I’m a Holy Knight, but I Contracted with an Evil God - Chapter 44

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 44.
When the main force arrived at Kars Village, they were met with a vast encampment—one of the largest operations the region had ever seen.
It was a temporary relief station established by the Church of Light, which had received word of the crisis beforehand.
“Oh! Our heroes have returned!”
A familiar face approached the weeping Holy Prelate Elmuer, who was making a fuss of emotion.
It was Rafthio, the priest who had brought Leon to the Church of Light and arranged his initiation—and before Leon’s regression, had been his adoptive father.
‘Wait, or was he Archbishop by now?’
Through his merit in recruiting not ordinary believers but those who manifested the Holy Stigma.
Especially since that stigma-bearer was an outstanding talent who, for the first time in a hundred years, drew a response from the sacred relics—a genius who had claimed the position of youngest elite knight.
It was common knowledge that Rafthio had obtained his position as Archbishop thanks to Leon.
“I’m grateful you’ve all returned safely.”
There was a characteristic gentleness in his gaze as it swept over Leon and the party.
Yet despite that soft smile, Rafthio slowly tapped his left index finger against his thigh.
It was a habit unique to Rafthio that emerged whenever he was deeply hesitant or troubled about something.
‘……Is there some separate business he wants to discuss?’
Just as Leon noticed this signal and tried to meet his eyes, Sion stepped forward first and opened his mouth on behalf of them all.
“This is all the grace of Arseriel.”
Courteous greetings were exchanged between them.
As Holy Prelate Elmuer’s address began to show signs of becoming lengthy, Tristan moved in swiftly.
“Elder, what’s your age that you’re making such a scene! You’ll catch a chill standing in the cold wind—let’s get inside!”
Tristan pulled the Holy Prelate inward with practiced ease.
With him as the pivot, the rest of the party, including Leon, followed behind.
Just before crossing the threshold into the barracks proper, Sion called Leon to a stop.
Then he asked:
“Was it intentional?”
Sion’s gaze fell upon Leon’s left hand as he asked.
The meaning of the question was unmistakable.
But Leon answered with composure, feigning ignorance smoothly.
“I’m not certain what you mean, sir.”
“No, I think you do know.”
……So it wouldn’t work after all.
Swallowing a sigh, Leon chose his words carefully.
One of the truths Leon had gleaned from years spent scraping the bottom of the order was that with fanatics like Sion, a single phrase invoking God’s will worked far better than any logical excuse.
After a brief moment of reflection, Leon continued without changing his expression.
“It was not intentional. It was simply the Holy Stigma responding. Sometimes Arseriel’s will exceeds my own intention, you understand.”
“Does this happen often?”
“Yes. Though this was the first time it manifested so violently. I suspect the impure force requiring purification was simply unusually strong this time.”
Ecrise let out an audible sound of displeasure at the choice of the word “impure force,” but Leon’s face remained unmoved as he faced Sion.
As though Leon himself truly believed what he was saying.
In the end, Sion could only respond:
“The will of our Lord certainly contains so much that a mere human can scarcely comprehend it all at times.”
He was saying that even if he himself doubted, he would gladly follow if such was the will of Arseriel.
It was a response perfectly suited to Sion—one whose faith in the Lord was absolute and unwavering.
【Disagreeable fellow.】
‘……You feel that way too? That’s unexpected.’
【Why would you find that unexpected?】
‘If you’re the same kind of being as Arseriel, doesn’t Sion’s reverence for Arseriel feel the same as his reverence for you?’
【It might feel similar. But that is precisely what I find disagreeable.】
‘You find reverence toward yourself disagreeable? Why?’
【Do you not see? Reverence is the emotion furthest from understanding. That fool is drunk on his own worship, never grasping what Arseriel truly desires.】
‘What Arseriel truly desires? What is that?’
【Even I cannot know that much.】
‘If you don’t know what Arseriel wants, how do you know whether Sion understands it or fails to understand it?’
【I may not know what Arseriel desires, but I know at least this: He would not welcome the likes of Sion presuming to serve us by their own whim.】
Fair enough.
After concluding his brief exchange with Sion, Leon headed toward Captain Aila’s temporary quarters.
Though Aila had little work to do at the temporary relief station, she had come down to Kars Village to receive reports on this incident.
Upon arriving at the barracks, the three were greeted by Corbin.
“Ah, you’ve finally arrived. Our heroes!”
“Don’t tease.”
Tristan snapped irritably, but Corbin never wiped the smirk from his face.
Beside Corbin stood Aila, leaning against a makeshift table, her gaze fixed heavily on the entrance.
“We’re back.”
“Good work.”
With Aila’s acknowledgment, the formal report began in earnest.
Tristan spoke first.
“All missing persons have been recovered—a total of 512 individuals. Of these, 91 Contaminated Patients require intensive treatment from the Church of Light. The remaining 421 have undergone primary treatment in Orden and have been transferred to their respective regions.”
“So those 91 are the ones sent to the Church?”
“Yes, that’s correct. Among the 91, we’ve confirmed 72 severe cases and 19 mild cases.”
“Mild cases? Was there any need to transfer mild cases all the way here?”
Swift questions and swifter answers followed.
The report was concise, and Aila’s questions equally so.
As Aila nodded, Sion picked up where Tristan left off, adding further explanation.
“Though they are mild cases, we’ve confirmed that their places of origin appear to be in the west or north. A considerable number of the recovered individuals hail from regions other than the east. Most have unclear ties to their hometowns or are of low birth, but among them are what appear to be two noble-born patients from the west. However, both lack full mental clarity, so we’ve hit complications in ascertaining their precise identities.”
The mention of western noble-born patients caused a moment of silence to settle over the tent.
Just as Leon was turning over the weight of that report, Ecrise spoke.
【Is there reason to prioritize mild cases?】
【It’s not about their condition—it’s their background that matters. Remember what happened with Ilseran’s heir last time?】
Leon had only heard accounts secondhand, but the story of Count Ilseran overturning the entire region after his heir vanished had become quite famous.
Though they had failed to obtain the result they’d hoped for.
In truth, disappearances in Silvaren Forest hadn’t begun with Ilseran’s heir.
The incident had grown precisely because the missing person was the Count’s only son; had it been anyone else, there would be no way of knowing what had become of the other missing persons even now.
‘That’s why they’ve been abducting mostly the lower classes and those without ties.’
【It doesn’t seem like they’re ignorant of how much trouble a disappearing noble causes.】
‘Right. There has to be a reason they abducted even despite the noble status… but I still don’t see it.’
He could formulate a few rough hypotheses, but they were merely groundless speculation.
All he could conclude was that those abducted possessed enough value to warrant the danger of drawing public attention.
While Leon and Ecrise were sorting through their thoughts, Aila remained standing with her arms crossed, her gaze fixed on the report lying atop the table.
After a moment longer of silence, her quiet voice fell like a murmur.
“Identifying those two is our first priority. If they deliberately targeted nobles rather than lowborn commoners who can be easily concealed, there must be a reason. Corbin, it’s time to put your talent to use. Coax them if need be—get them talking, whether their wits are about them or not.”
“Leave it to me!”
Confirming Corbin’s cheerfully delivered response, Aila’s gaze turned back to the report.
“Still, I see no significant progress in the report transmitted beforehand. Why is that?”
At Aila’s question, Tristan shot Sion a sideways glare.
His irritation plain on his face, he explained.
“Why else? Sion here destroyed most of the site again.”
“Is that so?”
Aila’s crimson eyes, fixed upon Sion as she sought confirmation, were visibly seething with cold fury.
And the fact that no surprise showed in her expression suggested that Sion’s unilateral actions were far from unprecedented.
When no immediate response came, Aila didn’t wait for Sion’s excuse before continuing.
“I’m certain I cautioned you before. That habit of yours—charging forward without regard for context the moment anything heretical is involved—shows no sign of improvement whatsoever.”
“I was careless. My apologies.”
Sion offered no lengthy defense, though he didn’t seem to genuinely regard himself as having done wrong.
Aila, understanding that such an attitude stemmed from Sion’s unwavering faith in himself and Arseriel, appeared ready to let the matter drop without further rebuke.
It wasn’t her preferred approach, but she knew at least that Sion would not cross the line of destroying the entire mission.
As Aila turned away with a click of her tongue, Corbin interjected with his characteristic grin, dispersing the heavy air like fresh wind.
“Now now, don’t be too cross. The site may be lost, but at least the missing persons are safe, aren’t they?”
“Spare me your chatter, Corbin. Barker, continue with the rest of the report.”
At Aila’s rebuke, Tristan cleared his throat and spoke again.
“And…….”
As Tristan trailed off and glanced meaningfully, Leon withdrew a pendant engraved with a swan emblem from his coat.
It was the pendant of Count Ilseran’s heir, recovered from the Aberration they had encountered in Red Canyon.
Aila’s face twisted instantly.
“That’s the Ilseran crest, isn’t it? Where did you find it?”
“We recovered it from an Aberration encountered in Red Canyon. From the circumstances, we believe that Aberration was Count Ilseran’s heir.”
The furrow between Aila’s brows deepened further.
After staring at the corrupted pendant on the table for some time, Aila’s voice came heavily.
“I thought we simply hadn’t found the body. To think it would turn up in the east.”
“And transformed into a contaminated Aberration at that.”
“If the Ilseran family hears of this, they’ll hold a funeral for his ghost, won’t they?”
No one could counter Corbin’s sharp-edged jest about the gravity of the situation.
Aila swallowed a heavy sigh and added her own words.
“This is a serious matter.”
Of course it was.
Count Ilseran was no ordinary noble—he was the most influential lord in the region.
With Aila’s final assertion, a heavy silence descended once more over the barracks.
I carefully set aside the blood-stained Pendant on the table and issued a firm order.
“This matter must be reported to headquarters at once. For now, enforce silence among the troops and strengthen patrols of the perimeter.”
“We understand.”
Once the most critical and shocking matter was settled, the discussion turned to the remaining petty details—supplies, provisions, and post-operation procedures.
Aila listened to these reports with a serious expression, and just as the final one was being concluded—
“Ah, and there is one more matter to report, Commander.”
“What is it?”
Sion turned toward Leon with an unmoved expression, fixing him with an unwavering gaze, then spoke.
“It concerns Sir Leon’s Holy Stigma.”
What the hell?
To be continued in the next chapter ▶
A holy knight with a contract to a dark god
Author
Ram Dat
Publisher
Kim Seok-hwan, Choi Se-ra
Published by
Grae Publishing
Contact Email
[email protected]
Release Date
March 27, 2026
UCI
G720:N+A327-20260227066
※ This e-book is protected by copyright law. Unauthorized reproduction and copying are prohibited. Violations may result in criminal and civil legal liability.
※ Pentagram welcomes your precious manuscripts.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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