141
Mini lung
“I am Johelia of the Knights Templar. Who are you?”
I pondered for a moment over the simple yet existential question of the mini-lung.
‘But it’s called Johelia. Or Johelia.’
After struggling with the ambiguous pronunciation, I opened my mouth to hear the horse’s taunts.
“I am Aaron, the Honorary Monk.”
I answered, patting my cape. It was a great introduction to anyone, but Mini Lung-gyup’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“······Honorary monk? Hmm.”
Mini Lung-gyeop, who had been silent for a moment, turned his gaze back to Lung-gyeop.
“Let’s talk later.”
Mini Lungeup, after saying a few words, lowered his helmet again and pulled the reins.
Then the procession moved again and entered through the wide open gates.
The carriage approaches.
A sweet smell filled the air.
As the carriage passed by, I glanced up and looked at the carriage.
Why does such a sweet smell come from the cardinal’s carriage?
I remembered what the five elders had said: ‘I will contact you later.’
It was the first time I smelled devil candy since then.
‘You sent the cardinal to make contact?’
I couldn’t be sure. Not all of the guys who smelled like devil candy were brothers to begin with.
So I couldn’t be sure that they were brothers even though they smelled sweet…
‘I have a feeling that’s going to happen.’
The brothers were the ones who knew the identity of the management office. If they weren’t like that, how could the carriage carrying the cardinal have smelled like that?
‘There was a man who seemed to be a heretic among the brothers at that time···.’
The sweet smell grew stronger as I got closer, and my head became more and more complicated.
Compared to how happy my brothers were to see me, it felt like the contact was a bit late.
‘If they really send a cardinal-level messenger to make contact, the devil candies might be bigger than I thought.’
A cardinal was a title immediately below the Pope in the religious order. There were many of them as the religious order spread over a wide continent, but even so, they were cardinals.
It wasn’t something that could be simply sent here and there.
If you move a cardinal like that, or if that cardinal is a devil candy…
‘I think my stomach might explode if I eat this much.’
I lowered my head, trying hard to suppress the corners of my lips from rising.
The carriage was constructed so that the inside could not be seen from the outside. It seemed to be covered with medieval-style tinting.
The devil candy inside the carriage must have noticed me, but there was no reaction.
The procession disappeared into the castle.
‘···Didn’t you come here to contact me?’
His head became even more complicated.
“Phew······.”
I was awakened from my thoughts by a deep sigh. When I turned my head, I saw Lunggyup looking up at the sky with a tired face.
It seemed like there was a story, but I wasn’t particularly curious.
Cassidy was a frontier, a place of exile. How many people would have come there on their own or been pushed there without a story?
Then, as I was looking at his profile, I suddenly became curious.
“But are you Joheliai? Or Johelia?”
The lungs stared at me in response to my question.
Although he had a formal expressionless face, his strangely sunken eyes stared at me intently.
“Johelia.”
The old man answered with a frown as if he were talking to someone with a hooked tongue.
Unlike before, Lunggyup did not lie down, but just stared blankly straight ahead. His eyes were unfocused, as if he was looking at the distant past.
The uncomfortable atmosphere that arose like that. To ventilate the atmosphere, I was thinking of telling a joke about the Hanyang Jo clan and the Yangju Jo clan, but I shook my head.
Just then, a carriage driver approached. He looked familiar. He was a talkative, bad drinker, and a loud braggart.
I glanced at the lungs. Seeing that they were still blankly staring, I could tell that they would continue to sink if left alone.
“Would you like to check it out?”
The officer, whose focus had returned to my question, looked up at me.
The focus became clear and a small spark of interest was lit in those emotionless eyes.
The sergeant blinked and nodded. I nodded back and pointed at the carriage driver with my chin.
Since I watched the inspection all day, I thought I would be able to do it without any explanation.
The search itself wasn’t anything special. They just gave me a vicious look and swung their fists and that was it.
When I explained it in words, it sounded like a gangster, but if you put on iron and get paid, you’ll become an excellent security guard.
The carriage driver who noticed me approached me hesitantly. I nodded to him.
···Nod.
He approached the carriage driver with slightly lighter steps.
I saw the lungs being knocked down from behind.
“Why is this heretic inquisitor here···”
As the carriage drew near, the driver asked in a panicked voice.
The bastard standing in front of him stretched out his right leg and awkwardly stepped on his leg.
Then he turned his head slightly and glared at the carriage driver. He just glared without doing anything else.
It was a very good check even though I didn’t teach it.
However, the problem was that the outfit was that of an inquisitor and there was no one to play Berman’s role.
When the inquisitor glared at him, the carriage driver was startled, recited a clumsy prayer, and placed his left hand on his forehead.
‘He’s right-handed, you idiot.’
The bastard looked at me with slightly larger eyes than usual, perhaps taken aback by my violent reaction.
Judging by the way his hand was resting on the mace, he seemed to be torn between his temporary role as a guard and that of an inquisitor.
I approached him, clicking my tongue.
“Ah… Aaron! Yes! Aaron! You tell me! How faithful I have been! And whenever I come to Catholic, I also stop by the synagogue….”
The guy who saw me hung on to me, sweating profusely.
In fact, since the main job of the Inquisitor was to search the mind’s dens, this was a common reaction when encountering him.
“I heard you cursed at me at the bar last time.”
I dug my ears and asked the bastard.
This guy was the same petty bastard who cussed me out for losing a fair game of dice on my last visit, even though I had done him a favor.
“It’s been over a year…, no! Who… Who said such nonsense! I am the hope of Cassady! The coolest man in Cassady! Why would I have insulted Aaron! It’s a lie from those who are jealous of the relationship between you and me!”
The guy who looked like he had been caught stealing shook his body violently and grabbed me with an awkward laugh.
I gave him a quick nod, and he trembled as he took out his pocket and placed it in my hand.
This guy is like a snake, and he always got away with it shamelessly, but it seems like he can’t do anything in front of the heretic inquisitor.
I opened the pocket and looked at its contents. It looked thick, but it was all copper.
‘What a clever guy.’
I nodded to the sergeant and handed him half of what was in my pocket.
The Cooper in my hand blinked for a moment.
Next, I examined the guy’s carriage. As expected of a clever guy, it was filled with only things that the lord would buy.
“But I came too late, and the purchase was already finished for today. But I can’t go in.”
I pointed out the bastard’s mistake while scratching the ball. It was already almost sunset.
“No! It’s late! The sun hasn’t even set yet! How can that be! Aaron, didn’t we have a beer together? How can it not be?”
The guy asked, handing me a silver coin.
“I want to help, but I can’t help it. It’s a special order from the Lord.”
I took the silver coins with the most pitiful expression I could muster.
“Ugh······.”
He looked at the silver coin as if he felt sorry for the guy and let out a sigh.
“For now, sleep here and we’ll deal tomorrow.”
At my words, Lunggeup pointed with his finger to where he had been sleeping.
It was located in a corner of the city gate, so it could avoid the wind and also be the first to trade when the gate opened. It could be considered a very good location.
Then he held out his palm. It was a perfect inspection posture.
The man hesitated for a moment, then took out a silver coin with a sad face and handed it to the servant.
“How can a person sleep in a place like that? It looks like livestock has relieved themselves by looking at the pile of dirt on it…”
And he complained a little.
It was a mark left by the old man lying down eating or drinking something, but it seemed different to someone who didn’t know him.
The face of the servant, who had become flustered in an instant, hurriedly shook his head and gestured.
It basically meant that it was unfair.
“That may be the case. It’s not shameful.”
As he teased him, the old man lowered his hand towards the mace.
“It’s so cozy! I can sleep well! And it’s right in front of the castle gate, so there’s no danger! The sky is my blanket, and the cold night air is my wife!”
The startled man quickly lay down on the blanket.
It was a great deal that everyone was happy with.
***
‘They said they were security guards, but they’re really doing a security check.’
Four… no, Cardinal Gobert muttered, scratching his neck with his fingers. One finger on his hand was empty.
‘But how come the third one smells like that?’
Gobersan just reviewed the situation.
I had heard that he was the third son and had a bad smell, but when I actually met him, I couldn’t help but be surprised.
‘···There he was looking at the carriage,’
It was a carriage that had a special device that allowed the outside to be seen from the inside, but the inside could not be seen from the outside.
Gobert saw the man peeking out from outside at the carriage. It was a carriage carrying a cardinal, so it was understandable for a member of the religious order to do so, but from his appearance, the man seemed far from religious.
Moreover, those eyes were not filled with the admiration of those who looked at the cardinal. That meant that he could smell it.
‘······I don’t know what happened.’
His appearance was full of the feeling of a third eldest son.
There was no room for doubt, since the fifth eldest son, who had been following the third eldest son so much, had acknowledged it.
‘Um······,’
Gobersan let out a small groan and bit the tip of his fingernail.
The situation was complicated. I had no choice but to come to Cassidy because I was ordered to meet the third person in person, but he was a guy who could smell his brother…
Gobert’s plan to hide his face as much as possible by putting someone else out there has been foiled.
For Gobert, who was a cardinal, showing his face to his brothers was no different from revealing his own weakness.
dripping.
“We have arrived, Your Eminence.”
Gobersan’s thoughts were broken by a cold voice heard from outside.
“Okay.”
Gobersan waved his hand slightly as he looked at his torn and bleeding fingernails. Then, a white light appeared and the wounds instantly healed.
The door opened and a small synagogue was revealed. Priests and inquisitors lined up in front of the carriage.
And right in front of him was the Knights Templar, protecting him. They were a bodyguard worthy of a king.
Moreover, the eyes of those who looked at Mount Gober were filled with admiration.
It was a natural thing. To them, Gobersan was a true saint.
Gobersan became anxious when he saw him. He knew that when his identity was revealed, their perspective would change.
Even if their eyes were friendly now, to him it was a knife hanging around his neck. It wasn’t just a knife that could cut off a person’s neck if it got twisted, it was a knife that could peel off all their skin.
In particular, the pressure from the Johelia Temple Knights was the most uncomfortable.
Gobersan hid his true feelings and raised the corners of his mouth. He relaxed his eyes and nodded, and a prayer could be heard from around him.
As I entered the synagogue, I felt like I was in prison and my throat was parched.
I feel like at any moment someone might show up and point a finger at me and call me the devil.
Although Gobert had been involved in the religious world for a long time, enough to rise to the rank of cardinal, such delusions became increasingly severe.
After having a useless conversation with the priests, I arrived at a certain room.
A simple room with no decorations and only a Bible.
Gobersan could tell who the owner was without even asking.
Then, my eyes met with the Johelia Temple Knight in front of me.
“I think you knew that heretic inquisitor from earlier.”
Gobersan opened his mouth to break the heavy silence.
“yes.”
An incredibly short answer. Even an imperial noble would not give such a short answer to a cardinal’s question, but it was a truly arrogant answer.
‘Those Knights Templar.’
It was always that kind of attitude, under the pretense of only listening to the Pope.
‘The Pope···.’
Gobersan rolled the sweet words around in his mouth a few times.
Having risen to the rank of cardinal, becoming the Pope wasn’t exactly a dream come true, but······.
‘The brothers are the problem.’
I couldn’t even imagine what kind of demands he would make if he became the Pope. It would be worse than it is now, it wouldn’t get any better.
Of course, Gobert had previously been full of zeal and antipathy toward false scriptures, hostility toward hypocrites, and pity for those who were deceived by them, but it was the nature of the place to make the man.
Gobert had already been a cardinal for quite some time. He had spent more time in the religious order than he had with his brothers.
Gobersan turned his gaze towards Johelia again.
“I saw you earlier, you looked similar.”
I asked sensitive questions to get at least some information. At the same time, I was recalling information about Johelia in my head.
“yes.”
A short answer. But the voice was subtly sharp, as if telling me not to ask any more questions.
Gobersan then deduced the identity of the heretic inquisitor he had seen earlier. It didn’t take long because they looked similar to begin with.
“Is that the ‘Demon Judge’ who was your brother? The first one to be demoted from the Knights Templar?”
There was no response. But the absence of an answer was also a response.
‘···Why is the Demon Judge here?’
It was a famous story. The story of how one of the most prominent Knights Templar was demoted and disappeared.
The Knights Templar were not responsible for any of their misdeeds because of the Papal indulgences. The story of the Knights Templar’s demotion was quite famous.
“It’s not a demotion… No.”
Although his speech was interrupted, it was the first time a long answer was given.
‘I guess I do have feelings.’
Gobersan smiled faintly as it seemed as if Johelia’s weakness had been revealed, even if it was just a little bit.
Gobersan looked around with a much more relaxed mind.
It was clear that this was Brighton’s room. As with the Cardinal’s time, the room was empty of items.
The other cardinals were in contrast with the nobles, who had rooms filled with luxuries that made them envious.
‘It looks worth seeing.’
Gobert raised the corners of his mouth as he imagined the Brighton he would soon encounter.
He was demoted from cardinal to abbot. It was a demotion that was no different from falling off a cliff.
If it were a normal person, he would have given up his position and left, but the opponent was the ‘faithful’ Brighton.
‘It was easier that way, though.’
Originally, if you stood out alone, you would be criticized.
Brighton, when he was a cardinal, was a very fine, or perhaps imaginary, figure.
But while all the cardinals filled their rooms with gold and valuables, the devout Brighton kept a Bible. It was a common occurrence for him to criticize the cardinals and the Pope, so it was only natural that he became a thorn in his side.
Although he had the help of his brothers, it was Brighton’s character that was the driving force behind his rise to the rank of cardinal.
‘No matter how clueless you are, you would never have thought of nagging the Pope······.’
Gobert muttered, rubbing his neck. Brighton’s faithful nagging was indiscriminate.
Even so, I guess it would be a bit more discreet if it was the Pope…
‘A faithful man.’
Gobersan clicked his tongue.
How would Brighton feel, having fallen off a cliff and been thrown into a room worse than the latrine he had used when he was a cardinal?
Will he still shine as brightly as when he was appointed the youngest cardinal?
‘That can’t be true.’
Gobersan snickered, trying to suppress the corners of his lips that were about to rise.
No matter how devout a person may be, how can he believe in God when he has fallen from the rank of cardinal to the rank of abbot for the crime of doing and saying the right thing?
Even if he found out that the guy who was running his errands had become a cardinal…
‘That looks really delicious.’
I had a strangely awkward feeling because of the old memory, but thinking about it, I expected that reaction.
‘If I just add up all the complaints I’ve heard from him···.’
There were more than a few times when I heard him nag me, and I couldn’t even count how many times I read the Bible because of him.
dripping.
Just then, someone knocked on the door.
“The Abbot of Brighton has arrived.”
“Ahem… Let me in.”
Gobersan straightened his back to better show off his clothes.
As I was imagining the bastard’s face and thinking about enjoying him, the door opened.
‘······Oh my goodness, it’s still the same.’
When facing Brighton, Gobert was forced to admit that his predictions were wrong.
Brighton’s hair was still neatly combed back like before, not a single strand of hair falling out. His eyes had become clearer and deeper.
How can that be possible?
Gobersan couldn’t understand it at all.
‘No, because you haven’t seen me yet.’
Gobert deliberately stood up from his seat and coughed loudly. The splendid cape that was the cardinal’s badge fluttered.
“Oh, Gobert. It’s been a while. I heard you became a cardinal. Congratulations.”
However, Brighton was rather pleased.
The confusion was short-lived. Gobersan grimaced, shaking off his gold-embroidered cape.
“That’s short.”
Only then did Brighton’s face harden a little.
It was Mount Gobert who was always dragged around by Brighton.
Since the person under him pointed out his speech, he will be able to see the reality he had been ignoring.
‘Even if it’s Brighton···.’
However, that thought was shattered again by Brighton’s subsequent words.
“Cardinal Gobert, do you still not read the Bible well? As far as I know, there are sixteen items on the Bible among the duties of a cardinal, and the old Cardinal Gobert that I knew did not read the Bible······.”
Gobersan’s face crumpled at the nagging that only added to the politeness.
***
‘···Wasn’t it your brother’s side?’
I scratched my head and looked ahead.
The area around the synagogue was filled with inquisitors and priests.
I heard that the Flying Baron invited them to the inner castle. They didn’t leave the synagogue area.
Then the situation became ambiguous. Although the cardinal was of high rank, he was not a nobleman.
The Flying Baron, although a lowly one, was a respectable noble of the empire who ruled over a fiefdom.
The relationship between the religious order and the nobility of the empire was so ambiguous that it was difficult to put it into words. Therefore, it was customary and polite to visit the nobility when entering the castle.
Then, there was a certain procedure by which the nobles would treat others with the utmost magnanimity in order to prove their religious beliefs.
It was a relationship where they each took what they could get instead of saving each other’s face. Of course, the cardinal, who was of a higher rank, would take more.
However, since the Cardinal’s side completely ignored him, it became difficult for the Flying Baron to visit the church.
‘What are you thinking?’
I scratched my cheek as I looked at the synagogue, which was protected by several layers of walls.
Since they said they would contact me first anyway, if it’s really my brother, they will contact me.
If not that···.
‘The devil around the cardinal level···.’
It was clear that a big problem would arise if it was solved, but it was a sensitive issue to tackle first.
‘For now, I guess I’ll just have to wait and see.’
As always, if you wait, the right moment will come.
The sun had long since set, and inquisitors and priests carrying torches were moving about.
If the inquisitors were out and about, a few of the ignorant ones might be accused of being heretics and a campfire might be lit. The weather was a little chilly, but not that bad.
The synagogue was in District 1, and the news of the visit of the cardinal and the inquisitors alerted those staying in District 1. Of course, they would have foolishly ignored it even if I hadn’t alerted them.
Just then someone came out of the synagogue. It was Mini Lung.
The silver lines drawn on the mini-armor were emitting a small light even without sunlight.
‘Money is a big deal.’
I followed behind the mini-lung class, slightly admiring him.
Mini Lunge walked around quickly, looking around as if searching for something.
When news of the Cardinal’s visit came, the townspeople went into hiding, and the streets were filled with nothing but mini-fireworks emitting a silver light.
I followed the mini-lungs, holding my breath as much as I could.
Mini-Lunge, despite its short legs, ran around well, squeaking.
I don’t know what I was looking for, but it felt like I was looking for a stray cat as I searched every nook and cranny of the alley.
‘Aha, you’re looking for a lung.’
Then I realized what the mini-lung was looking for.
A mini-lodge poked its head into the small space between the houses. A hideous mace dangled from its waist.
I don’t know how long it will last, but if I leave it like that, someone strict could get in trouble and have their head cracked.
‘I don’t really want to meddle in other people’s family affairs.’
Finding missing children was also one of the patrol’s duties.
I deliberately made a noise as I passed him.
“there.”
Then a voice immediately shouted.
I turned my head to see a mini-lung slowly walking out of the shadows. Mud and dust were smeared all over its clean silver armor.
I didn’t realize it when I was riding, but when I got off the horse, I was shorter. The tip of the greatsword on my back was dragging on the ground.
He was still wearing his helmet, as if he wasn’t feeling any pressure.
I looked at that stupid looking helmet and thought for a moment about what to say in response.
“Do you know where Joanna is?”
I nodded vigorously at that insistent question.
“To guide you.”
‘They say there’s no younger brother like an older brother, but you really are a tough guy.’
I muttered quietly as I looked at the stupid-looking helmet.
The guy followed three steps behind.
It was a good distance for him since his sword was longer, but the alley was too narrow for him to swing his greatsword.
I did the math, but unless there was something else going on with the guy, I wouldn’t have lost.
However, considering the rumors about the Knights Templar, it was clear that there was something they were not revealing.
I focused on the sound of footsteps behind me and wondered where the lungs might be.
It would have been fastest to buy a cake and carry it, but it was around the time that Haeson’s store was closed.
‘It seems like you want to avoid the mini-crash… so it would be right to start from the farthest area, District 7.’
The idea of the lung level was simple, so I thought as simply as possible to match its level.
He headed to District 7, which was filled with the smell of sewage.
“Ugh···.”
I heard a small sound behind me and turned my head to see that the stupid helmet was still there.
“Is there a problem?”
“···no.”
A voice that sounds like it’s being spoken while holding one’s breath.
‘Blood is thicker than water.’
I looked at the 7th district, a mass of sewage, for a moment, and then I thought of a hole.
I blocked it myself last time, but it was a waste to use a greatsword as a pillow. How could it not be used as a pickaxe?
He headed towards the hole.
The hole I had blocked was dug open. It was a dark hole that looked like there might be a rat inside.
In front of him, pieces of cake were scattered as if they were the correct answer.
Snap. The mini-luggage passed me by with a gnashing sound and headed towards the hole.
After a while, he went into the hole in a slightly ugly posture.
‘···How deep did you dig it?’
The hole wasn’t that big, but I was impressed by the way the greatsword disappeared inside. It seemed like they had expanded it while they were still there.
‘I guess I’ll have to call Kanna and fill it in.’
Since the entrance was roughly blocked, it seemed like they were hiding like that.
“······Joanna!”
There was a faint sound from inside, followed by a small noise.
“Just because of one child······.”
I stepped back slightly because the conversation I heard seemed to be a domestic affair.
A moment later, Lung-gyeop was dragged out by Mini Lung-gyeop with his ear grabbed.
The outside lung looked at me and made an expression as if he had been slapped, and judging by the redness in his face, it seemed like he had really been slapped.
“I swear to God, what you just saw must remain a secret.”
Mini Lungeup, who saw me, hurriedly put his helmet back down and spoke firmly.
“Yes, I swear to God.”
For those in the religious community, swearing to God meant a lot, but for me, it didn’t, so I gladly swear to God.
“I don’t want to… I’m not going!”
The lung-level slapped the mini-lung-level’s hand away and shouted briefly. Clap! The sound rang out loud.
“Joanna! How long are you going to be tied to the past? Even the Pope said he could no longer tolerate it! If only you were born a Knight Templar…”
Whether he believed in his oath to God or not, Mini’s voice rose.
A domestic fight that started suddenly.
Mini Lung-gyeop raised his helmet because he was so frustrated.
It was fun to watch the same faces fighting.
‘Are you going to grab my hair too? Are you going to grab it?’
As the atmosphere became more heated, I hurriedly took out the piece of bread I had put in my bosom.
The salty one was quite tasty.
***
“Even if you are a cardinal, you came to the castle and did not even greet the host and refused all the favors! This is clearly rude! How dare you insult the person I serve!”
Adela, who runs wild.
“It’s clear that you have something you want. There must be a reason why you are acting like that even though I sent you a notice to visit.”
Nova’s voice was calm, but his face was a little wrinkled, unlike usual.
Already off work, empty seat.
‘It’s delicious.’
In such a noisy atmosphere, Pulpouts leisurely ate meat.
I almost had dinner with the cardinal, but luckily I avoided him.
For some reason, if the Cardinal was stuck in the hall and wouldn’t come out, there was no need to take him out.
The cardinal was planning to remain in this position and then make a donation to the church when he moved on to the next castle.
“That’s right! How dare you disrespect the one I, Adela, serve!”
“Sir Adela, why do you keep emphasizing yourself···.”
Pullputs leisurely cut the meat.
All the grand preparations made because the Cardinal was coming will go to waste, but Vivian will take any leftovers and distribute them outside.
Fullfoot was satisfied with being able to enjoy a comfortable meal without pressure or worry. Since he came here because of the heresy, he will look around and then go to the next castle.
‘What a true cardinal.’
Maybe it was because I had so many worries, but my mind, which had been torn apart, was now at peace.
The thought of not having to face the cardinal made me hungry.
There’s been so much work to do during this time.
In the midst of all this, the Cardinal’s sudden visit was so stressful to Pulpouts that it surpassed everything else.
Then, as the Cardinal problem was resolved on its own, things before felt lighter and I regained my appetite, which I had not had for a while.
A soldier suddenly rushed in.
The look of urgency on his face made Pulpouts feel anxious.
‘······No. Don’t do it.’
However, contrary to Fullfoot’s expectations, the soldier opened his mouth.
“The Cardinal is coming to the inner castle right now!! He said he wants to stay in the inner castle···!!”
The meat that Pulpouts was holding in his mouth fell out.
“Usually when you visit a castle, you just eat and stay in the hall, but the Cardinal himself is staying in the inner castle! I, Knight Adela, have finally recognized the value of the person I serve!”
Adela kept talking about what was so happy.
