The bard fantasized again.

Chapter 80 Oath of Glory (4.4k)

During the silent standoff, Catherine rushed to Ambi's side to check on the little girl's injuries.

Melard tried to stay as far away from the greasy lump of flesh as possible, worrying about whether his future fate would be similar.

Tang Qi frantically winked at the rubble, signaling the dwarf to move closer so that they could launch a rescue immediately should danger arise.

Everyone witnessed the power of this paladin.

Although the radiance attached to the [Holy Slash] only has a special effect on undead creatures, the zombie flesh lost its original toughness and was cut in two with one stroke.

However, its power is also considerable when facing ordinary creatures.

Tang Qi still didn't believe that his small frame could withstand her slashes.

The rubble did not understand Tang Qi's intention.

After all, in his eyes, Tang Qi was talking to himself the whole time—

No one but him heard the dawn's voice.

Yet, instinctively, he chose to believe, raising his shield warily at the headless 'living corpse,' muttering to himself:
"Damn it. This guy is ridiculously weak, but I'm actually starting to believe in his leadership..."

"The magic array is normal. Those who have never seen it should not understand its principles and purpose. Furthermore, the broken sword has not retained my aura."

To make the necromancer seem more desperate, I even kept calling out to him through my soul...

Is my story not realistic enough?

Chenxi felt she had done everything within her power and couldn't understand where things had gone wrong.

In order to buy some time and allow Sui Shi to recover some strength, Tang Qi didn't mind explaining a few more things:
"Before I stepped into the tomb, you told me how to interrupt the 'false god's' resurrection—"

Summon your soul, infuse it into your body beforehand, to prevent His coming.

"is there a problem?"

But you've overlooked a crucial point—

Tang Qi took a deep breath and answered coldly.
“I am a poet, not a traditional spellcaster.”

All my control over magic stems from 'discovering the vibrations within music,' rather than analyzing or applying 'formulas.'

In other words, regardless of whether it belongs to "ritual casting", in order to connect the magic circle and achieve the effect, I first need to activate the magic within it through the frequency of the music.

However, when I chanted that hymn, I couldn't detect the music resonating with the magic circle.

This is not only a characteristic of the spellcasting of bards, but also one of the important reasons for its loss and discontinuity.

After all, not everyone in this world has a sense of music, and only a few musicians can perceive the magical vibrations within music.

Combining the vibrations of music with magic to create spells that manifest in the real world becomes the third hurdle.

Without that logbook, Tang Qi might have been like everyone else in the academy, never able to unravel the mysteries of music-based magic throughout his life.

Now, by recording stories, he has skipped the learning process and directly acquired magic.

However, this does not mean that one cannot deduce the method of using music to vibrate the magic net by observing the sensations experienced during the casting of the spell.

This is why he always strums chords and sings loudly, instead of randomly casting spells to try and fool people—

Otherwise, if one day he loses the [Log], or if the [Log] takes back the rewards he has, wouldn't he become a worthless piece of trash again?

It was this good habit of observation and learning that made him notice the unusual thing about the singing today.

Otherwise, he might really have been kept in the dark by Chenxi...

After all, she is a Paladin!
I remember when I first stepped into Golden Oak and met Catherine, she used "the lie of the paladin" to subtly mock me.

In stereotypes, these noble warriors should possess a series of glorious and righteous labels such as 'lawful goodness,' 'fearless justice,' and 'helping others' as embellishments to their character and actions.

And Tang Qi found it hard to doubt any of this—

Because she truly can unleash the [Supreme Slash]!
Divine magicians are quite different from spellcasters; they do not rely on excessive learning to gain power.

Instead, it is through prayer to the gods and loyalty to vows.

Correspondingly, once they break their beliefs and vows, all the power they possess will vanish in an instant.

Therefore, the fact that Dawn can still cast spells proves that she is trustworthy...

?
"Why are you able to cast a divine spell when you have broken your oath?"

Tang Qi couldn't help but ask,
"The Oathbreaker, huh?"

If any paladin has broken his oath, he still retains his former power.

Perhaps only those "Oathbreakers" who abandon the flame in their hearts and pursue darkness and ambition can do it.

"But those who embrace darkness cannot cut out such a dazzling light."

"Because I have not broken my oath."

Chenxi's confident answer almost made Tang Qi burst out laughing:

"You mean, you're a heroic spirit who's been dead for who knows how many years and still hasn't settled down, always wanting to be resurrected?"

You lure a necromancer with lies, who then kills countless people for you, all to cut off a certain 'perfect' part from their bodies and stitch it together to create a 'perfect body' that satisfies you...

Then, you must harbor a secret, conceal your evil deeds, and 'kill the donkey carrying the goods'—the necromancer who obeys your orders.

Even after all you've done, are you still on the path of keeping your vow?

Excuse my bluntness, but surely your vow couldn't be 'to destroy the world'?

When the oath was mentioned, Chenxi's posture seemed even more upright.

Her conviction was even stronger, like an unyielding peak that had never wavered:

"Actions speak louder than words, fear no challenge, hone your body, and strengthen your soul."

From beginning to end, I fought for glory.

"glory?"

Tang Qi then realized that the runes on the four stone pillars actually represented her lifelong beliefs.

He suddenly realized why opening the tomb's entrance involved 'praising her'—

"So you really are enjoying it, aren't you!?"

Faith grants paladins immense power.

But this also led them to act according to their creed throughout their lives, to the point that most paladins became a group of 'stubborn oddballs'.

For example, when a paladin saves a city and averts the death of countless people.

Because of their different beliefs, different outcomes are always produced.

"Hey, Paladin, you actually saved a city! The city lord has decided to give you a chest of gold coins. Have you decided how you want to use them?"

The selfless White Knights say:
"Distribute them to those trapped in poverty; they need them more than I do."

Idealists seeking 'redemption' say:
“I don’t need the money. I only hope that the city lord can pardon those who have made mistakes. Everyone deserves the opportunity to repent.”

The brave warriors, who swore an oath to 'glory', laughed:
"Of course, I'll melt them down and hire a renowned craftsman to create a golden, immortal monument for me!"

More than material possessions, what they yearn for is to leave a lasting mark on the world.

Therefore, Tang Qi had no doubt that these people were the kind of show-offs who would announce to the world and flaunt their lottery winnings...

"So what? You killed so many innocent people, and pieced together this body from so many corpses—"

Is that enough of an honor for you?

The question was not asked out of any excessive pity.

In fact, Tang Qi found it difficult to care about the lives of these people who were unrelated to him.

But he needed to understand the attitude, and even the goal, of the 'paladin' before him.

To determine whether the current situation is safe.

Chenxi's body suddenly swayed slightly.

It looked as if it was shaking a head that didn't exist.

She denied it, saying, "I will not defend the evil deeds I have committed—"

This matter is neither honorable nor glorious.

But I believe in myself and will spend the rest of my life doing everything I can to atone for the sins caused by these evil deeds.

Actions speak louder than words.

I will use a glorious future to cover up all guilt and doubt.

Just like I did before.

Tang Qi finally understood her 'belief':
"So you think that 'being reborn into the world and accomplishing more great things' is more important than 'killing innocent people'."

"The same is true for the world."

"If you're going to make an excuse, then make an excuse. Stop dragging the world into it—is the Forgotten Continent some kind of blackmailer? Why are you always blaming the world? What did it ever do to you?"

Even when teased like that, Chenxi answered frankly.

Tang Qi found the paladin's temperament surprisingly calm and composed.

"I am merely stating a phenomenon, which is also a fact—"

People tend to be harsh on good people and lenient on bad people.

Those who practice good deeds are easily condemned and labeled as 'degenerate' once they make a wrong decision or abandon the idea of ​​doing good for their own selfish desires.

Even those who are utterly wicked, despite committing countless crimes, can gain the forgiveness of many and be called 'the brilliance of humanity' simply by showing a sliver of goodness at the end of their lives.

In this world, no one cares what you did in the past.

They only care about what you're doing 'now'—

Imagine I save a city in the future.

Do you think those people will mourn the fallen adventurers, or will they be more grateful for their sacrifice, which allowed me to save the city from peril?

"..."

"When the glory of your present undertaking is enough to overshadow the darkness of the past."

People would prefer to call it...

Atonement.

Tang Qi blinked, and his previously tense nerves had already relaxed silently.

This certainly doesn't mean that he has been persuaded by Chenxi or has accepted her values.

Instead, it was through her defense that Tang Qi realized that the paladin in front of him did indeed have a set of logic that made her actions consistent.

This logic can help her break free from the shackles of 'good and evil'.

Move towards the goal you have set in mind—

Pursuing achievements and glory.

This largely ensured Tang Qi's safety.

After all, killing a bard won't earn her recognition or honor.

As for her values, Tang Qi simply couldn't care less—

Why bother about other people's right and wrong, good and evil?
He wasn't a pastor who liked to preach or give grand pronouncements.

The only thing he can control is himself, and he tries his best not to harm others.

As long as it doesn't hinder your ability to take risks and live a fulfilling life, that's all that matters.

"Then I must admit that when it comes to self-deception, perhaps no one is more experienced than you paladins."

'Oath' and 'faith' are actually very strange things.

Its existence clearly draws a bottom line, dictating what choices you should make.

Yet it is so flexible that its bottom line can be 'explained' using any method, word, or action.

As long as you're shameless enough and can get past your own conscience, that's fine.

Tang Qi breathed a sigh of relief and sheathed the 'Snake Kiss'.
"As long as we can confirm that you have no malicious intent, that's fine."

Then let's do this—'I'll go to my Ironforge, and you go back to your Black Reef Harbor.'

As long as the payment you promised me is still there.

"No."

Chenxi's refusal made Tang Qi frown.

He stared intently at the other's naked, beautiful body, at the neck—so empty it exuded only the black mist born from the aura of death.

Fortunately, the black mist concealed the bones and flesh in the cross-section; otherwise, Tang Qi might have felt nauseous after staring at it for too long.
“I can’t give you Catherine’s head.”

Chenxi, however, continued to sway slightly, as if to 'shake her head':
“I never said I needed her head.”

Tang Qi asked curiously, "Wasn't the necromancer approached us on your orders?"

“I did point you in the right direction, but I hope that what he brings is not that girl—but you.”

Tang Qi shrank his neck:
"My head? You can forget about it."

And don't you think it's strange to have a man's head on a woman's body? Or are you just into this kind of fetish?

etc--

"You're not actually a man, are you? It's just that this opportunity allowed that sorcerer to create a woman's body for you, so you can experience life as a man!"

Thinking of this, Tang Qi's breath hitched, and he couldn't help but draw his sword and take two steps back.

"How can it be!"

Chenxi was clearly shocked by Tang Qi's words and finally lost the ability to maintain her composure in front of this talkative poet.

"It's your scent, your scent!"
You carry the aura of the [Forgotten Stone Tablet], a monument that once recorded history and achievements!

But when my past self arrived before the monument, trying to find my great deeds, I only saw a worn-down stone!

"The Forgotten Stone Tablet? That thing is actually real?"

As a member of the Academy of Poets, Tang Qi was naturally aware of its existence.

But he simply assumed it was a fabrication by the former dean to show that 'the Poets' Academy wasn't in such a terrible state.'

After all, the Poet Academy, this "rumor factory," has never produced a single true and accurate "legend."

Since history can no longer be recorded, can't we just exaggerate things that happened thousands of years ago?
“I don’t know what’s wrong with that stone tablet, but at least as long as I was alive, everyone believed in its authenticity.”

Chenxi said with certainty,
"When I realized you might be connected to the stone tablet, I had already made up my mind—"

The head can still be found slowly, but the chance to be recorded on the stone tablet may only come once.

Therefore, I concealed my true intentions and attempted to indirectly lead you into the tomb so that I could see you in a more majestic form.

But you're much harder to fool than I thought.

She saw Tang Qi suddenly fall into surprise, as if he was pondering something.

As the silence deepened, I felt increasingly uneasy.

To be permanently recorded on the monument of history is the dream of everyone who yearns for glory.

The headless knight, unwilling to let this opportunity slip by, disregarded his image and rushed to Tang Qi, tightly grasping his hand:

"I swear on my honor that I have never had the intention to harm you."

Her panicked reaction interrupted Tang Qi's thoughts.

He did believe Chenxi's explanation.

After all, she is a person who pursues glory, and the blazing light of the [Supreme Saint Slash] testifies to the fact that she has never changed.

Yet, one cannot help but feel dizzy and disoriented by the sight of her deathly white and flawless body:
"We can talk about this later, but could you put something on first?"
So that every time I see what you do, I don't see something trembling in front of my eyes.

　I have a draft in hand, and it should be available for publication in about a week. Please bear with me, everyone!
　　Please read it! ! !
　　
　
(End of this chapter)