CHAPTER 159

As night fell, faint lanterns flickered in the alleys.

Shoara's back alleys, illuminated only after the sun had set.

However, these days, everyone is staying up all night regardless of day or night.

-Another round of drinks here!

-These sausages are amazing.

Boisterous shouts echoed from various corners of the alleyways.

The war was not over, but those who returned to Shoara were victors, and each had a few jingling gold coins in their pockets.

"Looks like everyone's made a good amount of money?"

"Well, we did win."

It was a bustling time, but Zemina and Vlad were watching the lobby from the fourth floor.

Amidst the bustling drinkers, busy waiters were seen hurrying about, but Zemina, already drained, needed a moment's rest.

"Did you make a lot of money too?"

"Knights get paid at the end of the year. It's an achievement bonus."

Below in the lobby, some soldiers recognized Vlad leaning on the railing and started raising their glasses.

The presence of Vlad must have played a role in why Rose's Smiles was especially crowded among the many shops in the back alley.

"But why the sour face? Ever since you came back from church?"

"Where's Marcella? Come to think of it, I haven't seen her."

Vlad, trying to divert attention from Zemina's scrutinizing gaze, quickly changed the subject.

Knowing that lies wouldn't work in front of the girl he had spent most of his life with.

"Marcella hasn't been coming to the shop much these days."

Fortunately, he succeeded in diverting Zemina's attention, but what came out of her mouth was another problem.

"Why? Is she feeling unwell?"

"She's not sick, but..."

Approaching Vlad with a troubled expression, Zemina leaned against the railing with a sigh.

"She says she wants to retire. Says she's of age for it now."

"······Ah, I see."

Vlad, hearing Zemina's concerns, tilted his glass with a bitter expression.

In truth, she wasn't quite of retirement age yet.

Still, Vlad nodded silently, understanding the hardships she had faced.

Retirement might be uncertain, but surely it was time for her to take a break.

"Well then, what about here?"

"······"

Vlad asked earnestly, but the answer he expected didn't come.

Zemina, who had to respond to the question, simply leaned against the railing and looked silently at Vlad.

"Why don't people answer when they're asked..."

"How do I look?"

Amidst the bustling shop and the noisy drinkers, what reached Vlad's ears was her quiet question.

"How do I look? Do you think I can do it?"

Zemina's eyes as she looked up at Vlad were somehow desperate.

Zemina was asking a question that left out a lot of things, but Vlad could tell as he met those slightly shaking eyes.

It was time for him to speak up.

"······You can do it."

There was always a red-haired girl next to the boy who stood on the mud and stared at the sword endlessly.

Although it was a sword worth five gold coins, an amount they could never gather in their lifetime, it was the girl who had assured him that she would buy it for him.

"You might be smaller than Marcella in some ways, but you're more than enough."

"······Hey, are you crazy?"

Vlad began to laugh as he watched Zemina preparing to go on a rampage.

Indeed, he preferred to see Zemina in action rather than in contemplation.

He had received courage and solace from the girl that day, and now it was time for Vlad to return the favor.

Since he hadn't yet paid her the price of the unadorned sword, Vlad decided it was time to repay the courage and comfort he had received from the girl.

※※※※

Last night, following the waves of the night, Vlad and Harven arrived at the church with the children, soon moving towards the Bishop's room with the guidance of the priest who came out to greet them.

"Wow. I can see my face on the floor. How much did you polish it?"

"Please don't fidget like a country bumpkin, Harven."

Although he was quietly telling Harven to be quiet, Vlad's steps as he walked through the church were also tense.

It was understandable, as his experiences here had been harsh, except for when he came for the severe trials; there were hardly any good memories to be found.

"Sir Knight, we've been waiting for you."

"Hmm?"

Following the guide, whose name he didn't know, they reached the inner part of the church, where a familiar face was waiting for Vlad.

"Ha, Deacon."

"Nice to see you. Have you been well?"

A boy who appears to be similar in age to Charles.

The boy, who seemed to be no older than 13 by any stretch of the imagination, was the young deacon who always followed Andrea around.

"Pleased to meet you. I still remember the prayer you taught me, morning and evening."

"Oh. You're not supposed to remember that prayer for times like these."

It was this deacon who had helped Vlad when he first prayed at the church in Varna. 

Vlad couldn't forget the moment he first kneeled before God, but it seemed like prayers were something you had to memorize many of.

"Nevertheless, as long as it comes from the heart, God will understand."

"Thank you for understanding, deacon."

The deacon, who had matured slightly since they first met, now gave Vlad a relaxed smile, covering for his mistake.

Harven's laughter from behind was irritating, but Vlad decided to endure it as he looked at the connection he hadn't seen in a long time.

"The Bishop is waiting for you."

"Ah, the Bishop."

As soon as they heard the word "Bishop," Harven quickly took off his captain's hat and began to tidy himself up.

A man from the back alleys meets a bishop from a high-ranking city.

For Harven, it was probably as emotional a moment as when he first got his ship.

"How do I look? There's nothing on me, right?"

"······If there was anything, I would have just wiped it off."

Despite their words, quickly checking each other's appearance, they followed the guidance of the deacon towards the Bishop's room.

Knock knock -

"Lord Bishop, Sir Vlad has arrived."

Finally facing the Bishop's room, Vlad and Harven glanced around simultaneously.

Checking the surroundings in an unfamiliar building was a habit of those from the alleys. But the young deacon merely smiled, thinking their behavior was like squabbling parrots.

"Come in! Sir Vlad!"

"Please, after you."

Hearing Andrea's hearty welcome, Vlad turned the handle. With a creak, the door opened, revealing Andrea beckoning towards Vlad, just as at the gates.

"Welcome. Have you had dinner?"

"I have, but I could eat again."

"Haha! It's peak time, indeed."

Andrea's gaze upon Vlad was generous.

It had to be.

Until now, Bishop Andrea had vouched for Vlad, but the now grown young man had become evidence supporting Andrea's honor.

"And who is this?"

"I am Harven. I am the captain of a small ship. Lord Bishop."

Though it seemed like a somewhat awkward introduction learned from Vlad, Andrea's gaze towards Harven softened.

What was visible next to the limp leg was clearly a cane, but the man named Harven was referring to himself as a captain.

"You did not give in to the waves of hardship. Impressive," Andrea remarked.

"No, Lord Bishop."

A smile appeared on Andrea's face again as he saw the young man from the back alley enjoying the sea despite his disability.

His decision to support the alleys of Shoara seemed to have been the right one.

"Yes, yes. Please, everyone, have a seat."

Uncharacteristic of a bishop, Andrea personally guided the guests to their tables and began preparing tea with familiar hands.

The young deacon also seemed to be skilled in helping him.

"It's noisy."

"Because the cafeteria hasn't been built yet. They are using the church building in a hurry."

As they sipped their tea to ease the tension, distant voices could be heard.

The voices of children from the alleys who had arrived at the church with them, it seemed.

"Well, I've been interested in this matter and wanted to make a small donation anyway..."

"Oh, that's alright. We've been receiving quite a lot of donations lately."

Having guessed Vlad's financial situation, Andrea chuckled and waved his hand dismissively.

The children said that they even received a blanket from Vlad, so he must have already spent the money here and there.

"It seems everyone wanted to greet the new bishop. Actually, I didn't want to be a bishop because I hated this kind of thing."

While it was a valuable purpose for some, for a faithful priest, it was just a burdensome task.

Seeing Andrea, who genuinely found donations from the city's influential figures annoying, Harven quickly hid the pouch of gold coins he had brought.

"Was there a specific reason you called me separately?"

"Well... I wanted to see you, to be honest."

Knowing Vlad's temperament well, Andrea put on a subtle expression and set down his teacup.

The Vlad he had known preferred speaking directly rather than beating around the bush.

"The Northern Orthodox Church... It actually originated in San Rogino. You're aware of that, right?"

"Yes, I am."

The Northern Orthodox Church was a sect that originated from the Northern parish of San Rogino.

Discrimination against the north was widespread, and it was no different between the Vatican and San Rogino.

"Before, we used to receive support from the Vatican, even if it was just a token gesture. But now..."

"It's all cut off."

Vlad felt he could somewhat understand why Andrea had called him here.

It wouldn't just be a matter of lacking funds, as Andrea implied.

What the Northern Orthodox Church lacked the most at present was talent.

"I wanted to make a request, but surprisingly, it's hard to find faithful people among the knights. Even here in Shoara, there's no one quite like you."

Andrea pointed to Vlad's chest while saying he was faithful.

There, it was engraved: "A knight who has protected the children acknowledged by San Rogino."

"I've also gotten Lord Josef's permission. I asked if I could recruit you for a while."

"Feel free to use me as you wish. The Vlad of Shoara originates from you, Lord Bishop."

While Andrea was a respected priest, due to the nature of his abilities, he had no personal connection with people in positions like Heresy inquisitors or holy knights. In other words, he had to rely on Bayezid for matters involving the use of force.

"I thought you would say that."

Andrea chuckled at Vlad's breezy response, as if he approved.

Harven, who knew nothing, also started laughing along, as if trying desperately to follow the mood.

"So, exactly what kind of task is it?"

"First of all, I have a favor to ask within Shoara as well."

Andrea was already looking directly at his young deacon, as if he had already decided how to use Vlad.

"I hope you can help him out a bit."

"The deacon?"

Vlad glanced at the young deacon, who was tidying up calmly, at Andrea's unexpected words.

"It's about time for him to become a full-fledged priest. He'll have to take the test for that."

Having been together for a long time, Andrea cherished his young deacon.

He had raised him like a son since he was very young, so in fact, he was almost like a child to him.

"Is there a test I can assist with?"

"That's right. It's not the kind of test where you sit down and scribble on paper."

The term 'test' in the church also meant trials.

Just like Andrea had devoted his life to hunting monsters, true priests sought their own trials to discern the will of God.

"I am thinking of sending this child to the Utman Barony. Although the Vatican has dealt with the evil being there, there may still be lingering darkness."

"The Utman Barony."

The Utman Barony and evil being.

Listening to Andrea's words, Vlad set down his teacup quietly and looked at the young deacon.

"Come to think of it, he was someone with abilities."

"That's right. Didn't you hear about it back then?"

Just as Andrea said, Vlad had definitely heard it.

The hymn of the young deacon echoing through the fog.

If it hadn't been for that song, Josef would likely have been killed by the woman shedding black tears.

"Haha. Wipe that expression off your face. I am not asking you to go right now, and besides, it's not such a dangerous place anymore."

"Pardon?"

At Andrea's casual rebuke, Vlad quickly turned his head towards the mirror nearby.

His furrowed eyebrows and hardened expression.

Until just now, he had been looking at the young deacon, and that expression clearly resembled the one he had seen in the picture of the priestess.

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