episode_0025

The Council of Justice is a gathering of prominent figures, nobles, and high-ranking clergy members who secretly come together to engage in tedious discussions.

However, from snippets of conversation overheard, it seems that the reason they have gathered all the city’s residents for the first time in a long while is to make a major announcement on the final day of the council. They will also hold a ceremony of allegiance.

For ordinary people, it was a spectacle rarely seen, so there must be a reason for all the commotion.

After some chatter among the clergy, the bishop standing at the center stage finally rose. Most of the discussions were likely already concluded beforehand.

The bishop turned towards the crowd gathered behind him. After a brief pause, the murmuring subsided, and he cleared his throat before speaking.

“To achieve peace, conflicts must diminish. For a long time, the church has relied on individuals to uphold peace according to their conscience.”

“Thus, many warriors have pledged to dedicate their swords to the divine in a vow at the church. This sacred and noble decision must have surely been helpful. I express my gratitude to them for their commitment.”

“However, in the current world, there are still many suffering believers, and many who do not resonate with this cause. Therefore, it was deemed necessary to find a more fundamental solution. This council has discussed this matter, and now we wish to announce the results.”

In a strict sense, the Council of Justice is originally an event where the pope and archbishops gather to discuss theological issues.

However, even outside the papal court, such small councils were held. Of course, sensitive topics were avoided.

If they were to clumsily touch upon issues like mages fighting each other outside the papal court, they might face a widespread scandal.

Unlike knights, clergy members found it difficult to switch professions, so they tended to fear scandals even more.

Therefore, the topics discussed were mostly theoretical or close to it.

So, despite the grandiose rhetoric at the beginning, the actual impact on me would likely be minimal. Based on my experience, this was the case with the results of the Council of Justice that flowed into the Volle Church.

“Those who refused to pledge and those who pledged but abandoned their oaths. Despite our efforts to persuade everyone, they chose to resort to violence.”

“This likely happened because they did not understand the violence they were perpetrating. By embracing everyone with mercy and tolerance, we tried to show them the error of their ways, but if they reject our help, they must understand the consequences of their violence.”

It sounded like some strange reasoning. Is this really theoretical?

There was a slight disturbance among the people around me. It seems I wasn’t the only one who thought that way.

“The Council of Justice in Filah resolved not to hold those who commit such injustices accountable for most of the sanctions imposed on them.”

In other words, if someone violates their pledge and is beaten but not killed, they will turn a blind eye.

“Furthermore, since we cannot entrust their guidance to individuals, we will accept applicants who are willing to spare no effort for peace!”

“For the peace desired by the divine, for the army of peace!”

And they intended to organize a militia to pinpoint and dismantle them, asking for much attention.

I felt confused.

*****

The miraculous logic of using greater violence to eradicate violence.

After somehow overcoming the resulting mental abnormality, I pondered the bishop’s words quietly.

First, let me be a bit honest with myself.

While I can predict the movements of my enemies, I simply cannot understand human madness.

The road of water may be known, but the road of people is unknown, that is human nature. I humbly accepted that I had been too careless.

As is well known, mercenaries-turned-thieves are the Blue Ocean generators who sacrifice themselves to create jobs when there are no opportunities.

Their determination is high, but honestly… isn’t it a bit one-dimensional?

However, the intellectuals of this era, the brightest minds. The results of the clash between priests who are intellectual and cultured, and illiterate mercenaries, were completely different from each other.

Creating employment opportunities, something that every ruler has dreamed of at least once, without hurting anyone, they have completed a world where no one is harmed.

Even though there are open dissenters who refuse to take the oath, if anyone wonders how they are not hurt, they lack medieval sensibility.

Several city residents were whispering behind me.

“Even if they are oath-breakers, aren’t they still believers like us? Isn’t it okay to show a little tolerance that the church emphasizes?”

“Didn’t you forget, if they broke it, didn’t they receive punishment for their actions? Then they are not human.”

“That’s right!”

It was a bit of a hassle, but I could be sure that taking the oath was the right thing to do.

In such a cruel world, it is truly difficult to make a living.

And I’m sure I’m not the only one who thinks that way.

Everyone, with a rebellious spirit and a belated adolescence hidden in their hearts, has been humbled and quieted, and knights and mercenaries who used to walk to the church grumbling have finally cultivated a healthy mind, it was clear.

As priests wandered around and lined up, those who used to grumble about who should stand in front of me or behind me obediently began to follow the order.

It was hard to believe, but in this place, they had truly succeeded in taking a step closer to peace. The verbose speech from earlier wasn’t just empty words.

“Next, come forward.”

Watching such a strange sight, I waited in line for a while and found myself at the front.

A priest was waiting in front of me. As I approached a few steps, he asked me.

“What is your name?”

“Laven.”

“Good, Laven. Do you swear to draw your sword only for just purposes, not to remain silent in the face of injustice, and to act uprightly before God?”

“Yes, I swear.”

The oath itself ended with such a light exchange of words.

There were many people waiting behind me, but even though it was informal, there was no difference between a formal oath from the Papal Palace and a formal oath, so there was no need to go through the hassle of going to the church of Filah.

After the oath and verification of identity, the priest asked me some personal information. It was to prevent impersonation or complaints about the oath later.

He asked for my parents’ names, home, and education, and after receiving a triple “none” from my mouth, he gave up on questioning.

After taking the oath and confirming my identity, it was time for the blessing, which was promoted as a new member event.

Like any other knight, I presented my sword to receive the blessing. Even though it was already hanging there, more blessings were better than one.

The priest was about to accept it and give the blessing… but when he saw the glowing sword, he paused and said,

“…It’s a relic. And a very powerful one at that.”

“I received it from my master.”

“Even if it’s a master-disciple relationship, it doesn’t look like something to be given away easily. It seems like the master cherished the disciple a lot.”

Master. A beloved name that now remained only as a memory.

I recalled a single memory with the gentleman known as my master.

“Raven, it’s urgent! Come here quickly!”

“What’s the matter, Master! Is there something wrong with the bed…!”

“Turn off the lights.”

“…”

“And close the window.”

No matter how you looked at it, the idea of being frugal didn’t seem to fit. Perhaps it would have made more sense to give generously, not knowing the proper use of the sword.

“…That’s what I said.”

“Do you have any intention of joining the temple for peace? It would surely be a great help.”

“I am currently on my way to the Papal Palace, so I apologize.”

“It seems you are on the pilgrimage route. In that case, I cannot detain you any longer. May your path be peaceful.”

The priest seemed to have some misconception on his own, but I didn’t bother pointing it out.

He soon placed his hand on the sword and recited a prayer, and with it, a faint light that I had seen a lot lately seeped into the sword.

I approached Lycia, who was admiring the now even more dazzling glowing sword from behind.

The girl, still fascinated by the blessing ceremony, looked up and asked as I approached.

“Is the vow all done?”

“It ended faster than I thought. We’ve seen everything worth seeing here, so let’s go back. We have to set off again tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

I took Lycia back to the inn.

I thought the journey back would be delayed, but to my relief, it ended quickly, contrary to my worries.