Paladin of a Fallen Order (Novel) - Chapter 106 - Elves
Chapter 106 – Elves
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Translated by Pratt
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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The innkeeper skewered the returned meat back on the spit and stood it beside the hearth.
The customers devoured the meat even more diligently with the mindset of getting their money’s worth. Of course, Rombel, Marcus, and Sonya were such customers.
Elbridge rested his chin in his hand and thought about what had just happened.
‘Something is strange.’
It was an undeniable fact that there were many eccentric fellows among elves.
However, in Elbridge’s eyes, this was a somewhat unusual situation.
Just as Sonya had known elves as a noble race, elves tended to manage their public image.
Of course, they would resort to strange behaviors once they became close, but that was strictly behavior done before those with whom they shared a friendship. It was rare for them to cause trouble for someone they were meeting for the first time like this.
‘It’s also strange that elves came all the way to Norens City.’
Elves stayed in the large and small forests of the North. Just as dwarfs did not venture out of the Mountain City Barkuntol in the past, it was rare for elves to come out of the forest.
There was only one difference between the dwarfs of the mountain city and the elves: the dwarfs were half-imprisoned by the God of the Steel Anvil, whereas the elves simply did not come out because they felt no need to.
What could be the reason for the elves to leave the forest and come all the way to Norens City?
Elbridge asked Rombel.
“Rombel. Those elves from earlier… Aren’t they a bit strange?”
“Being strange is normal. Have you ever seen an elf who isn’t strange?”
“…”
That was also true.
Even if Elbridge were to say what information he knew about elves, it was merely along the lines of “elves have such tendencies.” Elves were a race that could not be easily categorized. Should it be said that there was always an exception?
Rombel spoke.
“Don’t try to understand elves. It’s a waste of time.”
*
The next morning, the party gathered in a room.
Elbridge spoke.
“First, let’s scatter and gather information.”
The reason the party came to the North was to identify who had recruited Corwin, the Chief Paladin of the Order of the Bloody Spear. In all likelihood, whoever had recruited Corwin must have recruited someone in the North as well.
Elbridge pointed to himself and Rombel.
“Rombel and I will gather information from merchants.”
Elbridge and Rombel planned to form a team and pose as merchants.
With the vibe of a taciturn but dexterous dwarf, and a young merchant selling wooden handicrafts made by that dwarf.
Since merchants tended to spout all kinds of stories to build rapport, they would be able to hear a variety of tales.
“I’ll head to the Mercenary Guild.”
Marcus played the role of the mercenary who escorted the party to the North.
Since mercenaries naturally tangled with all sorts of people, places where high-quality information gathered like the Mercenary Guild were rare.
Finally, Sonya spoke.
“I’ll gather information at the inn.”
“Which inn?”
“Here.”
The party’s gazes turned cold.
However, Sonya did not care in the slightest.
“What are you looking at like that?”
Marcus answered.
“Because you seem to be speaking so confidently about wanting to just play and eat.”
“Then what, should I head to the Northern Mage Tower all by myself? It would take quite a while to get there. Besides, if word of my arrival at the Northern Mage Tower were to reach the Central Mage Tower, it would all be for nothing.”
“You don’t necessarily have to go to the Mage Tower. I’m sure there are plenty of better ways than idling at the inn.”
“I’m not trying to idle. I’m saying I’ll gather information at the inn. If I sit on the first floor sipping drinks alone, won’t men scramble to tell me all kinds of stories?”
“…Where does that confidence even come from?”
Sonya brushed her abundant black hair over her shoulder, emphasizing her white neck.
Then, looking at the party with a coy expression, she spoke.
“It’s possible because I’m a beauty.”
“…”
Sonya was not a beauty who would capture everyone’s attention.
But at the same time, Sonya’s claim was not impossible.
The North was barren. Regardless of gender, the people’s clothing and appearance were simple.
On the other hand, Sonya was from the nobility of the prosperous East. She possessed a flamboyance that clearly distinguished her from the people of the North.
In addition, unlike other women who were tanned and dark from the sun, she even had pale skin that had barely tanned due to her life in the Mage Tower.
“…Well, do as you please. If it goes well, great. If not, we can just look for another way.”
Lastly, Elbridge gave a word of caution.
“Do not gather information hastily. Don’t forget that we came to the North instead of the Central area to avoid suspicion. Take your time and gather information leisurely. Dismissed.”
*
Elbridge pulled a small cart and moved through the streets of Norens City with Rombel.
The cart was loaded with all sorts of knickknacks brought from the East, and there were also a few carvings crafted by Rombel.
‘There is no need to rush.’
Making an impression on the merchants on the first day and starting conversations would be enough.
The first place Elbridge stepped into was a general store.
“Goods brought from the East? Let me take a look.”
The store owner carefully inspected the items loaded in the cart and checked the prices one by one.
Then he wore a strange expression.
“I don’t usually say this kind of thing… but you are selling them too cheaply for goods brought from the East. Do you make any profit selling them like that?”
“It is because I don’t intend to make a profit from our very first transaction. For a merchant, opening a trade channel is the priority.”
At that, the general store owner smiled warmly.
“The young fellow knows a thing or two. When you’re young, it’s better to look at the long term rather than being impatient. Isn’t that the privilege of youth?”
“Haha. Thank you. Shall we carve a likeness of you to commemorate our first transaction?”
The store owner glanced at Rombel, then shook his head.
“Thanks, but I have no intention of buying such a thing. It’s not something I can resell either. Since it’s made by a dwarf, it must be expensive.”
“It’s not to sell; we are simply giving it to you to celebrate opening our trade channel. It’s a gift.”
There was no one in the world who disliked gifts. The general store owner’s voice softened, and he showered them with all kinds of praise.
“This fellow, his business acumen is out of the ordinary. You’ll become a great merchant in the future. Remember me when things turn out well.”
“Please express your gratitude to Mr. Rombel, not me.”
Shhhk, shhhk.
While Rombel carved a hand-sized block of wood to create a bust of the merchant, Elbridge continued his conversation with the merchant. After all, Elbridge’s goal was gathering information, not trading.
“Ah, by the way, elder. Has something happened in Norens City?”
“Why do you ask?”
“I came to Norens City with my father in my childhood, and I don’t recall it being this crowded back then.”
“It has indeed been bustling lately due to the refugees.”
“Refugees…”
As Elbridge chimed in appropriately, the general store owner excitedly began to ramble.
“I heard it’s a complete mess up north. All kinds of magic beasts are roaming around, and they say there are all sorts of bizarre creatures. To the point where a bear three or four times larger than a normal bear, or an eagle owl large enough to snatch a human away, would actually look relatively better.”
“What else is out there for you to say that?”
“They say there are swarms of rats spreading plague, and furry beasts that freeze everything in their surroundings. But what is even more terrifying are the demons. I wonder if the world is truly ending.”
As if recalling something, the merchant cut himself off and asked Elbridge.
“Ah, right. I heard a demon appeared in the East too. A pitch-black giant burning fiercely with black flames apparently appeared in Solenion.”
“That is correct. Brave paladins repelled it. You know, places like the Order of the Bloody Spear or the Order of the Laurel Wreath.”
At that, the merchant waved his hands in dismissal.
“No. From what I heard, where was it… Ah, yes. The Order of the Rusty Shield. I heard a paladin from that order finished off the demon.”
Rombel, who was slowly carving the block of wood in sync with the pace of the conversation, glanced at Elbridge and smirked.
“…”
To think the name of his order and his own existence had spread all the way to the North.
He felt proud, but concern preceded it. If Elbridge’s physical description had also spread to the North, gathering information would become difficult.
However, Elbridge’s concern was a groundless worry.
“I heard he is a paladin whose height is twice that of an ordinary person, and whose forearms are as thick as a regular man’s torso. Do you not know him?”
“I… do not know him.”
It was not a lie. Elbridge did not know such a paladin.
“Apparently, he wrestled with the demon for three days and three nights before finally slamming the exhausted demon into the ground and killing it. I heard that the Order of the Rusty Shield obtaining four seats this time was thanks to that exploit. Since you say you came from the East, how can your news be slower than mine?”
The merchant had an air of not doubting for a second that the rumor he had heard was the truth.
Rombel could be seen struggling to hold back his laughter.
Around the time Rombel had nearly finished the carving, the crowd parted and an elf appeared.
The general store owner grumbled.
“Those guys appeared again.”
It was not the elf they met yesterday. However, the eyes alone had something in common with the elves they met yesterday.
The eyes of a hunter wandering in search of prey.
‘It shouldn’t have anything to do with us right now.’
Elbridge thought so and withdrew his gaze. However, the elf did not do the same.
The elf’s gaze landed on the block of wood Rombel was carving.
The elf pretended to be startled on purpose, then approached Rombel.
“To hack away like that at ash wood, the most precious sibling of the elves!”
Whether it was meat or wood, such things did not matter to the elf. It was a situation where having an excuse to throw a tantrum was enough.
Rombel wore a displeased expression.
“I’m telling you in advance, this block of wood was brought from the East. It’s not your sibling, so go away.”
“How narrow-minded. Though the location is slightly different, it is the same in that it spread its roots in this earth!”
Rombel frowned.
“No, even if you make things up, you should have a conscience. What on earth…”
“Don’t fight. You, take this.”
The general store owner stopped Rombel and threw a few coins to the elf.
At that, the elf stealthily pocketed the coins and vanished.
Rombel grumbled while looking at the departing back of the elf.
“The elves I know might be a bit eccentric, but they weren’t crazy for money like that. How did elves end up like that?”
“It’s because they have a reason to earn money urgently. Since the people also feel a debt of gratitude, they give them money despite grumbling.”
“A reason to earn money?”
“There was a massive earthquake not long ago. The ground turned upside down and split, trees fell, and houses collapsed.”
“I don’t think that’s a reason to have money extorted by elves.”
When Rombel answered crossly, the general store owner shook his head.
“No. That earthquake was no ordinary earthquake. They said it felt as though the shaking was moving somewhere.”
“A moving earthquake…”
The first thing that came to mind was the giant serpent, Starwave.
“That earthquake was approaching in the direction of Norens City. They say the elves set fire to the forest to stop that earthquake. I don’t know what fire and earthquakes have to do with each other, but… if you go north, you will be able to see the traces of the burnt forest and the overturned earth.”
The store owner pointed to the north. In all likelihood, the forest that the elves set fire to was in that direction.
Since the elves would remember the method of chasing Starwave away, they must have set the fire to drive Starwave out.
Though the elves had used somewhat strange excuses yesterday and today, it was a clear fact that elves loved nature. Should it be called one of the only two things elves had in common, along with their beautiful appearance?
For such elves to set fire to the forest with their own hands. It could not have been an easy choice.
“The elves living in that forest suddenly ended up ruined without even saving their household belongings. The people here feel a debt of gratitude to the elves, and also pity them, so they give them money as if giving charity.”
“It seems like the money they extort is a bit too much for that to be the case, though.”
“Maybe the elves also have some place they need to spend money on. I don’t think I’ve ever seen them particularly behaving luxuriously.”
Elves were not accustomed to human society.
They were not good at cooking, they could not produce items easily like dwarfs, and they did not have buildings to do business. They could not bend their pride and sell smiles either.
In the end, the only way for them to make a living was extorting through sheer stubbornness.
“However, we cannot continue living like this, constantly having our money extorted and accepting their stubborn demands. At the very latest, we must drive them out before this winter, the most difficult season, arrives.”
The elf who had extorted coins a moment ago could be seen snooping around here and there in search of a place where money would come out.
Perhaps due to hearing the general store owner’s words, a faint sense of shame seemed to be visible on the elf’s face. It was likely not a simple illusion.
Elbridge asked.
“Where will the expelled elves go?”
“I don’t know that well.”
The general store owner spoke.
“We can only hope that their deity, the Goddess of Thorns, will protect them.”