episode_0001

My name is Eugene Schneider,

a fallen noble.

My mother passed away immediately after giving birth to me,

and my father passed away when I was nine years old.

And so, I became an orphan.

“Eugene, I may not be able to heal all of your sadness, but so that Ulysses, who is looking down from the sky, does not feel hurt, my family and I will take care of you with all our hearts.”

Antoine von Oblean, the Grand Duke and my father’s close friend, reached out to me.

For the next 12 years, I

was able to grow up without any major problems in the arms of the Oblean family, who genuinely thought of me as family.

Of course, the memory of the day my father left continued to haunt me.

“Haha! When you left, such a fierce winter wind was blowing, but on the day you return, a clear spring sky is welcoming you, young master!”

As the blue fields and wide road leading to the city unfolded,

porter Uncle Hans said to me with a bright smile.

As he said, the bright spring sunlight is shining on my black hair.

It’s been three years since I’ve been on my way back to the Oblean Grand Duke’s mansion.

The Pilgrim’s Path,

that is, when I turned nineteen.

At that point, I set off on a pilgrim’s path to find the ancient saints and the holy sites of the Church of the Luminous Goddess.

The reason was that the trauma of losing my father remained even after 10 years.

Also, I had been quite weak since I was young, and when it continued even after puberty,

the Oblean family recommended that it would be good to heal my body and mind by experiencing mystery and miracles.

The path of asceticism that started as a result,

I assert that the result was significant.

‘I was a reincarnated person…’

Because my past life memories came back.

It was when I arrived at the altar of Atlantis, the third destination on the pilgrim’s path.

In an instant, I had the experience of my mind being sucked somewhere.

And since then, memories of my past life have been revived little by little.

‘If they had revived all at once, I might have gone crazy.’

The memory was completed like a gauge filling up over about half a year.

So, I sometimes spaced out for a while then.

However, it is also true that I was able to reconcile the memories of this place and my past life thanks to that.

My name in my past life was also Eugene.

The difference is that it was Seo Eugene, not Eugene Schneider,

also, I have no memory of my parents as I came from an orphanage.

After leaving the orphanage, I lived diligently,

and died while saving a child in danger of a traffic accident.

‘I thought it was because of some unknown discomfort that I use honorifics even to the servants, but it turns out that it was because the perception of my past life remained.’

Even though I am a noble, I habitually used honorifics to people who were much older than me since I was young.

The Oblean family told me to correct it, saying that it would spoil the lower ones, but I couldn’t fix it in the end.

It seems that the secret has been unlocked through the revived memories of my past life.

‘This life seems much better? I wasn’t abandoned by my biological parents either. Anyway, there are people who fill my parents’ place.’

My personality changed a little after recalling my past life memories.

Uncle Hans also said that I had become brighter than before.

I think it’s because I started to look at the dark memories of my parents leaving from a step away, thanks to the perception of my past life.

However, even though such a big change was made,

as I said before, because the familiarity with this world is greater, there was no sense of incongruity that would make it difficult to continue living.

“If the young master’s appearance changes a lot, I wonder if the madam and young ladies will recognize you? From my point of view, it would be fun.”

“I’m looking forward to it too. I’ve been drastically transformed during the pilgrimage.”

To Uncle Hans’ words, who was looking up at me and shaking his head as if he still couldn’t believe it,

I answered with a slight smile in a joking tone.

However, transformation is by no means a joke.

In fact, the changes that the pilgrim’s path created in me were not just about memories of my past life.

It was the dramatic growth of physicals,

before leaving on the pilgrimage, it was about 170 cm.

However, during the period of 2 years and 4 months, it grew by 20CM to 190CM.

During the period when the memories of my past life came back, it grew 10CM,

then it grew 10CM in the following year.

In addition, from the age of 20, even if I exercised a little, muscles started to stick thickly,

to add some exaggeration, my body became the macho warrior’s body, like a barbarian in the western desert.

The face also feels slightly thicker than before accordingly,

I’ve been suspected of being a barbarian mixed-blood because of my black hair,

I think I’ll hear that more often in the future.

Judging from the point in time when I started to grow taller,

I guess something that was blocking the flow in my body

was broken through by the memories of my past life like a lie.

“Which young lady’s reaction are you most looking forward to, young master?”

“Hmm, well. To be honest, I’m most looking forward to the Grand Duchess’s reaction, but I don’t think I’ll be able to see it right away, so I’m curious about the expression and gestures of Charlotte, who resembles the Grand Duchess the most.”

Throughout the pilgrim’s path, I imagined the people of the Oblean Grand Duke’s family being surprised and embarrassed to face my changed appearance.

And the person I am going to meet now is

Charlotte, who has a personality most similar to that of Marianne Oblean, the Grand Duchess, who is like a mother to me.

The Oblean family,

the Grand Duke aristocratic family that has been wielding the most powerful influence other than the imperial family in the Iron Empire of Elysium, which has ruled the central continent of Gaia in this world, Pedon, for a thousand years.

My godfather, Antoine Desselle Oblean, is the 14th head of the Grand Duke’s family.

Antoine has three daughters,

the first young lady’s name is Charlotte Desselle Oblean,

the second young lady is Zandark Desselle Oblean,

and the youngest young lady is Elizabeth Desselle Oblean.

Charlotte and Zandark are older than me,

and Elizabeth is one year younger.

“Is it possible to go directly to the Holy See like this, even though it’s not Goddess Day, Uncle Hans?

When Charlotte’s story came up, I suddenly asked Uncle Hans about the question that had crossed my mind.

Sunday on Earth is called Goddess Day in Pedon.

Also, Charlotte, the eldest young lady of the Oblean family,

is a priestess of the Church of the Luminous Goddess who created that Goddess Day.

In principle, unless it is an official matter, even if they are family members and even nobles,

it is not possible to meet a priestess of a certain level or higher within the Holy See except on Goddess Day.

“Haha! I’m telling you now, but Young Lady Charlotte became a Grand Priestess early last year! As you know, there are no restrictions for Grand Priestesses, right? That’s why I was able to make an appointment.”

“Charlotte became a Grand Priestess, so she became a bishop nun?”

I was surprised by Uncle Hans’ answer.

Priests and nuns, who are priests, are divided into six ranks.

Apprentice Priest, Junior Priest, and Intermediate Priest and Senior Priest, and finally High Priest and Grand Priest are the structure.

Among them, Grand Priestesses are divided into Elder Nuns, called Bishop Nuns and Archbishop Nuns,

Bishop Nuns are those with tremendous divine power,

and Elder Nuns are those who have been in the senior priest for many years and have a strong reputation.

Therefore, if Elder Nuns focus on advisors or political roles,

the actual divine power is in charge of the Bishop Nuns of High Priest and Grand Priest.

In other words, Charlotte, who is now 24 years old, has risen to the position of Grand Priestess, the bishop nun, who can be said to be the key figure of the Holy See.

“Charlotte said she would never be a bishop nun until she turned 30???”

But what surprised me was another reason.

Charlotte is a genius among geniuses in terms of priestess ability, so it is not surprising that she has risen to the rank of Grand Priestess.

However, Charlotte, who has a gentle personality but is quite unique in her stubbornness as a priestess,

she had stubbornly refused the requests from those around her to become a high priestess.

This is because Charlotte herself thought that she was not yet capable of holding such a responsible position.

Because it is a sudden change of direction of my sister who was like that, I am showing the same reaction as now.

“Hmm… The situation is so dire that there is already a shortage of Grand Priestesses to command the high priestesses, so she ended up accepting it. It is said that there were requests from the madam and the head of the family as well.”

Uncle Hans replied with a rather serious expression to my reaction.

“Ah, is it because the number of monsters has increased?”

Then I immediately understood Uncle Hans’ words.

Monsters exist in Gaia where mana exists.

However, at a certain point in the history of the Pedon continent,

the number has decreased considerably.

However, while on the pilgrim’s path, I had the opportunity to hear the conversations of adventurers and mercenaries.

And according to them, the number of lower-level monsters such as goblins, gnolls, and kobolds

has noticeably increased recently.

Also, they said that mid-level monsters such as orcs, golems, and trolls are being frequently witnessed.

‘The only thing I actually saw during the pilgrimage was a few goblins…’

Since most of the pilgrimage sites are in remote areas or mountains, I also encountered goblins.

However, I didn’t face a number that would feel threatening.

This is because there is a sacred aura in the sanctuary, and those sacred auras block the surrounding monsters to a considerable extent.

‘If Charlotte gave up her stubbornness, it must be more than what I heard?’

However, it is difficult to see that Charlotte’s sudden decision was made simply because the number of low-level and mid-level monsters has increased.

This is because it is the role of the Grand Priestess Bishop Nun, who is the core power of the Church of the Luminous Goddess,

and it is impossible that she would have considered only that level.

Since the Holy See of the Church of the Luminous Goddess has information that is as good as the imperial family,

I think that some situation has been detected in which the Grand Priestess has to directly command the high priestesses or prepare in advance in the macro area.

“I guess a lot of things happened while I was away on the pilgrim’s path. Is there anything else? Elizabeth is such an exemplary child, so I think she was just doing well in the academy, and Zandark must have been doing something quite interesting?”

I immediately asked about the recent situation of the other young ladies.

The core and distinctive part of the pilgrim’s path is

the concept of temporarily disconnecting from the secular world.

So, even with the young ladies I had grown up with since I was young,

during the pilgrimage, I just exchanged letters asking about their daily lives and didn’t ask about any specific gossip.

In that sense, Uncle Hans also did not tell me separately, apart from continuing to receive news from the Grand Duke’s family in preparation for any possible situation.

“Ah! Young Lady Zandark? There’s no way there isn’t! Of course there is! What happened was!”

When I mentioned the name of Zandark, the second young lady of the Oblean Grand Duke’s family,

Uncle Hans opened his mouth as if he had been waiting.

No, beyond that level,

it was closer to the feeling that he had been desperately controlling his mouth, which had been so itchy until now,

and was finally able to release it.

“Whoa! I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can tell you, young master… Young Lady Zandark told me never to tell you… She said she was going to make you fall over in surprise when you came back.”

Scratch, scratch,

But soon Uncle Hans switched to a position of silence.

It is clear that Zandark, who has a temper, has put a lot of pressure on him.

“Well, this side also has a surprise event prepared, so if I give them a proper counter, it’ll be fine.”

“You’re going to give them a counter? What does that mean, young master?”

“Ah, it means to counterattack one beat faster and inflict more damage.”

“Oh oh oh!!! I see!”

I reacted in a very cool manner because I didn’t want to make Uncle Hans uncomfortable.

Then Uncle Hans, with a puzzled expression, mentioned the word I used,

it’s a side effect that often occurs after gaining memories of my past life.

The words I used to use on Earth often come out.

**********

“You must be Brother Eugene, who I’ve only heard about from the Bishop Nun! Nice to meet you. I am Circe, a junior nun who is assisting Bishop Nun Charlotte! I will personally guide Brother Eugene to Bishop Nun Charlotte’s atelier!”

After arriving at the Holy See, Uncle Hans waited outside the building,

I was checked and entered the central hall.

The one who came to greet me was a nun of my age with brown hair.

“If you go straight this way, you’ll find the bishop nun’s atelier. Well, I have administrative work that the bishop nun ordered!”

“Thank you for the guidance, Sister Circe.”

Following the guidance of Sister Circe,

I set foot in the atelier, which is a personal space where Charlotte works hard to promote the faith of the Church of the Luminous Goddess as well as the work of the Holy See.

‘Wow…! It’s overwhelming.’

Step, step, step, step,

It was beautiful.

And it was magnificent.

The scale itself was not large because it was a personal space,

but the material and pattern of the marble, and the architectural style contained not only the core technology of the current Church of the Luminous Goddess, but also artistic beauty.

In that way, while admiring the beauty and grandeur of the atelier exclusively for the Grand Priestess Bishop Nun, I walked along the marble corridor.

And not long after, in my ears, which had been so intoxicated by the sacred beauty,

Snap! Snap! Snaaaaaap!

I heard the chilling sound of a whip.

In addition, in between the sound of the whip,

“Heut…! Heueut…! Heueueut…!”

A subtle moan tickled my ear in a stimulating way.