## Chapter 1167 – Confrontation

“Wouldn’t you just need a pass? Seems like you can get anything with money. But I’ve never been abroad, so I don’t really know.”

It seemed Karin hadn’t been abroad either.

If we’re all going together, we’re bound to attract attention. Cloudie said he just walked when he came from the desert, so sneaking in must have been super easy.

But there are quite a few of us.

“Isn’t the whole point of an army to guard the borders? If we find the right path, can’t we just walk in?”

Honestly, even the modern Korean army, with all its personnel, budget, and equipment, can’t fully cover the border. These isekai infantrymen are probably only guarding key points.

Still, we should prepare.

“We’re going to need a map.”

We should consider sneaking across the border. If anyone gives us trouble, we can just bribe them or beat them up.

If that doesn’t work, I’d like to move through the edge of the Elven Forest border. If there’s no other way, we might have to negotiate something like that.

“Hey, dumbass, you have a title, right? That should be enough to prove your identity.”
“Can foreign nobles just enter other countries as they please?”
“Why not? It’s not like we’re at war.”
“I guess.”

Anyway, we can figure this out while preparing to go to the Dwarf Kingdom.

“Or ask Kadia for something.”
“I should mention that too.”

Kadia could probably get us a border fast pass.

Once the departure and exit preparations are complete, we can travel through the human kingdoms to the Dwarf Kingdom at the far west.

“Anyway, brace yourselves. Those Dwarf bastards are insane.”

The dwarves in the books were ruthless warrior race.

The all-out war ended a hundred years ago, but the old grudges haven’t been resolved. They’ll probably be hostile to us, so we should try to appease them while looking for the fragment of God.

“They’re completely out of their minds.”
“What do you consider normal?”
“Kind and good-hearted people.”
“Where are you going to find that in this world?”
“Right here.”

When you think about it, there’s no one kinder and more good-hearted than me. I never rob the innocent.

“…”

Karin gave me a strange look, then just smiled and stroked my hair.

What’s that supposed to mean?

“Anyway, it’s true that the dwarves have been at war with humans, right? So we have to be careful. Let’s try to gather our strength while preparing to leave.”
“Okay.”

Liztina is right.

* * *

I rummage through the house while packing.

Then I suddenly remember something and go down to the basement to find Risha. Risha, who was working on something, immediately came to me, and I talked to her about the dwarves and asked about Oracle.

“Hey, Risha, what about Oracle?”
“You speak of Oracle?”

That Oracle bastard.

I’ve been so busy since catching Koltrahen that I’ve just been sealing him away and neglecting him. Before we leave, I need to crack his head open… I mean, ask him something.

“Actually, I’ve been too busy lately to touch him. I’ve been busy making elixirs and extracting sap… but I’ve been checking the seal regularly, so there shouldn’t be any major problems.”

Risha said, taking out the sealed Oracle and showing it to me.

He was trapped in a black sphere.

“That’s a relief.”

Good that there are no problems.

Anyway, that Oracle bastard.

I know there’s some ancient knowledge in his head, but Risha has to put in a lot of effort to activate it. But the World Tree gave me a crystal, so I don’t really need it.

However.

His knowledge might be useful.

And most of all… he might know something about the World Tree. I’m going to ask him about the World Tree. It wouldn’t hurt to investigate that.

Or maybe the god of the dwarves.

Right now, he’s the only one who can answer about the World Tree. I don’t completely trust that World Tree. I need to find out exactly what he is.

“Risha, I have a couple of things I want to ask Oracle. I’m thinking of asking him about the World Tree first.”
“The World Tree… is there something you’re thinking about?”
“I can’t completely trust the World Tree. I need to know what kind of god he is. The information we have is too vague.”

I know he’s the god of the elves, but I don’t really know anything about him.

“Indeed. We cannot blindly trust such a being. You are thorough.”
“I can’t just blindly believe someone just because they’re a god.”

The elves have a World Tree faith from birth, so they won’t have any doubts about the World Tree. Therefore, the elves are unlikely to have accurate and objective information about the World Tree.

I have to find out the truth.

“I understand. Shall I activate Oracle?”
“It’s not too difficult, is it?”
“Huhu, this is not difficult at all, you don’t need to worry about this one.”
“Hehehe. Thanks, Risha.”

I would be in big trouble without Risha.

* * *

The next day.

“Hey, Andro, you bastard.”
“You call me.”

I had to experiment with divine power, so I grabbed Vugal and went out to the backyard. Yesterday, I practiced covering my fist with divine power and using it. Today, I’m going to combine it with the sword.

I need to be able to use this like sword ki.

“I’m going to test a new power.”
“A new power? What kind of power?”
“Well, it’s called Heavenly Demon Divine Power. Don’t be too surprised.”
“What kind of power is it that piques the interest of Andromalius? I’m curious. Show me, human. I can’t do anything but watch now.”

Andro’s personality has become quite docile.

That’s bound to happen when someone is trapped inside a sword. Anyway, I take a stance and aim the Vugal I’m holding straight ahead.

And then.

“Heavenly Demon Divine Art.”

I unleash the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.

ㅡFwoosh.

Just like yesterday, the pure white divine power that emanated from my hand climbed up the handle of Vugal and began to burn the sword.

The sword burned with the flames of divine power.

It took less than a second to unleash, and there was no problem covering the blade. I should be able to use this perfectly in real combat.

“It’s so cool.”

The burning white flame was very beautiful and extremely powerful. It’s probably one level above my mana-based sword flame. Maybe even two levels more powerful.

I’ll have to use it in real combat to know for sure.

ㅡ…

However.

As powerful as it is, I can clearly feel my inner divine power being consumed very rapidly. I can unleash it externally, but not for long. I can exert tremendous destructive power beyond the power of mana, but the duration is too short.

Is that to be expected?

I was about to perform a sword dance during the time limit when.

“Uh! Ugh?!”

Suddenly.

Andro made that sound.

“What is it? Do you feel anything strange?”
“Kya.”
“What?”
“Kyaaaaaaaaak!!!! Kyaaaaaaaak!!!!”
“Uh, uh!”

Suddenly, Andro started screaming like crazy!

“Kyaaaaaaaaak!!!!”
“What the hell!”

Why is this bastard screaming!

This is the first time I’ve seen Andro scream like this! Is something wrong! And at that moment, I realized something… Could it be!

“Could it be!”

That I’m covering the blade with this divine power…!
Is that why he’s suffering!!!

ㅡPatsut!

I quickly extinguished the flame.

ㅡPachangchangchang!!

Vugal’s blade shattered into pieces as if he couldn’t bear it any longer.

What the hell?

“Uh…”

Only the handle and crossguard of Vugal remained.

“Ah, Andro!!!”

Damn it, the blade is all broken!!!

“Hey! Hey! You bastard!!!!!”

Is this real!!!

The blade couldn’t withstand my divine power and broke! This is ridiculous! Vugal has been strengthened a lot while doing this and that with me! How could he not withstand this and break!

“You’re so useless!!!”

If this bastard dies like this…!

“Ah.”

It’ll be okay.

Vugal has regeneration ability.

I was greatly stressed by the fact that Vugal couldn’t withstand my power, but I can solve this myself. He can’t withstand it? Then I just have to make him withstand it somehow.

This is the way of thinking of a Heavenly Demon.

“…”

I stared at Vugal’s handle.

ㅡ…

Then, very faintly. Slowly. The blade was observed to be recovering. Judging by the speed, it will take some time, but it will all be restored on its own.

Still, it’s going to be a bit tricky.

Vugal’s current durability may not be able to contain my divine power.

I understand how things turned out.

This divine power is different from divine power, but it is the power of God that exists within me. It can be said to be the power of Kim Kat himself. And Kim Kat? He’s a man who has lived by slaughtering demon bastards.

Naturally, it’s not strange that my divine power contains the power to destroy demons.

“You damn weak bastard.”

I have to find a way.
Should I try coating it with mana first and then using it?

Whatever it is, I can only do it after this bastard is restored.

“…”

For now… I still have a lot of divine power in my body. Good. I was originally going to train to cover the sword with divine power and use it, but the plan has changed. In the morning, I’ll do some training to combine this divine power with my mana.

This is a crude training that doesn’t have a regular curriculum and I’m just doing it all by feeling, but this is a power that only I have and only I can handle, so I have no choice but to develop it in this way.

That felt quite enjoyable.

“Lehu.”

* * *

“…Are you leaving now?”
“Soon.”

Kadia sighed at my words. I could tell that she was feeling quite down. Her shoulders were slumped and her eyes were filled with gloom.

This is the first time I’ve seen Kadia like this.

“The Verde God was shattered, and even Paladin is going far away. It’s a harsh reality.”
“…Kadia?”
“Nevertheless, this Saintess is a being who moves forward. I can overcome such adversity without any problem. Still.”

Yes.

“I hope Paladin is as uncomfortable as this Saintess is.”
“Of course I’m uncomfortable. I’m leaving Kadia behind.”

I think she needs a lot of comfort.

“The Dwarf Kingdom… it’s a very far place. How long will it take?”
“It’ll take a while, but it won’t be too long. But that’s not the end. I have to go to the desert too.”

I stroked Kadia’s head and said.

“I can’t believe it.”

Kadia just smoked. I wonder if she’ll be even more of a chain smoker when I get back.

“Still, I believe Paladin will do well. I wish you a glorious return. I have no doubt that you will return as a being more brilliant than any warrior.”

That’s just obvious.

“Perhaps if you gain such power, you will become a warrior like a legendary hero. If an individual has that much strength.”

Kadia looked up at me with a strange expression.

“That is very…”
“Very?”
“It can be said to be befitting of this Saintess’s status. If Paladin becomes such a warrior, there will be no opposition even if this Saintess publicly proposes marriage.”
“Hehehe, you were even thinking about that?”
“Of course.”

How sly.

“Well, that’s the story when Paladin becomes such a warrior. Of course, I love you very much now, but it would be even better if that happened. Of course, I’m also thinking about the benefits I can get from such a ‘public proposal’.”

That’s so Kadia.

I have no worries.