Paladin of a Ruined Order - Chapter 114

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Order

Chapter 114: Silver-Gray Knight (2)

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Count Hebron, the man ultimately responsible for the fortress, had no intention of simply leaving the Silver-Gray Knight alone.

For three days, Count Hebron considered how to defeat the Silver-Gray Knight before finally announcing a straightforward plan.

He would mobilize more capable people than before, and in greater numbers.

"They're planning to defeat that four-armed thing with thirty carefully selected Paladins and Knights."

Murvach was the one who brought the news to Elbridge's group.

Though he was a Mercenary, Murvach seemed to have built quite a reputation. Unlike ordinary mercenary captains, he was allowed to attend meetings chaired by Count Hebron.

"...Thirty."

That was quite a large number. At least they wouldn't have any problems due to a lack of manpower.

"Do you know which churches will be participating?"

"Chain and Axe Church, Order of the Laurel Wreath, Echoes of War Church."

Elbridge was fairly familiar with those churches, so he nodded.

Yet Murvach's list showed no sign of ending.

"Third Hand, Burning Torch, Oath of Dawn, Prayer Above the Sword, Seven Rings..."

"Wait. How many churches are there?"

"Fifteen churches, two people from each. They plan to handle unexpected situations using a variety of divine powers."

Elbridge shook his head.

"That's foolish. They're overlooking the most fundamental point."

Rombel crossed his arms and nodded.

Everyone except Rombel looked as though they had no idea what the problem was, including Marcus, Sonia, the three elves, Murvach, and his subordinates.

"What fundamental point?"

"One god's divine power tends to push away another god's divine power. If the divine powers of fifteen churches are mixed together in one battle, it'll have the opposite effect."

Murvach snorted.

"Elbridge, was it? You're the one who doesn't understand. Since the beginning of this year alone, several demons have been subdued at Hebron Fortress. There have even been times when more than ten churches deployed together."

"Mr. Murvach. Among the demons you've faced so far, has even one been as small as this one?"

"What does its size have to do with anything?"

Elbridge asked in return.

"Imagine ten hungry people sitting before a large roast turkey. What do you think would happen?"

"It might not be quite enough food... but they'd still manage a decent meal."

"What if they were given one partridge?"

"There wouldn't be nearly enough. It'd be hard for anyone to get even a piece of meat."

"That's right. But I'm not talking about whether there's enough food. The question is whether they can eat properly. If ten people all reach for a small partridge at once, it won't be a meal. It'll be a mess."

A turkey was large. Even if ten people reached for it at once, there would be no particular problem.

But if they all reached for a small partridge, their hands would inevitably get in each other's way. They'd be lucky if they didn't start fighting.

"When facing a large demon, there's less interference even if several churches use their divine powers at once. But when facing a small demon, the interference inevitably becomes severe."

In the battle where the Archdemon had been sealed in the past, a battle that required every bit of strength they could gather, only seven churches had been able to participate.

If divine power interference did not exist, there would have been no need to limit the number of churches taking part in the battle against the Archdemon. Perhaps dozens or even hundreds of churches could have gathered their Paladins and subdued the Archdemon by pouring out each church's divine power.

But that had been impossible from the beginning.

Divine power interference was common knowledge to every Paladin.

It just wasn't common knowledge in this era.

Murvach asked Elbridge, "Are you certain about what you just said?"

Murvach stared directly at Elbridge. Elbridge met Murvach's black eyes and nodded firmly.

"I can take responsibility for it."

"Good attitude. But the responsibility isn't yours. It's mine. Come with me."

Murvach stood, and Elbridge followed him.

* * *

Murvach headed toward a crude stone building in the center of Hebron Fortress. It was Count Hebron's residence and the fortress's command center.

A soldier stopped Murvach and Elbridge.

"What brings you here?"

"There is information Count Hebron needs to hear immediately."

"Please wait a moment."

The soldier disappeared into the building.

Murvach tapped his foot as he waited for the soldier to return.

Elbridge said, "You seem quite worried."

Nobles and Knights looked down on Mercenaries.

It was unusual for a Mercenary like Murvach to attend meetings at the fortress command center.

It was also a chance for him to distinguish himself. Perhaps it was the first step toward becoming the Mercenary King of this era.

"Of course I am. The words of a young man I met only a few days ago could change my entire life."

"Why did you choose to believe me?"

"If I'm wrong... then I wasn't fated to become the Mercenary King. That's all."

The soldier returned. This time, the soldier did not stop Elbridge and Murvach.

Murvach led Elbridge to a room at the end of the corridor.

Count Hebron, a man with unkempt blond hair, was alone in his bare office.

As if Elbridge were not even there, Count Hebron spoke to Murvach.

"Murvach. What brings you here?"

Murvach rested a hand on Elbridge's shoulder.

"This young man will explain."

Elbridge told Count Hebron what he had just explained to Murvach.

After hearing it all, Count Hebron tapped a finger against the desk.

"A novel claim. You may leave."

Elbridge asked, "Which churches do you plan to select people from?"

"The ones in the original plan."

"...You don't believe me."

Count Hebron rested his chin on his hand.

"No. It's not that I don't believe you. The circumstances simply aren't favorable."

His tone was somewhat businesslike.

Elbridge realized Count Hebron only half believed what he had said.

"What circumstances are you referring to?"

"Supplies will arrive before this evening. If we fail to receive this shipment, the fortress will face problems. There's no time to select new personnel."

"If you lose the battle, you won't be able to receive the supplies either."

Count Hebron gave a faint smile.

"I'll keep it in mind. I'll tell the Knights that each church must decide on an order and use their divine powers accordingly."

"If that were easy, the Paladins of old wouldn't have limited the number of churches that joined a battle."

"You. What was your name?"

"Elbridge. Elbridge, Paladin of the Order of the Rusted Shield."

Count Hebron answered with the same indifferent attitude.

"Yes, Sir Elbridge. When you're young, older people can seem like fools. But I think this is the time to trust the Knights and Paladins of Hebron Fortress."

"But!"

"Enough."

Count Hebron cut Elbridge off and stood.

"Then should I go persuade the Knights who have already prepared for battle? What should I tell them? That unlike you fools, this young man has discovered a flaw in the plan with his brilliant insight?"

Count Hebron slowly stepped closer to Elbridge.

"Must we watch once more as those bringing supplies are slaughtered by the demon? Should I dampen the spirits of Knights who must fight bravely by telling them to prepare for defeat?"

Count Hebron met Elbridge's eyes.

"Or do you want me to avoid responsibility by invoking your name before those who will starve due to a shortage of supplies? I'm not that shameless. I am the person ultimately responsible for this fortress, and I am prepared to bear responsibility for my decisions."

Elbridge realized that Count Hebron had no intention of changing his mind.

He also understood that the course of the battle had been decided.

That did not mean he could let the Paladins be slaughtered.

Elbridge intended to enter the battlefield himself and reduce the number of casualties, even by one.

"Then I will deploy with them."

"Yes, I thought that was what you truly wanted to say. Impatience is a privilege of the young, so I won't rebuke you for it."

Count Hebron put on his cloak and patted Elbridge's shoulder.

"The battle will begin soon. For now, trust in the strength of each church's Knights. Unlike you, who have only just arrived at the fortress, they are veterans who have won many desperate battles here."

With those words, Count Hebron headed for the southern wall.

* * *

Elbridge and Murvach also made their way to the southern wall.

"Elbridge! Over here!"

Elbridge's group and Murvach's subordinates had already taken their places atop the wall.

When the two approached, Rombel asked, "What did the Count say?"

"He didn't seem interested in listening."

"Yeah. I thought that would be the case."

The group looked down from the wall.

Paladins wearing cloaks marked with the emblems of their respective churches stood there. Count Hebron approached them and said something.

Elbridge did not know whether he was offering words of encouragement before the battle or passing along Elbridge's warning.

He hoped it was the latter. That would give even one more person a chance to survive.

Creeeak, crunchhhh!

The gates opened with a tremendous noise.

Thirty Knights stepped out into the wasteland.

The demon sat atop a rock, watching its challengers.

The Silver-Gray Knight rose and spun each of its four swords once.

The thirty Paladins advanced.

As they neared the clash, the two Paladins at the front began to pray.

"Chain and Axe Church."

Ash-gray chains appeared in midair and coiled around the Silver-Gray Knight's body.

The Silver-Gray Knight swung its swords and cut several chains, but it could not sever them all.

The Paladins charged into the opening.

Several were engulfed in light from divine power, and a strange heat filled their eyes.

"Order of the Laurel Wreath and Echoes of War Church."

The Order of the Laurel Wreath's most representative divine power was a light that further heightened physical ability.

The Echoes of War Church's most representative divine power was a trumpet of victory that erased fear from the Paladins' hearts.

The Silver-Gray Knight had yet to cut through all the chains.

'So far, this is fine.'

The Paladins moved even faster. Their charge had already surpassed the limits of ordinary humans.

Just before they collided with the Silver-Gray Knight with tremendous force behind them, the sight Elbridge had not wanted to see unfolded.

Hummm-

Bright yellow rings appeared in midair, attempting to bind the Silver-Gray Knight's limbs.

'The Seven Rings Church.'

Just as the Silver-Gray Knight's four arms were about to be caught by the rings, it pulled its arms inward and brought the ash-gray chains into contact with the glowing yellow rings.

At that moment.

Boom!

A brief, powerful shock burst out.

It felt as though the air around them had shaken.

"What was that just now?"

Most people did not understand what had happened.

Elbridge and Rombel did.

"It made the divine powers of two gods collide."

Under the powerful recoil, the yellow rings and ash-gray chains faded away.

A brief opening appeared just before the Paladins reached it.

For the Silver-Gray Knight, that was more than enough time.

The demon spun its swords once more, lowered its stance, and slipped between the Knights.

Then fountains of blood erupted.

"Uh, uaaaah!"

The clash continued, and more corpses fell across the ground.

Screams broke out everywhere.

The people on the wall also realized something had gone terribly wrong. But the Paladins understood it even more clearly.

Thanks to the Echoes of War Church, they had forgotten fear, but that did not make them idiots. They knew the battle was moving in a direction they had not wanted.

An elderly Knight with white hair shouted, "Return to the fortress!"

The Knights turned and began running toward the fortress.

Not from fear of death, but to preserve as much of their fighting strength as possible.

Only the white-haired Knight was an exception.

To reduce the casualties during the retreat even a little, he remained alone on the battlefield.

The white-haired Knight faced the silver-gray demon alone.

Then the silver-gray demon revealed something it had not shown until now.

It held its four swords upright and looked at the old Knight.

The demon showed courtesy to the old Knight.

"..."

A demon that showed courtesy.

The old Knight also showed courtesy to the demon.