232. Childhood Friends – A Bizarre Journey
An awkward silence hung in the air.
Rev, sitting on the right side of the carriage, sat with his arms crossed in silence, while Cardinal Mihael, seated on the left, quietly read a book. It was a book about farming and animal husbandry.
The carriage rattled and shook as it ca to a stop. It was alti. Rev and the cardinal disembarked from the carriage together.
Cardinal Mihael stretched. He was remarkably healthy for his age and found the captive crusaders without once needing to pat his back for relief.
The three crusaders were sitting on the back of the carriage. They had been transported with their feet dangling outside, but they were in good condition for captives. Their limbs were not bound, they had been treated, and they could eat freely. At the call to “Everyone, it’s alti~,” they jumped down from the carriage.
They were not prisoners, after all, although their weapons and armor had been confiscated.
“Thank you.”
The cardinal offered a prayer before the al with the crusaders. Rev watched them huddled together and sighed. He pondered what to do next, thinking how things had gotten so tangled. Above his and his disciples’ heads floated the white mark of divinity.
Yesterday, Rev had restrained the crusaders and the elderly priest who had tried to kill Euta’s grandmother.
Up to that point, it was fine. He thought if they stubbornly resisted, he could break an arm or two and remove the mark. But then, he discovered the priest's true identity, which was astonishing.
It was Cardinal Mihael.
He had been a cardinal even forty years ago, and he was even royalty. Information from the nobility society revealed the old man’s illustrious past.
When he was in the secular world, he was known as Kuan de Tatalia, the first prince of the forr Bellita Kingdom. He was the eldest uncle of Karoman de Tatalia, the grand duke of Astaroth, and despite being the first prince, he was not chosen as heir. It was a rare occurrence in the Bellita Kingdom, which placed great importance on legitimacy.
Perhaps it was due to that shock, but Kuan de Tatalia abruptly left the royal family and joined the Holy Church just before his marriage to a princess from the Right Kingdom. Within just two years, he shed his novice status and beca known as the greatest theologian of his ti.
Rev couldn’t possibly break the arm of such a significant figure. He clicked his tongue and offered a sincere apology, “My apologies.”
This was the result.
Unable to release or threaten this stubborn troublemaker, Rev proposed a gentlemanly agreent.
In exchange for not killing them on the spot, they were not to escape or act against us. If they kept this promise, we wouldn’t harm them either and would release them at an appropriate ti ─ he swore on his honor. Cardinal Mihael, after watching Rev, agreed.
But there was a condition.
The cardinal promised not to attempt escape on his own and to leave his crusaders’ swords and armor behind. However, he declared that if a situation arose that Rev couldn’t control, he would act as he saw fit.
It was a reasonable proposal, and Rev couldn’t refuse it. This was why the cardinal could remain so composed.
The heads of these suspicious sinners were marked with the divine sign. In this Holy Kingdom, having the divine sign ant they could do nothing.
Criminals recognized by the Crusaders.
Cardinal Mihael knew that as soon as Rev's group entered any city or village, the agreent would be broken. Even if they fled through the mountain path, it wouldn’t be long before the Holy Church started searching for him, so he had nothing to worry about.
Thus began the bizarre journey of Rev and Cardinal Mihael’s group.
Rev quickly left the Uena tribal village, fearing the church’s retaliation, and Euta’s grandmother decided to move with her grandchildren to her deceased daughter-in-law’s hotown, the Hatata tribe.
“It turned out for the best.”
That was Euta’s grandmother’s opinion.
Since Euta had learned how to hunt, she judged that it would be better to live with the Hatata tribe, who made their living through hunting. Rev watched the family departing with a small cart with a complicated look before turning away.
And now.
Rev, eating his rationed al, bit his lip anxiously. ‘What should I do now?’ He was deeply worried because, as it stood, he couldn’t go to Lutetia.
It was autumn, and Leo Dexter and Lena Ainar were almost at Lutetia. But he had no way to contact them, and entering Lutetia with the mark on them would an execution.
He could try boasting, “I am a Sword Master!” ─ but then what about his disciples? And would that pesky cardinal remain silent? He was deeply concerned.
Should I just kill him?
Honor and whatever else… When did I ever care about that?
Rev considered secretly killing the cardinal and waiting outside Lutetia for Leo to co out and join him, but he quickly dismissed the idea.
At that ti, Lena Ainar would be newly pregnant. Sooner or later, when Leo Dexter learned of that fact, he would return to Avril Castle, and Rev had no confidence in persuading his friend otherwise. Not to ntion, Leo’s cooperation with Minseo was unlikely due to the situation.
He also considered sending a letter. Hiring soone outside the castle with money was doable.
However, it was doubtful whether Leo Dexter, who would be "following his previous behavior," would awaken just from receiving a letter. If he didn’t respond, the chance of getting his help would vanish.
He was cornered.
Rev finished his al, clutching his throbbing head. This was probably also one of the events Minseo spoke of…
It was too much.
It’s not like I did it expecting a reward, but I did a good deed. But as a result, I t the cardinal and got tied up.
If it were Minseo, he might have grumbled, “It’s nothing new, but it’s still tireso,” but Rev managed to cast off his regrets with a couple of deep breaths after finishing his al.
Euta’s grandmother was truly a grateful person to him, so helping her, repeatedly getting executed by the cardinal, wasn’t a regretful act. Instead, Rev was more concerned about how he could continue to help her now that Enen was free from evil influences.
...How could he do it? He just needed to clear it.
Rev steeled himself.
This would be the last Childhood Friends scenario. With the Beggar Siblings scenario cleared, they could now choose the next scenario, and all they had to do was not select the Childhood Friends scenario again.
So this ti, he must succeed. Rev rose from his seat and approached Cardinal Mihael, intending to find out why he encountered this man.
“Did you enjoy your al? Is there anything you find uncomfortable?”
“Yes, I enjoyed it. I have no discomfort. All of this is because the Lord cherishes us.”
...Not because Vanne is a good cook?
Rev nodded in agreent, even though he found the cardinal quite disagreeable.
“I understand that we have our circumstances, which have led us to this situation, but I don’t think there’s any reason for us to be at odds. Are you on a pilgrimage, Cardinal?”
“That’s correct. But are you a knight, or perhaps a noble? You don’t seem like soone from our kingdom.”
“Yes, I’m from another country. I’m traveling quietly with my disciples. You may consider a knight if you wish.”
“I see. If you don’t mind asking, what cri did you commit?”
“I killed soone. Oh, Vanne. Thank you. Please have so, Cardinal.”
Vanne Bizaine brought out dessert.
Rev took the small wooden cup she handed him and offered it to the cardinal. The slightly crude cup contained…
Egg pudding!
It was quite a fancy dessert, considering where they were. Rev took a bite, chewing thoughtfully. It was a dish that couldn’t be fixed if it went wrong, but fortunately, the pudding was sweet and delicious.
“By the way, what brought you to that remote indigenous village, Cardinal? It didn’t seem like a place you would normally visit. There wasn’t an epidemic or anything.”
“Is there a place where a priest on a pilgrimage should or should not go? We go where the Lord leads us.”
“…Is that so?”
That couldn’t be it.
Rev knew that this man had embarked on his pilgrimage with a specific purpose. Before coming here, he had t with Count Simon and conversed with him. Rev, in Leo Dexter’s body, had overheard so of it.
Was it sothing about a ‘special crop?’
They had talked about starting so sort of construction once it was found. Count Umberto Simon had looked rather weary during their conversation.
The cardinal must have demanded sothing. Rev asked indirectly.
“It seems you planned to travel for a long ti. You brought along so books. Are you interested in farming or animal husbandry?”
The cardinal passed the pudding to another crusader, replying nonchalantly. He skipped the dessert and only cleansed his palate with plain water.
“Yes, actually, there’s a certain underdeveloped land. It’s southeast of the Bomare Volcano, and during the sumr, the crops can’t grow because the volcanic clouds block the sunlight. It’s the ti they should be soaking up the sun.”
“...It must be because of the Deulneok wind. Aha! So that’s why you visited the Uena tribe, who grow mushrooms.”
The cardinal nodded.
Different winds blew across the continent with the seasons. In spring, the wind blew clockwise around the continent, while in sumr, it blew from the sea. In autumn, it blew counterclockwise, opposite to spring, and in winter, it blew out to sea.
The winds in sumr and winter are unique.
In sumr, the wind blew from all the seas surrounding the continent, eting at the continent's center, Orville, and creating a strong updraft that soared high into the sky.
In winter, the wind blew toward the continent's coasts, and at that ti, a strong downdraft pressed down on Orville.
That’s why the wind blowing in sumr was called the Deulneok wind, and the one in winter was called the Nalneok wind. It symbolized God inhaling in sumr and exhaling in winter.
Anyway, southeast of the Bomare Volcano... Rev’s mind raced.
That was where the Barony of Agnac was located, a place he passed during a previous scenario involving an engagent. He hadn’t looked around much then because he was trying to break off his engagent with Lena.
But there was one thing he knew: The Barony of Agnac had fallen due to an attack by Simon County.
He didn’t know how a territorial conflict had erupted between the powerful Simon County and the poor Barony of Agnac. However, he knew that Simon County was ruling the extinct Barony’s territory by proxy.
Wait, sothing slls fishy.
Unless they hold the title of a border duke, it is illegal for one family to hold two territories. While it’s natural to rule temporarily by proxy after a territorial war, they must eventually choose between combining the two territories or handing them over to the Frederick royal family that governs the Holy Kingdom.
But the fall of the Barony of Agnac occurred more than thirty years ago.
That ant that Simon County had been ruling the Barony of Agnac’s territory for a long ti, which was impossible in a normal kingdom.
In a normal kingdom, that is.
The Holy Church... This cardinal must have done sothing.
The Frederick royal family is rely a puppet, swayed by the influence of the Holy ChurChapter Rev was certain that the cardinal and Count Umberto Simon had made so kind of secret deal.
And he was sure it was sothing illegal...
Rev licked his lips in regret.
Not because the egg pudding was gone but because he regretted not thoroughly examining the territories of the Simon County and the Barony of Agnac during the previous engagent scenario. Of course, he hadn’t been in the ntal state to do so back then.
I need to et Count Simon.
Rev brushed off his clothes and stood up. He concluded his conversation with the cardinal appropriately and decided where he needed to go.
However, he didn’t head straight to the northern territory of Count Simon.
He couldn’t go empty-handed.
For two days, the carriage traveled as nine young n rode alongside it as guards, and the crusaders dangled their legs from the back of the carriage. Rev gestured to Hatu, who was driving the carriage, to stop everyone when they reached a vast plain.
“We’ll capture that.”
A black horse stood in the distance where Rev pointed.
A Doheukpoma was peacefully grazing.
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