Episode 541
I packed my luggage and travel expenses and left my hometown right away.
A few knights tried to follow him, offering to escort him to a nearby city, but of course he refused.
Considering our future plans, we decided it would be best to avoid drawing attention as much as possible.
Of course, it is like that because you have to meet the believers.
I walked through the butterfly forest with a leisurely mind.
Perhaps because the forest knew that its owner had changed, the normally dark forest felt unusually bright today.
As I thought about it, the thought crossed my mind that the person who created this damn forest was my roommate, so I opened my mouth to chat.
‘How big is this forest?’
[I don’t know. The forest grows on its own, and it naturally expands its territory without my careful management. And I’m not really interested in what happens outside my territory.]
‘What is your territory?’
Kuset seemed to think for a moment and then replied.
[I think there was a Badniker estate nearby.]
‘Are you talking about [Reart]? Can it really be that much?’
[no.]
“… … .”
[It’s three times bigger than that.]
I was slightly speechless.
As I mentioned in passing before, Yeongji Leart is one of the most fertile farmlands in the empire.
Cultivated land literally means land for farming, and the size of the land for farming is as important as its quality.
In other words, if it is to be considered the largest farmland in the empire, it must be not only fertile but also large.
After all, it is the size of the land that determines the harvest for the year.
In other words, Leart is a city of a size that can be categorized as a large city… … .
At least three times larger than that land? And that’s just the area he directly manages.
‘At this point, shouldn’t it be called a butterfly forest or something instead of a butterfly forest?’
[The name is given by the owner. This cushion was named Butterfly Forest, so this is Butterfly Forest. But Luan Badniker.]
‘why?’
[Why do you speak politely to Lissera Digos, but speak informally to me, her father?]
What did you say?
I responded with a sense of bewilderment.
‘It’s my heart.’
[… … .]
‘Are you like Lisei? You’re a man who wasted his time… You should be thankful that he doesn’t curse at you.’
[Hmm. Okay. I don’t know much about this cushion, so that could be the case. Especially in your case.]
‘What are you talking about?’
[Luan Badnicker, I heard that you were once the inferior child and a scoundrel of Badnicker. Naturally, you didn’t receive the basic education that your family provided, so it’s understandable that you don’t know about the greatness of the Black Elf Kuset.]
‘… … .’
Was this guy always like this?
Or maybe the longer I live, the more flavorful parts of my head develop.
[Don’t worry, there’s plenty of time… … . All you have to do is slowly recollect the footprints this cushion has left behind, one by one. That alone will naturally bring about a feeling of awe.]
“Ah, they’re all here.”
As I listened to the dog barking, I suddenly saw the end of the forest.
No matter how bright the Butterfly Forest became, it could not beat the warmth of the sunlight pouring down honestly.
‘Has the weather cleared up a bit?’
I loosened my collar a little and entered the city center.
* * *
When I set foot in the city, instead of going straight to my destination, I bought a chicken skewer from a street vendor and sat on the ground.
And I looked around the street for a while, chewing on the skewer.
[What are you doing?]
‘Eat the skewers. They’re a bit salty, here.’
[… … .]
‘When you come to a new city, you should start by looking around the streets like this.’
[A new city? Isn’t this Badnikker’s territory?]
‘I’m not really familiar with this damn corner of the house. I don’t even know what’s around here.’
[Why are you looking at the distance?]
‘It’s the fastest way to get a feel for the city atmosphere. If you watch it for just ten minutes, you can get a general idea of how people live.’
[Then why don’t you just go to a nearby restaurant and look around? Why are you just sitting out on the street like a beggar?]
‘It’s my heart.’
Kusset sighed.
[It seems like you don’t realize that you are a descendant of this Kusset… … . I’ll have to thoroughly correct that part later… … .]
I ignored Kusette’s muttering and took in the people on the street.
Most of them have expressions that don’t show much concern.
In fact, it can’t be helped.
Since it was Badniker’s territory to begin with, there were hardly any people who talked nonsense.
Since it was a dukedom, Badniker’s private soldiers periodically patrolled the streets.
Of course, since they rarely went to their parents’ house, they didn’t recognize me.
Anyway, no matter how big of a sinner or believer they were, they would not dare to set foot in the front yard of the Badniker.
After about ten minutes, Kusette asked.
——————
faqwiki.us
Join our Discord for new chapter updates!
https://discord.com/invite/xr7SxG5T6V
——————
[Where do we go next?]
‘church.’
[Why the church.]
‘To meet the church members.’
[… … ?]
I didn’t say anything to the puzzled Kusette and headed to a nearby church.
Church cathedrals, or buildings where places of worship are built, have always been easy to find.
Because you just have to raise your sight a little bit and look for the cross that should be somewhere.
I quickly found my destination and reached the cathedral only after climbing a few hills.
As we arrived at the church compound, we heard children’s laughter.
Following the sound of laughter to the backyard where the chapel was built, I saw fluttering clothes hanging on a clothesline.
Below, I could see children running around as if they were playing. They were probably hanging out laundry as if they were playing.
I was impressed by the fact that only joy could be seen on the children’s faces.
Most of the children who attend church are orphans.
Sometimes, there are cases where one of the parents is a very devout believer and the child is placed in the church from a young age to be raised as a priest or nun, but this is not common.
‘I wonder how those guys are doing.’
When you say orphan, I think of some of the relationships I had made in Ulkua.
I was foolishly confident that they would be doing well. There were five of them there.
If I’m going to worry, I should start by worrying about my own future since I’m alone.
After thinking about this and that, I was able to find Verita surrounded by children without much difficulty.
[That nun?]
‘Colorless believer.’
[what?]
Even to Kuset, who has been through a lot, it seems that Verita does not seem like a believer.
That’s true, actually.
It’s natural to leisurely hang laundry to dry, straighten children’s disheveled clothes, and remove grass from their hair.
Because it wasn’t pretentious acting in the first place.
However, that does not mean that the image of smashing the head of a heretic with a hammer is false.
Both appearances are the essence of the character Verita.
“Ah! Brother!”
Verita, who had discovered me, approached me with a smile.
I said, waving my hand too.
“Can I help you? You seem to need more hands.”
“That can’t be… … .”
“Okay. I know how to hang laundry too.”
As I was taking care of some work, a figure who appeared to be a priest approached me. He was an old man with an impressive warm smile.
“Nice to meet you, brother. Are you an acquaintance of Sister Razbeth?”
“Yes.”
“I have received a lot of help from Sister Razbeth recently. I thank you on behalf of the Lord.”
Lord… … .
I learned about the nature of the 72 gods, but I didn’t want to belittle their beliefs.
After nodding in agreement, I asked if I could have a quick chat with Verita, and she readily offered me a place to stay.
Since it was not time for worship, there was no one in the chapel.
We sat a little way back and looked toward the altar.
Verita was the first to speak.
“Did you finish your work well?”
“Thanks. It took longer than you thought, right?”
“That’s not true.”
“Then that’s good.”
This is enough greetings.
Because I prefer to get straight to the point, no matter what.
“I have to meet Leone.”
“… … .”
Verita looked slightly embarrassed and then looked at me.
“Right now?”
“No, that’s not it. I want you to be ready to meet me whenever you want.”
“If that’s the case, brother, then it’s possible at any time. For example, if you go to the swamp with me right now─”
If it’s a swamp, it’s one of the Imperial Forbidden Zones, so is Leone staying there now?
It was unexpected information, but it wasn’t immediately important.
“I’m not the only one who sees this.”
“yes?”
“I wish Achromatic would lend me his strength. I’m going to unite in earnest.”
“If you’re talking about an alliance… who are you talking about an alliance with?”
“Anyone, not a sect. Could be a Badnik, an Imperial Knight, a Tower, a Hero, or a mercenary group.”
“… … .”
Only then did Verita’s complexion change.
It seemed like he understood what I was trying to say.
Verita checked my complexion with an unusual attitude and asked cautiously.
“Are you serious?”
“Of course. I always tell the truth.”
“… I understand. Then I will persuade the rest of the believers. Of course, including Her Highness the Princess─”
“Wait… just a moment. Verita.”
“yes?”
“I heard about it from Domenico in Ulka.”
Verita blinked her eyes.
“Brother Domenico? About me? What did he say?”
“I heard you broke his head during an argument with a colleague. Is that true?”
“yes.”
“Will it be like that this time too?”
“… … .”
Verita rarely appeared speechless. Isn’t this the moment when they say silence is affirmation?
I shook my head.
“No. Don’t do that. I told you not to do that.”
“But that method worked quite well. After that, Brother Serge began to listen to me.”
“You forced them to follow you. There is no point in forcing them to follow you in that way. Never force someone to believe. Isn’t that the basis of missionary work?”
Verita seemed greatly embarrassed by my words. It felt as if her pupils were spinning.
“But… not everyone can understand each other. Those who have abandoned their faith from birth, those who can never be converted. We call such people heretics, and the Inquisition was established to punish them.”
“… Well, of course, there are many cases in the world where communication doesn’t work out.”
Although I talk like I know everything, I am also the type of person who uses my fists before my mouth when faced with a problem.
“Then what should I do?”
“How would I know that? I don’t even know what other believers look like.”
Now that I think about it, I’ve actually met more people than I thought.
A Frozen Hunt brat named Root, a member of the Abnaham witches’ coven with a middle name of Dorothy… and finally, Domenico, the boss of the Parcone family.
But we don’t know how many believers are left.
Above all, there was still nothing to be said about their leader, Leone, even though they had clashed with him several times.
“They are colleagues you have known for a long time. You would know better than I how to treat them.”
“… … .”
“So, think about it yourself. Or, just face it with your heart.”
To be honest, I don’t know if I’m giving the right advice.
But in the end, I thought that persuading the colorless believers was a role that was much more suited to Verita than me.
This is because it was obvious that if a priest who did not know the situation went there and immediately suggested an alliance with other forces, he would be treated as a crazy person.
furthermore…….
I somehow had a feeling that Verita could do it.
In the end, Veritas is also like Lissera Digos.
Today, I confirmed that we are beings that can change sufficiently depending on the environment.
When I am among the colorless believers, I become an executioner who crushes the heads of my enemies without mercy.
When Verita had time to herself in a peaceful church, she could have been a nun who monopolized the love and attention of the children.
“… … .”
Verita hesitated for a moment, then closed her eyes tightly and spoke in an uncertain voice.
“… No, I’ll try.”
When I heard that and couldn’t hold back my laughter, Verita asked with a puzzled face.
“Why, why are you laughing?”
“Just. Of all the things I’ve heard since meeting you, that’s the one I like the most.”
I understand, I will definitely do it. I will destroy everything that blocks the path of the priest… … .
Rather than always giving definitive answers to my requests or wishes without even thinking about it properly… … .
I much preferred that trembling answer, mixed with anxiety about the future, distrust in oneself, and uncertainty.
Because it is extremely human.
I said, looking at Verita.
“Do your best, I’ll be expecting it.”
