A Powerful Martial Artist Reincarnates as a Nun Knight

The nun knights’ and squire’s actions were quite swift. Having purchased rough information from Badenbaden’s intelligence office, they procured simple consumables that very day before immediately deploying to the dungeon the next morning.

“Is this really okay?”

Conra, who had inadvertently taken on the role of the group’s conscience and voice of common sense, muttered in bewilderment. He could have sworn they had discussed the complex political interests intertwined here, how tensions surrounding Badenbaden would only escalate further, and all sorts of other issues just days prior. Yet those very people who had voiced such concerns now completely disregarded them, heading straight for the dungeon instead.

“Well, what do you think? Doesn’t this seem relatively unproblematic?”

Seeing Conra’s complicated expression, Sophia chuckled as she ruffled the boy’s hair.

“Well, when you put it that way…”

It was true. Complex political interests were indeed intertwined, and the potential for upheaval in the local dynamics due to this single dungeon was an undeniable constant condition. However, there was one factor that rendered all those constants as trivial variables:

At the very least, under the condition of demons and dungeons, the authority of Paladin knights took absolute precedence. And those presently holding the mantle of Paladin knights were each formidable individuals surpassing any group in terms of mental and physical fortitude, as well as authoritative influence.

“Do you understand? We now possess the overriding justification to bury petty vested interests, the supreme authority to silence minor powers, and the personal might to look down upon the strength of mobs. So what can those insignificant fools do with their petty machinations behind the scenes, officially speaking?”

As Conra considered her words, finding them reasonable, a lingering doubt prompted him to ask Sophia:

“But Master, you previously said the Order has neither the ability nor the intention to involve itself in secular authority. So how is such power being granted in this situation?”

It did seem contradictory. The authority the Order bestowed upon Paladin knights was indeed immense and formidable – priority rights for handling dungeons, the rarely used but present authority to locally conscript personnel for demon-related matters, and even the power to inspect and file immediate charges against feudal lords representing secular authority.

How could such sweeping authority be permitted?

“Hmm, it depends on the situation, but in this case, it can be explained as follows: Essentially, the aims of secular authority’s leaders differ from those of the smaller powers beneath them. While lumped together as secular authority, the king and lords are not actually aligned. In contrast, while the Order is undoubtedly a formidable spiritual power backed by popular support, due to its inherent nature, it is largely indifferent towards secular authority. Now, what choice do you think a king, as the leader of secular authority, would make?”
“Ah, indeed!”
“Well, this is the case for Frangian where monarchical authority is strong. The imperial situation may differ somewhat.”
“Certainly, the imperial case is a bit different.”

Walking alongside them, Hildegard remarked:

“Was it Conra? For a young lad, you do ask rather incisive questions, showing quite the intelligence.”
“Did I not say? A rare talent these days.”
“It would seem so. Now, you were explaining why the Order can partially supersede secular authority? Frangian’s case has already been covered by Sophia, which I’m less familiar with as an imperial. But for the empire, there are more complex reasons involved – ones tied to the very reason it is called an ’empire’.”
“You speak of how the Imperial Archcardinal holds the authority of an elector while also presiding over the emperor’s coronation ceremony.”

Without missing a beat, Sophia intercepted her words. Robbed of the opportunity to explain, Hildegard protested indignantly:

“Yah, what’s with snatching away what I was about to say?!”
“Heh, who owns words once they leave one’s mouth? Whoever speaks first simply becomes the master. If you’re dissatisfied, you should not have let the timing slip.”
“Ggrrr, you be careful when you speak going forward. I might snatch away your words in the middle at any time.”
“I welcome any such challenges. The champion knows how to await challengers, you see.”

Watching the two adults bicker like misbehaving children, Conra sighed and shook his head. In any case, he seemed to grasp the gist of their exchange. Ultimately, due to the Order’s inherent stance coupled with various secular circumstances, although the manifestations differed, secular authority ended up accommodating the Order’s exercise of authority in specific situations.

It was a complex explanation, but Conra decided to accept and move on. In truth, the crucial point was not those peripheral details, but rather the simple fact that now, no one could object even if they unilaterally upended this dungeon.

Amidst their laughter and banter, they finally arrived at the dungeon’s entrance. The entrance occupied an entire cliff face of a collapsed hillside, defiantly standing tall. Originally a hillside where the village lord’s sheep grazed, one side had collapsed when the dungeon appeared, revealing an entrance resembling an ancient stone temple.

However, the only significant feature within that stone temple-like structure was a floating portal of light suspended in midair. To be frank, the stone temple formation surrounding the portal was more akin to… a fashionable aesthetic element meant to imbue dungeon visitors with a sense of classic mystique.

Leaving the solemn, antiquated stone temple behind, Sophia and Hildegard immediately leapt through the portal. Conra, who had been captivated by that very solemn, antiquated visage, scarcely had time to savor the lingering sentiment before scrambling to follow them through.

What the portal revealed was, surprisingly… an ordinary cave.

“Thankfully it wasn’t an open-field dungeon from the start.”

Hildegard sighed in relief. Sophia agreed:

“Open-field dungeons are rife with troublesome factors in many ways.”

Specifically, it was exceedingly difficult to discern what conditions must be met within that vast open world for the door to the next level to appear.

With closed-cave dungeons like this, one simply had to find the correct path or solve hints on the cave walls to activate special mechanisms in order to proceed. But open-field dungeons lacked such cave wall elements, ultimately forcing blind trial-and-error searches.

The demonic beasts primarily encountered on the first dungeon level were surprisingly unexceptional. Just an undead goblin army with a proper formation including mages, champions, archers, and spearmen.

While a bit discomfiting that civilized goblins had somehow become undead dungeon denizens, as undeads, they could not truly challenge the two nun knights.

Of course, any properly organized army would be formidable regardless of its human or goblin composition, instantly annihilating any ordinary adventurers. But against a cooperative party containing multiple individuals capable of decimating armies, the outcome was a foregone conclusion.

“Uwaaraah! Give up your skulls!”

Unexpectedly, Hildegard’s primary weapon was a halberd. Considering most knights did not particularly favor the halberd, it was a pragmatic weapon choice.

Simultaneously, while practical, the halberd was also a challenging weapon to wield. Sophia and Conra could only marvel at Hildegard’s masterful halberd skills.

With each swing, her halberd accomplished at least one, often two or three objectives, steadily expanding Hildegard’s combat achievements. This multipurpose polearm and anti-armor weapon was fully demonstrating its formidable value.

In contrast, Sophia employed longsword fencing techniques. If bowling ball-like overwhelming physical force knocking down bowling pins, or a heavy tank charging archers could be considered longsword fencing, then her techniques certainly qualified. Well, regardless, her swordplay followed the agile, intricate rhythms of longsword fencing, so one could hardly argue otherwise.

Influenced by her internal energy cultivation and kundalini, Sophia’s martial footwork and longsword fencing carried an enigmatic, profound essence. With an indescribable rhythm and tempo, her sword smoothly separated the undead goblins’ flesh from bone with lethal precision.

Zombie goblins soon became skeleton goblins, whose skulls then served as playthings for the trio.

As Hildegard toyed with a clacking skeleton goblin skull, she remarked with puzzlement:

“Isn’t this strange? Ariel said this was a dungeon requiring two Paladin knights. Just considering the first level, it didn’t seem serious enough to warrant that description?”
“Jibrail said the same. Since both spirits concurred, they likely weren’t mistaken. Moreover, we’ve only just explored the first level. Perhaps some danger will manifest from the second level onward.”

Sophia responded to Hildegard’s doubts over the overly easy battle. As she said, perhaps Hildegard had inadvertently triggered a flag? From the second level onwards, the dungeon’s reception for these strong, noble nun knights was formidable enough to provoke curses from their lips.