How to Live as a Knight After the Ending

Chapter 175: Another Parish (2)

No one here failed to hear Martinez’s voice.

And even those who did not understand what he said.

The first to step forward was the knight, who already harbored inner resentment towards Martinez.

He ultimately could not contain his anger at Martinez’s arrogant behavior and stepped forward.

“This cheeky brat is going beyond what I thought would pass smoothly!”

As if he did not care about the other person at all, the knight pulled out a suppression mace.

Martinez’s indifferent gaze turned towards the knight. The knight felt a chill in his chest upon meeting that gaze.

Even as he rushed towards Martinez with his weapon, there was no fear in Martinez’s eyes.

Instead, he himself felt fear at that sight. The knight bit his lip and stood right in front of Martinez, then swung the mace.

Kwang!

And the knight’s head was smashed into the muddy ground.

The result of Martinez’s small hand grabbing the knight’s head and slamming it down.

A soundless shock reverberated through the scene.

They had only thought he was an insolent child, yet he subdued a silver-badge average knight in a single blow.

The other knights reflexively drew their weapons.

The fallen average knight had pulled out a suppression mace, but his situation was different now.

-Click.

Most of the knights were armed with guns.

The barrel was pure white, blessed and reinforced with holy water and holy law.

Most were shotguns that showed intense efficiency in close combat.

This was a common scene in the current era.

As time passed and knights disappeared, holy knights also had to undergo significant changes.

While old holy knights would have used maces, iron maces, halberds, and other long spears or blunt weapons, much changed with the emergence of guns.

Their purpose in handling weapons was to imbue them with divine power.

And divine power could naturally be imbued into guns as well.

Then, wouldn’t there be no need to handle close-range cold weapons?

They were different from wandering knights who stubbornly adhered to close-range weapons. They did not focus on martial arts but considered what was more efficient.

There was a problem. Imbuing divine power into guns was very inefficient compared to close-range weapons because of the low holy power conductivity.

However, what was important was that despite this, the performance of the gun itself easily surpassed the low holy power conduction efficiency.

In any case, it was about striking the enemy faster than a highly trained holy knight’s weapon from a distance.

And the issue of divine conductivity was gradually resolved over time.

By engraving holy law onto the guns themselves, strengthening them, and using metals with high holy conductivity, the lacking parts were filled one by one.

Therefore, modern holy knights are now recommended to mostly use guns.

While everyone carries a mace, it is only for suppression and not a proper weapon.

In other words, the fact that they were drawing guns meant they intended to kill, not suppress.

Martinez was well aware of this.

But his attitude remained unchanged.

“I warn you. Do not expect my mercy beyond this point.”

“…….”

The holy knights swallowed their saliva.

They could fully understand that Martinez’s words were not mere bluster, just by witnessing the scene he had just shown.

However, separately, their colleague had been attacked, and most importantly, their high-ranking church official was present here.

The holy knights’ gazes changed.

They had decided to punish Martinez no matter what.

Martinez knew this, so he let out a light sigh and lightly rolled on the floor.

That was enough.

The golden flame-like divine power overflowing from his body became a large barrier protecting him.

“Holy…alchemy?”

The holy knights widened their eyes.

They could also handle holy alchemy. But the holy alchemy Martinez demonstrated was different from the start.

Extracting divine power and materializing it was never an easy process.

A silver-badge average knight could create a moderately hand-held weapon with mental concentration.

A gold-badge knight could easily create weapons, but making them large was difficult.

Therefore, most holy knights learn how to imbue divine power into weapons.

That was the basics, and they never deviated from that foundation.

But Martinez was different.

From empty space, he created a brilliant barrier with massive divine power.

Facing a wall that clearly would not allow entry would make anyone lose motivation.

Holy knights who never retreated, regardless of the opponent, would change their minds if faced with this.

Just from the divine power alone, it meant Martinez was an extraordinary holy knight far beyond comparison.

‘Is this even possible?’

‘At such a young age, with such divine power and holy alchemy.’

‘What exactly is his identity?’

Though they did not speak, their eyes were asking numerous questions.

“Are you only now willing to talk?”

Martinez said with a voice that could not hide his disappointment.

“Who…are you?”

One of the priests mustered courage to ask.

When Martinez looked at him, the priest fell silent.

Because it was difficult to withstand Martinez’s reproachful gaze.

“I introduced myself from the beginning, brothers and sisters. But you did not listen or believe me.”

Martinez naturally broke through the golden barrier.

“Now that I have used force, you finally believe me. As for me, I am truly at a loss for how to react.”

“Then, the badge you just showed is really…”

One of the holy knights muttered in disbelief.

A golden badge with flames engraved. It was a sword wreathed in flames that existed solely to eliminate heretics.

“13th Division, Purification Judge.”

Martinez nodded in response.

They might have known he was not an ordinary holy knight, but they would not have imagined that the 13th Division Purification Judge would be staying in this humble orphanage.

Martinez’s gaze turned to the priest who had just laid hands on Dorthea.

“You. Apologize to Sister Dorthea.”

“Yes, yes?”

“I said, apologize.”

The priest showed hesitation. Apologizing to the nun he had hit was something his pride would not allow.

However, these were the words of the 13th Division Purification Judge. Moreover, it was almost a command, not a suggestion.

The priest’s eyes trembled.

“You mean you won’t apologize?”

“First, this woman blocked the way first.”

Ultimately, the priest, unable to lower his pride, spat out a crude excuse that the other party was at fault first.

Martinez’s eyes narrowed.

“Wasn’t it you who first came without any appointment? Even if she blocked the way, laying hands on a brother or sister who shares the same father is unforgivable.”

“That, that is…”

“Or would you be convinced if I use my position to press you down in the same manner?”

Martinez took a step forward.

The priest unknowingly stepped back a pace.

Though Martinez was alone and the other side was close to twenty, only one side possessed presence.

“I’ll say this once. Apologize.”

“That, this…”

Just as Martinez was about to open his mouth towards the hesitating priest, the old man who had been silently watching the situation stepped forward.

“That’s enough. We’re people of the same order, yet we’re seeing an unsightly sight.”

With the old man’s intervention, relief spread across the priest’s face.

Conversely, Martinez frowned at the old man’s obviously obstructive behavior.

“I’ve already seen enough unsightly sights.”

“The fault of subordinates is the negligence of superiors. So I’ll take responsibility and properly persuade him.”

“Do it right here.”

“Although we are of the same order, our specific affiliations are different. Are you thinking of arbitrarily interfering in someone else’s internal affairs?”

The old man showed no fear or worry even at Martinez mentioning he was from the 13th Division Purification Judge.

“Moreover, as far as I know, someone of the 13th Division would rarely stay in an orphanage without any notice. Isn’t it practically a demotion to come here? Then pressing down with position would not be right.”

The old man’s words were so natural that even Martinez, who was trying to push strongly, could not properly refute.

“Who are you?”

“I am Ezekiel Malaspina, the 29th district bishop of Tirna.”

“29th district? But the church branch in Tirna is here…”

“Tirna is such a large city, would there be only one branch? Ah. That doesn’t mean we have 29 branches, it’s just called that because it’s in the 29th district. If we put it that way, this would be the 41st district. More importantly, who are you?”

“…Martinez.”

“Hmm. Martinez. To meet the famous Purification Judge in a place like this.”

Martinez asked with eyes full of suspicion.

“What brings Bishop Ezekiel here? What business do you have to harass Sister Dorthea and take a child?”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you that. This is a matter of our district.”

“A matter of the district? Since when has the order built such closed walls?”

Ezekiel laughed as if Martinez’s objection was absurd.

“Rather, I want to ask. When did you think it wasn’t like this? The order has always been like this.”

“…Are you now insulting the order?”

“Oh, if it sounded that way, I’m sorry. But this is just reality. Most are like this. You just chased heretics alone outside, so you wouldn’t have known.”

Though it seemed like he was criticizing Martinez, Ezekiel spoke sincerely.

“So step aside.”

“…No. I cannot step aside because I have not yet heard a proper explanation.”

“Didn’t I say the explanation is unnecessary?”

“Is that your will?”

“The order’s will.”

The order’s will?

The words went against his feelings and a subtle but surging anger rose in Martinez’s eyes.

Arbitrarily coming to harass Sister Dorthea and trying to take the children without explanation, yet daring to speak of the order’s will.

“Can you bear that statement?”

Feeling the extraordinary momentum in Martinez’s voice, everyone around tensed.

But Ezekiel remained unchanged from the beginning.

“Bear it? That’s not something someone demoted here would say. If you’re worried, you can send a telegram to the headquarters to confirm. So, will you step aside for now? I have work to do.”

Ezekiel’s expression and actions were truly those of a confident person.

But Martinez was also stubborn because his instincts whispered that something was not right.

“Still, I cannot.”

“Hmm?”

At that stubborn attitude, Ezekiel slightly furrowed his brow before lightly nodding.

“Very well. Then do so.”

What surprised Martinez was how easily he conceded.

He had expected at least a few more words of argument, but Ezekiel had bent his thoughts more simply than expected.

“Since I was the one who first came without contact, I’ll come back formally later.”

When Ezekiel gestured, the holy knights finally put away their weapons.

They slowly disappeared into the falling rain. Martinez could only watch their departure silently.

Only after everyone had withdrawn did Dorthea let out a deep sigh.

“Phew. It was really tough.”

“…Sister Dorthea.”

Martinez’s voice calling Dorthea was laden with many things. As if he had many things he wanted to say right away.

If it was her usual self, she would have tried to divert the topic and flee, but Dorthea knew she couldn’t do that this time.

“Alright. I’ll tell you everything, so relax your expression. You know? Your face right now is incredibly scary.”

“…”

Martinez did not answer. Instead, he approached Dorthea and lightly brushed her cheek with his hand.

The divine power in his hand seeped into Dorthea’s cheek, returning the slightly swollen skin to its original state.

As the pain flickering on her cheek disappeared, Dorthea opened her eyes wide in surprise and then chuckled.

“You, aren’t you touching a woman’s body too lightly? You seemed innocent, but you’re a more dangerous boy than I thought.”

“…Pardon? I was simply trying to heal.”

“Stop being flustered. I know. I was just teasing.”

Dorthea, who had eased the atmosphere with a light joke, spoke.

“Let’s go inside first. We have a lot to talk about.”

“Yes, that’s right.”