Paladin of a Fallen Order (Novel) - Chapter 32 - Mountain City Barkuntol (Part 2)
Chapter 32 – Mountain City Barkuntol (Part 2)
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Translated by Pratt
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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The three were guided to the reception room of the city hall of the Mountain City Barkuntol.
The impression of Elbridge and Marcus, who viewed the city hall of Barkuntol for the first time, was that this building looked more like a temple than a city hall.
This was especially so because a statue depicting the God of the Steel Anvil stood towering right in the center of the city hall.
“Mr. Rombel. Is this… really a city hall and not a temple?”
There was also a city hall in the Holy City Solenion where they had stayed.
However, the mayor of Solenion had to refrain from religious remarks in public settings. Because people with numerous beliefs lived in harmony within the Holy City Solenion.
Erecting a statue of a specific god in the city hall was something completely unimaginable.
“The mayor of the Mountain City Barkuntol is different from mayors or lords of other cities. The mayor of Barkuntol also serves as the archbishop of the Order of the Steel Anvil.”
Since all dwarves living in Barkuntol served the God of the Steel Anvil, there was no reason to separate city administration from faith.
“How fascinating.”
“To the dwarves of this city, the outside world must look fascinating.”
Elbridge harbored a slightly different question from Marcus.
“By the way, isn’t the atmosphere of the city strangely peaceful?”
Marcus could not agree with Elbridge’s opinion.
“Peaceful? Did you not see how stiff the dwarves’ expressions were?”
However, Rombel agreed with Elbridge’s opinion.
“It looks that way to me too. It was calmer than expected.”
Of course, it was not that the atmosphere was peaceful and without any trouble.
As Marcus said, a distinct worry was embedded in the dwarves’ expressions, and the city’s atmosphere was sharply on edge. As if something were about to break out at any moment.
However, the current situation was that a demon had appeared.
If a demon had appeared, it was normal that an unmanageable chaos should have swallowed the city, not just worry and tension.
Rombel wore a satisfied smile.
“It means the skills of the old dwarf warriors are just that outstanding. Do you think I accepted this request without any thought?”
In the past, when a demon appeared, more than twenty or thirty knights and paladins were mobilized to seal the demon.
Even when numbers were lacking and the demon’s power was particularly weak, at least five paladins or knights were mobilized.
On the other hand, Elbridge’s party was only three people, even including Marcus.
Just three people could not seal a demon. Even if Elbridge’s and Rombel’s skills were superb, the success rate was far too low.
Then what on earth did Elbridge’s party rely on when the three of them came to the Red Mountains?
That was precisely the existence of the dwarf warriors who had survived the war against the demon in the past.
“Rombel. How many dwarf warriors did you say there would be?”
“At least seven or eight should be alive.”
The dwarf’s lifespan is roughly four hundred years.
Since the war had ended two hundred years ago, the young warriors of that era would still be alive.
Just then, Marcus, who had been restless all along, spoke.
“Mr. Rombel. Do know where the restroom is?”
“The restroom?”
“Yes. To be honest, it has been urgent since we crossed the valley.”
“It has also been a long time since I came here, so I don’t remember. Go out and look for it.”
Marcus disappeared awkwardly outside the reception room.
Now that only Elbridge and Rombel were left in the reception room, Rombel smirked.
“Elbridge, you. You still haven’t revealed your identity to Marcus, right?”
“The only person on earth who knows who I am is you.”
Rombel’s eyes filled with playfulness.
“I’m looking forward to it already. That fellow Marcus will surely be turned upside down with shock when he hears your story, won’t he?”
Rombel and Elbridge intended to join forces with the dwarf warriors.
And they would surely recognize who Elbridge was. It meant that Marcus learning Elbridge’s identity was only a matter of time.
“I must swear Marcus to secrecy before we leave. To ensure he doesn’t spread the story to other people.”
“Is secrecy important right now? That fellow Marcus’s reaction is what’s important!”
While Elbridge and Rombel were whispering to each other, the reception room door opened and two people appeared.
One was Marcus, who had gone to the restroom, and the other was a dwarf they were seeing for the first time.
That dwarf looked slightly younger than Rombel, but carried the distinct aura of a high-ranking person.
As Marcus quickly sat down beside Rombel, the unfamiliar dwarf greeted Elbridge’s party.
“Hello. I am the mayor of the Mountain City Barkuntol, Valdrek Deepdelver. Please call me Valdrek, or Mayor.”
“Glad to meet you, Mayor Valdrek. I am Rombel. This friend beside me is Paladin Elbridge. The friend who just walked in is Marcus. A mercenary who is half a paladin.”
“Half a paladin?”
“He is a mercenary, but he received an oracle from the God of the Sunshower. Since he has also built up a bit of holy power, he is practically half a paladin.”
“I see. I understand.”
Mayor Valdrek sat opposite the party and began his explanation.
“As you might have guessed, the reason we requested outside help is because the current situation in the Red Mountains is not good.”
“I guessed as much. What abilities does the demon possess? Where is the person who saw its appearance?”
At this, Valdrek shook his head.
“It is a magic beast, not a demon.”
“What?”
Looking back, the dwarves had never directly mentioned a demon.
However, the circumstances were too strange to think of it as a simple magic beast.
“A magic beast? I saw the demon’s brand clearly with my own eyes. Besides, there is no way the dwarves would request outside help just because they couldn’t suppress a mere magic beast.”
“Mr. Rombel. That is no ordinary magic beast. It is a warping-type magic beast that has reached its late stage.”
Hearing those words, Rombel let out a deep sigh.
“Well, I’ll be.”
Marcus, who had been listening to the conversation, asked Elbridge.
“Sir Elbridge. If it’s a warping-type magic beast, isn’t it like that crow we saw last time? It was powerful, but… it didn’t look like something that could overturn a city as massive as this.”
“That one was transitioning from the middle to the late stage. However, when a warping-type magic beast completely reaches its final stage, the situation becomes somewhat different.”
“In what way?”
“As you saw, warping-type magic beasts distort space. A middle-stage magic beast only attacks other targets with that ability, but… a late-stage magic beast also acts as a sort of gateway.”
“A gateway?”
“Yes. A passage connecting the world over there and this world. A warping-type magic beast that has reached its late stage can even summon other magic beasts.”
Marcus’s expression turned serious.
“Does it summon demons as well by any chance? If it can summon multiple demons, it would be even worse than a demon…”
“That is not the case. However, demons often project their power using warping-type magic beasts. You may regard a warping-type magic beast that has reached its late stage as semi-demon class.”
Since ancient times, there was one guideline that absolutely had to be followed when a warping-type magic beast was discovered.
No matter the reason, even if sacrifices followed, eliminate it immediately upon discovery.
The ripple effect a warping-type magic beast could bring about was so massive that it was closer to a demon than a magic beast, so it had to be eliminated at all costs to prevent future trouble.
Rombel asked Mayor Valdrek.
“What is the situation?”
“Bronzimmar has been completely occupied.”
“…No wonder. The iron gate to Bronzimmar was closed.”
Another incomprehensible name had popped up.
Marcus questioned boldly.
“Bron… whatever. What is that?”
“Next to the Mountain City Barkuntol, there is one more city built by excavating the mountain. At first it was a mine, but the entrance of the mine gradually expanded and eventually became a city. The name of that city is Bronzimmar.”
“Is it far away?”
“It is right next to Barkuntol. If you look at the cliff opposite the city hall, there is a large iron gate, and just past that iron gate is Bronzimmar. Looking down from above, it has the shape of two circles attached together.”
Elbridge recalled the appearance of the iron gate he had seen on the way to the city hall.
That iron gate was so massive that several carts could pass through at the same time.
The mayor continued his story.
“About three months ago, magic beasts appeared from the mine inside Bronzimmar. We tried to handle the magic beasts somehow, but they appeared endlessly. In the end, the mine shafts became packed with magic beasts and it grew out of hand.”
“…”
“Left with no choice, we blocked the mine shaft doors and held out. However, the mine shafts were eventually breached, and the entirety of Bronzimmar was occupied. Now, we cannot know when Barkuntol will collapse either.”
Mayor Valdrek bowed toward the three.
“Your help is desperately needed. If there is anything you require, please ask. If we can reclaim Bronzimmar, we will spare no reward.”
“…We understand.”
*
The three finished their conversation and came out of the city hall.
And receiving the gazes of the dwarves, they began to walk the streets.
Marcus asked cautiously.
“What do you think the situation is like?”
Elbridge crossed his arms and answered.
“There is one bad point and one good point. Which one shall I tell you first?”
“I would like to hear the good point first.”
“It is certainly a good thing that we have to deal with a magic beast and not a demon.”
“Did you not say that the demon would play tricks through that magic beast?”
“Even so, it is far better than dealing with a real demon. Unlike a demon which must be sealed, a magic beast can be killed completely.”
Marcus smiled with satisfaction.
“The bad point is obvious without even hearing it. The problem would be that we have to deal with swarming magic beasts, right?”
“That is correct. It will probably be several times more than what you imagine, Mr. Marcus.”
Marcus’s expression warped miserably.
On the way to the Red Mountains, Marcus had dealt with magic beasts several times with the help of Elbridge and Rombel. And he had never once succeeded in eliminating a magic beast on his own.
“Do not worry. If we receive the help of the old dwarf warriors, we will get by somehow.”
“It’s a relief in the midst of misfortune.”
“Though a few people might die depending on the situation…”
“That is not very reassuring.”
“That is the story for when things do not go well; if the situation goes according to plan, no one will die.”
“That is truly a relief.”
“However, it is rare for situations involving magic beasts or demons to go according to plan.”
“…Please do not tease me. I am going back and forth between heaven and hell at every word of yours, Sir Elbridge.”
Elbridge and Rombel teased Marcus as they walked.
Finally, the three people’s steps stopped in front of a certain house.
Elbridge asked.
“Is this the house of an old warrior?”
“That’s right. The house of the diligent Stoneguard. You know him, right?”
“Of course I do.”
“That fellow Stoneguard. Leaving things alone until it ended up in this state without wrapping it up in time… I must give him a piece of my mind.”
Unlike his grumbling tone, Rombel’s expression was exceptionally bright. How could he not be, since he was meeting a comrade from two hundred years ago.
When Rombel banged on the door, a dwarf girl came out and looked at the three.
“Who are you?”
“Is this… the house of Stoneguard, right?”
“He is my grandfather.”
“Is he inside?”
“He passed away before I was born.”
“Ah, is that so. I understand.”
Wearing an embarrassed expression, Rombel looked back at Elbridge.
“Stoneguard was on the older side. Let’s go to the house of the brave Anvilborn. I suppose because the diligent Stoneguard wasn’t around, they put off dealing with the magic beasts day after day and ended up in this situation…”
Rombel muttered as he headed to the next house.
The next house was not far away.
This time too, Rombel banged on the gate.
This time, a young dwarf greeted Rombel.
“Who are you?”
“Is this… the house of the brave Anvilborn, right?”
“He is my uncle. By the way, who are you?”
“I am Rombel. A close friend of Anvilborn.”
At that, the young dwarf frowned.
“You might be a friend, but you must not have been very close. To only come looking for my uncle now, who passed away in a mine shaft accident one hundred and ninety years ago.”
The young dwarf spoke like that and slammed the gate shut.
Rombel spoke as if nothing had happened.
“Since it has come to this, let’s go to Helga’s house. It’s just a short walk.”
Rombel banged on the gate for the third time.
A middle-aged female dwarf appeared. This dwarf even seemed to recognize Rombel.
“Oh my! Isn’t that Rombel? When did you return?”
“Today. It took a long time due to circumstances.”
“Yes. I did hear rumors of this and that… Anyway, what brings you here?”
“Is Helga inside?”
At that, the dwarf woman’s expression darkened.
“My elder sister is dead.”
“Around when?”
“Was it two or three years after the war ended? The wound she sustained on the battlefield suddenly worsened and she died. Even though she was at a young age.”
“…Right. I see.”
The dwarf woman was about to close the door, but rolled her eyes to look around.
And whispered quietly.
“Be careful, Rombel.”
That was the end of her words.
However, that short hint contained an immense amount of meaning.
Screeech— thud.
It was ominous.
Not to mention Rombel, the expressions of Elbridge and Marcus also turned grave.
The three went searching for the houses of the other dwarves.
Barnok, Borin, Sifrid, Hulgar…
However, as luck would have it, not a single person was still alive.
When coincidences pile up, it becomes inevitable.
What the deaths of the seven dwarves signified was clear.
Elbridge spoke.
“Rombel.”
Rombel did not answer Elbridge’s call and stood still for a long time with his fists tightly clenched.
However, in his eyes, anger seemed to burn blazingly.
Finally, Rombel muttered in a low voice.
“Steel Anvil. You bastard…”