Chapter 87
Chapter 87
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: The Squirming Viper
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Once the attendees had assembled, the honor guard formed ranks in the plaza next.
The first to enter this time was the Holy Knight Order.
No matter the world, even those who didn't believe in religion or belonged to none would seek faith during a funeral.
Personal funerals were officiated by priests, so it was only natural for Holy Knights to attend a massive joint ceremony like this.
There was also the symbolism of escorting the wronged souls lost in this rebellion.
Thus, bereaved families and citizens offered prayers to the entering Holy Knights.
Even if they weren't devout followers of the Holy Faith, they could at least wish for the deceased to find peace in the afterlife.
Seeing citizens bowing their heads in prayer before them, the Holy Knights straightened their shoulders with pride.
As if the more prayers they received, the better place the departed would go to.
But amid this scene, the upper echelons of the Providence Kingdom scowled.
"How brazen."
Yu Hana muttered coldly.
Old man Peter beside her wore a face full of displeasure as well.
Naturally, her murmur reached the ears of the Saintess sitting nearby.
It had been said for her to hear in the first place.
This was akin to a declaration of war.
Saintess, you're not a envoy—you're a hostage.
We didn't accept you out of ignorance; we'll exact revenge when the chance comes, so prepare your neck.
Perhaps it was also a way to vent frustration and threaten the Saintess, whose position in the Holy Kingdom was ambiguous.
Her shoulders trembled slightly as she read their intent through years of political experience.
She felt no strong attachment to the Holy Kingdom.
But a position came with responsibilities.
She was the Saintess, and she didn't have the thick skin to distance herself alone from the Holy Kingdom's wrongs.
Before that, she couldn't claim complete innocence herself.
From the moment she led the envoy here, she had faithfully played the role of bait to divert the kingdom's gaze.
'Massacres, deceivers... now even grave robbers.'
The more she thought of the sins she was involved in, the more her face paled to an ashen hue.
- "Honor Guard, enter!"
Then, the next honor guard's entry announcement rang in the Saintess's ears.
It was already time for the Yormungand Knight Order to march in.
An army clad in black uniforms similar to Duke's formed up in solemn formation.
Was it guilt?
If not for the upper echelons, she might have mistaken their demeanor for burning with vengeance.
Unable to overcome her guilt, the Saintess bowed her head.
"I'm... sorry."
A murmured apology to alleviate her guilt even a little.
But realizing it was mere self-consolation only tightened the vise around her chest.
'Of course.'
Behind her head must be a filthy halo of ashes, just like those repulsive Holy Knights.
Ah, if only they could all burn away together.
In the meantime, the military band's performance and the ceremonial unit's entry continued.
"Ceremonial unit, prepare. At attention. Raise staffs forward!"
Snap!
"Prepare!"
Magicians thrust their staffs skyward in unison with the officer's shout.
"Aim! Fire!"
Boom boom boom!
Fireworks lit up the sky.
The citizens, starved for entertainment, flooded with dopamine at the sight alone.
Though it was a funeral, they couldn't cheer outright.
In the now slightly restless plaza, the Saintess kept her eyes lowered, grateful for her veil's cover.
She was reminded once more that she was unwelcome wherever she went.
The joint funeral proceeded with quiet grandeur.
Music and processions continued, but the solemnity befitting a funeral never wavered.
Next, bereaved families of knights and victims who had sacrificed themselves evacuating people in the rebellion's early stages received the coffins.
For Dominic, the hero who shone in this rebellion, his disciple Jane stood in as family, inheriting his will.
Jane, wearing her own medal alongside Dominic's, represented the bereaved in receiving the procession.
Following that was Duke's eulogy, as the king's proxy.
Tragic deaths, we will never forget this pain, and so on.
Duke's words stabbed like daggers deep into the Saintess's heart.
Sneria and Peter knew it, so that sun-like knight surely did too.
Thinking he saw her as one with those Holy Knights stirred self-loathing from the depths of her heart again.
Then, as Duke's eulogy neared its end, his gaze lingered briefly on the Saintess.
While she puzzled over that momentary glance, Duke continued.
"There is one here who cannot take responsibility despite being present. One who must remain silent despite having a voice."
The Saintess's shoulders flinched.
Why mention her here?
A declaration of war?
As she thought that, Duke pressed on.
"I shall apologize on his behalf. I am sorry. For failing to protect, for failing to stop, for remaining silent. And though it is brazen, I dare to ask: please forgive him."
His speech, like a penitential prayer, left her flustered.
What was his intent?
Why pray for her?
She looked at Duke, but the knight offered no answer.
Then, she overheard knights whispering nearby.
- "Am I missing context or was that Duke?"
- "Stop sleeping in training. Don't you know the Knight's Repentance, idiot?"
- "Argh, it's at the end of Moderation too. Just follow Duke. That's all you need."
- "And do you?"
- "Shut up."
Knight's Repentance?
The Saintess's curiosity stirred again.
Another unfamiliar term.
She tucked "Knight's Repentance" into a corner of her mind and focused on the funeral.
Thus, Duke's eulogy ended, and the funeral concluded successfully.
As coffins headed to the cemetery in the procession, bereaved families burst into tears.
Jane, composed at the forefront, reacted late but shed a few tears.
Anyone could see she was holding back as both representative and knight.
With the procession leaving the city, the Saintess's role ended.
She returned to her lodgings with a heavy heart.
- "Ah, so tiring. Let's head back and sleep."
- "Heretics' beds are comfy, at least."
- "Food's good too? Wonder what's on the menu today."
- "Funeral, so maybe more lavish?"
- "Heretics at least go stuffed."
On the way back to lodgings.
Hearing her Holy Knight escorts' talk, she bit her lip beneath her veil.
These were no people—they were vipers.
Saintess Grace swallowed her bottomless disgust beneath her veil.
But trudging back amid these loathsome ashen heaps was too stressful.
'Books... I need books.'
Only books could soothe her boiling heart.
Books offered a gateway to conversation free of karma or dharma.
Providence Kingdom conveniently had a national library en route for borrowing.
'Might as well read up on this Knight's Repentance too.'
The knights said Duke's eulogy was an example of it.
She was already curious what it entailed.
Heading to the library, she asked the excited freckled librarian about the "Knight's Repentance" book.
"No book called Knight's Repentance?"
"Yes! It's not a book—it's a format. A collective term for memoir-style writings. I can recommend books in that style."
Under the freckled librarian's guidance, she received one recommendation.
<회개하는 기사와 맹목의 수녀>
The Repentant Knight and the Blindfolded Nun
It was popular among women lately—a forbidden romance between knight and nun—which was a drawback.
Still, through the book, the Saintess grasped Duke's eulogy's meaning.
'Ah. He wasn't asking me to forgive him.'
Knight's Repentance was like "consulting about someone I know."
Someone I know has troubles.
You think it's me? No, no. A real acquaintance. It's about them.
Something like that.
Even knights face situations they can't protect against realistically.
This indirectly sought forgiveness from the bereaved.
A certain sinner failed to take responsibility. It was unavoidable.
Not me—just some sinner.
Strictly, there was no need to apologize.
Duke had other duties, and even knights couldn't protect everything.
Thus, it was more consolation than true atonement.
- [Your sins are forgiven, knight.]
She understood from the part where the knight borrowed this prayer form to apologize to the nun.
'Knight's Repentance...'
Rumor had it Duke pioneered this method too.
'I misunderstood alone.'
Grace closed the book, embarrassed at her overreaction.
Then her hand paused, and she reopened it.
The book itself was enjoyable.
Not dull or pedantic like Holy Kingdom texts.
Thanks to the tolerant king on literary freedom, new genres flooded Providence daily.
Even there, [The Repentant Knight and the Blindfolded Nun] was a recent bestseller.
Holy Kingdom banned such man-woman tales as forbidden books; here, all literate enjoyed them freely.
The Saintess halted closing the book and resumed reading.
Now as Grace, pure literature lover, not info-gathering Saintess.
'Soothing my ruined mood from those Holy Knights with this novel isn't bad.'
Thinking that, Grace kept turning pages.
Whether written by someone close to knights, it detailed their apology formats fully.
'Author...'
Author:
'Agnotos?'
The sophist? Banned in many countries?
Why write pulp like this?
And was he even in this kingdom?
She tilted her head but refocused on the novel.
As it progressed...
'Oh my. Oh dear.'
Her face flushed,
[I forgive you, nun.]
'Oh oh oh. Look at that foreshadowing payoff.'
Before she knew it, she was immersed.
At the climax where the knight was redeemed from past guilt and the nun escaped blind faith and helplessness, saving each other,
'So romantic.'
Grace buried her face in the book.
A faint hope lingering that perhaps today's eulogy was for her.
Two days after the funeral.
Duke and the knights prepared to return to the capital.
Naturally, the Saintess and envoy would travel with them, so representatives arranged a meeting.
Kingdom side: Duke and his aide Hana.
Envoy side: Ideally Saintess and Holy Knight captain.
But the captain refused, citing health.
Everyone knew why.
'Terrified.'
He couldn't even look Duke in the eye at the funeral.
A 2-on-2 in a meeting room? He'd flee.
Thus, the Saintess had to pick a new aide.
And her choice was, naturally...
"S-Saintess?!"
"It's your big sis~"
"Saintess, I'm no fighter..."
"If Opfir rank means lacking strength, does Holy Kingdom have only pigeons?"
"Ugh..."
Cornered by logic, Sister Rosalyn reluctantly agreed.
Of course, the Saintess chose her for another reason.
'She knows the bullying when I'm away.'
Her sight of good deeds wouldn't miss that.
The Saintess knew all about the nun's subtle harassments when absent.
As Saintess, she couldn't fathom it.
Why fear witches yet torment them?
If Duke read this, he'd quip "That's the will of fire," but anyway, she couldn't understand.
Thus, unless unavoidable, Grace stayed near Rosalyn.
"Hehe..."
Seeing her sister relax in the carriage despite burdens confirmed her choice.
Thus, Saintess and nun headed to the lord's manor for the meeting.
En route, Grace told Rosalyn about Duke.
"Rosalyn. Sir Duke is a good man. A sun, no less!"
Hearing this, Rosalyn warmed slightly to Duke.
She knew Grace's people-loathing well.
Torch or less? Ignored. Ember? Veil off, eye contact. Rarely halo-level showed true expression.
Rosalyn pitied such Grace.
'Sis too...'
Building good deeds wasn't easy.
Torch-level required saving many lives, even priests healing directly topped there.
Bonfire? Benevolent lords or heroes saving masses—not for commoners.
Thus, Rosalyn deemed good deeds poor judges of character.
Quantity over quality.
By Grace's logic, a lifelong honest farmer kind to neighbors was scum, while a bribe-taking priest healing elites was good.
Rosalyn couldn't accept that.
'Well, we see differently.'
Couldn't call Grace wrong.
Rosalyn understood.
She saw evil deeds—opposite.
Desensitized by myriad sins, mild ones got passes.
Near-zero evil? Instant trust.
In Holy Kingdom, only kids qualified.
Different sights made calling Grace wrong arrogant.
'Still, sis calls him a sun.'
Rosalyn anticipated Duke.
How little evil? Full moon?
Knight, so shadows likely. Half-moon acceptable, crescent... tough. New moon? Disappointing.
Knights stained hands inevitably.
'But first time sis praises someone else like this.'
Grace this excited? Decades ago. At least 50 years.
Bathed in Grace's praise, they entered the meeting room.
Duke's aide Hana awaited outside.
Rosalyn lit up seeing Yu Hana.
'Wow. Half-moon at least.'
War veteran too.
Pacifist?
Anticipating, the door opened.
Duke sat across the table.
"Welcome."
"Sorry we're late, Your Excellency."
"No matter. Sit."
As Saintess and Duke talked, Rosalyn fixated behind Duke's head.
'Wow... full moon.'
Full moon.
In her knowledge, only those never bloodied hands showed it.
'Amazing...!'
As Rosalyn stared starry-eyed at the full moon,
It wriggled.
'Huh?'
The full moon squirmed.
'What, what?'
Her face blanched.
Something odd at the edge. Fur-like...?
Not illusion.
Then, from the opposite side, furry tendrils extended.
Soon she realized: not fur—tentacles.
Moon, tentacles, unfolding dark side.
"Urk..."
"?"
"?"
All eyes turned to Rosalyn.
Duke's naturally too, meeting her eyes(?).
A void where face should be, wriggling tentacles on the moon.
"Gurk."
As consciousness faded, Rosalyn closed her eyes worrying for her calling sister.
'Sis... run... away...'