Prologue
***
A single, thin streak of light cut through the darkness of the underground stone chamber, piercing down at an angle.
That darkness and the streak of light were the only scenery permitted to the Paladin Elbridge.
This was because Elbridge had to endure for a very long time, unable to move even an inch, in a state where he could not even turn his head.
For a period far exceeding a hundred years, there were only two things Elbridge could do.
Watching the dust that floated aimlessly in the beam of light, and sinking into his inner self to repeat all sorts of thoughts.
Thanks to this, Elbridge became able to gauge with near-perfect accuracy what time it was, and when the sun rose and set, through the angle and brightness of the thin streak of light.
The time Elbridge endured in that way far exceeded one hundred years.
The reason the period was not exact, despite him being in a situation with nothing else to do, was because Elbridge had given up on gauging the flow of time after counting the days for nearly a hundred years.
Young and promising. No, the reason the young and once-promising Paladin Elbridge ended up in such a state could be summarized simply.
It was because a long time ago, when sealing the Great Archdemon, Elbridge had taken on the crucial role of being the core of the seal.
In other words, Elbridge was sealed away along with the Great Archdemon in order to maintain the seal.
From time to time, Elbridge would recall the voice of the middle-aged Paladin who had been the expedition leader.
'I know this is a shameless request... Elbridge. Could you be the core of the seal? The mages who were supposed to handle the final stages of the seal have all died, so someone must take on that role directly.'
As it was a seal created half out of improvisation, there was no way to guess what kind of state the person sealed along with the Great Archdemon would end up in.
Whether one would age inside the seal, or if they would have to wage an endless battle with the Great Archdemon within it. Nothing could be known.
Therefore, the expedition leader had considered as many variables as possible and singled out Elbridge.
Elbridge's skill was beyond question, and at the same time, he was the youngest Paladin in the expedition force.
In other words, the person who could most stably endure for the longest period of time would, in all likelihood, be Elbridge.
To the expedition leader's request, which was filled with apology, the Elbridge of the past had replied confidently.
'What's the big deal, I'll give it a shot.'
Elbridge had even accepted the request to become the core of the seal with a rather joyful heart.
At that time, Elbridge thought that if he could raise the name of the Rusted Shield Goddess high in front of the paladins of other orders, and furthermore, if he could carve his own name into history, he could overcome any hardship.
It was a judgment befitting a young paladin, and a slightly reckless one at that.
Of course, Elbridge regretted that decision countless times.
'It was the bravest choice of my entire life, but it was also the stupidest.'
Today as well, just like any other day, while Elbridge was ruminating on his memories, something strange occurred.
A scent was perceived.
'What is this?'
It was merely the musty, dusty smell of the basement. However, to Elbridge, it was an incredibly stimulating sensation.
This was because ever since the day he became the core of the seal, Elbridge had been in a state where he could not feel any sensation at all, with the exception of limited sight.
Following that, a storm of all kinds of sensations enveloped Elbridge.
The cool air unique to an underground space and the feel of the hard floor. The faint, humming sound of the wind that seeped into the basement...
'Is this a hallucination?'
Although he had no particular grounds for it, Elbridge was certain that this was not a hallucination.
At almost the same time, Elbridge assessed the current situation.
'I don't know the reason. But the seal has been broken.'
Had the Great Archdemon escaped? Or had the Great Archdemon failed to overcome the seal and perished?
Elbridge had no way of knowing the exact situation. But then again, such a thing was not particularly important to Elbridge right now.
'Even if, by some chance, things went wrong, it's not my fault. I've done my part.'
Freed from the seal, Elbridge took a deep breath.
Sssuuup—
And moving his legs, which had stiffened like blocks of wood, he approached the faint streak of light shining down into the underground stone chamber.
Elbridge looked up. A crevice in the ceiling of the underground stone chamber, about the size of two finger joints.
Through that crevice, a vivid blue sky was visible. How long had it been since he had seen the color blue.
'The sky...'
Elbridge's heart pounded as if it had gone mad.
His heart grew impatient.
After fumbling through the darkness for a good while, Elbridge discovered a staircase leading to the surface.
And through an entrance that was hidden perfectly, he made his way outside.
A forest came into view. The stone chamber that had sealed the Great Archdemon was located beneath a deep forest.
The refreshing yet damp air unique to a forest, the chirping of nameless birds, and the strong scent of earth.
All sorts of sensations, which had become endlessly unfamiliar, enveloped Elbridge.
Elbridge knelt before a birch tree and offered a prayer to the Rusted Shield Goddess.
"O Goddess, thank you. I have finally been released from that hellish seal..."
And before Elbridge's prayer was even finished, a voice reached his ears.
- Elbridge, Paladin Elbridge. You have suffered greatly.
Elbridge was startled.
Unlike the majority of people who never hear the Goddess's voice in their entire lifetime, Elbridge had heard the Goddess's voice twice before.
And the voice he was hearing now was unmistakably that of the Rusted Shield Goddess.
Elbridge clasped his hands a little more tightly and continued his prayer.
"O Goddess. How much time has passed since the day I was sealed with the Great Archdemon?"
A woman's voice, both merciful and strong, was heard.
- Some two hundred years have passed.
Some two hundred years. For Elbridge, who had been a paladin in his mid-twenties, it was an incredibly long time.
Elbridge thought. Am I still a youth in his mid-twenties? Or am I an old man well over two hundred years old?
Fortunately, it did not seem as if he had become an old man wrinkled all over.
His clasped hands were gaunt unlike before, but they were not covered in wrinkles.
'That's a relief, at least.'
Elbridge had many things he wanted to ask the Goddess.
What had become of the seal and the Great Archdemon, how many seats his great deeds had earned for the Goddess in the celestial council...
However, Elbridge set aside his numerous questions and asked the Goddess a very frank question.
"O Rusted Shield Goddess. Am I being revered as a saint in the order?"
Elbridge was certain that it must have turned out that way.
Wasn't he the one who had taken on the heaviest duty in an expedition force gathered from numerous holy orders' paladins, monarchs' knights, and the mages of the magic tower?
If one were to judge based solely on how impressive it was, Elbridge thought his own devotion would be more impressive than that of those who had died.
Surely, the priests and followers of the Order of the Rusted Shield must have sung of the devotion of Paladin Elbridge. If only to save face in front of the followers of other orders...
A short silence passed.
- ...Elbridge, my most cherished child. I am worried that you will be greatly shocked to hear my story.
"I am fine, so please do not worry."
Elbridge was confident that he would not be surprised no matter what story he heard.
After all, there could be nothing more surprising than being freed from a seal after some two hundred years, and hearing the voice of the Goddess.
However, the story that followed from the Goddess was more than enough to surprise Elbridge.
- Our order has fallen.