Ch.45People, Lions, Bulls, and Eagles (2)

Two days later, an accident occurred. While passing through a road repair section, the carriage wheel got stuck in a pothole. Fortunately, both people and horses were unharmed. This was because they had been moving slowly and the hole wasn’t deep. However, the wheel and axle seemed to have sustained considerable damage.

The carriage creaked irritatingly. The driver worked hard to calm the anxious horses, and they managed to move forward somehow, but there was no avoiding the slower pace.

They could have stopped at the nearest city for repairs, but the disadvantages outweighed the benefits. Even in an Imperial territory city, not every place had a Security Bureau branch. Having to pay for repairs entirely out of pocket was one thing, but unloading and safely storing sensitive cargo was a headache.

Kain gave the struggling driver a small tip. Though the driver, who also belonged to the Security Bureau, firmly refused at first, he eventually accepted after Kain’s insistence that bordered on coercion. In exchange, he promised to reach Masada City even if it meant traveling through the night.

The cracking sounds grew louder, and the carriage moved increasingly slower. A mounted patrol carrying torches looked sympathetically at the horses and driver before continuing on their way.

Fortunately, they managed to enter Masada City before the carriage axle completely broke. It was past 10 AM. Finding a new horse and driver would be easy, but repairing the carriage would take a full day.

“I don’t know whether to call this impressive or foolish. The axle is completely twisted. This needs to be entirely replaced. With adjustments and finishing touches, it’ll take about a day.”

The Masada branch chief clicked his tongue. Kain apologized politely. The branch chief had also been a field agent when he was Kain’s age and understood that one couldn’t perfectly handle every unexpected situation, so he didn’t say anything more.

“The road conditions aren’t good because of increased freight volume. Judging by your direction, you’re heading west, and it’ll only get worse as you go, so keep that in mind.”

It was because of large caravans. There had been an increase in carriages overloaded to reduce transportation costs, causing cracks and damage to the stone-paved roads.

Perhaps because of this, the group couldn’t find suitable accommodations. Masada wasn’t a tourist city to begin with, but rather a freight stopover point. It was just one of many small cities where drivers tended to their horses, rested briefly, and then continued their journey.

But road construction had delayed large caravans, and they had taken all the available lodgings, meaning the group might have to sleep on the streets. They even inquired about the Security Bureau branch accommodations, which they wouldn’t normally consider, but were told there were no vacancies there either.

Unable to stand by any longer, Maria offered a compromise.

“If it comes to that, we could stay at the monastery for a night. There’s one in Masada too. They’re not particularly well-off, so if we make a small donation and bring three portions of meat, they shouldn’t mind.”

“Why the meat?”

“So people won’t say we emptied their already sparse pantry. Makes sense, right?”

Finding the argument reasonable, Kain nodded.

Fortunately, the city was small, and the market wasn’t far away. However, they had to wait a bit as goods were just being laid out.

The group found a spot in an open area shaded by trees. There weren’t many people around, perhaps because only locals would shop in such a place. The market would probably have more to see and eat around lunchtime.

There happened to be a rock that was perfect for sitting. It was flat and warmed by the sun, making it ideal for relieving the fatigue from their overnight carriage journey.

“Um, excuse me. Do they also make you sleep on plank beds at that monastery?” Lily cautiously asked Maria, her memory of suffering at the Otranto Monastery still fresh.

“Huh? No. They probably have straw-filled mattresses. Even monasteries that aim for strictness and poverty rarely impose that level of hardship. The monasteries near Magdeburg are peculiar, but not to that extent.”

“What exactly do you mean by monks being ‘peculiar’? I’m really worried now.”

“Hmph. Ha. It doesn’t mean they’re all like me.”

Maria raised her middle finger at Kain.

“It’s just that there are many strict disciplinarians stationed there. The kind of strict atmosphere where if you eat two pieces of bread when you should only eat one, you’ll be assigned night watch duty all night.

They say it’s to maintain the purity of the order on the wealthy southern central road of the Empire, but I think it’s because they don’t like wealth leaking out before reaching Magdeburg.

If secularized monasteries take all the good stuff, shouldn’t the Veneration of the Sword holy site be left with just bone broth? Wait, why are you looking at me like that?”

“You’re more scathing than I expected.”

Kain answered honestly.

“Ah, is that so?” Maria lightly touched Kain’s chin with her finger.

“I think I’m quite objective. Just in case, let me tell you this: if you see an inquisitor with a shaved head, eyebrows, and beard, run away immediately.”

“Why?”

“It means they’ve burned several people. The ash that sticks to hair doesn’t wash off easily. Pretty lady, don’t be so scared! I’ve never burned anyone. Not yet, anyway. Though I’ve put out plenty of fires.”

“That’s creepy,” Lily shuddered. “Beheading with an axe would be better than burning someone.”

“There’s something even creepier.”

“What is it?”

“When someone about to be beheaded or burned shouts that they’re a sinner and that others should learn from them. Such people aren’t really saying those things because they want to. They’ve given up on everything in the world. They’re just trying to leave something meaningful behind before they die.

And do you know what people say? They rejoice that a miracle has occurred. They’re happy that justice has finally been served and that they’ve sent someone to heaven. But the person they’ve burned or beheaded is just an ordinary, very average person.”

Maria shook her head.

“What’s even worse is when inquisitors go to stop such rituals, people get disappointed. Whether it’s the lord, the local priest, even the condemned person themselves, or the spectators. I’ve even seen someone mutter, ‘Aw, it would have been fun to watch them burn.'”

“My goodness… what did you do?”

“What else? I promptly arrested them and gave them hell. In this world, only demons enjoy such things. Seeing someone happy about watching others hang, I told them they must be a demon and made an example of them by hanging them upside down at the village entrance. They seemed to enjoy it, their ears turning red. They must have been happy. Someone who enjoys hanging others became an example for others. That’s justice.”

Lily looked at Maria with renewed admiration. But Maria continued to shake her head. Suddenly, Kain asked a question.

“How did you endure it?”

“What?”

“How did you endure all those things?”

“Endure what? A perfectly healthy person is talking nonsense.” Maria poked Kain’s chest. “I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

“I mean…” Kain found it a bit difficult to continue, especially with Lily watching with sparkling eyes.

“Don’t you feel disillusioned? When you see such things?”

Maria snapped her fingers as if she understood.

“Have you ever heard the saying that expectations lead to disappointment?”

“I know it. I just didn’t expect to hear it from an inquisitor.”

“‘Vanity of vanities, all is vanity,’ it says in the holy book. It seems even ancient people didn’t expect much from the world. Perhaps that’s why they wrote so many stories about heaven, thinking they might find peace after death?”

Lily quietly shook her head. But her voice was firm.

“I don’t agree with that.”

“Oh, really? Pretty lady. Why not?”

“I don’t have the logic to refute what you said. But…”

“But?”

Instead of answering, Lily gently embraced Maria. Maria’s face turned bright red as she patted Lily’s back, trying to break free, but to no avail.

“Hey, hey! What are you doing?”

“It was too sad to just listen to.”

Though there was no one watching, it was clearly an awkward situation, so Kain discreetly shielded the two women. Fortunately, Lily didn’t hold on for too long.

“Our lady is, whew, full of love. Is your love pouch extra large? Anyway, why did you ask that?”

“Well, I wondered if you had any special secret.” Kain evaded the question. Maria, who had been quietly observing Kain, suddenly spoke to Lily.

“You’re just like a bull.”

Lily blinked her large, kind eyes like a cow.

“In what way?”

“When people talk about bulls, they usually mean they’re ignorant. But, well, what a bull really represents is the drive to charge toward a goal. And bulls typically attack with their horns. They lower their heads, focus straight ahead, charge, and then lift up. It’s a sign of good energy.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Lily smiled broadly. Maria hugged Lily affectionately, looking pleased.

* * * * *

The Masada market exceeded expectations, at least in terms of ingredients. Since there weren’t many permanent residents, both supply and demand were limited, which meant they always brought fresh ingredients.

Thanks to this, the group was able to purchase freshly slaughtered young lamb and fresh poultry. The butcher grandmother was delighted with the gold coin Kain handed her, even humming a tune as she mentioned she could go home early today.

“Luck is meant to be shared. Here, take this too.”

She handed them a small leather pouch. Judging by the sweet aroma, it contained something quite delicious.

“There are seeds, so don’t bite too hard. Also…” the grandmother looked around cautiously. “If possible, eat these where others can’t see you. And don’t mention I gave them to you. Understand?”

Maria, who had grabbed the pouch, quickly nodded. Of course, as soon as they left the market, Maria opened the pouch and gave one of its contents to Kain and Lily.

They looked like large dried dates.

“You don’t have these in the north, do you?”

Kain chuckled, but Lily innocently answered, “No.” Maria advised them to chew carefully, including the skin, to avoid biting the seed. After putting it in her mouth and chewing, Lily exclaimed in delight.

“Wow! What is this? I thought it was a date, but it’s incredibly chewy and sweet!”

“Ah, the name of this is…”

“Date palm.”

Kain blurted out. Maria scrunched her face. Kain spat out the seed with a “ptui.”

“Isn’t it a bit early in the season? It’s still early summer.”

“Idiot. If you’re going to show off, you should go all the way.”

Maria chewed on another date palm.

“It’s early summer in the Empire, but over in the west, it’s midsummer and scorching hot. Perfect season for date palms to ripen fully. And I don’t know what you two loyal Imperial subjects might think, but honestly, the date palms from the western heretics taste better.”

Lily covered her mouth with rabbit-like surprised eyes. Fortunately, she didn’t spit out what she was eating. She simply threw the thoroughly cleaned seed on the ground.

“Um, is it okay for you to say such things?”

“What? Ah. I don’t think our God would be petty enough to condemn me to hellfire over the nationality of a date palm. I’m already…”

Seeming to catch herself, Maria closed her mouth. Instead, she picked up another date palm and chewed it. Kain helped change the subject.

“But how are western date palms openly distributed here?”

“It’s probably not distribution,” Maria scratched the back of her head.

“The large caravan merchants probably just carry them for their own consumption. Date palms are excellent as snacks, but also good as travel staples. Honestly, who doesn’t like sweet things? But honey is expensive, and sugar is even more so. Since they’re not selling them for money and just sharing out of goodwill, there shouldn’t be any problem.”

A shout came from behind them.

“That is blasphemy against God!”

Maria managed to just wrinkle her face. If she had clenched her teeth in surprise, she might have bitten the seed. Standing in front of the group, who had stopped walking, was an extremely shabby man.

His skin was as rough as aged wood, and the parts of his body covered by clothes were fewer than those exposed. But he was so dirty that he evoked pity rather than indecency.

Perhaps this impression was reinforced by his gap-toothed smile and sparse hair, as scattered as weeds in a field.

But his eyes were different. Those eyes held the wisdom of suffering and hardship. They were filled with a strange quality, like a well mixed not with water that quenches thirst, but with ash that makes it more irritating.

They were the eyes of a madman and a zealot.

“Did you say it’s blasphemy against God, sir?”

Maria was in casual clothes and wore no insignia identifying her as an inquisitor. The old man nodded again.

“Eating such profane things itself is blasphemy, that’s what I mean! The evil plant’s origin is from the land of the Stone-Fire Faith in the west, and thoroughly rejecting such things and returning to the pure old days is the way for this corrupt and cursed Empire to stand upright! So, spit out what’s in your mouth right now! The sweetness will drag you down the path of sin!”

We’ve run into trouble, Kain thought. Now he understood why the market grandmother had warned them not to eat the dates just anywhere. Kain tried to pull his companions away.

That was before he saw the Black Phoenix symbol drawn on the old man’s shoulder with what might have been charcoal or ink.