Chapter 20 : The Strange Paladin (Part-1)

The small pond village found itself engulfed in a state of profound unrest starting from the early morning hours.

The night prior had witnessed an explosion of chaos as corpses inexplicably emerged from the cemetery, creating panic and fear among the residents.

Even though the situation had been addressed and brought under control with the intervention of a barbarian who fortuitously happened to be residing in the village, the unsettling reality that an evil sorcerer was residing in close proximity continued to weigh heavily on the minds of the villagers, leaving them in a state of deep disquiet and anxiety.

“Shouldn’t we bring in a priest from the next village?”

“See, I told you. Every village needs a church… Oh, almighty Sun.”

Just as such talk began circulating among the villagers, when whispers and speculation filled the air, creating an atmosphere thick with curiosity and intrigue—

Another visitor arrived in the village, stepping gently onto the cobblestone path that wove through the heart of the community.

“This is the place.”

It was a knight clad in full armor, a gleaming figure of strength and intimidation.

The full-face helmet, meticulously crafted and sculpted with an emotionless expression, concealed any hint of humanity beneath its metallic exterior.

The thickness of the helmet was such that it rendered any attempt to discern the wearer’s gender completely futile, shrouding the knight’s identity in a veil of mystery and intrigue.

The knight walked purposefully toward the village, each step echoing with the weight of their armor, a sound that resonated with both authority and an undercurrent of foreboding.

The distinct and resonant clanking of various metal pieces reverberated throughout the atmosphere with every deliberate step taken by the individual.

As a result, the curious villagers found it impossible to suppress their intrigue and instinctively directed their gaze toward the surprising visitor who had entered their midst.

“A… a knight?”

“Oh my, what in the world…”

The atmosphere felt notably distinct and markedly changed from the moment when the barbarian had first arrived in the village, as if an invisible shroud of tension had settled over the entire area.

Not a single villager dared to make their way toward the knight, who stood imposing and steadfast, embodying authority and perhaps an unspoken threat.

Instead, they simply froze in place, gripped by an overwhelming sense of apprehension, their bodies rendered motionless as they silently observed the unfolding scene, their eyes wide with a mix of fear and curiosity.

Then—

Contrary to the grim tension, the knight seemed to have no intention of causing harm and pointed to a shabby house at the edge of the village.

“Who lives in that house?”

“Uh, well…”

Unfortunately for one villager, who found themselves in the unfortunate position of being closest to the imposing figure of the knight, they began sweating nervously, their anxiety quite palpable.

The house at the very outskirts of the village—

It was the humble abode where the fierce barbarian, the very same warrior who had valiantly defended the village from the menacing sorcerer just the day before, had chosen to take refuge.

Even a peasant possesses a deep-seated sense of loyalty.

The villager paused for a moment, feeling a wave of uncertainty wash over them, grappling with the decision of whether or not to respond to the towering figure before them.

The knight, clad in gleaming armor, carefully lowered the massive two-handed hammer that had been resting against their shoulder, allowing it to rest on the ground with deliberation.

A resonant and formidable thud echoed through the air in the aftermath.

The unexpected sound made the villager jump, and without thinking, they instinctively took a step backward, creating distance between themselves and the imposing armored figure.

As they swallowed hard, the villager’s eyes darted anxiously between the intimidating hammer, which seemed to embody raw power, and the knight’s cold, unyielding helmet that concealed their emotions and intentions.

But this moment of indecision did not linger for too long, as the villager’s resolve began to solidify and take shape within their heart, forging a newfound clarity amid the chaos and uncertainty surrounding them.

Better them than me.

“Ah, well, the thing is… in that house—”

020. The Strange Paladin

Eden frowned, a deep furrow forming between his brows as he contemplated the situation before him, his expression a mixture of concern and irritation.

Despite the barbarian’s massive frame, which was characterized by bulging muscles and an intimidating presence, coupled with a scowl that seemed to convey a menacing demeanor, the visitor, in stark contrast, remained calm and peaceful.

“Greetings.”

Eden scoffed at the polite greeting.

What on earth is this guy?

Despite the friendly words that were spoken, the knight’s appearance was anything but reassuring and invoked a sense of discomfort.

He was clad in thick, imposing armor that reflected the sunlight, a helmet that obscured any glimpse of his face, and wielding a massive two-handed hammer forged from solid steel— It was the kind of equipment that was undeniably fit for a fierce battlefield, not the tranquil setting of a village.

“Not exactly a good time for greetings.”

“Still, greetings.”

There was something distinctly peculiar about the knight’s voice.

While it was challenging to ascertain the exact qualities of the voice because it was somewhat muffled and distorted due to the metallic confines of the helmet, it nevertheless struck Eden as being unusually soft and notably high-pitched, which contrasted sharply with the imposing figure that the knight presented.

Eden maintained a composed demeanor, refraining from displaying any outward reaction to this unexpected vocal quality, and proceeded to inquire once more,

“Fine. Greetings, then. So why are you here?”

He didn’t bother asking for an identity.

He had already seen the emblem on the armor—

The round symbol of the Church of the Sun.

He never expected to meet a holy knight serving the Sun God in such a backwater village.

“Is this because of Neb?”

That was the only possibility he could think of.

He had heard through various tales and whispers that the illustrious Sun God was, in fact, the younger sibling of Neb, a deity whose power and reputation were widely acknowledged in the celestial realm.

If it were true that the Sun God had discovered her long-awaited return to the mortal realm, it would stand to reason that dispatching a paladin – a valiant warrior sworn to uphold justice and serve the divine – would indeed be a logical course of action in order to ensure her safety and to confront any potential threats that might arise from her reemergence.

“Then why the heavy armor?”

Eden waited for the paladin’s response.

“If you have done nothing wrong, there’s no need to be so wary. I’ve only come to retrieve an item.”

“…?”

Still gripping the handle of the two-handed hammer, the paladin continued,

“Do you happen to possess a peculiar item?”

“What kind of item?”

“One that holds a power… as if it could grant wishes.”

Eden’s mood soured considerably, clouding his thoughts and filling him with a sense of discontent.

If he had possessed anything remotely resembling that, he certainly wouldn’t find himself grappling with challenges in a medieval world, facing hardships and uncertainties at every turn.

Instead, he would have simply returned to the comfort and familiarity of his original life, where he could navigate through the regular pace of modern existence without the burdens that now weighed upon him.

“So you’re not here for someone?”

“No. Merely to find an item. It might be in that house, so would it be alright if I took a look inside?”

From the sound of things, the paladin wasn’t here for Neb.

Unaware of the growing chill in Eden’s gaze, the paladin continued speaking.

“The item might be a luxurious goblet, a strangely shaped statue, something old—”

“There’s nothing like that here.”

Eden abruptly interrupted the paladin, cutting them off in the middle of their sentence.

He stood with his arms crossed firmly over his chest, directing a steady, unwavering gaze at the paladin.

In his mind, he reasoned that if this paladin had not come specifically seeking Neb, there was absolutely no obligation for him to maintain a facade of politeness or cordiality.

Furthermore, Eden mused, what kind of person engages in conversation while still donning their heavy helmet? This disregard for basic social conventions sparked a nagging feeling deep within him, a flicker of old-fashioned manners he had thought long extinguished.

Moreover, he couldn’t help but consider that he truly did not possess the item the paladin was urgently searching for.

At least, that was the belief he held, based on his current knowledge of the situation.

The paladin’s helmeted face fixated on him with an intense stare in direct response to Eden’s brief and curt reply.

Eden met the gaze with unwavering confidence.

What are you planning to do, simply continue staring without saying a word?

“…I already know, from His word, that the item I seek is here.”

“Then it seems He’s mistaken.”

“That can’t be.”

Even the mere act of invoking a deity’s name failed to alter Eden’s reaction in any significant way.

This was not particularly surprising, considering that he exhibited the same indifferent response to another divine being who, coincidentally, actually resided within the very same household as him.

With each passing moment, Eden found himself increasingly fatigued by the exchange they were having.

His overall demeanor had been tarnished from the very beginning of their discussion—he had been abruptly awakened just as he was on the cusp of enjoying a refreshing chilled cola in the midst of a dream state.

He mused to himself, if I were to strike this paladin, would the Church send a group of pursuers to track me down?

The answer was likely affirmative.

Eden began to flex his fists a few times, bringing to mind various similar scenarios he had encountered within the confines of the game.

“Go back and ask Him yourself. The item isn’t here, so what do you want me to do?”

“…How dare you blaspheme in the name of the Sun.”

That wasn’t really what he meant, but okay.

Eden hadn’t realized how someone else might interpret his suggestion to “ask directly.”

The paladin, now angry, made the sign of the Sun.

“Today, I shall educate this insolent barbarian. Oh Sun in the heavens, grant me mercy.”