Reincarnation of a Hunter

 

I had a dream that my body was dragged back into the middle of the battlefield of my past life.

 

Holding a glowing white long sword, I slashed all the monsters and nemesis. No one could stop me, and soon countless chunks of flesh and blood flowed at my feet.

 

The swamp-like lake of blood grew deeper and darker until it drowned me.

 

As I floundered in the blood, someone woke me up.

 “Master Eric, wake up.” 

I opened my eyes to see a senior soldier shaking me. Behind him stands the paladin from earlier.

 

I stumble to my feet, barely out of the bed.

 “Forgive me, I’m so tired, I just need a moment to catch my breath.” “You’re welcome. And the Cardinal wants to see you now.” 

I shouldn’t see the Cardinal alone, so I need to take the guard with me.

 

The last thing I wanted to do was arouse suspicion by meeting a religious authority.

 “I’ll take an administrative official with me. Please disarm both of you.” 

We put down our weapons and followed the paladin.

 

Paths twisted and turned so that we couldn’t memorize them all at once, presumably as a way to prevent the Cardinal’s assassination.

 

After a while, we reached the Cardinal’s office.

 

Paladins and soldiers stand guarding the front of the office. It seemed as if the city had been threatened with terrorism due to the Sun Cult’s many evil activities.

 ‘What’s all this? He must be a man with a lot of things on his mind.’ 

An elderly man sat alone in the office, sipping a glass of wine. The room smells nice, as if a woman had been there earlier.

 “Sit down, please. You are the son of the Count of Westphalia?” “Yes. My Lord Cardinal. I’ve got a letter from his lord.” “Give it to me.” 

As he broke the seal and unfolded the scroll to read it, the Cardinal’s expression was at first uncertain, then a faint smile.

 

Then he burned the letter with a candle and threw it into an ashtray.

 “He says he has something for me.” 

I reached into the heavy pouch at my waist and unbuckled it.

 

It may presumably contain a large amount of platinum coins, but that would not be the whole of the bribe. The most important thing was in my father’s letter.

 

Opening the pouch and looking closely inside, the Cardinal sat back down at his desk with satisfaction.

 “Wait a while, I will give you a letter to deliver to the Count.” “Yes, Your Eminence.” 

The Cardinal, looking pleased, sealed the letter, which was almost entirely handwritten in cursive, and gave it to me.

 “I don’t mind if you read it, but I’d prefer that you be the only one to see it.” 

I was curious about the contents, but I would soon be leaving the Count. There would be no need to pry.

 “I will keep it sealed.” “Eh, you’re a boring young man. What’s your name?” “Eric.” “Yes, Eric. The warlock, Pfalz has gotten a little too greedy, and I’ll take matters into my own hands.” 

The Cardinal deliberately read the contents of the letter verbally.

 

I didn’t say anything in response. In an elite society, one’s life is shortened by running one’s mouth.

 

The Cardinal, who noticed, laughed out loud.

 “Hahaha! You’re not a very funny fellow. Have a drink.” 

The Cardinal poured wine into the goblet in front of me. He must have taken a fancy to my tight lips because he took a good deal of it.

 

As I drank the wine, the question came again.

 “So, Eric, what do you think of a sun religion?” 

Even if you’re a cardinal who’s had a few drinks and looks like you’re in good spirits, answering that it’s a cult might get you decapitated, so I’d have to adapt my answer accordingly.

 “There’s no better religion for ruling foolish people.” 

According to the doctrines of solar religion, the king rules over the lords, the lords rule over the commoners, the commoners rule over the lords, and the lords owe allegiance and taxes to the king.

 

It was much more popular among the upper class than religions such as the “

God of Abundance

,” which was more of a tale and said that good things are nice, or the “G

od of the Moon

,” which said that traitors should be exterminated at all costs.

 

Amid a multiplicity of religions, the recent rapid rise of solar religion was due to the support of many lords and kings.

 “Hmph, that’s a pretty straightforward answer, you’re young.” “I do wish you were more flexible, though.” “Oh, for example?” “Churches, I mean. I’d like to see them more all over, maybe it’s greedy, but how about something called a ‘pioneer church’?” 

‘You can only find them in big cities.’

 

In this world, priests double as doctors, so a church in a mountain village would eliminate a significant medical blind spot.

 “A pioneer church? That’s a cool name. Where do you come up with that idea?” “Uh… faith, right?” 

The Cardinal chuckled as if he thought my moderate response was a joke.

 “What? Hahaha! Just when I thought you weren’t funny, you’ve got a way with words.” “What, you like jokes? Well, if you like gags, let me tell you a few.”  “Do you know what they call it when an almond dies?” 

I forgot about my exhaustion and told the Cardinal the bad jokes, while the official sitting next to me was forced to sit for hours without yawning.

  “Master Eric, it is time for you to get up.” 

The official who came with me to Aachen woke me up eagerly. It was not a pleasant feeling to be woken up every day by someone, especially a man.

 

Aside from that, after a day of riding horses and drinking, it was not easy to get up.

 “Mmm… where am I?” “The church’s guest quarters.” 

Did the dawn break?

 “How did I get here? I remember drinking wine with the Cardinal.” “You were carried by a paladin.” “I’m sorry. What time is it?” “It’s already noon, and you need to hurry.” 

On the way here, I was in a rush, but on the way there, I could camp out and take my time.

 

Still, I didn’t want to be that late, so I had to hurry immediately.

 “Let’s go to the market, and buy some yogurt and groceries. It should only take an hour.” “The soldiers bought the goods, and the meals are free at the temple cafeteria. Let’s go before lunch is over.” 

The senior soldier had already taken care of it.

 “Okay, but what’s that package?” 

On the table, wrapped in a silk cloth, was a bag.

 “If you don’t remember Master Eric, the Cardinal gave it to you as a gift because you told him so many interesting stories.” “I don’t remember. Were my stories that funny?” “Yes they were…” “Why don’t you answer?”