Ch.123Ill Fate (6)

The room was so modest it belied his position as both Abbot and Training Commander.

Decorations were limited to just the Holy Grail Knights’ emblem and flag. A training schedule hung on the wall, and the closet was neatly stacked with books and dried scrolls. The orderliness bordered on neurotic.

Yet there wasn’t a speck of dust. Narrow rooms filled with miscellaneous items typically gathered dirt quickly, but Kain couldn’t find even a single mote of dust.

This man Belisarius seemed meticulous, clean, and detail-oriented despite his outward appearance. He was the type of administrator who wouldn’t be satisfied unless he controlled and verified everything himself.

Either he cleaned thoroughly himself, or he demanded this level of perfection from whoever cleaned for him. Either way, he must be quite particular.

Kain’s guess was correct.

“I mentioned this was my request, but in truth, it’s also a request from my employer, Maria. It’s a precaution in case something happens to her.”

“I’m listening. What is it?”

“We wish to transfer the self-proclaimed Count of Bördem and two heretical priests to the Holy Grail Knights. Please accept them.”

Kain thought himself quite ridiculous for brazenly making a proposal he knew would certainly be rejected.

Wasn’t it Beatrice who had said it? That politics resembled a back-alley fight with predetermined outcomes. The winner and loser were already decided, but people willingly paid attention and money because the process of getting there was dramatic.

As expected, the Abbot uncomfortably stroked his rough beard.

Prisoner transfer.

The Monastery of St. Georgios was merely a “heretic escort agency.” While they handled detention, preliminary investigation, and transport, these duties had to be carried out under the responsibility and presence of an assigned Inquisitor. To put it more bluntly, the monastery’s role was little different from that of a temporary prison carriage.

But a “transfer” changed everything. It would shift all investigation, prosecution, and supervisory responsibility for the prisoners to the Holy Grail Knights.

Moreover, the Holy Grail Knights had no authority to judge or investigate heretics. That was entirely the Inquisitor’s role.

So Kain’s proposal essentially meant, “I’ll hand these criminals over to you, so either bring in another Inquisitor to investigate them or just send them to the Magdeburg headquarters as you please.” No rational Holy Grail Knight would accept such a proposal.

It would be a burdensome proposal even for ordinary heretics, let alone a political heavyweight. Belisarius’s refusal was expected. Surprisingly, though, he didn’t immediately say “No.”

“Is there a special reason for this?”

“Maria’s poor health is the main reason. It’s been almost a week, and far from recovering, she’s slow to regain consciousness. Investigation and supervised transport are simply impossible.

Then there’s my situation. I’m just a mercenary. For a mercenary, money and time are as important as reputation, and I’m losing both indefinitely. I’ve unintentionally imposed on the monastery…”

“Oh no, please don’t think that way,” Belisarius protested, waving his hands.

“You’re here on official business. That deserves proper respect. Besides, you’re already doing more than your share by hauling water buckets, so please don’t worry about that.”

“I’m truly grateful for your kind treatment.”

Kain bowed his head again.

“Nevertheless, I need to settle accounts and find my next job as soon as possible. But I can’t leave until matters here are concluded. I’ve already received half the contract payment, but not the rest.”

‘Lord, forgive my lying tongue.’

Kain prayed inwardly. Telling blatant lies in a monastery, before a clergyman no less. But having started down this path, he needed to do it properly.

“So I humbly ask you, Abbot. Would you accept the transfer and pay me the fee I’m owed on Maria’s behalf? The monastery can then claim reimbursement from Maria. Understanding this is an unreasonable request, I won’t ask for the full amount.”

An even more unacceptable condition. Taking on prisoners would be troublesome enough, but now money was involved too. Belisarius finally cleared his throat.

“I understand your concerns, but… well. From what I’ve been told, Sister Maria’s health isn’t critical. Her recovery may be slow, but surely not to the point where communication is impossible. Perhaps you could wait a bit longer?”

“That was my intention as well. However, the person I brought in on heresy charges is not just anyone, but a regional lord—a Count. That’s quite burdensome for a day-laborer mercenary like myself. Even if he’s a heretic, if word spreads that I transported a Count in a sack, what would become of me?”

“Well, even his status as Count isn’t certain.”

The Abbot hesitated again. Kain pretended to look concerned as he probed further.

“Perhaps the reason you can’t take more decisive action is because of the bad blood between this monastery and the Elector’s family?”

At that, the Abbot nodded heavily.

‘I thought as much.’

The Abbot’s kindness hadn’t been without reason.

He wanted to keep Kain and Maria here. That’s why he’d been kind and even shared the monastery’s troubled history when he heard Kain was coming to see him.

‘There’s this history between the monastery and the Elector, so we can’t act rashly. Please understand.’

If possible, the Abbot would have preferred not to even hold the “self-proclaimed” Count and the two heretical priests.

This also explained why no investigation had been conducted. An investigation would reveal their identities, motives, purposes, and actions, forcing the Knights to take action.

But if they simply left things as they were? They could brazenly claim, “It’s Inquisitor Maria’s responsibility, not ours. We only provided care and management.”

The Abbot likely wanted one of two outcomes: either Maria personally investigating the criminals and submitting a report in her name before transferring them, or Maria taking the criminals and leaving. Either way, the monastery would serve merely as an intermediary.

But Kain couldn’t wait any longer.

Elisabet’s power was gradually strengthening, while Maria couldn’t regain control of her body. She couldn’t indefinitely resist the witch’s whispers, sometimes threatening, sometimes seductive.

The proposal to conduct the interrogation himself, to submit the report and criminals here before hurrying to Lily as soon as possible—it was irresistibly tempting.

Elisabet wouldn’t give up. She would certainly try something else. And it would likely reduce Kain’s options. ‘Want to leave? Then listen to me.’

He couldn’t be led around anymore. So Kain made his proposal as if it were nothing special.

“I understand. Then… Abbot. Could I send a letter?”

“A letter? Where to?”

“To the Inquisition headquarters in Magdeburg.”

The Abbot’s eyes widened slightly. Kain elaborated.

“Inquisitor Maria’s headquarters.”

“Ah…”

“Given the situation here, I’d like to request another Inquisitor and an escort team as soon as possible.”

A polite way of saying ‘come and take them away,’ but even this could reduce the Abbot’s burden. From his perspective, he could deflect complaints by saying ‘the headquarters came and took them themselves.’

The Elector of Reinhardt would make a fuss, but Magdeburg wasn’t his territory anyway—it was an Imperial domain and a holy site of the Order. Unless he wanted to antagonize both the Emperor and His Holiness the Pope simultaneously, the Elector wouldn’t act rashly.

This had been Kain’s intended proposal all along. But he hadn’t been sure if the Abbot would accept it, not knowing what pressures and constraints the Abbot was under.

That’s why he deliberately made an unreasonable proposal first. By continuing to make unreasonable requests that would be refused, he created a sense of obligation before offering a “simple yet reasonable proposal” that would ease the psychological burden.

“…If that’s all, then very well. I’ll write and send the letter myself. Being urgent, we should receive a reply soon.”

If he could have, Kain would have heaved a deep sigh of relief. But he had to remain composed. Showing that “this was what I really wanted” would diminish his value.

“I truly appreciate your help. Ah, just one more thing…”

* * * * *

Exiting the central monastery building, Kain was greeted by bright sunlight. The sun was tilted diagonally across the sky, watching him. It was probably around three or four in the afternoon.

“Phew.”

Kain descended the slope with a light heart. He’d done everything he could for now. All that remained was waiting for a reply. And waiting for Maria’s swift recovery.

No. On second thought, it wasn’t over yet. He still had to resist Elisabet’s temptations. Threats. Seduction. But what she truly wanted was control. To manipulate Kain to get the leather strap, and through it, gain freedom.

‘No. I shouldn’t think of it as enduring. If I think of it as endurance, I’m admitting I’m on the defensive.’

Kain paused on the slope to collect himself. He watched the practitioners and knights climbing up to the headquarters with water buckets.

The younger ones clearly tried to climb using only their own strength. Those with more experience moved rhythmically, as the Abbot had done. But the young practitioners didn’t. They just panted, holding their trembling legs as they climbed higher and higher.

He noticed a female practitioner with blonde hair braided to one side. Her hair was darker than Lily’s, but the style was similar.

‘If Lily were here, would things be different?’

A foolish thought. Resisting temptation was something Kain had to overcome himself; it had nothing to do with Lily. Yet he couldn’t help the images that kept appearing in his mind.

‘She’s so stubborn.’

For someone so gentle and tearful, she had such strong determination. Sometimes it was irritating, and as a superior, her defiance could be troublesome. What could be more dangerous than disobeying orders in life-threatening situations?

But Lily was always right. She proved why she had been stubborn. Lily knew how to turn her stubbornness into results. That was exactly what Kain needed.

The female practitioner climbed upward with other practitioners. All of them staggered, barely able to support themselves. Yet they looked at each other, smiled, and encouraged one another. Didn’t the old saying go that fools find joy just by looking at each other’s faces?

The clever Kain walked down the slope alone. It was time to become wiser.

* * * * *

Dinner consisted of hard cheese, roasted meat, round bread with crushed raspberry jam. The meat had thick fat attached instead of lean flesh—a diet for soldiers who needed to endure hard training. The portion was small but filling.

Though visitors weren’t required to attend, Kain participated in the evening mass as well. It was better than staying alone in his quarters, blankly thinking about Lily.

The day seemed to pass without incident. Prayers of gratitude for completing the day safely echoed through the corridor. It was bedtime. Kain tossed and turned briefly before falling asleep. An uneventful day.

At least, that’s what he believed until a voice calling him in the middle of the night woke him up.