Steampunk Era: Mad Abield
Chapter 434 - 291: The Eve of the Storm (Part 3)

Chapter 434: Chapter 291: The Eve of the Storm (Part 3)

"Jelent... Gaiate of Carterburg." Standing before the Paladin of the Church of Justice, the patriarch of the Gaiate family seemed somewhat downcast.

His face bore cuts from sharp objects, and his leather armor was damaged.

Of his two longswords, the steel one had already broken, and the other also had some notches.

"Gaiate of Carterburg... are you related to the esteemed Malin Gaiate?" The Paladin had confirmed Gaiate’s identity, the lie detection had passed, and the man before them was indeed the hero who saved this village— at least two hundred ghouls and about forty Corpse Ghouls, as well as two Black Knights, were the spoils of war from this man’s hand.

"My adopted son has become an esteemed person as well, isn’t that wonderful?" Gaiate reminisced about the last time he had seen his adopted son.

The boy had held back, a realization he’d come to after the fact.

He was a good child, if only he had been his own... if he had been his and Sophia’s child, how wonderful that would have been.

Unfortunately, just like the child wrote in his novel, Fate always pushes those in love apart and leads them down different paths.

Sophia, do you know that all these years, I have been searching for the truth behind your death?

"Sir."

"Ah, what is it?"

The greeting from the Paladin pulled Gaiate out of the abyss of his memories. He looked up, just in time to see a teacup offered to him.

"Have a sip of hot tea, you’ve worked hard today, and rest assured, we will spread the news of your good deeds throughout all human kingdoms. We also invite you to rest at our Church for a couple of days, and we will summon the finest craftsmen to repair your equipment," said the Paladin with a smile.

Gaiate nodded, "Thank you for the hospitality, thank you."

"Don’t mention it, Mr. Gaiate, speaking of which, today should be the final duel of the tournament in Sydney. I, too, am a father, and my child has gone there with his comrades to fight on behalf of the Church of Justice’s middle-grade team against their opponents... I really wish I could go there and see the battle for myself."

At this point, the middle-aged man smiled somewhat awkwardly, "But the Lord is right, we all have our duties to bear in life, and you are no exception. I heard that Mr. Malin will be performing an exhibition battle with Baron Sayer Carter today. Your adopted son has grown into a remarkable young man. You must be very pleased."

"...Yes, very pleased. Although that child was one I picked up, I’ve always been very fond of his temperament and personality. Sometimes, I feel like he is another me..." Gaiate said before taking a sip of tea... attempting to conceal his nervousness.

Malin is to have an exhibition battle with Sayer Carter?

That shouldn’t be. Although Malin is but a mediocre six-ring Mage, as well as a mediocre Detective and Psychic, he is only fifteen years old, whereas Sayer Carter, as a half-step Legendary, had become a Lich long ago... no, the Pale Master, but in reality, he is a Lich.

A Lich that plays with a greatsword.

Gaiate had battled him, knowing this fellow also possessed a peculiar piece of battle armour... such a fellow should not have any interactions with Malin, let alone fight an exhibition battle.

Exhibition battles can be fatal.

Who wants to trap his child... Goethe?

No, although that man is a protector of women, when it comes to Faye’s marriage, he cannot make decisions— it’s Anna who is in charge. As a High Elf, a Legendary battle Mage, she has the power, the obligation, and the duty to choose a good husband for her daughter.

Malin was her top choice, because Gaiate knew, this was their tutor’s child.

After all, those of a certain age knew of that Sage’s identity.

Gaiate had not known at first, simply because he truly could not associate the child with him.

...So, could it be Manli?

That also shouldn’t be. Although the Queen of the Rod family can be somewhat neurotic and has shown movements towards having Faye marry into her lineage, she surely would not risk being eradicated by Anna and Lena just to eliminate Malin. This was incongruous with her behavior, especially since her child bears the Mowish name, and Goethe would not stand by while this happened.

Then who could it be?

Thinking this, he raised his head, "But I’m curious, why would my child be competing against a member of the Carter family, Sayer? He’s still a half-grown boy, and Sayer has long been an expert."

"Who knows, but you don’t have to worry, Baron Sayer Carter has been renowned for a long time, he will not hurt Mr. Malin," the Paladin said so.

But his words were of no comfort to Gaiate.

The middle-aged Demon Hunter, with graying temples and a slightly trembling left hand, thought of his home far away in Carterburg for the first time.

My goddess, please bless my child...

Do not let me, who lost his wife at a young age, suffer again. He is my child, the support of my daughter, the last heir to the Gaiate legacy.

Lord, have mercy.

.........

On the bench under the shade of the great tree, the young girl opened her eyes and glanced at her sister: "The man with graying hair has begged us, I’ve always thought that he, in his lifetime, would never ask for our help."

"...He’s a pitiable person, my sister, don’t mock him." Her sister blinked her eyes open and tilted her head as if listening: "...It’s a small favor, let’s grant his wish. On the day of the battle, we will bless that child." "Is that okay? If we respond, wouldn’t that reveal that the office of the Goddess of Harvest is now managed by us?"

"Don’t worry, he’s in the Eastern Kingdom, and his child is in Regensburg, neither of them will know."

At this point, the two goddesses smiled and squinted their eyes once again.

Before going back to sleep, one of them reached out a hand and swung it as if scattering seeds.

.........

Gaiate put down his teacup and placed it to the side.

At this time, two middle-aged men were sitting in front of a tree stump, playing the card game that Demon Hunters liked most.

"Speaking of which, you’re indeed a decent opponent, but this time, I’m certain to win," Gaiate said, laying down the Environmental Card; the Path of Frost caused the Paladin’s front row to lose all its power.

"Ah! How did you know I didn’t have a counter card! I only had a 14% chance of not drawing another counter card!"

"Sorry, sir, but there’s no such thing as probability studies in this world, just yes or no."

Just as Gaiate said this, he suddenly felt something.

He and the Paladin turned their heads at the same time, both seeing a tiny shoot emerging from the ground.

The tendril of the World Tree!

Gaiate’s heart pounded fiercely.

"The World Tree’s tendril... My lord’s blessing! It’s yours!" As the tendril turned into a circlet around Gaiate’s forehead, the Paladin dropped his cards, stood up awkwardly, and saluted Gaiate: "You are the one blessed by my lord!"

"Ah... I am, I am very grateful for your deity’s gift of the World Tree’s tendril," Gaiate was somewhat at a loss too — in his younger days, he too dreamed of owning such a branch, but as he grew older, he found that all his actions could no longer make him the recipient of such a blessing.

In his search for the murderer, he had changed, Jelent Gaiate was no longer a simple young man; he had become a Demon Hunter... with no scruples.

"You said you were definitely on the hunt for the murderer of your beloved, and I had my doubts whether your pursuit would ever conclude, but now I believe that you will certainly find satisfaction, that one day, you will kill your enemy with your own hands," the Paladin said, making a gesture of the Holy Emblem on his chest: "May you find satisfaction, sir!"

"...Thank you, there will be such a day," Gaiate nodded his head, then noticed the carriage that had come to pick him up at the village entrance: "Let’s go rest for a bit first."

"Of course, please follow me, Mr. Gaiate."

The Paladin stood up, went over to the carriage, and opened the door for Gaiate.

As he got into the carriage, Gaiate glanced at the tendril wrapped around his arm, it seemed that the role of the Goddess of Harvest’s cleric was truly assumed by Nameless’s beloved...

My goddess... may you recover soon.

.........

"I don’t fancy that young fellow Malin’s chances, even if he’s got some skills, hasn’t the Church put too much faith in him? Sir Carter Kay is fighting the first match, and yet they’re sending him up; are they sending him to his doom?"

The young gambler sighed to his girlfriend at his side: "I’ve staked five thousand on Sir Carter, and though I always lose to him at the card table, I believe this time he will bring me luck and wealth."

"Dear, do you have that much faith in him?"

"Of course, a Mage who’s a single step from Legendary status and a master swordsman simply can’t lose," the young gambler was very confident.

Meanwhile, listening to the chatter, Mowish Sayer furrowed his brows — where did this fool come from? If it weren’t for the fact that his mentor couldn’t turn around, he’d want to turn and smash the fool’s face in right now.

Alas, he could not.

Watching Carter Kay approach the platform, Mowish Sayer snorted because the man reminded him of some rather unpleasant memories.

But in the end, Mowish Sayer still turned to glance at the entrance corridor to the stage.

Then he saw a strong man appear before his eyes.

Who is this?

Then he heard the announcer mention the name Malin Gaiate through the Illusion Technique of amplification.

Wait a minute... he’s Malin?

No way! You’ve got to be fake! Give us back our Church’s beloved Malin!

With a sense of disbelief, Mowish Sayer watched the strong and tall individual walk onto the field of competition.

No, this can’t be... Mowish Sayer had to remind himself more than once.

The man before him, he absolutely could not be Malin.

But... the huge ’wooden sword’ in his hand still told everyone.

He was Malin.

No doubt about it.

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