Chapter 136
Chapter 136
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: EP.33 – The Knight Faces Scrutiny? (3)
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"That lucky bastard…!"
"…What?"
"Cardinal Raphael…! Do you have any idea how many devotees would kill to have a conversation with him!? There are people who'd empty their coffers just for a meal voucher with him, and here you are, a guy with zero interest in religion, getting that precious time…!!"
"Yeah…?"
Jake, who had come to report on the tunnel's progress, shared what had happened to him lately, prompting this sudden outburst. Lee Han could only blink in confusion.
He'd already heard that old man Raphael was impressive, but he had no clue just how revered the cardinal was.
So, from Lee Han's perspective, Jake was making a huge fuss over nothing.
"But why call him cardinal? Hasn't he retired a long time ago?"
It was a genuine question—did a guy basically on the verge of retirement really warrant this much drama?
"…Other devotees would lose their minds hearing that."
Jake, however, found the remark utterly insane and kept pressing his furrowed brow.
"He only stepped down from the cardinal position because he refused it. His potential status is still beyond cardinal. They say he could've become the Pontifex without issue, and if he set his mind to it now, over 40% of the temple priests would back him."
"…He's no ordinary guy, huh."
"……You're a citizen of the kingdom and you don't know him? Unbelievable."
Jake looked utterly baffled.
It was like hearing someone trash-talk a national hero.
"You think I'm some temple fanatic like you."
"…What's a 'fanatic'?"
"That's what I'm calling guys like you."
"……Why does it have to sound so insulting?"
"It's not an insult, so hurry up and dig. I'm gonna charge you."
"Ugh…."
He was in the middle of turning the yard into a field.
Pulling out all the weeds, clearing rocks and gravel, turning the soil, mixing in fertilizer, and watering it—preparing it to function as a proper field.
Normally a multi-day process, but Lee Han had single-handedly reclaimed over 80 pyeong in half a day.
"Phew, finally done."
"…Do you really need to go this far?"
"Self-sufficiency, you know. Plant wheat over there, potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, and peanuts here, lettuce and cabbage there."
"…Getting serious, huh. Wait? What's with leaving that big spot empty? What're you planting there?"
"Peppers."
"Peppers? You mean those spicy, exotic plants recently imported from the west? The ones they say are used for torture…?"
"…They're spicy, sure, but torture? What are you talking about?"
He'd never heard such a thing. He'd just bought seeds from the local seller—what was this nonsense?
But the misunderstanding had already taken root.
"You cruel bastard, who are you planning to torture by growing that stuff?"
"…I'm growing them to eat, you medieval moron."
Lee Han had been wrongly accused.
People really overreacted to a little spice.
If they'd seen folks in his old world blowing off steam with capsaicin, they wouldn't say crap like that.
But a medieval knight who thought eating spicy food could kill you outright…
"You eat that? …To build pain tolerance? Hmm, that does sound like solid training…."
"……."
…He was having some weird misconception.
"Let's just go with that…."
Still, Lee Han shook his head, figuring it was better to let the misunderstanding stand.
At least it shut Jake up.
And so, the two spent some time reclaiming the field and planting crops.
A knight doing farmer's work—something considered beneath them, reserved for those of lowly status outside sword and honor. It was a sight as rare as they come.
Some knights might faint seeing it.
But one was a commoner-born knight, the other from a poor fallen noble family.
So neither had any hang-ups about it.
They just dug away diligently, finding refreshment in the simple act of earning their daily bread through honest toil.
Just as the work wrapped up and the instructor approached with sandwiches for a snack…
"…Dealing with holy arts will be tricky."
"Huh?"
"Inquisitors from the Heresy Tribunal all wield [Holy Arts]. You wouldn't know since you're not tied to the temple, but holy arts are a power completely different from fighting techniques. They invoke [Mysteries] through divine power granted by the Light of Glory. It's like a mix of magic and fighting techniques. But that power comes at a cost—mastering holy arts is incredibly difficult. Those who overcome that grueling process and wield them freely in combat are the inquisitors themselves: human weapons."
"Hmm, got it?"
"…Why are you so chill about your own business?"
"Why do you talk like I'm definitely gonna fight them?"
"Because you will. That's why I'm telling you to be careful."
"……."
Lee Han felt unjustly maligned.
How dare they slander a pacifist like him—
'…If I had no conscience, fine, but my track record's too solid to argue back.'
Lee Han admitted it.
Definitely…
"Seeing them does piss me off a bit."
His disgust had already peaked from tangling with those fanatics recently.
In this situation, getting mixed up with the Heresy Tribunal piled on the stress.
And the most infuriating part?
'I still don't even know why they're watching me.'
Yeah, no clue.
At least old man Raphael was kind, never pressuring him, just chatting and leaving, so he didn't mind.
No sign of hostility either.
So he'd let it slide, but if…
'If another creep like the one the other day shows up…'
He might not hold back.
"Ease up. Making enemies of the temple makes life hard. Especially in the kingdom—crossing the temple means you can't stay in Pendragon. Watch yourself, for many reasons."
"Then I'd just go into exile."
"…So no plans to ease up, got it."
He shook his head, but Lee Han stood tall.
……But perhaps signaling that such thoughts were unnecessary?
-Tweet tweet!
"I heard that child was rude after I left. I'd like to apologize to you, brother."
"…Apologizing's fine, but do you have to do it at the crack of dawn?"
He had come.
On a morning when the sparrows were still chattering noisily.
An early visit—Lee Han grumbled at the old priest while tousling his bird's-nest hair.
Even so, showing up at this hour was too much.
"With prayer meetings scheduled for the next four days, this was my only window. The thought of not seeing you tears at my heart, heh heh."
"…You sure live devoutly."
"It's only natural. Ah, if you'd like to attend the prayer meetings, come anytime. Our temple always welcomes new brothers."
"I politely, sincerely decline."
"Such a shame."
"…Instructor!"
"Damn… I wanna sleep more…."
Thus, Lee Han tried to shoo away the old priest fervently spreading the faith from dawn, but Raphael kept his smiling face.
"Oh, that reminds me."
"?"
But suddenly, he…
"While I'm away for the prayer meetings, that child and other brothers might bother you."
"……."
…uttered an ominous prophecy.
"They're devout but a bit overzealous, so it might get annoying. That's what worries me."
"…If you know, rein them in yourself."
"I'd love to, but old folks like me get ignored often."
"…Even as cardinal?"
"Heh heh, aside from the omnipotent Light of Glory, what ranks exist in the temple? We're all equals."
"…You're really dragging out 'can't control them'."
"Heh heh, sorry. So please…."
Swoosh.
"If those brothers get too bothersome, feel free to scold them. That's perfectly fine."
"…Now that's permission I like."
A faint smile crossed his face at Raphael's top-grade holy water and loaded words.
"I've thought it before, but you're a real adult, old timer."
"Music to my ears."
Unofficial top dog of the temple had given the green light to discipline, and Lee Han was pleased.
And it hit him anew.
'This old guy's seriously likable.'
Sane adults were a true blessing.
"What a delightful brother."
Raphael firmly refused the offer to be escorted home and walked the dirt path himself.
Though walking without his staff was grueling, he hadn't yet received the Light's call.
Until then, he had to move on his own two feet, right?
"Heh heh, something new since yesterday."
Even so, the consideration from his new brother was delightful.
The well-paved path was so much easier to walk.
No tripping stones, and benches under shady trees everywhere, as if saying "rest if you're tired."
Raphael smiled broadly, realizing the knight was even more considerate than expected.
And then…
"Just as senior said, he's an excellent catalyst."
He recalled the senior priest who had introduced him to this new brother.
A once-devout peer, now retired.
"…A bit of a crybaby, though."
The senior who gained a new role as [Butler] after rejuvenating via holy arts.
Still, no empty words from him.
"Sometimes other brothers need a good whack too."
Back in the day…
- Get down, you insolent little punk.
His younger self had been beaten—no, scolded—by that senior, correcting his misguided faith.
"Heh heh, fond memories now."
Wishing the same fond memories for those other brothers one day, Raphael walked on diligently.
Whistling a tune.