Paladin of a Fallen Order (Novel) - Chapter 92 - Corwin (Part 2)

Chapter 92 – Corwin (Part 2)

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Translated by Pratt

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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The conversation between Elbridge and Corwin was cut short as soon as it began. This was because Sonya launched a magic spell.

“Die, you bastard!”

A fireball twice the size of a human head was shot toward Corwin.

However, Corwin swung his arm and deflected the fireball. That was not something that could be done by sheer skill alone.

‘Mage-Tower-crafted armor?’

Since Corwin was the Chief Paladin of a combat order, it was only natural for him to possess at least one piece of Mage-Tower-crafted armor.

But Sonya was swept by an even deeper rage.

“Let’s see who dies first, you or me!”

Sonya’s staff aimed at Corwin once again.

“Calm down, Sonya.”

Elbridge restrained Sonya. However, Sonya did not care.

After all, in front of the enemy who had taken everything from her, there was no way she could easily calm down.

At that moment, Marcus grabbed both of Sonya’s upper arms and spoke.

“Sonya. Why don’t you cool your head for a moment?”

At that, Sonya began to gag.

“Ugh!”

“W-What? What’s wrong with her?”

To the panicked Marcus, Rombel spoke.

“Hey, you idiot. Why would you touch a mage in the middle of casting?”

“Is that not allowed?”

“…What does this guy actually know?”

However, the desired result was achieved nonetheless.

Since Sonya was dry-heaving, she was unable to cast.

It was quite a noisy farce. Yet, the heavy atmosphere did not ease up.

Elbridge, holding the hilt of his sword, looked at Corwin.

“Corwin. I will give you one last chance. Try to persuade me.”

Chief Paladin Corwin opened his mouth.

“Sir Elbridge. What kind of people do you think the paladins of the Order of the Bloody Spear are?”

“What do you mean, what kind of people?”

“I mean, for what reason do you think they became paladins?”

It was a topic Elbridge had never thought about.

In the past, those who harbored rage volunteered to become paladins.

But now it was different. Until not long ago, the world was reasonably peaceful.

The paladins of non-combat orders were a sort of honorary title, so that was understandable, but in this world, was there any reason to live as a paladin of a combat order?

When Elbridge’s answer was delayed, Corwin nodded slowly.

“As expected, you do not know. Then let me ask you again. Do you know the name Alberada?”

Elbridge repeated the name a couple of times.

Alberada. Alberada.

It did not take a long time to recall the face of his old comrade-in-arms.

“Alberada the singing one. He grumbled about how hard it was to maintain, yet he cherished his hair. He sang as beautifully as his nickname suggested.”

“So you do know. Sir Alberada is my ancestor.”

Elbridge warned him.

“Kid. Do not think you can gloss over this by utilizing blood ties. Your transgression is not something that can be forgiven with just that.”

“Of course, that is not the reason why I brought it up.”

Corwin slowly listed the names of people.

“Alberada, Benedetta, Godric, Isolde, Drogo, Tancred, and Corwin.”

“Except for Alberada and you, the rest are names I am hearing for the first time.”

“Probably so. Since what I just recited is the genealogy of my family from Sir Alberada down to me. And every one of them was also a paladin of the Order of the Bloody Spear. Why do you think every single descendant of Sir Alberada became a paladin?”

Elbridge did not know the reason.

Similarly, Corwin did not expect Elbridge to know the reason either.

“Two hundred years ago, the age of tribulation came to an end. However, the heroes of old were individuals who had never lived in a peaceful era. Naturally, they believed that new paladins were necessary.”

“They must have.”

“But since most of the demons had vanished, not many people wished to become paladins. Ultimately, the paladins chose the path of passing down their duty to their children. It was the same thereafter. The descendants of the heroes repeatedly transmitted the obligation to their offspring. Even now, most paladins of the combat orders are descendants of the heroes from that era.”

Elbridge occasionally discovered the faces of his old comrades in the countenances of the present-day paladins.

Until now, he had brushed it off, thinking it was a simple illusion. But if what Corwin said was true, it might not have been a mere illusion.

“In that manner, the duty was passed down through generations. At the very least, the paladins of old were respected. The people of the past knew the reason why they should respect a paladin. But as time flowed, the situation changed. People began to treat us as useless fools. Sir Elbridge. You probably do not know what that feels like.”

In Elbridge’s life, a paladin had always been an object of respect and admiration. It was not much different now, even after he had awakened from the seal.

But the life Corwin had experienced must have been entirely different.

Yet, Elbridge could not agree with Corwin’s story.

“Do not make excuses. It was a matter of just quitting and leaving.”

“No. I could not quit. For me to refuse my duty and leave would be tantamount to admitting that my own life, as well as the two hundred years of my ancestors, were all in vain.”

Corwin let out a deep sigh.

“I wished for my child not to lead a life like mine. That is why I did not marry. Because if they do not exist, there is no reason for them to bear the obligation. Because that is the only way my child would not have to shoulder the duty. A life of being bound without any recompense is that painful.”

It was a sort of lamentation. Yet, rage boiled within Elbridge’s chest.

Even as he listened to the story, he had harbored lingering doubts.

‘Did he really commit such a massive act for that kind of petty reason?’

Elbridge’s voice grew harsh.

“In the end, doesn’t it just mean you want a reward? Foolish child. The ones who suffered to the point of death were me, Rombel, and your ancestor Alberada. So why do you think you are the one who should receive the reward?”

“No. I do not mind even if there is no reward. What matters is the role. A human being cannot endure a life where their role is not recognized.”

“Just because you want to be recognized, just to demonstrate the value of your role, you would turn the world into a hell? You would draw in enemies just to find meaning in a watchman’s life? You have committed an absurd act out of your own foolish dogmatism. Corwin.”

At that, Corwin laughed.

“This is not my sole dogmatism. Because the God of the Bloody Spear also agreed. The same goes for the gods of other combat orders. The Laurel Wreath, the Staghorn, and several other minor orders…”

Elbridge felt a wave of dizziness.

To think that the lunatic committing this mad act was not just one person. Furthermore, to think that such fools were numerous not only on earth but also in the heavens.

The Goddess of the Rusty Shield, flustered, delivered an oracle.

– The gods of the combat orders agreed? Elbridge. Your goddess did not. No one has ever made such a proposal to me.

Elbridge lowered his voice and whispered.

“Goddess. You don’t mean that you rejected it, but rather that you were never even offered the proposal?”

– That is precisely what I mean, Elbridge.

Though it was a thought unfitting for the situation, Elbridge grew slightly concerned about the Goddess of the Rusty Shield.

Could the Goddess be getting ostracized in the heavens?

‘No. It’s likely because they knew the Goddess would never agree, so they didn’t even try to recruit her…’

Corwin spoke again.

“And even if, by some chance, we did desire a reward, you are in no position to condemn us, Sir Elbridge.”

“Why do you think so?”

“Because you, more than anyone, are enjoying the greatest fruit—and reward. Instead of suffering inside the seal for eternity, you have returned to the world and are being revered. The fallen order has also stood tall. Is that not so?”

Corwin met Elbridge’s eyes.

“It is a simple situation. Just as our combat orders’ interests aligned with theirs, your interests also align with ours. As long as our interests coincide, there is no reason to be at odds.”

Elbridge’s ears perked up.

‘Them?’

It sounded as though there were others outside the combat orders who desired this situation.

Depending on how one thought about it, it could even feel as if ‘they’ were the ones orchestrating this situation.

‘Who would qualify as an outsider to the combat orders?’

Non-combat orders? The gods of the non-combat orders?

Whatever the case, it was not them. The non-combat orders were the faction suffering the greatest damage in the current situation.

Someone who was neither of the combat orders nor the non-combat orders. And yet, who would desire the emergence of demons?

No one immediately came to mind in this binary world.

‘No. Actually, there is one person who comes to mind.’

Elbridge stole a glance at Rombel. And then he slowly turned his head away.

‘…Well, at least it’s not him.’

Rombel desperately wished to become a god. In a way, his interests aligned with theirs.

At times, he was quite clever and reasonably quick-witted. But now, as in the past, he was not what one would call smart. Nor did he have the ability to paint a grand picture.

Perhaps interpreting Elbridge’s prolonged silence in a certain way, Corwin’s voice grew a level softer.

“Sir Elbridge. What you must do does not change in the slightest.”

“What I must do?”

“Joining hands with the combat orders and fighting demons. Isn’t that what you have always done? It is also what you must do in the future.”

Elbridge let out a hollow laugh.

“Do not take me for a fool? If you are going to just release the demons I barely managed to seal all over again, what meaning is there in my fight?”

“We have no intention of going that far.”

“How very reassuring.”

“I swear by the God of the Bloody Spear.”

“Are you referring to that god who is in cahoots with you?”

Elbridge reacted sharply, but Corwin grew even calmer instead.

“You sneer like that now, but in the end, you will stand with us.”

“Why do you think so?”

“Because you have no other choice, Sir Elbridge. Can you fight alone without the help of the Laurel Wreath, the Staghorn, and other combat orders? Can you accomplish everything while sparing yourself?”

The fact that Elbridge was the sole paladin was the greatest weakness of the Order of the Rusty Shield.

Just as there were tasks that only a select few outstanding individuals could achieve, there were inevitably tasks that required many people.

“Sir Elbridge. I will give you plenty of time to ponder. But in the end, you will need our assistance.”

Elbridge thought, striving to suppress his emotions.

‘He isn’t wrong.’

Thinking coolly, the deed was already done.

Whether he wished it or not, the wheel was turning, and Elbridge needed people to fight alongside him.

The problem was only one.

That he thoroughly, utterly disliked this situation.

‘…Still, do I have no choice but to stand with them for now?’

Elbridge held his throbbing head and silently offered a prayer.

“Goddess. What do you wish for me to do?”

– Your goddess’s role is to watch over you and lend you strength, not to choose your path for you.

It was reassuring and supportive, but it was not an oracle that would influence his judgment.

Elbridge looked back.

Sonya was filled with anxiety, not knowing what judgment Elbridge would make. Yet, her expression was half-resigned.

Rombel appeared to have no thoughts at all. It was not that he failed to comprehend the situation, but rather his reaction indicated that he did not care how it turned out.

Marcus, unlike Rombel, had a complex expression. He was likely fully occupied with thinking about how to conduct himself.

At that moment, Elbridge read a faint emotion in Marcus’s expression.

‘Anxiety?’

Why was Marcus anxious right now? Was there a reason for him to be anxious?

And then, a thought flashed through Elbridge’s mind.

Elbridge looked ahead.

“Corwin, descendant of Alberada. I have received an oracle before.”

“No doubt you have. What oracle did the Goddess of the Rusty Shield deliver?”

“No. It was not an oracle delivered by the Goddess of the Rusty Shield.”

Corwin’s expression was filled with question.

“Are you saying that a god of another order delivered an oracle to you?”

“Yes. The God of the Sunshower gave me advice.”

“The God of the Sunshower…”

“At that time, I thought he delivered the oracle because of the immediate matters at hand… but it wasn’t. The God of the Sunshower had foreseen that a moment like this would arrive.”

“What oracle was it?”

“The God of the Sunshower spoke like this.”

Elbridge composed his voice and replied calmly.

“As of now, it does not matter if you turn all the combat orders into enemies.”

“…!”

Corwin, who had been calm throughout, immediately gripped his short spear.

But Elbridge was superior, faster, and was even already gripping his sword.

Swish.

Before one could even realize Elbridge’s shoulder had blurred, a beam of white light flashed past the vicinity of Corwin’s neck.

Elbridge retrieved his sword.

Elbridge did not speak the latter part of the oracle. Yet, Marcus knew all too well what the succeeding words were.

‘For before long, everyone will kneel before you and beg for your help.’

Corwin’s head slid down and rolled across the floor.