Chapter 71

Chapter 6: In the Name of Glory (7)

***

‘I thought it was too smooth! Too well orchestrated! Where did she start aligning everything? From the beginning? When I brought Zacharias? When I confessed I had no connection to the queen? When I mentioned the information from the Salvation Sect?’

Despite the turmoil in his mind, the professor’s mouth moved calmly.

“I swear. I, Professor, vow to dedicate myself to humanity until the day my will remains.”

He deliberately omitted phrases like “following the will of the sect,” which would typically be included in a hero’s oath, as a last bit of pride. Damn it, yeah! It’s embarrassing! I’ve been played! Played by that snake of a woman!

Senedis, who had been watching the professor with a pleased expression, now turned to the surrounding priests and paladins.

“Well, that’s one more hero born. I would like to take the time to bless you properly, but as you know, the information provided by the ‘Hero Professor’ is urgent. I will conduct a brief blessing, so priests and paladins, please form your troops immediately and head to the Singing Helmet tavern.”

“We will follow the will of the Light.”

“Ratula, Ro Haram.”

The priests and paladins rushed out of the temple as soon as the bishop’s permission was given. The idea that a heretical stronghold could be right in their front yard must have been unbearable.

Once the temple was left with only the professor and her, Senedis knelt in front of him, seemingly unconcerned about the fragrant oil staining her robes.

“You’re quick-witted and your ability to assess and respond to situations is impressive. Oh, Ro Haram. Grant this, and your hand will be upon us. How could you have sent such a perfect candidate?”

As the priests left, she began to reveal her true intentions. Her tone shifted from solemn and sacred to light and casual. She knew I had already figured out her cunning plans and was now showing her true self. In fact, it was impossible not to notice. I had been grinding my teeth the moment the priests left.

“Since when... was this planned?”

“Hmm... a difficult question. The original plan and the outcome have diverged so much. I’m not sure if I should say it went according to plan or not.”

As she spoke, she pulled out a folded, old letter from her robes.

“I first heard about you through this letter.”

“What... is it?”

“Huh-huh. Why don’t you read it yourself?”

The professor glared at her fox-like grin and snatched the letter from her hand, unfolding it nervously.

“This is...”

“Surprised? I was too when the sect’s informant first handed me this letter. I doubted it was fake several times. After all, Charlotte de Agate, that steel-made knight, wrote a personal recommendation for a man!”

The paper in the professor’s hand contained awkwardly noble phrases, detailing how dedicated the professor could be to Rodric and how suitable he was to become a knight, all stamped with Charlotte’s seal.

“Wh-what?”

Charlotte wrote a recommendation? After all the trouble she went through to save me and bring me to the temple?

- Ganjang Gayba: ?????

- Speed Wagon: Oh.

- Mukaba: Charlotte’s route... is open? That iron wall of a woman?

- Hengam Mandu: Is this the charm of that ugly man or something?

- Jokass: Wow, the professor’s stream just climbed to 50th place in the community rankings. It seems the rumor about cracking Charlotte de Agate is spreading.

- GMyeonSiG: Hello, everyone. I’m from the ‘19+ Play Cooperative,’ dedicated to rediscovering the forgotten beauty of the world. I’d like to express my gratitude to the pioneers who are working hard to open new paths and leave a small token of appreciation. I’ll visit often. Thank you.

+Player `GMyeonSiG` has donated 500,000 silvers!

- Takealook: Suspiciously rich...

- Speed Wagon: Unlock condition: Achieve 30% or more contribution in a battlefield where the character is allied / Gain recognition from Charlotte de Agate / Suffer near-total casualties among allies, especially all of Charlotte’s close associates must die / Suffer injuries that could lead to death, and the dedication leading to those injuries must be known / After all the above conditions are met, drive away the enemy and ensure Charlotte’s survival.

This is the most stringent condition based on the information available so far. It’s just a guess.

- GMyeonSiG: Spread it~

- Beauty Praise: Spread it~

- Bubtak: Spread it~

- Previous Singer: They say the world is full of extraordinary people like the stars in the night sky... but there are those who find the uncharted path to paradise... I will use the information you risked your life to obtain wisely.

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Oh... um... everyone seems quite surprised. I was too. I knew Charlotte thought highly of me, but to write a recommendation? That embodiment of chivalry, trying to pull strings? Isn’t this what people call... a green light?

The professor, feeling a bit dazed, involuntarily slapped his knee.

‘Damn! If I hadn’t been infected to the point of no return, I could have switched to the royal knight route! I could have even brought Charlotte on as an ally!’

Ah, it’s frustrating. So frustrating I could die. If I had just held back a little, I could have been playing the game happily like everyone else. Royal knight is a special A-class job, after all. It would have been a hundred times easier than this.

Regardless of the professor’s inner turmoil, Senedis continued.

“The Light Sect has always been very interested in Sir Agate. It’s natural, isn’t it? Those who serve the God of Light being interested in a knight called the ‘Sun of the Battlefield.’ Some priests even thought she might be a saint sent by Ro Haram. For such a woman, who never got close to men, to write a personal recommendation for a man... I found it intriguing and ordered a bit of investigation. As you can imagine, very suspicious information started rolling in.”

“So, was the divine revelation a lie?”

“Do you think I would lie using Ro Haram’s name? The revelation is exactly as I said. However, I already knew the target of the revelation was the heretical Salvation Sect. The name of the Light is spread throughout the world. It’s impossible for the sect to be unaware of such an openly active heresy.”

“Such a m-

“M?”

“-ess.”

The professor, feeling absurd, almost let out a curse but swallowed it. After all, she’s a bishop. Insulting her could be fatal. Let’s stay calm and figure this out.

Senedis, noticing the professor’s boiling anger, smiled again, finding it amusing.

“But the situation took a different turn from what I expected. Originally, I planned to save you from certain death as a heretic by appealing to the priests’ mercy and then use you to bring Sir Agate into the sect.”

Tap tap.

The bishop tapped the professor’s head with her fingers and smiled like a blooming flower garden.

“But when I met you, I found you to be exceptionally sharp, witty, and politically astute, not to mention you have the unbelievable ability to receive information from the queen. Who could have imagined you would be such a valuable asset? The moment you revealed the Salvation Sect’s base, which even the sect didn’t know, I realized. Ah, the Lord has sent this to us. For the sake of your children wandering in the dark night, the Lord has given us the most needed tool.”

“According to Sir Agate’s letter, your strategic abilities far exceed the ordinary. Not using such talent would be a waste to humanity and a disregard of Ro Haram’s will.”

“Tsk!”

The professor swatted her hand away irritably, but Senedis stood up, seemingly unfazed, and walked to the statue of Ro Haram.

“You know, but I’ll say it again for your sake. Professor, you cannot refuse the will of the sect. You are already too deeply involved with Mute. No matter how you present yourself, the sect can still label you as a heretic. You know that, right?”

“...Damn it.”

“I’ll take that as a positive response. Originally, I planned to use you as bait to make Sir Agate a hero... but now that I have you, there’s no need to antagonize the Kingdom of Rodric and steal their knight.”

The professor felt the conversation was going in circles. She knew his identity and planned to use him to bring in Sir Agate. But now, Charlotte was no longer needed, and instead, she was pulling him in. For what? For what purpose?

The professor spoke with a slightly irritated tone.

“A hero is someone given a mission by the sect. Stop beating around the bush and tell me what the mission is. How big of a task are you trying to give me by talking in circles?”

“...Ratula, Ro Haram. Forgive me.”

Senedis, who had been praying silently in front of the statue, turned to the professor. Standing under the massive statue, she seemed incredibly distant.

“Let me say this again. Professor, you cannot refuse the will of the sect. You are already too deeply involved with Mute. No matter how you present yourself, the sect can still label you as a heretic. You know that, right?”

“...Damn it.”

“I’ll take that as a positive response. Originally, I planned to use you as bait to make Sir Agate a hero... but now that I have you, there’s no need to antagonize the Kingdom of Rodric and steal their knight.”

Tap tap.

The bishop tapped the professor’s head with her fingers and smiled like a blooming flower garden.

“But when I met you, I found you to be exceptionally sharp, witty, and politically astute, not to mention you have the unbelievable ability to receive information from the queen. Who could have imagined you would be such a valuable asset? The moment you revealed the Salvation Sect’s base, which even the sect didn’t know, I realized. Ah, the Lord has sent this to us. For the sake of your children wandering in the dark night, the Lord has given us the most needed tool.”

“According to Sir Agate’s letter, your strategic abilities far exceed the ordinary. Not using such talent would be a waste to humanity and a disregard of Ro Haram’s will.”

“Tsk!”

The professor swatted her hand away irritably, but Senedis stood up, seemingly unfazed, and walked to the statue of Ro Haram.

“You know, but I’ll say it again for your sake. Professor, you cannot refuse the will of the sect. You are already too deeply involved with Mute. No matter how you present yourself, the sect can still label you as a heretic. You know that, right?”

“...Damn it.”

“I’ll take that as a positive response. Originally, I planned to use you as bait to make Sir Agate a hero... but now that I have you, there’s no need to antagonize the Kingdom of Rodric and steal their knight.”

The bishop tapped the professor’s head with her fingers and smiled like a blooming flower garden.

“However, the situation took a different turn from what I expected. Originally, I planned to save you from certain death as a heretic by appealing to the priests’ mercy and then use you to bring Sir Agate into the sect.”

Tap tap.

The bishop tapped the professor’s head with her fingers and smiled like a blooming flower garden.

“But when I met you, I found you to be exceptionally sharp, witty, and politically astute, not to mention you have the unbelievable ability to receive information from the queen. Who could have imagined you would be such a valuable asset? The moment you revealed the Salvation Sect’s base, which even the sect didn’t know, I realized. Ah, the Lord has sent this to us. For the sake of your children wandering in the dark night, the Lord has given us the most needed tool.”

“According to Sir Agate’s letter, your strategic abilities far exceed the ordinary. Not using such talent would be a waste to humanity and a disregard of Ro Haram’s will.”

“Tsk!”

The professor swatted her hand away irritably, but Senedis stood up, seemingly unfazed, and walked to the statue of Ro Haram.

“However, the situation took a different turn from what I expected. Originally, I planned to save you from certain death as a heretic by appealing to the priests’ mercy and then use you to bring Sir Agate into the sect.”

Tap tap.

The bishop tapped the professor’s head with her fingers and smiled like a blooming flower garden.

“But when I met you, I found you to be exceptionally sharp, witty, and politically astute, not to mention you have the unbelievable ability to receive information from the queen. Who could have imagined you would be such a valuable asset? The moment you revealed the Salvation Sect’s base, which even the sect didn’t know, I realized. Ah, the Lord has sent this to us. For the sake of your children wandering in the dark night, the Lord has given us the most needed tool.”

“According to Sir Agate’s letter, your strategic abilities far exceed the ordinary. Not using such talent would be a waste to humanity and a disregard of Ro Haram’s will.”

“Tsk!”

The professor swatted her hand away irritably, but Senedis stood up, seemingly unfazed, and walked to the statue of Ro Haram.

“However, the situation took a different turn from what I expected. Originally, I planned to save you from certain death as a heretic by appealing to the priests’ mercy and then use you to bring Sir Agate into the sect.”

Tap tap.

The bishop tapped the professor’s head with her fingers and smiled like a blooming flower garden.

“But when I met you, I found you to be exceptionally sharp, witty, and politically astute, not to mention you have the unbelievable ability to receive information from the queen. Who could have imagined you would be such a valuable asset? The moment you revealed the Salvation Sect’s base, which even the sect didn’t know, I realized. Ah, the Lord has sent this to us. For the sake of your children wandering in the dark night, the Lord has given us the most needed tool.”

“According to Sir Agate’s letter, your strategic abilities far exceed the ordinary. Not using such talent would be a waste to humanity and a disregard of Ro Haram’s will.”

“Tsk!”

The professor, feeling the conversation was going in circles, spoke with a slightly irritated tone.

“A hero is someone given a mission by the sect. Stop beating around the bush and tell me what the mission is. How big of a task are you trying to give me by talking in circles?”

“...Ratula, Ro Haram. Forgive me.”

Senedis, who had been praying silently in front of the statue, turned to the professor. Standing under the massive statue, she seemed incredibly distant.

“However, the situation took a different turn from what I expected. Originally, I planned to save you from certain death as a heretic by appealing to the priests’ mercy and then use you to bring Sir Agate into the sect.”

Tap tap.

The bishop tapped the professor’s head with her fingers and smiled like a blooming flower garden.

“But when I met you, I found you to be exceptionally sharp, witty, and politically astute, not to mention you have the unbelievable ability to receive information from the queen. Who could have imagined you would be such a valuable asset? The moment you revealed the Salvation Sect’s base, which even the sect didn’t know, I realized. Ah, the Lord has sent this to us. For the sake of your children wandering in the dark night, the Lord has given us the most needed tool.”

“According to Sir Agate’s letter, your strategic abilities far exceed the ordinary. Not using such talent would be a waste to humanity and a disregard of Ro Haram’s will.”

“Tsk!”

The professor, feeling the conversation was going in circles, spoke with a slightly irritated tone.

“A hero is someone given a mission by the sect. Stop beating around the bush and tell me what the mission is. How big of a task are you trying to give me by talking in circles?”

“...Ratula, Ro Haram. Forgive me.”

Senedis, who had been praying silently in front of the statue, turned to the professor. Standing under the massive statue, she seemed incredibly distant.

“However, the situation took a different turn from what I expected. Originally, I planned to save you from certain death as a heretic by appealing to the priests’ mercy and then use you to bring Sir Agate into the sect.”

Tap tap.

The bishop tapped the professor’s head with her fingers and smiled like a blooming flower garden.

“But when I met you, I found you to be exceptionally sharp, witty, and politically astute, not to mention you have the unbelievable ability to receive information from the queen. Who could have imagined you would be such a valuable asset? The moment you revealed the Salvation Sect’s base, which even the sect didn’t know, I realized. Ah, the Lord has sent this to us. For the sake of your children wandering in the dark night, the Lord has given us the most needed tool.”

“According to Sir Agate’s letter, your strategic abilities far exceed the ordinary. Not using such talent would be a waste to humanity and a disregard of Ro Haram’s will.”

“Tsk!”

The professor, feeling the conversation was going in circles, spoke with a slightly irritated tone.

“A hero is someone given a mission by the sect. Stop beating around the bush and tell me what the mission is. How big of a task are you trying to give me by talking in circles?”

“...Ratula, Ro Haram. Forgive me.”

Senedis, who had been praying silently in front of the statue, turned to the professor. Standing under the massive statue, she seemed incredibly distant.

“However, the situation took a different turn from what I expected. Originally, I planned to save you from certain death as a heretic by appealing to the priests’ mercy and then use you to bring Sir Agate into the sect.”

Tap tap.

The bishop tapped the professor’s head with her fingers and smiled like a blooming flower garden.

“But when I met you, I found you to be exceptionally sharp, witty, and politically astute, not to mention you have the unbelievable ability to receive information from the queen. Who could have imagined you would be such a valuable asset? The moment you revealed the Salvation Sect’s base, which even the sect didn’t know, I realized. Ah, the Lord has sent this to us. For the sake of your children wandering in the dark night, the Lord has given us the most needed tool.”

“According to Sir Agate’s letter, your strategic abilities far exceed the ordinary. Not using such talent would be a waste to humanity and a disregard of Ro Haram’s will.”

“Tsk!”

The professor, feeling the conversation was going in circles, spoke with a slightly irritated tone.

“A hero is someone given a mission by the sect. Stop beating around the bush and tell me what the mission is. How big of a task are you trying to give