Chapter 5: A Small Helping Hand 4

Unexpectedly expressing joy at the decision to accompany me, Cazeros soon showed a troubled expression when we returned to my quarters and discussed our next steps.

“But… to simply hand over this residence and Lord Santana’s other assets to the Archbishop’s hands, no matter how I think about it, it pains my heart deeply.”

“Haha, you react as if you’re the one losing money, Cazeros? There’s no need to be so regretful. Money can always be earned again, after all.”

Although we had joined forces, Cazeros seemed to show a more sincere reaction than even I, the directly affected party.

I responded with a light smile, but Cazeros slowly shook her head.

“Of course, Lord Santana is more than capable of doing so. But… I’m worried about the people left behind. If this happens, what will become of those who have relied on Lord Santana’s aid until now?”

“…Pardon?”

Cazeros said something I hadn’t expected.

Showing some bewilderment, she continued in a bitter tone as she looked at me.

“I have been pretending not to know all this time, but I was aware that Lord Santana has been helping many people by purchasing lands and buildings. Renting out farmlands for meager fees, providing homes at lower costs than elsewhere so those in need could use them.”

“Um… that… that is…”

Cazeros’s words made my face flush slightly, and I was at a loss for how to respond.

Separate from my embarrassment, Cazeros continued speaking with sincere indignation.

“Truly… I’m truly outraged. Lord Santana was simply trying to help the needy as a holy knight, even resorting to unconventional means to accumulate wealth for that purpose… yet the Archbishop intends to excommunicate and rob Lord Santana of those assets.”

“Um… well…”

Cazeros genuinely lamented the sordid reality faced by a holy knight devoted to serving God.

However, as the person in question, I felt quite an odd sensation seeing her reaction.

‘Well… I didn’t really intend to help the poor or anything…’

It was true, as she said, that I had acquired a lot of land and buildings, renting them out at low costs.

However, this was not out of charitable intentions or a holy knight’s compassion, as Cazeros believed.

The biggest reason was simply because, as a Korean, I liked owning land and buildings.

Additionally, in my current situation, it was the most convenient way to save money.

Depending on the region, holy knights, as a type of clergy, enjoyed tax exemptions on land and buildings they owned, a privilege of their status.

The reasoning was that assets dedicated to God could not be taxed.

Of course, the underlying principle was that, as clergy were not supposed to have children, any assets they owned would revert to the lord or monarch upon their death…

Regardless, thanks to this advantage, I had chosen to accumulate assets in this manner rather than depositing them in banks, which lacked credibility compared to my original world.

‘As I acquired more land and buildings, it made sense to rent them out at low rates to tenant farmers rather than leaving them vacant…’

Due to the nature of my clergy profession, I had to maintain a sense of dignity and avoid gaining an unsavory reputation that could hinder my future endeavors.

Moreover, since the purpose was simply to save, not to exploit for profit, I had been renting out the properties at reasonably low rates without much attachment.

While that was the background behind my actions of providing affordable land and housing, it seemed Cazeros had interpreted it solely as a gesture of pure goodwill on my part.

As if I had done all this to help the impoverished.

‘Come to think of it, she did seem a bit overly sensitive about this matter, and now I understand why. Well, Cazeros has always been a devout sort.’

Considering her reaction, it was highly likely that this misunderstanding had played a significant role in her unexpectedly ready acceptance of my proposal to leave together.

From her perspective, the current situation was not merely about money, but rather, the Archbishop had excommunicated a holy knight who was doing his utmost to perform good deeds out of personal greed.

For Cazeros, who had always lived a pious life with pride as a holy knight, this must have been a profound disappointment in the Church.

Amidst that, when the holy knight in question extended a hand to her, inviting her to leave this place that had become a source of disillusionment, the answer was all too predictable.

‘From Cazeros’s standpoint, she had lost her reason to remain in this place that had lost its sanctity, or with the Church as an institution… That’s likely why she accepted my proposal more readily than I expected.’

As I understood the anger Cazeros had expressed, and the reason she was willing to abandon everything to follow me, I began to feel quite embarrassed.

Despite having no intention to do good deeds, my actions had been grandly perceived by her as the compassionate conduct of a saint. As the person in question, I unexpectedly felt a profound sense of shame at being praised unintentionally.

‘Who knew unintended praise could be so potent…’

However, separate from this tangled misunderstanding, I didn’t feel the need to clarify the truth.

It wasn’t a significant issue, and ultimately, my original intention of trying to save precious lives didn’t differ greatly from her perception.

More importantly, in this moment, I didn’t want to disappoint Cazeros, who was looking at me with admiration, by needlessly complicating the situation with explanations.

‘Well, if it’s seen as a good thing, I might as well let it slide.’

After sorting out my thoughts on this matter, I showed a composed smile and spoke to the still-distressed Cazeros.

“I appreciate your concern, but there’s no need for you to be so upset, Cazeros. There are still ways to handle this.”

“…Pardon? What do you mean?”

“Haha… You’ll understand if you observe closely by my side.”

Cazeros showed a surprised expression at my unexpected words.

However, in this moment, what I was telling her was not mere consolation, but the truth.

In a situation like this, the conventional wisdom would be to promptly abandon any difficult-to-protect assets like land and buildings, gather what cash you can, and hastily depart.

Time and the law were both on the Archbishop’s side, and she herself was undoubtedly aware of this, which is why she had launched this offensive in the form of my excommunication.

The fact that she didn’t take any further action against me after the relatively ‘light’ interference of sending Nunne and Tine was likely due to this very reason.

However… much to the Archbishop’s regret,

I was not someone who would acquiesce so easily.

The holy scriptures studied by the knights contained a passage about turning the other cheek when struck.

But in this situation, where the very author preaching that lesson was the one striking first, obediently following it would be a fool’s errand.

When the opponent strikes your right cheek, the proper response is to twist and break their wrist.

‘Now then… where should I start to make that beggar of an archbishop shed tears of blood?’

Six days remained. Not a long time, but sufficient for me, especially with Cazeros there to assist.

Without a shred of hesitation, I immediately began putting my plan into motion – a plan to serve a big slap in the face to the Archbishop who had so magnificently squandered the opportunity to save this city, this country, and the Church as a whole.