The Church's New War Asset
Silvestina was genuinely surprised after ending her conversation with Jenkinson. "Honestly, I didn't expect it to be handled this quickly..."
The gang under Bane, who ruled Yoqheim, had been heavily armed by purchasing all sorts of weapons from the continent's black market. Their forces had already reached the scale of a national army, far beyond what any single individual could easily subdue. In fact, when the Pope heard of their atrocities and dispatched Hermann to assist his old friend Hendrick, who oversaw that diocese... Hermann had simply returned with excuses like "Hahaha! That's impossible. I still don't want to return to the Goddess's embrace just yet." It had only upset the Pope further. In other words, that place was evaluated as somewhere even someone of Hermann's caliber couldn't clean up.
Yet Jenkinson had essentially handled it alone in just two days... And he told her not to treat him like a biological weapon? The boy's very existence already warranted treating him as a full war asset for the Church. Even the Emperor of the Empire would feel tense if he showed up. Silvestina couldn't fathom what kind of absurd nonsense he was spouting.
Even as she thought that, she began drafting her report. The Pope had specifically requested immediate updates on this boy's activities, after all.
'Anyway, I'll submit this report... and then there's the reassignment of duties.'
Besides, this time the harvest was bountiful. It was unfortunate that Asa had fallen short of expectations, but... Yusuba proving more capable than anticipated was a definite plus. There were many places in need of skilled holy knights.
Silvestina smiled at the thought. Despite her constant grumbling, there were few inquisitors who handled their work as efficiently as this boy. Perhaps...
'He might even receive a holy title someday.'
At this rate, he could very well be treated as a saint in the future. Historically, fewer than seven individuals had ever been canonized as saints. That was because so few had accumulated achievements worthy of such recognition.
But... Silvestina had a feeling this boy might become the seventh. The feats he was piling up for the Church were growing far from insignificant.
"As I've said many times before... you have a lot of problems."
On the train heading to Edenbury, Jenkinson sat across from Asa and listed her shortcomings without mercy.
"Your ability to handle situations is poor, you make frequent verbal slip-ups, and you even skipped morning prayers. Also, the way you grip your sword is a surefire way to ruin your body. Your swordsmanship relies too obviously on magic enhancement, which is rather uncomfortable to watch."
He calmly pointed out the issues he'd observed while briefly working with her.
"Your responses are slow, and you're downright reckless."
"..."
Asa felt her heart shatter into pieces as she listened to the criticism. She had been evaluated as a promising talent and carried herself with confidence, yet every word from this priest was purely negative.
"Your answer?"
"...I'll work harder."
But what choice did she have? If she didn't change, she'd have to endure his scolding for the rest of her life under him. Or worse, she might even get dismissed from her position as a holy knight... Feeling anxious at the thought, Asa sat obediently on the train and endured the lecture.
"Really... I didn't expect you wouldn't even know the basics of magic."
Jenkinson was equally dissatisfied with her current level of education. A holy knight who didn't even understand the fundamentals of magic? Since she truly knew nothing, he had already begun explaining the basics to her. Only now did he fully understand why Bishop Silvestina had asked him about the foundations of magic. There really were holy knights who lacked even that level of knowledge.
"I'm sorry..."
Watching her completely deflated and apologizing tugged at his sympathy a little, but fundamentals were fundamentals. Looking at her uniform, Jenkinson continued.
"At least it's fortunate that wearing the uniform there won't cause any issues. It would be nice if you could figure out when to change clothes without being told, but expecting that might be too much."
"Yes... I'm sorry."
'She's completely crushed.'
Did he push her too hard? Seeing how dejected she looked, Jenkinson scratched his head and pulled out a holy scripture. He had no intention of comforting her. These were issues she had to overcome herself.
The inside of the train offered Jenkinson precious time. He could read the scriptures, check the Church's database for new precedents that could be referenced through canon law, or look up revised laws. He rarely had the luxury to do such things elsewhere, so most of his studying happened during train rides.
'Well, we've just arrived in York. There's plenty of time.'
York was a nation located near Yoqheim. For now, Billington belonged to York. Yoqheim itself had once been under York's rule long ago. It had simply been abandoned because the land was too barren and difficult to manage... In any case, since they had only just arrived in York, there was still some time before reaching Edenbury.
During that time... Jenkinson intended to transform this woman into a capable holy knight. Only then, he instinctively knew, would he be freed from her.
The Holy Kingdom was not free from war. As a nation in name, the Church naturally had times when it had to wage war to protect itself, and there was certainly a history of dispatching crusades to the distant East to convert heretics.
When it came to the Church's current war assets, the first thing that came to people's minds was naturally the Papal Holy Knights. The Papal Holy Knights were on an entirely different level from other holy knight orders. Their loyalty to the Goddess and their skill were unmatched. The Papal Holy Knights were an elite unit composed solely of individuals capable of handling three regular holy knights each. They were undeniably powerful, ranking among the strongest military forces on the continent. They only deployed in full strength on the most critical occasions.
Thus, they were the undisputed face of the Church and the highest military power recognized by the world as belonging to the Holy Kingdom.
The next force was the exorcists led by Hermann. In other words, the demon-hunting priests under him. They were an undeniable anti-Great Demon specialized force... and a massive army that could be deployed in war without raising any eyebrows. When it came to facing demons, even the Papal Holy Knights would have to yield a step. Their extremely aggressive holy techniques, specialized for exorcism, were ironically lethal to humans as well. Along with the undeniable Papal Holy Knights, they formed one of the Holy Kingdom's representative war assets.
The reason no one dared criticize the Church even when it overstepped its authority in various countries was not only due to the sheer number of its believers, but also because its actual military power was overwhelmingly superior. With the Papal Holy Knights and the exorcist priests led by Hermann, they could easily overwhelm at least three nations at once.
Yet recently, rumors had spread that the Holy Kingdom had acquired a new war asset. The number was exactly one. A single individual judged to be a full war asset—an absurd monster. His solitary strength was said to be enough to occupy a royal palace alone, subjugate high-ranking demons single-handedly, and send the entire Bane gang—who had reigned as kings of Yoqheim—to the stake.
Thanks to careful maneuvering by high-ranking Church officials, the rumor had spread rapidly across the continent.
'Well, if it spreads this much, other nations won't be able to ignore it.'
Reading the report once more, Henry was astonished by his strength, which far exceeded expectations. He had anticipated friction with that gang from the moment he sent him. While Hermann had been impossible, he had wondered if this man might succeed. He had thought the Yoqheim problem would be resolved quickly if entrusted to him... but this speed was beyond even his expectations. Henry had estimated the shortest possible time at one month.
Yet in reality, it had taken only two days after arrival, and according to the report, the actual combat lasted less than an hour. This was... far too short. Could one person truly possess this much power? Such doubts arose, but... the fact that the man wielding such strength was a devout follower of the Goddess was an immense boon.
The Holy Kingdom already held the strongest power on the continent. His existence meant the Holy Kingdom now possessed the strength to prevail even if it fought the entire continent.
Of course, that would never happen. Every other nation was also filled with believers embraced by the Goddess. There would be no reason to turn that power against fellow worshippers of the same Goddess unless they fell into corruption or heresy.
Instead, Henry was already looking elsewhere with that power in mind.
"With the Holy Kingdom's current strength... we can spread the Goddess's will to many more places."
Henry was dreaming. Of their faith extending beyond this continent... 'Someday, even to the heretics in the far north...' And perhaps even further, reaching the distant East as well. With that man's power, it was possible.
With that conviction, Henry began writing a letter. Of course, it was still premature. For now, he could remain faithful to his primary duties. The Holy Kingdom was not yet prepared for war in that direction.
But once all preparations were complete...
'It will be something to look forward to.'
Henry smiled. The Church had gained a new war asset. The day it would be used to spread the Goddess's will to even more places was not far off.