Paladin in Dark Fantasy

Episode 44 .

Aiden was speechless.

The Aspects also shut their mouths. Because somehow it felt like it had to be.

In the quiet interior, only a rattling sound could be heard from time to time. A subtle tension flowed.

After a long time like that, Aiden’s expression calmed down little by little. The voice that followed soon after was calm as usual.

“If you come face to face with a beast, never provoke it.”

The Aspects were somewhat puzzled.

“Don’t make eye contact, and don’t talk to it. If you get attracted by its appearance, you might die.”

Jude made a questioning expression.

“…do you know the creature that killed the giants?”

Aiden nodded.

“It is a spiritual creature worshiped by the canids.”

Originally, it was forbidden, but I was able to reveal it because I had experience interacting with the subject. It was a past that Iden wanted to erase.

Jude looked at Iden in disbelief.

“Sir Aiden, isn’t that a nine-tailed fox?”

A species that can only exist in one world.

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

The existing nine-tailed fox disappeared and was a newborn baby. I must have been over a year old by now.

Jude couldn’t hide his embarrassment. That would also be the case, because the nine-tailed fox was a being on the borderline between legend and reality.

There were many who believed that I did not exist.

“······I will risk my nerves to ask you. Sir, are you kidding me by any chance?”

Jude was seriously asking. Aiden shook his head.

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

Jude swallowed his silence.

The bandage didn’t respond, and Chiron’s eyes lit up and his hands were tightly closed.

Aiden looked at her and warned.

“Shiron, never show a friendly attitude, remember that your actions can kill everyone.”

Stunned to the point, she looked at Iden in surprise.

“Ha, but, if you’re still a baby…”

“It’s an order. If you disobey, I will execute you immediately.”

Shiron felt sincerity in Aiden’s determined gaze. I couldn’t bear to respond.

She bowed her head and gave a small nod.

Aiden scanned the Aspects with his eyes and said.

“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 your strength.”

The Giant’s Forest was vast, so we planned to camp for about two days. It’s wrong now, but it’s better than the situation where you run into a nine-tailed fox.

I couldn’t help it even if I lost a little physical strength.

It takes about 15 days from here to the eastern border. Iden was thinking of preparing his mind.

*

Thoughts made time pass quickly.

Of course, I didn’t get entangled in it and carried out my mission. I reviewed the operation dozens of times and did my best to accurately grasp the power.

The Aspects were equipped with far superior abilities than Aiden expected.

Competence that was hard to find in Daryl and Euron. Aiden was very satisfied with the team’s ability.

In particular, Shiron is outstanding, so I was somewhat looking forward to what she would show in actual combat.

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

Several days have already passed since he entered the county.

Countess Karshua was a family with the largest territory in the empire.

That’s why, even after arriving here, Aiden had to drive a horse for two days before he could barely reach the vicinity of the lord’s castle.

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

“It’s an iron fortress.”

Jude sat on his warhorse and pointed at the massive fort.

The rugged castle built of rocks on the barren land of the east was nowhere to be found.

It was a fortress designed solely for military purposes. It just stood there, as strong as steel.

The owner of this place, Marquis Lepel von Carshua, was the guardian of the East.

Then he opened the castle gate and rode his horse towards Aiden. After that, the female army followed.

Shiron looked at them approaching from afar and said.

“People caught up, and it seems they were Rangers from the East.”

It seemed that the rangers checked Aiden’s appearance and reported it to the lord. Said to be visited by a hero recorded in the Bible.

The sound of horses hooves got closer and closer. The cavalry came up in a cloud of dust and stood in front of Iden.

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

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

The gray-haired old man standing at the head was the master of the East.

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

Aiden showed his respect.

“Greetings, Eastern Commander. I’m Iden, the Paladin.”

The Count dissuaded him with a serious expression.

“Even though I’m just a country boy on the outskirts, I know who the Lord is.”

Having said that, the Marquis shook hands.

“Can you hold a hero’s hand without any ceremonies?”

Aiden nodded and held his hand.

They felt a strong grip on each other. The Count smiled contentedly.

“Thanks to your homage, I’m here with the times recorded in the Bible. It’s an honor. Thank you.”

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

The Count burst into laughter.

“A hero who has not lost his humility. It’s not inferior to the second coming of Tashane’s eminence.”

“It’s too much praise.”

Aiden lowered his head slightly and immediately changed the subject.

“I have a purpose for visiting this place.”

He nodded as if he knew what a count was.

“It must have been something that happened in the forest to the extent that Sir Kihyeonsaing could move.”

He was talking about the massacre of a giant. Aiden shook his head.

“No. However, it is classified and cannot be disclosed.”

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

“Please open the barrier.”

Beyond the iron fortifications, a long stone wall rose, enclosing the eastern side. It was a wall that protected humanity from giants and demons.

“The Aspects left and came back not too long ago. It’s not difficult.”

It seemed like he was talking about the intelligence service.

“Then, let me ask you a favor.”

The Count laughed mischievously.

“Later, the Bible will tell me. What the Lord went out to do. Ha ha!”

If the assassination succeeds and it is classified as a feat, the Bible will record it. one didn’t matter.

Even if the dukedom checked the scriptures and realized who was behind the murder of Confucius, they wouldn’t be able to declare war against the empire.

The principality was only good at defense, but had no ability to directly invade a large country.

It would have been better if they had moved first.

Aiden nodded.

“I’ll leave right away.”

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

The count cast his gaze away from one of the knights, and he headed towards the wall like crazy.

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

*

As they passed through the steel fortress and approached the barrier, the barren land of the east became devastated and cracked open.

The Count scanned the ground and frowned.

“The damn forest is sucking up all the energy and standing here.”

Therefore, the eastern part was an area where self-sufficiency was almost impossible. Without the support of the Church and the Empire, the county could not survive.

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

Aiden made the sign of the cross with divine power.

“God will remember the noble sacrifice of the Karshua family.”

“Thank you. One, there would be no East if there was no church.”

“And vice versa.”

“hahahaha, I’m glad you said that.”

Saying that, the Count pointed to the front.

“We’re almost there.”

The majestic castle walls began to appear.

The stone wall that touched the clouds couldn’t confirm the end even if I turned my gaze to the left and right.

A gray barrier that has protected this place for over a hundred years.

I could barely see the top if I held my head at a right angle.

As the count quickly approached and signaled, the knight shouted loudly. At the same time, the bastion tower guards began to move in perfect order.

Right after that, the barrier shook the ground with a roar.

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

aaang! Deafening noise. The soldiers of Hana Eastern did not make a fuss. The army was caught tightly and watched the front.

Before long, the lands beyond the Empire were revealed. The dense forest curved, forming a maze-like forest road.

The Count swallowed his saliva.

“No matter how much logging is done, it will be restored the next day. If that vitality dwells in the eastern part, even if it is small, there is nothing to wish for.”

“Someday you will.”

“hahahaha! It’s a hero’s word, so I’ll believe it.”

Aiden replied and turned his head.

“I’ll remember the favor,”

“What do you mean? Then, I wish you no luck.”

Aiden lowered his head slightly and went through the castle gate.

“let’s go.”

I slowly drove my horse into the woods. Moments later, the iron door slammed and let out a noise.

The mountain birds were startled and flew up.

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

The son-in-law, which had been bright like daylight, slowly began to darken.

It was because the sunlight was sparsely covered by the giant tree that towered into the sky.

The scent of phytoncide exhaled by the sea was overwhelming. The gap between the trees was quite wide, so it was easy to operate the horse.

Shiron trembled in admiration.

“They say giants grow up eating the spirit of the forest. They must be strong. I’ve decided. I’ll come here when I get a vacation.”

Jude shook his head.

“It’s a vacation. Before I die, it will be difficult.”

Faced with reality, Shiron made a gloomy expression. It seemed that the Aspects also had their own difficulties.

Aiden looked back at the Aspects.

“Speed up.”

I intended to go through the forest without stopping if I could.

It seemed that Petra had also finished adapting to the terrain. Aiden let go of the reins and ran with all his might.

The sound of hooves closed the gap and stretched out into the woods. As soon as the sprint began, the scenery quickly changed. Anyway, it was a tree tree tree tree.

So I ran without a break. I jumped over a low valley, crossed a plateau, and entered the forest again.

While going up the slope and going downhill again,

All four faces hardened at the same time.

Shasha shak, crossing the giant trees, I felt the presence of chasing them.

Aiden immediately looked back at the Aspects. As I told them, they all stared straight ahead without reacting.

Shiron did not disobey the order either. He held on tight to the horse’s reins.

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

A woman riding on the running Petra, sitting face to face with Aiden, wagging her snow-white tail.

She opened her mouth with a seductive eye smile.

“Aiden, will you forgive me?”

It was a sweet voice, but Aiden’s expression didn’t.