Ch.411Surprisingly, We’re Communicating Well.

The hesitant Paladin who had been staring at me finally approached with determination, as if having made a big decision.

“Um, if it’s not too presumptuous… may I ask you for a favor?”

“A favor…? Sure, why not. As long as it’s nothing problematic. What is it?”

I nodded willingly.

Unless they were nobility, a Paladin wouldn’t try to hit on me unless they’d gone mad.

“Thank you! Actually, if it’s not too much trouble, I’d like to hear the story of how you vanquished the Winter Wolf. There must have been a heroic battle…!”

A war story…?

Well, I don’t mind sharing if that’s what they want…

“I want to hear it too! I didn’t get to hear the details last time!”

Since Lena was asking as well, I suppose I could share a bit.

“If that’s what you want. Well, it went like this…”

While waiting for the Archbishop’s response, I recounted the persistent and brutal chase across the snow fields to Lena and the Paladin.

The fierce battle at Faelrun Castle, the chase through the thorn forest.

After escaping the forest, I pursued it all the way to the northern wall where we finally had our ultimate confrontation.

The two listened to my story with such concentration that not even their breathing could be heard.

“—So, this is the Rurik leather armor. As you can see, thanks to the dwarves’ craftsmanship, it regenerates itself even when torn.”

“Oh, ohh…! Amazing. A self-regenerating armor—what a miraculous piece of equipment! And made from the Winter Wolf’s hide no less. I never thought I’d see such a rare item in person…!”

They’re so fascinated.

Well, where else would you see something like this?

Even I was shocked when Boris crafted this armor.

“Thanks to preserving the hide, we got this armor. So in death, it finally became useful to humanity.”

“How true! The only good werebeast is a dead werebeast!”

The Paladin nodded vigorously in agreement.

I’m not sure if I’m talking to one of Lacy’s subordinates or a Paladin of the Church of Menes…

Well, it doesn’t matter.

It’s good that we’re on the same page.

After chatting and smoking for about ten minutes, the person the Paladin had sent into the cathedral finally returned.

They brought the Archbishop’s permission for our audience.

—-

“Welcome. I am Gwinel, Archbishop of the Holon diocese.”

Archbishop Gwinel of the Church of Menes was a robust middle-aged man who looked like he might have been a Paladin in his past.

His graying hair was cut short to emphasize his determination, and well-trained chest muscles were visible beneath his stylishly grown beard.

His face suggested he was in his fifties, but his physique was not far behind that of active knights.

It was a body that could only be maintained through rigorous self-discipline.

“The pleasure is mine. I am Haschal of House Median.”

As Gwinel gestured for me to sit, I settled into the sofa across from him and offered a polite greeting.

“To think I’d live to see the day I meet the hero of the Great Invasion… I must thank Menes for this.”

“You flatter me. It was hardly my achievement alone. It was thanks to the knights of Faelrun and the support troops sent by the Church of Menes who fought without sparing themselves.”

I humbly praised the Church of Menes.

[Are you trying to pull another scam with this uncharacteristic smooth-talking?]

‘That’s harsh. I’m just here to make a good proposal. This is just greasing the wheels for that.’

No one dislikes praise, and it was somewhat true anyway.

If the Church of Menes hadn’t helped, even if I had defeated Rurik, the number of casualties would have doubled in the meantime.

Gwinel smiled with satisfaction.

“Ho ho. No need for such formality. Despite your position in the Church of Elpinel, you also hold a rank equivalent to an Archbishop. Moreover, since Menes himself is watching over you, you’re practically half our churchman already. So feel free to speak comfortably.”

Being watched by Menes isn’t exactly a good thing…

But since it earned me the church’s goodwill, I should probably let it slide.

Lately, those strange nightmares have become less frequent too.

“I appreciate your consideration. I’ll do so then.”

Although Gwinel said I could speak comfortably, I couldn’t just switch to informal speech.

People who tell you to speak comfortably rarely actually enjoy it when you do.

Even Leopold was taken aback and subtly signaled his discomfort when I completely dropped formalities, so why would this person be any different?

Besides, I came here to negotiate, so being disrespectful would only hurt me.

“So, what brings you here? I heard you wanted to see me about the werebeast issue… wouldn’t it be better to visit Faelrun for such matters?”

“That’s part of it… among other things.”

Stop pretending.

Someone of the Archbishop’s stature would already have guessed the real reason I requested this meeting.

“Let’s start with the werebeast issue. The Great Invasion’s mastermind, Rurik, was vanquished as you can see from this armor, and more than half of his champion followers were killed as well. However, unfortunately, the most dangerous one escaped beyond the Sky Mountains. A snow tiger werebeast named Oleg…”

“Oleg? Ah, the tiger beast that sent Lord Noah to his grave!”

“Yes, that’s the one. An extremely dangerous werebeast.”

I passionately laid out the Oleg threat theory to the Archbishop.

His strength that overwhelmed even the combined attack of high Paladins Noah and Frider from the Church of Menes, his decisiveness in retreating without hesitation when the tide turned against him, and his suspicious movements afterward.

“…Judging from Rurik’s troops employing typical decoy tactics, and Oleg shouting about betrayal at the end… I believe the werebeasts’ original strategy was to lure us in through retreat, then surround and annihilate us with reinforcements. But when we reached the northern wall, there were neither reinforcements nor Oleg.”

“Like a beast, knowing neither honor nor loyalty. Betraying country, leader, kinsmen, and subordinates—truly beastly behavior.”

Well, if we’re talking about the frequency of betraying one’s own kind, humans would probably be unmatched.

Just look at what the Holy State is doing now.

“Perhaps Oleg used this opportunity to eliminate those who stood in his way using human hands, intending to become the king of Baryachrus. A vile scheme… but in other words, he possesses intelligence cunning enough to plan meticulously and seize opportunities—so much so that even other werebeasts who had lived with him for a long time couldn’t notice.”

It was a slightly exaggerated assessment, but close to the truth.

While Rurik was quite dangerous, Oleg was unquestionably one of the boss monsters.

“Though his strength might not match Rurik’s, he was unparalleled among the champions. No, being younger, he’ll only grow stronger. A beast combining strength and wisdom, ferocity and vileness. In my view, he has high potential to become a greater threat than Rurik someday.”

“Hmm… if someone like you says so, he must be no ordinary beast.”

Gwinel stroked his beard and his expression hardened.

A knight who had slain the Winter Wolf with just one companion (albeit with Grand Duke Valdemar’s cooperation) was emphasizing Oleg’s threat.

For the Church of Menes, which was hostile to werebeasts, this was information they couldn’t ignore.

“Indeed. He’s probably recovering from the Great Invasion’s losses beyond the Sky Mountains now, but someday he might lead a force greater than Rurik’s southward. No, he will definitely come south. Unless the Empire and the Church unite to fight as they did during the previous Great Invasion, it won’t be easy to stop him. However, the current Church—”

I continued speaking fluently, as if seizing an opportunity.

Wouldn’t it be impossible to stop the Great Invasion without cooperation between the Church of Menes, the Imperial Army, and Faelrun?

If the conflict between the two countries continues, many people will fall prey to werebeasts—would that truly be what Menes desires?

With the whole world under threat, shouldn’t the Church set aside petty conflicts and cooperate for humanity’s sake?

I tried to persuade him along these lines.

“Hmm… I understand your intentions well. However, joining hands with the Church of Elpinel at this point is not an easy matter. As a mere Archbishop, I cannot go against the Cardinal’s wishes.”

“I understand that well. All I’m asking is for an opportunity for myself and Priestess Elmaine to have an audience with the Cardinal, even if just to discuss these matters.”

This was the original purpose of my visit to the Archbishop—to arrange an opportunity to meet privately with the Cardinal of the Church of Menes. That was Lacy’s wish.

We needed at least a private meeting before the hearing to present negotiation terms.

If Lacy were to request an audience, they would not only refuse but ignore her completely, so I needed to create an opportunity for behind-the-scenes negotiations through Archbishop Gwinel.

“Even with an audience, I doubt the Cardinal’s mind will change…”

Archbishop Gwinel seemed a bit troubled.

Not that my request was unpleasant, but rather that he was skeptical anything would change.

“Well… that depends on Priestess Elmaine. This is confidential, but she’s even considering… in this situation.”

At my quietly dropped hint, Gwinel’s beard trembled with shock.

Was it that shocking of a compromise?

“Is that… true? Truly surprising. I never thought she would go that far…”

“What do you think? Would this be enough to secure an audience?”

I looked at him with a smile, trying to appear as gentle as possible.

Gwinel, whose eyes darted between me and the table, slowly nodded.

“Hmm… if that’s the case… hmm… Very well, that should be fine. I’ll inform the Cardinal. Visit the headquarters of the Church of Menes after you arrive in Alhebron.”

“Thank you for your cooperation.”

I smiled brightly and bowed my head in gratitude.

Hersella grumbled about not bowing so casually with her body, but I didn’t care.

I had definitely accomplished the original purpose of coming here.

Though it was Lacy’s purpose, not mine.

—-

Of course, that wasn’t the end of all discussions.

Besides Lacy’s business, I still had my own matter to address.

The story about the drug dens I had witnessed in the back alleys on my way here.