Chapter 158: End and beginning (2)
W3RppAs night fell, dim lights appeared in the alleyways.3oNX
CrR0Soara’s alleys only light up when the sun sets.FzObGd
fMKXDHowever, nowadays, everyone stays awake all night, regardless of day or night.2y9W
eA7vd9o“Here’s another drink!”UCNTA4l
oWlUW“The sausage is spectacular.”eB72T
7mEThe loud shouts of the men echoed through the back alleys.IS4i58C
RHHThe war wasn’t over, but those who returned to Soara were victors, each with a few tinkling gold coins in their pockets.sC8
28wLwM“It seems like everyone made a lot of money, right?”z2rD7
pmxwA5“Yeah, they did.”oaEJ22q
hE6It was a bustling time, but Jemina was watching from the fourth floor with Vlad. Among the noisy crowd of drinkers, she could see the employees bustling about, but Gemina, who was already exhausted, needed at least a brief break.DPw85
s9Jo“Did you make a lot of money too?”PFfG
GoJyZE“Knights receive their salary all at once at the end of the year. It’s a performance-based bonus.”Lep
VRMDownstairs in the lobby, several soldiers noticed Vlad leaning against the railing and began raising their glasses high.sj0
lzwdVlad’s presence must have played a role in Rose’s Smile being especially crowded among the many shops in the back alley.93o9j7O
Ln6FUkk“But why does your expression look so rotten? Has it been like that since you went to church?”1z4
Yo1y“Where’s Marcella? I can’t see her.”V34frX
2KwBVlad quickly changed the subject, avoiding Zemina, who was watching him closely.HGQ0F6
wZ2CqBecause he knew that lying would never work in front of the girl he had spent the most time of his life with.mVI
pmkiG“Marcella doesn’t come to the shop often these days.”AFWw
V4Zc1Fortunately, he managed to divert Zemina’s attention, but what came out of her mouth was another concern.NEz
lqK“Why? Is she in pain?”Ydc
YW2Dqda“It’s not painful…”S9CQH8N
pvmLGsRZemina approached Vlad as if to hear what he had to say, tiptoed, and placed both arms on the railing.M2l
Hnk2o“She wants to retire now. She’s old enough to do that.”u72uwrS
OUxZ5k“…Oh, yes.”MI9Fm
u77gAfter hearing Zemina’s concerns, Vlad tilted the glass he had in his hand and made a bitter expression.SeQZ
9G6vGxqIndeed, you probably aren’t old enough to retire yet.KEA8sTX
SkeXLJhStill, the reason Vlad nodded without saying anything was because he fully understood the hardships she had gone through.6zaMcI5
nrs3I don’t know about retirement, but it’s definitely time for a break.uTdBA
ODXh“So, what’s going on here?”Tb3
9lVpD“…”xyi2A
9IiVlad asked seriously, but didn’t receive the answer he expected.VoS
dM6zYkZemina, who was supposed to answer the question, simply rested her head on the railing and silently looked at Vlad.WYegK
bqJO“When people ask why, the answer is…”E3zsHw
1HteRba“What about me?”YeY1g3
4DkCqcGCrowded shops, noisy drunks.5dWvUQ
DyondHowever, it was only her softly spoken question that reached Vlad’s ears.PbCQSb
3pxPbG“How do I look? Do you think I can do it?”Yn9
6mrJZemina’s eyes looking at Vlad were somehow serious.bvUj0
QUWZemina was asking a question that omitted many things, but Vlad realized upon meeting those slightly trembling eyes.68xuE
mESG7hJNow is the time to tell her.0gsUOga
R4Y67a0“…You can do it then.”C3nwy4
hNjSeThere was always a red-haired girl next to the boy standing in the mud and staring at the sword incessantly.R6aAEa
RKglIt was a sword worth 5 gold coins that he could never collect in his life, but this was the girl who had said she would buy him that sword.YYkx1
lXw84TY“Compared to Marcella, things are smaller, but it’s enough for you.”tpKDND
6uk1ud“…Hey, are you crazy?”FO4vPyy
nvzgQVlad began to laugh as he watched Zemina gearing up to make a fuss.u5Q4
8xpXAs expected, it was nice to see Zemina moving instead of worrying.k3u
xqOHQSince I received it, I have to return it.AGKJ5
FnnBecause I still haven’t paid for the sword.9o7xMwq
AyQnFrom now on, Vlad decided to return the courage and comfort he received from the girl that day.4gu
6RC5***JIdyBpr
N9WSBLast night, Vlad and Harven arrived at the church with the children following the waves of the night, and soon they began to move to the bishop’s office where Andreas was, following the guide of the priest who came to receive them.jedUf
0iQ2“Hey. I cleaned it so much that the floor is reflecting my face.”uIP
LR8X“Please, don’t look around so rudely. Shelter.”hrqXW
HZQbjkAlthough he was actually telling Harven to shut up, Vlad’s steps as he walked through the church were equally tense.h5FU
xQ3IOIt was worth it because he had no experience coming here except when he came for a bloody trial, so there was no way he had good memories.03H
AwvFg“Sir Knight. I was waiting.”XKwUC
b6CwF“Eh?”sCkfrm
kFDAs he followed the anonymous priest’s guide inside, Vlad was greeted by the face of a familiar child.mcp6z
MhMRuD“Ah, yes, Deacon.”ikT9
iepvgbW“It’s been a while since I saw you. Have you had any trouble until now?”6unz
l2Y0vxA child who seems to be about the same age as Charlotte.AUlK
DHxBThe boy, who didn’t seem to be more than 13 years old, was the young deacon who always followed Andreas.Tl9MFoc
WdN“Pleased to meet you. I still recite the prayer you taught me every morning and every night.”5Xu
VNcTz“Wow. That prayer is not something to be memorized at those times.”NUv5
73cRlOWIt was the current deacon who helped Vlad pray for the first time in the church of Varna.MKoTyUZ
ghhVlad couldn’t forget the first time he knelt before God, but it seemed he had to memorize several prayers.pf3one
bRQokL“But it doesn’t matter. If you’re sincere, God will know.”HBDpdyO
u979“Thank you for your understanding, Deacon.”H2rwAR
J3Tzw4The deacon, who had become a little more mature than when Vlad first saw him, suddenly smiled quietly and brushed off Vlad’s mistake.1sTRRNW
8pDZj9Harven’s laughter behind him was annoying, but Vlad decided to bear it, seeing that they had met for the first time in a long time.kLMFjl
5Rtj“The bishop is waiting.”X2Vp
yUeXb“Oh. The bishop.”sVnLVF
kM7bk3As soon as he heard the word bishop, Harven quickly took off his captain’s hat and began to adjust it.r1gJR4
dQ9IF4A man from the alleys meets a bishop from a high-ranking city.ynhD
pNFFor Harven, it was probably as emotional a moment as when he got his first boat.Q2E9m6U
fAhUC4“How is it. There’s nothing on it.”OMqIT
g2aa“…If there was anything on it, I would have just cleaned it.”LtocSQ
rKn9FJtAlthough they had said that, the two quickly checked each other’s attire and began to head to the bishop’s office following the deacon’s instructions.TMu
PVykClick-qPSvbFF
cMn“Bishop. Lord Vlad has arrived.”dDRW
WYbC43WVlad and Harven looked around at the same time as they finally found the bishop’s office.7oaZzsu
6ar1iAsking for directions in an unfamiliar building is like a habit for those who live in the alleys.HNie
wUnvkHowever, the young deacon just laughed, thinking they looked like nodding parrots.W9gU
6e6KibL“Come in! Knight Vlad!”HBCYK
J0dDL9f“Let’s go in.”OxP
ttM5eY1Vlad turned the handle as he heard Andreas welcome him with all his might.7TO7
5xUIn the place that opened with a creak, Andreas was waiting, pointing at Vlad as if he were at the gate of the castle.1CS0m
D0FCY8“Welcome. Have you had dinner?”LRX9Uun
aXT8rz“I already ate, but I can eat again.”e1qhiY
d2FfgI“Haha! After all, it’s mealtime.”JFm0
S2fAndreas’s gaze towards Vlad was generous.wxsK
ZJblxDThat would have to be the case.2uS
hcOr78Until now, Bishop Andreas had vouched for Vlad, but the young man who had grown up now had become proof supporting Andreas’s honor.Ctp
s6PrBg“Is he here?”9w8
qFTN“This is Refuge. I am conducting a small boat. Bishop.”pb5rB
pH4It was a somewhat awkward greeting, perhaps because he had learned it from Vlad, but Andreas’s eyes brightened as he looked at Harven.MyJ
eEL7dWhat was visible next to the inert leg was clearly a cane, but the man called Harven referred to himself as captain.M5YH
BTZ“You didn’t yield to the waves of difficulties. You’re amazing.”CNRh8oB
vvXfE“No. Bishop.”ema
PlirPsA smile appeared again on Andreas’s face as he saw the alley youth enjoying the sea despite his disability.pB6
CnRl2iEAs expected, his choice to support the alleys of Soara seemed to be correct.iM6BI
8ti6FN4“Well, well. Sit down, everyone.”lqDQlC2
gze05Andreas, somewhat unusual for a bishop, personally led the guests to their seats and began to prepare tea with familiar hands.Ewj7k
qK0The young deacon also seemed to have a knack for helping him.Vzb7y
zYBY“There’s a lot of noise.”qeH
ZcPo“Because the café isn’t built yet. They’re using the church building in a hurry.”KdO
L3cYPLuAs he released the tension with a sip of tea, he heard a sound.KS5NTR
1APGdThe shrill and talkative voices seemed to be children from the alleys who had come to the church with them.rIBm
1umPlDw“I’m already interested in this cause, so I’d like to make a small donation…”CFq
LiWKb1“Wow. Wow. That’s fine. Many donations are coming in these days.”Km1VW
B3EznAndreas, who had guessed Vlad’s financial situation, raised his hands and laughed it off.Nlf
HOVThe children said they even received a blanket from Vlad, so they must have already spent the money one way or another.SLyIGy
Sof28“It seems like everyone wanted to greet since a new bishop arrived. Honestly, I didn’t want to be a bishop or anything like that because I hated this kind of thing.”qPnjx
tIvPFor some, it was a valuable purpose, but for faithful priests, it was simply a bothersome burden.5IO
c0kESeeing Andreas say he was really annoyed by donations sent by influential people in the city, Harven quickly hid the bag of gold coins he had brought with him.8IdQ7Qb
GPO4Fn“Is there any reason you called me separately?”8HL6
MZ4kgb“…Actually, I missed you too.”xBPA
D2FZAndreas, who knew Vlad’s temperament well, left the teacup with a subtle expression.ixgV5
y7wntDThe Vlad he had seen was a man who preferred to speak directly rather than beat around the bush.EsHq
XgyV8FT“The Northern Orthodox Church… actually began in San Logino. You also know that, right?”3rlbfq
6dpPceq“That’s right.”mEL
KAdVdThe Northern Orthodox Church was a sect that originated in the northern diocese of San Logino.P5M
HtywbcsDiscrimination against the North did not limit itself to territory, not even between the Vatican and San Logino.8AgnVah
WhgHa“Although we did little in the past, there was still support from the Vatican. But now.”4WL
3kO“It’s all cut off.”rN7w
Szy6cTlVlad felt he could understand a little why Andreas had called him here.kS88LP
in0B8YjAs he said, the issue is not simply the lack of money.HDj2
yrKzYWhat the current Northern Orthodox Church lacks most are human resources.KFE
rBYQ3“I wanted to ask you a favor, but surprisingly, it was difficult to find a faithful person among the knights. Right now, there’s no one like you here in Soara.”QAV
6ydmnAndreas pointed to Vlad’s chest as he said he was faithful.8gD
YI7i2M4There was an inscription engraved on it that said: “The knight who protected the breath of the children”, recognized by San Logino.nU41YQ
tiabgxN“I also received permission from Lord Joseph. Do you mind if I ask for your help for a while?”xWvHXRf
bl29e“Take everything you can and spend it. Vlad of Soara came from the bishop.”s4hf
faXT0anAndreas was a renowned priest, but due to the nature of his skills, he had no ties to people in special positions like Inquisitors or Holy Knights.HibRxkc
JrpIn other words, there was no choice but to seek cooperation from Bayezid in using force.FXJ6xwk
fHc“I thought you would say that.”Q2wC
4l4nqeaWhen Andreas laughed as if he liked Vlad’s cold response, Harven, who knew nothing, also started laughing with him.yZNULa
Kzp0RHis desperate efforts to keep up with the atmosphere were tenacious.SDm
WnO“So what exactly ?”Fyo9
Ks9ZCmr“First of all, I also have to ask a favor from Soara.”zc8NSS5
gG6kAndreas looked directly at his young deacon, as if he had already decided where they would use Vlad.QIPBn
wum“I wanted you to help that guy.”gLFbtx
qEJ“Deacon?”GqDN
sOSnGpUpon hearing Andreas’s completely unexpected words, Vlad looked at the young deacon who was slowly putting away the tea utensils.9Ye98
uO1wv“Now is the time for him to go from being a deacon to becoming an official priest. He has to take a test for that.”UF87F
agkAndreas appreciated his young deacon because they had been together for a long time.FhB2D
EvzxrcThey were taken in and raised from a very young age, so they were practically like sons.k770
zwSGk“Is this a test I can help you with?”OrWFOe
BVvQOZN“I suppose so. This is not a test where you sit down and scribble on paper.”wjmqv
piEgThe term “test” in the church also meant trials.rUfcK1
dixUF0Just as Andreas worked hard all his life to exterminate monsters, true priests would go out in search of their own trials to preach God’s will.HSp5xEA
uSNbOv“I plan to send this boy to Baron Utman. Although the Vatican has eliminated evil beings there, there may still be darkness.”NmvhH8n
NVH“…Baron Utman.”Kv0
mwwz2Baron Utman and a strange being.AnlyuNi
hpaK4After hearing Andreas’s story, Vlad silently set down his teacup and looked at the young deacon.4A2LQb8
VGdXs“Now that I think about it, he was a talented person.”dyaef
NUlK“Yes. Didn’t you hear it then?”BdBN6
uSu64As Andreas said, Vlad definitely heard it.DyO
1bdZpKThe hymn of the young deacon that echoed in the fog that was not visible at all.kujZYn
q7IIf it weren’t for the song that said “Rest your throat,” Joseph probably would have been killed by the woman shedding black tears.Uvpe3
HPXIf it weren’t for the song asking for his voice to become hoarse, Joseph probably would have been killed by the woman shedding black tears.36fpy
MLBQRh“Haha. Relax your expression a bit. I’m not asking you to leave right away, and besides, this place is not as dangerous as it used to be.”jIJPR
plx“Yes?”ruO
XlD3IpRAt Andreas’s subtle suggestion, Vlad quickly turned to the mirror he had beside him.q1QYpi2
CGn6With furrowed brows and a stern, rigid expression.ZFOYvFm
8np4GpThe expression he had directed towards the young deacon until a moment ago was clearly similar to the expression he had seen in the portrait of the priestess.zr6N
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