Paladin of a Fallen Order (Novel) - Chapter 26 - Proselytizing
Chapter 26 – Proselytizing
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Translated by Pratt
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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Every year at the Grand Festival, the most talked-about thing was the name of the religious order that won the friendly tournament between each order.
However, this year, there was one religious order that became even more talked-about than the winning order. It was the Order of the Rusty Shield.
People are naturally drawn to new and intense experiences.
Since Elbridge’s deeds—showing an explosive performance and then surrendering—were far more impressive than the winning order that emerged every year, it was in a way natural for people’s attention to focus on the Order of the Rusty Shield.
The fact that the Order of the Bloody Spear claimed the victory was also good news for the Order of the Rusty Shield.
The gossips of the Holy City Solenion gathered in groups of threes and fives to chatter.
“As expected! I knew the Order of the Bloody Spear would win this year.”
“Can you really call that a victory? They almost lost to a single person in the second match of the main tournament. No, in fact, they practically lost.”
“Who doesn’t know that? Only one thing is important. I picked the winning team, and I won money.”
“By the way, I heard of the Order of the Rusty Shield for the first time in this Grand Festival. Is it an order from another region? If an order from the west or south performed so actively in the eastern Grand Festival, I think it would be disappointing.”
“That’s not it. I heard their temple is in the shantytown. Apparently, that temple is even their headquarters.”
When making the Grand Festival a topic of conversation, one could not help but talk about the Order of the Bloody Spear, the winner of the tournament, and when mentioning the Order of the Bloody Spear, one could not help but think of the Order of the Rusty Shield.
Elbridge’s goal of widely spreading the name of the order might have been overachieved precisely because he chose to surrender.
Just as Elbridge and the Goddess of the Rusty Shield were highly satisfied with the result of the tournament, the Order of Spring Rain and Moss was also satisfied with the tournament’s outcome. This was because they had achieved their goal of suppressing the Order of the Flowing Water.
At first glance, it seemed to be a tournament where everyone was satisfied.
However, in Elbridge’s thoughts, there was one party that might look upon the result of the Grand Festival with dissatisfaction. It was none other than the Order of the Bloody Spear.
Elbridge asked for advice from the goddess in a worried voice.
“Goddess. By any chance, did the God of the Bloody Spear protest to you? His face must have been damaged quite a bit because of me.”
An oracle was handed down immediately.
– The God of the Flowing Water was somewhat dissatisfied, but the God of the Bloody Spear did not show any particular reaction.
“That is unexpected.”
– He is originally a god whose thoughts are hard to grasp. Still, at that level, he must have been reasonably satisfied.
“…Yes?”
– Did not the God of the Bloody Spear symbolize a victory won with difficulty? Consequently, they claimed the victory, and thanks to you, the process was even difficult, so it is a result that could not be more fitting. Rather, the God of the Bloody Spear should be grateful to you.
Judging by the tone of the oracle, the Goddess of the Rusty Shield seemed to find it pleasing that Elbridge had actively performed against the paladins of the Order of the Bloody Spear.
‘Last time when Felix tried to proselytize to me. It seemed she protested to the God of the Bloody Spear but was ignored… Did she have lingering feelings?’
Elbridge thought so, but since it was an idea that could feel somewhat irreverent, he did not utter those words.
“Even if that is the case for the God of the Bloody Spear, I have become awkward to face the paladins of the Order of the Bloody Spear. Of all things, since their temple is a neighbor right next door…”
– Elbridge. If it truly weighs on your mind, go visit them in person and explain the circumstances. Your goddess will be teasing the God of the Bloody Spear in the meantime.
“…”
Elbridge pretended not to hear the goddess’s last words and headed straight to the Order of the Bloody Spear.
“Oh! Is it not Sir Elbridge? Welcome!”
Contrary to Elbridge’s imagination that he would receive sharp glares, the paladins of the Order of the Bloody Spear warmly welcomed him.
The Chief Paladin of the Order of the Bloody Spear also threw a joke at Elbridge.
“It is a common occurrence for paladins to transfer to the religious order that won the Grand Festival. Are you also trying to join the Order of the Bloody Spear?”
“…That is not it.”
“If you change your mind, let know anytime. A skilled person like Sir Elbridge is always welcome.”
Unlike his solemn and serious attitude on the stage, the Chief Paladin of the Order of the Bloody Spear seemed to be a fairly jovial person. It was a relief at least.
Elbridge said awkwardly.
“It is not like that. I came to offer an apology.”
“An apology?”
“Yes. Did not the situation become very awkward because I surrendered? The burden must have been great in the subsequent matches as well.”
At that, the Chief Paladin burst into laughter.
“Sir Elbridge. What do you think of a knight from an order with a strong shade of defeat declaring surrender?”
“It would be better if they fought until the end… but I would respect their judgment and choice. Is it not their right?”
“Yes. Even the loser has at least the right to surrender. But why do you think a winner cannot have the right that even a loser has?”
It was indeed a novel idea.
“I have never thought of it that way.”
“Sir Elbridge. Do not forget that the rights a winner possesses are more than one might think. Furthermore, our order does not take issue with such a trivial matter, so you do not need to feel sorry.”
The Chief Paladin smiled, then calmly continued.
“I know that people talk about a half-baked victory. But even a half-baked victory is better than a complete defeat.”
“Is that so?”
“If you are truly sorry, help with the training of our order’s paladins a bit later. There was much to learn.”
“I understand.”
“See you again.”
Fortunately, the relationship between neighbors did not seem like it would become awkward. Elbridge felt relieved late.
*
Until not long ago, the shantytown was sparsely populated. Most of the people roaming around were order affiliates, and occasionally, believers would visit the temple.
However, after the Grand Festival ended, the footsteps visiting the shantytown on the hill noticeably increased. People who could not forget the heat of the Grand Festival were showing interest in the combat order.
The Goddess of the Rusty Shield became excited.
– Elbridge. Since people’s interest is like the ebbing and flowing of seawater, it is certain that this heat will fade sooner or later. It is right to welcome as many believers as possible when the opportunity comes.
“I will surely fulfill my duty. Goddess.”
Elbridge boiled a large pot full of tea, then ladled the tea water into the teapot.
Then, he placed the table and the teapot in front of the temple and sat down. People who discovered Elbridge quickly gathered like clouds.
“Look over there! It’s Sir Elbridge!”
“Sir Elbridge! It was a great performance!”
Elbridge responded with a much gentler smile than usual.
“Thank you. May I serve you a cup of tea?”
“I would be grateful!”
– Draw in the person beside them as well. Elbridge.
“You who are standing beside them, please come as well. There are plenty of tea leaves and plenty of teacups prepared.”
“Really? Thank you!”
“By the way… while you drink your tea, may I share a few of our goddess’s words with you?”
Elbridge spent a busy time without a moment to rest, boiling tea and welcoming guests all by himself.
Since this required a lot of physical strength in a different direction from combat, even Elbridge found it hard to endure.
‘It would be much better if there were even just one or two people helping me…’
However, in this city where Elbridge was the only believer, there was no one to help him.
So the proselytizing continued from morning until late at night.
Finally, only after the surroundings were steeped in deep darkness, Elbridge could finish welcoming guests and sit down.
Elbridge, completely exhausted, prayed to the goddess.
“Goddess. Your paladin has finished a long and arduous battle.”
– You did not show panic in an unfamiliar situation and resolutely fulfilled your duty, so it was indeed a magnificent performance. Elbridge.
Upon receiving the goddess’s praise, strength seemed to well up throughout his body.
But there was something else that excited Elbridge even more. Elbridge asked the goddess with a highly inflated heart.
“Goddess. May I ask how many new believers offered prayers to you today?”
The Goddess of the Rusty Shield said in an extremely proud voice.
– It has exceeded as many as a hundred people. Elbridge.
Considering that the existing believers were only Elbridge and Walter, welcoming a hundred believers in a day was a performance beyond imagination. Did it not mean that the order’s influence had grown more than fifty-fold in a single day?
But at the same time, a hundred was a number that fell short of Elbridge’s expectations.
Today Elbridge had boiled tea twelve times in a large pot and had served tea to as many as eight hundred people. Yet, out of them, only a hundred people had offered prayers to the goddess?
– Do not be disappointed, Elbridge. People do not change their faith as easily as one thinks. It is rather amazing that a hundred of the people who visited today offered prayers. Furthermore, since believers will flood in for the time being, you do not need to be discouraged by the performance of this single day.
“I see. May I ask how many paladins there were among those who offered prayers?”
That was precisely the part Elbridge expected even more.
Among the people who visited the Order of the Rusty Shield today, there was an unusually high number of paladins. Combining small and medium-to-large orders, the paladins who visited the Order of the Rusty Shield in this single day were at least more than thirty.
As a paladin of the Order of the Rusty Shield, which had experienced great difficulty in recruiting paladins in the past, Elbridge wished for even one more paladin to become a believer.
However, the goddess’s oracle went beyond Elbridge’s expectation.
– There were no paladins.
“…?”
Elbridge remained blankly bewildered, then offered a prayer to the goddess a beat late.
“…I see. Tomorrow I will try to welcome even more believers.”
– Do so. Elbridge.
The goddess’s presence disappeared.
Elbridge immediately stood up from his seat and headed to the Order of the Bloody Spear.
And he found Felix, who happened to be lingering in front of the order.
“Felix. The people who visited the Order of the Bloody Spear today were immense.”
“It seemed like there were more people who visited the Order of the Rusty Shield, though.”
“Is that so? By the way, there is one thing I am curious about… Can I ask?”
“Anything.”
“By any chance, if one proselytizes like this once, how many people actually become believers?”
“Well, I don’t know exactly, but I think I heard that roughly one in ten joins the order. Some of them will change their faith again, though…”
Elbridge nodded.
Today, the Order of the Rusty Shield welcomed a new believer at a rate of one in seven or eight, so the Order of the Rusty Shield’s performance was better.
“Felix. Can I ask one more thing?”
“What is it?”
“It seemed like there were quite a few paladins who visited the Order of the Bloody Spear today.”
“Did about fifteen or so visit? It seemed like it.”
“How many of them joined the order?”
Felix shrugged his shoulders.
“Well, I don’t know well, but at least ten would.”
“That many?”
“They are not ordinary believers, so how often would someone of a paladin’s standing visit another order without the intention of changing their faith?”
Elbridge became slightly confused.
‘I did not catch even a single one out of thirty-odd paladins, yet the Order of the Bloody Spear caught ten out of fifteen?’
However, he could not ask Felix for the reason behind it.
“…See you later, Felix.”
Elbridge was left in confusion.
If the Order of the Bloody Spear were an ordinary order that competed with benefits, he could understand this difference.
However, the Order of the Bloody Spear was a combat order, just like the Order of the Rusty Shield. Even if one joined the order, the fact that no realistic benefits followed was all the same.
‘Is it a bluff? No. There is no reason for Felix to lie about such a matter. If so, then why on earth…?’
Elbridge stumbled back to the temple.
But in the temple, which should certainly be quiet, the presence of a person was felt.
‘Who is it?’
It was Viveca.
Viveca was tidying up the temple, which was cluttered from welcoming guests all day.
“Sir Viveca? What brings you here?”
When Elbridge asked, Viveca said coyly.
“I heard it from Sir Hacon. The reason Sir Elbridge surrendered.”
Elbridge recalled the stout Hacon.
I knew he was not a tight-lipped person.
Viveca smiled with satisfaction and crossed her arms.
Next, she walked with large strides toward Elbridge, then stared intently into Elbridge’s eyes from a spot three or four paces away.
Inside the dim temple, only a few candles illuminated Viveca’s figure.
Viveca said.
“Sir Elbridge. Don’t you have anything you want to say to me?”
“Something I want to say?”
“Anything is fine. I will listen seriously, so talk to me honestly.”
Elbridge read a clear expectation in Viveca’s eyes.
But though he could know that it was expectation, he could not understand what that expectation was directed toward.
“…Well.”
Viveca said, twisting her hair with her finger.
“I heard everything from Sir Hacon, though…”
He did not know what on earth she had heard.
As Elbridge stood there reluctantly, Viveca took another step closer.
“Then, don’t you have anything to request?”
A request.
Recalling what happened today, Elbridge’s eyes flashed open.
“It is because it is a bit overwhelming alone. Could you help with proselytizing for the next few days or so?”
Viveca stared intently at Elbridge, then chuckled.
“Alright. I can wait that much, so think about it slowly.”
Elbridge obtained free labor.