90 – 4. Silences in Helms (6)

6.

I was speechless at the first words of the article. I was so embarrassed, I asked again, chewing on my tongue.

“Abbot, father?”

He nodded quietly. He never expected to hear such a heavy story all of a sudden. Regardless of my feelings, he continued his words in a calm voice.

『Yes. Ten days from now, about nine days from now…… 』

“No, wait, wait.”

He looked back at me as if asking why. I don’t know anything else, but I’ll have to point this out. How the hell does he know the date my father died? What about exact dates like ten days and nine days? I don’t know his father’s age, but even if he was over seventy, I wouldn’t be able to know the exact life span. Doesn’t it sound like waiting for death? He was not the nuance of waiting to die from illness or old age. Yeah like…….

“You are talking as if it is not a natural death. Is that correct?”

I hoped it wasn’t even when I said it. However, he unexpectedly nodded his head. If he can know the day he will die, he must be certain to die that day. The biggest possibility is the death penalty for the guilty.

『…… He is now on trial.”

“A trial? Father?”

『Yes』

At that point, I was at a loss for words. There are few places in this world that are called courts. In most cases, the nobles of powerful cities make important decisions in the plaza, and in other cases, power dictates the law. And strength is the greatest weapon that sustains power.

A superman, no, a cathedral knight whose words aren’t enough, and a human father with the light of God on his back, waiting for death at the trial. The first question I had was that I would be able to get away with anything. He seemed to have read my thoughts from my expression, and he dropped his head wearing his helmet and continued.

『Father…… He is not the father who gave birth to me. You are the one who took me in when I was an orphan and raised me until now.”

“Ah… ….”

『Not once did I ever think of him as not being my father. It is my one and only family. But…… 』

Just do it. The voice in my head stopped for a moment. The hands that were holding each other were shaking very slightly. He seemed to be refining the language as much as possible.

『However, there is no way』

“Why?”

『…… It’s a religious trial.”

I thought about that for a while. The main headquarters of the doctrine of order is the cathedral in the capital, and of course all trials regarding heresy will take place there. And that’s where he originally resided. And being here alone now…….

“Is your father involved with heresy?”

『…… 』

He was silent for a moment. Then he raised his head. The gaze was not directed at me. The door to the bathroom opened and steam poured out. Mira, after her bath, put on only one of her thin clothes, looked around her, saw me, and hurried away.

“Jin! Sorry, long wait…… Uh?”

She came closer. She seemed to notice the knight standing proudly next to me. An awkward silence passed between the two. Mira looked back and forth between my face and the knight’s helmet, and then she saw her hands clasped together, and she put on an indescribable expression. In the end it turns out like this. It’s okay to be misunderstood.

“Mira, this is…….”

“Are you talking about secrets?”

“Huh? Well, by the way.”

I was about to hit the ball, but she immediately asked me, and then let out a steamy breath. Then, without asking for anything else, she hugged me and pushed me away.

“Okay. I won’t disturb you. I’ve tidied up the bathroom. Except for the reduced water, it will be just like any other.”

“Yes.”

“And…… Mmm.”

She didn’t go straight back to her inn, but spun around as if she had something to say to her knight as well. At her bold attitude, the knight’s embarrassed look was transmitted to her fingertips.

“Well, what can I call you? Oh, did you say you can’t talk?”

“… ….”

“I’ll just say Mr. Paladin. Umm, thank you for last time…… The things we fought together, and the things that cleared the bounty. Also…… Anyway. I don’t think I’ve ever said hello in person.”

That was it. It was a bit brusque for a benefactor, but I put a smile on my face knowing that it was her best. I caressed the top of her head, which was still wet.

“What, what.”

“No, just. It will be cold. Go in quickly without being noticed by other guests.”

“…… Okay. Jin goes in quickly.”

She didn’t ask any more, she raised the corner of her mouth, bumped her head against my cheek, and disappeared without a sound. The smell of soap wafted around. Anyway, she is a girl who can’t stop.

There is a knight next to me who is suspicious of his s*xual orientation. He looked at us for a moment, and as if he was speechless, his helmet trembled slightly, and then he continued the blast talk (sacred flame) without a warning.

『If I get in the way, stop…… 』

“No, please continue.”

I’ve heard this far, but I can’t stop halfway through. It is also a story that cannot be overlooked.

『…… Father is a priest. You run a small monastery located at the edge of the capital, right?”

“… ….”

『I don’t know if you know, but not everyone is living affluent lives in the royal capital. Unhappy lives are everywhere, and it is also common for couples who cannot afford to raise a child, or for illegitimate children who are not registered in the family to leave their newborn babies in the monastery and run away.”

I remembered the stories Mira had told me. She also said that even though she lived with her master in the capital for a long time, she saw all the darkness of humans. Just because it’s the place where the most power is concentrated doesn’t mean that their mind is rich.

『I said that I was also one of those babies. However, unlike normal babies, they said that the whole body had a plague.”

“Plague…… You mean?”

『I heard that it was an illness in which the skin continued to burn even though there was no fire, spots appeared and disappeared, and the whole body was engulfed in fever. Ordinary babies would be raised there by nuns and given a chance to grow, but I was treated as an ominous child born by the devil and was like a nuisance with only a few days left to live.”

“… ….”

『I was reluctant to even touch it, let alone breastfeed. I understand. Those characteristics were just as good as those of the devil. My father was the one who secretly hid me from the eyes of others when I was in danger of being kicked out shortly after being abandoned.”

After that, his words continued.

『I grew up eating powdered milk dough instead of breast milk, and somehow survived and grew thanks to his grace. However, it is said that the hideous face never fully recovered, and it was said that it was not possible to report it to priests or priests for fear of being regarded as a heretic. Until I mastered both writing and speaking, I stayed alone in my solitary cell with him who came to visit me every day.”

He talked a lot. He used a fluent vocabulary that was unimaginable in his appearance so far, and vividly told his journey directly in his head.

『However, he thought that he could not hide one child forever, so he recommended me to live as a knight’s squire. If I had a job using a helmet, I would be able to hide myself. That’s how I learned martial arts from a knight I came in contact with and became a devotee to the doctrine of the god of order.”

Of course, a lot happened after that. Fortunately, he had the talent, and it is said that he gradually improved his skills and officially became an apprentice paladin. However, one day, while trying to save his comrades from a demon subjugation organized to improve the skills of prospective knights, he was cursed and his voice was lost.

『Even now, I have no regrets about that choice. However, he received the curse instead, but could not block the attack. His colleague is dead…… I am alone again”

Although he was appointed as a knight, he became increasingly isolated because he could not communicate with his colleagues. Later on, he improved his spell skills and repaired possible wounds, and even if he tried to have a conversation through consecration like now, he said he couldn’t approach him sincerely because he had never taken off his helmet to his comrades.

“After that, I survived somehow, and I became a cathedral article…. Nothing has changed in my life. I’ve never questioned the ability to defeat evil and save the innocent, but…… I do not know.”

The message through consecration has no tone, but I could feel the hand shaking.

『Why is it that only I have to live like this, and why do these things only happen to me…… Is this even God’s will? The deity who attends never gives me an answer.”

“…… From my father.”

『This is a confusing time』

He dismissed it briefly.

『The fact that so many nobles were communicating with Zulkar’s followers gave the royal family more strength to the church. As a result, some priests and cardinals who are sitting in important positions borrow the name of God against priests who go against their will, and are putting them on trial or accusing them of heresy』

“…… Is that okay?”

That was a stupid question. He replied bitterly.

『In the doctrine of the god I serve, the will of a high-ranking priest is absolute. It is natural that he has such power because he has built a higher status than others.”

“But… ….”

『My father was originally a person who held an important position inside the church. But even before he took me, he left that glorious position and founded a monastery. Perhaps one of the people he had a grudge against at the time was framed…… 』

I know that far. He lowered his head.

『I can’t do anything. There is no one on my side among the knights of the same cathedral, and even if there is, it is not an issue that can be overcome by force. And…… 』

“… ….”

『If someone with a higher hierarchy and a higher divinity says it’s true, if you struggle to save your father…… I must face-to-face betray the tenets of my religion. Even though I’ve been relying heavily on that divinity until now』

Around the time I couldn’t quite distinguish the expression I was making myself, he lifted his helmet and looked at me.

… Ran away Embarrassingly, this is the only place I can think of. Maybe it’s because of you

What am I saying? I immediately tried to show humility, but even that didn’t come out of my mouth. It was a better choice.

Have you ever been to a cathedral? It is open to all, very spacious and majestic, but…… Ironically, there aren’t that many places where I’m allowed.”

I said.

“The Heretic Inquisitor. For that person…….”

『He is originally a person with such a high position in the church that it is difficult to even talk to someone like me. That’s why he can’t even seek private help. If you put power on either side, what will happen when the wave goes in the opposite direction…… I don’t know.』

After a while, the conversation was cut off. He slowly loosened his hands. I involuntarily grabbed his hand. Then he looked at me and said.

『Sorry for coming to you all of a sudden.』

From nob le mt l dot com

No.

“It’s just as if it’s a misty head, it’s confusing and frustrating…. I found you I wondered if I could learn something by looking at that wit, courage, and courage. It is my greed.”

It is an illusion. I’m not that great of a human being. When I shook my head, I suddenly felt that he was smiling a little in the helmet. Even though I couldn’t see his face, his head was slightly twisted.

『You took up too much time. Let go of your hand Do I have to go in?”

Hearing that, I let go of my hand. The connected blessing has been severed. Now there was nothing connecting the two. It was just a shallow relationship that lasted only a few days.

For some reason, I asked him as he turned away involuntarily.

“Name.”

“… ….”

“Or even the face. Show me slowly. It’s okay if it’s impossible, but I need to know at least one thing.”

If Celine had been there, she would have been slapped on the back for being rude. However, I want to believe that we can get to this point. If you want something from me, I need proof that you’re open.

He didn’t answer. Thinking he’d hear his name, he put his hand under his chin without a word, loosened his chinstrap and made a rattling sound. Embarrassed by the sudden action, I tried to refuse, but on the other hand, I was curious and couldn’t stop him.

In time, the gray hair that clung to his forehead was revealed. That long hair poured down like a river as soon as he took off his helmet, and on one side of his somewhat reddish cheeks, there was a deep burn that invaded the corner of his eye, and on the other side, a scar from a long claw extended to his lip.

From nob le mt l dot com

Nevertheless, the remaining part. Her eyes, shining the same color as the sky, were so beautiful that you could inadvertently be drawn into them. As I stared blankly at that face, the knight said with a slight smile.

『Thank you for listening to the story. Jin.』

Perhaps that was the last word allowed today. He quickly turned his helmet over for anyone to see and walked across his backyard, leaving me behind. Before long, I stupidly opened my mouth and muttered.

“…… Were you a woman?”

From nob le mt l dot com

No. I have to tell you. How would you know if you were armed every day?

Until now, you’ve been making all sorts of silly misunderstandings. Slowly, I climbed the wall as if collapsing and squatted down in my seat with my back leaning against it.

Echwi! When the sneeze came out, I sniffed and looked up at the sky.

After three days, it’s snow again.

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