Paladin of the Dead God - Chapter 6



Only Noblemtl

Episode 6. Bigger Prey (1)

A few days later, Gebel went to check the condition of the mousetrap for the first time in a long time and was surprised.

There were as many as ten rats in the barrel.

In recent days, Gebel has noticed that the number of rats being caught is decreasing. This is because rats have a quick learning ability, so they quickly figure out which is bait and which is a trap.

‘Did Isaac neglect to empty the bin and it was now full of rats?’

Gebel thought so at first, but soon realized that the shape of the trap was slightly different. Just as he was looking to see what had changed, Isaac walked into the warehouse.

“Oh, are you here? Wow, I emptied it yesterday, but it filled up again so quickly.”

“You said you emptied it yesterday?”

“yes. “If you leave them alone, they will quickly eat them, so I empty them often.”

Gebel didn’t know how so many rats were caught. The mousetrap was only slightly different. Gebel asked as he looked at the stick across the center of the barrel and the lump of sour-smelling grain tied in the middle.

“Did you install this?”

“Ah yes. “I think it will hold up better if I do a little bit of tweaking.”

The part Isaac worked on was simple. He simply installed a pole across the middle of an oiled barrel. When Gebel touched the rod, the loosely installed rod spun around.

Isaac continued his explanation.

“It’s simple. Until then, the rats had to take risks by jumping into the container to get food, and once the food fell on the floor, the rats were no longer attracted.”

“But if there is food attached to this loose rod, it lunges at it and then slips and falls to the floor, like this. “There is no need to run out of food and there are no mice in danger, so other mice are easily attracted.”

Isaac nodded. Rats preferred grains to things like cheese and meat. It was easy to make a trap, especially since I knew that a slightly sour scent would make people crazy.

“her.”

Gebel smiled and raised the corners of his mouth. Isaac was a little surprised when the expressionless man smiled. But the surprise didn’t end there.

“It’s pretty good.”

It was a short compliment. But Isaac could see that it was the best compliment Gebel could give.

Gebel was really surprised.

Isaac’s idea was simple, but what was more important was his attitude. A 14-year-old child who is already working hard does not just stop at helping with work, but strives to become better.

That was enough for Gebel to raise his evaluation of Isaac to another level.

“You’ve done such an amazing thing, so it would be a shame to just walk away. “I will give you a gift.”

At that time, Gebel told an unexpected story.

Isaac was surprised at Gebel’s suggestion because he had done it for his own good. He was about to humbly decline the offer, but then realized that this was another opportunity to score points.

“Then could you please give me some candles?”

“candle?”

“yes. I wish there was a candle I could use in my room too. “The time I can stay in the chapel is so short that I don’t have enough time to read books.”

The miracle of lighting a candle is a piece of cake for monks, but the candles that light them are expensive. Therefore, other than the light in the center of the room, it was hardly used. But Isaac still had a lot to find out as he read this and that. If you have a personal candle, you will have more time to read.

But Gebel shook his head.

“I’m sorry, but no seconds. “There is a risk of fire, so I don’t think anything other than the lantern managed by Monk Alec will work.”

Isaac acted a little disappointed, but not really disappointed.

For now, it was enough to place a debt of gratitude on Geber. But Gebel seemed to have no intention of just ignoring it and took something out of his pocket.

“I’ll give you this instead.”

Isaac’s eyes sparkled.

What Gebel took out was a metal necklace in the shape of a sun. It was tied roughly with a tough string, but it was glowing softly as if it were no ordinary object.

“It is a bright stone necklace that the abbot himself engraved with a miracle. When you rub it, it glows and then slowly fades away. If you hit it harder, the light gets bigger, but it fades out faster. “The lifespan of the miracle is also decreasing.”

When Isaac looked at the necklace, something appeared around his eyes that made it tickle.

「Bright Stone (Rare)」

“Ore imbued with the miracles of the Code of Light. It emits light depending on the amount of shock it absorbs.”

It was the same as the status window seen in Nameless Chaos. This window did not appear for common items, but seemed to only appear for rare items or higher.

‘It’s a miracle-filled item.’

It was a treasure that could not be compared to a candle, which was a fire hazard or could go out at any moment. If sold on the market, it would be worth a month’s living expenses for an average family.

Isaac was worried that the reward might be too much for the work he had done. Favors will be gratefully accepted, but it is right to be wary of excessive favors.

“It’s such a big gift… … .”

“It doesn’t matter because it’s an item that’s reaching the end of its lifespan anyway. There must be about half a year left. “I just need to get it again from the abbot.”

Gebel wasn’t just a gift either. As my opinion of Isaac had already increased, I wanted to give him something after hearing that he liked books. This incident just provided the right opportunity.

Isaac knew that it was not an overly burdensome item and gratefully accepted it.

“thank you. “I will be grateful!”

***

‘This is good.’

Isaac thought as he tested the brilliance stone he received from Gebel. As Isaac rubbed the radiant stone, he gave off just the right amount of light, and as he tapped it, the light became increasingly stronger.

‘If you hit it hard, it will glow almost like a flashbang.’

Of course, doing so would quickly shorten the lifespan of the brilliance stone, so I had no intention of doing so.

Because of the unexpected gift, Isaac was at a loss as to what to do.

If I had been given a candle, I would have gladly kept it burning all night, but it was so valuable that it could have been stolen.

Children at this time of year are basically liars, thieves, and ready assaulters. This was especially true for orphans who had many shortcomings.

‘I don’t know if a replacement material will be available later, but it won’t work now.’

Isaac had too much going on to worry about useless things.

Although catching mice became easier, Gebel’s work did not decrease at all. Winter was just around the corner for him, and he began to do the chores that he had been unable to do because of the rat catching.

This involved chopping down trees, clearing roads, cleaning out latrines, and moving winter supplies from the village into the warehouse. Although it may not be noticeable, Gebel was an indispensable presence in the monastery.

‘Without Gebel, these lifeless monks would probably freeze to death or starve to death in less than a month.’

However, Gebel was silently assisting the monks so that they could focus on their training without even receiving wages.

‘Why?’

Although there are rumors among the children that Gebel is a deserter, Isaac knows that he is a paladin. With his experience even participating in the war, it is clear that he will be treated greatly wherever he goes.

‘Is this some kind of atonement?’

Isaac thought that was plausible too. He may have decided to lay down his sword for the comrades he left behind on the battlefield. But Isaac was determined to make him pick up the sword again.

‘How can I make him reveal his true colors… … .’

***

Isaac saw a rat scurrying around the corner of the warehouse. The moment he thought of reflexively grabbing it, his left hand reacted as if it were flying away.

To be precise, the tentacles responded.

The tentacle protruding from the palm immediately pierced the rat.

‘I’m used to it now.’

Crack, cluck. Isaac looked at the tentacle devouring the mouse.

‘And this guy too… … It’s definitely become a little faster and more clever.’

The length and thickness have clearly increased. Up to this point, the length of the tentacles was at best about the length from the fingertips to the elbow. But now it has grown to nearly 2m and pierces the rat’s neck in one fell swoop. It even predicts the movement route and takes the optimal route.

Change was happening to Isaac too. The moment I saw the rat, I was confident that I could catch it, even though I had never caught a rat before. It felt as if the tentacles had naturally become his limbs.

‘Is it because I got enough nutrition?’

Isaac interpreted it positively.

Isaac pulled out a tentacle as a test. A red tentacle about the length of a finger oozed out from the thin crack between the wrist and palm. Isaac confirmed that he could use these tentacles like fingers by squeezing and opening them.

I don’t know if it was because of the reward or because I was used to it, but the movement of controlling the tentacles felt much more natural.

It was still clear that the tentacles were being moved by another self, not himself. But anyway, the ego clearly moves in a direction that is favorable and beneficial to itself.

‘It would be nice to start eating something other than rats.’

It wasn’t that I was tired of rats. Because you can’t even taste it in the first place. Rather, since I gained various privileges when I ate rats, I thought that such privileges might also apply to other animals.

[Nameless Chaos is watching you.]

[Nameless Chaos wants you to find ‘bigger prey.’]

[A reward of chaos awaits you.]

Isaac was startled by the unexpected message he received.

‘Are you even looking into my thoughts?’

Isaac reflexively recalled all the swear words and insults he had hurled at the nameless chaos.

‘Seeing as he didn’t say anything, it seems like the bowl is too big or he doesn’t care in the first place.’

But there is little, if any, bigger food to be found in this poor monastery. Is it just the old donkey in the stable, Murzik, and the monk?

Of course, Isaac had no intention of touching any of them. Even if it’s a corpse.

But the opportunity came faster than Isaac expected.

***

As time passed, Isaac learned that this world was essentially not that different from his original world.

“Hey, Johan. “You follow me.”

working hours.

It was a time considered as precious as the time spent worshiping and studying the law, but it was also the only time when the monks’ supervision was relaxed. Johan, who was digging potatoes next to Isaac, hesitated when he heard someone calling and followed him.

They were older than Isaac.

Isaac looked intently at the men who were dragging Johan. Hans, 16, was the oldest among the monastery orphans. The guy looked around as if observing his surroundings and made eye contact with Isaac.

As soon as he saw Isaac, he looked away in shock.

The sight seemed quite strange to Isaac. For boys of this age, physique and age are no different from class. Isaac had a pretty appearance rather than a manly appearance, and his build was also small compared to his peers.

Of course, there is no way Isaac, a fully mentally mature adult, would give in just because the kids threatened him. Even so, it was strange that he ended up curling up like that in the first place. Especially in an orphanage like this.

Johan and Hans and their group disappeared behind the monastery. Isaac stared at the back and sighed.

‘It has nothing to do with me, but… … .’

Johan, who slept next to the bed, was the only child who had at least a little conversation with Isaac. There is no point in reaching the monks. Children are more afraid of violence from their peers than adults.

Isaac took steps towards the spot where they had disappeared.