I, the wizard, the foolish Buddha

This sword had clearly been polluted by the Baron of Withered Blood's power before, but now the Baron of Withered Blood is called 'Heraca'.

It was precisely because it contained Heraca's power that both the Duchess and the Abyss demon felt it was like a poisonous object and were unwilling to touch it.

Of course, this may not be the main reason. The main reason is that the demon felt she didn't need anything to kill Roland at all. After all, he was just a small, early-stage Tier 1 wizard; touching him would mean death. So, why bother using this 'short sword'? Holding it was both awkward and unpleasant.

This sword was indeed once tainted.

But now... Roland didn't know if it should be considered tainted or not.

Because Heraca is a goddess of supreme good and purity.

Regardless of how insane this 'Shepherdess' truly is, as a god of the River Styx, specializing in purifying the sins of souls in the Styx, She is a genuine god of good.

Heraca wizards are despised by the world because all wizards are faithless. Heraca wizards, like Withered Blood wizards, are people who cooperate with gods, but also thieves who try to depict gods and even steal divine power!

They often remind people of necromancers. Especially the Heraca wizards of the Twilight Council, who have done all sorts of evil.

When Roland came here before, the group of 'seeded people' shepherds he killed were Heraca wizards.

Therefore, Heraca wizards are not only faithless, but even the Heraca wizards in the Eastern Territory are as notorious as the Black Abyss wizards and the Twilight wizards, the blackest of black wizards!

Every Heraca wizard in the Eastern Territory, if placed in the South, would make the black wizards of the South think they are actually white wizards.

But the goddess Heraca and the Heraca believers are different.

Genuine Heraca believers are virtuous people recognized even by the Southern Church.

Including Heraca's shepherds, who are also fellow believers, brothers and sisters, righteous priests who punish evil and deliver the souls of the dead!

So, this sword should not be considered tainted now.

Or rather, Roland knew very well that this sword must have been tainted, but he couldn't see it.

Because few people know Heraca's true appearance.

Regardless of Roland's intuitive perception of this sword, from the outside, it seemed to have been baptized by a sacred power.

The original Abyss corruption had been purified by a pure and benevolent holy blood in Heraca's baptism.

After blowing away the dense small spiders and cobwebs on the long sword, Roland began to fondle it with delight.

Both the long sword and its scabbard were very exquisite.

With a buzz, Roland drew the long sword.

Suddenly, Roland's eyes lit up. He heard the sword speak.

— In that buzzing sword sound, a word flashed in Roland's mind: Dirge.

To be precise, it was 'Tainted Dirge'.

Roland's eyes suddenly lit up.

Compared to it, the Thunderfire Magic Blade was like a crude mass-produced item, and the Saint's Servant Scabbard was like a clumsy imitation.

It actually gave Roland a somewhat familiar feeling.

Roland couldn't help but recall the 'Holy Sword' he had seen at Baron Hall's place.

At that time, Roland was only ten years old, the age when people found him annoying, and he often took little Alice to run around. Accidentally, the two broke into Baron Hall's 'collection room' and saw many, many swords.

The one placed at the highest position in the 'collection room' was that Holy Sword.

That sword was much taller than ten-year-old Roland.

It was very exquisite, with many strange angels on it. The things carved on the hilt and scabbard were not only full of mythological meaning, but there were even 'carvings' on the blade!

Roland and little Alice even argued about it at the time. Roland said that many angels and saints were carved on the blade. Little Alice said that there weren't so many carvings, just some tiny lines.

After arguing for a while, the two started to compare swords.

One played the Holy Knight, and the other played the Female Pope. While comparing, they were discovered by the Baron.

At that time, Baron Hall also told Roland that the sword was a work of art. After all, it would be a bit too wasteful to use it for battle, especially since there were patterns on the blade, wouldn't it be easy to wear out?

The swords of the mercenaries in the tavern were all very simple, and the simpler the sword, the more practical it was, wasn't it?

Now that he thought about it, that room wasn't a collection room at all. It was a Sword Pavilion!

And the patterns on the long sword were not just patterns... they were Holy Runes!

It was from that day that Baron Hall believed Roland was suitable to become a Holy Paladin—because he could see the Holy Runes.

There were many who could see the Holy Runes; many Holy Knights and Priests who had pure faith and years of training could see the Holy Runes.

But those who could see them from a young age were really not many. Some of these people would be buried, but some were famous Holy Knights, Bishops, and even Saints in history.

Baron Hall had discussed with Anthony about sending Roland to the 'Great Cathedral of St. Vermick' in the South to be a trainee knight.

Anthony naturally refused. He hated those deceptive gods the most in his life.

Roland didn't go to the South, but Roland had always wanted a sword like that.

The Thunderfire Magic Blade was a small fulfillment of his dream, but what Roland truly yearned for was Baron Hall's Holy Sword.

This was a true ancient sword, at least two or three hundred years old, not only very 'open', but also had Holy Runes on it!

But Roland felt that it wasn't 'open' enough.

Roland took out a broken small sword blade from his dimensional bag.

This was a larger fragment that was stuck in the body of his female senior when she was injured during the Yellow Fern Ruins adventure. It was about the size of a thumb.

After Roland helped his female senior take out many fragments at the time, he kept the largest fragment in his hand as a souvenir, after all, this was a Holy Sword.

After comparing the Holy Runes, Roland found that the Holy Runes on the sword in his hand were a bit different from the Holy Runes on the fragment.

Roland didn't know if the sword that Baron Hall used to kill the 'Yellow Fern Lord's clone' was a genuine Holy Sword.

But the Holy Sword in his hand should be a 'pseudo-Holy Sword'.

Or rather, Baron Hall's sword and Roland's sword were actually both true Holy Swords, but they were also pseudo-Holy Swords.

Because there was only one true Holy Sword, left behind by God.

In later generations, many swords were forged according to the same craftsmanship. They were also rare and precious. But they were not that unique Holy Sword. So they were pseudo-Holy Swords.

Therefore, it was not wrong to say that this sword was a Holy Sword. Because it had enough history and enough legendary experience.

In the past three hundred years, it had changed hands several times, traveled across the ocean from the South, and finally came to the Southeast Coast, and fell into the hands of the Duchess.

That rich experience had even given it its own name—Dirge.

Or rather, Tainted Dirge.

It was like a knight struggling in the dark abyss, fighting against evil demons with all his might, climbing upwards with all his strength, and redeeming himself. Using his actions, he narrated a hero's dirge.

It had once slain countless evil demons, but in the end, it fell into the hands of the vampire Duchess.

She used the resources of her family and the power of the Baron of Withered Blood to deeply taint the sword, so that she could truly control it.

Now, it had fallen into the hands of a destined person.

Into the hands of someone who should have become a Holy Paladin.

Roland sighed: "Now you can be considered to have left the abyss. Being in my hands can be considered finally seeing the light of day."

After stroking the flawless gem inlaid on the hilt, Roland shook his head and said: "Not to mention this sword, even this gem is probably worth tens of thousands of magic stones! Tier 2 wizards are really rich and generous!"

That was originally a tainted 'high-grade holy stone', or rather, a high-grade magic stone with holy attributes.

Swinging the long sword and slashing at the cocoons nearby a few times, a 'ripple' actually crossed the air. The appearance of the ripple was similar to a death angel holding a sword, silently passing through that cocoon, and then passing through a large row of cocoons behind it.

Then those cocoons were cut in half like paper, and then the Netherfire burned up with a crash, turning into ashes in an instant.

Roland widened his eyes. He guessed that this sword was a good thing that could make up for the Duchess's shortcomings in ranged attacks, after all, it had a high-grade magic stone on it.

But he didn't expect that the thing released was so ruthless.

Roland had personally verified with the Great Demon how tough the spider silk on those cocoons was. But with this one sword, those seven or eight cocoons, along with the wizards inside, were all wiped out!

Roland looked at the sword with a strange expression for a long time, and was convinced that it might no longer be a strange object.

Anyway, the Duchess's original sword definitely didn't release this kind of 'Death Angel Ripple'!

"I originally just wanted a van, but now I'm driving a Maybach!"

Roland was overjoyed.

Suddenly, he thought of something, observed the high-grade magic stone on the hilt, and his heart ached instantly.

The magic power of this high-grade magic stone was actually one-tenth less.

More than a thousand magic stones were gone!

It seemed that it was best to use it to chop people at ordinary times.

Roland thought to himself: "She definitely didn't use it this way usually. When the Withered Blood Knight drew his sword, he could release normal ripples."

After carefully examining the Holy Runes on the long sword, the corners of Roland's mouth couldn't help but twitch slightly.

The Holy Runes were indeed genuine Holy Runes, and the angels depicted on them were also angels, but those angels were not proper angels.

If one wasn't paying attention, they might think these angels were holy. But now that Roland was carefully observing them, he found that these angels looked somewhat insane no matter how he looked at them.

Originally, Roland thought the angels were kneeling and praying with their weapons. But upon closer inspection, they were actually kneeling there, clutching their heads and laughing maniacally.

If one looked closely at the wings of these angels, they would find that the wings were covered in tiny skulls.

This was indeed a group of holy angels, but they were a group of holy death angels.

Originally, Roland had planned to use this sword to play the part of a Holy Knight or something. After all, the Eastern Territory was becoming increasingly chaotic. If he couldn't stay there one day, he might have to go south to avoid the storm.

Therefore, Roland felt that, in certain situations, this pseudo-holy sword might become a pass, helping him to impersonate a Holy Knight.

But looking at it now... he could indeed play the part of a Holy Knight, but it would be easy to expose the act.

So, is Dirge still a hero's sword now?

Roland couldn't help but pick up the longsword again, sighing, "You, ah, crawled out of the abyss. No matter how clean your heart is, your body is stained with filthy blood. Those who consider themselves righteous probably can't accept you. It just so happens that I'm not a clean person either, so let's keep each other company from now on."

"Dirge of the Death Angel, huh? Not bad."

"As a minor lord under the goddess Hela, I now have a territory and a sword. Thank you, Your Majesty, for bestowing the sword."

Roland thought to himself, "So, this sword blessed by the goddess Hela is a reward for exceeding expectations?"

Judging from the matter of the Death Angel's ripples, this sword is probably not as simple as a 'magical item.' It was originally a pseudo-holy sword, and it has experienced so many things. It has also been deeply exposed to the mystical.

After the first encounter with Baron Bleakblood, it became an embryo for a secret treasure (mysterious treasure).

But the Duchess did not refine it into a secret treasure.

The Duchess was not a proper wizard and was not proficient in alchemy.

Roland could guess that the Duchess must have been thinking that after this ritual was successful, the Bleakblood family would truly master the power of Baron Bleakblood.

In that case, her sister, Countess Wendy Saber, would be able to help her alchemize 'Tainted Dirge' into a secret treasure.

Now, this sword has experienced Hela's baptism, which means it has experienced the baptism of two gods. If you also count the blessing once given by the god in the South, then that is the Sword of Three Gods' Baptism!

This is definitely a top-quality secret treasure embryo!

If he thoroughly researches Hela's veil and properly alchemizes it, the secret treasure will take shape.

Roland carefully checked the scabbard and breathed a sigh of relief when he found that the scabbard was just a normal magical item.

Putting the longsword back into its scabbard, Dirge turned back into an ordinary 'pseudo-holy sword,' looking like an overly luxurious and flamboyant wizard's blade.

The servants were still sorting out the spoils in the main hall. There were hundreds of corpses in this hall, and an hour was barely enough time.

Looking at his pocket watch, Roland hurried to rummage through the Duchess's belongings.

There were still several magical items inside, the most precious of which was a dragon bow. The materials used should be dragon tendons and dragon horns.

The bow was strung, and there were also many magic-breaking arrows aimed at second-tier wizards.

It seemed that the Duchess came this time to help the Countess deal with 'Fatty Duncan.'

Duncan's death was not unjust. The Countess and her group had made a lot of preparations for him.

Roland tried to pull it a few times, but the bowstring didn't budge. If he wanted to use it, he would probably have to cultivate the Duchess's knight secret technique to the late first tier at least.

"This dragon bow is much better than Anna's bow! I'll give it to Anna to change her equipment. I can exchange her elven bow for it. I should be able to barely use her bow."

It was no wonder Anna was always thinking about 'eating' Roland. He had first carried her home, and now he wanted to exchange bows with her!

He didn't know at all what the exchange of weapons meant to the elves.

However, Roland really didn't think that much.

He was just thinking that there were enough magical items in this room, and he couldn't choose them all. It was not easy to find a teammate who could use them, so he left them for his teammate.

At least his two teammates were still outside helping him lure monsters. Without their help, Roland wouldn't be able to take anything away this time.

Besides, there were really a lot of spoils in the main hall!

Roland looked not far away, where the servants had already sorted the spoils into several small mountains!

Magical items, magic stones, various materials, magic potions, books... piled up like mountains.

Many servants were helping Roland pick out magical items suitable for him. Serving the master for so many years, they knew exactly what he liked to use.

There were several quasi-second-tier wizards in this hall!

There were even two genuine second-tier wizards—the Countess and Fatty Duncan.

Roland hurried to search the Duchess's package. He found many magic potions and body refinement secret medicines, and finally found her notes.

After flipping through them, Roland found that they recorded some cultivation insights. This made Roland both surprised and depressed.

The surprise was that this was the notes of a second-tier expert! There were many things inside that others didn't know.

The depression was that many basic contents were not written on it.

"Alas, why didn't she bring a book? This is not a good habit! This kind of book must be carried with you!"

After sighing, Roland also collected the Duchess's armor.

Although there were many scars on the armor, the main damage was to the buckles. If there was a hammer-type high-quality magical item, it could be easily repaired.

This was also a great treasure, but it was too big.

Suddenly, Roland thought of the other Bleakblood knights.

There were knights in the late first tier among these people! The treasures in their hands were enough for him to use, and he could find suitable armor too!

Pulling out Dirge, he cut open the cocoons around him, revealing armors covered with small spiders, and corpses inside.

Roland absolved them and collected all the equipment.

He roughly checked the books in these people's hands and found the secret techniques that the Bleakblood knights specifically used for cultivation.

There were several books in total, all with many annotations and insights. It seemed that these people all had good habits and often flipped through them in their spare time.

Roland didn't look at the other things in detail and collected them all.

Then he came to the servants, but found that there was a 'dried leech soaked in wine' piled up here, with a quantity of hundreds. It had already formed a small mountain.