Paladin of a Fallen Order (Novel) - Chapter 35 - Mountain City Barkuntol (Part 5)
Chapter 35 – Mountain City Barkuntol (Part 5)
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Translated by Pratt
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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—Upon Paladin Elbridge, I bestow the authority of blockade.
With those words as the last, the Goddess’s form turned into a cluster of light and scattered.
And then, two large pillars appeared from the empty air and fell.
Rumble—
The two pillars did not fall but were firmly embedded in the ground.
They were circular pillars that one might only see in a temple. Their size was also larger than those of ordinary temples. Would it not take two people to embrace a single pillar?
That was only the beginning, as huge pillars appeared one after another in the empty air and fell.
Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud.
They were not falling at random. The arrangement of the pillars driven into the ground drew a huge square.
The structure was like a huge temple, and the only path to go in and out was a single entrance opened in the front.
And at the only exit, the paladin who had been bestowed the authority stood alone, so what the authority of blockade meant was clear.
That if one wanted to escape this blockade, they had to break through Elbridge.
Elbridge raised his left arm holding the shield and spoke.
“Come.”
*
In the past, the reason there was no end of people wanting to become paladins of the Order of the Rusty Shield was that the mortality rate of the paladins of the Order of the Rusty Shield was high.
It was a paradoxical story, but such was the truth.
In those days, the Goddess of the Rusty Shield had to distribute authority equivalent to around twenty seats to as few as five, or at most ten paladins.
On the other hand, in the case of other orders with similar numbers of seats, the number of paladins was around a hundred.
The number of seats was similar, but the number of paladins was desperately small.
This meant one fact: if one could only survive in the Order of the Rusty Shield, an enormous authority was guaranteed.
It was not just two or three times. Compared to ordinary orders, at least ten times and up to more than twenty times the authority was guaranteed. To paladins who felt the limits of their strength at every moment, that was a massive temptation.
Such characteristics of the Order of the Rusty Shield brought about a slight lack of experience to Elbridge now.
Elbridge had never utilized the authority when the order’s influence was withered like now.
Immediately after unfolding the authority of blockade, Elbridge’s impression was regret.
‘…It is a bit tighter than I thought.’
63, 62, 61…
One who unfolded the authority of blockade could instinctively know how long the authority would last.
Once the allowed authority was fully exhausted, the authority of blockade would also disappear.
And the authority allowed to Elbridge right now was not plentiful.
In the past, even if he manifested other authorities at the same time, he could have a time margin of at least hundreds, or generally thousands, of units.
57, 56, 55…
Looking back, the Goddess of the Rusty Shield had clearly warned Elbridge.
That she could bestow the authority upon him, but how long it would last depended entirely on Elbridge.
That the livelihood of a small order without a single seat was tight was, in a way, natural.
52, 51, 50…
Elbridge glanced at Rombel.
Although Rombel was an outstanding warrior, he could not cross to the other side and strike off the head of the warping-type magic beast in such a short time.
However, just as the Goddess of the Rusty Shield had said, Elbridge had a way to buy time.
Elbridge said, raising the shield on his left arm.
“Come.”
As if responding to Elbridge’s words, there was a magic beast that reacted immediately.
An appearance that vaguely resembled a deer. However, it was a magic beast that was excessively large, splendid, and had sharp antlers to be called a deer.
47, 46…
The magic beast kicked off the ground and rushed toward Elbridge.
‘Metallic luster. Enhanced-type. The degree of luster is not uniform. A weak individual that has not yet escaped the early stage.’
The magic beast bowed its head. It was clear that it intended to ram and impale Elbridge with its sharp antlers.
An ordinary person would have blocked the deer’s antlers with their shield, but Elbridge did not hold the shield straight up but tilted it obliquely. As if intending to use the side of the shield.
Strength was tightly loaded into Elbridge’s waist and both legs, which were enhanced with divine power.
45, 44…
And, collision.
In the past, he might have been sent flying, unable to withstand the strength of an enhanced-type magic beast.
However, Elbridge’s physical ability had now recovered to about half of his past level. He could somehow withstand the physical strength of an early-stage enhanced-type magic beast. Thanks to the gauntlets imbued with strength-enhancing magic, there was no worry of losing his grip on the shield handle.
Elbridge’s obliquely tilted shield got caught between the magic beast’s antlers.
The magic beast’s antlers and Elbridge’s shield made contact and slid.
Screeech—
‘Now!’
The muscles of Elbridge’s left arm, chest, and shoulder expanded to the utmost.
43.
As Elbridge flung the shield violently upward, the head of the magic beast, whose antlers were caught on the shield, was also bounced upward. The magic beast’s neck was clearly exposed before Elbridge’s eyes.
Elbridge swung the sword held in his right arm.
As expected of an enhanced-type magic beast, the sensation caught in his hand was solid. However, it was not enough to block Elbridge’s sword.
Splurt, hot blood sprayed.
42. 41.
Thud.
The magic beast collapsed to the floor.
Without hesitating even a bit, Elbridge pierced the magic beast’s heart with a clean movement.
“I dedicate this heart to the Goddess.”
The corpse of the magic beast scattered like sand and disappeared.
74. 73. 72…
With this, the time allowed to Elbridge became longer than before he disposed of the single magic beast.
‘Good.’
The task remaining for Elbridge was to repeat this process until the end of the battle.
As if nothing had happened, Elbridge took a step back again and waited for the next enemy.
“Next.”
*
The dwarves of the mountain city saw a new possibility in the face of despair.
A powerful authority seen for the first time in their lives, and Elbridge’s movements of lightly cutting the neck and piercing the heart of the magic beast as if twisting a child’s wrist.
The dwarves let out cheers at the top of their lungs.
“Ohhh—!”
Subsequently, the gazes of the dwarves who were close to Marcus turned toward Marcus.
The eyes of the dwarves were speaking.
‘Hey, you came together with that paladin, didn’t you? You can do that much too, right?’
…It was not a simple misunderstanding.
Marcus had never faced so many gazes and expectations in his entire life. Who would harbor such expectations for a shabby mercenary?
At this rate, it was not that he was afraid of the magic beast, but he could not move because of the dwarves’ excessive expectations.
While Marcus was hesitating, a solemn oracle came down from the high heavens and reached Marcus’s ears.
—You punk. Pull yourself together…
This was the second time the God of the Sunshower sent an oracle to Marcus.
As Marcus startled and came to his senses, the God of the Sunshower started nagging.
—Just try to get caught in Elbridge’s eyes while lingering here. What do you think will happen? He will tell you to get lost immediately. Hurry up and fight bravely. If your skill is lacking, you should at least work hard…
Not knowing what to do with himself, Marcus asked back.
“But, God of the Sunshower. I have not won against a magic beast even once while coming to the Red Mountains.”
—How undisciplined…
“Yes?”
—It was because you grew lazy since reliable companions were protecting you behind your back. But now, since neither Elbridge nor Rombel can help you, you will actually be able to win. Your victory is assured, so do not worry.
“Is that true?”
—Yes. I can see the future that will approach you.
Disloyal doubt sprouted within Marcus’s heart.
Because the oracle given by the God of the Sunshower sounded like a swindler’s bluff.
Swindlers habitually spout things like, ‘This time it is really for sure.’
As if sensing Marcus’s disbelief, the God of the Sunshower added a word.
—Besides, unlike the magic beasts you have faced until now, doesn’t the magic beast you were chasing just look like a total weakling at first glance…
This was an oracle that Marcus could also agree with. Because Marcus had followed the one that looked the easiest to handle among the magic beasts that rushed out as the iron gate collapsed.
The magic beast, which looked like a pitch-black clump of dust, had neither sharp claws nor teeth.
—I will take full responsibility for whatever happens next, so fight bravely. Off you go!
Marcus drew his sword as if being pushed.
However, thanks to the oracle, his mind became at ease.
‘Taking responsibility. Does that mean he will bestow some great authority at a dangerous moment?’
Marcus examined the magic beast’s appearance as he had learned from Elbridge and Rombel.
One small eye. The body was pitch black, round, and shaggy. The size was barely reaching a person’s waist at most.
Marcus recalled the memories of the magic beasts he had encountered on the way to the Red Mountains, and the stories he had heard from Elbridge and Rombel.
‘It is definitely not an enhanced-type. It does not seem to be an elemental-type or warping-type either. Amorphous-type? Plague-type? Or is it that one called special-type? No. It might just be a weakling that is neither here nor there. They said not all magic beasts are powerful.’
So that he could step back at any time if an unexpected situation arose, Marcus swung his sword in a slightly awkward stance.
The magic beast that resembled a clump of dust tried to avoid Marcus’s sword, but its movement was not fast enough. Marcus’s sword slashed the magic beast.
Slice.
Perhaps because it was a magic beast, it felt tougher than an ordinary animal.
‘It was just cut?’
A lion would not think it strange to strike and kill another animal with its forepaw, but a rabbit would feel a sense of incompatibility if it bit and killed another animal with its front teeth.
Since Marcus clearly belonged to the latter, he threw his body to the side as if bouncing.
Splurt—
Body fluid was shot from the magic beast’s wound.
The fluid flew past Marcus’s shoulder and the side of his head and touched the ground. Then, smoke rose as the ground bubbled.
“…”
Thinking about what would have happened if he had been hit by that body fluid made him shiver.
If it had been a situation where Elbridge or Rombel could help, Marcus would not have been tense enough, and he would not have been able to avoid that fluid either.
Marcus continued his judgment.
‘It won’t be able to shoot body fluid infinitely. Seeing that the fluid is still dripping little by little even now, shooting it once or twice would probably be the limit…’
Marcus swung his sword toward the magic beast, being careful of the body fluid.
Sure enough, the magic beast shot body fluid once or twice more, but the amount was not as much as the first time.
It could not even shoot fluid after the fourth time. Gaining a hundredfold courage, Marcus swung his sword and increased the wounds on the magic beast.
‘It’s the end!’
At the moment Marcus was about to swing his sword greatly for the last time, he saw the magic beast’s single eye flash.
‘Is it a final struggle?’
The final struggle was indeed the most dangerous. Marcus immediately twisted his body greatly.
However, Marcus was not as fast as Elbridge or Rombel.
A sharp thorn sprouted from the magic beast’s pitch-black body and pierced Marcus’s flank.
“Argh!”
Because his flank was impaled, he could not budge an inch. If a similar attack flew in one more time, it was a situation where he would have to give up his life just like that.
However, the fear of death was not felt. Rather, anger and resentment surged.
‘I won almost all of it, but I lose like this?’
Marcus looked up at the sky. Because it came to mind that the God of the Sunshower had loudly promised to take responsibility for whatever happened next.
However, neither the form of a god nor a cluster of light was visible.
A fact suddenly came to mind: the type of person who spouted things like, ‘I’ll take responsibility for everything. Just trust me,’ was nine times out of ten a swindler.
‘…’
At that moment, an unexpected ally appeared.
One of the dwarves who had been watching the fight between Marcus and the magic beast until now rushed in holding a pickaxe and struck down the magic beast.
Crunch—
Dwarves were born much stronger than humans. The pickaxe swung by the dwarf with all his might pierced straight through the magic beast, which was not in a very good state.
Only then did the thorn that had pierced his flank contract and slip out of Marcus’s body.
The sensation of divine power being absorbed from the magic beast’s corpse was also vaguely felt.
As Marcus staggered slightly, the dwarf who had swung the pickaxe cried out in panic.
“Hey, mister! The wound is severe!”
“I was careless and got stabbed a little. It’s nothing.”
Marcus’s reply was calm, unlike usual.
Because there were too many dwarves watching, he could not make a fuss.
The only saving grace was that, perhaps because he was too excited, he did not feel the pain very well.
Marcus spoke loudly.
“Remember that the brand has been engraved anyway! Even if you run away, you will only die! And—”
Marcus took another deep breath and then shouted as if squeezing it out.
“The magic beasts that entered the city are not strong! If you attack without fear, you can suppress them! Those who can fight, add even a little bit of your strength!”
If one won with overwhelming skill like Elbridge, people would just admire and long for it.
However, seeing a mediocre person like Marcus winning made them think that they, too, might be able to copy it somehow.
In that respect, Marcus’s mediocre victory certainly had implications.
Quite a few dwarves pulled themselves together thanks to Marcus.
And they entered their houses and appeared holding things that could be used as weapons.
Only a tiny minority of dwarves had decent weapons. The vast majority held shovels, hammers, pickaxes, and the like.
But that much was enough. Had they not just killed a magic beast with a pickaxe a moment ago?
The dwarves gathered in groups of three or five and swarmed toward the iron gate.
*
Rombel watched Elbridge’s battle.
Elbridge was swinging his sword like a crazy man.
His movements were concise, and he never missed an opportunity.
‘He’s holding out well.’
Considering the influence of the Order of the Rusty Shield, there was no way the authority of blockade could be maintained for long. Yet right now, the authority of blockade seemed like it would end but did not end. It was because the speed at which Elbridge caught and killed magic beasts and dedicated their corpses to the Goddess was too fast.
‘He fights well now, just as he did in the past…’
However, Elbridge’s stamina was not infinite. Before it was too late, Rombel took the stairs next to the iron gate and stealthily moved toward the side gate.
Although the stairs were also slightly broken as the gate collapsed, he could manage to go up.
Squeeeak—
Rombel carefully opened the iron gate and looked to the other side.
A significant number of the magic beasts were trapped in the authority of blockade deployed by the Goddess of the Rusty Shield and Elbridge, and the vast majority of the magic beasts not trapped in the authority of blockade also had all their attention focused on Elbridge’s battle.
Rombel looked toward the other side of the battlefield, the edge of Bronzimmar.
He could see the warping-type magic beast, which had finished its role as the devil’s passage, lying limp and resting.
‘That bastard.’
Rombel touched his forehead.
When the devil’s eye appeared through the mouth of the warping-type magic beast, the brand was not engraved on Elbridge’s and Marcus’s foreheads. It was because the two of them were receiving the direct protection of a god.
However, on Rombel’s forehead, a brand far darker than that of any other dwarf was engraved. Unlike other dwarves who served the God of the Steel Anvil, the reason was that Rombel had continued a life unrelated to a god for almost two hundred years.
Holding his large double-bitted axe tightly, Rombel carefully stepped across to the other side of the side gate.
As he walked stealthily along the streets of Bronzimmar while suppressing signs of his presence, all sorts of thoughts came to mind. Naturally, the most impressive among them was Elbridge’s active performance.
‘An authority, huh.’
Elbridge’s proposal to enter the Order of the Rusty Shield came to mind.
How great a help would it be if he could utilize a god’s authority like Elbridge?
Even in the distant past, Rombel had inwardly envied the authority of combat orders, and among them, what he had yearned for the most was the overwhelming authority of the Order of the Rusty Shield. That heart was the same even now.
However, he could not offer a prayer to the Goddess of the Rusty Shield. Since that would only result in snatching the authority that would go to Elbridge.
It did not have to be the Order of the Rusty Shield. There were many names of combat orders that Rombel remembered.
The Order of the Bloody Spear, the Order of the Laurel Wreath, the Order of the Staghorn, the Order of the Chain and Axe, the Order of the Echoes of War…
Any order would do. If a warrior of Rombel’s caliber only offered a prayer, any god would readily bestow authority upon Rombel.
‘No. I can’t.’
Rombel pulled himself together.
The moment he depended on a god, Rombel would become unable to fully achieve the goal he had etched in his mind for two hundred years.
Rombel had not lived as an unbeliever for over two hundred years just for such a result.
Rombel did not approach the warping-type magic beast head-on but approached it stealthily from the side through the edge of Bronzimmar.
He gradually got closer to the warping-type magic beast.
Fortunately, the magic beast showed no sign of noticing Rombel’s approach.
Pale skin. Abnormally long arms. And he could clearly see it slumped down, perhaps because it was exhausted from projecting the devil’s power.
Compared to other magic beasts, the physical ability of a warping-type magic beast was insignificant.
He would probably be able to slice it easily with a single blow of his axe.
Thinking so, Rombel raised his gaze slightly.
And Rombel felt a sense of incompatibility.
The magic beast was still slumped down.
However, the direction of its mouth was different. Until just a moment ago, the magic beast’s mouth had been facing the direction of the collapsed iron gate.
But now, Rombel faced the magic beast’s mouth directly head-on.
He could see the corners of the magic beast’s mouth rising.
Rombel muttered.
“Cunning bastard.”
The magic beast opened its mouth wide.
From within the mouth, a giant forearm of a devil popped out and flew toward Rombel.