Samuel's Disobedience
After a long time, the foreign priests finally emerged from the Grand Priest's chamber. Samuel, curious about what conversation they might have been having, peeked around the doorway.
At that moment, someone tapped him gently on the back with a finger.
“Oh, it's Priest Fresnel. I've always admired how you move without making any sound. Please teach me how.”
“It's simply what comes with old age. Now, what are you doing?”
“Nothing in particular.”
“Then step away. Sneaking around to eavesdrop is not the way.”
Reluctantly, Samuel pulled his ear from the door.
Priest Fresnel and Samuel made their way to Priest Fresnel's room, which was close to the Grand Priest's chamber.
Of all the priests in the temple, Fresnel was the oldest. The exact age was unknown, but he was definitely over seventy, and possibly even over eighty.
His face was wrinkled like a spiderweb. He had a small, frail body and always carried a staff.
They said that when he was young, he had been a strict and terrifying priest. Now that he was old, he treated Samuel with the gentleness one shows toward a grandchild.
“You must have felt a deep sense of loss for having to leave your training halfway.”
“Yes.”
“War has broken out outside?”
“Yes.”
“I see. When the war ends, you will be able to continue your incomplete training.”
“Yes.”
Samuel answered gruffly.
Fresnel studied Samuel's expression.
“Hmm, from what I see of your behavior, there seems to be something bothering you. Why don't you tell me about it?”
“Yes.”
Samuel poured out everything he had experienced during his training, the feelings it had stirred in him, and even the conversation with Grand Priest Julian. Fresnel, having listened to every word, gently stroked his chin with his wrinkled hand.
“Grand Priest Julian said that? That's surprising. I never imagined you would turn him down so bluntly when he made a request of you.”
“Even I find that strange. I knew he was strict with discipline, but he did seem a bit... lenient with me.”
“You were brought here by Priest Julian. He may be looking after you like a son.”
Twenty years earlier, on a day when sleet was falling, Julian had brought baby Samuel to the temple. Following the temple's rule of never asking about a person's past, the priests had quietly accepted them both.
From the beginning, Julian had followed the divine commandments more thoroughly than any other Hood priest. He had disciplined himself excessively and walked the path of atonement. As a result, he had risen to the position of Grand Priest.
As old memories surfaced, Fresnel fell silent. A brief silence fell between them. When Samuel watched him nervously, Fresnel opened his mouth again.
“Samuel, do you know why the Hood is the god of atonement?”
“I know that he killed the god of light and paid the price of that sin.”
That was the very first thing a Hood priest learned. It was natural that no Hood priest would not know this fact, yet Samuel found the Grand Priest's sudden question intriguing.
“Indeed. But there is more you should know.”
“What is it?”
“It was a mistake for the Hood to kill the god of light. However, he felt immense sorrow that he had killed his own brother with his own hands. Tormented by guilt, he wanted to atone by suffering. He drove the holy sword Mistilteinn through his own heart.”
“...”
“Taking a life is a grave sin that must be shouldered. If even the gods cannot bear it, then what about humans? It is because the Grand Priest does not want you to bear it.”
Fresnel had spoken the words of Grand Priest Julian, but Samuel still could not fully understand them.
***
Divine, with a bright smile, emerged from the Grand Priest's chamber. Behind him, Jeanne walked with a resigned expression. Upon seeing her, Fabian realized the conversation had not gone well.
“Did the discussion go well?”
It was merely polite, yet the moment the words left his mouth, Divine sprang up like a spring and began recounting everything that had happened with the Grand Priest.
“No matter what proposal you make, the answer is always no, no, no. I thought I was talking to a wall! A wall doesn't even listen to me!”
“That's enough of that.”
Jeanne silenced Divine's passionate speech and gazed at the darkening sky.
Descending the rugged Mount Yver at night was extremely perilous.
“Since the day has grown late, it would be best to spend one more night here.”
Bern, who had been waiting for them in front of the temple, nodded.
“As the guest of a humble temple, I will provide you with a room.”
However, since the Rotinzel army was approaching, they would leave at dawn.
The Hood temple was surprisingly small. To provide a room only for Jeanne's party, the original priest who had lived there would have to sleep outside. Therefore, Jeanne and the others had no choice but to share a room with the priests.
Though she had spent nights with soldiers on the battlefield, Jeanne did not mind.
Whether they were present or not, the Hood priests paid them no attention, as if they were ghosts.
However, there was one person who kept glancing at Samuel with curiosity.
“If you have something you want to ask, ask me.”
Jeanne noticed Samuel's wary expression and spoke to him. Samuel was startled.
“Um, is it... allowed to speak to a layperson? Or... not?”
Seeing Samuel fumble in confusion about the rules, Divine let out a soft chuckle.
At this point, it would have been natural for the others to explain, but everyone had already lost interest.
Sighing, Samuel decided it was no use asking and approached them directly.
‘Well, since I haven't completed my training, I can still be considered a training priest. Training priests don't follow these strict rules, right? No, or rather, if I call it part of my training...’
He had only left for training a few days earlier. During training, one had to help people, so speaking first to a layperson was not against the rules.
“Who are you, and why are you here?”
“This is Princess Jeanne Claretmer de Roire, and this is her attendant Divine Dragopoly. I am her bodyguard knight.”
In response to Fabian's introduction, Jeanne murmured in a small voice, “There's no need to mention all our names.”
Seeing the scary uncle take the lead, Samuel hesitated as to whether he should withdraw. Sensing Samuel's hesitation, Divine stepped forward to ease the atmosphere.
“We came to see the Grand Priest. Because Bluisol is currently at war with Rotinzel, we wanted to ask if he could help. But he refused.”
At Divine's words, Samuel's eyes widened.
“A princess? And the Grand Priest still refused?”
“Indeed. Your Grand Priest is quite a remarkable man.”
Jeanne felt a mixture of resentment and respect toward Grand Priest Julian, who remained unshaken even when using his status and authority.
“Hah. There's not the slightest bit of flexibility.”
Divine grumbled, recalling their conversation. Samuel pretended not to hear and asked what he really wanted to know.
“Then how long do you plan to stay here? Will you keep trying to persuade the Grand Priest?”
Helping people in the mountains had been his goal, so Samuel hoped they would stay long enough to convince the Grand Priest. But Jeanne shook her head.
“The Rotinzel army is coming to Mount Yver right below us. We must leave for the domain tomorrow to help defend it.”
“Ah...”
Samuel looked deeply disappointed.
“Take me with you! I want to help you!”
At the sudden loud shout, the three priests in the room turned toward them in surprise. Not only the voice, but also the content of the words startled them.
However, Samuel was so focused on realizing his own justice that he paid no attention to the reactions around him.
Jeanne considered her response. The Grand Priest had refused, but should they take a priest with them? What if they brought one and later it caused a rift with the Grand Priest?
Moreover, this young priest in front of them might have skill in swordsmanship, as Fabian had said, but if he had only lived in the mountains, he had probably never actually participated in combat. It was uncertain whether bringing him would help.
Bringing such an impetuous and reckless young man carried great risk.
After a moment of deep thought, Jeanne looked at Divine. Divine quietly shook his head. With the same intention, Jeanne opened her mouth.
“I'm sorry, but I cannot do that. Since we are guests here, we must respect the Grand Priest's wishes.”
“But Grand Priest—”
“If you truly wish to go together, go and ask his permission.”
Samuel clenched his fist, then stood up abruptly and strode out of the room.
He immediately went to Julian's room, flung the door open, and entered. Grand Priest Julian sat with his eyes closed, meditating. Despite making a loud commotion, Julian continued to keep his eyes closed as if he knew Samuel had entered.
“If I cannot go together, I will help the people by myself. Please allow me to follow the laypeople.”
“That is impossible.”
“My training is not yet complete. If I consider continuing my incomplete training, wouldn't that be acceptable?”
“No.”
“Why is that unacceptable?”
“War is dangerous.”
“Is it only dangerous for me? War is dangerous for everyone. Is it the will of the Hood to turn away from that and only care about my own safety?”
“If you are going to keep talking about that, withdraw.”
Julian remained firm.
When Samuel could not move, the anger he had been feeling gradually subsided. Strong anger had actually cooled his head.
Samuel spoke calmly.
“Do you believe it is possible to atone for the sin of killing another person?”
Julian did not answer Samuel. It was a completely different attitude from always providing the correct answer whenever Samuel asked a question.
“It is impossible. Since the dead cannot be brought back to life, the sin of murder cannot be repaid even with my own life.”
Samuel took a deep breath. The next words he would speak were not easy to say, so he prepared himself.
“Therefore, the Hood is wrong.”
The Hood had tried to atone by killing the god of light and taking his own life. Samuel was pointing that out.
Julian opened his eyes and looked at Samuel. Samuel met that sharp gaze without flinching.
“If one wishes to atone for the impossible, one should not hide in the mountains and cultivate, but rather offer one's body for the sake of many others. That would be a small step toward atonement.”
Samuel spoke directly to the Hood.
It was not that Samuel or the other priests had committed the sin of murder. Nevertheless, the path of the Hood priests was to always identify themselves as sinners and seek atonement.
If they had been born sinners from the start and atonement was truly impossible, then helping people even a little would be better.
“I will ask you. Then is killing the soldiers of Rotinzel not a sin?”
“But they are enemies...”
“Even if they are enemies, they are still people. If what you say is true, isn't fighting the enemy to protect the people of Bluisol simply piling up the sin of killing more people?”
“That is...”
Samuel bit his lip.
“I will no longer stop you. But if you want to do what you wish, leave this place.”
“Grand Priest!”
Julian closed his eyes.
Samuel was shocked. Leaving meant not just following Jeanne, but permanent exile.
For the first time, Samuel sent a rebellious look at Julian, then got up and left without another word.
“Very well. If I'm told to leave, do you think I can't go?”
Samuel left Grand Priest Julian's room faster than he had entered it.
“Haa...”
Alone, Julian opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling, sighing deeply.