Paladin of a Fallen Order (Novel) - Chapter 105 - The North

Chapter 105 – The North

===================

Translated by Pratt

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

===================

On the ninth day of traveling northwest after leaving Solenion.

Elbridge’s party had gradually taken on the appearance of natural travelers. This meant that, for some reason, they looked tired and scruffy.

But there was one exception, and that was Sonya.

Instead of grease, a healthy gloss flowed from Sonya’s black hair, and her clothes and face were much cleaner than the others.

Elbridge looked at Sonya and spoke.

“No matter how I look at it, it’s a bit strange.”

“What is?”

“I thought you would be the first to look like a beggar… Why are you alone so clean?”

“I am a noble who has even received etiquette training. Maintaining one’s dignity anywhere is a basic accomplishment.”

Surprisingly, Elbridge’s party had completely forgotten that Sonya was a noble. This was because the behavior and speech she had shown until now were far removed from those of a noble.

The fact that she was so shabby when they first met also played a part.

“Dignity? When we first met in the Dickens Viscountcy. When you were with those people called… the Crows, you looked like a beggar, didn’t you?”

At that, Sonya snorted.

“Don’t you know there’s a dress code everywhere? Living dirtily there was a sort of dress code. If I were the only clean one in a place like that, it would have been hard to blend in.”

Sonya was skilled at reading the atmosphere.

She was the type who would somehow manage to take care of herself no matter where she was thrown.

As they chatted, they saw a river in the distance flowing from west to east.

Rombel pointed at the river with his finger and spoke.

“That is the Norens River.”

If the Great Forest was the boundary separating the south from other regions, the boundary separating the North from other regions was the Norens River. People referred to the north of the Norens River as the North.

And there was a large city by the banks of the Norens River.

“The shape of the city is a bit unusual.”

Unlike common cities that expanded and grew in size in a circular fashion centered around the lord’s castle or temples, Norens City was narrow and long, stretching along the river.

The city was so massive that its end was barely visible.

“Because they tried to get water easily, a city like that was naturally formed.”

“What if the river overflows?”

“I’ve never heard of the Norens River overflowing. It doesn’t rain much in the North.”

Because of its long shape and the river flowing right through the center of the city, Norens City had no city walls. The party entered Norens City without any inspection.

“But isn’t there too many people?”

The Holy City of Solenion was also one of the cities known for being crowded and complicated.

However, the population density of Norens City appeared higher than that of Solenion.

“It must be for a similar reason to why the population in Solenion increased.”

The reason why Solenion had become crowded lately was because refugees who had lost the villages or cities they lived in gathered there. When the world becomes chaotic, people tend to gather in safe places.

In the East, Solenion took on that role, and in the North, Norens City did.

“Look over there. You see the people wearing exceptionally thick clothes? Those people must have come from further north than here.”

A thick attire did not mean wearing one more layer of clothing. There were people wearing fur clothes with animal hair still attached.

Even considering Norens City’s cool weather, they looked a bit hot, but refugees could not afford to buy new clothes. However, once winter arrived soon, their plight would be much better.

“I guess the north is much colder than here?”

“Norens City is the warmest place in the North. If you go further north, there are tons of people who have lost a few fingers or toes to frostbite. Be careful you don’t end up like that.”

“…That is not a very pleasant story to hear as soon as we arrive in the North. If possible, why don’t we start with good things? Like the advantages of the North.”

To that, Elbridge answered.

“If nothing else, the food in the North is incredible.”

“I guess the Northerners’ cooking skills are great?”

Elbridge shook his head.

“No. They don’t cook exceptionally well. If we only consider the people’s cooking skills, the East would be better.”

“But you said the food is delicious?”

“It’s because the quality of the ingredients is different. Especially the meat. Animals in the North are larger and fattier than those in other regions.”

“Hmm.”

“In the East, even if you cook meat just slightly wrong, it becomes tough and hard to eat, right? The meat eaten in the North is not like that. Even if you grill it roughly or make a slight mistake, it remains tender. It’s not just the texture that is good. Because it has a lot of fat, one bite spreads a rich, savory flavor all over your mouth.”

The party entered an inn like that.

The innkeeper asked Elbridge bluntly.

“How many?”

“Four people. Give us two rooms. One triple room and one single room. And prepare bath water as well.”

The innkeeper looked at Elbridge and Sonya, then wore a faint smile.

“We don’t have a triple room. Only double rooms. Shall I give you two double rooms?”

“Give us three, please.”

Elbridge answered firmly, but Sonya subtly chimed in.

“It’s a waste of money, so how about we just rent two double rooms?”

The innkeeper looked back and forth between Elbridge and Sonya, smiling somewhat slyly.

“Ahem.”

Even without hearing the remaining words, it seemed obvious. He was probably thinking something along the lines of, ‘Young people these days are quite active…’

Elbridge, slightly embarrassed, asked Sonya.

“You, who are you planning to share a room with?”

However, Sonya’s answer was slightly different from Elbridge’s expectation.

“I should obviously use it alone. I mean you, Marcus, and Mr. Rombel. You three should use a double room. We have to save money.”

“…”

The gaze of the slyly smiling innkeeper changed. It was a look as if he were looking at trash.

“Just take three rooms at the end of the upper floor. That seems better.”

“…Very well.”

The four went upstairs, dumped their luggage, and immediately came back down.

As soon as they sat at the table, a servant approached and distributed two bowls each.

One contained stew, and the other was an empty bowl.

“What is this? When did you order the food?”

To Sonya’s question, Elbridge answered.

“I didn’t. In Northern inns, the only food you have to order is alcohol, vegetables, and bread. Meat and stew are free wherever you go.”

“…Meat is free?”

“Yes. Large game is scattered all over the North.”

As Elbridge stirred the stew with his spoon, large chunks of meat revealed themselves.

Unlike Eastern stews that spared meat, Northern stews were half chunks of meat.

Rombel pointed to a hearth in a corner of the inn.

“If you want to eat meat, you can bring and eat as much as you want from there.”

Beside the hearth, freshly taken wild boar and venison stood erected, dripping sauce and fat. Other customers could be seen naturally slicing and taking the meat.

The party also sliced large chunks of meat and brought them over.

Biting off a large mouthful, a salty seasoning flavor was tasted, followed by the flavor of the meat. Before they had even chewed it a few times, the meat disappeared as if melting smoothly.

Sonya evaluated the meat.

“This is more delicious than what my family’s chef used to make. But it’s too greasy, so I don’t think I can eat a lot.”

At that, Rombel raised his hand high and called the servant.

“A glass each.”

The servant set down four tiny glasses the size of a thumb, then poured clear liquor to the brim.

Rombel spoke.

“What is even more excellent than the Northern meat is the Northern liquor. It’s a bit expensive, but if you’ve come to the North, you must drink it.”

The four knocked back the liquor at once.

A hot sensation passed through their throats and entered their stomachs.

A sensation as if one could draw how the inside of their stomach looked. The mouth became refreshed, and the grease was washed away.

A moment later, their fingertips and toes became warm and slightly numb.

Rombel laughed pleasantly.

“It reminds me of the old days. Entering an inn in a state so exhausted that a single tap would knock you down, and drinking the strong liquor of the North, it felt like your whole body was melting.”

With that story at the end, Rombel and Sonya focused on eating.

As their slightly early meal was nearing its end.

Clack—

The door of the inn opened, making a loud noise.

Sensible and ordinary customers open the inn door quietly.

To put it the other way, it meant that someone who opened the door loudly was not a sensible and ordinary customer.

For example, those harboring some intention and wishing to draw attention.

‘Did a gang of thugs come to extort protection money?’

However, Elbridge’s expectation was cleanly missed.

Those who appeared as the door opened were tall, had long ears, and possessed beautiful features.

There were three elves. Two males, one female.

The elves shouted loudly upon their appearance.

“Put down your spoons immediately! You there! Do not rise from your seats!”

The inn customers quietly muttered curses.

“Those, those fucking bastards. They came again. They came again…”

Although they didn’t know the situation, seeing the people’s reactions, it seemed to be a common occurrence.

“Shut your mouths! You there! I told you to stay still!”

The two elves looked around, controlling the people so they wouldn’t move, and the single elf at the very front approached the hearth. To be precise, beside the meat skewered near the hearth.

The elf lifted up a well-grilled hind leg of venison along with the skewer, examining it closely.

And he cried out in a voice so loud the heavens seemed to fall.

“Uwaah, uwaaaah! Johannes! Johannesssssss! No—!”

While the elf shed tears profusely, another elf approached. The second elf lifted up the wild boar ribs skewered next to the venison hind leg and examined them meticulously.

“This is Aurelius.”

“Aurelius! Have you also ended up like this…! You bastards!”

While the two elves screamed loudly, the third elf drew his sword.

As the people shrank back, the elves looked around with wild, flashing eyes.

“I never even imagined you would commit such a heinous act. Humans. What kind of grudge do you have to devour our friends?”

The gazes of Marcus and Sonya turned toward the innkeeper. Did he really steal the deer and wild boar raised by the elves and cook them?

Then the innkeeper explained quietly.

“Don’t fall for it, it’s just their usual fit of madness. I’ve seen about ten Johanneses and twenty Aureliuses.”

The sharp-eared elves couldn’t possibly have failed to hear the innkeeper’s words.

The three elves approached the innkeeper with drawn swords. It was a hostile atmosphere where it wouldn’t be strange if blood were shed immediately.

Yet the innkeeper grumbled and handed a few silver coins to the elves.

“Could you please just get lost?”

The elf who seemed to be the leader wiped his tears and spouted unrelated words.

“Do not feel aggrieved. Because this money will be used for Johannes’s and Aurelius’s funerals.”

“Funeral or whatever, just never come back. Please…”

Subsequently, the elves turned their attention to the tables where customers were dining, one by one.

An elf who confirmed meat in the stew of a neighboring table glared fiercely at the customer.

Carrying that, the dining customer grumbled and offered a few coins.

“This is all I have.”

“If we search you and more comes out, something regrettable might happen to you, human.”

“If you’re suspicious, search me then. Man, what terrible luck. You extorted me three days ago, and now again…”

Next, a male elf approached Elbridge’s party’s table.

However, Elbridge’s party’s meal was almost finished. Not to mention soup on the table, there were no chunks of meat either. Only empty plates remained.

“We don’t have meat. What are you going to do?”

Marcus stared at the elf with a sullen expression.

But the elf, as if accustomed to such a situation, licked the grease on Marcus’s empty plate with his tongue.

And he spoke.

“This is the taste of Aurelius.”

Next, he lightly dabbed a bit of the grease on the corner of Sonya’s mouth, who had cleared even her empty plate, with the tip of his finger and tasted it.

“This is the taste of Johannes.”

“…Is he crazy?”

Marcus looked at Elbridge with a dumbfounded expression.

He was asking whether they should beat him up and throw him out, or submissively hand over some money.

However, after contemplating, Elbridge shook his head.

Currently, the party was in a state of disguised merchants to hide their identity. Revealing their identity just to save a few pennies was a foolish action.

Fortunately, chasing the elves away did not require a lot of money.

When Elbridge handed over four silver coins, the elf submissively withdrew.

“Johannes and Aurelius would also have hoped their deaths were not in vain. Enjoy your meal. May our friend become your strength.”

The three elves swept in like a storm to extort money, then vanished with a polite bow.

Sonya spoke in a displeased voice.

“Weren’t elves a noble race?”

Elbridge shook his head.

“A child is shy before all people, and a youth is bashful before the opposite sex. However, when they become adults, everyone becomes a bit shameless. The older they get, the further they distance themselves from shame and bashfulness.”

Elbridge looked out the door where the elves had left and spoke.

“And if you pass another five hundred or a thousand years there, you become an elf. Crazy bastards like elves are not common.”