Raising Paladins

Chapter 43

Episode 43. All relationships bought with money are like that (4)

“Don’t be vigilant.”

The first time I saw Carl and his wooden sword.

To be honest, Marlon thought the rumors about that priest were exaggerated.

However, the moment I saw his improvisation in a many-to-one situation, my thoughts changed.

“He is someone with a lot of combat experience. Don’t let go of the tension.”

“Yes, butler.”

The three assassins responded to Marlon’s story.

They wear iron masks with two horses on their faces.

soon

The moment Marlon kicked them, they too were launched in all directions.

And aiming for the knife in the middle, they gathered into one point.

A concerted effort that does not give a gap between the three assassins and Marlon.

Four daggers rained down on Carl from all sides.

however.

“Clumsy.”

As the knife’s mysterious footwork unfolded several times, surprisingly, the four daggers, which had been narrowing down the perfect angle and narrowing the range, cut through the air as if they had promised.

“this!”

An assassin who suddenly found a knife occupying his rear.

He quickly turned and swung his dagger.

Rather than attacking with a sword, it was a movement for self-defense.

However, as if the sword had read the dagger’s trajectory in advance, it avoided it by slightly tilting its back.

And the knife’s wooden sword approached and stabbed the assassin’s empty armpit.

“ぅ!”

He dropped the dagger he was holding after being struck by a wooden sword imbued with divine power.

‘… … What is this?!’

He was only stabbed in the armpit with a wooden sword.

But a tingling pain spread throughout his body.

Although it is one of the vital points, the armpit is not a site that is fatally injured like the neck or the pit of the stomach.

However, it was such an amazing pain for him who did not know the existence of the divine power contained in the wooden sword.

The moment when the tension in the body was relieved by the addition of pain and doubt.

puck!

“Kkeuk… … .”

A wooden sword that flew in without missing an opening.

He fell by the scruff of his neck, foaming at his mouth.

“Another fell asleep.”

“this… … !”

A nearby assassin, agitated at seeing his colleague fall, immediately flies in.

Even if the four of them attacked at the same time, there was no way they could defeat the sword alone.

Also very excited.

“Impatient!”

Marlon hastily stopped him.

However, it was already too late.

pop!

“Aagh!”

A wooden sword swung diagonally at the flying assassin.

The wooden sword surprisingly deflected the steel dagger and crushed the assassin’s shoulder.

The sword’s long sword.

The flying assassin collapsed on the spot.

“this… … .”

It was obviously 5 to 1 when we started.

But when he came to his senses, he realized that there were only two left on his side.

Marlon was dumbfounded.

‘… … It’s a mistake. It’s my fault for ignoring you as a mere priest of a city on the outskirts. I should have checked thoroughly!’

When the first report about the knife came up.

When I saw that report that someone I hadn’t seen was taking down Hanson’s gang metal after metal, I should have investigated thoroughly.

This was obviously my own mistake.

and.

‘I have to tell the master about this!’

All reports to Baron Astell go through the hands of the head butler himself.

I reported Carl’s incident to the baron, and the baron knows that too.

Aileen, who saw Devaldo’s defeat a few days ago, also thinks that the sword and the temple must have been just luck.

Aileen said that the priest seemed to have something, but she didn’t seem to care too much.

So, I had to give a proper report to Baron Astel about the real identity of that priest.

To do so… … .

‘For now, retreat.’

Marlon, who had made up his mind, spoke to his only colleague.

“Go to the left and obscure him. I will take care of it myself.”

“yes.”

To deal with it directly means to unleash a blow with sincerity.

The assassin immediately took possession of the left side of the sword and ran out.

“Courage is imaginary.”

The sword that reduced the number of enemies came straight this time.

But the rushing assassin stopped unexpectedly.

“… … The butler?”

Malone ordered the assassin to attack.

He was running away right away.

puck!

Iron pudduck.

A knife that I couldn’t even reach with my fingertips even if I dealt with it sincerely.

The price of selling a glance in front of him.

The third assassin also collapsed silently.

Carl said as he looked at Marlon, who was running away.

“Are you abandoning your comrades to live on your own?”

The butler of the city hall.

However, it is too suspicious to be called a mere observer of city affairs.

Trying to harm people in broad daylight, even the boldness of abandoning a colleague right away if necessary.

If you dig, there will surely be more.

“Hey.”

Four people collapsed in a small clearing in the forest.

Devaldo, who was trembling while watching this, was startled by Carl’s call.

“profit! Everyone, don’t come closer!”

“… … .”

Devaldo knows that Carl has won a fight against dozens of scavengers.

However, it was the first time I had seen that tremendous dance in person.

The blue blade flashed and the four people who rushed at it were subdued with only a wooden sword.

And one for each person.

In one blow!

DeBaldo’s face turned pale as the knife strode forward.

“Mi, I’m sorry! I was really wrong for trying to get you into trouble! Please let me live!”

“… … I am a priest. Why am I killing you?”

“ah… … .”

I heard and saw it.

It was Marlon and the assassins who tried to kill him, not the knife.

Rather, Carl saved himself.

De Valdo said, having regained his composure in the cold wind blowing.

“… … Thank you. I’m alive thanks to you This grace of mine is somehow… … .”

“Is that true?”

“huh?”

A knife that came close to me before I knew it.

In his hand was a bag of jewels Marlon had dropped.

“I will repay the favor no matter what, is that really true?”

“that… … .”

“I will use it for good. I didn’t see it that way, but you have a big barrel.”

“ah… … .”

Sweep.

The jewel bag Carl was holding was hidden inside the clergyman’s robe like lightning.

Devaldo, who had nothing to say, just stared at the knife with his mouth wide open.

‘It’s my last possession… … .’

If you don’t have that, you’re doomed.

However, he has neither the courage nor the ability to attack Carl and take it back.

There is no reason to ask for a refund.

He tried to put himself in danger by digging a trap, but the knife saved him.

In fact, if you think of it as the price of one life, it is not an exaggeration to say that it is rather small.

Devaldo lowered his head.

“Hey, Devaldo.”

The knife threw something at Devaldo.

It was a small, turquoise gem that he had taken out of his jewelry bag earlier.

“With this, you won’t have to worry about starving to death right away. So leave.”

“Are you leaving?”

“You already have no place to set foot in Meirium. Don’t you know yourself well? Besides, if you’re wandering around here, they’ll come looking for you again, right? Are you going to sit and wait to die?”

“ah… … !”

“Come on. Don’t even come close to Meirium from now on.”

The knife helped the fallen Devaldo.

Devaldo, who stood up awkwardly, said to Carl with a slightly embarrassed face.

“that… … Do you know what has become of my servants?”

“The servants you served? They were all scattered long ago.”

“… … .”

hopeful hope.

Perhaps there is at least one person who truly cares for himself.

I asked with that kind of expectation, but it was as expected.

“You were captured and the Merchant Guild took away your property equal to the escort fee and compensation. The amount was considerable, so it would be good to say that it was stolen. After that, the remaining money and goods were said to have been thrown away by the servants. That’s what I heard.”

“I can’t… … .”

“It wasn’t a very unexpected ending.”

“… … ?”

Property is blown, people are all running away… … .

Now, all that really remains is Devaldo, who has only one small jewel that Carl gave her.

He looked at the knife with blank eyes.

“All relationships bought with money are like that. People and people have to be based on trust, but you bought that with money. So as soon as you run out of money, you get dumped. So try your best this time. Do you understand?”

chuck.

A knife with a wooden sword on his back and tidying up his clothes.

He turned and slowly walked away from Devaldo.

Devaldo’s gaze, which was looking at the back, turned to the cage that was rolling around near the bush.

Perhaps because it was dropped during the commotion and the entrance was opened, Piki, the parrot that should be inside, was nowhere to be seen.

“Even you… … .”

wheein.

wind passing by.

And the clouds that flow indifferently.

It was Devaldo that felt especially lonely in the blue sky today.

***

that afternoon.

The temple was busy repairing the broken places and adapting to the new atmosphere.

A new wind brought by Carlos.

The dying temple was bustling with life.

“I… … I came here to pray… … .”

“oh! Welcome! Let me guide you!”

A few days ago, new believers began to visit sparsely.

Tira guided them with a friendly face.

The new believers were a bit puzzled by the fact that they had to put 1 cron in the collection box in front of the seedling, but thanks to Tira, who was so kind and friendly, they all started their life as believers with a 1 cron donation.

Of course, the Temple of Dawn wasn’t just extorting money (?).

“Here, get your credit card and souvenir. If you write down your name and date of birth, the priests of our temple will all pray for your blessings on that day.”

“oh… … .”

“If you bring a new follower, we will give you another souvenir, so you should know, right?”

“okay… … .”

Assorted souvenirs in wooden woven baskets.

From food such as bread and cheese slices to sculptures imitating seedlings.

I don’t think I’ve lost money by donating at least one cron.

Rather, I want to be able to receive this much.

When the money was donated, Tira thought, watching the mysterious new member smile.

‘Karl is such a great man… … . How do you know all this?’

Carl said to Tyra.

Our purpose is to keep the believers (?) raising babies.

Give generous souvenirs and food to devotees who visit the temple for the first time.

And on your next visit, bring your family or friends.

Only then can the temple flourish quickly.

That was Carl’s teaching.

“I want to come with my colleagues next time, priest.”

“Aww, thank you so much for that. I will especially prepare another piece of cheese for the believer.”

“Oh oh… … .”

As soon as Tira finished speaking, Daryl appeared with a piece of cheese.

Then, with a bright smile on his face, he put a chunk of cheese in the basket of the devotee and greeted him kindly.

“Nice to meet you, new brother of the Church of Dawn.”

“Yes, nice to meet you… … .”

“I’d like to show you around the temple. Would you like to go with me?”

“Oh, thank you for doing that. But who are you… … ?”

“I am Daryl, a seed of the sun god who serves Mister Carl in the temple.”

“Oh oh… … .”

Daryl took his followers and disappeared towards the courtyard.

Tira, who was watching them, was glad that the number of followers increased, but she was worried.

‘But is it okay to sprinkle bread, cheese, and souvenirs like this? The situation at the temple has improved, but if it’s like this, it’ll soon run out… … .’

The Temple of Dawn in Meirium, barely a few days after getting out of the abyss.

It’s natural to be worried that you might go back to that time.

While Tira was thinking about the future, Carl returned with the servants along with the sun that was declining before he knew it.

“knife! Thank you very much for your hard work today! It was hard because there were a lot of stones in the field, right?”

“There was nothing too difficult. Donkeys are so good at their work.”

“A donkey? Where is the donkey in our temple… … ?”

“Ah, there is such a thing. And give this to Priest Eric. Tell them to add to their livelihood.”

Took.

Carl took out a small pouch from his bosom and threw it at Tira.

Tira, who took it unexpectedly, asked.

“to? What is it?”

“I picked it up in the forest on my way back.”