Paladin of a Fallen Order (Novel) - Chapter 30 - Gatekeeper

Chapter 30 – Gatekeeper

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Translated by Pratt

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Elbridge marveled.

“Rombel. That is truly a marvelous character. Just what on earth did you do to be abandoned by the God of the Steel Anvil despite being a dwarf?”

Though he did not open his mouth directly, Marcus also showed signs of strongly agreeing with Elbridge’s statement.

The God of the Steel Anvil was the identity of the dwarf race. There was a reason why it was said that over 99.8% of dwarves served the God of the Steel Anvil.

The God of the Steel Anvil was a deity famous for defending three ironclad seats based on the solid support of the dwarves. It had been so two hundred years ago, was so now, and would continue to be so in the future.

Becoming part of that 0.2% abandoned by such a God of the Steel Anvil would be impossible through ordinary behavior.

Yet, truly abominably, Rombel wore an expression as if he were the most victimized person in the world.

“I’m telling you in advance, my excommunication was not my fault in the slightest. I can explain everything.”

“Go ahead and make your excuse.”

“Where should I begin… Right. Elbridge. Some time ago at the Mage Tower, you spoke about my faith.”

Elbridge recalled the conversation he had shared with Rombel.

‘Rombel. You know your problem isn’t your skill. The problem isn’t you, it’s your order.’

‘I know your faith wasn’t particularly deep. I also remember how you secretly admired the paladins of the combat orders.’

In the past, Elbridge thought Rombel’s talent was a waste.

Rombel’s talent was at the supreme level among dwarf warriors. If he had belonged to a combat order, Rombel would have surely accompanied them in the battle to seal the Great Demon.

However, Rombel could not participate in the decisive battle against the Great Demon. This was because Rombel’s faith held him back. The authority bestowed by the God of the Steel Anvil was not of the useful sort in combat.

Rombel said.

“In fact, being held back by one’s order was a thought shared by any dwarf warrior. It was just that extremely few dwarves voiced it or actually changed their order.”

The Goddess of the Rusty Shield stealthily chimed in.

—Elbridge. If my most cherished paladin wishes, your goddess will not be disappointed even if our order ends up with two paladins.

Elbridge shared the same thought as the goddess.

If a paladin without skill entered the order and received a share of the authority, the order’s power might weaken. However, if a capable warrior like Rombel joined the order, it would be an immense help.

That was why Elbridge said to Rombel.

“Rombel. For you, who admired combat orders, there would be no better order than the Rusty Shield. The joining benefits I mentioned last time still stand. You will be immediately appointed as a Cardinal upon joining, and…”

However, Rombel did not pay the slightest attention to Elbridge’s words.

“Of course, I had no intention of believing in any god other than the God of the Steel Anvil. Because I thought a dwarf should naturally serve the God of the Steel Anvil. But not all dwarf warriors thought like me.”

“Aha. So?”

“If your life hovers between life and death a few times, and if you experience situations where the person next to you dies because of a lack of strength, it is only natural to set your eyes on greater power. Naturally, the first thing that comes to mind is the authority bestowed by a god. Most only think about it and don’t put it into action, but… one female dwarf warrior actually entered the Order of the Chain and Axe.”

Elbridge had also heard the story of that female dwarf warrior indirectly.

That there was a female dwarf warrior in the Order of the Chain and Axe, and despite her small stature, she handled the axe marvelously.

“I fought alongside her, fell in love, and married her with another paladin as a witness. And the God of the Steel Anvil expelled me from the order. That’s the end of it.”

Elbridge and Marcus were taken aback.

Because the story, which seemed as if it would drag on, had abruptly come to an end.

“Mr. Rombel. It seems a lot of the story has been omitted. Didn’t you also follow your wife into the Order of the Chain and Axe?”

To Marcus’s question, Rombel cut him off and replied.

“I told you I didn’t join.”

“Just because your wife believes in another god, they expel their most outstanding warrior from the order?”

“Yes.”

Rombel spat on the ground.

“Do you know this? In the Red Mountains, I have never once seen a dwarf who does not believe in the God of the Steel Anvil.”

“It’s famous that dwarves serve the God of the Steel Anvil, isn’t it?”

“As you said, they say over 99.8% of dwarves serve the God of the Steel Anvil. But if you turn that story around, it means there are one or two dwarves out of a thousand who do not serve the God of the Steel Anvil. While it’s not a large number, I should have encountered them at least a few times.”

“That… would be so.”

“Yet, I have never once seen a dwarf who serves another god in the Red Mountains. What do you think the reason for that is?”

Marcus glanced at the crushed corpse.

“The God of the Steel Anvil blocked it.”

“Correct. The God of the Steel Anvil strictly forbids their believers from interacting with dwarves who believe in other gods.”

Elbridge, who was quietly listening to the story, chimed in.

“Honestly, I don’t really understand. Other gods don’t care about such things, do they?”

“The situation is different from other gods.”

“In what way?”

“The God of the Steel Anvil maintains three seats based solely on the overwhelming support of the dwarves. There is almost no room to expand the influence of the order, and maintaining the status quo is practically the best option. What do you think has to be done to maintain the status quo?”

Elbridge pondered for a moment before replying.

“Tighten internal discipline. So that apostates cannot emerge.”

“Correct. Next question. What do you think is the most powerful way to crack down within a group?”

This time, Marcus replied.

“It would be punishing the dwarves who believe in other gods.”

It was a fairly plausible answer, but Rombel shook his head.

“No.”

“Then what is it?”

“The most powerful method of control is not showing dwarves who believe in other gods at all. Preventing them from even recognizing that such dwarves exist. Preventing them from ever realizing that such a thing as the right to choose a god exists.”

Elbridge and Marcus were impressed.

If Rombel’s story was true, the God of the Steel Anvil treated dwarves who served other gods like rotten fruit. A rotten fruit that would make other fruits rot if kept in the same box.

In the eyes of the God of the Steel Anvil, Rombel’s wife was already a rotten fruit, and Rombel was a fruit that would soon rot.

The god judged that it was right to throw such fruit out of the box.

Only then did Elbridge realize that Rombel’s whereabouts were strange.

Rombel had achieved military exploits worthy of becoming a hero of his race.

Was there even a single reason for such a Rombel not to return to his hometown?

None.

If Rombel did not return to his hometown, it could only be a matter of compulsion rather than choice.

Elbridge asked.

“Rombel. You knew you couldn’t pass through that valley, didn’t you?”

“I had an inkling.”

“Then for what reason did you come all the way here?”

Rombel crossed his arms, closed his eyes for a moment, and then opened them.

“First. In order to show the dwarves an unbeliever like me solving a problem that the God of the Steel Anvil could not solve.”

That was not simple vanity or a desire for recognition.

Rombel intended to shake dwarf society. Furthermore, he intended to create a fissure in the Order of the Steel Anvil to bring it down.

A believer abandoned by their god was bound to feel frustrated and suffer.

However, instead of suffering, Rombel chose the path of swinging his axe toward the god. Because Rombel was a warrior.

“Is there a second reason as well?”

“I came to see my wife for the first time in two hundred years.”

Elbridge shook his head side to side.

However, Marcus did not understand Rombel’s story.

“Mr. Rombel. You said your wife served another god. How did she enter inside the valley?”

“Anyone can enter inside.”

“But, just now, the valley—”

“It’s just that not anyone can escape.”

Rombel, leaning on his axe like a walking stick, pointed toward the valley with his short finger.

Somewhere slightly further inside than the crushed corpse.

“That valley is my wife’s grave.”

*

They understood Rombel’s circumstances. However, the most important problem remained.

Elbridge asked Rombel.

“Rombel. What are you going to do now? You can’t even enter inside that valley. Are you going to climb the cliff?”

Marcus looked at the sheer cliff next to the valley.

An extraordinary person like Elbridge or Rombel might be able to climb the cliff.

But Marcus did not even dare to climb the cliff. This was the case even though he had accumulated a little divine power by hunting magic beasts over the past days with Elbridge and Rombel’s help.

Rombel replied.

“No. I will enter the valley proudly.”

“I will respect your opinion. The condition is that you lead the way.”

“Naturally I intend to do so, so do not worry.”

“Ah, really? When do you plan to enter?”

“Once we wait for a bit…”

Rombel stopped talking and looked to the side.

“…Good. Just in time.”

A group mixed with human knights and mercenaries was approaching in the direction of Elbridge’s party.

“You guys wait quietly.”

Rombel spoke to the approaching people.

“Hello. Where did you come from?”

The knight answered proudly.

“We came from the County of Hugen. We received a request to help the dwarves of the Red Mountains.”

Although they did not know where the County of Hugen was, judging by the direction, it seemed they came from the southern part of the continent.

Indeed, since the fate of their race was at stake, there was no way they would have requested help only from the Holy City Solenion.

“By any chance, where is the dwarf who went to commission the request?”

“He suddenly collapsed and died.”

“Ah, as expected.”

Rombel scratched the back of his head with an embarrassed look.

“Sir Knight. Thank you for coming to help. However, an unexpected problem has arisen.”

“A problem?”

“Have you ever heard of the valley of the Red Mountains?”

“Of course. I heard that you die unless you pass through with a dwarf. They said that if you set off this firecracker in front of the valley, they would send a guide.”

The knight took out a long firecracker and showed it to Rombel. Was there such a thing?

Rombel feigned ignorance and made up a story.

“I am that guide. Since the situation is what it is, I was waiting in advance.”

“What is the situation like?”

“I will show you directly.”

Rombel stealthily approached the valley.

And as Rombel arrived beside the corpse,

Rumble.

Sure enough, the valley walls began to move.

Rombel quickly threw his body to spring out of the valley. However, the innocent corpse was crushed once more.

The knight looked considerably flustered.

“What is this? I heard it was fine if we passed through with a dwarf?”

“The valley has become strange. It seems to be because a problem arose with the God of Hammer and Anvil.”

The knight wore a look of disbelief.

“A problem arose with that god high up in the sky?”

“It’s true. For some time now, the God of Hammer and Anvil has not been answering the dwarves’ prayers.”

Rombel looked up at the sky and shouted loudly.

“O God of the Steel Anvil! Please open the valley!”

Rombel stealthily approached the valley again.

Rumble—

Sure enough, the moment Rombel reached that very spot, the valley moved as if it had been waiting and blocked the path.

Rombel waved his fist toward the sky and spouted profanity.

“You son of a bitch God of the Steel Anvil—! Can’t you manage the valley properly!”

The knight’s eyes went wide.

Could there be such a direct blasphemy? This was the most definitive proof that a problem had arisen with the God of the Steel Anvil.

Rombel said, bowing servilely.

“As you can see, the god has no response at all. If only he had at least been angry, it would have been very nice…”

“Hmm, I see.”

“Anyway, it’s a situation where we cannot enter the valley. The reward for the request is similarly uncertain. It seems I made you make a futile trip unintentionally, Sir Knight. Here, though it is modest, please add this money to your travel expenses…”

As Rombel rummaged through his pocket, the knight waved his hand in refusal.

“Since it’s not your fault, how could I accept travel expenses? Rather, thank you for letting us know before something major happened. We almost ended up in the same state as that corpse.”

“It is only what I ought to do.”

“It’s a pity. May the dwarves have the god’s protection.”

The knight left together with the mercenaries.

Once their figures disappeared, Rombel’s attitude, which had been servile until just a moment ago, instantly became confident.

Elbridge narrowed his eyes.

“…Rombel. Are you not afraid of the consequences?”

Rombel snorted.

“Consequences? There is no one who serves the God of the Steel Anvil here. Which means even if something happens, the God of the Steel Anvil has no way of knowing the situation.”

Next, Rombel wore a meaningful smile.

“I will send back every single person who comes to help. Let’s see if this son of a bitch can hold out without letting me in.”

Rombel began the first entrance blocking in the history of the Red Mountains.