Chapter 227
TL/Editor: raei
Status: 5/week mon-fri
Illustrations: none
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For several days, Ian traveled with Father Berum.
Until now, Ian had focused on moving quickly with just Belenka.
Naturally, their luggage was light, and their food and lodging were rough, barely enough to sustain life.
It was uncomfortable, but Ian, now an experienced traveler, could tolerate it well enough.
However, Father Berum's group was completely different from Ian's.
Heavy tents and servants!Servants to manage the horses, skilled cooks for various dishes, and even women in charge of laundry.
If he hadn't introduced himself as a 'priest', one might have mistaken him for a high-ranking nobleman on a journey, given the luxurious procession.
"Come now, Lord Ian! Have another drink!"
"Hmm. This is good wine."
Father Berum had boasted about giving Ian 'special treatment', but.
Within a day, Ian quickly realized.
Father Berum... was just a man who naturally loved luxury!
The venison grilled with fragrant pepper and the sweet aged wine weren't things you could find just anywhere, even with money.
He must have stocked up on plenty of gourmet ingredients, given his keen interest in fine foods.
Lavish feasts were held every night.
Ian was dumbfounded.
Come on, aren't you supposed to be a priest?
What kind of priest lives more luxuriously than barons and counts?
"Oh ho! Where are you looking! Don't you see Lord Ian's cup is empty!"
"Oh my~ I'm sorry, Father!"
"Tsk tsk. Your big bosom is making you sluggish, I see."
Tee-hee-hee!
The beautiful women serving drinks burst into laughter with perfect timing.
Not because Father Berum was sooo funny.
They were just women who were extremely good at socializing.
When the highest-ranking person in the place makes a joke, how could you not laugh?
Seemingly used to it by now, the women giggled at Father Berum's crude humor like he was some department head.
"Here~ Have another drink~"
A woman leaned in close to Ian as she poured the wine.
The intoxicating scent and the soft presence touching his arm.
By Father Berum's standards, this must fall under 'generous hospitality'.
"Our wizard is just too cute!"
"That's right! Such fair skin, and such handsome eyes!"
"I think the wizard's lips are the most attractive!"
The women whispered in Ian's ear with sultry voices, as if blowing a breeze.
Their eyes betrayed their desperate desire to seduce Ian.
In truth, with Ian's level of magical skill, these women would behave the same way even if a pig was sitting there instead of Ian.
Becoming a wizard's wife would mean drastically improving their lot in life, after all.
For someone who enjoyed female company, this situation would be paradise itself.
Beautiful women who supposedly adored him were on standby, just an arm's reach away.
But surprisingly, Ian found the drinking party uncomfortable.
Ian was a perfectly normal heterosexual man who liked women.
But isn't there a limit?
They were coming on so strong, as if they wanted to devour even his bone fragments, that he couldn't feel any affection at all.
"Hmm..."
Maybe he should ask for the women to be removed.
It would be rude to Father Berum, but... so what?
Ian was the one being entertained, and he had the right to enjoy himself as he pleased.
But just then.
"Move aside."
"... Pardon?"
"I said, move your ass."
Belenka created space by smacking the woman's bottom.
The woman glared at Belenka with an expression full of discontent.
Ian sincerely admired that woman's incredible courage.
Wow... Is she doing this even knowing Belenka is a knight?
Belenka smirked as she brushed off the women's glares, then calmly ordered.
"It's cramped here. All of you, go outside and dance."
"... What did you say?!"
Belenka glanced at Ian, who immediately looked at Father Berum and said.
"That sounds like a good idea, doesn't it?"
"Get your butts moving! Don't you hear Lord Ian wants to see you dance!"
"... Yes, sir."
The women shut their mouths tight and reluctantly shuffled to the center of the tent, looking like they'd rather die than leave.
Belenka stared at them intently, her expression unchanging.
What are you gonna do if you're not happy? What can you do?
Just shake your asses out there. My ambitious friends?
A quick-witted musician immediately started playing a dance tune.
Belenka whispered as she poured wine into Ian's cup.
"You looked uncomfortable. Did I butt in unnecessarily?"
Ian smiled and replied.
"No. Thanks, Belenka."
Though they were having a secret conversation, from afar it looked like lovers sharing an intimate moment.
Father Berum clicked his tongue.
No wonder... he showed no reaction even with beautiful women around.
His girlfriend was right next to him! (Not true)
Father Berum was convinced as he looked at Belenka's radiant face.
Of course. A great wizard would naturally be dating such a lovely foreigner! Certainly!
Father Berum abandoned his plan to win Ian's favor through beautiful women and moved on to the next stage.
"So, Lord Ian, where are you headed?"
"I'm going to the Imperial University in Dranheim."
"The Imperial University! How splendid!"
In a certain small country in the East, anyone with money can go to university, but.
In fact, universities were originally high-level educational institutions that only scholars with accumulated knowledge could enter.
In an era where even learning to read was difficult, accumulating knowledge was truly challenging.
"When I was young, I wanted to go to university too. But I gave up because I had no money."
"I see."
Ian half-listened, but judging by Berum's attitude, he seemed half-serious.
"My older brother was a greedy man. He hoarded all the family fortune, and I had no choice but to become a priest."
As expected.
Berum was the second son of a noble family.
It was natural in this Holy Empire for the firstborn to inherit the family and the second son to leave home and become a priest.
Ian immediately sensed it.
This is exactly the type of person Father Isilla really dislikes...
Father Isilla was wary of the corruption of Heaven's Faith.
Heaven's Faith was clearly a religion for the masses, meant for all people.
But priests from noble backgrounds were gradually turning the order into a hierarchical power structure.
No matter how renowned Father Isilla was, it was impossible for him to stop this historical trend.
In a few hundred years, they'd probably be selling indulgences to make money.
"Father, where are you headed?"
Father Berum answered jovially.
"I'm going to Count Dufel's domain!"
Coincidentally, Ian's destination overlapped.
Ian had also planned to resupply in Count Dufel's domain.
"Count Dufel passed away recently, you see."
"... He died?"
Ian tilted his head for a moment.
Imperial funerals were, of course, officiated by priests.
The reason Father Berum was heading to Count Dufel's domain was probably to conduct the funeral and serve as a witness for the succession of titles.
But that raised a question.
... Doesn't Count Dufel's domain have its own priest?
Heaven's Faith priests have 'parishes'. Simply put, a parish is the designated area each priest is responsible for.
There was no reason for Father Berum, coming from another region, to handle the sacraments in Count Dufel's domain.
"But, the priest of Count Dufel's domain..."
"Ah. That fellow had a bit of trouble. I agreed to take over for him."
"... I see."
Although he felt a bit uneasy, Ian let it slide.
It's not like Ian knew all the details of Count Dufel's domain anyway. It wasn't his place to interfere.
"I was planning to stop by Count Dufel's domain too. I guess we'll be traveling together until the end?"
"Haha! What a coincidence! Surely heaven is watching over us!"
Though there was a suspicious smell in the air, Ian had no intention of parting ways with Father Berum.
The beds were comfortable and the food was delicious!
Since he'd decided to leech off him anyway, he might as well stick to him like a leech and suck him dry until the end!
'This meat is fucking delicious.'
Ian thought as he cut into the steak that melted in his mouth.
Father Berum loved luxury so much that the skills of the cook he hired were top-notch.
In the bountiful modern society, searching for local restaurants and going around was considered a culinary journey.
But in this desolate medieval fantasy world, opportunities to taste such gourmet food were rare.
"Father. Those girls don't seem to want to dance. Their expressions are..."
"What?! Get those asses moving properly before I have them spanked!"
"Eep..."
Ian tormented the women who had been clinging to him persistently just moments ago while leisurely enjoying his meal.
------
The exciting culinary journey with Father Berum was coming to an end.
After eating and drinking merrily, they had suddenly arrived at Count Dufel's domain.
"Oh..."
"Haha. You seem surprised. It's quite a magnificent place, isn't it?"
Surprisingly, Count Dufel's domain had a proper city.
It was a city called 'Heltingen' ruled by Count Dufel.
Until now, Ian had only seen domains with huts surrounded by wooden fences (Barony of Talian) or those with modest castles built (Barony of Kaltz).
This was almost the first time Ian had seen a city protected by real medieval-style walls.
A natural moat using the river and high outer walls.
Inside the walls were rows of tall two-story houses, and further in was the inner castle where the lord and distinguished guests resided.
It was a beautiful scene straight out of a European postcard.
... Actually, it might be more suitable as a default Windows wallpaper, but anyway, Heltingen was a proper medieval fantasy city.
"Uncle. Now that we're here, shouldn't we part ways with that wizard..."
"Get lost, you horse-lover."
"..."
Zenik felt like he was going crazy with frustration.
No, I'm! Not! A horse-lover!!!
But no matter how much he protested, his uncle, who had already been bewitched(?) by the wizard, wouldn't listen to a word Zenik said.
Zenik was treated like leftovers even in Heltingen.
"Welcome! Father Berum! We've been waiting for you with bated breath!"
"Haha! Don't lose your head now! Young Master Fin."
Ian followed Berum and immediately met the lord.
The lord's name was Fin.
He was the son of the late Count Dufel and would soon become the new count.
Though called 'young master', he was in his mid to late 30s.
If the count doesn't die, you're still 'young master' whether you're 30 or 40.
Just like how there was a man called 'prince' even at 70 because the queen lived too long.
"We need to execute the will quickly..."
"Oh my. My legs are so sore from traveling so far. I wish I could rest in a soft bed..."
Does he really need a soft bed? Or does he need soft breasts?
Ian was suspicious, but anyway, when Berum complained of fatigue and lay down, Fin was at a loss for words.
What can you do when a priest says he doesn't want to work?
Fin whispered secretly to Berum.
"Father... If we don't execute that bastard quickly, I'll be in trouble!"
"Don't be so impatient. You've already caught him, haven't you? If a future lord gets anxious over trivial matters, what will your subordinates think?"
"... I understand. I was too hasty."
Ian stood there blankly, listening to their secret? conversation.
What the... They're treating Ian like he's some kind of invisible man or scarecrow.
Is this like some grand strategy game where anyone below the rank of baron isn't considered human?
Finding it ridiculous, Ian asked Father Berum directly.
"Who is the lord planning to kill?"
"Ah. There's such a person. Count Dufel's bastard son."
Berum spoke nonchalantly.
"What was it, Baron Mud or something? Quite a famous thief."
"???"
Ian's jaw dropped.
'Count Dufel's bastard son' was, ridiculously enough, someone Ian knew.
Baron Mud.
In the past, he had hired the wizard Inglan to try to rob Talian's ancestral tomb, only to be chased away by Ian!
He had completely forgotten about him...
He's about to be executed!
"That's good news, isn't it?"
"Indeed. They say he lived by digging up other people's graves, so the empire benefits from the death of such a man."
Ian vowed to make sure he watched Baron Mud's execution...!
---
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