Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Bound for Hell 1
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Shylock returned to his mansion immediately after receiving his not guilty verdict.
Having endured the hardships of prison in his middle-aged body, his face was far paler than usual. Yet even so, his expression was filled with deep gratitude and joy.
"Truly... truly, thank you. I have no idea how to repay this kindness."
"Haha, no need. From someone who's received so much help from you, Shylock, this was just the right thing to do."
"No, I know full well what it means for Holy Knights like you to help a heretic like me. And just how great the cost must be..."
As a great merchant who dominated a large share of Bennetsa's trade network, he was naturally well-informed on such matters.
He knew all too well that the price for Holy Knights aiding a heretic like him would be far from trivial.
Watching Shylock feel even greater gratitude toward us because of this, I began to feel a deeper sense of satisfaction inside.
'This worked out well. When you're in a position to accept help anyway, having their favor at an all-time high isn't bad at all.'
As I was thinking that, Shylock's gaze shifted to Kazeros standing beside me.
"I offer my thanks to you once more. Kazeros, was it? That passionate defense you gave in court was truly impressive. For a Holy Knight to speak so fervently on behalf of a heretic like me—this debt I will surely repay."
"No, please. Even if our faiths differ, we've been taught that the Lord's doctrine is to always extend a helping hand to the unjustly suffering. Besides, everything I said came from Santana. The one deserving your thanks is him, not me."
Kazeros spoke with humble grace.
Watching her remain steadfast even in this situation, I couldn't help but admire her inwardly.
'I knew she was always like this, but still... she's remarkable.'
In a situation like this, most people would boast of their achievements or try to leverage them for gain.
Even someone usually free of greed might think that way when facing not an ordinary person, but a staggeringly wealthy magnate.
Yet seeing Kazeros maintain her detachment even here, I once again realized she was no ordinary woman.
After the expressions of gratitude for the trial ended, Shylock sipped a warm herbal tea and cautiously asked us,
"Well then. We'll continue the thanks later... Now, I'd like to hear why you sought me out."
True to form as a merchant, Shylock cut straight to the point.
At the same time, his words carried the sentiment that he wanted to accommodate our requests as much as possible, given the recent events.
Recognizing that, I carefully began recounting everything I'd been through up to now.
My unjust excommunication and loss of Holy Knight status, Kazeros who had followed me here despite it all.
And... our goal of heading to the eastern heretic nation.
Listening to this chain of events, Shylock—who had just suffered because of religious reasons himself—looked at us with pity in his eyes.
"I've always thought the Church has all sorts of problems. To cast out someone like you, of all people."
"It's all because I fell short. If I'd been more careful, things wouldn't have spiraled this far."
"Even so, your excommunication is clearly problematic. I've heard the Church's corruption has spread even more lately, but I never imagined it would target fellow Holy Knights."
Even getting cursed by a Jew of all people.
At that point, I felt the Church's hopelessness down to my bones once more, and cautiously asked Shylock,
"Then... Shylock, can you help us? As you know, with my excommunication and now this incident, Kazeros and I can't stay long in Bennetsa. Please tell us how to escape the Church's domain as quickly as possible."
"I ask the same. Please help us, Shylock."
"Hmm..."
We pleaded with voices full of earnest desperation.
And in response... Shylock furrowed his brow slightly and said,
"If it were up to me, I'd help right away... but it's not that simple."
"What?"
"Th-that... Why not?"
Shylock's unexpected reply left our faces showing bewilderment, and as he soothed us, he spoke carefully.
"Ah, don't misunderstand. If it were possible, I'd have a ship ready to send you off this instant. But the situation here isn't safe right now."
"What... do you mean?"
Shylock spoke with genuine apology.
Realizing there was something we didn't know, Kazeros and I asked cautiously, and he replied with a serious tone.
"You live inland, so you might not have heard, but leaving Bennetsa by ship to heretic lands is practically suicide right now. The Turk Empire—a heretic nation—has imposed a naval blockade on Bennetsa."
"N-no... it can't be..."
Shylock dropped an unforeseen bombshell.
Kazeros and I felt as if we'd been struck on the head with a hammer.
"The Adriatic's outlet is completely sealed by warships from the Turk Empire. Bennetsa is assembling a combat fleet to break through, but it'll take at least a few more weeks. For trade to resume normally, it'll be months at least."
"Kuh..."
From Bennetsa by ship, it was just a week's sail by distance alone.
With good winds, less than five days. That's why I'd chosen Bennetsa over other options.
Of course, I knew relations between the heretic Turk Empire and Bennetsa weren't great at the time, but I'd never imagined a full trade blockade.
"In this situation, even I can't do much right now. Without the blockade, I could've arranged a smuggling ship, but now even that's impossible..."
Shylock spoke with true remorse. Realizing sea routes were out, I accepted that our path ahead would be one of hardship.
"Then... the only option left is overland."
"Yes, but even that requires a major detour. The neighboring Hungary Kingdom has roads blocked by ongoing skirmishes. If you insist on a route, you'll have to swing far north and go via another path."
Shylock's mention of "north."
I instantly grasped what that meant, and my brow furrowed involuntarily.
"North... you mean the Holy Empire?"
"Exactly. Right now, that's truly the only way."
"...Haa..."
Shylock laid out a harsh reality like a bolt from the blue.
I could only let out a deep sigh.
'The Holy Empire... Of all times, we have to go through there...'
The setting for the novel's Hell Gate opening,
the nation where that gate was surely about to open in earnest.
And likely grinding their teeth at us over this incident too.
But with aggro drawn this high, we couldn't linger here for months either. We had no choice left.
'Well. If it's just passing through, it shouldn't be a big problem... It has to be.'
The silver lining: from the old Milano area, crossing to the Holy Empire required the rugged Schwytz Mountains, but from Bennetsa, there were no such barriers.
Forcing myself to focus on the positives, Kazeros and I began hearing more details from Shylock about the overland route.
All the while desperately hoping the uneasy premonition gnawing at my heart wouldn't come true...