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The actions of the Nun Knights and their squires were remarkably swift. After purchasing some general information at Baden-Baden’s divination shop, they stocked up on simple supplies that same day and headed straight to the dungeon the very next day.

“Is this really okay?”

Conra, the group’s conscience and unintentional voice of reason, muttered blankly. Just a few days ago, he had heard all sorts of talk about complex political interests and rising tensions surrounding Baden-Baden. Yet, the very people who had been saying such things were now ignoring all that and charging straight into the dungeon.

“Eh, what does it matter? It’s not like there’s any real problem, right?”

Sophia smirked as she looked at Conra’s troubled expression, ruffling the boy’s hair.

“Well, I guess you’re right…”

It was true. The complex political interests were indeed tangled. The high likelihood of a major shift in the local power dynamics due to the dungeon was also a clear constant. But there was one factor that made all those constants seem insignificant.

At least when it came to demons and dungeons, the authority of the Paladin Knights took precedence above all else. And those who held the position of Paladin Knights were individuals whose physical and mental strength, as well as authoritative influence, surpassed that of any group.

“Do you understand? We have the great cause to bury petty interests, the greater power to silence small authorities, and the personal might to look down upon the power of the masses. So, what can those petty schemers do officially?”

Listening to this, it made sense. Conra nodded in agreement but suddenly had a question for Sophia.

“But Master, didn’t you say before that the Church Order has neither the ability nor the intention to interfere with secular power? So how does this situation grant such authority?”

It was indeed strange. The authority granted by the Church Order to the Paladin Knights was overwhelmingly vast and powerful. Priority rights in dungeon handling, local requisition rights for demon-related matters (though rarely used), and even the authority to inspect and immediately accuse feudal lords, a prime example of secular power.

How could such extensive authority be allowed?

“Hmm, it varies by case, but in this situation, it can be explained like this. Essentially, the goals of the secular power’s leaders and the smaller powers beneath them differ. While we lump them together as secular power, in reality, the king and the lords are not on the same side. Meanwhile, the Church Order, backed by strong popular support, is a powerful spiritual authority but remains largely indifferent to secular power due to its inherent nature. So, what do you think the king, the head of secular power, would choose?”

“Ah, I see!”

“Well, this is the case for Franquia, where royal authority is strong. The Empire might be different.”

“Indeed, the Empire is a bit different.”

Hildegard, who had been walking beside them, chimed in.

“Conra, was it? The kid asks sharp questions. Seems quite clever.”

“Didn’t I say? A rare talent these days.”

“Seems so. Anyway, about the Church Order’s partial dominance over secular power, Franquia’s case is something I, as an Imperial, don’t know much about, and Sophia already explained it. The Empire’s case is more complex. It’s related to why the Empire is called the Empire.”

“The Empire’s Archbishop holds electoral authority and is responsible for the Emperor’s coronation.”

Sophia cut in, not missing a beat. Hildegard, having her words snatched, protested.

“Hey, where’s the rule that you can interrupt someone like that!?”

“Hmph, words have no owner. The first to speak is the master. If you’re upset, you shouldn’t have missed your timing.”

“Grr, watch out next time. I might just interrupt you.”

“Challenge me anytime. A champion knows how to wait for challengers.”

Watching the two adults bicker like children, Conra sighed and shook his head. In any case, he roughly understood what they were saying. Ultimately, the Church Order’s inherent stance and various secular circumstances intertwined, resulting in secular power accepting the Church’s authority in specific situations, albeit in different forms.

It was a difficult topic, but Conra decided to accept it and move on. What truly mattered wasn’t the trivial details but the fact that, as a result, they could now unilaterally raid the dungeon without anyone being able to object.

Amidst the laughter and chatter, they finally arrived at the dungeon’s entrance. The entrance, taking up an entire side of a collapsed hill, stood imposingly. Originally a hillside where the lord’s sheep grazed, the dungeon’s appearance caused one side of the hill to collapse, revealing an ancient stone temple-like entrance.

Inside the stone temple, the only thing of importance was the glowing portal floating in mid-air. Frankly, the stone temple-like structures surrounding the portal were just… fashionable elements meant to give dungeon visitors a sense of ancient mystery.

Leaving the grand and ancient stone temple behind, Sophia and Hildegard immediately dashed toward the portal. Conra, who had been admiring the majestic and ancient stone temple, had no time to savor the moment and hurriedly followed them.

Upon passing through the portal, what greeted them was… surprisingly, an ordinary cave.

“Thankfully, it’s not an open-world dungeon from the start.”

Hildegard sighed in relief. Sophia agreed.

“Open-world dungeons are a headache in many ways.”

Specifically, figuring out what conditions needed to be met to open the door to the next level in such a vast open world was incredibly difficult.

In contrast, closed-type dungeons like this cave simply required finding the correct path or solving hints on the cave walls to activate special devices. Open-world dungeons lacked such elements, leaving no choice but to brute-force the solution.

The monsters appearing on the dungeon’s first floor were surprisingly not that formidable. They were just an organized undead goblin legion consisting of spellcasters, champions, archers, and spearmen.

Though it was a bit perplexing how the goblins, who were somewhat civilized despite their greed, ended up as undead monsters in this dungeon, they were no match for the two Nun Knights.

Of course, a properly organized army, whether human or goblin, was powerful enough to annihilate ordinary adventurers on sight. But against a party of individuals capable of decimating armies, the outcome was a foregone conclusion.

“Yah! Hand over your skulls!”

Hildegard’s main weapon was, surprisingly, a halberd. Considering that knights generally didn’t prefer halberds, it was an unexpectedly practical choice.

At the same time, the halberd was as tricky to wield as it was practical. Sophia and Conra couldn’t help but marvel at Hildegard’s skill with the weapon.

Her halberd achieved at least one, often two or three, objectives with each swing, expanding Hildegard’s achievements. The versatile, long-reach, and heavy weapon proved its worth through performance.

Meanwhile, Sophia wielded her longsword swordsmanship. If overwhelming physical prowess, charging like a bowling ball knocking down pins or a heavy tank trampling infantry, could be considered part of longsword swordsmanship, then so be it. In any case, her swordplay was precise and refined, fitting the longsword style.

Influenced by internal energy and Kundalini, Sophia’s movements and longsword swordsmanship had an incredibly subtle and mysterious quality. In an indescribable rhythm and tempo, her sword smoothly separated the bones and flesh of the undead goblins.

The zombie goblins soon became skeleton goblins, and the skeleton goblins offered their skulls as playthings for the trio.

As she played with a clattering skeleton goblin skull, Hildegard remarked with a puzzled expression.

“Strange. Ariel said this dungeon required two Paladin Knights. Considering the first floor’s level, it didn’t seem necessary to make such a big deal out of it.”

“Gabrielle said the same thing. Since both spirits said so, it’s probably not wrong. Besides, we’ve only just started exploring the first floor. Maybe the real danger starts from the second floor.”

Sophia responded to Hildegard’s doubts about the overly easy battle. It was as she said. Perhaps, unknowingly, Hildegard had set a flag? The dungeon’s reception from the second floor onwards was formidable enough to elicit harsh words from the noble Nun Knights.

 

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