Chapter 680: The Nuns
by xennovelBoom━━!!!
A loud noise echoed from the underground of the Inspectorate within the Holy Capital.
The source of the sound was a heavy iron table that had crashed into the wall and shattered.
The reason the table collided with the wall was that a Holy Knight had struck it.
After all, only a Holy Knight could have lifted and hurled such a heavy iron table.
But why did the Holy Knight strike the table?
The reason was simple. It was because of the woman in front of him. No, she was once a Holy Knight.
She had hidden the Dark Sorcerer, met with him secretly, and, for his sake, defied not just the Archpriest but even committed sacrilege against God.
“Say it again.”
The Holy Knight, assigned to interrogate Joanna by the Inspectorate, spoke slowly and deliberately, as if reflecting on his words.
Joanna complied with his request.
“I said, I believe what I did was right.”
Crunch!
The moment he heard that, the Holy Knight reached out and grabbed Joanna by the throat, pushing her violently against the wall.
As she collided with the wall, a loud crash echoed, and cracks appeared on the surface.
The room was designed to withstand confrontations with Holy Knights, so the wall merely cracked. Otherwise, it would have collapsed entirely.
“What did you say? That it’s right?”
The Holy Knight, gripping Joanna’s throat, asked in a low, menacing voice.
It was like a growl, as if a furious dog was about to bite.
“How dare you ignore the Dark Sorcerer, meet with him in secret, and then stand by his side to insult God?”
Grrrr······!
The Holy Knight’s grip on Joanna’s white neck tightened, making it even harder for her to breathe.
In that urgent moment, Joanna spoke her conviction.
“I····· wronged the Archpriest····· not God·····!”
The Holy Knight tightened his grip even further, staring into Joanna’s eyes.
Amazingly, Joanna’s eyes were clearer now than they had been during her time as a squire.
As if to prove this, Joanna continued to speak without flinching.
“The Archpriest and····· God·····! They are different beings····· Do not equate the two·····!”
Although her words contradicted the teachings she had received as a Holy Knight.
As the Holy Knight, feeling betrayed and disappointed by Joanna’s changed demeanor, was about to tighten his grip even more—
-Tack.
Someone grabbed the Holy Knight’s wrist.
The hand was frail, incomparable to the strength of a Holy Knight.
It was none other than a nun’s hand.
The hand of a woman who had pledged her life to serve God.
“······Sister Delra?”
Seeing the owner of the hand, the Holy Knight gasped and called out her name.
Though the Holy Knight didn’t know the names of all the nuns, the one in front of him was an exception. After all, she was the nun serving Archpriest Roderick.
“How did you get here·····?”
Astonished by the nun’s presence, the Holy Knight questioned her immediately.
This was the Inspectorate of the Holy Knights. A place where nuns could enter but not without specific permission, especially during an interrogation.
Especially when someone was being questioned.
The Holy Knight turned to look at the surveillance Magic Mirror, unsure of what was going on.
No doubt the Holy Knight monitoring the situation from the other side of the mirror was shrugging in confusion, unsure of how the nun had even gotten in.
As if she could read his thoughts, the nun spoke.
“I came in on my own, so please don’t be angry at the person outside.”
Sister Delra spoke with a confidence that seemed almost out of place for someone dedicated to service and devotion.
If one wasn’t paying attention, her words were almost convincing.
However, the Holy Knight was a veteran who had spent many years in the Inspectorate, safeguarding the Holy Capital for decades and educating countless Holy Knights.
Among those, Joanna was one.
That’s why, instead of simply accepting the nun’s words, he asked her to explain the unusual situation of her intrusion into the Inspectorate.
“······Did Prince Roderick send you?”
It was a simple but excellent question.
If she said yes, he could just immediately contact the Archpriest for confirmation.
What was going on lately? The overreach by the nuns was becoming increasingly unsettling. While it was understandable, considering they handled all the dirty work of the Pater Church, something seemed a bit off.
It was becoming suspicious.
The nun answered the Holy Knight’s inquiry.
“No, I came here of my own volition.”
The Holy Knight looked back at the Magic Mirror.
So she had come alone, managing to get in here? Despite having the backing of Archpriest Roderick’s name, this was certainly not right.
“However, it is true that I am here as his aide.”
“I’m sorry, but what does that mean?”
“Sometimes, aides need to act on their own judgment. There are instances where they must handle matters their superiors cannot oversee. This is one of those cases.”
He understood what she meant.
In this world, certain necessary but unsavory tasks had to be done.
The Inspectorate of the Holy Knights was one of those places.
“Could you provide more specific information?”
“I apologize, but I can only tell you that I have something to confirm with her.”
The nun glanced at Joanna, who was gasping for breath.
The Holy Knight pondered whether to grant the nun’s request.
Honestly, her request wasn’t absurd. It was clear that they were in a very sensitive situation, even if he didn’t know the details.
The Archpriests had been holding secret meetings for several days.
By the way, the topic of those meetings was the Dark Sorcerer known as ‘that being.’
The Dark Sorcerer who had slain the Pied Piper, ignored by the Pater Church for centuries, and who might even be connected to the Devil or possibly the end of the world.
He couldn’t quite believe it without seeing it with his own eyes, but judging by the terrifying rumors swirling around and the tense atmosphere within the Holy Capital, the claims seemed to have some merit.
Joanna’s treatment was one example······.
Moreover, Sister Delra’s words were quite persuasive.
For a noble cause, someone had to get their hands dirty, and it was not surprising that an aide and a nun were fulfilling such roles.
No one in the Holy Capital was unaware of the relationship between Archpriest Roderick and the Sisterhood.
And many within the Inspectorate supported Roderick.
Even the Holy Knight himself did.
In the end, the Holy Knight decided to grant the nun’s request after some deliberation.
Strictly speaking, it wasn’t allowed, but he judged it could be fine for just a brief moment.
“Thank you. Could I have a moment alone with her?”
She meant she wanted to talk without any supervision.
The Holy Knight agreed.
“I can only spare a little time.”
“That’s enough.”
“And I’d like to know what you discuss, at least a little.”
“I’ll inform you. That’s a promise.”
Satisfied by Sister Delra’s promise, the Holy Knight left the room quietly.
Not just beyond the interrogation room but even past the walls where he monitored from.
With that, Joanna and Sister Delra were left alone.
“It’s been a long time, Knight.”
Sister Delra greeted Joanna with a smile.
***
“It’s been a long time, Sister.”
Despite having been strangled and slammed into a wall by the Holy Knight, Joanna respectfully returned the Sister’s greeting as she sat back down in her chair.
Her legs were trembling slightly, as if the impact hadn’t yet worn off.
The nun did not miss this.
“Are you alright?”
Was it really concern she was expressing?
As she considered the question, Joanna answered.
“I’m fine, so please don’t worry.”
“······.”
“It’s just a bit of fatigue, nothing to worry about.”
“I’m glad to hear that. I had wondered if you were worrying about someone else.”
Joanna hesitated.
Though she was physically and mentally exhausted from the prolonged interrogation and her concern for Oliver, she wasn’t too tired to miss the underlying message in those words.
Feeling suspicious, Joanna finally asked.
“Is this some kind of Priest-and-Knight strategy?”
Priest-and-Knight strategy.
One of the many techniques employed by Holy Knights.
An intimidating Holy Knight would conduct a rigorous interrogation to wear down the suspect, while a kind priest would comfort and soothe the suspect, making them drop their guard and divulge information.
It was a remarkably successful tactic, despite how obvious it might seem.
Sister Delra laughed.
“I can see why you’d think that······. But that’s not the case, so don’t worry. Besides, you know we don’t get involved in such matters.”
The nun spoke self-deprecatingly, and Joanna could not disagree.
After all, that was the job of the Holy Knights and priests.
The nuns’ duties were service and devotion.
A silent, invisible rule established over the long history of the Pater Church.
Though no one explicitly enforced it, everyone followed that rule.
The priests would lead from the top,
The Holy Knights would maintain order in the middle,
And the nuns would serve from the bottom.
“So there’s no need to be on your guard. To tell the truth, personal curiosity also played a part in my visit here today.”
“······Curiosity?”
“Yes, curiosity about you, Knight Joanna.”
Joanna looked at the nun’s face. It didn’t seem like a lie.
Though she couldn’t quite guess the reason behind her curiosity.
Fortunately, the nun explained her reason soon.
“Because you became a Holy Knight as a woman.”
“Ah······.”
Joanna unintentionally let out a soft gasp.
Indeed, that reasoning made sense.
“As you know, it’s rare for a woman to become a Holy Knight.”
“I won’t deny it.”
Joanna acknowledged it.
Becoming a Holy Knight as a woman was extremely challenging.
It wasn’t impossible, but it required much more effort and talent than would be needed for most men.
That’s why female Holy Knights were often considered geniuses and held in high regard.
Like Joanna.
“And yet other Holy Knights insult you and choke you.”
The nun murmured sympathetically, with a subtle hint of critique towards the Holy Knight.
“Given the situation, he may not have had much choice.”
“Oh, are you defending the person who just threatened you?”
“It’s not so much a defense, more that I understand.”
“Understand?”
“Yes, as you know, most Holy Knights are raised with the mindset and discipline of a Holy Knight from a young age.”
Joanna explained.
She described the education system for Holy Knights.
As Joanna said, Holy Knights were trained from a young age.
They were plucked from across the continent, handpicked by the temple priests for their talent, and brought to the Holy Capital for education and training.
Most were selected when they were no older than eight or thirteen years old.
These children were still impressionable, with their worldviews and values yet to be fully formed.
From that age, they were subjected to strict, and some might say harsh, training.
Their bodies were tempered like steel, often pushed to the brink, thanks to the healing power of Holy Power used to help them endure.
In addition, they were educated intensively in investigative techniques, strategy, tactics, and various forms of etiquette required of a Holy Knight.
All of it from dawn until dusk with barely any time to rest.
But the most thorough aspect of their training was the indoctrination of their minds.
They were constantly told that Holy Knights were the shields that protected humanity, the proud staff that upheld human order—serving as extensions of God, direction by the Holy Emperor’s Palace.
This was ingrained in them every single day, from the time they entered as Holy Knight trainees until they graduated as full-fledged Holy Knights.
It was brainwashing, but most Holy Knights didn’t even realize it.
If it hadn’t been for meeting Oliver, Joanna likely wouldn’t have realized it either.
‘Why shouldn’t the scriptures be interpreted on one’s own?’
‘What meaning is there if one cannot think and judge independently?’
‘I return these scriptures to you. I don’t need them anymore.’
However, having met Oliver, Joanna had been made aware of this and was able to recognize it.
The values that the Holy Knights held as their second faith were constructed solely by the Holy Emperor’s Palace.
That’s why she could understand what drove the Holy Knight to grab her by the throat.
To be denied the values that one holds as the second faith of a Holy Knight was akin to having one’s entire life denied.
Joanna had faced similar challenges herself.
“So I understand. I experienced the same thing myself.”
After listening to Joanna’s explanation, the nun spoke up.
“Yes, I think I understand. To be honest, I once dreamed of becoming a Holy Knight myself.”
Joanna was startled by the unexpected confession.
Dreamed of becoming a Holy Knight?
“Of course, I was deemed unsuitable before entering the Holy Knight School and ended up at the convent instead. But that wasn’t so bad. Though the roles are different, I still serve God.”
“That’s commendable.”
“But because of that past, I both admire and fail to understand you, Knight Joanna.”
“······.”
“How can you make a choice that could cost you your position over a single Dark Sorcerer?”
“······That Dark Sorcerer risked his life to fight the Pied Piper to save the children.”
Joanna thought of Oliver, who had trembled with anxiety because of the Pied Piper.
‘Would you take a look at this?’
With those words, he had held up his trembling hand.
Surprisingly, he too had been terrified. She thought he might want to run away from the situation before him. And yet, he didn’t leave.
He prayed for courage and went forward, to fight the Pied Piper.
To save the children.
In return, all he gained was brutal violence and the fearful gaze of the children who had witnessed it, as well as the disastrous aftermath he had feared.
Joanna heard the Devil’s words echo in her ears from that time.
‘You don’t even know who he is, do you?··· Can you handle the truth?’
And then she thought of The Burned One who had spoken the truth.
Recalling those memories filled Joanna with an indescribable sadness.
The cruel absurdity of fate.
Oliver had merely been born to that fate. Yet, despite that, he had tried to help others.
Seeing herself and the other Holy Knights so quick to judge Oliver as soon as she saw him, Joanna could no longer bear it.
Wouldn’t it be too tragic if even she, who had heard the truth from the Devil, turned her back on him?
“I know how hard he worked. I’ve been observing him since the airship incident. But even so, wasn’t that the wrong thing to do? You know the rules of the Pater Church.”
Joanna replied with silent acknowledgment.
She understood the absolute rules of the Pater Church, which wielded the real power of God.
It was that power and those rules that could create the blind faith of the Holy Knights and establish order across so many nations.
“Our devotion as nuns also stems from it—from the real power of God······. If you continue to be uncooperative, the children could suffer.”
The nun struck at Joanna’s vulnerable spot.
Her burned-down home.
But the children were still alive, here within the Holy Capital.
The Pater Church, which believed in the virtues of love, tolerance, and forgiveness, was, of course, caring for the children. But that care wasn’t guaranteed to continue.
The reduction in funding previously allocated to the Ark Orphanage was proof of that.
And now the situation was worse than it had been back then.
There was now no home, no guardians.
“If you cooperate, I will ensure the children are taken care of.”
“······You came to persuade me then.”
“Please answer my question. Were you being controlled by that being using Dark Magic?”
Joanna closed her eyes, and her siblings’ faces flashed through her mind one by one.
Though they weren’t related by blood, they were siblings bound by God’s will, having grown up together in the orphanage.
After recalling all her siblings, Joanna spoke.
“No, it was my will.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“I can’t commit any more sins while using the children as my shield. My resolve hasn’t changed, so if you’ve finished, please leave.”
“Heh······.”
The nun let out a small laugh after hearing Joanna’s determination.
It was a cold laugh. Joanna looked back at the nun, who smiled with satisfaction.
“That’s a relief. I’m glad to see your will is so firm.”
“······?”
“Actually, the main reason I came here today wasn’t out of curiosity or to persuade you.”
Creak······.
“Is your conversation not over yet?”
The Holy Knight, who had stepped out, opened the door and returned, as if the time was up.
The nun didn’t shift her gaze from Joanna, continuing to speak.
“The main reason I came here was to follow God’s will.”
“Pardon······?”
The question could have come from either the Holy Knight or Joanna, or from both at the same time.
The nun responded, as if whose question it was didn’t matter.
“To follow God’s will to receive the true prince.”
Shunk━━!
At that moment, a sharp metallic sound was heard as the blade pierced into firm flesh.
A blade protruding from the back of the Holy Knight, who had just entered.
Amazingly, it was a sword commonly used by Holy Knights.
A Holy Knight had stabbed the back of another Holy Knight.
“What the, what is this, tra- Ugh!!”
“Grr······!”
“Wait! Are you insane?! What’s the meaning of thi-!”
Then, the sound of clashing blades and screams echoed through the room as another Holy Knight was thrust through the wall.
A Holy Knight, stabbed in the abdomen by another, fell through the wall.
With that impossible commotion as the backdrop, the nun stood up and spoke.
“Come with us. We are going to welcome the true prince.”