Paladin of a Fallen Order (Novel) - Chapter 120 - Elbridge, Seventeen Years Old (Part 4)

Chapter 120 – Elbridge, Seventeen Years Old (Part 4)

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Translated by Pratt

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Although he did not show it in front of Elbridge, Leto’s heart grew increasingly anxious.

The fact that the armed merchant caravan from Middlemarch had not arrived meant that a problem had occurred somewhere between Central Middlemarch and the North.

And Leto’s order—that was, the main headquarters of the Order of the Third Hand—was located in Middlemarch.

‘Did something happen to our order?’

The probability was not high. However, the magnitude of anxiety rarely correlated with how high or low a probability was. Leto’s footsteps quickened, matching his anxious heart.

And before long, Leto realized one strange fact.

That this situation where Elbridge followed him without a single complaint was strange.

‘Elbridge left the fortress because he hated being dragged around into battles.’

Moving south now meant a high probability of getting embroiled in battle. Elbridge knew that fact all too well.

Since Elbridge had left the fortress to avoid grueling battles, wouldn’t it be natural for him to refuse battle now as well?

‘Since he needs to rely on our order, does he intend to help resolve our order’s problems?’

No. The very premise that Elbridge had to rely on the Order of the Third Hand was wrong.

Coolly speaking, because Elbridge had no reason to choose the Order of the Third Hand.

To the Order of the Third Hand, Elbridge was an exceptional talent.

But to Elbridge, the Order of the Third Hand was not a special option.

The combat orders that would welcome Elbridge with open arms were too numerous to count, and the Order of the Third Hand was merely one of them.

Leto was about to ask Elbridge the reason, but hesitated.

Because asking whether he had a reason to choose the Order of the Third Hand even at the cost of going through battles would be inviting trouble.

If that question caused Elbridge to ponder and ended up making him choose another order. If he could not bring Elbridge to his order.

‘Then what is left for me?’

The tag of having deserted Fort Hebron. That was all.

Leto did not want to be known as such an idiot.

However, Leto pressed his temples hard.

‘…Damn it. Don’t be so petty, Leto.’

In the end, Leto opened his mouth.

“Elbridge. If we head south from here, we will likely get caught up in battle.”

“Probably.”

“To be honest, you don’t strictly have to come to the Order of the Third Hand. You can head East or West to avoid the trouble. An order that wants you exists anywhere on the continent.”

“…”

Elbridge must have understood why Leto brought up such a topic.

Because the Elbridge Leto saw was a fellow whose head worked reasonably well.

After a brief thought, Elbridge spoke.

“If I hadn’t known, I might have gone somewhere else indeed. But since I found out that a problem has occurred in the south, I cannot just pass it by.”

For a moment, Leto was at a loss for words.

It was because he felt as if he had glimpsed Elbridge’s future through that answer.

Just because he had escaped the fortress did not mean Elbridge’s life would become peaceful.

If he lived with such thoughts, only the place of activity would change, and he would surely live a life not much different from Fort Hebron. A life where he would participate in sparse battles at first, but before long, get dragged around to all kinds of battles.

Leto had only known Elbridge for about two months. It was a period too short to speak of loyalty.

However, Leto clearly remembered the sight of Elbridge returning to the fortress with both legs torn off, carried in someone else’s arms. The other injuries that were no less gruesome as well.

Even if not out of loyalty, but out of sympathy alone, Leto hoped Elbridge would not live that way.

“Elbridge. When I met you in the infirmary, there was something Sir Leonhardt said to Sir Brenick.”

“What was it?”

“He said you habitually try to prove your utility and worth.”

“…”

Elbridge did not reply.

But judging from his expression, it seemed he was not unaware of it himself.

“If you want to live the life you desire, you must discard that habit first. Do not try to prove your worth to other people. It is not like you can only live when your worth is acknowledged. Do not try to do everything you can. You must also learn how to turn a eye or look away moderately.”

“But…”

Elbridge tried to say something, but Leto cut him off.

“That is not a cowardly act. It is the way everyone lives in the world. It is also something you must learn in order to become an adult.”

Having blurted out all these words that were either a warning or a sermon, he felt refreshed.

But at the same time, Leto regretted it. Had he thrown away his opportunity to establish achievements with this idiotic meddlesome advice? Would Elbridge really leave for another order?

“…”

Yet, whether it was a misfortune or a blessing, Elbridge simply walked silently beside Leto without saying a word.

*

When they traveled for two more days, Elbridge and Leto spotted knights at the entrance of a village.

When a certain problem arose, knights and paladins from adjacent regions would gather to discuss solutions. This time, it seemed this village was playing that role.

As Leto and Elbridge approached, a knight stood up and scanned Leto from head to toe.

“A face I’ve never seen before. Who is it?”

Leto also inspected the knight’s armor. The crest of a noble family, not the insignia of an order, was drawn upon it.

When a problem arose in a specific region, the ones most anxious were the nearby lords, not the orders. It was natural for ordinary knights to actively step up to resolve the issue as well.

“I am Leto, a paladin of the Order of the Third Hand.”

“I understand the Order of the Third Hand is an order active primarily around Middlemarch. Why are you coming from the north?”

“I am on my way back from Fort Hebron.”

“Fort Hebron?”

The knight’s brow twitched. A flagrantly suspicious air.

Fort Hebron was a place like a symbol of a knight whose skills were recognized. Even knights or paladins who did not wish to be assigned to Fort Hebron harbored a subtle sense of admiration.

The problem was that Leto and Elbridge were too young, even childishly so.

In fact, it was quite understandable to be suspicious. There were fewer than five paladins younger than Leto in Fort Hebron, and there was not a single knight younger than Elbridge.

For the knight, it was hard to believe, and at the same time, a story he did not want to believe.

Those young punks are a much higher class than me?

Reading that expression, Leto let out a small sigh.

That moment, someone came strolling out from inside the village. Furthermore, he was a paladin Leto was acquainted with.

“Sir Jansen?”

Paladin Jansen checked Leto’s face and raised both arms high.

“What? Isn’t this Leto? I heard you went to Fort Hebron?”

The knight who had been conversing with him just a moment ago slipped back.

Thanks to Jansen appearing at the perfect time, he avoided a tedious situation.

“I was returning to the order due to an occurrence.”

“Haha! Is there any task more important than a mission at Fort Hebron?”

“It is because Elbridge wishes to join the Order of the Third Hand.”

“So this friend’s name must be Elbridge.”

The gaze of Paladin Jansen lingered on Elbridge’s face for a moment before descending downward.

“Uh…”

Jansen’s eyes narrowed slightly. He looked at the crest engraved on Elbridge’s armor, appearing unsure.

“I don’t know if this is the insignia of that order I know…”

“It probably is.”

“I am Elbridge of the Order of the Rusty Shield.”

When Elbridge stretched out his hand, Jansen wore a broad grin and shook it.

“I have heard stories before that there is a young, even childishly so, knight in the Order of the Rusty Shield. It must have been you… Since this is also a fated meeting, would you care for a cup of tea inside?”

“Sure.”

Jansen naturally led Elbridge and Leto into the village.

However, when they stepped into the village, the first thing they saw was about forty knights and paladins.

Curious gazes directed themselves toward Leto and Elbridge.

Under the circumstances, they were clearly personnel gathered to respond to the problem that arose nearby.

Leto stared at Jansen. Jansen deliberately avoided Leto’s gaze.

‘…He did that on purpose. Were they in the middle of a meeting?’

Having shown their faces to them, it was hard to pull out now.

Because retreating here would tarnish the honor of the order.

The only saving grace was that neither Elbridge nor Leto had any intention of evading battle.

Still, he couldn’t let it pass. Leto quietly pinched Jansen’s forearm. Strongly enough to leave a bruise.

“…”

Jansen did not let out even a small groan and silently endured the pain.

*

What was even more surprising was the fact that the knights began to move as soon as Elbridge and Leto finished their tea. Contrary to Leto’s expectation, the knights had not gathered for a meeting.

“You appeared right as we finished preparing for departure. This too must be an arrangement ordained by the Goddess of the Rusty Shield and the God of the Third Hand!”

Jansen hovered around Elbridge and Leto, chattering away.

At first he thought he was teasing, but Jansen’s voice held sincere belief.

Even the other knights showed similar reactions.

“To think two helpers would appear right before departure. And not just any random people, but two helpers from Fort Hebron! Our luck is extraordinarily good. Success is practically guaranteed for this mission.”

“You know what? I also applied for assignment to Fort Hebron in the past. Though I failed miserably. Haha!”

The word Fort Hebron was always mixed into the knights’ talk without fail.

Leto felt a strange sensation. To think that staying at Fort Hebron for just a few months would draw out this level of trust.

Having other people, and not just ordinary people but knights, rely on him was a special experience.

A smile filled with pride blossomed on Leto’s face.

However, Elbridge’s expression was not very bright.

“Leto. Do you know why a person looks for a place to rely on?”

“Well.”

“It is anxiety. Because they are anxious, they need a target to rely on.”

The knights feeling anxious meant, conversely, that the coming threat was just that great.

Leto requested an explanation of the situation from Jansen.

Sure enough, a response that was not very welcome returned.

“The subjugation squad failed twice in a row. Though not to your level, we are also selected capable individuals.”

The number of failed subjugations could be called a level of danger measured in lives.

If a subjugation failed, they would naturally deploy even more outstandingly skilled individuals than before.

Only then could Leto comprehend the people’s reactions.

A mission more dangerous than usual. An anxiety hard to erase. Two people appearing just in time as if ordained by a heavenly god. Could there be a more auspicious omen for them?

“Sir Jansen. What kind of demon is it?”

“It generates magic beasts.”

“Isn’t that the case for all demons?”

Jansen shook his head.

“In common cases, magic beasts are like byproducts of a demon. Appearing like crumbs even if the demon doesn’t intend it… But this demon is different. There were testimonies that it seems to intentionally create and control magic beasts.”

A situation where quantity was more concerning than quality. Should they be glad, or should they worry?

At that moment, the footsteps of Elbridge, who had been leading, stopped. The other knights naturally stopped as well.

Leto asked, lowering his voice.

“What is it?”

“Over there.”

Before them spread a typical landscape of the Central region.

A scenery of cozy forests scattered here and there among the fields.

And in the direction Elbridge pointed, a single green bird was perched.

It was somewhat small to be called a magic beast. At most the size of an adult man’s forearm.

It did not seem to be a rare or dangerous variant either. It was just that not much time had passed since its magic-beastification had progressed.

But finding such an individual as the first magic beast they encountered was a bit concerning.

A small body, and a green color that felt like camouflage.

Who wouldn’t see it as a scout?

“Is there anyone who can subdue that magic beast without a sound?”

There was no one to answer Elbridge’s question.

Elbridge pulled a dagger from his breast, playing with it to awaken his senses.

A moment later, Elbridge drew his arm back and threw the dagger with all his might.

The dagger, thrown with the physical strength of a paladin that easily surpassed ordinary human force, reached the magic beast drawing a bizarre trajectory. In fact, rather than just sinking in, it cleanly severed the magic beast’s neck.

“Oh…”

The paladins marveled at the astounding skill.

“Let us go.”

The party began to move again. Slowly and quietly.

Leto whispered to Elbridge.

“Where did you learn to throw a dagger?”

“I’ve never learned.”

“What? Are you saying you’re a natural genius? How obnoxious…”

When Leto spoke like that and laughed, Elbridge shook his head.

“No. According to the trajectory I threw, it should have missed.”

“Huh?”

“You saw the dagger’s trajectory suddenly bend, right? That wasn’t my intention.”

The entities that could intervene in such a situation and exert influence were two. A demon, or a god.

Since there was no reason for a demon to intervene to kill a magic beast that was its own limb, only one target remained.

“The Goddess of the Rusty Shield helped you?”

“It seems so.”

“To offer help that wasn’t even begged for. It seems the Goddess of the Rusty Shield truly wishes to hold onto you.”

Elbridge shook his head.

“I don’t think it is something to be thought of so simply.”

“How can you be sure?”

“Because even before meeting the magic beast, I felt discomfort and a displeased emotion.”

It was rare for a god’s emotions to be transmitted.

Even Leto, whose skills were recognized in the order, had never felt such a sensation.

But since some time ago, Elbridge said he could feel the emotions harbored by the Goddess of the Rusty Shield.

Mainly negative emotions at that.

“Has it grown worse?”

“Yes. Ever since joining those knights, the emotions feel far clearer.”

“Does the Goddess wish for this expedition not to end in victory?”

“…Perhaps.”

Leto’s chest felt stuffy.

The wrath of a god at a time when even filled with only good omens would not be enough.

His mind was complex.

Should he convey this story to the knights and advocate for retreat? Or should they just advance?

The correct answer was unknown. But it was clear that it was a belated worry.

Leto felt the unique stench and gamey smell of a magic beast within the blowing wind.