Chapter 158 : The Turbulent Apennine Peninsula (2)

"Oh..." ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍

"Incredible!" ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍

"To ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍think I would come to this place in my lifetime! O God, thank you."

The ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍ancient capital of a thousand years.

A ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍city that was the capital of the ancient empire and now exists as the sacred Holy City of the Church.

Fitting ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍its long years and reputation, the city was on a different dimension from ordinary cities.

The stone walls, which appeared to be at least 7 meters tall, possessed an immense majesty matching their height, but there was something even more amazing.

"At this point, is it not safe to say the city itself is a kingdom?"

"It is like a symbol of the outstanding technological prowess of the ancient empire era. Young knight. Hehe."

It was the circumference of the fortress walls, which boasted an enormous size.

As they approached the city gate, there was no sign of the ends of the walls stretching out to the left and right.

The walls, which tightly surrounded all residential areas with a river in the front and mountains in the rear, were truly overwhelming.

By any account, at least tens of thousands of people would be able to live within the city.

"Haha. Welcome to the sacred Holy City! If you ever wish to look around the Holy City, please be sure to find me. I will gladly guide you."

One of the messengers who had come to guide them spoke with a voice laced with pride.

The voice of awe from a visitor was the pride and joy of those who lived in this thousand-year-old capital.

"Thank you for the kind offer."

Shatien spoke and scanned the panoramic view of the city from atop his advancing horse.

As soon as the city gates opened, a grand boulevard was paved straight to what appeared to be government offices, and countless stone buildings stood to the left and right.

Each of them was a high-rise building of three or four stories rather than a single floor, creating a sense of overwhelming pressure.

'It is on a different level.'

Even at a glance, he could tell the extent of the city's prosperity.

He had wondered if the Church could set up a direct confrontation with the Emperor of the Holy Empire, despite the Church's strong influence and the existence of bishoprics everywhere, but it was certainly understandable.

If they possessed such an incredible city, how many troops could they mobilize?

However, there was something else that caught Shatien's interest even more.

It was the arrangement of the stone buildings and the dense roads laid out like a chessboard based on the central boulevard.

'If one just brought a few wooden fences, the city itself could become one massive fortress. If you block the roads and barricade yourself atop the stone buildings, each one is practically a defensive fortress.'

In fact, the structures that appeared to be soldier outposts seen everywhere while passing through seemed to have been constructed with such a purpose in mind.

From an attacker's perspective, occupying this city would be no easy task.

It seemed one would have to advance only after soaking the ground in a vast amount of blood.

'Well, that is why there were no stories of the Church's Holy City ever being occupied or pillaged in the past.'

While he was thinking that.

"Open the gates! A guest of His Holiness the Pope has arrived."

-Screech!

-Thud.

Before they knew it, Shatien's party arrived at the Holy See.

"Hahaha. Brother in faith, welcome."

* * *

The Pope of the Church was more frugal and simultaneously less authoritarian than expected.

As soon as the servant guided Shatien to the appointed place, the Pope welcomed him with open arms and a kind smile.

Of course, Shatien was raising his tension and vigilance, recalling what Mage Agpiel had said about the Pope.

-The current Pope is a truly great and ambitious figure.

-Originally, he was an ordinary cardinal far removed from the papal election. However, when the Holy See was shaken by the issue of investiture rights with the Imperial Emperor, everyone was reluctant to ascend to the vacant papal throne. The current Pope was elected in a surprise during that gap. It was an election no one expected.

-He is famous for being skilled at hiding his true intentions and handling people well.

Furthermore, that was not all.

Mage Agpiel had carefully whispered a hidden secret of the Holy City.

-I hear that the Holy Ground within the Holy City possesses a consecrated power that forces one to speak the truth. They say it is the sacred consecration of the first Pope, but from what I see, some mysterious power seems to be at work. So don't think of telling clumsy lies. Just speak exactly as you are. Your usual... well. Indeed. Just speak as you normally act. That alone will make you a knight sufficiently full of faith. Hahaha.

-......

Ah! Was this not right? Anyway, according to Mage Agpiel's words, it was so.

The Pope before him with the kind face was a sly old fox hiding his ulterior motives, and this Pope was heading to the Holy Ground to hear the answers he wanted and to evaluate Shatien himself.

In fact, Mage Agpiel's words seemed to have a certain amount of logic.

-Step, step.

As they walked closer and closer to the area called the Holy Ground with the Pope.

-Ziiiiiiing

The mystery of his lineage was fluctuating.

A wondrous mystery was continuously emanating from the Holy Ground.

Of course, it was different from evil or sinister mysteries; it was a mystery that felt somewhat sacred and very solemn.

"This is the Holy Ground. How is it? This is where the first Pope prayed and consecrated while escaping oppression. Now it has become such a sacred space, continuing to protect the Holy City."

The Pope, who stopped walking, led Shatien into the Holy Ground and asked.

Then, the mystery of the Holy Ground wriggled and began to surround and pressure Shatien implicitly.

-Vwoooom, vmmmm, wooong.

This seemed to be the mystery that forced the truth out, as Mage Agpiel had mentioned.

The mystery emanating from the Holy Ground was trying to penetrate Shatien's body as soon as the Pope finished speaking.

Of course, there was no way this would work on Shatien.

This was because the mystery of his lineage that arose within his body was blocking the phenomenon.

Shatien regained his blurred focus and then looked back at the Pope, asking.

"What are you asking about?"

Then the Pope flinched for a moment.

The power of the Holy Ground did not work?

However, he soon realized what this meant and looked delighted.

"...Your impression of this Holy Ground. That is what I was asking. Of course... I feel like I know the answer even without you speaking. Hahaha."

He said this with a benevolent expression and a hearty laugh, looking very satisfied.

Of course...

"I feel I have done something unnecessary. Please forgive my rudeness, Sir Shatien."

"?"

"What a thing to do to a performer of miracles. Even though I know that one cannot perform miracles without having a clear faith, to think I still tried to test others while being shaken by vain delusions..."

"???"

This was a somewhat strange misunderstanding.

The strong mystery he was controlling himself. The resistance caused by steady exposure to mystery. And the prior warning from Mage Agpiel.

If not for all this luck, he would not have dared to resist the power of the Holy Ground, but to the Pope, who had no way of knowing that, the current situation could not help but feel different.

"My teacher and another saint, Cardinal Gabriel, said this. A true saint possesses a straight, unwavering faith, so everything is nullified. Today, I have realized that my teacher's words are the truth. Brother."

"Uh... What?"

Something was strange.

Shatien felt a sense of foreboding in this strangely unfolding situation.

A foreboding that a significant misunderstanding had become firmly rooted.

And that foreboding turned out to be exactly right.

"You shall be the new sword of the Church and the standard-bearer who will sound the alarm for this continent. Brother. No,"

The Pope spoke with a face more solemn than ever before.

"Saint Shatien."

"......"

Shatien felt as if he were about to get involved in something quite troublesome. Damn it.

* * *

"Pffft! Pahaha!"

After hearing Shatien's story, Mage Agpiel spat out the wine he was drinking and laughed heartily.

"Hahahaha. What? A saint? Young knight... you have succeeded most brilliantly."

"Do not tease me, Mage Agpiel. Damn it. Isn't this going completely wrong?"

Fine, he would concede a hundred times and understand the miracle part.

But becoming a saint was a different story, wasn't it?

Was this not something that simply could not be handled in the first place?

"Then who told you to wag your tail and tempt them so? From the Pope's perspective, how could he not be enticed and fall for it?"

"I did not tempt anyone!"

Shatien felt it was unfair.

"A young man of humble birth suddenly drops from the sky to gain fame, performs miracles, is friendly toward the Church, and maintains a straight mind in the Holy Ground? Hehe. Anyone would have no choice but to think so."

"......"

Hearing Mage Agpiel's words, Shatien felt he had nothing to say.

Even to himself, it seemed there was no choice but to think that way.

Regardless, Mage Agpiel continued, treating the matter as if it were of no great concern.

"So, what did the Pope say he would do for you? Did you hear the story?"

"He told me to become the new sword of the Church. From what I see, mercenary corps are gathering here, and it seems he wants me to lead them into war... wait. Is that what's important right now? I am about to become a fake saint."

Mage Agpiel shrugged his shoulders.

"Why worry about such a thing. If you are that worried, just make it real, can't you?"

"Real?"

"Yes. Achieve a military feat that no one can ignore. Under the flag of the Church. If you do that, the misunderstanding about you will become the truth."

"......"

It was too correct, but Shatien was momentarily speechless.

The primal question of whether he could truly do it.

Of course, he had jumped in like crazy to restore his family, but was he not now jumping right into the very center of a political struggle?

And at the center of international politics, at that.

However, Shatien soon nodded.

Had he not already been at the center of international politics?

"Hehe. Yes. That is it. Do not be afraid. Haven't you done well so far? You can do it. Is there separate blood for feudal lords? In the end, only the one who achieves becomes a lord and commands the world. Do not be afraid, young knight."

"Will I... be able to do it?"

"Ha! Be able to do it?"

"To be honest, I am still half-doubting. I wonder if what I have achieved so far was just luck. Because everything was obtained through trivial skills by a hair's breadth."

Especially since it was a dream he would not have achieved without future knowledge.

But had the future information not become meaningless as the environment ahead was twisted as much as it could be?

However, Mage Agpiel believed in Shatien more than Shatien believed in himself.

"You can do it."

And those words were enough.

The next day.

By order of the Pope, the owner of the military power mobilized by the Church was decided.

The candidate was the knight of miracles who gained fame in the north and owned the Mercenary Bureau.

Namely, the mercenary-born knight, Shatien.

It was the moment when a military force totaling nearly 10,000 was placed into Shatien's hands.