Dark Fantasy Paladin
Chapter 44

Dark Fantasy Paladin Chapter 44

Episode 44.

Aiden was speechless.

The saints also kept their mouths shut. Because somehow it felt like it had to be that way.

In the quiet interior, only rattling sounds could be heard occasionally. There was a subtle tension.

It wasn’t until a long time passed that Aiden’s expression calmed down little by little. The voice that followed soon after was as calm as usual.

“If you come face to face with an animal, never provoke it.”

The Aspects looked somewhat puzzled.

“Do not make eye contact or even talk to it. If you are attracted by its appearance and approach it, you may die.”

Jude gave a questioning look.

“······Do you by any chance know the creature that killed the giants?”

Iden nodded.

“It is a spirit creature worshiped by the canine demigods.”

It was originally forbidden, but I was able to reveal it because I had experience interacting with the subject. For Aiden, it was a past he wanted to erase.

Jude looked at Aiden with an expression of disbelief.

“Lord Iden, isn’t that a nine-tailed fox?”

A species of which only one can exist in the world.

“That’s right. Luckily, I’m still young.”

The existing nine-tailed fox disappeared and it was a newborn cub. He must be over a year old by now.

Jude couldn’t hide his embarrassment. This is because the nine-tailed fox was a being on the borderline between legend and reality.

There were many people who believed that I did not exist.

“······I would like to ask you at the risk of being embarrassed. Are you kidding me?”

Jude was genuinely asking a question. Iden shook his head.

“Absolutely not, so be aware of that. If you meet a silver-haired one in the forest, it’s a nine-tailed fox.”

Jude swallowed his voice.

The bandage was unresponsive, and Siron’s eyes lit up and he clenched his hands tightly.

Iden warned, looking at her.

“Never show your will to win. Remember that your actions can kill everyone.”

Having hit the nail on the head, she looked at Iden in shock.

“But, if you are still a cub…”

“It is an order. If you disobey it, you will be summarily executed.”

Siron felt the sincerity in Aiden’s stern gaze. I couldn’t bear to respond.

She lowered her head and nodded slightly.

Iden said, scanning the Aspects with his eyes.

“Do not stay in the forest for more than a day. Even if you stay up all day, you will pass on the same day, so save up your stamina.”

The Giant’s Forest is vast, so we planned to camp for about two days. It’s a mess now, but it’s better than encountering a nine-tailed fox.

Even if I lost a little bit of my stamina, there was nothing I could do about it.

It takes about 15 days from here to the eastern border. Aiden planned to prepare his mind.

*

Thoughts made time pass quickly.

Of course, I was so caught up in it that I did not carry out my mission. We reviewed the operation dozens of times and did our best to accurately understand our forces.

The Aspects had abilities far superior to Iden’s expectations.

Competence that was difficult to replace in Daryl and Euron. Aiden was very satisfied with the skills of the execution team.

In particular, her theory was outstanding, so I was somewhat looking forward to seeing what she would show in actual battle.

Except for figuring out each other’s level, all time was spent moving.

Several days have already passed since we entered the county.

The Count Carshua family was the family with the largest territory in the empire.

Therefore, even after arriving here, Aiden had to drive a horse for two days before he could barely reach the vicinity of Yeongju Castle.

The carriage had been left in a village at the entrance of the territory.

“It’s a steel fortress.”

Jude sat on his war horse and pointed to the huge castle.

The rugged castle, built of rocks on the barren land of the east, was devoid of any splendor.

Because it was a fortress designed solely for military purposes. He just maintained his position as strong as steel.

Its owner, Margrave Leffel von Carshua, was the protector of the East.

Then he opened the gate, came out, and rode toward Aiden. Yeoju’s troops followed them.

Siron said, looking at them approaching from afar.

“Some people followed, and it seems they were eastern rangers.”

It seems that the rangers confirmed Aiden’s appearance and reported it to the lord. A hero recorded in the Bible visited.

The sound of horses’ hooves got closer and closer. The cavalry approached, kicking up dust, and stood in front of Iden.

Dozens of people did it at the same time. Their unified movements proved that they were elite.

Aiden and the Aspects also got off their horses and walked towards them.

The white-haired old man standing in the lead was the master of the East.

A handsome old man wearing iron armor. Although he was old, his eyes were as sharp as a hawk.

Iden said politely.

“Meeting His Excellency Eastern Commander. I am Paladin Iden.”

The Count dissuaded him with a serious expression.

“Even though I’m just a country bumpkin from the frontier, I know who you are.”

After saying that, the Margrave shook hands.

“Can you try holding the hero’s hand without being rude?”

Iden nodded and held his hand.

We felt each other’s strong grip. The Count smiled with satisfaction.

“Thanks to you, I have been able to join the era written in the Bible. It is an honor. Thank you.”

“No. Your Excellency protected the empire so that an era like this could come. I am truly grateful.”

The Count burst into laughter.

“He is a hero who has not lost his humility. It could be said that he is the second coming of His Majesty Tashain.”

“The praise is excessive.”

Aiden slightly lowered his head and immediately changed the subject.

“There is a purpose for visiting this place.”

He nodded as if he understood what a count was.

“I guess what happened in the forest was enough to cause Lord Gihyeonsaing to move.”

It was talking about an incident where a giant was killed in droves. Iden shook his head.

“No. However, it is confidential so I cannot reveal it.”

“I won’t ask. If you need my help, I will do my best.”

“Please open the barrier.”

Beyond the steel fortress, a long stone wall rose, surrounding the eastern part. It was a castle wall that protected humanity from giants and demons.

“The Aspects went out not long ago and came back. It’s not difficult.”

It seemed like he was talking about an intelligence unit.

“Then let me ask you a favor.”

The Count laughed mischievously.

“Later, the Bible will tell me what the Lord went out to do. Haha!”

If an assassination is successful and it is classified as a feat, the Bible will record it. It didn’t matter either.

Even if the principality were to check the Bible and realize who was behind the murder of Confucius, they would not be able to declare war against the empire.

The principality was only good at defense, but did not have the ability to invade a large country directly.

It would be better if they made the first move.

Aiden nodded.

“I’ll leave right away.”

“I see you’re busy. Okay, I’ll open it right away.”

When the Count cast his gaze at one of the knights, he quickly headed towards the wall.

“He will prepare it, so let’s go quickly. I will guide you personally.”

*

As we passed the steel fortress and approached the wall, the barren eastern land became barren and cracked apart.

The Count frowned as he scanned the ground.

“The damn forest is sucking all the energy out of you.”

Therefore, the eastern part was a region where self-sufficiency was almost impossible. Without support from the church and the empire, the county could not survive.

Of course I had to invest. If this place collapses, the center will also be in danger/

Aiden made the sign of the cross with divine power.

“God will also remember the noble sacrifice of the Carshua family.”

“Thank you. If there was no Hana Church, there would be no East.”

“And vice versa.”

“Haha, I’m glad the Lord said that.”

The Count said and pointed straight ahead.

“We’re almost there.”

The majestic castle walls began to appear.

Even if I looked left and right, I couldn’t see the end of the stone wall that was in contact with the clouds.

The gray wall that has protected this place for over a hundred years.

If I tilted my head at a right angle, I could barely see the top.

The count quickly approached and gave a signal, and the knight shouted loudly. At the same time, the redoubt tower guards began to move in perfect order.

Immediately afterwards, the wall let out a roar and shook the earth.

The huge iron door located at the bottom of the wall roared like a dragon.

Quaaaaaaaaa! Deafening noise. However, the eastern soldiers never made a fuss. The military was in full control and kept an eye on the front line.

Eventually, the land beyond the empire was revealed. The dense forest curved to form a maze-like forest path.

The Count swallowed his sleep.

“No matter how much logging is done, it will be restored to its original state the next day. If that vitality can be found in the eastern part, even in a small way, then there is nothing left to hope for.”

“It will happen someday.”

“Haha! These are the words of a hero, so I will believe them.”

Aiden responded and turned his head.

“I will remember your favor.”

“What do you say? Then, I wish you luck.”

Aiden bowed his head slightly and passed through the gate.

“let’s go.”

I drove my horse slowly and entered the forest. A moment later, the iron door fell and made a noise.

The mountain birds were startled and flew up.

By the time I couldn’t even go a few steps.

My son-in-law, who was as bright as day, slowly began to darken.

This is because the sunlight was blocked by the huge trees that towered all the way to the sky.

The scent of phytoncide emitted by the flood sea was in the air. The spacing between trees was quite wide, so it was comfortable to use horses.

Siron trembled in admiration.

“They say giants grow by eating the energy of the forest. They must be strong. I have decided. When I get a vacation, I will come here.”

Jude shook his head.

“It’s a vacation. It’s going to be difficult before I die.”

Siron, facing reality, made a gloomy expression. The Aspects also seemed to have their own difficulties.

Iden looked back at the Aspects.

“Speed up.”

I planned to pass through the forest without stopping if possible.

Petra also seemed to have adapted to the terrain. Aiden let go of the reins and ran as fast as he could.

The sound of hooves narrowed the gap and extended into the forest. As the race began, the scenery quickly changed. Anyway, it was tree tree tree tree.

I ran like that without stopping for a long time. I jumped over a shallow valley, crossed the plateau, and entered the forest again.

As we climbed up the slope and went down again,

the expressions on the four people’s faces hardened at the same time.

As I crossed the giant trees, I felt a trace of them following me.

Iden immediately looked back at the Aspects. As I told them, none of them reacted and just stared straight ahead.

Siron also did not disobey the order. I was holding on tightly to the horse’s reins.

The moment Aiden turned his head again with relief, he saw his natural silver hair fluttering in the wind.

A woman sits across from Aiden on a running Petra, waving her snow-white tail.

She opened her mouth with a charming smile.

“Aiden, do you forgive me?”

It was a nice voice to listen to, but Aiden’s expression said otherwise.