much training went into that body? Figures—the pretty ones are always the most relentless.”  

Veronica openly admired Seraph’s physical superiority.  

The elite soldiers, despite their training, couldn’t even graze Seraph’s clothes.  

“Even after all these years, Seraph remains Seraph, huh? Heh!”  

Kozalt remained composed even as his men fell like dominos. He had never expected them to defeat her—they were merely meant to drain her stamina.  

Yet even that failed. Seraph moved with undiminished speed and power, proving her endurance unshaken.  

“Tch! Perhaps that was too much to ask!”  

Frustrated, Kozalt clutched his pendant and chanted again. Crimson light descended around Seraph, causing her to falter momentarily—just as a blade grazed her shoulder.  

“Hahahaha!”  

Kozalt laughed triumphantly at the restraint now binding her.  

“That damn bastard—!”  

Choi Kang-soo cursed, ready to intervene.  

“Do not interfere!”  

Seraph shouted, unleashing her divine power for the first time.  

Whooosh—!  

A blinding light erupted from her, purging the oppressive energy.  

“Now… I will show you why I was once called the strongest paladin.”  

Wreathed in divine energy, Seraph shot through the soldiers like a beam of light—heading straight for Kozalt.  

“The strongest? Tch! That title was stripped the moment you abandoned the Holy Empire!”  

Kozalt barked as the forty paladins, held in reserve, rushed to intercept her.  

As the crimson-clad paladins clashed with Seraph in a battle of another caliber, Kusak nodded.  

“Now I see why they call it the War of Lilies.”  

With every clash of white and crimson blades, sparks flew like blooming flowers.  

The paladins were leagues above the soldiers. Surrounding Seraph, their numerical advantage seemed overwhelming—yet the reality was different.  

Crash! Slice! Crack!  

Kicking aside shields, slashing thighs, deflecting strikes—Seraph fought like a lioness amidst wolves, seamlessly blending offense, defense, and counterattacks.  

‘Got you! You can’t dodge this!’  

A paladin swung from her right, but Seraph evaded and struck his temple with her hilt.  

Thud!  

“…Ghk!”  

He collapsed, defeated with humiliating ease. One by one, the paladins fell.  

“What the hell are you doing?!”  

Kozalt’s composure vanished as his paladins dropped.  

“Damn it! All knights—join now and bring her to her knees!”  

He even threw his five personal guards into the fray while resuming his chants.  

‘Sigh… So it’s come to this, Lady Seraph.’  

Jerome, the only one who knew her, drew his sword heavily. As the highest-ranked knight present, he knew he had to act—discarding past bonds.  

Channeling divine energy—tainted since forsaking Desion for Bahat—he charged.  

“Fall back—!”  

He roared, leading the assault with his crimson-enchanted blade.  

‘If that is your choice, Jerome… I, too, shall have no regrets!’  

Seraph met his strike and the flying crimson maces with her radiant white sword.  

Screeeech—!  

White and crimson collided in a dazzling explosion.