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A few days ago, the Toriento Bishopric was completely packed. Look here, people; look there, people—everywhere, people were bustling and wandering the streets.

And it made sense. With the council approaching, clergy from all over the world where the Church Order’s influence reached had gathered. To escort them or to sell goods to them, mercenaries and wandering merchants had also flocked in.

For this reason or that, as people gathered, a market naturally formed, and that market drew even more people to the streets.

For the residents of the bishopric, the council was a big deal. They could earn some pocket money by renting out spare rooms to the incoming priests, and the local merchants of Toriento Bishopric could showcase their goods to even more customers despite the influx of wandering merchants, turning a profit.

As the council approached, many smiled. Even in tough and dark times, their faces were free of shadows.

On the other hand, the faces of the clergy gathered in Toriento had dark shadows. They were individuals who had come from all over the continent, having witnessed the aftermath of demonic invasions in the lands they served and the places they passed through on their journey to the council.

Unless they were Paladin knights who constantly fought on the front lines against demons, ordinary priests rarely had the chance to truly grasp the terror of demons. This incident was one that allowed them to glimpse a fragment of the battlefield against the Great Demon.

Amidst inexplicable anxiety, fear, and doubts that what they had believed in might be wrong, they hurried to attend the council without fleeing. When unsure of what to do, the existence of a gathering to decide what must be done was like a light in the darkness or a signpost on the road.

Though it was a bit ironic that they had to be the ones to point the signpost themselves.

Bishop Agnes Lefebvre from Saint Manuel Monastery and the priests and nuns who accompanied her were no exception.

“I have no idea what the future holds…”

Bishop Agnes, who possessed deeper Light Power than anyone in the convent and had once been a Nun Knight in her youth, could keenly feel the insidious and persistent malice emanating from the demonic energy spreading across the continent. She had a strong intuition that the demon spreading this energy was obsessed with humanity and its inherent evil.

In any case, the day of the council had dawned. Though there were still a few hours before the council officially began, she decided to head to the assembly hall early. She had brought along several young or novice nuns who were to become priestesses. The decision to bring the convent’s precious sprouts during such dark and dangerous times was not without reason.

It was simply because being by Bishop Agnes’s side was safer than staying at the convent.

But since she had no choice but to bring the young nuns, she had to ensure they gained as much experience as possible. Priests had to devote themselves to the world more than anyone, so they needed to be able to handle many situations and know how to do many things.

They had to live a life of poverty without ties to money, but they also needed to know how to acquire funds to provide timely help to those in need. They had to live a detached life without ties to power, but they also needed to know how to wield power to save people from absurdities.

To save people from beasts and bandits, they had to master martial power; to save the starving and the sick, they had to know what was edible and what could be medicinal.

Thus, during the journey from Saint Manuel to Toriento Bishopric, the bishop had diligently taught the nuns these things.

Above all, the most important thing was connections. In life, there were various necessary connections: connections with the powerful, the wealthy, the knowledgeable, and influential figures of high virtue and reputation.

For clergy, these connections were also precious and valuable. But the most important connection of all was the bond with fellow clergy, seniors, juniors, and comrades. As priests cultivated themselves, performed virtuous deeds, and devoted their days to serving others, in the end, the ones who stood by them were fellow clergy.

It was inevitable. Those who did not take up the clergy had to live their own lives, so their paths were bound to differ from those who served as priests from the start.

Bishop Agnes intended to use the council as an opportunity for the nuns to experience these connections and social interactions. Hence, it was advantageous for them to arrive early at the assembly hall to greet and familiarize themselves with as many people as possible.

While leading the nuns to the bishop’s assembly hall, she encountered a familiar face.

“It’s been a long time, Your Excellency.”

Startled by the Nun Knight who boldly appeared and greeted her in a casual tone, Bishop Agnes blinked, rubbed her eyes, and looked again. What she saw was the elegant and pure appearance of a Nun Knight with a manly demeanor and a casual way of speaking.

“Good heavens, Sophia, Sophia de Chazel! Is it really you?”

Bishop Agnes warmly greeted the familiar face she hadn’t seen in a long time.

“After joining the Paladins, I hadn’t heard from you, and I was worried. But you’ve grown so beautifully. I almost didn’t recognize you.”

In response to Bishop Agnes’s words, Sophia smiled.

“It’s been five years since Your Excellency tricked me, a young nun, into joining the Paladins. It has indeed been a long time. Have you been well?”

“Of course! I’m as healthy as a corpse! But you look well, and that’s a relief!”

As the two exchanged smiles and polite words with a hint of sarcasm, the nuns following behind thought to themselves:

‘Scary!’

‘I’ve never seen anyone talk to the abbess like that!’

‘Judging from the conversation, was she originally from our convent?’

‘Then, is she our senior?’

Perhaps sensing the nuns’ reactions, Bishop Agnes began introducing Sophia to them.

“This is Sophia de Chazel, a Nun Knight of the Paladins and a former member of our Saint Manuel Convent. Knight de Chazel, these are the nuns from our Saint Manuel Convent.”

“Calling me that feels awkward. How about just calling me by my name as before?”

“Oh, how could I? You’re now a Paladin Knight. In terms of rank, aren’t we equals? Since your position is that of a knight, you should be addressed as ‘Knight.’ Or should I call you ‘Your Excellency’ as well?”

At Bishop Agnes’s teasing words, Sophia raised her hands in surrender.

“Alright, I give up. Enough of that… By the way, these are quite young, aren’t they?”

“Times are troubling.”

“Indeed. You must have had a hard time coming all this way.”

As Sophia nodded knowingly, the nuns silently agreed among themselves.

”’The abbess has always been like this!”’

Having quickly formed a bond with the nuns, Sophia ignored Bishop Agnes’s sharp glare and continued.

“Anyway, I’m also from Saint Manuel Convent. So, I’m your senior, and you’re my juniors. Please feel at ease.”

“Ah, it’s an honor!”

The nuns, taken aback by Sophia’s friendly approach, responded with bewildered expressions. The Nun Knight’s approachable demeanor, exuding both integrity and strength, was too overwhelming for the young nuns. Blushing without realizing it, the nuns were adorably observed by Sophia, who then turned to Bishop Agnes.

“I should head off now to prepare for the council. What about you, Your Excellency?”

“Oh, so you’re representing the Paladins this time?”

“Seems like it.”

As Sophia gave a wry smile, Bishop Agnes replied.

“We should head to the assembly hall as well.”

“Then let’s go together. I’ll find you a good seat.”

“Thank you. I’ll take you up on that.”

Thus, the group from Saint Manuel Convent, having unexpectedly met Sophia, moved together to the bishop’s assembly hall. The unexpected encounter brought a fresh stimulus and joy to Sophia. But the connections Sophia was to meet were not limited to just these.

In the council hall, the connections Sophia had made and built up until now were waiting. The situations where she would unexpectedly meet those she hadn’t anticipated and have joyful reunions were still to come several times over.

 

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