Raising Paladins

Episode 96. Blind Seeking Hope (2)

“… … omg!”

The Cretan old man drew in his breath.

Surprisingly, he seemed to feel the divine power emanating from the golden apple.

“Can you feel the energy?”

“Every feeling! Show me!”

“You can see the divine power?”

“okay! This energy shimmering in pure white! I can’t see anything else, but I can see this one clearly!”

Old Man Crete held out his hand tremblingly.

“Ho, would it be okay if I touch it just once?”

“yes.”

Carl handed over the golden apple.

The Cretan old man barely accepted it with a still trembling hand.

“Ever since I went blind, I have been able to see divine power. He is also the sun god’s arrangement, so that he can see such a precious thing for himself… … .”

Crete old man shed a single tear as if he was greatly moved.

‘It’s good that I came back with all my strength.’

Carl thought.

It’s an uninhabited undersea passage, but it was good to go around with divine powers as usual.

What if the old man of Crete, who could see the divine power, witnessed the latent power in the sword’s body?

He may have fainted.

Because she was even shedding tears at the divine power emitted from a single golden apple.

“Hey, what is this? The texture is like fruit… … .”

“It is a fruit that grows on the golden apple tree in Meirium.”

“Meirium’s golden apple! I’ve heard of that too. But does that mean it really existed?! Isn’t that a legend?!”

“It was withered. But not too long ago it came back to life.”

“Oh, that can’t be… … What a blessing from the sun god… … .”

“Yes, it is his grace.”

“I thought you were completely insane when you said there was evidence that the mysterious coral reef exists. I thought you were such a pitiful friend who, like me, lost his mind searching for coral reefs… … . But to think this was real!”

“Since the golden apples of Meirium exist, the blue coral reefs of Derdrang must also exist. We will use these golden apples to find coral reefs.”

“Oh oh! what way?! If it’s okay, please let me know too! This is the wish of this old man for the rest of his life!”

“There is nothing difficult.”

Carl nodded.

“I just taste the golden apple and head to a place where I feel a similar energy. Please take a bite first.”

“I?!”

“yes.”

For a moment, the face of old Crete was filled with joy.

But that joy soon turned to fear.

“No, an old man like me can’t carelessly taste this fruit that has the grace of God, the god might get angry… … .”

The Cretan old man recalled his past life.

He was too greedy to take over as head of household, and bluffed the citizens of Derdrang to collect the construction cost of the temple.

And half of that huge amount was stolen by a scammer.

Had he not made that mistake, Derdrang would not have remained a poor fishing village.

Also, his father, who died shortly after collapsing in shock… … .

The old man of Crete was afraid to eat these sacred fruits because of the punishment he had committed.

“Take it back. this is too much for me I am a sinner.”

“Did you hear from Derdrang recently?”

“Suddenly, I don’t know why you’re asking, but I have no idea. I haven’t heard from Derd since I left. There are some things I didn’t pay attention to… … .”

“Now, Derdrang has risen anew. I’m trying to forget the past and live on. Derdrang, once a secluded fishing village, is now the premier resort city in the southern part of the Empire. It is a place with plausible high walls, soldiers, and several battle priests of the Noon Church.”

“Is it my mother’s work by any chance?”

“That’s right, I heard that Daemo-nim, the heroine, worked with the people to create Derdrang.”

“I see… … It was… … .”

The two distant eyes of a Cretan inspiration.

Memories and remorse of the past raged in it.

“It is also the site of the ‘Sunflower Hall’, which is now the largest midday temple in the empire.”

“Noon school? Was there a temple of the Noon Church built in Derdrang?”

“That’s right. It is the largest temple in the empire. Now, the people of the empire call Derdrang’s Sunflower Temple the headquarters of the Noon Church.”

“Ahh… … .”

Derdrang is where the Dawning Temple was originally located.

The Cretan old man lowered his head.

“You said you were mistreated when you arrived in Derdrang, right? it’s all because of me I’m sorry… … .”

“The past is just the past. If there is a button that is out of alignment, you just have to unfasten it and sew it properly.”

“Ah, you’re still young, you wouldn’t know. Hatred that is deeply rooted in people’s hearts is hard to pull out. It’s also the reason I couldn’t go back to Derdrang… … .”

“Then, are you planning to return after finding the mysterious coral reef?”

“At first it was, but now I don’t know. I don’t know if I can find it, and even if I find it, my mother and the citizens of Derd and I don’t know if they’ll accept me. I don’t know anything, heh heh… … .”

“Then let’s do this for now.”

“… … ?”

“Take a bite of the golden apple. First you find the coral reef, then you think about it. I have to find a coral reef as soon as possible.”

You never know when the enchantress Helena will attack the advance base.

So I had to find the coral reef as soon as possible and strengthen the silver heart.

It’s good to hear the story of old Crete, but I have to put out the fire first.

“Whoa… … .”

Cretan inspiration with a nod.

He took a deep breath and carefully bit off the golden apple.

“ah… … .”

Rich sweetness and coolness that spreads in your mouth.

And the noble pleasure of the divine power dwelling in the apple.

An amazing thing happened then.

“omg… … !”

Cretan Old Man’s face began to brighten noticeably.

Small wrinkles are gradually improved, and scratches here and there are healing.

‘Is it self-healing ability?’

Divine power manifests itself in different ways for each person.

Tyra’s healing power, Hanson’s body strengthening.

It can also appear as a comprehensive combat sense like a sword.

Cretan old man seemed to have self-healing ability.

‘It seems that the sun god gave me power without even knowing it.’

Originally, in order for a priest to see or use the divine power, permission must be obtained through the flowers blooming on the sapling of the divine tree.

However, the Cretan old man lost his eyesight after wandering for a long time, and after that, he said that he was able to see divine power.

There was a high probability that his flower was blooming on a sacred tree sapling somewhere.

“Huh, my back… … ?!”

Dududuk!

The old man’s bent back was straightened.

He raised his eyes, jumped up from his seat, and ran around the aisle while holding the golden apple.

He was running too cheerfully to be an old man in his 50s!

The Cretan old man was intoxicated by the miracle that had happened to him.

“Eating the fruit tree of the gods gives strength to the body! Such a miracle to me!”

Then, old man Crete’s body stood still.

He even blew his nostrils open.

“something… … I can feel the smell that I didn’t know until now. What is this?”

Carl approached cautiously and took the golden apple in his hand.

Munch!

A knife with a powerful bite.

I’ve tasted the golden apple several times already, but today I felt a clearer taste.

At the same time, I felt the subtle scent of the Cretan old man on the tip of my nose.

“Salty yet fresh and refreshing… … .”

Carl and the Cretan old man pointed to one place at the same time.

“That way!”

“It is over there.”

An undersea passage divided into several branches.

Among them, it was toward the corner of the road going down deep and deep.

***

“The sweet scent is getting stronger.”

As if they had made a promise, the two simultaneously moved towards the passage under the sea.

It’s already been a while.

I had been going down the dark passage for hours already.

Thanks to the ball of light created by Carl’s divine power floating in the air, the passage was clearly visible.

“Be careful, there are many stone beaks.”

“Thank you.”

Cal’s worries went unnoticed.

The blind Cretan old man was making his way down the steep undersea passage with ease.

He used a scabbard instead of a stick to move by tapping the ground, avoiding stones that could trip his feet like a ghost.

“By the way, I think I can smell something… … .”

Carl nodded.

About a couple of hours after coming down the undersea passage.

Where the sweet scent was felt, a terrible stench was also felt.

It was a terrible gundungnae as if something had been left for a long time.

and.

Before long, Carl was able to confirm the identity of Gundungnae.

“It is a snake.”

Surprisingly, there was a huge space beneath the passage deep underground.

A place where all sorts of seaweeds grow and cover the rocks, as if the seawater comes and goes frequently.

A huge snake was coiled above it.

He was eating the seaweed that grew around him.

“snake? Did you say snake now?”

“Yes, the stench was from snakes.”

“Quickly chase them away.”

“… … I would love to.”

Since he was a blind old man in Crete, he seemed to think of a snake the size of a house as a normal snake.

Carl drew his sword.

Serureung-

At that time, the snake’s eyes turned to this direction when it heard the sound of metal.

At the same time, a huge snake moved its body.

“Hut!”

Cretan inspiration as if he had seen something.

He pointed down at the snake with his trembling fingertips.

Carl’s gaze was also directed there.

“… … It also existed, the blue coral reef.”

A large coral reef rock that emits enormous divine power!

The coral reef overflowing with blue energy was laid under the snake.

***

same time.

A fierce battle was taking place at the forward base of the sea lizard clan.

“Stop! Stop the fence from collapsing!”

“Hanson!”

“Goes!”

Hanson’s cry followed by Sir Greenwood’s and Maya’s.

Hitting the head of the fish-man over the fence with his shield, Hanson ran quickly.

Then, with his back attached to the wooden fence right before he collapsed, he stood and pushed.

“aaa!”

Koo-goo-goo-goo!

The huge wooden fence that was about to fall returns to its original position.

Then the sea lizard warriors nearby also quickly joined and helped Hanson.

At that time, Greenwood and Maysa cut and stabbed enemies who crossed the fence with their own weapons.

“His Highness Cardinal! Be careful!”

“Kuk!”

Although he was a brave Lord Greenwood, he was the same age as his godmother, Crena.

He was tired of the bloody battle that had already lasted for several hours.

The pauldrons around his shoulders were punctured, and red blood gushed out at last.

“majesty!”

Kwajik!

Meisa’s rapier pierced the eyes of the fish-man who attacked Greenwood.

The rapier that pierced the octopus’ head straight through the eyes.

The fish people fell under the fence.

“majesty! Are you okay?!”

“I’m fine, keep an eye out for enemies!”

“You are bleeding profusely! Hurry inside the Stone Citadel and get Tyra’s treatment!”

“are you okay! If we withdraw, the entire front will retreat!”

Even if there is a stone fortress, the front line is near the wooden fence.

What if the barrier collapses and retreats into the stone citadel?

They had no choice but to conserve the remaining food and engage in farming.

While waiting for reinforcements to come from the underground city.

But that was too hopeful.

“But it can be really dangerous at this rate!”

“For a battle priest, dying on the battlefield is also an honor. Don’t worry, I’ll fight!”

“majesty… … .”

Maysa pursed her lips.

Then again, he picked up his rapier and stabbed the fish-man who was attacking him.

But at that moment.

Woo woo woo woo-!

In the distance, a fish-man blew a trumpet made of a beating.

Then, the fish-men, who had been attacking like crazy, slowly retreated from the fence.

“What, what?!”

“Are you retreating?!”

Hopeful sea lizard warriors.

But their hopes were soon shattered.

“Look over there!”

where one warrior pointed.

Countless fish-man soldiers split up.

A woman in a robe appeared from among them.

It was the witch Helena.