Radiant Dragon’s Otherworldly Reincarnation

Chapter 292. Excellent, Boy (4)

Perios’ fist slammed into Patrick’s face.

Patrick, who was already staggering, was sent flying back by the punch and collapsed.

At the sight of the fallen Patrick, Perios roared.

“Why? Why? Why didn’t you dodge?”

At Perios’ outcry filled with resentment, Patrick thought to himself.

‘Because I’m tired, you bastard.’

How was he supposed to dodge a punch when he had no strength to move?

On top of that, this wasn’t even the end.

Perios grabbed the collar of the fallen Patrick and lifted him up….

“Why? Why? Whyyyyyy!”

Jjeok-jjeok-jjeok!

“Hey. Hey, wai… keok…. Hey, you punk, wor… eok!”

It seemed to be the first time he had been beaten up like this since being born as Patrick Schneider.

No, even searching through his past life, after he came of age, the number of people who had planted a fist on his face other than his wife could be counted on one hand….

Ah, this was sad and sorrowful.

For the great Radiant Dragon Great Master to suffer such a humiliation.

How shocked and angry would my friends from my past life be if they saw this sight?

[Tsk tsk, Heaven’s net is vast and coarse, but nothing slips through. The day has finally come.]

[Ah, what is this? This feeling of coolness and relief from my throat down to my stomach, what is it?]

[Excellent, boy. You are a great hero of the Murim.]

[Stomp him. Just stomp him!]

‘…Those bastards.’

Patrick felt sorrowful.

He never knew being beaten up without the strength to resist was this sorrowful and sad.

At that moment….

“Stop it. Perios.”

Someone stepped forward and grabbed Perios’ fist, saving Patrick.

“Sir Antorius.”

The one who stopped Perios was Antorius.

And he said.

“Don’t you understand? Don’t you know why the Double Dragon is just meekly letting you do this?”

“That… I don’t know.”

“He too is pained by the current reality. There is probably a reason we don’t know, but he too is pained by the destruction of this Holy City of Promis.”

He’s probably not in pain at all.

If this demon was the type of person to feel pained about destroying someone else’s house, he wouldn’t have been called the Radiant Dragon in the Murim.

But Antorius, who had no way of knowing that….

“That is why he meekly accepted your punches. Because he knows your pure heart that loves and cherishes this Holy City, that great swordsman did not dodge your punches and silently endured them.”

“……”

“Know his broad generosity. And do not show any more disgraceful behavior.”

“Keuk…”

Perios hung his head low.

And Patrick….

‘I got hit fifteen times. I counted them all. This little punk, you just wait.’

Patrick Schneider, he was a delicate man who held a grudge.

But in reality, where no one could know a person’s inner thoughts, Antorius’ words shook the hearts of many Paladins.

“Now that I hear it, it’s strange.”

“Why on earth would he suddenly cause such a disturbance?”

“He said the soup was salty…”

“Do you believe that?”

“Ugh…”

“Then why on earth?”

Amidst their murmuring….

Finally, the person who could clear up this misunderstanding appeared.

“Everyone… stop.”

The voice was somewhat tired, but it still held a natural dignity.

And the Paladins and Monks who turned their heads to where the voice came from all flinched in unison….

“We greet His Holiness the Pontiff.”

“We greet His Holiness the Pontiff.”

They all knelt on one knee in unison, showing their respect.

The old man, not in his formal attire but in loose pajamas, had a haggard complexion and was being supported by those around him.

But this man was none other than the Pontiff leading this Saint Louis Holy Theocracy.

Anonius Saint Baust XVII.

He, who had not shown himself for a long time due to illness, had now appeared like this.

Behind him, who had appeared, were his comrades, including the 3rd Sage, Riman, and Matthew.

‘It seems they succeeded.’

Only then did Patrick let out a sigh of relief.

Although it was a slightly reckless and haphazardly planned operation, judging by the results, it seemed to have succeeded.

And the Pontiff came to where Patrick was with staggering steps….

Thud.

The Pontiff’s knees hit the floor.

At that sight, numerous Paladins were startled.

“His Holiness the Pontiff.”

“What is this…”

Regardless, the Pontiff politely bowed his head and said.

“Greatly, for saving the Holy Theocracy, and on a smaller scale, for saving this foolish old man…”

The Pontiff continued, tears streaming down his face.

“I sincerely thank you.”

Only then did Patrick also sigh and say.

“I am glad you are safe. Now, would you mind clearing up the misunderstanding?”

“Of course, I will.”

And the Pontiff stood up and opened his mouth in front of everyone watching.

“Everyone, listen to my words.”

And from his mouth, the whole truth flowed out without omission.

From being brainwashed by the black mage who approached him and being controlled as a puppet, to the fact that he had started a reckless war with the Empire because of it….

He spoke without hiding anything, even the shameful parts that, if recorded in history, could pass down his foolishness for generations.

At his calm demeanor, Patrick just watched, and the Pontiff continued to explain.

“…The Double Dragon noticed my condition and staged this bizarre act to save me. In the end, if it weren’t for him, I would not have been freed from the black mage’s brainwashing and would have continued to sin.”

The long, long explanation was over.

At that, the gazes of the Paladins and Monks….

“Sir… Sir Double Dragon?”

“Then you did all of this… all of this for us?”

“And we, without knowing…”

“Oh… oooooh…”

Respect, admiration, awe, gratitude.

A truly overwhelming gaze of praise poured onto Patrick Schneider.

And decisively….

Thud.

Tanius Owen, Antorius’ master, knelt before Patrick and bowed his head, saying.

“O, Saint.”

Saint, a word referring to a great person of outstanding wisdom and virtue, to be looked up to and emulated for ages.

Antonyms would include the Radiant Dragon Great Master or Patrick Schneider.

And yet.

“Oh… oooooh.”

“O, Saint.”

“That man… that man is truly worthy of being called a Saint.”

“O, Saint Patrick Schneider.”

“May you receive God’s blessing in heaven and the worship of all people on earth.”

At this moment, numerous clergy are kneeling and worshiping Patrick Schneider.

At this sight, Patrick at first wondered what was going on.

But….

‘This is, I mean…. This is obviously good for me, right?’

In Murim terms, it seemed like a situation where he had put the Shaolin, the great mountain and northern dipper of the Murim, in great debt and had gained immense power to control them as he wished.

If so….

“Hahaha. I only did what was natural, why are you all acting like this?”

An unprecedented crisis had come to the Holy Theocracy.

…What was the world coming to?

* * *

A private audience.

It wasn’t really a big deal.

What’s so special about just the two of them meeting and talking separately?

But.

That too, its value changes depending on the other party.

The Pontiff of the Saint Louis Holy Theocracy.

The religious pillar of all the people of this continent and the only person who can stand shoulder to shoulder with the Emperor of the Empire.

A private audience with such a person was an opportunity difficult to obtain even if one brought gold stacked up to a person’s height.

And Patrick had now obtained such an opportunity.

“Don’t you have alcohol instead of tea?”

Although he himself didn’t seem very impressed.

The Pontiff smiled wryly and said.

“If you wish, I can have as much as you want brought. But shouldn’t we discuss important matters first?”

“I can do it while drinking, though?”

“Please bear with me. I am not as robust as you. I am too old to hold a conference while fighting off the effects of alcohol.”

“……”

Patrick smacked his lips as if he were somewhat disappointed.

Well, anyway, the important main topic starts from here.

The original purpose of infiltrating the Holy Theocracy.

That was….

“How did you get caught by the black mages? Weren’t you the natural enemies of black mages?”

The Pontiff answered with a desolate expression.

“I am ashamed. I too… when that child… no, when that witch approached me, I did not suspect her at all.”

“Was she perhaps a girl with a very innocent impression, with blonde hair and white skin?”

“Is she someone you know?”

“Yes. Well…”

“What is your relationship?”

“The kind where I chopped her head clean off.”

At Patrick’s words, the Pontiff’s eyes widened for a moment, then he let out a deep sigh and said.

“Yes… I see.”

At the Pontiff’s appearance, Patrick frowned.

It was because he felt a strong sense of lingering attachment and resonance in his attitude.

‘Honestly, everywhere I go, those who claim to serve a god are mired in worldly desires…’

There was a truckload of things he wanted to say, but nothing good would come of pointing it out.

Patrick first asked what he was curious about.

“What is the reason that black mages can infiltrate the Holy Theocracy so easily? Don’t you have something called the Aegis Barrier here?”

The Aegis Barrier is a divine domain barrier that only beings who possess divine power, or those who are permitted like the current Patrick, can enter and exit.

Even Patrick would have been immediately ejected outside the barrier if not for the divine power emanating from the holy crest hanging around his neck right now.

But how did the black mages break through that barrier?

At that question, the Pontiff sighed and told him.

“There is a lot of misinformation out there…. In fact, the term black mage is incorrect.”

“Pardon? What is?”

“In the distant ancient times, they were called Dark Priests.”

“Dark Priests? Clergymen?”

“That’s right. Mages absorb mana from nature and use it as their power. But black mages draw power from somewhere in the demon world and use it.”

“……”

“That method is actually closer to us priests. They offer their faith to a great being and borrow power in return.”

Hearing that, it seemed plausible.

And if so, it was understandable how this Aegis Barrier was breached.

“So the demonic energy they use is, in a way, the power of a god.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“As far as I know…. I know that the gods of this world are Yupinel and Kalaron, the two of them.”

“……”

“Is there another god?”

At Patrick’s question, the Pontiff let out a deep sigh and said.

“What I am about to say is a top secret among top secrets. Can you keep a secret?”

At that, Patrick nodded heavily and said.

“I’ll stake my father’s name on it.”

“Hmm…”

The Pontiff nodded heavily.

But he should have known.

Patrick didn’t say he would keep the secret.

He just said he would stake his father’s name on it.

And what this guy was thinking right now was….

‘Father is fine. As long as it’s not Mom. Father will understand too.’

It was the fire-attribute filial son, Patrick Schneider, who had no respect for his father’s honor.

Regardless, the Pontiff began to reveal the secret history in earnest.

“The Goddess of Harmony, Yupinel, and the God of Destruction, Kalaron. These two gods created this world.”

“I know.”

It was common sense that even a three-year-old child born in this world would know.

“The two creator gods divided their territories, created their own retainers, and developed the world.”

“……”

“It was during that time. A new god appeared from the outside…”

“From the outside?”

“Yes, we call it an Outer God.”

“……”

“It is a god from another world, not a god who contributed to the creation of our world like Yupinel and Kalaron.”

“……”

Patrick remained silent, and the Pontiff continued to speak.