Paladin of a Fallen Order (Novel) - Chapter 60 - The Last Night
Chapter 60 – The Last Night
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Translated by Pratt
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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The next day, Elbridge woke up to a low murmuring sound.
Elbridge sat on the bed and looked around.
Seeing that the inside of the room was dark, it was still early dawn.
Although the paladins of the Order of Spring Rain and Moss had bestowed the authority of healing yesterday, healing authority could not cleanly wash away fatigue. Today, it would have been normal for him to oversleep.
‘Why is it noisy?’
Glancing outside, he saw that quite a few people had gathered even though it was an early hour.
When Elbridge tried to step out of the bedroom, Matilda, the freelance administrative priest, approached him.
“Go back inside and rest. I heard you went through a lot of trouble yesterday?”
“Miss Matilda. Why did you come out so early today? The sun hasn’t even fully risen yet.”
“I came out early because I thought people would flock here. In any case, go inside and rest today.”
“I’m fine.”
Matilda crossed her arms with a stern expression.
“I’m telling you in advance, if you come out now, you won’t be able to rest all day. Either come out and be pestered until night, or rest deeply for the whole day. Which side will you choose?”
“…I will rest. Thank you, Miss Matilda.”
Elbridge quietly closed the room door and lay flat on the bed.
Then, a surprising thing happened.
—Elbridge. Elbridge.
The Goddess of the Rusty Shield had handed down an oracle from the early morning.
Maybe at other times, but for the Goddess of the Rusty Shield to hand down an oracle at such an early hour was unprecedented.
Even the Goddess’s voice did not contain any sleepiness or grogginess at all.
Therefore, Elbridge had an intuition.
“Goddess. You did not seek sleep last night, did you?”
At that, the Goddess of the Rusty Shield blustered arrogantly.
—That is because there were extremely many people who offered prayers to your Goddess since yesterday evening. With this much, we will easily occupy two seats and have plenty left over.
It seemed she had stayed up all night because of a pleasant excitement, and a desire to brag.
“Congratulations, Goddess.”
—Of course, all of this is thanks to the active performance of the Chief Paladin. In my heart, I would like to bestow even a reward, but there is no suitable method.
“Thank you just for your heart, Goddess.”
—Yes, Elbridge. For now, sleep a little more.
Elbridge covered himself with the blanket again and sought sleep.
How much time had passed like that?
Knock, knock.
Someone knocked on the room door.
When he opened his eyes, the inside of the room was quite bright.
“Sir Elbridge. A guest has arrived.”
It was Matilda’s voice. Surely an important guest whom she could not simply turn away had come.
“Please let them in.”
As Elbridge sat on the edge of the bed and washed his face with dry hands, a familiar person entered Elbridge’s bedroom-cum-office-cum-prayer-room.
The Eastern Diocesan Lord of the Golden Platter Order, Deputy Bishop Heinz.
Heinz said.
“I heard it was a tremendous performance, Sir Elbridge.”
“Seeing that you came out of the temple, it seems the crowd has dispersed.”
“Thanks to the demon being suppressed, people’s excitement subsided. Thanks to that, I, and the residents stamped with the brand, were able to sleep comfortably.”
“That is fortunate.”
Could Deputy Bishop Heinz have come all the way to the shantytown just to deliver words of gratitude for sleeping well last night?
There was no way.
“What happened to the White Hands?”
At Elbridge’s question, Deputy Bishop Heinz smiled faintly.
“Until yesterday evening, they were trying hard to lift the mood again. Talking about how the number of dead paladins alone was close to twenty this time, and those who died caught up in the battle numbered in the dozens…”
Most of the people who died caught up in the battle were onlookers.
Those who had come to watch the battle with the mindset of ‘surely nothing would happen.’
No matter how great Elbridge was, he could not keep even such people safe.
“They chattered that if the battle had been fought after the New Year dawned, if the combat orders had more authority, they could have reduced the sacrifices. Asking to gather more strength since they had to help the combat orders… But the situation changed as Sir Corwin visited the Golden Platter Order.”
“Who is Sir Corwin?”
“You don’t even know the name of your neighbor?”
“My neighbor?”
“The Chief Paladin of the Order of the Bloody Spear.”
“Ah.”
Elbridge felt sheepish.
“…Somehow, we had no opportunity to exchange names. In any case, for what reason did Sir Corwin come to visit?”
“He said the Order of the Bloody Spear and the Order of the Laurel Wreath would step back from this negotiation. And with that, they designated you as the representative of the combat orders.”
It was a surprising story.
Designating Elbridge as the representative of the combat orders meant that they would follow the negotiation results presented by Elbridge.
In other words, it meant they would not raise any objections even if Elbridge devoured all the allocated seats.
Of course, there were a couple of other combat orders in the shantytown that held a single seat each, and small-scale orders without seats were also numerous.
However, they did not have the qualification to represent the combat orders. For the Order of the Laurel Wreath with three seats and the Order of the Bloody Spear with two seats were the two giants of the shantytown.
“This means the only entity left for the White Hands to negotiate with is our non-combat orders. There is nothing to gain by instigating the people to pressure our order.”
Deputy Bishop Heinz’s expression was as bright as if a bad tooth had been pulled.
Since the White Hands, who had been constantly hovering around and causing annoyance, had shut their mouths, it could not be otherwise.
“…So, Sir Elbridge. What kind of conditions do you want? Although there are defections within the White Hands, it seems we can move around five seats or so.”
“To what extent can you allocate seats to the combat orders?”
“I was planning to distribute up to three to the combat orders.”
This meant the Order of the Rusty Shield could gain three more seats in the current situation. If so, the seats of the Order of the Rusty Shield would be five at maximum.
—Oh…
The Goddess of the Rusty Shield marvelled, unable to hide her joy.
It was uncommon for a god who had lost their seats to enter the Heavenly Council again.
However, even if they miraculously returned to the Heavenly Council, their seats were almost without exception just one.
That was the reason why the Goddess of the Rusty Shield had gone around bragging to the whole neighborhood that she would likely occupy two seats.
If the Goddess of the Rusty Shield grasped five seats in one go here, returning to the Heavenly Council in a grand fashion, what would happen?
Five seats made one a respectable, substantial giant. A giant corresponding roughly to around fifteenth place in the Heavenly Council.
“Deputy Bishop. Please give me a moment to think.”
“Do so.”
Elbridge quietly slipped out of the bedroom and offered a prayer to the Goddess of the Rusty Shield while standing in front of the door.
“Goddess. What do you wish for me to do?”
—…
The Goddess of the Rusty Shield contemplated for a long time.
Do they say that humans write lies even in their diaries?
The Goddess of the Rusty Shield could not honestly reveal her greed even in front of her only paladin.
Ultimately, the Goddess of the Rusty Shield handed down an oracle in a voice filled with lingering attachment.
—Your Goddess does not swing between joy and sorrow over things like seats, Elbridge. Act as you think is right.
“Understood.”
The oracle that the God of the Sunshower had sent down came to mind.
‘He said it wouldn’t matter if we turned all the combat orders into enemies.’
However, now was an opportunity to take a step further, devouring three seats without even turning the combat orders into enemies.
If he had received such a proposal some time ago, he would have swallowed his shame and requested all three seats for the Order of the Rusty Shield.
However, now Elbridge chose a path different even from the oracle sent by the God of the Sunshower—a path that would be beneficial in the longer term.
“I will not request seats.”
Deputy Bishop Heinz reacted with interest.
“It sounds not like you need nothing, but as if you are going to demand something else.”
“That is correct.”
“Sir Elbridge. What do you want?”
Elbridge looked straight at Deputy Bishop Heinz as he demanded.
“I hope the Golden Platter Order does not negotiate with the White Hands. Furthermore, I hope you will prevent other orders from negotiating with the White Hands as well. At least for this year. If possible, even after next year.”
“That is a condition I’ve never thought of.”
Heinz replied so, and fell into thought for quite a long time.
However, Heinz still seemed unable to understand Elbridge’s intention.
“For the Golden Platter Order, it’s not a bad condition at all. Since the year-end expenditures were increasingly becoming a burden. If we stop the negotiations, a significant portion will return to our order… But how does that request help you?”
“We can obtain votes of a different value.”
“The value of all votes is the same, Sir Elbridge.”
Elbridge shook his head.
“It is different. It is clearly different.”
“In what aspect?”
“Believers gathered by paying a price will leave next year if a price cannot be paid again. However, believers gathered without conditions will not leave even in the most difficult moments.”
This was in line with what Elbridge had told the other paladins yesterday.
If they fight because they are promised, they are mercenaries. If they are promised because they fight, they are paladins.
If they follow after being promised, they are clients. If they follow and then are promised, they are believers.
Just as there was a paladin’s way for paladins, the combat orders needed believers suitable for combat orders.
Believers who, as long as the paladins silently fought, would gather strength without wavering.
Elbridge thought.
Rather than gaining three more seats this year and losing them all next year, it was better to preserve the believers for a long time even if they received fewer seats right now.
“It is foolish. If you end up obtaining no seats at all, you will beat your chest and regret it.”
Elbridge smiled.
“It was just yesterday that we sealed the demon. A significant portion of the stray votes will flow in this direction.”
“They are those who wished for a price. Do you think they will remain in the order next year as well?”
“People say that thoughts determine actions, but in quite many cases, actions determine thoughts.”
At that, Deputy Bishop Heinz laughed too.
“Moderately wise, and moderately clever, Sir Elbridge.”
*
Archbishop Heinz toyed with the representatives of the White Hands in a very simple manner.
After pretending to desperately continue negotiations throughout the day, he suddenly changed his attitude around evening.
“Well. I do not wish to trade with those who do not know respect.”
“Even if we offer it cheaply!”
“No. This is not a matter of the amount, but of the attitude shown so far.”
With a simple reply, Archbishop Heinz kicked out every single one of the White Hands’ representatives.
The representatives of the White Hands became dazed.
The number of believers waiting, hoping they would bring money and wishing they would designate an order, was too large to count.
Inevitably, the representatives of the White Hands visited the next wealthiest order after the Golden Platter. The Order of the Olive Tree.
“We have arrived at the conclusion that the Order of the Olive Tree would be a more reasonable partner than the Golden Platter Order.”
“We do not think so.”
The Order of the Olive Tree also replied plainly.
Upon being kicked out by the two wealthiest orders in Solenion, the minds of the White Hands’ representatives became dazed.
“What should we do?”
“We must negotiate directly with the combat orders!”
However, neither the Order of the Bloody Spear nor the Order of the Laurel Wreath would meet with the representatives of the White Hands.
“…”
Now, not a single partner worth negotiating with remained.
Even the situation was one where the sun had already set.
People belonging to the ‘White Hands’ stealthily appeared and asked the representatives.
“Hey. Didn’t you say you would let us know before the sun set which order we should offer prayers to?”
“That is…”
“How far has the negotiation progressed?”
“…”
“What about the promised reward? Didn’t you say you could secure at least five silver coins for us?”
A situation where the order to follow was not decided, and the promised reward could not be received.
Since it was the evening of the last day of the year, not even a priest gathering believers by promising benefits could be seen. They were in a position where they had to pledge to an order without being guaranteed any benefits.
In the end, the angry people grabbed the representatives and vanished into a dark, secluded place.
Under the night sky where stars seemed to pour down, Elbridge was lying down on the roof of the temple, watching that sight.
—Elbridge. Is it fine to leave them alone?
“What do you mean?”
—Right now, they are dragging a person into the back alley.
“In my childhood, I used to play with my friends until late at night. Might they also be trying to play a fun game together?”
However, contrary to his words, Elbridge was listening intently in the direction where the people had vanished. Fully prepared to intervene at any moment.
Every human was bound to be at least a little selfish.
Elbridge did not think of the White Hands as evil people. They were simply people who were slightly more honest about their own self-interest.
The Goddess of the Rusty Shield noticed Elbridge’s mind and let out a small laugh.
—Elbridge. There is something your Goddess desperately wishes for.
Since it was truly rare for the Goddess to request something, Elbridge asked carefully.
“What do you wish for?”
—Please offer just two pints of beer made with clean water and good-quality barley. One with no oats mixed in and no sour taste…
Elbridge felt a deep tension in the Goddess’s voice.
“Goddess. Are you worried about tonight’s results?”
Today was the last day of the year.
Since the seats to be occupied in the Heavenly Council would be decided tonight, it was also the day when gods became the most desperate.
The Goddess of the Rusty Shield hesitated before replying.
—Elbridge. Your Goddess is proud of you for not being swayed by the small immediate gain. However, your Goddess still sees that small immediate gain flickering before her eyes…
“Goddess. How many seats do you think would make you satisfied?”
—Two seats. No… Actually, I think three seats would be even better.
“…Until this morning, didn’t you say that if you had two seats, you would have nothing more to wish for?”
—I did. But now, for some reason, I feel like I cannot be fully satisfied with just two seats… Oh, it’s here? Elbridge, my most faithful paladin. I think I will need not two pints, but four pints of beer.
It seemed a guest had arrived.
Elbridge rushed to the tavern, purchased as much as a gallon of the highest quality beer, and offered it.
Offering beer instead of incense oil or silk. Other believers might have been a bit bewildered if they saw it.
However, a small secret can exist between a tight-lipped archbishop and a god.
Elbridge sat on the roof again, sipping beer and waiting for the New Year to approach.
How much time had passed like that?
Dong— Dong— Dong—
Along with the sound of bells, the sound of hymns drifted over.
As a little more time flowed, young children began running to each temple holding fluttering sheets of paper. The children screamed at the top of their lungs.
“It’s out! It’s out!”
At that, priests came out of each temple, pressed a silver coin into the children’s hands, and received the paper.
Elbridge also was handed a sheet of paper and read it with a trembling heart.
[1. Order of the God of the Golden Platter: 58 seats] (-3)
[2. Order of the Goddess of the Olive Tree: 36 seats] (-1)
…
[9. Order of the God of the Sunshower: 9 seats] (+1)
[10. Order of the Goddess of Spring Rain and Moss: 7 seats] (-)
…
[19. Order of the God of the Bloody Spear: 4 seats] (+2)
[19. Order of the Goddess of the Rusty Shield: 4 seats] (+4)
Elbridge rolled up the paper as he offered a prayer.
“Goddess. Congratulations on your return to the council.”
*
Since the Goddess’s drunken singing came down as an oracle all night long, Elbridge lost sleep from the very first day of the New Year.