Paladin of the Dead God - Chapter 325



Only Krnovel

Episode 325. The sound of a crow crying (1)

Isaac tried to compose himself before answering.

There are countless titles for Isaac, but he never once thought of a ‘married man’.

Even Isaac had not yet had a formal wedding with Isolde.

After a suitable period of silence, Isaac answered calmly, making sure not to embarrass Bellman.

“I have no interest in Miss Leonora Bethea.”

“… …Father, I already explained to you. The Grail Knights and I do not have that kind of relationship.”

Leonora added her excuse, but Bellman looked unconvinced.

“Based on what you usually say about interest, it seems right.”

He wondered what Leonora had been saying about him while she was here, but Isaac had no interest in such unconstructive conversation.

“I have explained my position sufficiently. If you need further persuasion, please ask your daughter.”

Whether he understands it or not, it is Bellman’s responsibility. He had no intention of making excuses or begging for understanding. Bellman frowned at Isaac’s firm attitude, but opened his mouth as if he had softened a little.

“I guess I misunderstood. It’s just that my second child has a different vocabulary and way of thinking.”

“That’s true. It’s easy to misunderstand.”

Isaac nodded, forming a bond with Bellman. As expected, the best way to build a bond is to mock the person in the middle.

But Bellman frowned again.

“Why are you misunderstanding? Don’t you care about my daughter at all? Don’t you find my daughter that attractive?”

“… … I would like to explain once again that I have no interest in Ms. Leonora Bethea beyond business. I am already married and have no interest in my daughter’s appearance.”

Isaac wondered how much he would have to explain this, but it seemed like a good answer to Bellman. Only then did a smile appear on Bellman’s lips, and the mood softened.

“Business? Yes. My daughter is good at business. I’ve heard a lot about the reputation of the Knights of the Holy Grail, but I really like how they are thorough in their public and private affairs.”

Bellman sat down across from Isaac.

Isaac had a feeling that Bellman might be more unsellable than he thought. It would be hard to give affection to such a psychopathic woman, but she was still great in her own way.

“I’m sorry for doubting the character of the Grail Knight. In fact, my second child is of sufficient age to be married, but he has not made any effort to find a partner. And on top of that, he keeps talking about the Grail Knight all day long, so I can’t help but get on his nerves.”

“I understand.”

This would be even more so if the other person was a married man. That was why Isaac did not let go of his patience. He also had to maintain a good relationship with the Golden Idol Group.

***

Bellman sank into the sofa, looking back and forth between Leonora and Isaac. He tapped the armrests of the sofa and asked tentatively.

“I heard that you had a problem with Leonora, but it was resolved. You decided to join hands and form a business partnership?”

“Yes.”

“Do you know what Leonora’s been most interested in lately? In fact, I heard it’s causing her some trouble.”

“Yes. In fact, that’s why I came to see you this time. Miss Leonora… … .”

Then Leonora suddenly got up, dismissed all the servants and maids who had been waiting, and began to draw the curtains around the reception room one by one. Bellman waited quietly until Leonora drew all the curtains. Only when Leonora returned did Bellman shake his teacup as if to continue.

“… … Are you looking for the ‘Hand of Midas’?”

Bellman put his teacup down on the table. After a moment of silence, Bellman opened his mouth.

“Where did you hear that story? I’m not questioning you, I’m just curious. It’s not related to other faiths, and even within our faith, only a very small number of people know about it.”

“I heard it through revelation.”

Isaac brought out the omnipotent probability of this world. He couldn’t explain it as he had already achieved the victory condition of the top of the Golden Idol, so he couldn’t help it.

Bellman laughed bitterly at Isaac’s answer. No matter how omnipotent the language of probability was, it must have sounded like ‘I can’t tell you’ to Bellman’s ears.

“If the gods intervened, then the Church of Light knows about it too?”

“No. No one else knows except me.”

Isaac could be confident about this. Bellman looked somewhat relieved at his answer.

In fact, the Golden Idol Clan is not a military group, so there is not much they can do if the faiths start competing with each other. That is why they had to proceed with their plans more quietly than the Red Grail.

“Father, as I told you, the Grail Knight doesn’t know exactly what the Hand of Midas is. Even if other people knew, it would be only to that extent.”

Leonora added her explanation.

Isaac believed that the Hand of Midas was a sacred object that could create gold. But Leonora said that was ‘wrong.’ Bellman nodded as if he had heard the story.

“Very well. But before I explain what the Hand of Midas is, I have to meet a condition. It is only a formality, but the Grail Knight has entered into a ‘partnership’ agreement with our wounded lord… … .”

Bellman took out one of the many rings on his finger and held it out to Isaac.

It was a simple platinum ring without any jewels, but upon closer inspection, it was intricately engraved with intricate patterns and text. Isaac realized that this ring was not made by human hands.

“… … I trust Leonora and invite you to the ‘Platinum Squad’.”

Platinum Society. It was the highest level of secret organization within the Golden Idol Association. It was a secret society that allowed the Golden Idol Association to go beyond a simple merchant association and intervene in and control the entire world and religions.

They did not hesitate to instigate famines or wars in cities to secure profits or influence. But their ultimate goal was one.

It’s about obtaining the hand of Midas.

‘It’s like a modern-day Illuminati or Freemasonry organization… … I’m deeply moved to be invited here.’

When Isaac played as the top of the Golden Idol, he was only used as a servant of the Platinum Squad. After the internal strife occurred and the Platinum Squad was completely destroyed, he became more like Leonora’s personal loyal dog.

‘Even then, they got tired of Leonora’s inhumane actions and eventually broke up and that was the ending.’

Actually, the colleague who was with Isaac at that time was, ironically, Sherlock. This time, though, it seems like they won’t be that close.

But now, I received the ring as an invitation from the upper class. Even though I was of a different faith, I could see how much trust Bellman had in Leonora, because he received the ring just because he was Leonora’s partner.

“Then I will gratefully accept it.”

Isaac pretended not to know much about the Platinum Order and accepted the ring. In fact, receiving this ring does not change anything dramatically. It has value as a relic, but it has no special abilities. It only grants unlimited support from the Golden Idol.

You could call it a black card with no limits.

‘For ordinary people, it might be better than a miracle. No, actually, I like this one better too.’

When Isaac put the ring on his finger, it fit perfectly, as if it was custom-made. Bellman smiled happily as she watched.

“Originally, when you join the Platinum Squad, you have to go through a special ceremony and be given a nickname, but since Isaac already knows about the Hand of Midas, I will skip that.”

As soon as he received the ring, his title changed from ‘Knight of the Holy Grail’ to ‘King Isaac’. Isaac had a hard time deciding whether this uninhibited attitude was good or bad.

“Then before I explain the Hand of Midas, let me explain about our Platinum Society. The Platinum Society was founded 455 years ago by the then-chief of the upper house, Rohert… … .”

“father.”

Leonora put down her teacup with a thud. Bellman closed his mouth with a stinging breath, then opened it again with a look of discontent.

“… … As you said, I omitted the ceremony and the naming. But should I also omit explaining the history of our organization?”

“Hearing such useless talk is a pain that only our family can bear. Isaac won’t care even a little bit, so please talk about important things.”

“Tch.”

Isaac, who had been preparing to zone out and lose consciousness from the moment he spoke of the year, felt grateful for Leonora’s sharp reaction.

In the end, Bellman stripped away all the previous explanations and explained only the important body parts.

“The Hand of Midas is a ‘holy relic that grants wishes.’”

“… …What is your wish?”

Bellman nodded.

Isaac was puzzled by the unexpected identity of the Hand of Midas.

“I thought it was a sacred object that could create gold.”

“Well, that could be true. Someone might want to have a lot of gold. But if it was something like that, wouldn’t we have to go all out and create a suicide squad to find it? No, we’d be looking for it to destroy it.”

We’ve already heard why the Golden Idol Top doesn’t require the ‘Golden Crafting Relic’.

Isaac was surprised but convinced.

‘Come to think of it, when I played at the top of the Golden Idol, whenever there was a reward to choose from, I always chose something related to monetary gain. Did those choices accumulate and affect the results?’

The result is a world made of gold.

As he recalled that scene, Isaac suddenly realized how powerful and immensely influential the simple and clear-cut holy relic that was supposed to ‘grant wishes’ was.

There are many legends about holy relics that grant wishes, and in fact, each religion sometimes has holy relics with similar properties. However, they all have limitations or severe penalties. However, the Hand of Midas is a holy relic that literally has the power to trample the world just by holding it.

Isaac felt a chill down his spine.

‘Is it okay for such a relic to be released without restrictions? With such a strong power, there must be a penalty that must be checked with a strong check.’

Then Bellman spoke.

“Actually, I was quite surprised when you mentioned the Hand of Midas. In fact, that name was a pseudonym we gave it to hide the real name of the relic. We wanted to make sure that it wouldn’t match up with clues from other religions or legends.”

“What is the real name of the holy relic?”

And the moment he heard Bellman’s subsequent words, Isaac realized the enormous penalty that the Hand of Midas held.

“Yes. The real name for the Hand of Midas is ‘Monkey Paw.’”

***

Once upon a time, there was a man.

One day, the man accidentally obtained a ‘monkey paw’ that would grant him three wishes. The man made a wish for a small amount of money. The next day, his son died in an accident and was unrecognizable, and the man received the money he wanted as insurance money.

The desperate man makes a second wish, asking for his son’s life to be saved. Then, someone outside begins knocking on the door. The man tries to open the door in joy, but is reminded of the gruesome death of his son.

The man hurriedly made his third wish, asking to have his son returned to the grave. Then he opened the door and saw only a quiet, desolate street… … .

This is the rough outline of what Isaac remembers about the tale of the Monkey’s Paw, a being that grants wishes, but never in a form that the wisher desires.

‘There’s no way this monkey’s hand is the same as that monkey’s hand.’

But that level of penalty is necessary to understand the great power of the Hand of Midas. And now that I think about it, I don’t think a character in a game would want to dye the entire world in gold just because they wanted some gold.

That can be understood if it is the ‘monkey paw’ effect.

‘No, the ‘Hand of Midas’ tale is about a man who was ruined by greed. If you look at it that way, it was like giving a blatant hint.’

Isaac wondered how in this world without Christ there could be two people with the same name. But he also couldn’t understand why he had been dragged into this world.

There may have been a Greek philosopher who was a senior to Isaac, so I didn’t think too deeply about it.

“You seem to have a lot on your mind.”

Outside the walls of Odrif. Leonora was walking with Isaac.

Behind them, countless people were cutting down trees, cutting grass, and tamping the ground. They were preparing to welcome the famous ‘Isacred Dawn Army’. Since the entire army could not enter the city, they prepared the ground in advance to set up camp as a welcome gesture.

Leonora said as she looked at the land.

“I think it’s been like that ever since I heard the story about the ‘hand’. Can I ask what your concerns are?”