Chapter 198: The Riot
“Jess Chamber. . . . . .”
“It was originally Jessi. I got my surname after becoming a full-fledged Paladin.”
The man with dark hair and brown eyes spoke, adjusting his untrimmed beard. Elenora knew he hadn’t forgotten his holy power, but she chose not to approach him. She asked.
“I see. How did you find me?”
It was true that he had helped her fend off the pursuers, but that was all the more reason to be wary. It was the moment when she was most inclined to down her guard.
Jess recognized her skepticism and slowly placed his hand in his arms, pulling it out. Jess held a little jewelry in his hand. It was a necklace with a thin chain and an open-and-close pendant.
He handed the jewelry to Elenora, who mumbled.
“This is. . . . . .”
“Sir Hailyn gave it to me just before being caught by the Orc shaman. Sir Hailyn occasionally took it off, so I’m aware of this necklace.”
Elenora grasped the necklace. Jess handed her one hand and placed the other in her arms. She held an identical necklace in her right hand.
On the thin iron chain and dangling necklace, a small blue bead was covered within the lid, and Jess’s was blinking and flashing red. Elenora glanced at the necklace, her eyes filled with memories, and said.
“The Necklace of Unity. It is a magical gadget that glows red and notifies when one of the holders is in danger of dying.”
“Yes, I realized that. And the closer the same necklace gets, the faster the red light blinks. That’s how I found the saintess.
She held the necklace securely. The solid texture left a strong impression in the palm of her hand. Elenora felt the thrill she had felt countless times and inquired in a gloomy tone.
“Do you know where my brother is?”
Jess, who had a similar somber face, opened his mouth.
“Actually, I’ve heard a story that someone with a similar appearance was seen.”
Elenora widened her eyes and inquired eagerly.
“Where is that?”
“It’s Lake Collehorn in the Abalson region in the northwest of the empire.”
‘Abalson Region?’ Jess continued while Elenora mentally searched for the Abalson region on the map.
“Five months ago, there was the sound of something falling in the forest near the lake. When the villagers arrived, they reported that a knight with broken armor and wounds lay in a pit. Sir Hailyn was clearly identifiable based on the circumstances, appearance, and appearance of the equipment he was carrying. The residents stated that they assisted him with his treatment and helped him regain his senses.
“Where is that village right now?”
“It doesn’t exist now.”
“. . . . . . huh?”
Jess, who was clenching his hand tightly, spoke quietly.
“It is said that thousands of zombies crawled out of the lake and assaulted the settlement. It was the middle of the night, and no one thought such things would emerge from the lake, so they were helpless.”
“. . . . . .Lake Collehorn, there is one thing I can guess, but by any chance, until now?”
Despite being shocked by the news of Hailyn’s life or death and the destruction of a village that she had never known before, Elenora maintained her train of thought.
She was familiar with a few key occurrences documented in the church’s old history books, and she remembered one of the most recent. It was a record of the past that she couldn’t see or hear directly, but the story passed down was startling.
It is surprising that all wizards can develop psychopathy. However, some wizards and witches establish their reputations in history by putting into effect such a shocking and clichéd saying.
400 years ago, a wizard did this. One day, thinking he had awakened the secret of magic, so he left his cave, laboratory, or hut to carry out his long-planned strategy.
It does not matter which of the three is correct. The crucial point is that he conquered and dominated all four territories in a single week.
The wizard, who dubbed himself the King of the Dead and vowed to conquer death, desired to turn all sentient beings undead like himself.
During this period, the Order of Knights dispatched by the kingdoms, as well as paladins and priests from each faith, took part in the fight. It was the largest Holy Army ever convened, and it was the Holy See’s final gathering. The King of the Dead was defeated, but his remains were not discovered. This is how history has recorded it.
“But he is back. He’s been working on his strength in that enormous lake.”
Elenora scooped up the longsword and shield from the floor and handed them to Jess. Jess rose to his knees, placed the sword in its scabbard at his belt, and slung the shield on his back.
Elenora gazed around for a moment. The fog remained heavy, but it was gradually dispersing. The sun was rising.
Even in the dense jungle, the light was becoming more visible. The forest’s darkness was hidden beneath the dirt floor, leaves, branches, and pillars of the elm tree.
As the fog dissipated, the bodies of the paladins who had died under the dirt floor became visible. Their bodies, which were not fully illuminated by heavenly might or the flash of blades, shone coolly in the sunlight.
Elenora, who had glanced at the bodies, stared at Jess.
“Is there anything else you’ve heard?”
“There is. This is the worst story.”
“It is scary. Tell me. Let me hear it quickly and forget it.”
Elenora joked, but there was no playfulness in her voice at all.
“Some individuals have observed the lake’s surface dip somewhat and a massive castle floating over the mountains. At most, there are only two or three, and it was late at night, so there are more people who don’t believe it. But they say the lake level has actually gone down.”
“We should think about the worst-case scenario.”
Elenora took one step. Jess trailed behind. The odor of blood in the fog vanished gradually.
Jess continued to gaze behind him, aware of the presence of another squad of pursuers.
“Do you have a distinct destination? If not, I’ve got an idea.
“I want to go somewhere, but I’d like to get your opinion first. Tell me.”
Jess, who was still keeping his guard up, took out a map from his arms. It’s the entire empire. Elenora looked at the map and spoke.
“It’s a map. Where did you get it? It’s something the empire strictly manages.”
“I got help. Not someone I can trust, but someone who makes sure deals are done right. Going forward, this is where we are.”
The map’s place names were marked with miniature graphics and tiny lettering.
Jess’s finger pointed to a corner of the map. To the right and somewhat below the empire’s center. There were words, Navlak Grove, and trees.
“If you go a bit further, you will find Ferger Plains and the Ilbanes River. And that river flows to Brasilt, a big city and provincial capital. The owner is a count named Jayvir, and while it is on the boundaries of the empire, it does not rank highly as a frontier count due to the Gray Canyon and the sea below. Because. . . . “
“It is because you cannot bring in a huge number of troops to get down the canyon, and the sea is a raging maelstrom all year. I’m really familiar with this city. In order to enter politics, he sponsored the Grand Church multiple times. Are you saying we should go there?”
“Yes. We must go there.”
“Why?”
“The person who handed me this map was proud to be an excellent source of information. Believe it or not, he informed me that the dragon slayer had appeared in Brasilt. If that’s true, we must go find him.”
“. . . . . .Do you know him?”
Jess felt proud and opened his chest.
“Of course, saintess. You may have heard about it, but the dragon slayer discovered the warlock Sir Hailyn and I were chasing last winter. Furthermore, the warlock was a terrible bastard who attempted to resurrect a devil.
Elenora raised one hand to his words, which seemed to last forever.
“That is enough. I also know that person. I had met him previously.”
“Yes? When?”
“It was the moment when he earned the nickname of dragon slayer.”
Elenora reflected on her memory. It was a face she couldn’t easily forget, so it wasn’t difficult to recall.
She couldn’t get over the sight of a swirl of turmoil focused on purple eyes. It was such an amazing sight that she was speechless, despite having been roaming about delivering God’s message and desires.
“I’m glad you didn’t object. I was going to head to where he is too.”
At her words, Jess asked.
“Did you know where he was?”
“No. But I can find out.
“How. . . . . .?”
To his question, Elenora pointed upwards. The sunlight was gradually spreading over her slender finger.
🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷
As the day dawned, Russell and his group were visited by armed soldiers. They had decent armor and weapons, and they were forming a semicircle around the inn.
From the group of soldiers came a elf with long ears, it could be presumed. His ears were cut off at both ends. One of the elf’s criminal punishment methods that humans don’t know.
He was Definus Dolren, an elf with blunt ears. He did have pale skin and a gorgeous face that matched his elf appearance, but his exposed ears entirely contradicted the traditional perception of elves.
It is unclear how Definus feels about his ears. Because nobody asked. However, he did not grow his hair long enough to cover it. He did not appear to be ashamed of his ears.
He yelled at the front entrance of the inn.
“Those who destroyed the public property of Brasilt City, harmed the citizens, and detained the young master, Rosell, come forward!”
Definus wore light plate armor and leaned on a long wooden staff. When he hit the floor with his staff, the inn shook with a yell.
The soldiers appeared relieved that a wizard capable of shaking a structure with a single gesture was on their side.
Kwaang!
Then something flew in and broke the inn’s shaky front door. Definus had his ears amputated, but he retained the senses of an elf, allowing him to delineate what was flying towards him.
At first glance, it appeared to be a white disc, but it was actually an ax rotating around. When Definus realized his life was in danger, he gathered all of his might and raised his staff.
Definus was hurled backwards, making a sound similar to an old glacier cracking. The troops who were attempting to catch him as he soared rearward collapsed at once.
Someone caught the ax, which had been stopped by the barrier, and flew up.
Definus, who was bleeding from his nose, and the troops who had been shoved and collapsed stared at him with blank eyes while clutching spears.
He was a man with a massive body and a well-balanced physique. He was dressed in a black shirt, slacks, and boots, and he spoke while sticking a toothpick between his teeth.
“I’ve heard that even dogs don’t get touched while eating. Where have you come from?”
“You, you! You’re the one! You dare destroy the city’s public property, kill citizens, and━ uh━!”
The latter part was replaced with an unusual groan. It was because the man who had walked up quickly seized the ax upside down and placed the handle over Definus’ neck.
The blunt-eared elf’s face became pallid as his feet dangled far from the floor.
“You can get whiter than that. What’s your name?”
Russell smiled and moved his face closer.
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