Chapter 581

Summary of previous part of chapter only for context: This is the first part of the chapter.

Translation:

Even though Rowen knew that the followers believed in the Warrior Faith, he did not take any action. In reality, he had no right to punish or judge them, so there was no reason to do so in the first place. However, Ludwig felt fear from just seeing them. If he thought he needed to act, he would have killed them without hesitation.

Ludwig had been with Rowen for about a week, but he had never seen the followers before. Rowen believed in the Five Great Gods and as a priest, he had a lot to think about regarding the Warrior Faith. The idols that represented the warriors. While watching them, Rowen's expression and gaze had clearly changed. It was unclear what specific emotion it was, but Ludwig could clearly see that it was not positive.

"Warrior Faith...."

"...."

"Ludwig, do you really think those people we saw earlier are really followers of the Warrior Faith?"

"They said so...."

"The Warrior Faith can also be an excuse."

Rowen looked at Ludwig.

"There are quite a few followers who pretend to be followers of the Warrior Faith to hide their true beliefs. They wear the mask of the Warrior Faith because people just accept it."

Ludwig could only nod slowly at her words.

The Warrior Faith is not a specific group. It is spread everywhere like a folk religion, and it does not have a formalized system of belief. It is just a belief that Ellen Artoleus will save everyone. There are hundreds of variations of derived beliefs within it.

The Warrior Faith is not prohibited. But it is definitely a heresy because Ellen is not one of the Five Great Gods. Of course, if you delve deeper, it is not completely irrelevant, but there are few who know about it.

However, now there are more followers of the Warrior Faith than those who believe in the Five Great Gods. Therefore, the majority of the followers cannot be considered followers anymore because they have no substance or core. It is impossible to uproot them.

Many followers were killed by guards, and some of them were followers of the Warrior Faith. But if they killed everyone just because they believed in the Warrior Faith, people would disappear from the refugee camp.

"Strictly speaking, the roots of the many heresies that are rampant in the refugee camp may be based on the Warrior Faith."

Even if they wear the mask of the Warrior Faith, there is no specific definition of what a true follower of the Warrior Faith is.

"But it's ridiculous. The Warrior Faith is already a heresy, so what difference does it make if the heretics wear a mask?"

It is just a heresy that has grown too big to be considered a heresy. From the perspective of the Five Great Gods, the Warrior Faith was a dubious faith compared to the Divine Faith. Rowen exhales while looking up at the sky. "The warrior will save everyone...." She smiles at Ludwig. "Ludwig, you must have lived a temple life like a warrior?" "....Yes." The demon king and the warrior. Ludwig thought that his strange and fateful entanglement was so bizarre and wicked that he could not believe that such a thing was possible for a small and insignificant existence like himself. The false peace between the demon king and the warrior had been watched for quite some time. Even now, Ellen had returned to the temple. If things went as they were, he would have dinner with Ellen, who many people wanted to see even at the tip of their toes. Ludwig couldn't believe that such a thing was possible for a small and insignificant existence like himself. Therefore, isn't she a victim? When Rowen mentions Ellen, Ludwig nods his head in amazement. He feels insignificant and cannot believe that he is involved in such a situation. When they encounter some suspicious people on their way back, Ludwig quickly grabs Rowen and jumps over them with his magic. After escaping, Rowen asks if Ludwig saw some people he saw earlier, who claimed to be warrior disciples. They were not reckless, but Rowen and Ludwig were vulnerable. Translation:

Summary of previous part of chapter only for context: In this chapter, Rowen and Ludwig are discussing Ellen and her situation. Rowen mentions that Ellen is a victim, which Ludwig agrees with. Ludwig feels overwhelmed and insignificant to be involved in such a situation. On their way back, they encounter some suspicious people, who claim to be warrior disciples. Ludwig quickly uses his magic to jump over them and escape. Rowen asks if Ludwig saw the people he saw earlier, but Ludwig did not. They both feel vulnerable and realize that they need to be more careful in the future.

It is natural for Rowen and Ludwig to fear the guards carrying spears more. This is the kind of situation Rowen always talks about. They tried to attack the priest, and Rowen is a bishop-level priest. Even the disciples themselves tried to kill her. "There have been cases where the disciples have formed dangerous forces, but it doesn't seem to be the case this time." "What happens if such a force is formed?" "I don't know. Anyway, isn't it important that it wasn't the case this time?" Rowen intentionally changed the subject. "Let's go back. It's a relief that no one was hurt." But since nothing happened, Rowen walked ahead as if it was over, and Ludwig followed behind him absentmindedly. When they saw the disciples, they seemed to exude a serious atmosphere, but now that they almost got attacked, they acted as if they had seen everything. Ludwig couldn't stop Rowen. But in the end, it was fortunate for Ludwig that no one was hurt. "But Ludwig runs really well. My head was spinning." "Ah... that's one of my few specialties." Rowen smiled softly at Ludwig's modest words. "Really? What other specialties do you have?" "I don't know... except that my stamina is a little better than others..." "It's not just a little bit, is it? Isn't it already a great specialty just to be able to enhance magic power?" "Yes? Ah..." "There are many people who despair because they can't even do that." Rowen's words are true. Even if Ludwig lost his arm and couldn't fight properly, ordinary people couldn't even think of chasing after him with just one leap. The fact that Ludwig has reached the level of a superhuman being is still true. "I thought Ludwig was a humble person, but after spending a few days together, I don't think so." "...." "Humble without respect is a mistake." Humility is not thinking of oneself as insignificant. Ludwig thinks of himself as insignificant. That's why it's not humility. Ludwig couldn't say anything in response to Rowen's words. Because Ludwig knows it best. "Do you really need to do that?" "I lost... precious people." "I see." "If I had been a little stronger, a little wiser, a little better..." Ludwig speaks quietly with empty eyes. "If I had been stronger, I wouldn't have lost the people I didn't have to lose... I just keep thinking about that." In the end, he can't do anything but blame his own incompetence. He wanted to die on the battlefield, but he was driven away even from that because he would be a burden to others. "But I'm still grateful that I can do something." Ludwig found a hope-like thing in resignation. This is something that will eventually end, but it is something that everyone needs. Helping Rowen. The only wise thing he can do. "So thank you, priest." "Um...." "She tilted her head and said, 'Priests in Tuwan can't have romantic relationships or get married, you know?' 'That's not true at all...!' Rowen giggled as she watched Ludwig's face turn red. Ludwig found it difficult to figure out what kind of person Rowen was just by looking at her. Therefore, Rowen seemed like a strange person to Ludwig. At first, he thought she was no different from a saint, but she had twisted beliefs about God. However, she didn't seem like a bad person because she was trying to do her best in her fanatical beliefs. When they encountered the cultists, they were afraid that something might happen, but they didn't do anything to harm them. And sometimes she said things that didn't make sense. Ludwig couldn't quite figure out what kind of person the priest in front of him was. She seemed very kind, but also crazy, and maybe even crazier because she seemed sane. Rowen said that she was a bishop before the Gate incident, but after the Gate incident, she took on a position that was too much for someone to fill. With the exception of a few safe lands, there would be no archbishops who had taken on the role of a grand duke. That means Rowen is not an archbishop of the same rank as a grand duke. She was promoted to archbishop for some other duty that did not involve ruling a territory or overseeing the position of archbishop. Was it because of the work of purifying diseases that she was given the position of archbishop? 'Rowen.' 'Yes, Ludwig.' 'Is this all you do as an archbishop...? 'Uh...' Rowen slowly nodded as if she understood what Ludwig was asking. 'Well, it's kind of a side job.' 'A side job?' 'Yes.' Rowen walked calmly and exhaled white breath. 'People keep dying in the Empire. There are also many heretics. Strange things keep happening in places that are not peaceful and where bad things keep happening.' Rowen's expression became even darker as she spoke. 'Ludwig may not have seen it yet, but sometimes corpses become undead.' '...Is it that bad?' At the mention of undead, Ludwig felt chills all over his body. 'If impure energy is misused, even stranger things can happen. Like a heretical ritual or a prayer that curses someone with dark power.' 'Oh...' 'I looked a little strange earlier because I've seen too many strange things while walking around the refugee village.'" Ludwig noticed that Rowen was trying to hide a chilly atmosphere despite her smile. He wondered if she was worried about the negative consequences that might arise from incorrect rituals. Ludwig found it meaningless or too dangerous to criticize something that cannot be known or relied upon, even with the power of righteousness. Rowen confirmed that checking for strange occurrences was part of her job, and if she could handle it, she would. Ludwig realized that Rowen's job was much more complicated than he initially thought. Despite her strange beliefs, he acknowledged that Rowen was trying her best to do good in her fanatical beliefs. Later, they arrived at the temple in Tuwan, and Rowen asked Ludwig to be careful and come back tomorrow. Ludwig asked if there was anything special, but Rowen just winked and went into the temple. In another scene, Louise von Schwarzkopf arrived at the warp spot in Hwangdo and found herself alone without any temple staff. She had to find her way to the temple alone in the snow.