episode_0111

Soon after, knights and mercenaries streamed down following the instructions of the priests.

Warriors lined up in front of him, who had been Bishop Guiberto a little while ago and was now known as Pope Clement, although his name was not spoken.

Clemens gave everyone a blessing and spoke one word at a time.

There were some good words mixed in, but most of them were aimed at establishing one’s own religious authority.

“The obligation to control violence for the sake of peace will be temporarily exempted. Your sword must be wielded for something more valuable than what lies in its scabbard.”

“But please keep in mind that this is not an affirmation of violence, but rather a measure for the cause of permanent peace.”

With the excommunication, the excommunication previously given to the emperor ceased to have any effect.

Not only that, but countless instructions he had given so far have lost their power. This pledge was no exception.

In this way, the last safety device on the ego-driven meat grinder was released.

Of course, the Vatican would not agree at all, but it was not that important at this point.

In any case, it was just a justification with weak evidence, and there was no need to think too complicatedly about it. No matter how much he argues, the Pope is ultimately the one who wins the civil war.

Clemens, who soon passed in front of me, did not say anything, but instead nodded slightly.

Although it didn’t have much effect, there was a clear look in his eyes that he was expecting something as he gave a ritual-like blessing. I didn’t notice it so much that I didn’t know what the reason was.

Next, when I had an audience with the emperor, I received that passionate gaze.

Sir “Would you swear to have me as your lord and fight for victory?”

“I swear. Please honor my loyalty.”

“I will gladly accept it. So, I will regard my victory as yours.”

There was no need for complicated procedures like when acquiring land.

Even though it was only temporary, all you had to do was raise your right hand and swear that you would be loyal for that time.

“Please do your best so that someday I can put a handful of dirt in your hand.”

A few years ago, when I received an Alpen from the Count of Canossa.

At that time, I held the dirt with my right hand. By giving it, it metaphorically expresses entrusting a part of the land.

Now, I did not receive a title or land from him.

Nevertheless, the emperor seemed to have already envisioned the political relations of the post-war empire in his mind.

*****

By the time the council ended, the sun was already halfway over the horizon. And when I arrived at the hotel, it was already night.

After a late dinner, I couldn’t sleep so I went out to get some air.

Let’s enjoy some alone time like that.

Creak. When I turned my head at the faint sound of hinges screaming, a familiar silhouette illuminated by the moonlight was there.

“Still not sleeping, what are you doing? I have to leave early tomorrow morning, so I need to get some rest.”

“Raven isn’t really asleep, but he looks like he’s worried about something?”

Was it obvious like that? Well, wouldn’t it be harder not to notice if they were just eating and nibbling and then silently nodding their heads outside?

But I also had a problem that made it difficult for me to fall asleep. Lisia was definitely sharp.

For a moment, I wondered if I should reveal this honestly, but I still felt like I should let the girl know.

Since he could only be considered a stakeholder as long as he was with me, I didn’t think it was right to hide it.

“The position of earl that His Majesty offered me.”

“Yes.”

“Should I get that?”

The girl tilted her head for a moment and then gave an answer to my question.

“If it were a noble position, wouldn’t it be nice to have it?”

“People usually think that way. But there are also invisible disadvantages. Things like the compulsion to maintain one’s position, the checks coming from people around you, and the fatigue that builds up from that.”

In a way, it was okay to worry about having a full stomach. There were enough people who would sell their souls if they could have even this.

However, I hesitated because I was the one who received the offer, not those people.

This may have been something that people could sympathize with more because Licia had voluntarily given up her position as a saint.

“It’s not like you hate power or anything like that, right?”

“If there were, there would be much more that could be done. In the face of authority, the impossible is less common than the possible.”

For example, staying at an inn on loan.

Or, like everyone else, he periodically hangs up with moneylenders.

Since I am a human being, I also have greed. Wouldn’t someone do that? However, I was concerned about whether I should swallow it knowing that it was a colorful poison.

Since the emperor’s offer could not be rejected outright, there was no choice, making the problem more difficult.

“I’m like that too… I understand to some extent. I understand what the situation is.”

“Okay.”

“But even if that happens, don’t worry too much. For those issues, I’m there, right?”

“Are you saying that?”

In response, I took my gaze away from the scattered clouds and looked to the side. Lisia was smiling brightly.

“If that’s just for the time being, I’ll have to think about the later. You don’t plan on staying by my side forever.”

“What if I’m by your side forever?”

Before I knew it, the girl had placed her chin on the railing with me.

“No way, you weren’t lying.”

And then, one step at a time, he came closer to me.

“You said that adults take responsibility.”

“… And you also said that you still have some time left to become an adult.”

“Yeah, well. Not yet.”

At the same time, I inadvertently took a step back.

Before, I thought it was something I just spewed out in my youthful mind, but it seemed like my thoughts were more solidified than I had guessed.

*****

It was a time for those who were tired from a long war to take a break, as if they were taking a breather.

But I couldn’t just sit there forever. Once something happened, it had to end somehow.

The next day, the emperor went to the front again. A long procession followed.

The nobles who followed him, the lower-ranking nobles who followed those nobles, and their respective servants followed one after another.

In addition, there are security personnel for escort, troops for battle, and merchants to provide goods for all of them.

The crowds that filled the bustling Brixen began to swarm back to where they came from.

The whole world was people. It was a look he had been waiting for.

In the middle of the group, Lisia clenched her fists and made a promise.

‘It won’t work either.’

Even if I had spoken to Heine, I had no intention of letting go.

Opportunities and achievements are given to those who take action. If you wait under a tree with your mouth open and wait for the fruit to fall, you will never get what you want.

You might be wondering if the fruit was on the verge of falling, but I confirmed from a conversation the night before that that wasn’t the case.

Still, take a step back and watch as it creates a hole to escape here and there.

“Son, where is your father?”

therefore.

If you try to turn away from responsibility like that, you can’t help it.

When I turned my head, a stranger who looked like a mercenary was talking to me.

At a stopover, a girl was holding onto a horse without an owner, so it was natural to ask, but it just so happened to work out.

*****

“Son, where is your father?”

“It’s not my father… … .”

“Then who are you to bring me to the battlefield?”

“He is a temporary guardian, but he is still not the father.”

Did I even feel something from the conversation the night before? Lisia began actively campaigning for her not to be her biological daughter.

Seeing him adamantly denying his blood relationship with me, I wondered if he had suddenly hit puberty, but I soon realized that I was mistaken.

It wasn’t some kind of mascot, but it was strange to see a pretty girl being carried around on the battlefield.

Other knights and mercenaries who naturally became interested answered several questions, and each time the girl would usually answer like this.

“Please tell me if you didn’t come here of your own volition or if it was due to coercion. It’s not so mean that we can’t even listen to that much.”

“No, I came because I wanted to! It feels like field experience learning.”

“What a unique guy. Because you have that kind of curiosity, you go to college and take lessons from a saint.”

“Did you say the driver’s name was Raven? Was he that good?”

“Yes, he said he would marry me later!”

“Yes, I see. phew… I too would not wish for a daughter like that rabbit. My son is so disobedient. ”

No matter how you look at it, the conversation, which was just ordinary, started to drift from here.

“Aren’t you your daughter?”

“What does that mean? Definitely a guardian-”

“There is no need to take it differently, it means literally… … .”