episode_0042

042 – Hyde confronts Durgien’s artists #1

priest.

It was an occupation that seemed far from wealthy.

Actually, it had to be that way.

However, Archbishop Archibald’s house was so large and spacious that Voltaire’s mansion, which we visited earlier, seemed smaller.

Many soldiers dispatched from the Knights Templar were standing guard, and all kinds of decorations were decorating the garden, and it seemed that the power of a considerable queen could not be envied.

“I don’t know if it’s right for a priest to accumulate wealth.”

Right now, I don’t have money for education, so I’m busy working part-time whenever I have time.

In the end, I had no money, so I wrote pornographic stories, and ended up being struck by lightning indoors and falling into this hellish world.

“Offering. I received it. It’s 300 gold coins.”

Chak-.

The Old Man knight placed a box full of gold coins in the lobby of the Archibald family mansion.

Archbishop Archibald opened his narrowed eyes as he looked at the box of gold coins that was placed heavily along with a dull noise.

“300? The promised amount of gold coins was 200.”

“The more you donate, the better, isn’t it?”

“That’s great. Hyde, I was honestly skeptical when you told me that he was the man you had adopted as your son-in-law. It’s more than I expected.”

“Then keep your promise.”

“Okay, I will try to organize the story about charging admission to the main temple as promised. As far as I can use my strength.”

“It’s natural.”

Archbishop Archibald appears to have been a man who knew how to keep his promises. I thought he might get a little angry if he changed his mind by making excuses, but fortunately, that didn’t happen.

“It’s dinner time. It will be a small meal, but feel free to sit down.”

Soon Archibald headed to the banquet hall and I was also invited as a guest and sat down at the long table to eat.

Contrary to what I said was a simple meal, all kinds of spices from grilled deer hind legs to grilled pheasant pierced my nose.

Even in the Agarpe family, I have never seen dishes like this before.

“Archbold’s financial condition appears to be good. Is it okay to eat such a sumptuous meal when there are many starving people in the kingdom? You will be talked about. The story will come out.”

“Hyde, you were that kind of man. I got it. Then you will starve. The food you prepare will be given to the poor on the streets.”

Sze-.

Archbishop Archibald raised his hand.

“Fred, please distribute your share of food to the street tramps. And from now on, give Hyde only dry bread and water. Take away clothes and give them to people on the streets.”

indeed-.

Archbishop Archibald was a difficult man to dismantle through controversy.

The level itself was different from the sane debaters like Selim and Manaan. Because there was no biblical problem with Archbishop Archibald’s story.

He truly deserved to be revered as the best theologian in the kingdom.

“Your Majesty, do we really have to do that?”

The Monocle butler named Fred looked rather perplexed. When he was embarrassed, Archbishop Archibald burst out laughing and then added another word.

“It’s a joke. Hyde, you seem to have your own strict and conservative theological views. To you, ‘rich clergy’ should not exist, right?”

“Yes. There are some who claim that working in one’s own position, accumulating the fruits of one’s work, and enjoying wealth is a calling and blessing received from the Lord. At least a priest should not be rich.”

“I see. Your views on the priesthood seem to be much stricter than mine. Then I would ask. What is the standard for ‘wealth’ you mentioned? Is it in the Bible?”

A criterion for the wealth of a priest.

Of course, it was not written in the Bible.

What is rich and what is poor?

I’ve been thinking a lot about this standard for a long time.

What are the criteria for a rich pastor?

Who has no debt?

Who owns their own home?

Someone who drives a car?

I thought about it a lot, but it was difficult for me to come up with an answer. However, if we interpret the Bible conservatively, a person who eats three meals without worry―.

That person was rich.

While I was thinking that, Archbishop Archibald said:

“Hyde, we are all rich. How rich are you compared to someone who has no arms or legs? Even people who lack arms or legs are enjoying a heavenly life compared to those who die and are in hell.”

“Do you mean everything is relative?”

“Well. Well then, let me ask you a question. What do humans look like in the eyes of the Lord? Are humans truly wealthy in the eyes of the Creator? When you see an ant carrying sugar in its mouth, do you feel that the ant is rich?

“Humans are like ants. How can we dare to understand God’s will?”

“Yes, that’s exactly what I want to do. Those who assume you are rich may not actually be rich. It’s arrogant of you to judge like that.”

That was correct.

It was arrogant to condemn and judge others arbitrarily.

Because judging is the domain of God, not humans.

Soon Archbishop Archibald poured wine into my glass and added:

“The same goes for theology. Theology is not always right and is merely a tool to explain what is ‘best’. So where should we set the standard?”

“That is why we must set our standards on the Bible. Isn’t the Bible an immutable medium that will not change?”

This was the reason why religion was reformed in the midst of chaos where many things were uncertain. The idea was to return to Biblicalism.

Archibald soon spoke.

“But isn’t it the responsibility of humans to interpret the Bible? In the end, the standard is humans. And the person who sets the standard for that human being is the cock called ‘King’. This king, like David or Solomon, is appointed by God─.”

The cock called king.

King cock.

For some reason, it seemed like a very profane statement.

I suddenly can’t concentrate.

# # #

After losing focus on the conversation, we only had formal conversations. What is the weather like today, well, what will the weather be like tomorrow?

These were very meaningless conversations.

Archibald asked as we thought the dinner was coming to an end.

“So where is my daughter Milione? Fred, I’m sure there’s a banquet tonight and I told my daughter to attend?”

“That is─. The lady has not been seen since she went into her room to prepare for the dinner. I once again─.”

“I am here.”

Sze-.

Someone showed up wearing a dress.

It was Milione Archibald.

She, with her platinum hair tied with a headband and wearing a dress with purple dye, approached while being supported by maids.

The skirt was so long and loose that it seemed difficult to walk without help.

“Sorry for being late.”

Although he was apologizing in words, his eyes, expression, and voice showed no signs of apology at all. Rather, his expression of annoyance was evident.

Archbishop Archibald, who saw this, said:

“The child’s mother died young and she was never able to see her mother’s face. I raised it so much that it grew like this. I would like to apologize on behalf of my daughter for her rudeness.”

indeed-.

You must have realized that you raised your daughter incorrectly.

Soon Milione sat down and asked.

“What about the alter?”

“Your brother Alter is in the capital Barakhan. Hyde, I wanted to introduce you to Alter, my eldest son and pride. It’s a shame.”

Alter Archibald.

I knew him well, even without needing to introduce him.

Knights of Six, Knights Templar.

A group of six knights wearing gold crosses.

Alter Archibald was a part of it, and Ras and I of the Blood Brotherhood also clashed with him several times. At that time, I didn’t know that he was Lars’ older brother.

It suddenly became strange.

My father is an archbishop.

The eldest son is a gold plated paladin of the Six Knights.

The second son died, but Bishop Eunpae -.

The youngest daughter is a vicious murderer called the Great Sin.

Why are there all these crazy houses?

In the first place, it doesn’t matter whether the Archibald family is rich or not. This is a house where nothing is normal, right?

Does the archbishop know more?

His daughter is active under the name of Lass, the Great Sin?

I was curious.

Let me think about it-.

“Now that I think about it, it is said that His Majesty Archibald, a man named Lass of the Great Sin, appeared in the Durgien region. It is also related to the death of Oscar Archibald. What do you think about this person?”

“I heard that there is such a person. At the time, I was in the royal capital, Royal Road, so I didn’t hear the details. A very dangerous grower.”

Archbishop Archibald’s attitude when he said that was extremely standard. There was no trembling, no signs of panic or nervousness.

performance?

Or does he not know that his daughter is a being called Ras?

Milione, who was sipping wine at that time, said:

“What you really need to be careful about is not Lars. That partner is Rust. Did you hear the story that Rust showed up at Baron Voltaire’s mansion this time, burned it down, and raped his bride?”

“You raped the bride?”

It was my first time hearing this story.

When did I rape Cathy Voltaire?

While I was very confused, Milione added.

“Yes! I heard you raped Cathy Voltaire and ruined her wedding? I heard they also released a new short story! “Non-virgin”! This is another masterpiece!”

Hmm─.

Medici Archibald cleared his throat.

Then Milione said “Yes. I turned my head and grumbled, “Are you telling me to stay still like a pretty doll?”

Taking advantage of the silence at the table, the archbishop spoke.

“Rust, I heard that that man put a curse on Cathy Voltaire. But, Mr. Hyde, you say you did the curse?”

Archbishop Archibald’s question was directed to me.

I wondered if they might find out that I was ‘Rust’, but I pretended not to be nervous as much as possible and spoke as casually as possible.

“I didn’t do it, it was the Lord who helped me. And isn’t that Rust guy a coward who hides his identity behind a mask and doesn’t have the courage to reveal himself to the world?”

“You are a coward without courage. For something like that, you’re writing a bold story. Even I was impressed by the new weights and measures, the metric system.”

I like the metric system.

In fact, it was not created by Rust but is a plagiarism.

However, Medici Archibald’s expression became the most serious today.

“Measles and weights are the standard set by the king. And that king was a god-given being. Are you trying to change that standard? It’s just my opinion, but I think that man will become the biggest headache in this kingdom from now on.”

“Is that so.”

“And I think one of those who will be that man’s opponent is you, Hyde. Anyway, the story we had today was very interesting. Don’t lose those mindsets in the future.”

Zech─.

Saying that, Archbishop Archibald stood up.

It was when he left his seat and left the banquet hall completely.

Milione asked.

“Hyde, you-. It seems like you really like our old-fashioned father? For your information, the term ‘old man’ is a word used in Rust’s new work ‘Non-Virgin’ and means a strict old man.”

I know.

However, I was surprised that Archbishop Archibald liked me.

It seems like we’ve been at odds with each other all day today.

Milione added.

“We oldies don’t talk to people we don’t like. Just look at it today. You didn’t even want to talk to me. She’s his biological daughter. I was even raped by Rust. Didn’t even say a word of comfort to me.”

Now that I thought about it, I remembered that we had not been able to talk about Oscar Archibald, who had recently died, or about Milione, whom I was to marry.

Well, I will be staying here for about a month.

Maybe it’s because I have a lot of time, but… .

Soon Milione clicked his tongue.

“Hyde, as expected, you are no match for us old guys. Perhaps we oldies don’t even recognize you as an opponent?”

“So who is the opponent?”

“Are you asking because you don’t know? There is nothing but Rust!”

That guy is that guy, what the-.

No, actually Rust and Hyde are different.

With that feeling, time passed and the next morning.

I woke up in a guest room with a soft bed and heard an amazing story from Archbishop Archibald.

“Hyde, in order to reward your hard work, we tried to abolish the entrance fee to the temple last night, but the opponents sent us appeals this morning.”

Churrr-.

There were so many letters piled up.

Who on earth would be opposed to abolishing church admission fees?

Soon Archbishop Archibald spoke.

“It’s the “Artist Association.” These people are a big problem to me too.”