221

The envoy who came to the Northern Fortress was Baron Andy Share, who had previously been in charge of transporting Ferdium support supplies.

He greeted me with a big smile.

"How have you been? I have come to deliver a message from the royal family."

Zwalter nodded with a trembling expression and asked.

"What… what's going on now? Why am I here in the palace… ."

Whenever people come to visit, I startle for no reason, thinking that my son might have caused an accident. This symptom has gotten worse because of my experience hearing news of the war not long ago.

Baron Share said with a still smiling face, looking at the anxious Zwalter.

"You have been promoted to Marquis today. Congratulations."

Zwalter asked back with a slightly bewildered expression at the unexpected words.

"Marquis? Me?"

"Yes, that's right. Of course, the authority and duties to protect the changes will remain the same as before."

"Why… … all of a sudden… … ."

I was promoted without any particular achievements. So I couldn't help but be curious.

Baron Share briefly explained what had happened. The reason was that it was a reward for his hard work, but Zwalter could fully understand that the promotion was thanks to his son.

"That… … Giselle… … became a count?"

"Yes, that is correct. Now, I am the Earl of Fenris."

My head was spinning. That troublemaker was now a proud high-ranking nobleman. Even though it must be true since even an envoy came, I still found it hard to believe.

Because Ferdium's circumstances were poor, I couldn't provide him with proper support, but he achieved everything on his own, so as a father, I was touched.

Zwalter went through the simple ceremony in a dazed state. Despite receiving royal recognition, it still didn't feel real.

'Really… … a Marquis? Me? My family?'

He had lived as a poor count in the North for decades. Not only himself, but his ancestors had as well. But the world was changing too quickly.

Even though he is a Marquis in name only, where is that? These things pile up one by one and his authority grows.

Zwalter thought back to his nagging father who had passed away long ago.

'Father, I have a feeling that my son will be an honor to the family.'

As Zwalter continued to stand there in a daze, unable to come to his senses, Randolph, the commander of the knights, shouted loudly from beside him.

"Now you are Marquis Ferdium!"

"Wow!"

The knights and soldiers shouted for the fortress to be evacuated.

It seemed as if the lord who had worked hard to protect the people of Yeongji for a long time was finally being acknowledged. Everyone was happy as if it was their own story.

Lately, good news has been coming in one after another. The land's debt has been paid and the lord has even been promoted.

And we all knew who it was thanks to who this was possible.

A knight raised his sword and shouted loudly.

"For the glory of Marquis Ferdium!"

The other knights also drew their swords and raised them high. The soldiers also raised their spears and shouted in unison.

"For the glory of Marquis Ferdium!"

The northern fortress has also fallen into the festive mood. Soon, the news will reach the Ferdium territory and they will also enjoy the festival.

A day like this can't just pass. Zwalter, who had come to his senses, shouted confidently to everyone.

"Today, we will enjoy a long-awaited banquet, leaving only the bare minimum of guard troops! We will use up all the meat and alcohol we have been saving, so eat and drink to your heart's content!"

"Wow!"

The soldiers cheered again, the knights especially cheering louder.

After repeating training and fighting, my body has become a bit weak lately. If I eat my fill of meat and drink alcohol at times like this, I will really gain strength.

As everyone cheered, an administrator hurriedly approached and whispered to Zwalter.

"My lord, we have no meat."

"What? Why? Why isn't it there?"

"We ran out a long time ago. Don't you know that meat is scarce these days due to the drought?"

"… … Oh, really? I thought there was some left."

"The Knight Commander would sneakily eat whatever was left whenever he had time. He always said he was hungry because he only ate bread. He also drank most of the alcohol by himself."

"That kid?"

Zwalter glared at Randolph. Randolph, oblivious to that, smiled broadly and waved his hand.

Zwalter, holding back the urge to scream, spoke apologetically to everyone.

"They say we're all out of meat! Some kid ate it all by himself… … No, let's just eat bread and soup today, and I'll definitely get some for you next time!"

"no way...."

The knights and soldiers had sullen expressions.

Well then, what meat is our topic?

Even though he had paid off all his debts, had plenty of food, and was a marquis… … it was still a disappointing estate.

* * *

As soon as Giselle returned, she called Piote.

As soon as he arrived, Fiote glanced at me and asked.

"At the church… … Didn't you find me?"

"Well, I found it, but the situation is a little different."

"What is the situation?"

"Take this first."

Giselle handed the holy relic over to Piote without warning.

Piote, who received the ring, tilted his head and asked.

"What is this?"

"The ring, named Juana's Protection."

"What is that?"

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"It is a sacred relic of the Order of Juana. I received it as a gift from Bishop Porisco."

"Eww!"

Fiote was so surprised that he almost dropped the ring. A lowly priest like himself could not carelessly touch the holy relic.

When I was receiving priestly training, I only got to see the reliquary once.

"This, this… …Why are you giving it to me? This, this is something I shouldn't have."

"You don't have to worry, since you have been given permission. But don't tell anyone else that it's a holy relic. Only Bishop Forisko knows."

Since he didn't explain it properly, there was no way Piote would know the situation. No matter how many times he refused, Giselle pushed ahead.

"You can't give it away or anything. Always wear it. Never let it fall off your body. Do you understand?"

"yes...."

If it was just a gift, it might be given away to someone in need. That's why Jiselle emphasized several times from the beginning that it was a sacred object and that it should not be lost.

Fiote carefully held the ring in his hand and looked at Giselle again as he asked.

"What do you mean when you say things have changed? What do they say in the church?"

"hmm."

Jiselle took the permanent appointment letter out of her bosom and handed it over.

When Piote saw the order, his expression became blank for a moment and he soon lowered his head. Judging from the contents, it seemed as if the class had abandoned him.

Giving them the holy relics seemed like an unspoken pressure to stay here for the rest of their lives.

Jiselle, who had been watching the scene for a while, slowly opened her mouth.

"If you want to go back, you can go. I'll provide a safe escort for you."

"yes?"

Fiote looked up in surprise.

The demon leader in front of him forcibly grabbed him and even managed to receive a permanent posting order.

But you suddenly tell me I can go back? And you're even giving me an escort?

"Are you kidding… ? "

"No, I'm serious. The reason I even came here to receive the order is so that you can make your choice comfortably. You can only make a real choice when you are free."

"Choice?"

"Yes, it is up to you to choose what kind of life you want to live."

Giselle was sincere. She had been there when she got Gillian, and she had given Claude a chance to leave too.

Kaor and the mercenaries were not forced to become knights either. The dwarves and elves were also promised freedom after ten years.

Having lived as a mercenary, he longed for and cherished freedom more than anyone else.

That's why Piotea also wanted to choose for himself.

Although he initially held him captive under the pretext of money, Piote had already overpaid his debt.

And those who will continue to be his closest associates should not be held on by force. This is because the enemies he will face in the future cannot be dealt with with a half-baked attitude.

'Well… If Piote leaves, I should ask Porisco to send a few more priests.'

It's a shame, but Fiote has his own life. If you want, it's time to let him go.

The holy relic was a gift for all the hard work. If I just wrote a letter to Porisco, he would keep his mouth shut and pretend not to know, so there was no problem.

Fiote was silent for a long time. He looked down at the order and asked himself a question.

'Really? Is it really okay to go back like this?'

I just wanted to go back every day. Every day was so hard I thought I was going crazy.

But then an unexpected opportunity came suddenly. Since it was the moment I had been waiting for, it was right to go back smiling without hesitation.

But why do I feel so uncomfortable?

'If I go back… … it will be harder for other people.'

Last time, I couldn't go back because of that feeling. It was because I knew very well how important a role I played in this territory.

'But how long must this go on? I've… … done enough.'

No priest would live such a hard life helping so many people. I know this better than anyone else, having lived in the church since I was young.

This is enough. You can't live like that your whole life, right? You have your own life too.

If you continue to feel pity and regret, it will never end.

My heart still feels uneasy. Before I get more attached and it hurts… … it would be better to end it here.

Fiote opened his mouth with a trembling voice.

"Thank you for everything… …."

My throat was choked up and I couldn't speak properly. As I tried to hold back my tears and continue speaking, I remembered the scriptures I had read every day since I was young.

[Helping those who are struggling and in need is like serving God.]

[You will be the least and the servant.]

[So that you will forever follow the path of mercy, truth, and righteousness.]

'ah....'

The faces of the people he had seen before appeared in Piote's mind.

Those who were starving, those who were suffering, those who were struggling in despair. At first glance, it seemed like everyone in the Cavaldi domain was like that.

But what about now?

There were no more starving people. The number of people suffering decreased. Smiles spread across the faces of those who were struggling.

The lord in front of him and his vassals were all joining forces to change the territory.

'Even if it's not for the people.'

The Giselle that Piote saw was a person who did not care about the means and methods to achieve his goals.

A person who cannot be simply defined as good or evil, but rather is closer to chaos.

But his actions were ultimately helping people. And to do that, he would definitely need his own strength going forward.

'Ahh… … I didn't even know my own heart well.'

Only then did Piote realize his true feelings. He finally understood the nature of the uncomfortable feeling he had felt when he was about to leave.

Fiote took a deep breath and suddenly smiled and said.

"I feel at ease now."

"huh?"

"I now know why I have been feeling uneasy all this time."

At those words, Jiselle tilted her head. Wasn't it inconvenient not being able to go home?

Fiote continued speaking with a gentle smile.

"I was worried when the church would come to see me or call me. I didn't know that and just thought it was hard and uncomfortable. But after seeing this, I realized my true feelings."

"Really… … your heart?"

Fiote nodded vigorously.

"Yes, I want to stay here. I want to stay here and help people who are struggling and having a hard time. And I want to help more people in the future. That is the true fulfillment of the Goddess's will, and that is why the Goddess gave me divine powers."

"… … ."

Jiselle looked slightly surprised.

Before, I thought he was just staying because he was weak-hearted and had no choice, but now that I look back, it seems like he really wanted to stay for the sake of the people.

I have never seen a priest like this in my past life. Jiselle asked again, half in doubt.

"Are you sure you're okay? As you've seen, our territory is very busy and very hard. You've even collapsed with nosebleeds several times. It's not easy to keep helping people."

"I lived in the temple without knowing anything. I didn't realize how much people were suffering and living in hardship outside the temple. I want to ease their suffering even a little."

"When I go back, I can live comfortably for the rest of my life, eating only good things in a clean place like the other priests."

Fiote shook his head with a bitter smile.

"I no longer want to live only for a few nobles. That is not the will of the goddess."

"That would make life easier, but you don't want to do that?"

It was hard to believe that this was what a priest of this era would have said. If Claude had heard it, he would have kicked him and asked if he was crazy.

But Piote closed his eyes and clasped his hands together as if praying, and conveyed his intentions with all his heart.

"Yes, I am with the highest, but I am in the lowest place."

As if he had come to some realization, a subtle divine power began to flow out of Piote's body.

Some of the pink hair slowly turned silver.

Jisel was speechless. It was an attitude that was incomparable to that of the Porisco I had seen a few days ago… no, to that of any priest I had seen so far. It was as if they were from a completely different race.

A true saint was born here.