Chapter 140

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The Holy Fire Guard Knights (1)

Najin, traveling alongside Helmet Knight, learned a few things about him that he had no desire to know.

Contrary to his heavy and serious first impression, Helmet Knight turned out to be far lighter in character than he had expected.

In other words, he talked a lot.

“Don’t you think lumping all people under the term ‘human’ reflects an incredibly narrow perspective?”

“What’s this nonsense out of nowhere?”

Moreover, much of his chatter consisted of nebulous musings and profoundly philosophical questions.

“Think about it, Najin. Animals eat other animals. Does that sound strange to you?”

“Not at all. It’s perfectly natural.”

“Exactly. Then how about this: humans eat other humans. How does that sound?”

“That’s… unsettling. Makes me think of savages, honestly.”

“Exactly! That’s the point.” Helmet Knight snapped his fingers. “Animals are divided into countless species within their kind. Predators hunt prey, and no one questions it because it’s natural. Naturally, no one considers lions and deer part of the same species, but what about humans?”

His voice rose as he elaborated. “Different ethnicities. Different nations. Yet, we group them all together under the single term ‘human,’ so when humans eat other humans, it feels like ‘cannibalism,’ invoking an instinctive repulsion. What if they’re actually entirely different species?”

“Animals must eat other animals to survive. Humans don’t need to eat other humans to live, which is why it feels abhorrent,” Najin countered.

“Hmm, a valid point,” Helmet Knight interjected, “but what about the Outland?”

“Pardon?”

“There are those in the Outland who must eat human hearts to survive. In their case, would eating humans still be abhorrent? If it’s essential for survival, would it then be acceptable according to your logic?”

“Well…”

“Don’t rush to answer. Think about it more deeply. Until we reach our destination, perhaps.” He smirked. “There’s plenty of time.”

Taking the lead, Helmet Knight pressed on. He had volunteered to introduce Najin to a battlefield suitable for someone of his level, citing his extensive knowledge of the Outland from wandering it for so long.

Najin glanced at Merlin beside him.

– Hmm.

Merlin pursed her lips.

– Is it just me, or does it feel like he’s stealing my role?

‘It’s not just you.’

– …Fine.

While Helmet Knight assumed the role of a “guide,” Merlin fell into silence. Sticking closely to Najin, she looped an arm around his neck and held up a piece of paper as if in defense.

– I was going to help too! See? I even picked some destinations. Here, take a look: Top 10 Outland Sites for Adventurers! A perfect route to accelerate your growth, carefully planned since our time on the continent…

‘I’ll look at it later.’

– Really? Okay, but you’d better take a look!

Leaving the crestfallen Merlin behind, Najin followed Helmet Knight. While he planned to visit Merlin’s suggested destinations eventually, the places Helmet Knight had mentioned intrigued him more.

“Look at that.” From a hilltop, Helmet Knight extended a finger toward a dilapidated fortress. “That’s our destination.”

He enunciated its name. “Atula Fortress.” He added, “It’s the fortress occupied by the Holy Fire Guard Knights.”

Najin stared at Atula Fortress.

The Outland was dotted with similar fortresses. He had passed by many ruins on his journey. Not just fortresses—cities, towers, ruins—abandoned structures were a common sight in the Outland.

They were remnants left behind by fallen or forgotten nations, cities consumed as the Outland’s borders expanded or edifices constructed by constellations for mysterious purposes.

The architectural styles of the structures varied wildly: a thousand-year-old ancient tower, the fortress of a nation destroyed 700 years ago, ruins from 500 years back; buildings from 300, 200, and even just 100 years ago.

From antiquity to the modern day, every era left its mark in the Outland. Even in the lawless, transcendent domain, where the rules of reality were broken, humanity’s creations endured.

“The Holy Fire Guard Knights were active around 200 years ago. Do you know of them?”

“I’ve heard bits and pieces.”

“Good. They devoted themselves entirely to the Outland around 200 years ago. Their noble mission? To battle demons and corrupted transcendents.”

Helmet Knight recited their creed: to prove that, even in the Outland, their holy fire would not be extinguished but burn brightly.

“However, following a certain incident, the Holy Fire Guard Knights became a band of Forgotten Ones.” Helmet Knight didn’t elaborate on the incident. Instead, he continued, “Now, they hunt humans. They consume human flesh to sustain their fire. Do you see the smoke rising above the fortress?”

Najin could see it: white smoke, faintly visible above the fortress walls.

“That smoke is proof their holy fire still burns. They’re determined to keep it alive at all costs, even if it means hunting humans. Do you think their actions are justified?”

“It doesn’t seem very knightly.”

“Is that so?” Helmet Knight neither agreed nor disagreed. Instead, he merely nodded and walked toward the fortress. “In the Outland, there are no answers, only the conclusions you reach yourself. Present your conclusion to the master of that fortress.”

Descending the hill, passing through a dense forest, Najin and Helmet Knight approached the fortress. Knights manned the walls and towers, with guards stationed at the sturdy iron gate.

At first glance, the fortress seemed normal. The problem, however, lay in its defenders—the knights’ vacant eyes and unnatural movements betrayed a lack of humanity.

“If I recall, a third of the Holy Fire Guard Knights were Sword Seekers. The order numbered about 30 knights, so roughly ten were at that level.”

“They’re not an easy foe.”

“True. Remember, they’ve been active in the Outland for 200 years. More than enough time for another ten Sword Seekers to rise among them.”

At least ten, possibly more.

Despite his massive frame, Helmet Knight crouched behind a tree, speaking in a low voice to Najin.

Whether someone of his size could effectively hide was questionable, but the defenders of the fortress didn’t seem to notice them, so it was apparently working.

‘Or maybe those Forgotten Ones just have terrible eyesight.’ Najin leaned toward the latter.

“How do we get in? Storming the fortress doesn’t look easy.”

“How do we get in?” Helmet Knight clicked his tongue. “We’re knights visiting a citadel.”

“That’s true.”

“A knight must act with honor, especially when confronting someone’s beliefs and declaring, ‘You are wrong.’ That’s the way of the Knights of Atanga.”

Helmet Knight rose to his full height. “How could a knight climb walls?”

“…Excuse me?”

“How could a knight sneak in like a thief? Unthinkable.” With a loud stomp, he struck the ground. The entire forest quivered from the impact. The display didn’t go unnoticed, the knights guarding the fortress turned their attention toward the forest.

Unbothered by their gazes, Helmet Knight puffed up his chest as if shouting, ‘Look at me!’ Bending his knees, he leaned forward, gripping his lance. “A direct charge, that’s true romance.”

With his lance at the ready, Helmet Knight launched himself forward. Each step sent tremors through the earth, and the gap between him and the fortress closed rapidly.

By the time the gate guards reacted, he was already upon them.

And then—

BOOOOOM!

The gate didn’t just dent or bend; it shattered into countless pieces. Even the fortress wall trembled from the impact, scattering debris everywhere.

“Wow.” Running behind him, Najin couldn’t help but marvel.

Smashing through a fortress gate was the pinnacle of a lance charge.

‘So, with enough power in your legs, you don’t even need a horse.’

As the shattered gate collapsed inward, the Forgotten Ones inside the fortress froze, their hollow gazes locked on Najin and Helmet Knight.

Even without their souls, the sudden assault shocked them.

A moment of silence followed.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

They drew their swords, spears, and halberds, charging at Najin and Helmet Knight. Their weapons glowed faintly with Imagery, further amplifying the threat.

“Is this really okay?”

“Well, romance aside, this is a bit…”

‘Romance, my ass.’

The knights stationed in the fortress responded impressively to the sudden assault, quickly forming ranks to surround their intruders.

Even though they had lost their individual wills, their movements were sharp and precise. Unlike the lone Forgotten Ones wandering the Outland, the knights operated as a cohesive unit.

Shiiiing!

A dozen cold weapons struck out simultaneously. The threat was undeniable.

As Najin swung his sword to deflect their strikes, he retreated to a safer position.

Meanwhile, Helmet Knight brandished his lance in wide arcs, fending off the encroaching weapons.

With a spin of his weapon, Helmet Knight gripped his lance in reverse. The massive polearm, at least three meters long, was treated as though it weighed nothing. With one hand, he hefted the lance back like a throwing spear.

Whoosh!

The lance soared through the air, striking a knight stationed atop a distant watchtower. “Struck” wasn’t quite the right word—the impact demolished the entire top of the watchtower, collapsing it and sending the knight plummeting with the structure.

As if responding to its master’s will, the lance curved in mid-air and returned to Helmet Knight’s waiting hand. He caught it effortlessly and slammed its base into the ground.

“What kind of technique was that?” Najin asked.

“It’s a basic skill for anyone wielding a lance in the Outland—throwing and retrieving. If we have time later, I’ll teach you.” Helmet Knight shrugged, exhaling deeply.

With a roar more reminiscent of a beast than a human, he called the attention of the charging Forgotten Ones toward himself.

Once he had their focus, he turned to Najin. “Do you see that smoke rising? It’s likely coming from where this fortress’s master resides.”

He slapped Najin on the back, sending him stumbling forward. “Go on.”

Spinning his lance in his hand, Helmet Knight grinned. “The Forgotten Ones are mine to handle. Your target isn’t them… it’s the master of this fortress.”