Chapter 76
Chapter 76
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: The Land of the Ex-Paladins (3)
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It was said that the Edelphalt family boasted three powerhouses with 9-star mana.
First up was the family head, Johan Edelphalt.
Twenty years ago, he had made a name for himself as a Sky Rank Knight in the Paladin Order, earning great merit in the war against the Dialogue Church.
Had he not forsaken ambitions for the Knight Order Leader position and stayed on, he likely would have claimed the role of second-in-command by now.
He was the Janus of the Edelphalt family—a true heavyweight who wouldn't show himself easily.
Next was Johan's youngest daughter, Greta Edelphalt.
She had been an 8-star Inactive Knight and Est's comrade in the Paladin Order, the two of them racking up achievements as a duo.
After leaving the Order, she had reached 9-star, and it was said she had crushed every force threatening Edelphalt rule in the northwest.
And finally, Johan's eldest grandson, Elias Edelphalt.
A genius who had hit 9-star at twenty-nine, though detailed information on him was scarce.
He seemed to be someone the Edelphalt family had carefully groomed as the next head.
'Johan and Greta make sense, but Elias has me worried.'
Generally speaking, the more circles one had, the harder it became to advance further.
Climbing from 8-star to 9-star was especially grueling. Without enlightenment, it could take decades—or never happen at all.
But those in environments ripe for breakthroughs, like repeated brushes with death in battle, could reach it relatively quickly. The four Aleyas siblings fell into that category.
Sershes, Helena, Est, and Kurt had all attained 9-star young thanks to the all-out war with the Dialogue Church.
'These days are far more peaceful than back then. Elias Edelphalt hasn't had that kind of environment for easy enlightenment.'
I'd received a lot of intel on the Edelphalt family through Helena.
But there was nothing to speculate on how Elias had reached 9-star.
'He could just be a pure genius... or...'
There were shortcuts in the world to rapidly increase mana capacity.
Most were forbidden by the Spirit Church as heretical methods, but using them could indeed get someone to 9-star by twenty-nine.
Just what method had the Edelphalt family used to raise Elias to 9-star?
'I need to dig into this.'
No matter how I sliced it, something smelled off.
* * *
"Intelligence gathering doesn't mean we have to sneak in undercover."
"We're not Purification Priests from the Dialogue Church, after all."
As we traveled northwest, I chatted with Lieselotte.
"We're not from the Papal Internal Affairs Division either."
"Nor Helena's Heresy Inquisition."
"So what exactly are we supposed to do?"
Edwin, who'd been listening in, chimed from the side.
"For starters, we're gonna strut right in."
"Strut right in?"
"Yeah. We'll announce ourselves as the Paladin Order's Independent Knight Brigade and march boldly into Edelphalt territory."
Even calling it Edelphalt territory, it wasn't divided by clear borders like Count Klaus's fief last time.
"They'll be on guard once we enter, but they won't be able to chase us out openly."
"We'll need a solid justification, though."
"Helena's got that covered for us."
"The Chief Inquisitor of the Heresy Inquisition?"
"Yep."
Helena didn't have much on the latest internal happenings in Edelphalt territory either.
Even within the Inquisition, too many were wary of Edelphalt influence, making proactive probes difficult.
She'd been frustrated about it, so when I mentioned heading there to investigate, she threw her full support behind me.
"A bandit gang popped up around here recently. The local knights repelled them, but their escape route's unknown."
"So..."
"The Inquisition's report posits they likely fled into Edelphalt territory. That's our pretext for operating."
"If we flash that, even Edelphalt can't boot us out! We're just pursuing bandits, after all!"
"But they'll know exactly what we're after."
"Huh?"
"They've probably already figured out our real goal."
Sershes and Est already knew.
Word had spread within the Paladin Order, so it would've reached Edelphalt too.
"With a legitimate reason, they can't expel us outright. But they'll harass us openly—pick fights in every way they can."
"So... fights will break out."
"Right. There's no way Sion would let challengers slide."
"What do you take me for?"
"You're you, Sion."
"Yeah, you'll handle it in true Sion fashion."
"You've been egging me on every time. Shameless."
I still vividly remembered crushing the provocateurs at the mess hall during the enlistment exam—yet here they were acting innocent...
"Anyway, these clashes will expose their gaps eventually."
"So we'll poke around, gauge their reactions."
"But wasn't Brigade Leader Leadcamp's plan for the 1st Unit to draw Edelphalt attention while our 13th Unit sneaks in for the real work? Looks like we'll be the ones drawing eyes instead."
Bernhard had sent Leadcamp's 1st Unit ahead.
Leadcamp was currently loitering near Edelphalt territory under the guise of monster hunting.
"That forces Edelphalt to second-guess themselves. 'What's their game, swarming from both sides like this?' It'll create even more openings."
"Ah, clever."
"No need to slavishly follow the brigade leader's playbook either."
The means didn't matter.
If we exposed Edelphalt's issues and escalated to a proper subjugation, that was victory.
* * *
The first place we hit in the northwest was a small city called Baltburg.
It sat at the edge of Edelphalt influence, where the Paladin Order's reach began to weaken.
"Paladins? That's a sight. Local knights hardly ever show up here."
"We got word a bandit gang fled into the area."
Even at the inn we'd booked, folks gawked at us.
With sociable Lieselotte and others casually dropping hints, rumors would spread fast.
"They're surprised, but not suspicious."
"No reason for civilians to be."
I chatted with Edwin over dinner at the tavern.
"By the way, Edwin—you're close to 5-star, aren't you?"
"Maybe, but it's only been a year since 4-star... Won't happen that quick."
"4 to 5 is way tougher than 3 to 4—several times harder. But with your talent, you'll hit it fast."
"Hmm, hearing that from Sion, who reached 6-star at sixteen... feels weird."
Edwin was twenty now.
My cousin Sena had been 3-star at a similar age, so he was ahead.
"Still, with your guidance, Sion, I can grow quick. Looking forward to more."
"Yeah, keep at it."
Mid-conversation, a voice cut in from the next table.
"What'd you just say?"
Burly men sat there, beer mugs suggesting they'd had plenty.
"5-star this, 6-star that... punks talking big."
"Cut the bluffing and eat quietly. No one's impressed here."
I locked eyes with Edwin as their rough voices rose.
'They took the bait on purpose, but this quick? Almost comical.'
Why did people pick fights so easily?
The Spirit Church should preach harder: 'Don't start trouble with strangers in taverns or inns.'
'Wait, last time in the Papal States... was I the one who started it?'
I chuckled at the memory.
" Laughing? You think we're funny, punk?"
"Kid's got no manners. Where you from?"
They bristled at my laugh.
"Here to drink? Do it quietly and scram. Don't hassle folks nearby."
"Y-yeah. Who's bluffing now?"
Even Edwin tried provoking awkwardly.
"These punks... don't know whose turf this is?"
"Other places, paladins get bowed to. Not here."
They rose and closed in.
[As I said, both are 4-star mana.]
'Figures—Edelphalt soldiers stationed in the city.'
Likely off-duty, here for drinks, then spotting paladins and turning hostile.
"What?"
"What's going on?"
More burly men drifted over from other tables.
Ten in total.
"These rookies mouthing off?"
"Can't read the room. This is Edelphalt turf."
"Shoulda kept quiet. Suicide wish?"
They menaced with numbers.
Lieselotte hurried over from the counter, where she'd been chatting with staff.
"Oh dear, what's this?"
"Stay out, miss!"
One shoved at her.
But an instant later, his joint twisted with a scream.
"Argh! Let—let go!"
"You shouldn't touch people without permission. Don't they teach that in the Edelphalt family?"
Twisting his arm, Lieselotte smiled sweetly. Onlookers' eyes widened.
A petite, soft-featured girl had felled a brute in a blink.
"She a paladin too?"
"Drop her hand!"
"I said don't touch. Some folks just don't listen."
Crash!
The men grabbing for her hit the floor. Tensions spiked.
"You two gonna let me handle this forever?"
"You're doing fine solo."
"Yeah, Lieselotte's got it."
"These guys... whoa."
One swung a beer bottle at her head from behind. I chucked a fork from our table, shattering it.
"Argh?!"
"Bastards...!"
Edwin and I stood. The brawl erupted.
"Edwin, Lieselotte—keep the place intact. No broken dishes."
"We'd love to..."
"But they don't care."
Outnumbered rookies panicking, one swung a chair at us.
I'd blocked gently, but a leg snapped anyway.
"You pay for that."
"Guh!"
Thud!
The chair-swinger nosebled and crumpled.
The rest fell to Edwin and Lieselotte's counters.
"You little...!"
The last one crossed the line—the first who'd heckled me. He snatched a meat knife and charged, mana blade active.
"Lost it."
"I'll take him."
Lieselotte struck his wrist deftly, disarming him, then flipped him with an ippon seoi nage.
So clean, applause broke out.
"You... you're making a mistake. How'll you deal with the fallout...?"
"Talking big after losing 3-on-10."
"Ugh..."
"Gonna tattle to your boss? Be my guest."
I pulled out my wallet for damages.
"Whether your captain avenges you 3-on-10 losers or chews you out for it—who knows."
"Urgh..."
Ignoring his groans, I went to pay the staff.
A calm voice rang from outside.
"Neither. It's Sion Aleyas."
The fallen scrambled up at the voice.
But its owner ignored them, entering.
"Causing a scene right on arrival—definitely no ordinary paladin."
"Who're you?"
She looked late teens. Ornate fur-trimmed robes, jeweled scabbard at her waist.
"Oskar Edelphalt, mid-rank knight in charge here. My mother, Senior Knight Greta Edelphalt, wants to meet you."
The 'Edelphalt family youngest granddaughter' from Helena's intel flashed a confident smile my way.