Paladin of a Fallen Order (Novel) - Chapter 8 - The Forepaw

Chapter 8 – The Forepaw

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Translated by Pratt

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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There was a joke now forgotten.

If you want to become a glorious paladin, serve the God of the Laurel Wreath.

If you want to become a paladin to hunt demons and magic beasts, follow the God of the Bloody Spear.

If you want to die before becoming a paladin, go seek out the Goddess of the Rusty Shield.

Because the paladins of the Order of the Rusty Shield used to undertake ‘slightly’ harsher missions compared to the paladins of other orders, their survival rate was also ‘a bit’ lower.

For instance, while the paladins of other orders of similar scale hovered around two hundred, the paladins of the Order of the Rusty Shield never exceeded ten.

However, the paladins of other orders did not harbor the question, ‘Why are there not even ten paladins of the Order of the Rusty Shield?’

Rather, they used to ask, ‘How do the paladins of the Order of the Rusty Shield keep their lineage from ending when they live putting their lives on the line?’

The secrets Elbridge thought of were three.

First, a person lacking in capability even slightly is never selected as an apprentice paladin.

Second, those who were not robust all died during their days as apprentice knights.

Third, because as long as they barely kept their lives, the Goddess of the Rusty Shield would save the paladins by any means necessary.

If a paladin of the Order of the Rusty Shield was a shield protecting the world, the Goddess of the Rusty Shield was a shield protecting her own paladins.

Therefore, Elbridge firmly believed that the Goddess of the Rusty Shield would resolve this difficulty as well.

*

As Elbridge was enveloped in a shroud of light, the bleeding soon stopped from his shredded arm, the broken bones aligned, and new flesh began to sprout from the wound.

Before long, when the pillar of light shooting down from the heavens subsided, Elbridge’s healing was already completed.

Elbridge slowly moved his shoulder, checking the condition of his right arm.

‘It still feels a bit stiff, but it seems completely healed.’

However, this was not a situation where Elbridge was fine by just recovering his body.

He also had to recover his holy power, which had dried up during the seal. In that respect, this battle had some achievements, however small.

Although the deity took away the heart, which contained the most fragments of the evil god, Elbridge was covered in the magic beast’s blood during the process of slaying the magic beast.

Since the fragments of the evil god contained within the magic beast’s blood were also a form of holy power, Elbridge could harbor holy power in his body for the first time in a long while.

Elbridge clenched his fist tightly. Although it was not yet at the level of a typical paladin or knight, his strength was certainly greater than a moment ago.

However, far from being satisfied, Elbridge felt a stronger thirst. Because this level of holy power was merely at the level of a drizzle falling on parched land.

Elbridge gathered his resolve.

‘…Let’s not be impatient. Right now, I should be grateful even for this much.’

When Elbridge finished checking his physical condition, Walter spoke in admiration.

“In all my life, it is the first time I see such direct and intense divine grace. To the point it feels as if the god is bestowing upon you alone the power that should be shared among all believers…”

“This too must be the Goddess’s grace.”

On the other hand, Marcus’s reaction was a bit subtle.

Even though he had ridden in at the risk of his life and created a decisive opportunity, Marcus fidgeted like a dog that needed to relieve itself.

“…Elbridge. Were you really a paladin?”

It seemed that having viewed Elbridge as a liar when they first met weighed on his mind. Elbridge spoke calmly.

“There is no need to feel sorry. I wouldn’t have believed it either. My beggar appearance was no ordinary beggar appearance, after all.”

“Mmh. Still…”

“If it really bothers you, please lend me a spare set of clothes.”

The Goddess had only healed Elbridge’s body; she could not restore his clothes to their original state. Consequently, Elbridge’s shirt was shredded into rags below the shoulders.

“I can give you something as simple as clothes. Wait a moment.”

While Elbridge was taking off his shirt, Marcus pulled out extra clothes and thought.

‘Although the situation is a bit awkward, it would be right to use this opportunity to ask where the temple serving the Goddess of the Rusty Shield is. If I mention Sir Elbridge’s name as the referrer, I will be able to convey my apologies decently…’

Thinking as such, Marcus turned around.

He saw Elbridge’s upper body, which was covered in scars. Marcus was left speechless.

“…”

To paladins, knights, and mercenaries, scars are medals.

However, even to the mercenary Marcus, the scars on Elbridge’s body were excessively numerous.

It was not simply that the count was high. Just looking at their locations and sizes, scars that appeared to be fatal wounds were abundant.

Therefore, Marcus’s impression was not, ‘Elbridge is an experienced paladin who overcame many battles!’ but closer to, ‘How is that fellow still alive until now?’

‘What kind of fate does the Goddess of the Rusty Shield bestow upon her believers?’

Marcus completely folded his thoughts of converting.

‘…I should just serve the God of the Sunshower even more wholeheartedly.’

However, unlike Marcus, Walter admired Elbridge’s upper body.

“Tremendous. To have such scars… I will certainly declare my support for the Goddess of the Rusty Shield at the end of the year.”

Elbridge’s eyes flew wide open.

The election determining the seats the deities will occupy in the Heavenly Council takes place during the last five days of every year.

Declaring support for the Goddess of the Rusty Shield at the end of the year was practically a declaration of conversion.

“Will you really be fine with that?”

“The Goddess of the Rusty Shield saved my life through you, so what does it matter to serve the Goddess of the Rusty Shield?”

“But you said you had many family members to support. And that you wanted your wife to live in luxury…”

“My children are all grown, and I have already earned more than enough money, so do not worry.”

If the conversation had ended around here, it would have been quite heartwarming and nice, but Walter’s words again began to point out somewhat realistic details.

“If I meet a priest of the Order of the Rusty Shield in the future, I will not forget to mention you as the referrer. Although I changed my faith once in the middle, I have served the God of the Golden Platter without wavering for the last thirty-odd years. You will be able to receive a considerable reward.”

He had thought this since before, but Walter tended to pay particular attention to referrers.

Was the referrer benefit that impressive, or did Walter possess a sort of religious thriftiness?

“…Thank you. However, you do not need to worry about referrers. Because as far as I know, a referrer system has not yet been introduced in our order.”

“In this day and age, there is no order without such a system. You had better look into it well. And… Sir Elbridge. How about going with me to the Riverford Barony?”

Elbridge shook his head.

“…I am sorry. Right now, I must go to the Holy City Solenion.”

Walter laughed.

“I am not telling you to settle down in the Riverford Barony forever. Since you suffered, I am merely suggesting to drop by for a meal, and catch your breath for a day or two. The Riverford Barony is small but prosperous. The Baron is also a good person.”

Treating Elbridge was likely sincere, but Walter seemed to need a witness.

A witness who would say that only two—or, stretching it a hundred paces, three including Marcus—had exterminated the magic beast.

Because he needed the Baron’s reward?

No. The old knight needed a boast, a new glory. Not memories faded and worn ragged from being chewed over hundreds of times, but a new boast.

“Hmm…”

However, Elbridge was still not very keen on that proposal. Because to go to the Riverford Barony, he had to trace back his steps, even if just a little.

Just as Elbridge was about to refuse again, Walter spoke.

“To express my gratitude, I will also give you a horse to ride on your way to Solenion. It is a bit old, but it is strong and gentle.”

“…!”

A horse is a very expensive animal.

Suddenly, he thought that abandoning Walter, who had even declared conversion, to go straight to Solenion was an action only a person with a severe character flaw would commit.

Furthermore, wasn’t Walter one of only two believers (prospective) in the world who followed the Goddess of the Rusty Shield?

Also, in terms of rank within the order, Walter was easily around the level of a cardinal. Though he himself was unaware of that fact.

“Of course I must go. Aren’t we friends who risked our lives to fight together?”

“Excellent. Marcus. Will you also come with me to the Riverford Barony?”

“Could I also get a horse by any chance? Even a packhorse is fine…”

“That is a bit…”

At Walter’s firm response, Marcus was visibly disappointed.

“Then that will be difficult. I must return to the Mercenary Guild and report the situation.”

“How about delaying the report a bit? Since your activity was not small, I want to reward you, even in a small way.”

“I cannot follow you right now. In the worst case, I could be branded as a mercenary who abandoned his mission and fled… If there is anything to deliver to me, you can leave it at the Mercenary Guild under Marcus’s name.”

Marcus concisely finished his words and departed.

Ultimately, Elbridge and Walter headed toward the Riverford Barony alone.

*

Around the evening of the next day, the two arrived in the Riverford Barony.

The Riverford Barony was a small city. A windmill turning leisurely on a hill, as if indifferent to whatever happened in the world, was particularly impressive.

He also liked the bright expressions of the fief’s residents.

The atmosphere of a fief naturally followed the lord’s character. Walter’s words that Baron Riverford was a good person seemed to be no lie.

‘Perhaps it is because it’s a peaceful era.’

Walter spoke to Elbridge in front of the cozy castle.

“I will go report the mission results, so please wait here for a moment.”

“Understood.”

Before Elbridge could even briefly look around the castle, Walter returned in an instant and spoke to Elbridge.

“Sir Elbridge. Our lord wishes to treat you to dinner… Would that be alright?”

“It is fine.”

Entering the castle along with Walter, Elbridge looked around the surroundings.

Calling it a castle was merely in name; it was at the level of a stone mansion with a large yard.

‘The fief is prosperous, yet the castle is only this much… It seems Baron Riverford is not of a character to enjoy luxury.’

Befitting a cozy castle, as soon as they walked past the training ground, the dining room doubling as a reception room appeared.

It was an extremely practical way to treat a guest.

Even if they invited a guest to treat them to a meal, it was normal to move to the dining room after sharing simple conversation first.

Walter introduced Elbridge to the Baron.

“My lord. I brought Sir Elbridge.”

The Baron was a middle-aged man who was slightly balding, and possessed a round, good-natured impression.

Sitting beside the Baron was a boy who looked similar to him. Surely he was the Baron’s son.

Elbridge found the sparkling eyes of the Baron and his son a bit burdensome.

Even before Elbridge could pay simple courtesies, the Baron spoke, seemingly slightly excited.

“I also tend to dislike stiff atmospheres, so make yourself comfortable as if in your own home. I hear Sir Elbridge is a grand paladin?”

“You flatter me.”

“Nonsense. I have watched Sir Walter since childhood, and it is the first time I see Sir Walter listing someone else’s tales in such an excited state.”

Listening to the Baron, Walter replied with an embarrassed expression.

“…I have never in my life seen a paladin as skilled as Sir Elbridge.”

“It’s not easy to see Sir Walter this surprised, after all!”

“There were just that many things to be surprised by. The healing power was also as marvelous as Sir Elbridge’s skill. Though I have devoured countless documents related to the gods of the heavens, I have never heard that the Goddess of the Rusty Shield possesses a healing power… I wonder if it is comparable to the healing power said to be held by the Goddess of Spring Rain and Moss.”

Walter’s knowledge was accurate in many ways.

The Goddess of the Rusty Shield could delay death so that a paladin’s life would not end, but she did not have the power to heal wounds.

In that case, what was the deal with the power that healed Elbridge?

The answer was surprisingly simple. It was the healing power bestowed not by the Goddess of the Rusty Shield, but by the Goddess of Spring Rain and Moss.

The Goddess of Spring Rain and Moss was a deity possessing the most powerful authority of healing and recovery.

At the same time, she was also known as the deity with the closest friendship with the Goddess of the Rusty Shield. Should it be called a so-called best friend?

Thanks to that deep friendship, the Goddess of the Rusty Shield came to possess a power highly similar to healing. It was precisely the power to throw a tantrum at the Goddess of Spring Rain and Moss to make her heal her own paladin.

This was a power unrecorded in any documents, but the paladins serving the Goddess of the Rusty Shield knew its existence very well.

Once his thoughts reached that point, Elbridge became a little worried.

Receiving a single magic beast’s heart to heal Elbridge’s arm was a deal that could not possibly be profitable for the Goddess of Spring Rain and Moss.

Even more so since he had heard that for a deity to bestow power upon a believer of another order required far more effort than usual.

‘No matter how close the friendship between the two Goddesses is, they must have agreed to tack on some more compensation…’

However, Elbridge had no way of knowing immediately what transaction took place in the heavens. Even if he knew, he had no way to provide help right away.

In the end, Elbridge decided to just focus on the meal.

‘It’s a taste that makes my mind wander.’

Although the dishes treated by the Baron did not contain particularly luxurious ingredients, the taste was good and the portion was generous. It combined the two most important virtues a dish should possess.

“So, at that moment, I used my spear to pierce its eye…”

“Ohhh!”

While the harmonious meal continued in full swing along with Walter’s tale of valor, Baron Riverford’s butler entered the dining-room-cum-reception-room and spoke.

“My lord. Sir Eberhart and Sir Oswald have arrived.”

They were names that Walter and the merchant who fled had briefly mentioned.

Something about the wolf magic beast appearing in the Dickens Viscountcy, and Baron Riverford dispatching two knights to support Viscount Dickens.

‘Since Sir Walter and I dealt with the wolf magic beast, those two must have made a fruitless trip.’

The Baron replied good-naturedly.

“They came just at the right time. Tell them to dine together with us. To introduce Sir Elbridge as well.”

A moment later, Sir Eberhart and Sir Oswald entered the reception room. Puffing out their chests, highly triumphantly.

However, in the hand of one knight, a large sack that did not suit the reception room was held.

The two knights paid courtesies simultaneously.

“We greet the lord.”

“You worked hard. Sit over there. Ah, this side is Sir Elbridge. A paladin of grand skill.”

The two knights glanced at Elbridge, then let out a very small snicker.

That was the entirety of the two’s reaction toward Elbridge.

“…”

It was a somewhat impolite behavior, but the Baron seemed not to have seen the two’s actions.

Elbridge also had no intention to bother questioning the two’s rudeness. Elbridge’s appearance was still a bit shabby, after all.

Rather, what drew Elbridge’s interest was a different sensation.

The faint gamey odor and scent of blood wafting ever since the two entered.

One knight, whether it was Eberhart or Oswald, knelt on one knee before the Baron.

And spoke.

“It is the trophy of this battle. We offer the token of valor to our lord.”

The knight spoke as such and opened the sack.

An animal’s forepaw, which must easily have been two spans in size, was inside it.

Claws sharper than a typical dagger were extremely impressive.

And, the shape of that forepaw was slightly familiar.

The Baron asked the knight.

“What is this?”

The knight replied.

“It is the forepaw of the wolf magic beast we exterminated together with Viscount Dickens’s knights.”

The atmosphere of the dining room became slightly chilly.