Paladin of the Dead God

Isaac’s words stemmed from his awareness of what the Salt Council’s victory declaration truly meant.

The current outcome was far from a declaration of victory for the Salt Council. If events had unfolded as originally intended, the Salt Desert would have been utterly shattered, the Caller would have fully awakened, and the world’s oceans would have fallen into the Salt Council’s grasp. Ancient sea creatures worshipped by the old Sea Cult would have roamed the world once more.

Of course, Isaac didn’t know whether such a world would be livable or not—his role ended with facilitating the victory declaration. But he worried about the possibility of the Salt Council regressing to the barbaric customs of the ancient era a thousand years ago.

Isaac had supported the Caller’s awakening for his own benefit, but the Sea Cult, its progenitor, was far from a civilized faith. It retained ominous practices from the era of the Old Gods.

Other faiths—like the Codex of Light, Elil, the World’s Forge, and even those of the Black Empire—had had centuries to reform and temper such customs.

But the Sea Cult had missed that chance, wasting a thousand years.

No, perhaps they had already reformed admirably—by transforming into the Salt Council.

"Urbansus is a relic of the past, and your past is nothing but an old ruin. Changing your future underworld is your responsibility now. I hope you won’t decide to revert to some ancient form."

The Salt Council might never become as grand or powerful as the Codex of Light, Elil, or the World’s Forge.

Isaac appreciated the honesty of these sea folk who couldn’t tell a lie, their scholarly zeal for ancient cultures, and their still-awkward but promising system of council politics.

In some respects, Isaac thought, they were better than many other faiths.

“Since you’re the one saying it, Sir Isaac… I’ll think about it. As you said, people would likely find it unsettling to suddenly revert to old rules.”

Eidan responded cautiously. Though hesitant, he took Isaac’s advice seriously—after all, it was the counsel of the Dreamer himself.

Eidan’s attention to Isaac’s words might very well shape the Salt Council’s future forever.

"But even if I say such things, will people listen to me? What’s the point of me shouting that we don’t need to follow ancient customs when the Caller and the angels have returned?"

"Well, they’ll listen more than you think."

“Pardon?”

Isaac merely shrugged with a subtle smile, leaving Eidan to blush and turn his head away. He quickly changed the subject.

“Oh, by the way, the sanctuary helped us a great deal, Sir Isaac. That was your doing, wasn’t it?”

“What?”

“You know, the flesh and the tentacles. I was a bit startled at first, but after a while, they seemed… oddly endearing. If not for their help, I’d have failed the ritual.” ŖãNȰᛒЕ𝙨

“…That was the Salt Council’s sanctuary. It must’ve been your god assisting you.”

“Huh? No, the tentacles were different.”

“The Drowned King had tentacles too, didn’t he?”

“Come on. Do you think I can’t tell the difference between the tentacles of a sea creature and those of a land creature? Besides, they looked a lot like the ones you sometimes summon. But their surface and structure were different—they weren’t as rough as those of a sea creature.”

Isaac started to argue further but gave up. Unlike others, he had revealed his true form too often to the people of the Salt Council under the pretense of plausible excuses.

Eidan, as if understanding Isaac’s hesitation, reassured him.

“Don’t worry, Sir Isaac. I haven’t told anyone. Honestly, I don’t think it would matter even if I did, but it seems better that you share it yourself.” @@novelbin@@

“If they’ve seen the Outer Boundary monsters run wild, they’ll only be more frightened.”

“Maybe. But they’ll listen to you more than you think.”

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Isaac sighed, feeling like the conversation had come full circle.

"The reason I said they’d listen to you… is because of what I heard."

“Heard?”

Isaac looked at the young captain who had been swept into his relentless and reckless adventures.

The one who smuggled the Forge Artisan out of the World’s Forge, helped bring down the Drowned King, joined Isaac in the moonwell ritual to confront Urbansus, sailed against the legendary pirate Horace, braved the Nightmare Strait, and shattered the Salt Desert—Eidan Baerbeke.

"You’ve been proclaimed as an Archangel, Eidan."

The shock hit Eidan late.

“Wh-what?!”

***

Unlike the Codex of Light’s recent hollow proclamations of new recruits into the Dawn Army, Eidan’s designation as an Archangel was genuine.

After all, Isaac had heard it directly from an angel.

Walking alongside Eidan on the beach, Isaac elaborated further.

“Amundalas specifically mentioned you. Told me to pass on her regards.”

"Is… is that all?!"

“No, the name of your Archangel title has already been chosen and prepared. I’m sure it refers to you. There’s no one else it could possibly be.”

“But compared to other Archangels, I’m weak, lacking in power and ability…”

“What do you think it means that an Archangel has noticed you? It means they’re planning to nurture you.”

Isaac listed examples like Lianne, Dera Heman, and Atlan—all heroes of their respective faiths, each blessed with angelic power and guidance.

Isaac sighed.

“Strength was never the point, Eidan. Otherwise, all Archangels would have been warriors or paladins. Sure, many Archangels are strong, but that’s because strength makes achieving great deeds easier.”

In truth, even figures like the Codex of Light’s Blind Sentinel or the Burning Maiden weren’t personally powerful. They were capable priests and inquisitors, but they didn’t wield extraordinary physical might. Miracles themselves were gifts from the gods, so the strength of those miracles wasn’t entirely in their hands.

“What matters is story.”

“Story?”

“More precisely, a history that others love to revere, celebrate, and pass down in tales.”

Isaac didn’t fully understand the criteria for becoming an Archangel. In essence, it boiled down to the whims of the gods. If a god lacked a personality or, like the Lighthouse Keeper, exercised overwhelming authority, the angel could appoint one themselves. Since the Caller wasn’t fully awakened, it seemed Amundalas had taken on that role for now.

Still, Archangels shared one common trait:

"They performed deeds worthy of veneration within their faith."

Just as mortals became stars in Greek mythology after great accomplishments, in this world, they became angels.

By that standard, there was no one in the Salt Council who could rival Eidan’s achievements. Isaac thought that if the Caller didn’t elevate the captain who shattered the Salt Desert to the rank of Archangel, it would only tarnish their own prestige.

“My only ‘deeds’ were following in your footsteps, Sir Isaac…”

“Well, even that kind of luck is a talent. Every Archangel had fortune on their side, too.”

Though flustered, Eidan couldn’t outright refute Isaac’s words. Time would reveal the truth anyway. Eidan decided to take the matter more lightly.

“So, you’ve already heard the name bestowed upon me? What is it?”

“Ch—”

Isaac stopped himself. He’d been about to say Chorong Anglerfish but hesitated as the grotesque image crossed his mind. Perhaps Amundalas or the Caller had chosen the name to honor Eidan’s feat of carrying a light into the depths of the dark sea, illuminating the abyss.

But would Eidan really appreciate such a name?

Eidan tilted his head, curious at Isaac’s hesitation.

“Ch?”

“Cho—‘Captain of the Salt Council.’ That’s what I think they said.”

“…You’re lying, aren’t you?”

“I forgot. Ask Amundalas when you die.”

***

After Eidan left grumbling, Isaac was finally alone. He felt strangely restless, as if even lying down wouldn’t lead to sleep. Perhaps he should take a run instead.

But something came to mind, and Isaac headed toward the pier behind the fisherman’s house.

Standing there, he watched as something stirred and rose from the dark sea.

It was the Collective Entity formed of Outer Boundary monsters.

Isaac pondered what to do with the creature. It wasn’t something he could easily hide, but with a great battle looming, it could serve as a valuable “tank.” Additionally, its scavenger nature made it well-suited to devouring the Outer Boundary monsters and undead that would inevitably appear.

“Your name is… uh, ‘Ulgare.’”

Though not a creature worth endearing oneself to, a name was necessary for summoning or commanding it. The creature remained silent, neither pleased nor displeased, but the name prompted a status window to appear.

[Ulgare (A+)]

- Rank: Intermediate Divine Beast

- Status: Simple Obedience

- Abilities: Charge, Harden, Predation, Absorption, Parasitic Infection

Its mixed nature granted it a wide array of abilities. However, this same nature resulted in a state of “simple obedience” rather than the “absolute obedience” seen in beings like Zihilrat. Isaac didn’t mind—he wasn’t expecting flattery from this giant, grotesque creature. All he needed was for it to charge into enemies on command.

Though he wouldn’t deploy Ulgare frequently, Isaac anticipated it would prove indispensable in large-scale battles or upon reaching the Holy Land Lua. Until then, he planned to nurture it gradually.

"Come to think of it, I gained the ’Summon’ boon earlier. I was too feverish to check what it does."

Isaac opened his status window to examine the boon.

[Summon (EX)]

"All beings remember their origins. Every mark they leave—on bone, flesh, and blood—remains as a trace of their journey. When the call comes, they return. Summon or retrieve your vassals by reading the imprints left behind, paying the corresponding price. All your vassals await within your ocean."

Isaac reread the description several times. The explanation was vague, and he couldn’t fully grasp it without trying it.

It seemed less like a skill and more like a right Isaac could exercise.

"Let’s give it a try."

Isaac decided to test the Summon ability on Ulgare. Though unsure of the mechanics, he instinctively extended his left hand, naturally knowing how to invoke the ability.

["Come."]

The ability activated lightly, intending to pull Ulgare closer to the surface. But the effect was anything but small. Ulgare’s massive form twitched violently, then melted into a dark, swirling substance and was instantly drawn into Isaac’s left hand.

Watching the enormous creature vanish in an instant, Isaac was momentarily stunned.

But he quickly realized that Ulgare hadn’t been consumed or absorbed into his body. Instead, it had been stored somewhere within him—in the abyss of color that Isaac now harbored.

By channeling that abyss, Ulgare could emerge again whenever needed.

"It’s like a summoning and reverse-summoning spell."

For absorbing a god’s flesh, Isaac thought, the boon seemed underwhelming.

But then his vision distorted.

["Come."]

A voice echoed, similar to his own but infinitely deeper and more resonant. The heavy wave of sound rippled through his body.

The roar of waves thundered in his ears. The grinding sound of sand resembled a whispered incantation. The moon in the sky seemed to gaze down upon him.

As the eerie vibrations threatened to dissolve his body, a voice rose from the dark blue depths of the sea:

["Come to me."]

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