Paladin of a Fallen Order (Novel) - Chapter 34 - Mountain City Barkuntol (Part 4)

Chapter 34 – Mountain City Barkuntol (Part 4)

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Translated by Pratt

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Marcus could not understand Rombel’s last words.

“Mr. Rombel. What does that mean?”

“Have you ever heard of the Silent Paladin?”

“…”

It was only a short while ago that Marcus had learned of the Silent Paladin.

When he first encountered the wolf magic beast, Marcus had thought that Elbridge fought strangely well.

However, when they faced the crow magic beast, the skill Elbridge displayed was so outstanding that it was difficult to compare with before. In that battle, Marcus gained conviction that Elbridge was no ordinary person.

Therefore, Marcus harbored a single question.

‘Is there any reason for such a skilled person to stay in an order whose name hasn’t even been heard? If nothing else, even acting as a mercenary would be better than now…’

Thinking of advising him to throw away his role as a paladin of an odd order and act as a mercenary if the opportunity arose, Marcus gathered information regarding Elbridge and the Order of the Rusty Shield.

Of course, it was not a grand method. He had merely asked around casually while buying beer for mercenaries he was friendly with.

“Order of the Rusty Shield? You don’t know that fairy tale? Silent Paladin.”

“I don’t know it.”

Marcus’s childhood was desolate. Since his parents had never told him old stories at his bedside, he had never heard of the Silent Paladin.

“You ignorant bastard. You know, that fairy tale where a paladin sealed a demon. The name of the order that appears in that story is the Order of the Rusty Shield. The paladin’s name was El… something.”

“Elbridge?”

“Ah, right. Elbridge.”

A while later, Marcus heard that Elbridge was a descendant of the Silent Paladin at the Grand Festival’s tournament.

Thanks to that, Marcus was convinced. Ah, so there is such a thing as bloodline. That’s why Elbridge fights so well. He thought that and let it go.

However, Rombel was now speaking of another possibility.

The possibility that Elbridge was not a descendant of the Silent Paladin.

However, Marcus could not easily accept that story.

Because it was hard to believe that a person from several hundred years ago, who was neither a dwarf nor an elf, was alive until now?

That was also true.

However, the biggest reason was different.

Marcus could not believe that such a grand person was by the side of a worthless mercenary like himself.

“That makes no… makes no sense, doesn’t it.”

Rombel did not deny it either.

“Right. It does make no sense. Actually, when I met that guy in the Mage Tower, I wondered if it was a dream as well.”

“Yes. I don’t believe it. Do you know how many people have tried to deceive me until now? I won’t be fooled…”

However, Rombel’s story resolved several of Marcus’s doubts.

Why was Elbridge’s skill so outstanding to an alien degree?

Why did Elbridge treat Rombel like a friend while showing manners to other people, even though Rombel was older than anyone?

And, why did the God of the Sunshower send an oracle to a worthless mercenary like himself to make him follow Elbridge?

Rombel spoke.

“Whether you believe it or not doesn’t matter. What is important is whether Elbridge can take on that role. Hey, Elbridge. Is it possible? If it seems like it won’t work, I’ll look for another way.”

“Just a moment. Let me think.”

Elbridge spoke like that, bowed his head, and fell into thought.

At that calm reaction, Marcus shuddered.

It was a duty that any paladin would have answered was impossible. That he pondered in front of such a duty, was that not proof that Elbridge was the paladin in the legend.

Marcus looked at Elbridge with eyes holding even a small awe.

How grand a battle must be pictured in Elbridge’s head right now…

However, the reality was somewhat different.

Pretending to ponder, Elbridge was offering a prayer to the Goddess of the Rusty Shield in a small voice.

“Goddess. Can I borrow your authority?”

Currently, the believers of the Order of the Rusty Shield were about a thousand. Although they still had no seat, the situation was far better than when Elbridge was the sole believer.

Currently, it was a situation where it was unknown whether the goddess could bestow her authority.

The Goddess of the Rusty Shield triumphantly sent an oracle.

—Elbridge. For this very moment, your goddess has kept the little remaining authority. Economically, even down to what was left over from two hundred years ago…

Elbridge felt a small sense of incongruity.

Because to say it was economically saved, it felt like quite a few trivial stories had descended through the oracles.

“Goddess. Did you not say last time that authority is required even when sending an oracle?”

—Elbridge. That was an unavoidable matter. Since your goddess could not even watch the lower world or send an oracle for nearly two hundred years, and had to endure boredom and loneliness…

“…”

—What is important is that your goddess can bestow at least one small authority upon her paladin. Elbridge. What authority do you want?

There were various authorities that the goddess could bestow.

However, only one authority was needed by Elbridge right now.

“It is the authority of blockade.”

—I can bestow the authority. However, since the circumstances are unfavorable, I can only bestow the authority, and how long that authority persists is entirely up to you. Elbridge.

“I know well. Thank you. Goddess.”

Elbridge finished his secret talk with the goddess and answered Rombel.

“It is possible.”

The awe in Marcus’s eyes grew a level deeper.

*

However, it was impossible for three people to open the massive iron gate.

Elbridge’s party immediately sought out Mayor Valdrek, and Rombel acted as the representative to explain the plan.

However, Mayor Valdrek was horrified upon hearing the story.

“You are going to open the iron gate?”

“Yes.”

“You cannot. That is absolutely out of the question.”

“Did you not say to ask for whatever we required?”

“I didn’t think you would ask to open the iron gate. That is a matter on which the lives of all the dwarves living in this city depend. Besides… in the off chance that things go wrong, it’s not like we can close the iron gate again, can we.”

It was not that they couldn’t understand Mayor Valdrek’s reaction. Because even in Elbridge and Rombel’s thoughts, this was definitely a dangerous plan. If the mayor had readily permitted it, that would have been strange instead.

“If you oppose it so much, you must have a good alternative. Do you have some clever scheme?”

“Wouldn’t it be better if the three of you crossed over using the side door instead?”

“We don’t have the luxury to do that.”

“Then please wait for now. Just as you came to the Mountain City, isn’t it possible that more people to help will arrive? The iron gate is still firm.”

Rombel hesitated.

Because he himself had just turned back the people who came to help the dwarves. Although the dwarves of the Mountain City were unaware of that fact…

‘No. If we hadn’t sent those fellows back, our party wouldn’t have been able to enter. Rombel and Elbridge are more helpful than all of them combined, aren’t we? There is absolutely no need to feel sorry.’

While Rombel mumbled excuses in his mind, Elbridge asked Mayor Valdrek.

“Mayor. How much longer can the iron gate hold out?”

“At the shortest, three months. If it’s long, it can hold out for over a year.”

“Are you sure?”

“If you saw the thickness of the iron gate, you would definitely have agreed with my opinion.”

“I understand. However, please prepare for any situation that might arise in the worst case. Select those who can fight, and construct defensive barriers.”

“Understood. We will begin as soon as urgent matters are wrapped up.”

“This is the most urgent matter. Please set aside other tasks and proceed. Starting this very day.”

“…Understood.”

On the way out of the city hall after ending the conversation with the mayor, Elbridge spoke.

“It will be hard to hold out for ten days.”

Marcus questioned back.

“Why do you think so?”

“Because places that spoke of three months usually got breached within five days, and places that spoke of a year collapsed in ten days at the longest.”

In Elbridge’s experience, when magic beasts or demons were involved, it was rare for matters to go as desired.

Elbridge thought that it would be so this time as well.

*

Great cities are always bustling. However, the noise of the Mountain City Barkuntol was even greater than other cities.

It was partly because the scale was just so vast, but also because the distinct noise of a great city reflected off the cliffs. Noise that is reflected repeatedly does not disappear easily.

Moreover, the recent few months were even noisier than before. The reason was that the sound of magic beasts banging on the iron gate and the sound of dwarves building barriers were added to the existing noise.

In that highly bustling situation, the sound of magic beasts banging on the iron gate suddenly stopped.

“…”

In general cases, noise swallows silence.

However, very rarely, a tiny silence also swallows a massive noise.

The current situation was exactly like that. When the noise that had continued for several months suddenly vanished, the dwarves who were constructing barriers stopped their work and stared at the iron gate.

An even larger silence spread across the entirety of Barkuntol, and the sudden quiet weighed down upon the colossal space.

‘What is it?’

Coincidentally, Marcus was climbing the stairs to check beyond the side door.

Marcus quickly climbed all the way to the end of the stairs and observed the situation on the opposite side.

The first thing that entered his eyes was the warping-type magic beast.

Until now, the warping-type magic beast had been far away, at the place farthest from the gate.

However, now the warping-type magic beast had approached close to the iron gate. On the contrary, the other magic beasts had drawn back far away without banging on the gate.

Marcus realized.

The very moment Elbridge had predicted. The moment the iron gate was breached would be right now.

The maw of the warping-type magic beast gaped open even wider. Until now, it had spit out a new magic beast whenever it showed such a state, but the ominousness felt now was different.

A black, colossal arm burst out of the magic beast’s maw. That arm wavered as if made of black flames.

‘…Good heavens.’

It was a sight seen for the first time.

However, Marcus realized instinctively. That pitch-black arm did not belong to the magic beast.

‘It is a demon’s arm.’

The demon’s arm, which had emerged almost to the shoulder, rummaged through the surroundings. A luckless enhanced-type magic beast was caught in the demon’s hand.

Kieeeek—

It was an insectoid magic beast whose entire body was covered in hard carapace.

As if intuiting its fate, the insectoid magic beast struggled violently while letting out a bizarre sound. However, it could not escape the demon’s grasp.

The next moment, the demon’s arm hurled the insectoid magic beast toward the iron gate.

Boom—!

A booming sound rang out. Also, because the demon’s power was so strong, the insectoid magic beast died by bursting apart.

The demon’s arm rummaged around the vicinity.

The magic beasts fled, gripped by fear. However, the demon’s arm caught the next magic beast, and again the magic beast after that, and threw them toward the iron gate.

Boom—! Boom—!

Marcus descended the stairs as if almost jumping down.

“A demon! It is a demon!”

The iron gate was still firm. However, the connection between the iron gate and the rock wall was not as firm as the iron gate. The rock at the edge of the iron gate broke and stone dust fell pattering.

Boom—! Boom—!

Marcus realized. The fact that the warping-type magic beast, and the demon beyond it, had not been unable to break the iron gate, but had chosen not to.

Elbridge, Rombel, and Marcus. The dwarves who were constructing barriers.

And every dwarf of the Mountain City Barkuntol stared at the iron gate.

There was no one opening their mouth. They merely strained their ears, listening to the booming sound coming from the iron gate.

After a brief moment, Elbridge muttered.

“It is opening.”

The thick iron gate fell over in its entirety.

Ruuuumble—

Soil dust surged up along with a booming roar.

In exchange for not opening the iron gate, an even larger hole was pierced than if they had opened the iron gate. Now, there was nothing blocking the space between Barkuntol and Bronzimmar.

Through the dust, the appearance of the warping-type magic beast was faintly visible. A glimpse of the colossal arm being sucked back beyond the warping-type magic beast’s maw was seen.

And at the place where the arm vanished. A massive eye appeared from the warping-type magic beast’s maw.

A pitch-black eyeball. The bright yellow eye situated right in the center of the eyeball swept over the dwarves of the Mountain City.

And, a brand was carved on the forehead of every dwarf.

“Huh…?”

To the dwarves’ feelings, it was a sort of sentence. A sentence of death, and a sentence that their souls would be stolen by the demon.

Fear swallowed the Mountain City Barkuntol.

As if having fully performed its role, the warping-type magic beast drew back with a smile on its face, which did not even have fully formed facial features.

A situation where the soil dust still had not settled.

Several magic beasts burst out beyond the iron gate.

In the Mountain City that was only filled with fear, there were only two people who were not weighed down by terror.

Elbridge leapt in from the side and swung his sword at the magic beast. The belly hide of one of the magic beasts leaping into the city was torn, and it rolled on the ground.

Rombel muttered.

“Sigh. Even when I told them it was better to just open the gate, they didn’t listen to a damn word… Elbridge. I leave it to you.”

Elbridge nodded and stepped onto the fallen iron gate.

A posture of blocking the path of numerous magic beasts alone.

Behind his back, the screams of the dwarves were heard.

The sound of the magic beasts that had burst out as soon as the gate opened hunting the dwarves.

However, Elbridge knew that in such a situation, paying attention to what was behind would make the problem grow even larger.

Therefore, Elbridge looked only at the front, at the numerous magic beasts that had not yet crossed over to this side, and spoke.

“Mr. Marcus. Please follow and deal with the magic beasts that entered the city just now.”

“Ah, got it!”

Elbridge laid down his shield on the ground and rested his sword on both palms.

And whispered quietly.

“Goddess. Permit the authority of blockade upon me.”

The paladin’s prayer reached the lofty heavens.

*

Marcus thought as he ran toward the city.

‘Deal with the magic beasts? Me? Can a worthless mercenary like me do it?’

I don’t know. I have no confidence that I can carry it out.

In fact, it felt like it wouldn’t work. On the way here, he had faced magic beasts several times, but hadn’t succeeded even once, had he.

However, he could not run away without even trying. Such was Marcus’s nature.

‘Let’s try it for now. Even if it fails, it’s not my fault. If I’m unlucky enough to die… fuck, I’ll die anyway even if I don’t do it. Let’s not think of that.’

Marcus ran following the magic beast that looked the easiest to handle among them.

It was a fellow that looked like a clump of dust, which seemed relatively easy to face.

Screams were heard from all directions.

They were not doing that due to being attacked by magic beasts. They were merely terrified.

Except for a few brave dwarves, everyone was out of their mind.

Meanwhile, a strange phenomenon took place.

Just as silence had blanketed the Mountain City Barkuntol a while ago.

This time, a different silence blanketed Barkuntol. The screams died down.

Marcus examined the dwarves’ reactions. They stood blankly, staring at something.

‘Is something else coming?’

Marcus also looked back.

And, saw a pillar of light.

The pillar of light was not intense. A pillar of light, soft like moonlight, touched Elbridge.

And Marcus saw the shape of a person in the midst of that pillar of light.

A woman wearing armor full of scratches, with her golden hair flowing long.

The woman in the light held a shield in her left hand and a sword in her right.

Marcus immediately realized who that woman was.

‘The Goddess of the Rusty Shield…’

He had seen paladins displaying divine authority several times.

However, seeing a god manifest their form was a first for him.

No, he had never even heard a story that such a thing had happened.

The Goddess of the Rusty Shield spoke.

—Upon Paladin Elbridge, I bestow the authority of blockade.

A tiny whisper.

However, there was no one in the Mountain City who did not hear that voice.