Chapter 224

  The History of House Lowen

  After the disastrous meeting with the Duchess, Lowen stormed out of the meeting room with a scowl. Along the way, he pushed himself past a few maidservants who were bringing baskets freshly cleaned sheets.

  One of them lost her balance and almost fell when a strong hand caught her in time. The woman saw the bearded Commander and stuttered. “S-sir!”

  “Look at where you’re going,” Hastings glanced at the furry ears peeking out of her cowl and sighed. “You’re new here?” he asked, as he straightened her up.

  “Y-yes.”

  “You’re overburdening your basket. Next time only bring the amount you can carry,” he said tersely. “As you were.”

  The female Beastfolk nodded bashfully and quickly joined her fellow maidservants as if running away.

  Then, the old Unrestrained Candidate spotted a familiar figure with the girth of a barrel and the grace of a rock.

  “Rickert,” Babblebrook greeted him.

  “Rudolph.”

  “What did you hear?” Hastings asked with narrowed eyes.

  “Nothing,” he replied as he glanced towards the direction Archdeacon Lowen was heading to. “Judging by the looks of it, Archdeacon Lowen did not heed my words to agree to the Duchess’s request?”

  “You know he wouldn’t. You think the words of a traitor will move him?”

  “…I’m just trying to keep things from escalating. Furthermore, the fault was on our side.”

  “And you must know that he cannot agree, even if that was the truth.”

  “Then, why didn’t you persuade him? You are his most trusted man.”

  “No. You were! Up until you decide to forget all that the he had done for us!...I’m just the one who get his shit done,” the man exclaimed. Though his voice was not loud, the accusatory tone was deeply apparent. “You and I, we’d never be in our position now if it wasn’t for him.”

  The two looked at each other, a complex feeling arose from Babblebrook’s heart. “That…”

  “Can’t even answer me, can you?” the man growled and scratched his head in exasperation. “Enough. I’ve got to update the stupid bastard who started this whole shitshow and get him up to par.”

  As he turned to leave, Archdeacon Babblebrook asked. “Do you really think that he’s right in his hatred towards the other Races?”

  “What I really think doesn’t matter. My official stance is. Tomorrow, my soldiers will trounce the Duchess’s men. And that’s all I’m going to say.”

  That evening, Nick called upon the three members of the Grey Ghosts and told them to prepare for tomorrow’s duel before joining the others in private room of a tavern near Elfriede’s house. It belonged to a friend of hers.

  “Ah, Nick. Ready for tomorrow’s battle?” Akula said, raising a mug as soon as he saw him.

  “I will be, after I got some ale in me,” he said as he took the mug proffered to him by the Centaur.

  “Take a seat, little Matilda here is about to explain about the Church’s hierarchy,” Lihua spoke, gesturing elegantly to an empty chair next to Martell. “Please continue, dear.”

  Matilda, who was very much feeling out of place, started. “Currently, the position in the Church of Junnaveil is as follows: The Maiden of Water; who acts as the Head of the Faith. Below her are the Archdeacons, Deacons, Subdeacons, Priests, and Aspirants. With most of them being Clerics or its variants. As for Church Knights, they have more or less the same ranks as that of regular armies.”

  “That reminds me, Nick,” Martell turned to Nick, who was talking long gulps of his ale. “You are a Paladin, right? Isn’t that a Job specific to a Church Knight? Were you one of them before?”

  “No. I just paid for it,” he wiped the ale foam from his lips with the back of his hand. “At the time, I needed a more powerful job, so I paid an exorbitant amount as hush money to a Deacon and had my Job changed.”

  “T-that’s absurd!” Matilda went wide-eyed. “How is that possible?”

  “Welcome to the real world, little girl.”

  “Now, now. Let’s not tease the poor child,” Lihua said. “Anything else we need to know regarding recent happenings in the Church? Any little thing would help.”

  “Um, well…if there is one thing I notice, it’s that after the miracle the Maiden of Water performed last year, she is getting very popular, which some people don’t like. I think it’s stupid, wasn’t that proof that Junnaveil look favorably upon us?”

  “Indeed,” Martell agreed. “And I suppose this includes Archdeacon Lowen?”

  “Yes. Him and Archdeacon Muller are the most vocal ones,” the young girl looked around to see if there are any members of the clergy around before leaning in and whispered loudly. “Personally, they both scares me.”

  “How are the two of them dare to contest the highest authority of the Faith?” Connie asked.

  “I think it would be more appropriate for me to elaborate on that.”

  Everyone on the table turned to look at the source of the voice. It was Archdeacon Babblebrook and Millicent. Babblebrook pulled up a seat, which creaked as he put his whole weight on top of it.

  “I – I should be going now,” Matilda tried to stand. But the Archdeacon gestured for her to stay. “Stay, Matilda. This is something you too should know if you want to rise higher in the hierarchy.”

  “Sorry for the wait. We had another meeting to make sure that the duel tomorrow will happen without a problem,” Millicent apologized.

  A wan smile appeared on Babblerook’s lips. “And believe me, there were a lot of screaming from the other side,” the man paused, helping himself to a piece of fruit. “Now, where were we? Oh yes. The two Archdeacon…”

  “Out of the two, the one you need to be wary of the most is Archdeacon Lowen. His family had been servants of the Church for four generations now. The influence they held in the Church and the political sphere is deeply rooted.”

  “I thought clergymen are not allowed to marry,” Martell asked, tracing a drop of water on the table with his finger.

  “Correct. But the Lowen Family found a loophole that they had been using for centuries. They had meticulously kept their family line in power by having at least two males in one generation. They will send the most promising one to the Church and groom him to be Archdeacon. While the other one will continue the bloodline,” Babblebrook further explained.

  “Then the idiot that harassed Madame Sui and Akula is the latter,” Illumca stated.

  “Yes. The other one is currently a Deacon. He had been sent to the border to gain merit.”

  “Nepotism at its finest. What a revelation,” Connie spoke upon listening to Babblebrook’s explanation. “What about Archdeacon Muller?”

  “He is…an avaricious man. But he is just a follower who gained power by sticking to Lowen like a leech. Instead of him, Commander Hastings is the one who you must be wary of.”

  Millicent nodded in agreement. “The man had the respect of the majority of the Church Knights. And is a good leader. However, he is staunchly loyal to Archdeacon Lowen. We had tried to persuade him to join our side, but it was to no avail.”

  “That is why I am worried for tomorrow’s duel. I would understand if it was you yourself who would fight tomorrow, Duchess. Or any of the Unrestrained Candidates in your employ. However, regular soldiers fighting against Church Knights would be - please do not take offense - very risky.”

  “Hmm…” Connie popped a piece of grape into her mouth and turned to Nick. “What do you think, Nick? What’s the verdict for tomorrow?”

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  “There’s no question, Milady. We will win!”

  Seeing the middle-aged man who had spilled ale all over himself, Babblebrook did not feel confident of his chances.

  When tomorrow came, a crowd had gathered at the training ground of the Church Knights, located at their barracks, where a combat arena about three hundred square meters with stone tiles were. Its surface was well-worn, with traces of slashes and cracks from heavy use. Hundreds of clergymen and Church Knights that were not on duty were there. Elfriede, who had come to spectate, were provided seats a few steps below the ornate chair of the Maiden of Water. Behind her stood her second-in-command.

  As the promised time had come, a bald man with a large build walked to the middle of the combat arena. “Greetings everyone! Greetings and salutations! I am Major Donovan Wordsworth of the Blue Lions Fifth Division! I have been asked as to be the referee for today’s duel, to solve the personal dispute between Duchess Cornelia Asterium Steelheart and Archdeacon Efram Lowen. They will be represented by four fighters from each side, in a fight with no holds barred! The fight will continue until one side surrenders or is deemed unable to fight!”

  Then, Millicent appeared from behind the Maiden of Water’s seat, holding the curtain from behind which Allenca walked out of. She was in her formal robe of white and blue. Her head adorned with a simple silver crown. The people stood up in respect upon her arrival, upon which she raised her arm. “I…as the Maiden of Water…will act as the witness…ooof this duel.”

  She looked to the left, to the stage where Connie, and her companions were. And then to the right, where Archdeacon Lowen and Commander Hastings were.

  “May Junnaveil grant us her blessings…,” she gave her blessings before finally taking her seat.

  Donovan bowed deeply once towards Allenca before bellowing. “Would the representatives of both sides please come to the side of the stage!!”

  Nick, who had been sitting in the gloom of the hallway nodded to the three men in front of him. “It’s time.”

  When the four of them walked out into the light, they were greeted with boos and jeers. As for the other side, they were welcomed with shouts of encouragement. Nick looked up at Connie and did a clasped hand salute, followed by his men. She acknowledged them with a firm nod. By her side, the Poison Slime was blissfully feeding the Golden Silkworm Mulberry Leaves.

  “This duel will be a four-on-four fight…!” Donovan began to explain. While he was doing so, Connie scratched his temple. “Hmmm…this won’t do. This won’t do at all.”

  “What do you mean, Connie?” Akula asked.

  “I don’t want us to just win, but to utterly humiliate him. I want that man to understand the consequences of slighting us.”

  “In that case, may I suggest something, Mistress?” Martell said with a bright smile. Connie leaned to the right so that the boy could whisper into her ear. After he was finished, he asked her. “How is it?”

  “Who am I to stifle the creativity of my disciple?” Connie gestured with her finger. “Ask Nick if he’s able to deliver.”

  Martell quickly jumped down to the lower ground and whispered to Nick. Nick harrumphed once before giving Connie a firm salute. A slight curve appeared on Connie’s lips.

  “Please wait,” Connie said. Her words, strengthened by Energy, interrupted Donovan’s words. And all eyes turned to her.

  “Four on four seems…uneven, don’t you think? I propose that we make it the best two out of three instead. What do you think, O Maiden of Water?”

  “We have agreed on the rule beforehand. Changing it so haphazardly is impossible!” Commander Hastings said.

  “I…agree…this is…out of the question.”

  “Please wait, Your Eminence. May I think about this for a few moments?” Lowen surprisingly said.

  “…yooou may…”

  “My thanks,” Archdeacon Lowen gestured for Oslo to come to him. After a hushed discussion, he tapped his finger on his armchair with a sinister smile while he weighed his options. “We will agree to the change of the rule under two conditions. First, this sudden change of rule is burdening to our side, so we wish for you to add an incentive for us,” he spoke. “And second, we would like to be able to choose the opponent that our fighters will face.”

  This response drew murmurs and discussions among the crowd.

  “That’s a lot to ask.”

  “You think? The Duchess dared to change the rule right as the duel is about to happen. How mannerless!”

  Martell chewed on this for a moment before whispering his thoughts to Connie. After that, Connie replied to the man’s counteroffer. “For the first Item, if we are to lose, I am prepared to hand over half the income of my business for ten years. However, we would like to amend the second item. In that the privilege of choosing the opponent that the next fighter will face, will belong to the side who lost in the previous round. And a fighter that had fought cannot be chosen again. In the case of a draw, the privilege will stay with the side that chose the opponent for that round.”

  Hearing her answer, the Archdeacon could not hide his glee. Fool. That hubris will be your downfall. My nephew had been equipped with the best equipment that we could buy. I will squeeze you down to your last drop of blood!

  “Agreed!!”

  Both of them then turned to Allenca, who was inwardly regurgitating harshly worded scoldings to Connie for changing the script so suddenly.

  “Are you…booooth…sure?”

  The two voiced their agreement.

  Allenca then waved her hand, a sign of acknowledgement to the change of the rules.

  With the blessings given, Donovan proceeded to speak. “With the change of the rules, the duel will now be the best two out of three! As agreed, may the representative of Archdeacon Lowen choose their opponent!!”

  Wasting no time, Morris pointed at the weakest looking man in Nick’s group. A thin man who looked so plain that he was so utterly and pitifully forgettable.

  “I choose him!”

  The man pointed at himself awkwardly.

  “M-me?”

  “Sir Derrick Grants versus Sir Lutz Fischer!! All fighters into the combat arena please!”

  The fighter from the Archdeacon Lowen’s side was a cruel looking man with a rough-shaven beard. He wore a common Church Knight armor that gleamed under the sunlight, he made clanking noise as he moved. The other side wore only ringmail shirt with padded leather armor on his chest and limbs. In his hand, he held an Oaken staff bound with leather.

  Elfriede blinked in disbelief. “Are my eyes deceiving me? It looks like the one that came up from the Duchess’s side is a Cleric.”

  The second-in-command; a man with dark hair and a sharp chin, nodded with an uncertain tone. “I’m…afraid you’re correct. That build…is too scrawny to be a swordsman.”

  “Pitting a Cleric against a Swordsman?! Is the Duchess insane?” Elfriede sighed. “This is going to be brutal.”

  The same type of conversation was also happening on the spectators’ side. Some guffawed at this oversight of the arrogant Duchess. While others sighed at the foreseeable end of the poor Cleric.

  Donovan looked at the poor, awkward man and could only shake his head. “On my mark, the duel will begin. Skills and Spells are allowed, but the usage of Recovery Items and hidden weapons are not allowed. Take your places!!”

  Derrick unsheathed his sword with an apparent glee as he turned around. “I’m going to make you regret living, little man.”

  Donovan glanced left and right then shouted. “Begin!!”

  At the signal, Derrick leaped forward and swung down heavily towards Lutz, who raised his staff to shield himself against the attack. However, he was pushed back a few steps, unable to disperse the force.

  With an arrogant laugh, the Church Knight swung his sword repeatedly, chasing the poor Cleric who were now running away pathetically. “Come here you pathetic little shit!!”

  The spectators laughed at this tomfoolery, their howls and jeer mocking the Cleric’s desperate legs trying to get away from his attacker.

  “Are you sure he can handle it, Nick?” Akula asked from atop the stage.

  “I don’t know if he can win, but he definitely will not lose,” Nick said, watching his charge desperately deflecting an attack aimed at his leg.

  On the other side, Hastings’s eyes widened slightly when he saw that Derrick’s swing was losing speed and his posture was becoming unstable. “He’s trying to tire you out!” Hastings bellowed. “Make your finishing move!!”

  The man was not stupid, he too had realized this, and once he saw that Lutz was within reach, he used Raging Slash. In an instant, his body were launched forward by the Skill and his sword cut open the right side of Lutz’s abdomen. Red blood spilled onto the stone floor.

  “NO!” Akula shouted.

  Allenca gripped the handle of his armchair so hard her knuckles turned white. Archdeacon Lowen gloated as he was assured of his win.

  Still in his finishing pose, Derrick saw the blood on his sword and raised his hands in victory, sweat running down his reddened face. The inside of his armor was wet and uncomfortable from heat and sweat.

  Suddenly, something swept his leg and he fell crashing onto the ground, losing his sword. Then he saw the wounded Cleric towering above him, blood running wet from his wounded side. “Heal,” the man declared his Spell. A white light of healing gathered to his side and the wound began to close on itself.

  “It seems that the Goddess did not wish for me to die today, Sir Derrick,” the man said, rubbing the deep notch that was caused by the Skill his opponent used. The staff had managed to absorb the brunt of the attack, lessening the power before it cut through his boiled leather armor and through his flesh. It did not reach his inner organ, though.

  Sensing danger, Derrick made a move to reach for the sword that had fallen to his right, but Lutz swung his staff down, smashing his face in.

  “What’s happening?” Illumca, who rarely showed surprise, blinked in confusion. “Nick?”

  “Lutz is our newest member,” Nick began to explain. “He was a Priest of the Church in Greyvault who wanted to be a Grey Ghost after reading ‘the book’. As he was a Healer, he was the weakest among physically, even after he had learned Cultivation. But when I was training him, I found out that he was hiding his true self. Something dangerous, but useful. That’s why I took him with us. I want to see what happens if we really push him.”

  Derrick screamed, holding his broken nose and tried to get up. "S-sdhay haway!!"

  “Sir Derrick, a Servant of Junnaveil should not overindulge in alcohol or harass the fairer sex,” Lutz spoke with an enraptured tone. “I, as Her instrument, shall put it upon myself to punish your flesh, so that your soul learns to be humble.”

  Lutz straddled on the man’s back - who had been blinded from the blood that had gotten into his eyes - slipped his staff under Derrick’s neck and started pulling the staff back using both hands.

  “Open your heart and seek forgiveness! So that you may enter into her embrace!!”

  The poor man grasped onto the staff, trying to relieve the pressure to his neck, but the zealous Lutz’s hands were firm.

  “Let go, Sir Derrick. Let go and open your heart to Her presence,” he whispered, as the man’s face started to turn blue.

  “Stop! Stop!” Donovan ran up to the two and quickly pushed Lutz away from Derrick. He turned his body around and saw that his eyes had rolled back. After a brief examination, Donovan declared. “Private Derrick Grantz had been incapacitated! Private Lutz is the winner ~!

  The plain looking man fell onto his knees and raised both hands to the sky with a shout of rejoicing. “O Goddess! I thank you for this victory that you have gifted me!!”

  There was no cheer or boos, only silence, as the spectators were stunned by what they had just witnessed. “H-how is this possible?! A Cleric just defeated a Swordsman? Am I dreaming?”

  “That is…intense,” a clergyman said.

  “Intense? He’s not right in the head!”

  Hastings shook his head in disappointment. It was not an honourable fight. It was something that one could only see in alleyways or in the battlefield. Ugly, unpleasant, but practical.

  Elfriede, raised an eyebrow with an awkward smile. "It was an obvious play. But it was a razor thin difference. If the opponent was not as easily led on as he was, he would have lost the duel."

  “This - ! How is this a fight between Knights?!” Archdeacon Lowen complained. “This is a disgrace!!”

  “Do you expect a Cleric to fight like a Swordsman? Might as well ask a Swordsman to fight like a Wizard,” Connie replied simply, as she gave victorious Lutz a thumb’s up. “Now then, shall we continue? None of the remaining three are Clerics, just so you know.”

  “AAAARGH!”