Chapter 167: The Black Horse and the Young Donkey (1)
X0UrnLet’s spin, let’s spin around the matches.UIAJodp
cKNLet’s joyfully sing around the matches.faN2Aa
lFdYxZUntil the red hair turns black.EoyU
d0pbvjUntil the song we were singing ends.LkLCIi
2oALet’s spin, let’s spin around the matches.sPIqHDH
08VNBLet’s spin around the matches until they all fall.5O9H
xVoz***BWwO
xryGgbA winter’s icy road.aizN8R
FbOD7The sound of horse hooves and the creaking of carriages passing over were loud.UEUbS3
TwDAThe northern wind, dry as the harsh road, chilled the already heavy atmosphere of the group.Iw0
qnOF“It’s time to part ways.”26oT
8K6NyeJoseph, who dared to open the window despite the cold, glanced at Vlad and smiled faintly.bOc0
nP5ZJoseph’s voice broke the silence that had lasted for a long time, and all the knights looked ahead.SFSJrF
7w4pxTHAhead of the straight road, two paths diverged.fbix
q95eAs they reached the fork in the road ahead, the group and Vlad had to part ways.WG3Zh
vgV4qWY“Take care of yourself.”gaQS
ufsKk“Sir Joseph, please take care of your health as well.”SD3Kt
cecJoseph and the knights had to return to Sturma.1mmjkBz
pchIt was natural for Joseph, who was eliminated from the competition for family head, to return, and the knights who followed him would likely disperse as they received new missions.0KL
ISl8SOfAlthough it’s said to be inevitable to feel regret about parting, it was inevitable that the ending would be heavy for the current group.niA
6F2j“Please don’t cause a commotion as usual. Just like you did at the convent this time.”5Hov
R6B7“…I’ll do my best.”44Td5
W0DjJgMeanwhile, Jager’s constant reprimand was quite welcomed.D1fpbG
vCSLHe wasn’t pleased to be the subject of someone’s laughter, but the sound of laughter from all around seemed to lighten the atmosphere a bit.Ot45v8
Z0J4csF“We might be able to get together in the spring. Let’s see each other then.”Es68
xyT0P“Alright, Sir Joseph.”huz
mhxxjASeeing Joseph promising the next meeting with his pale lips seemed pitiful, but Vlad believed Joseph’s words were not empty promises.vz5cU
SzwcJThe Joseph he knew was someone who always prepared for the worst.MRsb
RuLSS“…And don’t forget what I said.”cdXG4
gLgWVj8“Yes.”WP4
IRYyPlkVlad silently nodded at Joseph’s final words, whispered softly.zu2eDHy
RR1HThe advice Joseph gave him in a hushed voice came from a strange rumor spread by the Vatican.yWf
uzDL“I hope the deacon achieves what he wants.”9lIZ
Jt0“May God’s peace be with you on your return, Sir Joseph.”4XnCA
dIFyAfter bidding farewell for the last time, Joseph winked at him quietly and signaled that the time had come.eFauP
RtJQVofGregory, Maxim, and Cade.EJ22p
VThVlad, who gave his final farewells with just a look in his eyes, finally parted ways from the group and turned towards the opposite crossroad.vfL
cLWu8A black horse and a donkey moved further away.MXePGI
t3HPEven in the winter wind, Joseph and the knights paused for a moment and watched their backs as they gradually faded away.B2nXLg
YMfoA cold wind blew, but seeing Vlad leading the way of the young deacon no longer seemed uncomfortable at all.5huauzL
p1Tyws***JD79U8V
XnZlh“Perhaps the knight sir didn’t know, but every time Vlad of Soara’s name was mentioned, Lord Andreas’ shoulders would shrink.”b56
OCn8The old donkey he was riding on was peaceful by itself, but the young deacon atop it now looked lively as if he had finally found his own world.11y790
OGsQ2“Even if we throw down something that could be sold for a high price, no matter how much they talk about it. Still, no one is talking about it right now.”fzXjK
lvo2cDhThe young deacon, who was now chattering away, was named Jean.oKDA
LsLW4AsThis boy, with a single-letter name uncommon in the north, was looking at Vlad with happy eyes and a proud expression as if he was proud of him.AlyD
yY5“The name… Do you sell even your assurances for money?”rGP
tnga“That’s right. Everyone sold them little by little. Especially those who came from the Vatican.”CzDL
cHs9bzPerhaps it was because he was a deacon under Andreas, but Jean did not hide his hostility towards the Vatican.aYCl9
MCwJean was a boy who knew better than anyone the circumstances of Andreas, who was famous yet wandered in the desert.eWRK6L
FTj1“Well, the head nun of Soara also sold something.”AVAz9
qfgsKJean’s words reminded Vlad of the Soara convent, and he frowned.u48
jKe9pnIt was a convent built for the poor, but all the women inhabiting it were daughters of powerful people.Gtles
YAU2utPure virgins close to God.mLq
mzaCvXThe head nun of Soara was nothing more than a businesswoman who borrowed God’s name and sold the title.vHFA
BMHh“…For now, let’s replace the jerky with this.”Zsz
FVnhNy“Yes?”MmH
MzdJean’s eyes widened as he looked at the bundle of papers Vlad suddenly handed him.CfM
UAx0hThe name Kannor was engraved on the thick bundle of paper.wSX
LcV“Is it from the Kannor family?”fyV4vV
b9q30fJ“I have a small acquaintance with that person.”47FhnS
7TXlEven the young deacon knew that Kannor family’s meat was excellent.N3O2d
FEYL1And it’s pricey too.VEGiw
LqDhAnd Vlad was one of the knights who most supported the Kannor family.Dprmbr
vTE“It’s your first time on a long journey, so it’s best to eat well. If you were to fall ill somewhere, wouldn’t it be difficult for me, who asked you to do this?”eEswHQ
cPq“Ah. Uh. Thank you!”fj4THG
f1oThough he tried to hide it, his flushed cheeks showed how he felt.aV2T6m
ngUThere was no need to explain to him the joy of serving meat to a child in his prime.OJB
uzDdBF6Perhaps Andreas, who lived a simple life, hadn’t even been able to see jerky like this.xvz12ap
Aw5dg9“If you have any inconvenience, tell me anytime.”8BR3A
2Y1eHe was vaguely aware of it, but the grace of Andreas, which I learned from Jean’s words, was greater than he thought.T7nDh5
PecNSeeing Jean pull out a piece of dried meat and murmur, Vlad hoped that through the path of the young priest, he could repay Andreas with his own worth.PNS6Y
AgV***56R8DQd
sssRrJ“Wow…”TT1vqk
GlUOE“What do we have to do, Deacon?”GRFc1S
AaZVmGThe winter road to Moshiam, the capital of Baron Utman.V7qRhQV
oreuFSEI don’t know if it was the map or the person holding the map that was strange, but after camping for several days, Vlad and Jean finally managed to find a small village.7Ke
p8cHowever, the joy of seeing the village was short-lived as the two soon stopped in their tracks when they saw a strange scene at the foot of the hill.9gG
er6C2“What should we do? Are you going down?”zEKtQSb
ryUe“Wait… just wait a minute.”7AQwJm1
z1VTTwJean frowned, still showing signs of youth and wondering what to do.D6grkc
HJGyVlad stood still, watching Jean who was deeply troubled.2QmgaP
EJmThe theme of this journey was a young deacon, and Vlad knew well that the boy’s growth through this trip was what Bishop Andreas hoped for.p4C8vd
LMCNH“Let’s go down. I have to stop it.”KLs
590WhhM“Alright.”x4XY
X5RQ285Vlad nodded at the young deacon’s words.BhSeXq
itxVdThe first step towards penance is to look without turning away.tiX
fhw1XVAt the foot of the hill, a festival was unfolding along a difficult path, not an easy one.dmX
iX6DTpA small village whose name was not even written on the map held by Vlad.YUwmOoJ
dL8S2However, despite being such a small village, the square seen from the hill was crowded with people, as if all the villagers had gathered en masse.Oz5s
3m9b“Help me! I’m innocent!”2108
Rn8AeA festival must have a proper offering.jSjEsdF
wi1yv7ESomeone captured for the festival struggled and shouted.VV3nmLj
74ThkThe mask looked quite strange, as if someone had put it on.o6EEvnN
5DoGr“I didn’t do it! You’re making a mistake!”sBtOEn
oUNmaThe man, who was covered not only with a strange mask but also with dark clothes, shouted non-stop, but the villagers simply piled up firewood and lit the fire.aDQyHD
Cu0JAmong them, there were people covering their ears with their fingers as if they didn’t want to hear anything.uMC91
XaZ“Everyone, don’t be deceived! By their very nature, evil people use their language to deceive others!”V19XX
JcdeA man dressed in a pure white robe stood in front of the people, shouting loudly.qYNO8nu
DapF9AuI don’t know which affiliation he belonged to, but from his appearance, he clearly had the look of a priest.bNSp
B4rZ“I’m sure you all know about the evil being that originated in Moshiam!”Bb0
f3PGAs soon as the word Moshiam came out of the priest’s mouth, the people’s eyes began to turn towards him.inFHjLY
aTqA city engraved with a sinister and terrifying name.M0FmJ
pwKEven in this remote village, everything related to Moshiam was frowned upon.uXsBrM
AxEeW1“Why did everything rot in the once-healthy barley field, and why did the healthy water from the well dry up? It’s all because of that guy who came from Moshiam!”HrgQNI6
CHk8iThe priest’s fingertips began to point at the man struggling and tied to a pillar.i7LQ
uoFMm“So we must burn him!”QUO7Tl8
1QyCa“Crazy bastard! Why burn good people?”599R
2LeThe oddly looking man tried to hit him with all his might, but he was already tied up and a red smoke slowly rose from below.Bebq
ZKVo6uHis appearance from afar looked like that of a crow roasted over a wood fire.3MucN
oftNL“…Ah, this seems suspicious.”CVTIYCV
ETDq6OrVlad, who had dug into the center of the village to avoid the gaze of the few watchers, scratched his head and looked at the center of the festival in flames.UBbH
ElH“No, right?”Wqpa
bN5iny2“Yes. It doesn’t seem right.”lvMLI
EKyRNow on Vlad’s shoulders was Jean, riding on a wooden horse.27yBI
13IJean also wore a tunic of pure white, but the villagers’ eyes had long been focused on the priest standing before them.vGG
9fC2ZJean took the opportunity to take out a small magnifying glass and focused it on the man who was about to be burned at the stake.ARdkos
0TNy“It seems we can’t see it no matter how hard we try. Of course, it could be a presence that even this magnifying glass can’t detect…”IrDiF
INs“If that’s the case, there’s no way they would have caught him like this in the first place.”OGXcA6
f3L6MeSince he was just a child, he might have gone unnoticed, but if he were someone of that caliber, he probably wouldn’t have been captured by the villagers in the first place.oRSa
ZrT5“But, well, I think I know without having to check.”Ymf
ZvmQVlad and Jean, riding the horse, looked at the same place at the same time.wjqTQ
R9HO“You need to improve your performance! So that God above can see it!”dbM
3DVLAs the firewood fire dyed a bright red color, offerings piled up in front of the priest.id0Hv
XKVcThe villagers who followed the frenetic shouts left the belongings they had brought in front of the priest and repeatedly bowed their heads in prayer.F5md
KTKnAThe priest shouted the name of God, but looking at him was a lie.l5hQnLS
0NOpB6Vlad frowned as he listened to the priest’s voice grow louder as the mountain of sacrifices piled up in front of him.EYvApU
dEGBoI“That’s a scammer.”dmh
FxOuIt’s like recognizing your companions.IL3
VA4EI don’t know if he really was a priest or not, but Vlad noticed his clumsy movement and grabbed Jean by the shoulder.hHF
jnck“What should I do?”lD5V
RaDR“We have to stop him. We can’t just ignore the tragedies that occur using the name of God.”ji7
B5TJean quickly took out the Bible from his pocket and looked at Vlad with stern eyes.V5bC0
UhYaFzThe boy who had been happily eating jerky a moment ago was nowhere to be seen.KAS
RGaNWP1“Alright. I’ll do as the deacon wishes.”c8WCn
e7u0M1IJean must have felt encouraged by Vlad’s nod, so he quickly opened the Bible and flipped through the pages.IWI2m
B9kTA book of the Bible carefully engraved by Bishop Andreas, letter by letter, for his young deacon.8V9
qSJA3tcThe hand of the young deacon flipping through the Bible stopped on the page where a hymn to God was written.LrxRO
rRBX– Cast away the vain idols of the world.5HN5w
bczrUPg– Set aside all human lies and injustices.D78E
8nOk– I will go wherever I am called to go.4e9o4
sktThe villagers began to walk slowly around the bonfire, following the shouts of an unknown man.ISZD1DG
ECLAV9iHowever, all the people surrounding the bright red light turned their heads when they suddenly heard a noble voice.iL9
XXm63Od“You there.”jdi
VKd“Yes, what?”G5p
fab1As the voice of the young deacon carved a path, a knight walked down the path.g6f31PC
QZ4BThe left eye of the knight had a golden glow that anyone could see.dXsP
g28w3“Are you really a priest?”aFGvO
x6l“…Agh.”Osz
6jZJfThe fake priest had to bite his treacherous tongue upon seeing the beautiful images that assaulted his ears and eyes.CPAj
UBJ7Piled sacrifices, a priest who couldn’t speak, and an innocent sacrifice still struggling over the flames.eeTemlt
IRcSIfX“First, shall we extinguish the light and talk?”n10d
wLiRPeople who are where they are supposed to be and doing what they are supposed to do.G6L
Ct8A4YyBishop Andreas’s sword and his young voice held up the false flame.m8sABc
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