108 – Good Changes, Bad Changes

I remember being treated well when I first visited the church.

Besides being John Nassen, as a guest of the saintess, it was a natural courtesy that anyone from the church would show.

From that point of view, today’s hospitality was even greater than that time.

“Saint. Did you come And Brother Kyle. Welcome back to the Church.”

The one bowing his head in greeting is the vice-captain of the Knights of Saint Elfleda.

It was very unusual for him to come out and greet his guests.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you, Vice-captain.”

“Sorry. When the saintess comes back, I’m always on duty, or I’m sleeping on duty.”

“You must have suffered a lot. Devotion to the church, faith in God, and love. Thank you so much for all of that. Vice-captain.”

“I just do my job. You came today with a guest.”

“Yes. Is this your first time seeing it?”

“Yes.”

The vice-captain approaches him and draws the sign of the cross on his chest.

Kyle, who was preparing his hand to shake him, reflexively crossed himself.

Even though it happened in an instant, there was no mistake in the action.

It is said that if the head is bad, the body suffers.

“I have heard of the great name. Brother Kyle.”

“It’s a prestige, Vice-captain. Don’t do that. I am burdened to hear.”

“Haven’t you defeated Sir Mathieu Philibert, who is said to be the best among the three things that even the top 10 recognizes? A warrior has an obligation to respect the strong. There is no room for age, experience or anything else.”

Keep an eye on it. It was the first impression of the vice-captain that came to Kyle’s mind.

Still, when I took a quick look, I’m glad my body seems to be in good shape.

If the person called the vice-captain was just fine and the management was poor, he would have said something right away.

“Ah, saintess. Your Eminence is currently praying with the priests. You just entered, so you may have to wait a bit.”

At the vice-captain’s words, the saintess smiled as if there was no problem.

And then I tell Kyle, “Why don’t you sit down and spend some time?”

Other paladins clad in white armor are approaching from afar.

“… Saintess. The Knights of St. Leo.”

“I see. Why are they suddenly….”

Slightly nervous, the saintess and vice-captain looked at the approaching paladins.

Thanks to that, Kyle also thought, ‘What’s going on?’ He certainly wasn’t nervous.

“Saintess.”

The paladin who stood at the front took an example.

Similar armor to the vice-captain of the Knights of St. Elfleda, but with a different set of patterns.

“His Holiness the Pope wishes to see the saintess.”

“Me? Suddenly?”

“Yes. And….”

The Holy Knight, who came to convey the Pope’s order, looks back at Kyle.

“He told me to bring the guests along.”

*

This is what happened all of a sudden. Why am I going to see the Pope out of the blue?

Thinking, Kyle took a look at the knights walking ahead.

“The Knights of Saint Leo. They are mainly those who stand by the Pope or the Cardinals.”

Recalling her saintess’ words, Kyle nodded her head.

As befits those who protect the most important figures of the Order, they are very strong like the Knights of Saint Elfleda.

Since Priscilla, the leader of the Knights of St. El Fleda, was among the top 10 in the Empire, her interest in her was relatively low, but her knights were by no means weak.

“Don’t be too nervous, Brother Kyle. It won’t be a big deal.”

You weren’t nervous at all? I was about to answer.

Fortunately, she did not want to say such disrespectful words to the saintess, so she endured it well.

In the meantime, they head more and more inside, towards a place where more and more holy energy prevails.

When he finally reached the deepest part of the church, Kyle could see an old man.

“His Holiness the Pope.”

As the knights and the saint all greeted each other, Kyle followed suit.

The old man, no, the pope, who lightly waved his hand at that figure, removed his lips.

“Yes, how was the academy?”

“It is a pleasant place, Your Holiness. And it is a bright spot indeed.”

“It’s good. I was worried that you might be disappointed, but I’m really glad. And since I seem to be making good friends, nothing will be so much fun.”

The pope’s eyes turn to Kyle this time.

“Brother Kyle,” He said. Come on. Second to the Order?”

“Yes, His Holiness the Pope.”

“How is it? What are your impressions of this place? I want to hear your brother’s opinion.”

“It is a beautiful place. And it is a warm place.”

At that answer, the Pope chuckled and burst into laughter.

It was a kind smile that gave off a bright feeling.

“I’m glad you felt that way. Some say that this place is very hard, stubborn, and sometimes even desolate due to excessive belief in God.”

What kind of madman said that?

In the midst of a win-win strategy between the Church and the Empire, you said something that would hurt the relationship.

Even if the church expresses its official regret right now, it is not enough.

“By the way, those words are what I used to say when I was immature in the past. hahahaha.”

“….”

What the fuck, how the hell did this bastard’s worldview come to be?

“Brother Kyle. Actually, I have something to say to you, so I committed this rudeness. Forgive this old man.”

“I am fine, His Holiness the Pope. By the way, what do you have to say?”

“Do you remember? Brother Kyle came to the church the other day and persuaded the saint and the cardinal.”

“If it was done by persuading the saintess and the cardinal….”

While thinking about what you mean, there is just one thing that comes to mind.

A health promotion project for our priests with the worst physical condition.

In the name of it, ‘let’s exercise even when we pray.’ Yes, that was it.

“… I think you know what’s going on. His Holiness. But why is that all of a sudden….”

“Please follow me.”

The pope got up from his seat and beckoned to Kyle.

I couldn’t catch up with her right away, but when I looked at her, the saintess smiled slightly and nodded her head.

As if to stop worrying, stand next to the pope, and talk with him.

At the will of the saint, Kyle cautiously stood next to the Pope.

It is said that he has already met two grand dukes and the princess, but the pope had another strange feeling.

Somewhere in between an extremely ordinary old man and a servant of God who represents the church and all church members.

“Since Brother Kyle went, something very wonderful has happened.”

“Wonderful thing, you mean?”

“Yes. After the chaos in the empire ended, our church also fell into a deep sleep. Do you know?”

“It was late at night and I was very tired during the day, so wouldn’t it be better to go to sleep?”

Kyle aptly compares the confusion that the empire was in the midst of a war of conquest.

I was talking about the fact that the church is sleeping now, turning it into a positive thing.

At that speech, the pope laughed and nodded his head.

“Brother is right. Yeah, I’m tired, so I’m just going to sleep. But if you sleep too much, your body will become heavy. It’s good to get enough sleep, get up and go through the day, and go back to sleep.”

Kiki-.

When you open the white door, a side road leading to a certain space appears.

The Pope moves first, then Kyle, followed by the saints and knights.

“Strength belongs to warriors. It protects it with its strength, fights, and hides its sublimity. But sometimes, even the purest things must also bear strength. Our brothers in the past did that, but unfortunately, young souls today can’t do that. I was sleeping too deeply.”

“Sorry.”

“Not anymore. Didn’t brother Kyle do that?”

They eventually arrived at a corner of a huge prayer room located within the church.

It was a place where you could quietly look inside without disturbing anyone inside.

“And God said, Every place your heart can reach….”

In it, Cardinal Paul, whom I saw last time, is reciting a prayer in the middle of it.

And under it, many priests were also praying together in a reverent manner.

However, if there is anything different from before, it will be their attitude.

‘… Hey A minister?’

Every time you memorize a verse of prayer, a plank accompanies you.

In this way, until the entire prayer is over, all the priests steadily develop core strength.

I was laying the foundation of the basics in preparation for the upcoming various training sessions.

“Tell me, Brother Kyle.”

The Pope looked at the priests with satisfaction and asked Kyle.

“Now, what should they do next?”

*

“Heo-eok, hee-yeok.”

A man runs frantically, exhaling heavily.

He ran frantically through the darkness and succeeded in getting on top of a boat.

“Heo Eok, Heo Eok….”

“Are you everything? Where are the rest? Rest of it!”

“I don’t know. We were pursued on the way, and we decided to split up.”

“Did you bring anything?”

At that question, the man showed the captain what was in the bag.

After checking the contents, the captain looks happy out of misfortune.

“Captain! There, I see a torch over there! It looks like a chase squad!”

“… Damn it.”

I was conflicted for a while, but in the end there is only one answer.

“Raise the anchor and spread the sails. Get out.”

“But the placenta is still….”

“If we get caught anyway, it’s all over. Can not help it. This is what they were preparing for.”

The captain’s words made the crew no longer protest.

If they get caught, it’s all over anyway. No method.

Raise the anchor and unfold the folded sail.

The wind that just came in pushes the boat out to sea.

“How would you like to set the route?”

“If you follow the existing route, you will be immediately caught. Even if we can go a little further, we have to go back.”

“Drinking water will be dangerous.”

“Cut drinking water supply in half. If that doesn’t work….”

If that doesn’t work, I’ll leave it to God’s will. The captain swallowed his last words.

After that, the ship started sailing south across the night sea.

In the meantime, those who had just arrived at the port began to search there in unison.

“Damn it! It seems that he noticed something and set sail!”

“According to reports, some of those who escaped were not caught. It looks like you are on board.”

At the words of the knight, the man, Mathieu Philibert, sighed, saying, “Oh!”

I thought I had almost caught it, but it seems that another hardliner was hiding inside.

“Do you know where it sailed from?”

“It will be difficult because it is the night sea. But if you’re lucky, sailors nearby might have seen it, so I’ll do some research.”

Ordering the knights to do so, Mathieu bit his lip.

These damn hardliners who endangered the coalition were trouble to the end.