Bilof Is Just Scary
Bilof Is Just Scary
The next day, the monastery was bustling from early morning.
"Ella! Please go pull the weeds by the fence. It would be best to clear away the eyesores."
"Yes!"
Having heard the abbot's words, Ella delightedly ran off to where the weeds were.
On a normal day, she would have grumbled and said she didn't want to, but today, doing chores was a joy.
If asked for the reason, it was because she knew that Daniel, the older brother she had always adored, was visiting today.
So this simple labor was not the slightest bit difficult.
Abbot Hieronim, who had been quietly watching Ella pull weeds, flinched in surprise and turned around when he heard crying nearby.
There, the rascal Luka was grabbing his younger brother, a year his junior, by the scruff of the neck.
A sigh naturally escaped him.
"Luka, you scamp! I told you no mischief today!?"
"I'm not playing a prank, he started it first."
"Being the older brother means you should know how to overlook your younger brother's faults! How many times have I told you not to lash out just because someone started a fight? Let him go at once!"
Luka's lips jutted out in a sulk at Hieronim's scolding, but he obediently complied.
Luka, too, had no desire to cause a commotion when Daniel was arriving soon.
After calming the children, Hieronim next entered the kitchen to check on the situation.
Amidst the savory aroma, he could see the monks in charge of cooking, sweating profusely as they made a stew.
"Over there! Please lower the fire! And the potatoes, after you trim them... Ah! Abbot!"
The lay brother directing them spotted Hieronim and approached.
"I heard that Daniel is coming today. So I was putting in a little extra effort."
While he could understand the sentiment, it was something that must not be wasted.
"There's no need to make it too extravagant. Still, it would probably be good to prepare the veal stew with herbed potatoes."
"How about adding the lentil salad that Daniel liked? Even when he had no appetite, he always ate the salad with relish."
"That is a good idea. Then let us prepare only that."
The lay brother nodded and returned to his original spot.
Hieronim, who had been watching this, lightly stroked his chin.
'Let's see. The laundry is done, the children are dressed, and the yard cleaning is finished too.'
Hieronim was just thinking that all the preparations for welcoming Daniel were complete and was beginning to feel relieved.
"Abbot!"
The sound of someone entering the kitchen could be heard.
Turning his head, he saw the vice-head monk catching his breath rapidly.
"So you were here. I think you need to come out to the yard."
"Pardon? Has Daniel already arrived? It seems a bit early for that."
"Ah. Not Daniel, but a councilman. He said he visited because he wanted to talk for a moment."
"A councilman? Without any prior contact?"
A visit for a social welfare inspection had concluded recently, and budget allocation discussions were also finished, so this sudden visit left him feeling puzzled.
However, as such things were not completely unheard of, Hieronim, though half-doubting, followed the vice-head monk out to the yard.
Then he saw a man dressed neatly in a formal suit.
The man, who had been watching the children with his arms crossed, spotted Hieronim and lightly inclined his head.
"So you are the abbot. I am terribly sorry for this unannounced visit."
"It is quite alright."
It was a face he had never seen before, but he decided not to point that out.
Hieronim, who had walked towards the man, smiled.
"As we are always in a position of receiving help, it would not do to be uncomfortable with a councilman's visit. However, what business brings you here this time?"
"Ah. Actually, the city is currently running a simple promotional project. We are aiming for regional revitalization by promoting the monastery in Pianmari Village."
"Pardon? Would promoting a humble monastery like this really lead to regional revitalization?"
"That is a matter for us to handle, so please do not worry. And what do you mean a humble place? Is this not the place that produced the war hero, Daniel Steiner."
At the mention of the name Daniel, the vice-head monk beside Hieronim nodded as if in agreement.
'Well, it's only natural since he snatched a lieutenant colonel's position in less than two years since commissioning.'
He was, in a sense, practically the pride of the monastery.
Unlike Hieronim, who was entirely free of greed, the vice-head monk did not lack a desire for the monastery to become a little wealthier, and thus his shoulders tensed up.
"Abbot. Is there anything bad about becoming famous? Donations would pour in as well. We could feed the children meat more often."
"Is that so? If that's the case, it seems there is no need to refuse..."
As Hieronim nodded, still half-doubting, the man gave an unreadable smile.
'Easy.'
The true identity of the man who called himself a councilman was in fact Bilof, an intelligence agent of the Republic.
He had disguised himself as a councilman to extract information on the monastery, but he had not expected it to go so smoothly.
'They aren't doing any kind of verification whatsoever.'
Perhaps because they had lived long lives in a closed environment, the abbot and vice-head monk before him tended to trust people easily.
Thinking it was a ripe opportunity, Bilof spoke while maintaining his smile.
"I need to collect information for promotional purposes; would you happen to be able to cooperate?"
"Of course. What is it that you are curious about?"
"Then I shall only make a few requests. First, I need the structural drawings and maintenance records for the monastery building. I would also like to receive an updated document containing the personal information of the currently accommodated children."
Hieronim paused momentarily.
"Is all that truly necessary?"
"Of course. Basic research is essential for promotion, you see."
"Hmm. Understood for now. The documents are in my room, so..."
Hieronim turned to look at the vice-head monk.
"Could the vice-head monk bring them?"
"Certainly. I will return shortly."
The vice-head monk, having said so, gave a nod to Bilof and went inside the monastery.
It was the very moment Bilof inwardly cheered at how smoothly things were going.
"......Hm?"
The sound of a vehicle engine quietly echoed from afar.
Just as he was wondering who it could be, Ella, who had been pulling weeds, let out a cheer.
"A car! Daniel oppa is coming!"
It was not a false statement.
A single military vehicle was coming along the access road, after all.
Because of this, Bilof could not help but break out in a cold sweat.
'Daniel?'
This was an unexpected encounter.
Bilof, whose objective was to extract information from the monastery and who had no wish to meet Daniel, groaned inwardly.
In the meantime, the vehicle gradually drew closer and stopped at the monastery entrance.
Immediately after, someone got out from the driver's seat and hurried to the rear door to open it.
Through the open door, Daniel, seated in the back, could be seen.
Daniel closed the poetry book he had been reading, picked up his uniform cap, and stepped out of the vehicle.
Daniel, who briefly furrowed his brow at the blazing sunlight, placed his uniform cap on his head and began to walk.
Two soldiers tagged along behind him.
They were the soldiers assigned to escort duty.
'So that is Daniel Steiner, the one they call the Devil of the Empire....'
He had only heard rumors; this was the first time seeing him in the flesh.
Whether it was due to the exploits he had achieved or if his presence was simply extraordinary from the start was unclear, but merely looking at him made his throat feel parched.
Daniel, paying no mind to the intensely nervous Bilof, walked on and entered the yard.
The moment Daniel stepped into the yard, the very air itself seemed to settle heavily.
The children, too, could not easily approach because of the soldiers flanking Daniel on either side.
The same was true for Hieronim.
'......Daniel? Why do you have stars on your shoulders?'
He definitely knew Daniel to have promoted to lieutenant colonel, yet two stars were situated on Daniel's shoulders.
As Hieronim stood there, dumbfounded, Daniel stopped right in front of him.
"Abbot. It has been a long time. I should have visited more often."
As Daniel gave a faint smile, Hieronim managed to break free from his shock.
'I don't know why he has become a general....'
Because in that smile, he could see the Daniel he had always known.
"Stopping by briefly to show your face like this is no small thing. Thank you for coming."
"Hearing you say that puts my heart at ease. By the way...."
Turning his gaze, Daniel looked at Bilof.
"And who might this gentleman be?"
A strangely chilling air emanated from his voice.
As Bilof could not answer, Hieronim spoke in his stead.
"Ah. This gentleman here is a newly appointed councilman from the city. Can you believe he says he came for preliminary research to promote the monastery?"
"For the purpose of promoting the monastery, is it."
Daniel, who had been looking at Bilof with displeasure, narrowed his eyes.
"With whose permission do you intend to promote the monastery?"
There was nothing good to come from the monastery becoming famous.
Had he not learned from experience that fame inevitably makes enemies?
That was why he was wary, but from Bilof's perspective, it felt as though Daniel was interrogating him.
Worse, he could see the soldiers behind Daniel, reading the atmosphere, placing their hands on their pistols.
'Could it be he saw through my identity?'
As his breathing trembled, his head filled with more and more thoughts.
What kind of answer must he give to evade Daniel's suspicion?
Just as countless possibilities were flashing through his head, Daniel's eyes narrowed even more sharply.
"Am I not asking you a question right now?"
Daniel looked down at Bilof with a chilly gaze.
"Answer me. Before my patience runs out."
At that, Bilof felt as though he wanted to scream bloody murder.