Paladin of a Fallen Order (Novel) - Chapter 61 - Butter Knife

Chapter 61 – Butter Knife

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Translated by Pratt

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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The results of the year-end voting were delivered to the order that occupied the most seats, and it was customary for that order to record the election results on paper and distribute them to each order.

Orders that occupied seats used to proudly paste the voting results in front of their temples. The paper pasted in front of the temple was, in a sense, the pride of the orders belonging to the parliament.

Although mistakes had occurred due to errors in this process, fraud had never been committed. This was because if the results were announced differently from the facts, an oracle would immediately descend from heaven requesting a correction.

This year too, the Golden Platter Order took charge of announcing the voting results. Just as they had done for the past several decades.

However, there was one thing different this year compared to ordinary years. The fact that as soon as the day dawned, numerous people sought out Deputy Bishop Heinz.

“Deputy Bishop Heinz, the Eastern Diocesan Lord. Are the announced results certain?”

“Was there any strange part?”

“Yes.”

Oracles descended from heaven, but recording those results on paper was a task done by humans.

Since it was a task progressed in such a great hurry, small mistakes were often discovered.

Even more, this year was a year with particularly large fluctuations. Had the combat orders not made a general leap forward?

Almost all combat orders succeeded in gaining or maintaining their seats, while non-combat orders showed a general decline.

The large orders were relatively in a better situation, but small-to-medium non-combat orders suffered a heavy blow. The person who had come to find Deputy Bishop Heinz now was also an archbishop of such an order.

“I am not trying to complain about our Order of the Cracked Mirror’s seats being reduced from two to one. No matter how I look at it, there is an abnormal part. For example…”

What the Archbishop of the Order of the Cracked Mirror pointed to as he spread out the paper was the 19th place in the number of seats, the Order of the Goddess of the Rusty Shield.

Heinz replied.

“Did Sir Elbridge not display tremendous skill in the battle with the black giant, following his performance at the Grand Festival?”

“Gaining seats, well, that could happen. However, the problem is that the range of increase makes no sense. If the Goddess of the Rusty Shield had held even a single seat originally, I might have let it pass.”

Most gods who lost all their seats and were pushed out of the parliament once failed to return to the parliament and vanished from people’s memories.

Although there were gods who occasionally returned, even if they did, the vast majority of cases returned while occupying just one seat.

“I have never once heard of a god pushed out of the parliament returning as a mid-tier power while grasping four seats in one go.”

“Just because there is no precedent does not mean there is a law that it must not happen in the future either.”

“This is indeed an impossible thing, Diocesan Lord Heinz. Even if votes for the Order of the Rusty Shield came out, they would have come from Solenion… If we back-calculate using the number of votes allocated to the East, the Order of the Rusty Shield could not have occupied more than two seats. Then where did the remaining two seats come from?”

“Hmm.”

Archbishop Heinz had not thought that far either.

“Furthermore, there is another strange point. The God of the Steel Anvil, who regularly took three or four seats every year, is also missing from the list…”

“Was that so?”

Diocesan Lord Heinz was visibly flustered.

Although he had been thinking that the Order of the Rusty Shield’s leap forward was peculiar, he had not noticed that the God of the Steel Anvil was missing from the list.

“…Even in my eyes, this is strange.”

“Unless some unexpected event occurred and all the dwarves died, or they all converted together, this is nonsensical.”

Of course, both were highly unlikely possibilities. If there was a possibility, wouldn’t the former be the one?

“If there is a problem with the announced content, a new oracle will descend to each order within today, so please wait leisurely.”

“Yes. I will count on you.”

However, until the sun set, a new oracle did not descend.

*

As the year changed, Elbridge became so busy he had no time to blink.

All kinds of people visited the temple.

Simple onlookers, people wishing to newly join the order, and representatives of various orders who harbored curiosity about the Order of the Rusty Shield…

Even invitations from nobles lined up.

Although he politely declined most invitations, occasionally there were invitations he could not refuse.

For instance, something like the invitation of the Lord of Solenion.

When Elbridge tried to reject even the Lord’s invitation, Matilda advised.

“Sir Elbridge. If you dislike being pestered by nobles’ invitations in the future, how about accepting at least the Lord’s invitation?”

Of course, for Elbridge, it was not a pleasant story.

“Among all the invitation letters I have received so far, this is the one I want to refuse the most.”

“Marquis Solenion is one of the most prominent powerful figures in Solenion. Of course, he isn’t more influential than the large orders, but… as long as our temple is in Solenion, there is nothing good about rejecting the Lord’s invitation. Conversely, if relations are smooth, you can benefit from it in the long run. Sir Elbridge, don’t you also want to expand the order’s influence?”

“That is true, but…”

Perhaps thinking Elbridge’s response was not enthusiastic, Matilda continued her persuasion.

“And, there is an even more important reason why you must accept this invitation.”

“What is it?”

“The Lord surely knows that Sir Elbridge rejected all the nobles’ invitations. If Sir Elbridge accepts the invitation, the Lord will likely invite other nobles even to show off his authority. You can meet every noble who has already sent an invitation, and those who will send invitations in the future, all in one place.”

“…So if I must be whipped someday, I should take it all at once. Understood.”

Talking like that was just a couple of days ago.

Today, Elbridge arrived at the Lord’s castle wearing the neatest clothes he could manage.

However, Elbridge’s attire was not to the extent of receiving a passing mark from the Lord’s fastidious butler.

“Tsk… It is fortunate that there is plenty of time. Could you come this way for a moment?”

That was the process by which Elbridge ended up being pestered by the handmaidens in the Lord’s castle right now.

“It really suits you so well!”

“…”

Although the handmaidens made a fuss while dressing Elbridge, Elbridge was suffering deathly.

‘I’d rather wear armor, that would be more comfortable.’

Armor was heavy, but at least familiar. However, the sensation of the dress suit fitting tightly around his neck and shoulders was foreign.

Would he be able to share friendly chats with unfamiliar nobles in this state?

No. It was impossible.

Elbridge was guided by the butler toward the banquet hall, making a plan just like before starting a battle.

‘The signs of presence felt inside the banquet hall are at least over a hundred people. Even because of the music, attention won’t be drawn to me. If I stay quietly in the corner, there won’t be many people paying attention to me. I will make my face known to the Lord as quickly as possible and slip away quietly. Then from tomorrow, it will be much better.’

However, the moment he entered the banquet hall, Elbridge realized that his plan was fundamentally messed up.

Except for Elbridge, most of the people in the banquet hall knew each other.

If an unfamiliar person joined a group of such people, no matter what they did, they could not avoid people’s attention. Even more so if that person was the protagonist of the topic.

Like a horde of magical beasts that discovered a defenseless human, the nobles gathered around Elbridge naturally yet rapidly.

“Are you not Sir Elbridge?”

“I watched your battle with the demon well. I thought you were tremendous during the Grand Festival as well, but this time really…”

“I heard Sir Elbridge’s ancestor was that famous Silent Paladin, is that true? Ah, by the way, I am from Viscount Sion’s family…”

All kinds of people struck up conversations in their own ways and introduced who they were. A baron from somewhere, the eldest son of some viscount’s family… In an instant, his mind became dazed.

Elbridge let the nobles’ self-introductions go in one ear and out the other as he quietly repeated to himself.

‘…I just need to hold on for today.’

While being pestered like that for quite a while, the sound of music became much louder and faster.

At that, as if by agreement, the nobles stepped back a pace from Elbridge and began conversing among themselves.

‘Is it finally freedom?’

Of course not. As soon as Elbridge regained his freedom, the butler approached and whispered to Elbridge.

“The Lord is looking for you.”

It seemed that the change in music was a sort of code understood among the nobles.

Elbridge followed the butler to a private room. There stood a large-built, moderately stout middle-aged man. It was the Lord whom he had briefly glimpsed when first entering the banquet hall.

Elbridge spoke as he politely paid simple respects.

“I am Elbridge, the paladin and archbishop of the Order of the Rusty Shield.”

“The Lord of Solenion. I am Marquis Solenion.”

The Lord replied so, and unlike other nobles, extended his right hand to offer a handshake.

Elbridge also reached out and shook the Lord’s hand.

And he realized.

This was the hand of a person who had learned the sword.

Elbridge murmured to himself without knowing.

“…You were a knight.”

At that, the Lord, who had been solemn all along, wore a smile full of goodwill.

“You can know that just by touching my hand?”

The Lord’s expression looked more like a young boy rather than the most prominent noble in the East.

Since it was an expression that did not feel like the hypocritical slickness characteristic of nobles at all, Elbridge’s mind also became much more relaxed.

“Anyone who has trained in the sword would have recognized it. It is not a hand trained for just a year or two.”

“If so… can you also tell how long I trained?”

Subtle playfulness was felt in the Lord’s voice.

Elbridge said as he recalled the sensation at his fingertips.

“Judging by the state of your hand, it seems you haven’t held a sword for at least ten years recently… You must have trained for at least fifteen years and up to twenty-five years.”

“Exact. Haha! For a hero like you to recognize my efforts. Thank you.”

“A hero? Your expression is excessive.”

“No. No one would think it excessive. Which paladin could display martial prowess and valor like you? Ah, by the way, sit down first. I stood my guest up for a long time out of excitement for no reason.”

In the private room was a small table where two people could sit facing each other, and on the table, simple foods were piled abundantly.

Saliva pooled in Elbridge’s mouth naturally. Because until now, he had to deal with the nobles while only smelling the food from the banquet hall.

“I’d be grateful if you ate comfortably without walking on eggshells. Actually, I haven’t had dinner yet either.”

“Understood.”

Thanks to the Lord making the atmosphere comfortable, Elbridge could also reach for the food with an easy mind.

The Lord spoke as he ate soft bread.

“Actually, I briefly left Solenion at the end of the year due to personal business. It was only after the New Year dawned that I could hear the story of the black giant and you. Just hearing the story made my blood feel like it was boiling.”

“The performance of other paladins was great. Especially, the paladins of the Order of the Bloody Spear were outstanding.”

“Such modesty… In any case, do you know what I thought when I first heard of your performance?”

“I do not know.”

“I thought that since the Order of the Rusty Shield gained four seats, the paladin of the Order of the Rusty Shield must have been able to show tremendous performance.”

The Lord took a sip of wine.

“However, I heard that was not at the beginning of this year, but at the end of last year. If so, the story becomes a bit different. You suppressed the demon while having not even a single seat, wielding only restricted authority.”

“The one who suppressed the demon was not me, but the paladins of the Order of the Bloody Spear. It was a powerful javelin throw.”

“Just because I take out the bread baked by a chef from the oven doesn’t make it the bread I made.”

The Lord spoke so, putting butter on the soft bread.

“The reason the nobles sent you invitation letters must have been because they are looking forward to what you will show in the future. You showed that much dignity without even a single seat, so if the order gained four seats, how tremendous of a performance would you display?”

“The burden is becoming heavy.”

“Since you’ve already shown it, isn’t it a natural flow for expectations to grow?”

“Haha.”

Elbridge laughed quietly, putting a pastry placed on the tray into his mouth.

Although the appearance was simple, it was far softer, crispier, and sweeter than anything obtainable in the market.

The thought that if he offered this pastry to the Goddess, she would be quite pleased, suddenly occurred to him.

Marquis Solenion said.

“It seems you like that pastry. I will have the butler pack some separately for you.”

“Thank you for your kindness.”

“In any case… I became curious about the Order of the Rusty Shield. For an order whose name was barely heard of to suddenly grasp four seats. Doesn’t anyone see it as peculiar? So I looked into the Order of the Rusty Shield. They said you are the sole paladin. The Chief Paladin and archbishop…”

“It is because it was originally a small and poor order.”

Marquis Solenion continued his story without minding Elbridge’s answer.

“Actually, it’s a strange thing for an order to have only one paladin. Even more so if it’s a combat order. If something happens to the sole paladin, wouldn’t they face an irreversible situation?”

Elbridge nodded silently, spreading butter on the soft bread with a blunt butter knife.

“So I thought. Why did the Order of the Rusty Shield, and furthermore, the Goddess of the Rusty Shield, not need other paladins? An absurd answer came to mind. However, I re-thought everything based on that absurd answer. Then a mysterious thing happened.”

“What mysterious thing was it?”

Elbridge replied so, bringing the bread in his left hand to his mouth.

However, the butter knife was still held in Elbridge’s right hand.

“The reason the eccentric dwarf blacksmith of the Mage Tower holds an axe instead of a hammer by your side. The reason you were able to fight a demon without even a single seat. The reason you, who suddenly appeared, could show overwhelming skill at the Grand Festival. Everything was understood.”

At some point, Elbridge’s butter knife was resting against Marquis Solenion’s neck.

The fact that the butter knife had no blade was not a very important matter to Elbridge and Marquis Solenion. Because Elbridge was a person who could kill an experienced knight even with bare hands.

However, Marquis Solenion maintained a calm attitude as he spoke.

“Hero. Jumping across two hundred years of time, how did you return to this place?”

Elbridge asked back.

“Who else knows that fact besides you?”