Paladin of a Fallen Order (Novel) - Chapter 114 - Silver-Gray Knight (Part 2)

Chapter 114 – Silver-Gray Knight (Part 2)

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Translated by Pratt

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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There was no way Count Hebron, the lord of the fortress, would leave the silver-gray knight alone.

Count Hebron spent three days devising a way to defeat the silver-gray knight, and finally announced a straightforward plan.

Namely, to mobilize more individuals of superior skill than last time.

“They said he will repel the fellow with four arms with thirty carefully selected paladins and knights.”

It was Murbach who delivered that news to Elbridge’s party.

Even though Murbach was a mercenary, perhaps because he had quite a reputation, unlike other mercenary captains, he would attend the meetings presided over by Count Hebron.

“…Thirty people.”

It was quite a large number of people. Based on the size of the force, it was enough that a shortage of headcounts wouldn’t cause any problems.

“Do you know which orders are participating?”

“Chain and Axe, Laurel Wreath, Echoes of War.”

Since they were reasonably familiar orders, Elbridge nodded.

However, Murbach’s list showed no signs of ending.

“Third Hand, Burning Torch, Oath of Dawn, Prayer upon the Sword, Seven Rings…”

“Hold on. Just how many orders are there?”

“Two from each of fifteen orders. They say the plan is to cope with unexpected situations using a variety of divine authorities.”

Elbridge shook his head.

“It’s a foolish thing to do. They are missing the most fundamental part.”

Rombel nodded with his arms crossed.

However, except for Rombel, everyone else had expressions of not knowing what the problem was. Marcus, Sonya, the three elves, and even Murbach and his men.

“What do you mean by the fundamental part?”

“A god’s authority has a property of repelling another god’s authority. If the authorities of fifteen orders are mixed in a single battle, it will actually produce a counter-effect.”

Murbach smirked.

“Did you say your name is Elbridge? You are the one who doesn’t know anything. Even if we only look at the period since the beginning of this year, several demons have been suppressed at Fort Hebron. There were times when more than ten orders participated simultaneously.”

“Mr. Murbach. Among the demons we’ve faced so far, was there even a single one whose build was as small as this demon’s?”

“What does build have to do with it?”

Elbridge asked back.

“Imagine ten hungry people standing before a large roasted turkey. What do you think would happen?”

“The quantity might be a bit small… but they would be able to have a reasonably decent meal.”

“What if they are given a single partridge?”

“The quantity would be far too small. To the point where it would be hard to even get a piece of meat.”

“Indeed. But what I am trying to say is not a matter of whether the quantity is large or small. It is a matter of whether the meal can proceed properly. If ten people reach for a tiny partridge at the same time, it becomes a mess rather than a meal.”

A turkey is large. Even if ten people reach for it at the same time, no particular problem arises.

But if you reach for a small partridge, your hands will inevitably get in each other’s way. You’d be lucky if a fight didn’t break out.

“When dealing with a demon of massive build, even if the authorities of multiple orders manifest simultaneously, the interference is less. However, when facing a small demon, interference inevitably becomes severe.”

The battle where the Great Demon was sealed in the past. Even in that battle, which required every ounce of force possible, only seven orders could participate.

If there were no interference of authorities, there would have been no need to limit the number of orders participating in the battle against the Great Demon. Perhaps, by merely gathering the paladins of dozens or hundreds of orders and pouring in the authorities of each order, they could have suppressed the Great Demon.

But that was impossible from the beginning.

The phenomenon of authority interference was common knowledge that no paladin was ignorant of. It was just not the common knowledge of this era.

Murbach asked Elbridge.

“Those words just now. Are you certain?”

Murbach stared intently at Elbridge. Elbridge looked back into Murbach’s dark eyes and nodded forcefully.

“I can take responsibility.”

“Good attitude. But the responsibility is not yours. It’s mine. Follow me.”

Murbach stood up, and Elbridge followed behind him.

*

Murbach’s steps headed toward the crude stone building in the center of Fort Hebron. It was the residence of Count Hebron and the place used as the command center of Fort Hebron.

A soldier blocked Murbach and Elbridge.

“What brings you here?”

“There is information we must urgently report to the Count.”

“Please wait a moment.”

The soldier disappeared inside the building.

Murbach tapped his toes, waiting for the soldier to return.

Elbridge spoke to Murbach.

“You seem to have a lot of worries.”

Nobles and knights look down on mercenaries.

For the mercenary Murbach to attend the fortress command meetings was an exceptional thing.

And it was also an opportunity to stand out. It might be the first step toward becoming the Mercenary King of this era.

“Of course it is. Because my life might be turned upside down by the tongue of a young man I met just a few days ago.”

“For what reason did you believe my words?”

“If I’m wrong… then I guess I wasn’t destined to be the Mercenary King. That’s all.”

The soldier returned. This time, the soldier did not block Elbridge and Murbach.

Murbach took Elbridge and headed toward the room at the end of the hallway.

Count Hebron, a man with dry blonde hair, was alone in his spacious office.

Count Hebron spoke toward Murbach, as if Elbridge wasn’t even visible to him.

“Murbach. What brings you here?”

Murbach placed his hand on Elbridge’s shoulder.

“This young man will explain that to you.”

Elbridge told Count Hebron the story he had just shared with Murbach.

After hearing the whole story, the Count tapped the table with his fingers.

“A fresh claim. You may leave.”

Elbridge asked.

“Which orders are you planning to form the force with?”

“As originally planned.”

“…You don’t believe my story.”

Count Hebron rested his chin in his hand and replied.

“No. It’s not that I don’t believe it. It’s just that the circumstances are not favorable.”

A somewhat businesslike attitude.

Elbridge knew that Count Hebron was half-doubting his words.

“What kind of circumstances are you referring to?”

“Supplies will arrive before this evening. And if we don’t receive these supplies, a problem will arise in the fortress. There is no time to select a new force.”

“Even if we lose the battle, we won’t be able to receive the supplies.”

Count Hebron smirked.

“I will keep that in mind. I will tell the knights that each order must take turns when manifesting their authorities.”

“If that were an easy task, the ancient paladins wouldn’t have limited the number of orders when going into battle.”

“You. What is your name?”

“I am Elbridge. A paladin of the Order of the Rusty Shield, Elbridge.”

The Count replied with an still indifferent attitude.

“Yes, Sir Elbridge. When you are young, older folks can sometimes look like fools. However, I think now is the time to trust the knights and paladins of Fort Hebron.”

“But!”

“Enough.”

The Count cut off Elbridge’s words and stood up from his seat.

“Then, must I go and persuade the knights who have finished preparing for battle? What should I explain? Unlike you fools, this young man has found a flaw in the plan with his brilliant insight?”

Count Hebron slowly approached Elbridge’s side.

“Are you saying we should watch once again as those who brought the supplies are slaughtered by the demon? Should I tell the knights, who need to fight courageously, depressing things and tell them to prepare for defeat?”

Subsequently, Count Hebron locked eyes with Elbridge.

“Or, do you wish for me to evade responsibility by mentioning your name to those who will starve due to the lack of supplies? I am not that shameless. I am the lord of this fortress, and I am prepared to take responsibility for my decisions.”

Elbridge realized that Count Hebron had no intention of bending his will. And he also knew that the direction of the battle had already been decided.

Even so, he could not leave the paladins to be ruthlessly slaughtered. Elbridge intended to step onto the battlefield himself to reduce the number of casualties even by one.

“In that case, I will also ride out with them.”

“Yes, I thought that was what you really wanted to say. Impetuousness is the privilege of the young, so I won’t scold you.”

Count Hebron threw on his cloak and patted Elbridge’s shoulder.

“The battle will begin soon. For now, believe in the strength held by the knights of each order. Unlike you, who have just arrived at the fortress, they are veterans who have survived desperate battles in this fortress multiple times.”

The Count spoke thus and headed toward the southern wall.

*

Elbridge and Murbach also headed toward the southern wall.

“Elbridge. Over here!”

Elbridge’s party and Murbach’s subordinates had already secured spots on the wall.

As the two approached, Rombel asked.

“What did the Count say?”

“He didn’t have much of an intention to listen.”

“Right. I thought as much.”

The party looked down below the wall.

They saw the paladins wearing cloaks patterned with the emblems of each order. Count Hebron approached them and was talking about something.

It was impossible to tell whether he was offering words of encouragement before battle, or conveying the advice Elbridge had given to them.

Elbridge hoped it was the latter. Only then would there be a chance for even one more person to survive.

Screeech, groooan—

With a noisy sound, the fortress gate opened.

Thirty knights marched out to the wilderness. The demon, perched on a rock, stared at his adversaries.

The demon, the silver-gray knight, stood up and twirled his four swords in a circle.

Thirty paladins advanced forward.

And around the time the collision drew close. The two leading paladins could be seen offering prayers.

“Order of the Chain and Axe.”

Ash-gray chains appeared in the air and wrapped around the silver-gray knight’s body. The silver-gray knight swung his swords, cutting several chains, but he could not sever them all.

The paladins charged, seizing the gap. The bodies of several paladins were enveloped in light upon receiving their deities’ authorities, and a strange heat seeped into their eyes.

“Laurel Wreath and Echoes of War.”

The most representative authority of the Order of the Laurel Wreath was a light that further boosted physical capabilities.

The most representative authority of the Order of the Echoes of War was a trumpet of victory that erased fear from the paladins’ hearts.

The silver-gray knight had still not cut all of the chains.

‘So far so good.’

The speed of the paladins quickened further. The speed at which they charged had already surpassed the level of ordinary humans.

Right before the paladins, carrying immense power, clashed with the silver-gray knight, a spectacle that was not desired unfolded.

Hummm—

Bright yellow glowing rings appeared in the air, attempting to shackle the silver-gray knight’s limbs.

‘Order of the Seven Rings.’

The moment the silver-gray knight’s four arms were about to be caught by the rings. The silver-gray knight pulled his arms together, causing the ash-gray chains and the yellow glowing rings to touch.

At that moment.

Thump—

A brief, intense vibration erupted. A sensation as if the surrounding air were shaking.

“What was that, just now?”

Most people did not understand what that situation was.

But Elbridge and Rombel were different.

“He clashed the authorities of two gods.”

Amidst the powerful recoil, the yellow rings and ash-gray chains faded and disappeared.

Right before clashing with the paladins. A brief gap opened. And for the silver-gray knight, that much of a margin was plenty.

The demon twirled his swords once more, lowered his stance, and slipped in between the knights.

And then, fountains of blood sprayed.

“Uh, uhhh!”

The collision continued, and the corpses lying dead increased.

Screams erupted here and there. The people on the wall also realized that something had gone terribly wrong. However, the ones who knew it even better were the paladins.

Thanks to the Order of the Echoes of War, the paladins had forgotten fear, but they had not become fools. They knew the battle was flowing in an undesired direction.

An old, white-haired knight shouted.

“Return to the fortress!”

The knights changed direction and began running toward the fortress. Not out of fear of death, but to preserve their forces as much as possible.

However, the white-haired knight was the sole exception.

To reduce the damage that would occur during retreat even slightly, he remained on the battlefield alone.

The white-haired knight faced the silver-gray demon alone.

And, the silver-gray demon showed a side of himself he had never shown until now.

He stood with his four swords raised straight, looking at the white-haired knight.

The demon paid respects to the old knight.

“…”

A demon paying respects.

However, the old knight also paid respects to the demon.

Clang, clang!

The collision that followed. The white-haired knight blocked the demon’s sword twice.

However, two times was the old knight’s limit. Finally, at the moment the old knight’s neck was about to be sent flying by the third sword,

A sword flying in from the side blocked the demon’s sword rushing toward the old knight’s neck.

The old knight looked to his side. And he discovered a strange knight who had not been included in the thirty who rode out.

Elbridge, who had arrived on the battlefield before anyone knew it, spoke.

“Fall back.”