Paladin of a Fallen Order (Novel) - Chapter 22 - Preliminaries

Chapter 22 – Preliminaries

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Translated by Pratt

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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“Hey, who committed foul play there?”

As the priest of the Order of the Flowing Water raised suspicions, the paladins of other orders lingering around approached with interest.

After all, when a dispute broke out between religious orders, it was impossible not to be intrigued.

Thinking this was the perfect opportunity, the priest of the Order of the Flowing Water explained to the crowd.

“An oracle was just handed down. It said that the moderation is a bit too much… It was an oracle telling them to do it in moderation. Surely, the Order of Spring Rain and Moss committed some foul play, and the God of the Flowing Water, watching over it, hastily delivered the oracle.”

The murmuring among the paladins in the waiting room spread like wildfire.

While the paladins of the Order of Spring Rain and Moss were flustered,

the short, plump paladin beside Elbridge—in other words, the pseudo-dwarf—shouted out in anger.

“Foul play? They say a thief only sees things to steal… Make sense, will you! How shameless!”

It was a rather aggressive remark, but they were already in no position to mind their manners.

The priest of the Order of the Flowing Water did not back down either.

“Then are you saying the oracle was delivered for no reason? Don’t try to stealthily cover up your dirty tricks!”

Using an oracle as the basis made it difficult to refute.

Thus, instead of refuting the priest’s claim, the pseudo-dwarf chose to turn the suspicion back on the opponent.

“Everyone, look here! Anyone well-informed about the rumors would know about the conflict between the Order of the Flowing Water and our Order of Spring Rain and Moss. Yet, after talking big about how they would crush our order, the Order of the Flowing Water brought in all five of their participating paladins as outsiders! While only hanging up their own signboards!”

“All five of them?”

Looking at the people’s reactions, a team made entirely of outsiders seemed to be extremely rare or unprecedented.

The eyes of the crowd turned toward the five paladins cooperating with the Order of the Flowing Water.

As a multitude of gazes could indeed weigh a person down, the five hired paladins avoided the eyes of the others.

“In all my life, I have never seen an order pull such a stunt in the Grand Festival! Don’t they even know shame…”

As the pseudo-dwarf shouted vigorously, riding his momentum, the priest of the Order of the Flowing Water retorted.

“It’s not a violation of the rules, so what does it matter? And what we were just talking about is the oracle directed at you…”

In an argument, the one with the louder voice had the advantage. And since the pseudo-dwarf’s voice was much louder than the opposing priest’s, he was able to interrupt the other without difficulty.

“An oracle? It’s perfectly obvious! The God of the Flowing Water must have also watched the situation and, thinking this wasn’t right, delivered an oracle to restrain you. Even if only because He was embarrassed that those calling themselves His followers were dragging His name through the mud!”

He could see the people waiting for the draw glancing over as well.

There were few things more entertaining than watching a fight. Even more so if it was a quarrel between members of religious orders, rather than street thugs.

Veins bulged on the neck of the priest as he disputed the pseudo-dwarf’s claim.

“No, I am telling you He told *you* to do it in moderation! Are you saying the oracle delivered by the God of the Flowing Water is wrong now?”

“If the oracle isn’t wrong, then it must be your ears that are faulty. Think about it logically! An order that stubbornly gathered all five members from the outside versus an order that was forced to invite one young, inexperienced paladin just to make up the numbers. Which side do you think the God would be ashamed of!”

In Elbridge’s eyes, the pseudo-dwarf had the talent of a demagogue.

This was especially true in terms of his loud vocal capacity, clear pronunciation, and his skillful use of a speaking style that boldly cornered his opponent.

Since even the content of his argument was quite plausible, the public opinion among the members of other orders tilted toward the Order of Spring Rain and Moss.

“It is excessive. It makes sense that the God of the Flowing Water would find it embarrassing.”

“No, I tell you it was meant for that order, not us…”

Although the priest of the Order of the Flowing Water voiced his grievance, the established atmosphere could not be easily reversed. All the more so because they themselves were aware that they had committed a questionable act.

As the argument was about to end in a clumsy victory like that, Elbridge whispered softly.

“Goddess. Are you listening?”

– Of course, Elbridge.

“By any chance… was I not supposed to participate in the Grand Festival?”

The Goddess’s reply came back half a beat late.

– No matter what choice you make, your Goddess will always cherish you. Even if there comes a moment when you join in children’s ball games and exert all your strength.

“Goddess. I turned twenty-six this year. Among the paladins here, there are very few younger than me.”

– Four days ago, there was a paladin who mentioned that his age exceeded two hundred years. Elbridge.

“…”

– There is no need to be ashamed. Stepping forward without hesitating even in a difficult situation to repay a favor and keep faith must also be a paladin’s virtue.

The Goddess of the Rusty Shield teased Elbridge implicitly.

However, Elbridge felt a deep sense of anticipation beyond the Goddess’s playful voice.

Anticipation for the new follower Elbridge would bring back?

No. The Goddess of the Rusty Shield was anticipating that her sole paladin would shake off the burden in his heart and proudly display his skills before others.

When Elbridge smiled faintly instead of answering, a hint of laughter also seeped into the Goddess’s voice.

– Elbridge. Do not pay any mind to the gazes of others. Four years since you first took up the sword at thirteen. Nine years since the day you became an official paladin. And another two hundred years or so. Even if the masses do not know of your devotion, your Goddess knows of it. Even if you act as you wish, there is no one who can point fingers at you.

A childhood he could not enjoy.

A youth that did not even exist.

Elbridge’s life, which was now hard to gauge even where it was heading.

Reclaim your lost life even now. The Goddess was speaking thus to Elbridge.

“That was precisely the thought I had as soon as I was released from the seal. I do not know how things turned out, but I have done my part.”

Elbridge wore an expression fitting for a twenty-six-year-old.

*

“What a pity. If things had gone just a bit better, it could have ended right here!”

Viveca lamented.

The reason was that, in the Group 3 match just now, the Order of the Flowing Water survived and advanced to the main tournament.

However, it was not a close result as Viveca had said. In a match where at least two had to remain until the end, the Order of the Flowing Water had as many as three people hold out until the very end.

“They must have gone through some trouble to gather skilled people.”

“Well, since they had the confidence to somehow pass the preliminaries, they probably picked a fight with our order.”

Elbridge leaned against the railing and watched the cleanup of the stadium.

Quite a few paladins were dragged out, unable to leave the stadium on their own feet. They were people who had fainted or had broken something.

People from orders with healing authority could also be seen moving busily to treat the patients. However, there were not many who bled.

“Sir Viveca. There is something I am curious about.”

“What is it?”

“Is it not allowed to use swords in the Grand Festival?”

The vast majority of the knights participating in the match used iron clubs as weapons.

Even most of the knights wielding weapons other than iron clubs used unsharpened blunt weapons.

Thanks to that, the preliminary match proceeded with considerable force.

A melee where paladins exerting strength several times that of an ordinary human, clad in armor, swung blunt weapons at each other with all their might? He had never even imagined such a sight.

“It’s not exactly like that. It’s just that using an iron club is advantageous according to the rules.”

“What kind of rule is it?”

“Sir Elbridge, did you not read the rules written on the way in?”

“I was swept along by the crowd, so I did not even know such a thing existed.”

“You don’t need to worry about other rules; you only need to remember one. If you kill another person or inflict a life-threatening serious injury during the match, you will be disqualified.”

Since getting a vital point cut by a mistakenly swung sword during a melee would lead to automatic disqualification, Viveca’s explanation was that using iron clubs was common practice just to prevent such unfair situations.

“…Actually, the bigger reason is that an iron club is more advantageous than a sword. Since all participants wear thick armor, isn’t defeating an opponent with a sword exceptionally difficult? It’s far more effective to beat them down with an iron club or a blunt weapon.”

Most paladins wore armor that thoroughly protected all their joints.

The spaces between pieces of plate armor were firmly secured with rings and clasps, and the parts where bare skin was inevitably exposed to some extent were mostly covered with chainmail.

Like an aventail, a mail curtain hanging below a helmet to protect the neck.

“Take this, Sir Elbridge.”

“Is this… mine?”

“I knew it would be like this. Who in the world brings a sword when participating in the Grand Festival? Take it quickly. My arm hurts.”

Elbridge deflected the hand.

“I will just use my sword.”

“I told you, swords don’t work.”

“This is more comfortable.”

“Oh, don’t be stubborn.”

“I will decline.”

When Elbridge refused again, Viveca looked at Elbridge with a pouty expression. What could she do when the person himself refused?

“You will definitely regret it later… If you feel it’s dangerous while fighting, don’t wait too long and run to my side. I can subdue most people. Got it?”

“I understand. I shall run away quickly and head to you.”

Just then, a shout came for the teams belonging to Group 4 to prepare.

Viveca squared her shoulders and walked proudly ahead of Elbridge.

*

Right before stepping onto the stage, the staff assisting with the match applied paint to the chests and backs of the paladins’ armor. It was a consideration to allow them to identify each other’s teams at a glance even in the midst of a melee.

“We are green. I have a good feeling.”

“Does that have any meaning?”

“We were green when we advanced to the main tournament two years ago, too. Was that passing the preliminaries for the first time in seven years? They said it was the first time in quite a long while.”

There were seven teams that stepped onto the stage.

The Order of the Brass Cup, the Order of the God of Vines and Knots, the Order of the Goddess of Spring Rain and Moss, and four teams formed by coalitions of paladins from small-scale orders.

No one paid any attention to the Order of the Brass Cup. Since the Order of the Brass Cup was an order that emphasized frugality and the value of community, it had no intersection whatsoever with combat. Viveca’s opinion was the same.

“There’s no need to worry about the Order of the Brass Cup. They are an order that participates every year just for the sake of participating. They will probably be swept away as soon as it begins.”

The Order of the God of Vines and Knots was not much different. After all, the Order of the God of Vines and Knots was an order preferred by scholars or the few mages who did not turn their backs on the gods.

‘Come to think of it, Sir Walter was from the Order of the God of Vines and Knots.’

The teams conscious of each other were the remaining five.

Elbridge noticed that people were glancing at him.

Of course, it was not because they felt threatened. They were merely showing interest because Elbridge was the only one who had entered with a sword.

Dong—

With the heavy tolling of a bell, the match began.

Elbridge was about to spring forward immediately, but the pseudo-dwarf grabbed his forearm to stop him.

“Sir Elbridge. The important thing is to hold out until the end. Let’s maintain a formation tight enough that no one would dare touch us carelessly, and then move slowly.”

It was a rational judgment. However, the atmosphere was a bit different for the teams formed by coalitions of small-scale orders.

“Waaaaaa!”

The paladins of those teams shared a similar purpose with Elbridge. That was to perform actively in the Grand Festival to make their own names and their orders’ names known.

They wished to strike down even one more opponent to demonstrate their skills in front of the spectators.

Boom—

With a heavy sound, the paladins collided.

As expected, the Order of the Brass Cup and the Order of the God of Vines and Knots could be seen getting swept away.

“Don’t get excited, pull back!”

There were not many who targeted the Order of Spring Rain and Moss. Since the five of them were clumped together as one, others must have hesitated to touch them carelessly.

However, that state of affairs did not last long.

“Where do you think you’re going, you bastard!”

The pseudo-dwarf seemed to parry an incoming attack from an opponent, only to be swept away by the flow in an instant and disappear into the center of the stadium.

‘…After telling us not to get excited.’

But that was how combat originally was.

Even in a battlefield where lives hung in the balance, it was precisely due to that excitement and heat that one’s eyes rolled back and they fought.

Unless one was exceptionally accustomed to combat, it was impossible to maintain one’s sanity in the heat of battle.

And if one could not maintain sanity, it was better to simply entrust oneself to the flow rather than retreat clumsily.

‘If they are lucky, they will hold out until the end.’

Just then, there was someone rushing toward Elbridge. The black paint applied on the chest caught the eye.

“Hup!”

Elbridge deflected the opponent’s iron club and forcefully kicked the back of the stumbling opponent.

The paladin painted in black stumbled as if about to fall out of bounds, but managed not to fall and returned to the center of the battlefield.

The problem was that, in that short interval, the pseudo-elf and the red-haired one who had been beside Elbridge had disappeared.

‘…Where did they go?’

The pseudo-elf lay face down, having fainted as if hit on the back of the head, and the red-haired one stood out of bounds, perhaps having been pushed out by someone.

It was to the point of being questionable how they had passed the preliminaries two years ago.

Now, the only ones remaining were Elbridge, Viveca, and the pseudo-dwarf whose survival could not be confirmed.

Once the group was reduced to only two people, Elbridge and Viveca, the number of paladins targeting and approaching them increased.

“Sir Elbridge! Just hold out a little longer!”

Fortunately, Viveca was holding out reasonably stably.

Well, since she possessed that level of skill, she must have been able to participate in the Grand Festival despite being an apprentice paladin.

Just then, the eyes of Elbridge and a paladin painted in yellow on the chest met. The shape of the armor looked familiar.

The reason Elbridge remembered that paladin’s armor was that the person had already beaten down four people.

Perhaps because that paladin had a huge build and had accumulated a lot of divine power, he always subdued opponents without difficulty whenever they clashed with strength.

The person drawing the most attention from the spectators in this match must be that man.

And Elbridge was drawing the crowd’s interest in a different way. As the sole fool who had entered the stadium with a sword.

“Hup!”

The paladin painted in yellow took a deep breath, then charged toward Elbridge like a wild bison. A firm determination to make a fifth victim was apparent.

“Fiiiiiive!”

The paladin who ran while kicking off the ground pulled his iron club behind his back, then swung it with all his might.

Or rather, he tried to swing it with all his might.

Because Elbridge’s sword, moving a beat faster, blocked the path that the opponent paladin’s right wrist was supposed to travel, the paladin could not swing the iron club with all his strength.

However, Elbridge’s sword did not penetrate the opponent’s gauntlet either.

Screeech—

The gauntlet and the sword slid against each other, releasing an unpleasant metallic screech.

But that was enough. In the brief gap, Elbridge’s gaze swept over the opponent’s armor. As expected, there were no parts where joints were exposed.

‘If there are none, I will just have to make one.’

Elbridge’s gaze moved from top to bottom.

The cuirass protecting the chest.

The fauld protecting the pelvis and waist below the cuirass.

The tasset protecting the thighs further below that.

The poleyn protecting the knees below it.

Lastly, the greave protecting from the shin to the foot. Where would be easy to attack?

Elbridge’s eyes landed between the poleyn, the knee armor, and the greave, which protected the lower shin.

On the outside of the knee, he saw a clasp designed to connect and secure the two pieces of armor.

Elbridge’s action occurred simultaneously with his judgment. Elbridge’s sword was swung immediately, and sparks flew from the clasp that had been securing the space between the poleyn and the greave.

As the clasp broke, a tiny gap appeared in the opponent’s knee. A gap of barely half a finger’s width.

Yet, that was more than enough for a sword to wedge in. Elbridge’s sword immediately drove into the opponent’s knee.

From intercepting the opponent’s attack to breaking the clasp and thrusting the blade into the knee.

Every movement took place in a single breath.

“Aaaaaaaargh!”

Drops of blood splattered, and a painful scream echoed across the stadium.

Since it was an event that occurred between the two people who had drawn interest in opposite senses, numerous spectators witnessed the scene.

“What was that just now!”

Paradoxically, however, not many people understood what had happened between the two.

After pulling out the blade that had penetrated the knee, Elbridge lightly swung the sword to shake off the blood.

And said,

“Next.”