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Rahan had gone to deliver corn porridge to one of the clusters of campfires set up in that manner.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
“Thank you.”
Rahan thought the person receiving the porridge from him was quite peculiar. The people of Vandel had grown accustomed to Rahan and now accepted the porridge with a smile.
However, the other villagers were not.
‘Oh, you scared me!’
‘What’s wrong with your eyes?’
‘Aaaah!’
And that was only natural.
Yet, the man sitting next to the village chief and receiving the porridge was clearly a face he was seeing for the first time, but he did not seem surprised to see him. Not only that.
‘His face looks familiar somehow….’
He was a young, sturdy man. It wouldn't be strange if he were a knight of some noble house.
‘Is he a spy?’
But if he were a spy, he would rather pretend to be startled upon seeing Rahan. The man was far too nonchalant yet somehow awkward to be a spy; he was simply too lacking.
Rahan spoke.
“Where are you from?”
“Ah, this fellow came from the seaside village. He said he got caught up in things while traveling.”
The village chief of Vandel answered in his stead. However, Rahan did not soften his sharp gaze.
“Is there anyone who travels at a time like this? As far as I know, there is nowhere in this region for travelers to stop by.”
It would have been better if they had just a little more time. This was because Akim had no intention of hiding his identity for long.
Had that been the case, Rahan would have realized that the man's familiarity was because he resembled him, and that his travel was for the purpose of meeting him.
But time was not on their side.
Bang bang bang bang!
People looked toward the sound of someone violently pounding on the monastery doors.
Though the main gates were closed due to the heavy wind and rain, it wasn't as if there weren't small side doors for people to enter and exit.
“Who is it?”
“I wonder. Is there a village that hasn't arrived yet at this hour?”
Meanwhile, the pounding continued. As Rahan moved toward the sound, Priest Marid and Priest Vera, who had been helping with the meals, stood up and stopped him.
“I think Archbishop Victor has returned. It seems they're having trouble with the carriage.”
“He's already back in this wind and rain?”
The priests stepped in because nothing good ever happened when Archbishop Victor and Rahan crossed paths.
But that also meant that Iris had returned with him.
Rahan happily followed the priests across the monastery courtyard. The goats huddled in the courtyard, drenched in rain, let out a loud maaaa.
The monastery gates were so large that it took all three of them pushing together to barely open them. With a clatter, the gates swung open, revealing unexpected figures.
A carriage far more luxurious than Archbishop Victor's appeared; it was undoubtedly the one belonging to Philod Ahen, who had departed.
However, the knights accompanying him….
Rahan frowned. That was the crest of the Foldenbach Imperial Family. A sight he was well-acquainted with, as it always sat beside Grand Duke Lacheize's crest.
“Who are you?”
Priest Marid, soaked to the bone, asked with a bewildered look. The man standing at the front of the imperial knights spoke.
“In the name of the great Foldenbach, I have come to retrieve Iris Achen for the mediation of House Achen.”
“Ah….”
It wasn't entirely unexpected. But this quickly?
Just as Rahan was about to ask something, the man looked toward Rahan and let out a short scoff. Though his face was hidden by a helmet, it was clear.
“Are you Rahan Norwich?”
“That name does refer to me.”
Rahan replied, glaring at him. He expected words like, Are you the scoundrel who kidnapped the legitimate daughter of House Achen? You're in for it now…
But what came out of the knight's mouth was unexpected.
“Seize him.”
The knights swarmed down from their horses and grabbed Rahan. Startled by the sudden turn of events, Rahan struggled, shouting, “What is this!”
But it was useless against four or five men lunging at him. At the commotion, everyone in the corridors and halls came out, buzzing with noise.
Amidst the chaos, the village chief's wife, recognizing her son among the knights, gasped.
“What on earth is that brat Robbie doing there….”
However, she could not recklessly step forward in the presence of high-ranking officials. The people watched the situation in hushed silence.
The helmeted knight spoke.
“Rahan Norwich. You are under arrest on charges of dealing with a demon.”
Rahan's face stiffened. Priest Marid turned pale and fell backward with a cry of “Oh my goodness…!”
Splat. He landed in a puddle that soaked his habit, but Priest Marid couldn't even scream. The only one remaining calm was Priest Vera.
“This is absurd. He is a member of the monastery.”
“I believe there are cases even here at Wind Rock Monastery where fallen monks became mages.”
A century ago, such instances were countless. However, it was also clearly a disgrace to the monastery. Priest Vera glared at the man, grinding her teeth.
“When judging heresy and demons, the name and affiliation of the judge must be revealed. In the name of Foldenbach, who are you to commit such atrocities within the monastery?”
The man sitting atop the horse burst into loud laughter at those words. Then, he removed his helmet.
After a few metallic clicks, the helmet came off to reveal a beautiful, blonde youth.
“I am Elio Wittenburg Foldenbach. I trust that name is not unknown to you.”
Despite the rain, his voice echoed through the monastery with surprising clarity.
Everyone present gaped. Naturally, everyone there knew that name. Even the youngest children.
The man slowly looked around the monastery. Goats, sheep, herds of cattle, and the poor. They were far too lowly to even hear his full name.
He curled his lips into a smirk.
“My full name is longer, but I'll stop here. You likely wouldn't even know how to pronounce the rest.”
* * *
Coincidentally, the monastery was too crowded, and there was no suitable place to denounce someone. Abbot Wilbert, having heard the news from Priest Vera, came down with a groan, but it was already too late.
Prince Elio had already forced Rahan Norwich to his knees in the monastery courtyard, in the corridor facing the cliff, where everyone could watch.
Whoosh. The wind blew. Passing through the open main gate of the monastery, the wind swept through the triforium and scattered toward the edge of the cliff.
Thick raindrops streamed down Rahan's face. Abbot Wilbert protested to Prince Elio.
“Your Highness! Regardless of rank, those who accuse someone of colluding with a demon must provide evidence!”
“Ah, so you are Abbot Wilbert. Where is Archbishop Victor?”
Prince Elio remained perfectly composed. Knowing that Archbishop Victor was absent, he requested an inquisition from Abbot Wilbert.
As priests of the monastery, they could not refuse a request for an inquisition.
“I heard that a report was made to the Archbishop. In that case, the Archbishop should be the one to conduct the interrogation….”
“But the matter of a mage is a priority for the Church. Will Abbot Wilbert delay this simply for the sake of procedure?”
There was nothing to say. In the meantime, Prince Elio brought forward two witnesses.
The first was Philod Ahen.
“That man used a demon to put Arnsberg in danger!”
Rahan scoffed. Philod held a grudge against him because of Iris. Generally, it is common consensus that accusations between parties with a grudge should be handled with more caution.
And yet, he was being forced to his knees for this?
However, Rahan's expression changed when he saw what the imperial knights slammed down on the ground.
“Gasp.”
“What is that….”
People recoiled in horror at the sudden stench of sulfur and the black blood splattering in all directions.
It was the corpse of a magical beast. One with the body of a bat and the head of a wolf.
“My knights caught a magical beast on their way here.”
Of course, it was a lie. Prince Elio had extorted it from the mages.
The mages had cheered at the appearance of a benefactor who was far more cunning and high-ranking than Philod, and they had been extremely cooperative.
[If you allow us to avenge our long-standing grudge against Wind Rock Monastery, we will do anything.]
Prince Elio had smiled thinly.
“I heard that magical beasts have appeared in Arnsberg a couple more times recently.”
The monks of the monastery swallowed their groans.
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