Chapter 35. The Empty Gorge

It was an incredibly wide-ranging purification ability.

Claude raised his arms to cover his face. Even with his eyes closed, the light was so dazzling that he reflexively shielded himself.

What is this?

It wasn’t this intense when I saw it at the Imperial Palace.

Is this purifying light that seems to swallow the entire gorge?

He couldn’t believe it. It was even more unbelievable because this wasn’t his first time experiencing a purifier.

About 10 years ago, during the massive extermination of the undead, he had spent a few years with a purifier.

Even the one who was said to be the most skilled at that time…

‘Could only purify a few hundred at a time.’

The light that had engulfed his vision gradually faded.

Claude carefully opened one eye, then lowered his arm and opened both eyes wide.

“Impossible…”

A dazed voice escaped his lips as he looked around.

Something impossible had happened.

The skeletons that had filled the Fjord Gorge like a swarm of bees had disappeared without leaving even ashes. The same was true for the dozens of liches. All those incredibly annoying creatures were gone without a trace.

Even the liches were purified in one go?

When you’re too shocked, you can’t react at all.

The northern knights who had been fiercely swinging their swords and shooting arrows while forming an encirclement remained frozen in their fighting stances before slowly lowering their arms.

Everyone’s reaction was similar to Claude’s.

An empty gorge.

Only the northern knights remained here.

“This is… a purification ability?”

“What was it that I saw in the old days? The purifier wasn’t this powerful…”

“But doesn’t something feel off?”

As the astonishment at the incredible power grew, murmurs among the knights gradually increased. And just as they were getting somewhat used to the surprise, one knight raised a question.

“Does anyone else feel lighter?”

“What?”

“Now that you mention it…”

The knights deployed in the first operation had to face skeletons and liches for quite some time. They had to drive as many of them as possible into the purifier’s purification area while reducing their numbers.

The knights who had gone through the grueling battle were in terrible shape. That was certainly the case until just a moment ago.

But now…

“The wounds have disappeared…”

One knight muttered in a dazed voice.

He had definitely been wounded on his forearm, but only the thick leather armor was torn, and the flesh beneath was smooth and perfectly fine. This was despite the blood that still stained the surrounding area.

And this phenomenon wasn’t limited to just one person.

The news that everyone’s wounds had healed cleanly spread like wildfire.

“Who cast a heal?!”

At the shout, everyone’s gaze turned to the healers far in the rear. They, standing there dumbfounded, shook their heads in unison.

And in the center of the scene, Claude slowly moved his gaze, trying to grasp the situation.

After experiencing something miraculous that transcended human limits, it seemed his senses had been altered. It felt as if time had stretched, and he could feel everything touching his skin very slowly and in great detail.

“Purifier Seraphina.”

He called out to the protagonist of this amazing miracle in a small voice.

But there was no answer.

“Purifi…”

As he was about to call her again, Claude’s pupils shook violently.

Seraphina had collapsed on the ground.

“Hey! Seraphina!”

Claude rushed to her like lightning.

To think she had collapsed after causing such an incredible event.

Out of habit, he placed his finger under her nose to check if she was breathing, then checked her heart rate. Apart from her pulse being slow and weak, there was nothing unusual. The problem was that pulse.

Experiencing this situation for the first time, Claude was insanely anxious.

What if the uncontrolled purification ability takes her life? Why did she lose consciousness right after using her ability? Come to think of it, she’s a woman who fainted even in front of ghouls, so if she was barely holding back her fear at the sight of skeletons and liches…

“Healer!”

Claude shouted loud enough to shake the mountain.

All the healers in the rear came running, panting.

“Damn it. She’s unconscious. Heal her quickly.”

“Y-Yes, my lord.”

Flustered, they all began pouring heal magic at once.

But since there were no external wounds, the effect wasn’t significant.

“Y-Your Grace…”

One healer cautiously looked at him.

The anxious look in his eyes clearly conveyed the message.

That further healing was meaningless. That they had done everything they could, but she wouldn’t regain consciousness.

Claude pushed the healers aside and knelt in front of Seraphina.

“Open your eyes! Seraphina!”

But his urgent cry only echoed through the empty gorge.

As he lifted her unresponsive body, Claude gritted his teeth.

“Damn it!”

“Your Grace.”

Austin approached and spoke as calmly as possible.

“Leave the rest to me.”

Although there wasn’t much left to handle in a situation where not even ashes remained.

Claude nodded.

Carrying the limp Seraphina in both arms, he immediately left the gorge without a moment’s delay. Unlike when he had come with the knights, his speed was incredibly fast.

* * *

Saaah…

A dry wind blew from somewhere, changing the height and position of the sand dunes.

In the middle of a vast desert with no end in sight.

“Simple enough.”

The man holding a white sword perfectly straight slowly raised his eyelids. As he did so, mysterious teal eyes that could captivate anyone sparkled into view.

His platinum blonde hair, more radiant than the desert sun, swayed in the wind.

“Today too, I have faithfully answered God’s call.”

Shing.

The man, sheathing his sword with an upright posture, turned around.

“You’re amazing as always.”

“We’re nothing more than bystanders compared to you.”

“I only managed to kill three durahans. Haha.”

The knights, looking somewhat embarrassed, were all wearing pristine white uniforms. Golden threads were harmoniously embroidered on them, creating a sacred atmosphere even when they were just standing still.

Right.

These were the Holy Knights belonging to the temple.

“It seems their momentum is weakening gradually.”

The man at the forefront of the group approached them, brushing back his platinum blonde hair. Despite having swept away an enormous undead army, he humbly deflected the knights’ reactions as if they were exaggerating.

Holy Knight Commander Mihail Andantino.

One of the three heroes who saved the continent, he had received a letter from the Emperor a few weeks ago.

It said that they would send a purifier who had appeared after several years to this side.

What’s this about?

We don’t need one.

He inwardly scoffed, but there was no reason to refuse when they were sending talented personnel. Mihail sent a reply expressing his gratitude and saying he would wait.

And though he thought he wasn’t paying much attention to it…

“More importantly, I wonder if the purifier has arrived.”

He was secretly looking forward to it.

Perhaps it was because of a rumor he had heard before.

He had vaguely heard that during the purifier test, she had boldly included the supervising priest in her purification range.

He didn’t particularly like the pot-bellied priests who only flapped their gums and lived comfortably in cool places. So, he quite liked Seraphina’s first move.

“We’ve come quite far. The journey back will be tedious.”

Mihail said softly.

But knowing that this guy who speaks so gently could suddenly go crazy in an instant, the Holy Knights were all on edge.

Those gentle words, ‘Don’t irritate people by making them bored, let’s move quickly.’

“We’ll increase our marching speed and return to Sahar.”

The vice-commander ordered, reading the atmosphere.

Mihail just smiled faintly. Within that smile was the pressure of ‘You surely aren’t tired when you didn’t even do anything, right?’

Of course, compared to Mihail, their achievements were insignificant, but everyone was exhausted from fighting high-level undead. However, they couldn’t complain in front of the person who had single-handedly blown away that high-level undead army.

A resounding reply filled with fighting spirit was heard.

And so, the Holy Knight Order guarding the East began to cross the desert recklessly without proper rest after the battle.

* * *

The desert city of Sahar.

Unlike the arid desert, the city was prosperous.

Centered around the fertile land embracing the Nilda River, crop harvests were actively taking place, and as Eastern merchants came and went across the desert, diligently transporting all kinds of food and rare luxury goods, it had established itself as a center of trade.

Mercenaries escorting the merchant groups also earned a tidy income.

“Not yet, you say?”

Mihail’s eyebrow twitched upward as he received the report from his subordinate.

They rushed back clumsily, only to find that the purifier they were waiting for hadn’t arrived yet.

It seems almost a month has passed.

No matter how far Elmon is, it shouldn’t take a month.

“Instead, someone else has come and is waiting for the commander.”

“……?”

There’s no one who should be coming.

As if reading his confusion, the subordinate immediately answered.

“They say it’s an ambassador from a new country in the East.”

“Ah.”

Looks like something new has popped up again.

Mihail nodded.

The East was in chaos. Small countries were constantly being created and disappearing. And occasionally, people like this would come to pay their respects and ask for favor.

Mihail headed to the reception room.

It was annoying, but it was right to receive them with proper courtesy as they were representatives of a country.

When he opened the door, he saw someone sitting with their back to the window.

A man with red hair.

As he stared intently, sensing an odd atmosphere, the man who had likewise noticed Mihail stood up. Then, with a smooth smile and efficient movements, he bowed at the waist.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Sir Andantino.”