Paladin of a Fallen Order (Novel) - Chapter 98 - True Happiness

Chapter 98 – True Happiness

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Translated by Pratt

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Just as the paladins had thoroughly searched Solenion for the demon over the past few days, Marcus had enlisted the cooperation of idle mercenaries to search Solenion.

However, just like the paladins, the mercenaries were unable to find the demon.

Marcus grumbled.

“Even if I haven’t been able to fight properly against a demon, I’ve seen them quite a few times, haven’t I? But for the past three days, I haven’t seen anything close to a demon, let alone the demon itself.”

It was a bewildering matter for Elbridge as well.

‘There were many times when we failed to subdue a demon, but this is the first time we couldn’t even find one.’

Three days without any progress. However, a lot had changed during those three days.

First of all, the time people woke up from their sleep became noticeably later. Now, people only woke up when it was almost close to noon.

The unrest among the residents was also serious.

Since everyone in Solenion was experiencing the exact same abnormal phenomenon, concealing the situation was impossible from the start.

Everyone feared the bizarre phenomenon and tried not to sleep.

However, when deep night fell, people were swept by an overwhelming drowsiness and lost consciousness on the spot. They would fall asleep anywhere and only wake up the following day.

Was it perhaps a relief that it was summer rather than winter, so sleeping on the street did not cause any major problems?

A bizarre phenomenon and the absence of a countermeasure. The residents of Solenion shivered in anxiety and began to linger around the temples.

Among them, the place where the most people gathered was by far the temple of the Order of the Rusty Shield.

This was because rumors had spread that the chief paladins of each order were gathering at the temple of the Order of the Rusty Shield for meetings, and Elbridge had shown the most decisive achievements in recent battles against demons.

No one cared anymore about the somewhat unpleasant rumors related to Elbridge—such as the rumor that Elbridge had killed Corwin due to a misunderstanding and had formally apologized to the Order of the Bloody Spear.

Naturally, the number of believers offering prayers to the Goddess of the Rusty Shield also increased.

If it were the usual goddess, she would have certainly bragged to Elbridge about the increase in believers and acted a bit smug. However, the current goddess did not do so.

“Goddess, would you be able to deliver an oracle regarding this matter?”

When Elbridge prayed, the Goddess of the Rusty Shield delivered an oracle in a dejected voice.

– There is nothing I can tell you. I am sorry.

“Goddess. Please tell me whether you know but cannot speak, or if you simply do not know.”

– What a demon does on earth is not a secret of heaven, so if I knew anything, I would tell you as much as I could. The reason your goddess cannot be of any help right now is simply because I know nothing about this demon.

“Understood. I will somehow resolve the situation, so please do not worry too much.”

– I am sorry for not being of help, Elbridge.

It was the same for the other gods, who were not of much help either. The same went for the always reliable God of the Sunshower.

“Marcus. Is there no oracle delivered by the God of the Sunshower?”

“He says He knows nothing.”

“…”

Today was also ending without any results.

A dark night. Elbridge could not lie down on his bed and paced around the room.

‘At this rate, I will only wake up after noon tomorrow.’

What would happen when the day came that they could not wake up from their sleep, as the sleeping duration grew longer and longer?

Would the entirety of Solenion slowly starve to death while asleep?

‘What about evacuating people out of Solenion?’

It lacked realism. Not only was it impossible to evacuate so many people in a short period, but there was also no place to migrate to.

The fact that the time they could remain active was gradually shrinking was also a burden.

‘What should I do…’

Right then, an intense wave of sleepiness began to pour over him.

Elbridge hurriedly laid his body down on the bed.

His consciousness went dark.

*

When he woke up from his sleep, the first thing Elbridge perceived was darkness.

‘It is dark.’

By all expectations, he should have woken up in the bright daylight.

Yet now, it was a pitch-black night.

It did not feel as though he had lacked sleep. His entire body felt refreshed, as if he had slept soundly.

Cold sweat broke out along his spine.

‘Could it be that I blew away an entire day while asleep?’

Had the demon thrown a whim?

There was no law saying it wouldn’t.

Elbridge reproached himself with both fists clenched tight.

‘I was complacent. Too complacent.’

Yet at the same time, a thought occurred to him.

‘It already happened anyway. There is no need to worry so much.’

It was a slightly complacent thought. However, reproaching himself would not solve the problem.

Elbridge slowly took a deep breath.

‘Let’s take it easy.’

He felt his mind settle down with astonishing speed.

Elbridge lightly stood up and walked outside.

In the other temples of the shantytown, people were also appearing and looking around.

Their appearances were no different from Elbridge’s.

‘Those people probably don’t know what is going on either.’

Right then, Elbridge realized that he was not hungry.

The lack of hunger meant that he had not let an entire day slip away while asleep.

He had only slept for a very brief moment, yet he felt as refreshed as if he had slept soundly.

As his thoughts reached that point, his mind became a little lighter.

Now, Elbridge’s thoughts branched out in a positive direction.

That the sleeping duration would grow longer and longer until they could never wake up again.

Wasn’t that just a simple speculation?

Could it be that the demon was not associated with sleep, but with laziness? Perhaps the demon had made people a little lazy for a few days, and granted them a refreshing sleep in return?

Elbridge left the temple and began to walk down the hill with light steps.

The endlessly stretching night sky came into view. Perhaps because his mind was light, the starlight felt brighter and clearer than usual. The dark night sky also felt somehow cozy.

Step, step.

Passing by the temples of the non-combat orders, a wide street appeared.

Just like up in the shantytown, people who had woken from sleep without knowing why were looking around.

Although a hint of bewilderment was clear on their faces, their expressions were not dark.

Right then, the soft sound of a string instrument drifted from somewhere.

– ♪♬

Music that suited a cool summer night perfectly.

This kind of music could only be heard at a noble’s banquet or a large event. Perhaps thanks to this luxury they hadn’t been destined for, the atmosphere grew slightly excited.

Amid the excited atmosphere, a middle-aged couple in pajamas stealthily held hands.

At first, they only lightly touched fingertips, but soon they clasped their hands together. The two looked at their clasped hands a bit shyly, then lightly swung their arms.

“It’s been a while… How about it?”

The light swinging soon transformed into a clumsy dance.

The couple, for whom it must have been a long time since they last danced, danced in the wide street while feeling embarrassed like young lovers. The two paid no mind to the gazes of others.

The people did not mock the middle-aged couple either. Rather, following the couple, the number of people dancing to the music gradually increased. The streets of Solenion swayed gently.

“Um…”

A girl whose face was flushed bright red approached Elbridge and shyly held out her hand.

The girl wished to be Elbridge’s dancing partner.

However, Elbridge lightly shook his head.

Yet the girl did not seem inclined to give up easily. The moment the girl was about to summon her courage once more, a hairy forearm cut in between the girl and Elbridge.

A husky voice followed.

“It’s not possible right now, so go away. Shoo.”

With a slightly tearful face, the girl stealthily backed away.

Fortunately, the girl’s disappointment did not last long. This was because a boy of her age appeared and took her hand. The boy and girl also disappeared into the swaying crowd.

“Kids these days are so forward… What is the world coming to.”

Rombel, the dwarf who had chased the girl away, grumbled.

On this strangely excited night, Rombel was the only person wearing an expression as if he had chewed on a bug.

No, he was not the only one.

Since Sonya, who had appeared at some point, was wearing an equally rotten expression.

“Things seem to be turning out a bit strange. Don’t you think?”

Rombel nodded at Sonya’s words.

“Of course it’s strange. It is certain that someone is playing a trick.”

“Rombel. What do you mean by strange?”

Rombel pointed a finger at Elbridge while swaying.

“As expected, this guy is no different. Look at that grinning face of his… completely out of it.”

The strangely excited mood subsided in an instant.

Rombel’s pointing and sarcasm possessed that level of power.

However, only one thing was clear. Something was strange.

“Tell me in detail.”

“You must be the same, but I also woke up as soon as I fell asleep. When you wake up early, you ought to feel crummy, but strangely, my mood improved. Beyond just feeling good, I was about to become somewhat happy.”

Elbridge snapped back to reality.

Just moments ago, Elbridge, who had been bewildered by the unfamiliar situation, had regained his composure in a flash. Following that, he had started thinking positive thoughts without any particular context. Under normal circumstances, this was impossible.

“It’s possible to feel a bit good for a moment. But happiness is different. I am a guy who can only become happy by ascending to heaven. For me to become happy without any particular occasion… means someone played a trick. Probably that demon bastard.”

For Rombel, ascension. For Sonya, avenging her father’s enemy. The two could not be happy before achieving their goals.

No, beyond being unable to be happy, they were individuals who rejected happiness.

Therefore, Sonya and Rombel were not swept away by the bizarre flow.

Sonya said to Elbridge.

“And this, it’s a dream.”

“A dream?”

“Shall I show you?”

Sonya pinched Elbridge’s forearm quite hard.

However, instead of a sharp sting, a dull and faint pain that felt muted was felt. He wasn’t even sure if it was right to describe such a thing as pain.

“How is it? The sensation is different from usual, right?”

Elbridge asked back.

“Then how did you guys appear in my dream right now? No, wait. Is everything, including you two, just my dream?”

Sonya shook her head.

“A normal dream isn’t this concrete and detailed. Having only arrived in Solenion recently, I couldn’t possibly know every nook and cranny of Solenion this clearly, nor could I accurately draw the faces of so many people I’ve never even seen. This isn’t a normal dream.”

“Then?”

“I think it’s a shared dream. Everyone in Solenion has entered the exact same dream together.”

Assuming Sonya’s speculation was true, it could also explain why they woke up as soon as they fell asleep today, unlike the past few days.

They hadn’t woken up early from their sleep. They were simply all dreaming the exact same realistic dream together.

Elbridge said.

“…We must search for the demon again.”

Could the reason they failed to find the demon despite the persistent search over the past few days be because the demon was in the dream, not in reality?

“Where is Marcus?”

Marcus would certainly be of help. Since Marcus was quick-witted and clever.

“He is not far. But don’t even think about Marcus.”

“Why?”

“We already tried. There is no reaction even if you beat him up.”

Rombel pointed toward a spot on the straight street.

Marcus was dancing there. However, Marcus’s expression was strange. It was an expression as if the word ‘Happiness’ was written on his forehead.

Elbridge’s gaze directed toward the woman dancing with Marcus.

A woman with many freckles, slightly chubby, and with plain reddish-brown hair. She was someone who could be found anywhere.

However, exactly one part was special. That woman possessed a weapon that could rival the older sister next door from Marcus’s memories.

Because Rombel and Sonya could not reach true happiness in a dream, they were not swayed by the demon’s play.

Conversely, since Marcus had found true happiness in the dream, there was no way to pull him out.

Sonya muttered in a voice laden with clear contempt.

“Men.”

Elbridge stealthily turned his head away.

Elbridge inwardly considered himself a man of character.

Having known Marcus for a whole year.

Even if he couldn’t cheer for Marcus’s happiness, he had to at least not interfere with it to claim himself a man of character.

“…Let’s search for the demon on our own for now.”

Leaving the happy Marcus behind, the three disappeared into the streets of Solenion.