Chapter 73

Chapter 73 - Dungeon (1)

Eugene was pondering over the troop's next move.

He won an overwhelming victory against the pirates, and disposed of the spoils of war at a decent price. Due to Baron Est's utmost hospitality, the morale of the army was sky high.

"Are you already thinking of the next battlefield?"

Marbas smiled while looking at the young knight burning with ambition.

"An army spends money even just breathing. Leaving it idle to play is a waste."

"Since any enemy will turn into a bundle of silver coins if you lead them, you'd only need to worry about the destination."

"Thank you for your good words, but aren't you cold dressed like that?"

Winter is coming to an end, but it is still chilly. However, Marbas had nothing on but a single monk's robe.

"What can I do when even the cold feels cozy? Whatever sensation touches my skin is only a joy."

"Well, you don't seem like someone who would catch a cold with this much anyway."

He felt it too when pouring purifed water over him, but true to an aged summoner, Marbas's body was thick and robust.

"By the way, Baron Est is also as blessed as you."

The two people looked down from the balcony at the newly arrived guests.

Dozens of combat priests led by a Hospitaller Knight had entered the castle and formed ranks.

Robust warriors who offer their souls and bodies to God and train day and night.

The swordsmanship they learn is not lacking compared to what is taught at the House of Knights, and their morale hasn't a thought of giving up until their final breath stops.

The monks were apathetic to power struggles of noble versus noble, but they rushed at monsters or bandits like tiger moths towards a torch.

"To think this many noble people would respond to this insignificant person's request."

Going out to meet them, Baron Est was touched by God's love while simultaneously starting to feel burdened. It was because the number of people he had to treat became way too many than expected.

But to starve the ones who stepped up for the territory's crisis is the worst dishonor as a noble.

"It will be lacking, but I will serve you with my whole heart."

"I am thankful for the Baron's heart, but we only came to acquire supplies. We will leave soon."

Fortunately, the monks didn't seem to have any thoughts of staying at the castle.

"I heard from the residents that Sir Eugene is staying here, is that correct?"

"Yes! He crushed the rallied pirate bastards in a single stroke. Thanks to that, the surroundings became safe."

The monks were also amazed at the grand victory that exceeded imagination. It made sense why the villages were intact unlike other regions.

"I would like to see him due to an urgent matter. Could you arrange a meeting for me?"

"Of course."

The Hospitaller Knight the commander, came up guided by the Baron. It's someone Eugene also knows.

"Sir Andrew?"

"It is nice to meet you. I was looking forward to the day I would see you again, and it is truly God's guidance."

He is the one who was purifying the battlefield where the Emperor's Faction and Nobles' Faction fought a bloody battle.

'He was a higher-ranking figure than I thought.'

Seeing him always leading a multitude of combat priests, he wouldn't be a monk knight of ordinary status.

"It is my regret that I could not recognize you properly then. To think you were the one who executed the heretic magician and magical beasts."

Andrew inquired around about Eugene after returning. As a result, the achievements he learned about were surprising things.

Thanks to that, Andrew's eyes were overflowing with goodwill. A knight who struck down the evil of evils was like a brother fighting the same holy war.

"There is a favor I would like to ask Sir Eugene."

"You did not come due to Baron Est's request."

Getting supplies as soon as he entered the castle, approaching Eugene to ask for help. That perfect order was a movement with a firm objective decided from the start.

"Protecting the suffering populace is definitely important. However, we came because of a more urgent mission."

"?"

Hearing such words from ones who consider charity their karma looking only to one God made him perplexed.

"Not far from this place is the Lasta Monastery."

"It is a place with deep history. I saw it on the map."

The first thing Eugene did after being appointed as a lord was grasp the surrounding powers.

The Lasta Monastery is an extremely closed place where external exchanges are cut off. Eugene also didn't know much except that it was a very old monastery.

"What the pirates target is not just villages. Monasteries are the prey the bastards search for with lit eyes."

A monastery is a place that accumulated wealth far greater than decent villages. Even if it can't match cities or nobles' castles, the difficulty of assault is easier.

"If there are no villages left to plunder, they will target the monastery."

"Yes. Grand Duke Ismar sent us to support the Lasta Monastery. But the expected scale of the pirates is beyond imagination, so your help is desperately needed."

Not all pirates rushed in bewitched by the titles the Emperor proposed.

There are also many who merely seek plundering taking advantage of the civil war's chaos. These pirates robbed monasteries and whatever else without a care.

"I hope the monks are keeping careful watch. To evacuate if push comes to shove."

As Eugene assumed it would be too late, Andrew shook his head.

"The people of Lasta Monastery will defend their position to the end even if they die. Because that place is not a mere monastery."

"Are they currently storing holy relics or something?"

Tools that a great saint used for a long time during their lifetime. Keepsakes tied so strongly with such karma are called holy relics.

In the world Eugene knew, serving a mere object was regarded as a kind of idolatry and taboo.

However, in this place where God's miracles actually exist, the status of holy relics is also different. Caressing the power of miracles to save people, they are handled nobly.

"In a certain sense, they are keeping something even more important than holy relics."

Andrew, who stayed silent for a moment, opened his mouth.

"Below the Lasta Monastery, an entrance to hell is sealed."

His expression was endlessly solemn.

* * *

"It's a dungeon."

Marbas spoke to Eugene, who returned after saying he would consult his advisors.

"Andrew said it was an entrance to hell?"

"It depends on what you call it. Just like how priests call the 'Cycle of the Evil God' what summoners call a spiritual high tide."

"I've only heard of dungeons in rumors."

It does not mean things like lairs of monsters or a laboratory left by a magician. A dungeon was a much more dangerous and malicious place than those.

"Parts of the present world we live in overlap with the other world. On rare occasions there are also places that connect directly. All of them are dangerous places."

Sometimes they become thick forests, sometimes abandoned castles, and sometimes holes drilling endlessly into the ground.

Isolating such dungeons from the mundane world is also an important task for religious orders.

"In this case, the monastery itself must be a place built from the start to seal and monitor the dungeon."

"That is correct."

Eugene took out a single letter from his embrace.

"Andrew lent me this. It is a letter the Lasta Abbot sent to Grand Duke Ismar."

"He passed such a thing to you? Well, since help is urgent, the side needing it should unpack more secrets."

Valda looked surprised yet proud on one side. It meant Eugene was acknowledged that much.

"It seems dispatching the pagan magician and magical beasts held a very great meaning to them. Having said I need to discuss it with my advisors, he handed it over for reference."

Eugene unfolded the letter and laid it on the table, and the two magicians approached and read it.

< Great Duke Ismar.

I express deep regret regarding the civil war in Roman.

When the cycle of the evil god arrives, the world will become even more dangerous, but to think humans are shedding blood and pouring out hatred against each other. It is truly lamentable.

However, the danger we must pay attention to is not just that.

The seal of the monastery is so old that its holy power is weakening.

Moreover, the pirates who colluded with the Emperor recently are gradually approaching.

Will those bastards, blinded by wealth, enter this place and do something foolish? This old monk is deeply worried.

This place needs brothers with power more than ever. Even a new seal as well.

Duke, please fathom the worries we harbor. This is an issue that connects to the well-being of the North.

Abbot Benedict. >

"If possible, it would be good to accept the request for help."

Monks who possess sufficient martial prowess and enthusiastically render assistance to citizens, Grand Duke Ismar, the foremost power in the North.

To leave a debt of gratitude for both sides would never be a bad thing.

"I also thought of accepting it. That is true, but..."

Eugene looked at Marbas.

"Wouldn't it be better for Sir Marbas to stay behind at the castle?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Because the status of a summoner seems to be incompatible with monks."

Magicians generally are not on good terms with monks. Among them, isn't a summoner what was called a necromancer in the past?

Darkness, death, ghosts, suspiciousness. An image that seems to have collected the insidious aspects of magic.

"That is not true at all. The ones who get along the best with monks among all magicians are summoners like me."

Marbas laughed heartily as if it were needless worry.

* * *

When Eugene informed him that he would join them, Andrew grabbed his hands with a touched expression.

"Thank you. God will also bless this great dedication."

The combat priests behind him also crossed themselves and prayed.

Baron Jones stayed in the territory. Since there are many wounded and many conscripts as well, both their march speed and combat prowess had dropped.

"This is Summoner Marbas."

"I have read books written by the Summoner during my theology classes."

"To think a renowned summoner is accompanying the Magical Beast Executioner. It is definitely arranged by God!"

The monks greeted with glad faces at Eugene's introduction.

Everyone was so excited that Andrew had to calm them down and take them somewhere else.

"I didn't think you would have entered a religious order and studied faith before."

"For the past 30 years, the world surrounding me was nothing but pain and heat."

Leaning on faith to endure unbearable suffering is common.

"While suffering like that, sometimes... There are times you feel something as if piercing the pain and arriving. A merciful yet powerful energy. I wondered if the salvation of God the priests speak of was something like that."

"My Master has also said something similar before."

Marbas looked surprised and showed curiosity.

"Are you speaking of Sir Godfrey?"

A knight who brandishes a sword, not a seeker of magic. He was incredibly curious to hear that someone walking completely divergent paths had a similar experience.

"He said he heard the voice of God while concentrating on every sound in the world."

"So that was the reason the Prophetic Knight devoted himself to faith. An interesting story."

"Although my Master isn't a magician, his hearing had reached the realm of magic."

"Yes. Magic isn't as much as you think it is."

Marbas meekly nodded.

For someone who devoted his lifetime to a single sense, taking a glimpse of a piece of mystery was sufficiently possible.

"Returning to the original story, I am one who has experienced things regarding hell deeper than anyone else. After recording those experiences and hypotheses to publish a book, the religious order showed great interest."

The book Marbas wrote about hell is considered a required reading that should be read at least once among monks.

"A case like this, I am not the first. In famous religious orders, there's bound to be at least one or two books written by summoners plugged in."

Summoners dedicate their lives looking into the other world. During that investigation process, there are those who realize a massive and transcendental existence.

Because of the shock, awakening their faith and knocking on the doors of a monastery wasn't rare in history.

Even if they didn't go that far, they showed very deep respect for the existence of God. It's only natural for monks and summoners to be amicable.

"Still, to generously accept the knowledge of magicians is surprising. I thought religious orders would be much more stubborn than that."

"They already have excellent negative examples. You can get the answer looking at the Pantheism you grew up in, right?"

This world is filled with immeasurably many dangers and mysteries. No matter how powerful someone is, if they proceed self-righteously, all that is left for their ending is only decline.

The forces leading the world now always reminisced the lessons learned from that past.

"I do trust your combat power as well, but please do not let down your guard."

"You shouldn't be speaking because of the pirates, are you worried about the dungeon?"

"The part about the seal weakening in the Abbot's letter lingers in my mind."

Marbas stroked his stubbly chin and fell into thought.

He wanted to grow a beard, but his chin used to be always smooth due to the flames burning his soul and body.

But now, his beard is genuinely sprouting normally. Thanks to that, even while worrying seriously, the corners of Marbas's mouth curled up.

"It is inevitable for all sorts of incidents and accidents to occur during the spiritual high tide period."

"I'd like to say 'Surely it can't be that something will happen exactly when I arrive?'... but it's not easy."

Eugene also had something he realized as his understanding of magic deepened. That a powerful mystery is fatefully destined to become intertwined with another mystery.

"Since you are practically a walking vortex of mystery."

Marbas recalled the dream Eugene said he had.

Perhaps even the colossal mystery called the Moving Castle might be drawn to this bizarre knight.

Because a ship wondering in the fog inevitably gets drawn by a bright lighthouse.

Apart from repaying a worldly debt, this was the reason Marbas stayed with Eugene.

"Anyway, don't worry too much. Since I am together with you this time."

"Oh?"

"Spiritual seals are one of the areas of expertise of a summoner. This is also the reason why summoners are amicable with religious orders. If anything happens, I will step forward."

The subjugation of pirates and a perilous dungeon.

For both tasks, the optimal cards were all assembled. It's not for nothing the monks gladly considered it God's arrangement.