Chapter 137 – To the West

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Translated by Pratt

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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After Rita returned, Elbridge lay in bed and sank into thought.

‘The mastermind is the Central Mage Tower Lord.’

Elbridge was convinced that the Central Mage Tower Lord had led all of the situations.

It was not a hasty judgment. Such were the clues Elbridge had gathered so far, and such was the conclusion the elves had reached. Even Rita, who had been a heavenly deity, seemed to have arrived at the same conclusion.

‘Rita said that the seals stored in the West have not been released yet.’

Circumstantially, the Central Mage Tower Lord had released the demons in the East, the North, and the Central regions of the continent.

Was there any reason for the Central Mage Tower Lord to not touch only the demons of the West?

‘It is correct to assume that the Mage Tower Lord’s plan went awry in the West. The problem is the probability of the Mage Tower Lord coming to the West.’

Elbridge recalled his memories of visiting the Central region.

When Elbridge’s party first arrived in Middlemarch, the Central Mage Tower Lord had temporarily vacated Middlemarch. That was the reason why the experiment to seal the demon was conducted under the leadership of the Deputy Tower Lord.

‘Sonya also said that the Central Mage Tower Lord often vacates his seat. The Central Mage Tower Lord is not particularly someone who stays put.’

If so, the probability of the Central Mage Tower Lord appearing to resolve the issue in the West was quite high.

Also, since the situation was what it was, the Central Mage Tower Lord was highly likely to appear alone without bringing other mages. The situation was favorable in many ways.

‘The most certain way to subdue the Central Mage Tower Lord is to wait for him in the West.’

Elbridge finished his thoughts, tossed and turned a bit in bed, and then fell asleep.

*

Early the next morning, Elbridge quietly left the cabin without waking the sleeping party.

Because there was one more thing to resolve before heading to the West.

Elbridge’s steps reached the place where the sacred tree had been.

Beside the sacred tree, which had only its stump remaining, sat an elf. It was Orion, who had been the third Sentinel.

However, Orion’s expression was depressed beyond measure.

“You must have gone through a lot of mental distress.”

Orion gave a sorrowful smile at Elbridge’s words.

“Because I lost everything I had…”

The biggest victim of the last incident was by far Orion.

The Sentinel’s duty was to protect the sacred tree.

However, since the sacred tree disappeared, the position of Sentinel was not needed.

Since Jean and Bella had ascended, it did not pose a major problem even if the sacred tree disappeared.

However, Orion was different. He had lost his position as Sentinel, and the deity he served had descended to earth.

Of course, Orion’s martial power was still the same, but people always recall what they have lost rather than what remains in their hands.

And among the lost things, there was something else that saddened Orion the most.

Orion said mournfully:

“I won’t live much longer.”

“Still, you should be able to hold out for a few years. A way will turn up in the meantime.”

Orion shook his head.

“It is not that urgent.”

“By any chance, how much time do you have left?”

“Given my current physical condition, about a hundred and fifty years… If it’s short, I might not even make it to a hundred years. However, it is certain that I cannot live for more than two hundred years.”

“…”

The sympathy that was welling up in Elbridge’s chest stealthily vanished.

Even by the standards of an elf, not a human, was it not a strangely generous amount of time?

“How about leaving the Forest of Thorns, Orion, to establish great deeds to ascend to heaven?”

“I don’t really like going to unfamiliar places. Leaving my hometown is still a bit…”

As expected, it did not seem very urgent.

The little sympathy remaining in Elbridge’s chest completely disappeared.

“At any rate, Mr. Elbridge, what brings you here?”

“I want to ask about the archery Jean showed in the last battle.”

Elbridge was not an archer. There was only one thing Elbridge could be interested in regarding Jean’s archery.

The arrow that penetrated Starwave while surrounded by a white light.

“Are you referring to the arrow infused with divine power?”

“Yes.”

Deities who bestow similar divine authorities do exist.

However, Jean’s arrow was not the product of a god directly intervening to bestow divine authority. In other words, Elbridge might be able to learn that technique as well.

Not to mention the renowned knights of the distant past, even the Sentinels of the past had not shown such a skill. In all probability, it was a technique created within the last two hundred years.

“Fortunately, it is a question I can answer. Mr. Elbridge, have you ever perceived the divine power existing within your body?”

“I have. Just like all paladins.”

At that, Orion waved his hand.

“That is not what I meant. I meant whether you have ever directly detected the flow of divine power, going beyond just accepting divine power and experiencing the changes caused by it.”

“I have… never done so.”

Orion nodded a couple of times.

“Hmm. That is fine anyway. It might be a little unfamiliar, but it is not a technique that is difficult to explain.”

“Please do.”

Orion adjusted his posture and pointed at his own chest.

“The first step is perception. In other words, recognizing the existence of divine power flowing through the body in the realm of sensation. Just like feeling the heat flowing past your throat into your stomach when drinking warm water on a cold day. Just like feeling the cool air seeping into your lungs after running until you are exhausted.”

A person who has been blind since birth cannot understand the scenery of a summer day even if they hear an explanation.

One born without arms cannot understand the sensation of moving fingers.

Likewise, Elbridge could not master Orion’s explanation right away. Instead, Elbridge engraved Orion’s explanation directly into his mind.

“After perception is concentration. Inducing and focusing the perceived divine power. The last is release.”

Orion raised his thumb instead of his index finger, which had not yet healed.

“Perception is the realm of sensation, while concentration and release are the realms of action. However, the only thing that can be seen with the eyes is release.”

Orion’s thumb was surrounded by a white light.

When Orion gently pressed the nearby rock with his thumb, the finger smoothly dug into the rock and then came out. On the rock, the trace of Orion’s finger entering and exiting remained exactly as it was.

“This is the end of it. Simple, right?”

Orion said so and shrugged his shoulders as if it was no big deal.

However, Elbridge felt a subtle pride in Orion’s expression. Unlike the explanation that it was simple, it must have taken Orion a considerable amount of time to master this skill.

“…It is difficult.”

“It might feel that way at first. However, if you remember my explanation, you have managed to grasp the direction. Now, all that is needed for Mr. Elbridge is constant effort.”

“Is there by any chance a name for this technique?”

“Since it is a technique created by Lady Bella, we called it Bella-Style Combat Techniques.”

It was a lazy but intuitive name.

Just as Elbridge was about to think that way and move on, Orion’s eyes glittered.

“However, since Lady Bella has now become a god, mentioning Lady Bella’s real name carelessly would be an impious act.”

“If so…?”

“Please call it Orion-Style Combat Techniques.”

“…”

Since Orion’s desire for fame was felt so clearly, Elbridge stared at Orion quietly.

However, Orion also stared blankly at Elbridge.

Through that shameless look, Elbridge understood Orion’s thoughts.

The shallow plan of spreading his own name widely to the world through Elbridge and ascending to heaven.

However, thinking about it, it did not seem to pose any major problem.

Since Orion was the one who arbitrarily attached the name, even if Bella became angry someday, Orion, not Elbridge, would bear the aftermath.

Since he had learned an outstanding technique, he could call it whatever he wanted to be called.

“…It is a truly wonderful name. Thank you for the teaching.”

Elbridge shook hands with Orion.

*

Several days after the party left the Forest of Thorns and headed south.

Fort Hebron appeared.

Sonya threw both arms up and stretched.

“It hasn’t even been a month since we left Fort Hebron, but it feels like at least a year has passed.”

There were no index fingers on Sonya’s hands. It was because they were in the same state as when they were severed when the Master of the Index Finger appeared last time. Rombel and Marcus also lacked index fingers.

One of the reasons Elbridge’s party came to Fort Hebron was indeed the index finger.

Since paladins and priests with healing divine authority reside in Fort Hebron, they could treat the fingers.

Creak- rattle, rattle.

As the four approached Fort Hebron, the castle gate opened without even asking for their identities.

Marcus looked quite pleased with this situation.

“To think that the renowned knights of Fort Hebron recognize me. I feel like I’ve made it big.”

At that, Rombel snorted.

“Hah. It was the guards who recognized us, not the knights. And they recognized Elbridge and me, not you. No, they might have recognized Sonya. Since girls of Sonya’s age are rarely in Fort Hebron…”

Marcus glared at Rombel. However, there was no way Rombel would shrink back from such a gaze. Instead of shrinking back, Rombel raised his hairy fist and threatened Marcus.

Elbridge’s party headed straight to the infirmary.

The expressions of Marcus and Sonya, who had been grinning until a moment ago, gradually stiffened. It was because the healing process of the index finger they heard from Elbridge crossed their minds.

Even if divine healing authority was poured onto it, flesh would not sprout from a wound that had already healed.

To regenerate the severed index finger, the skin of the part where the index finger should grow would have to be incised.

Marcus hesitated and stopped walking.

“Should I just live without an index finger? Quite a few of the mercenaries I know were missing a finger or two…”

“If it were a pinky finger, that would be one thing, but you’ll have to regenerate the index finger sooner or later. Let’s enter without hesitating.”

Elbridge practically pushed the party as he guided them to the infirmary.

As the four entered the infirmary, the gazes of numerous people focused on Elbridge’s party.

Perhaps having returned from battle just a moment ago, other knights were receiving treatment for their wounds in the infirmary.

And among them was Count Hebron.

“Sir Elbridge. Have you returned after finishing your business?”

“For now, yes.”

“For now.”

If they had come to the infirmary, they must have injuries.

Count Hebron scanned Elbridge, and then scanned the rest of the party.

And he realized that the three people, excluding Elbridge, were missing their index fingers.

The House of Hebron was a family that had guarded Fort Hebron since ancient times, standing at the front lines of the war against demons.

Unlike the nobles of the East who dismissed demons as mere legends, Count Hebron was the noble most knowledgeable about demons living in this era.

Therefore, Count Hebron understood the meaning of the wounds Elbridge’s party possessed.

“Sir Elbridge. Don’t tell me…”

Since those who live on the battlefield tend to believe in superstition to some extent, they do not like to utter ominous names.

As that was also the case for Count Hebron, he trailed off, mumbling.

“Yes. The Master of the Index Finger appeared.”

“By any chance, did you repel him? If it’s someone else, I don’t know, but if it is Sir Elbridge…”

Elbridge shook his head.

“No, that’s not it. The Master of the Index Finger retreated from the battlefield after luring Starwave.”

“Even Starwave? It was a miracle that you survived and returned. I must convey this to all personnel staying in the fortress. Tell them to prepare more oiled wood so they can set fires at any time, and to carry a dagger to sever their index fingers…”

“Daggers will be necessary, but fires will not. Because Starwave has been sealed.”

“…Starwave?”

Count Hebron knew that Elbridge was not a person to crack thoughtless jokes.

Even so, the Count scrutinized Elbridge’s expression to gauge whether his words were true or false.

“Is it true? You sealed Starwave?”

Not only those waiting for their turn for treatment, but even the priests who were busy treating looked at Elbridge. Because to them, Starwave was closer to a natural disaster than a demon.

“Of course. Look at this.”

Sonya rummaged and pulled out two sealing tools.

“This is Starwave’s sealing tool, and the other is a sealing tool of another plant-type demon.”

“…I knew your skills were outstanding, but I didn’t know they were to that extent.”

“It wasn’t me; the Sentinel of the Forest of Thorns subdued Starwave. All I did was block Starwave temporarily until the Sentinel subdued it.”

Elbridge spoke humbly. However, that was also difficult to accept all the same.

Since most of the people in Fort Hebron had seen Starwave at least from a distance.

‘…Was Starwave a demon that could be blocked?’

While the people were in confusion, Elbridge continued his explanation.

“Recognized for that feat and past feats, the two Sentinels ascended, and the Goddess of Thorns descended to earth.”

“…I don’t know what on earth is going on.”

“Since the story is complicated, I will explain it again later.”

Elbridge finished the story briefly and approached a man waiting for his turn for treatment.

It was Murbach, the Captain of the Murbach Mercenaries.

“Mr. Murbach.”

“What is it?”

The reason Elbridge’s party came to Fort Hebron was partly because it was a path to pass through on the way to the West, but also to ask Murbach for help.

Elbridge, Sonya, and Marcus are all from the East.

Rombel’s situation was not much different, as he was from the southeastern mountain city. Although Elbridge’s party was reasonably well-traveled, there was not a single person familiar with the West.

And Murbach was from the West.

“We have a very important matter. Could you go to the West with us?”

Murbach thought for a moment, then asked Elbridge.

However, Murbach did not discuss payment like an ordinary mercenary.

“For someone of your caliber to say that. Just how important is it?”

“I don’t know.”

An ordinary person saying they do not know.

And someone of Elbridge’s caliber saying they do not know.

The expression is the same, but the meaning is completely different.

Therefore, Murbach chuckled.

“Let’s set off together tomorrow.”