The Medieval-Modern Man with a Gamer Mindset

31. Burgeoning Filial Piety

The bishopric of Illenfoot, where we arrived, was a place filled with a quiet and pious atmosphere.

Around the streets within the castle walls were sophisticated stone structures, each window decorated with stained glass depicting mythological tales, exuding magnificence. However, there was something truly astonishing.

Surprisingly, the streets within the castle walls were stone paths paved with uniformly sized stones. They were even cleanly finished, giving the illusion of being inside a building.

Nevertheless, it was not desolate. Small shrubs and saplings were planted in the empty spaces between the buildings, alleviating the feeling of being in a stone quarry.

Perhaps anyone wealthy and noble would want to live here. If not for the clean-shaven monks and tight-lipped priests milling about, the land value would have been considerable.

The reality was more austere. Illenfoot was filled with monks and priests, literally sweaty men, everywhere you went. This place was not a town or a city, but a massive academy.

Not the kind of academy where young and tender freshmen gather, but a military academy. Eventually, unable to bear it any longer, I asked a question to the old priest Tebano, who had volunteered to guide us.

“Are the other bishoprics like this?”

“Of course not. Illenfoot, under the direct control of the Papacy, is the only one that maintains such a chaste and pious appearance.”

“Do you not accept nuns here?”

“They are in a separate area in Geumnam. They are restricted from contact with the outside world until they have accumulated sufficient skills and discipline. As you know, they must be able to protect their chastity from men with wicked intentions.”

As Tebano spoke, his eyes darted around, stealing glances at our group. To be precise, at the virile Terver and his knights.

As soon as the knights heard Tebano’s pointed remarks, they flinched and turned their heads away, whistling. After that, I asked a few more minor questions, and each time, Tebano answered diligently.

In this way, we passed the time until we reached the heart of the bishopric. Among the numerous buildings, there was a chapel with a particularly pointed steeple. Tebano turned around only after standing in front of it.

“This is the bishop’s cathedral. Please go inside and rest for a while. Prince Narva, you may proceed to meet the bishop, but… Will Sir Terver also attend the interview?”

“It is something my brother has decided for himself. No one else can interfere in what a man has decided to do.”

Terver replied with a firm expression and a resolute tone, as befitting a knight. Of course, he did not answer solely for the heartwarming reason of supporting his brother. His gaze clearly showed his desire to relax rather than listen to troublesome stories.

It seemed that the old priest Tebano had not expected much anyway. The old priest nodded with a faint expression and turned his attention to me.

“Hmm. I understand. Please go, Prince Narva.”

However, there was one person who would not let me go so easily in this situation. John by the Stream, my loyal servant, spoke in a tearful voice.

“P-prince. What if this is a trap? What if you fall for it?”

“John, my boy.”

It seemed that the events at the monastery had left a scar on John’s heart.

“hahahaha, what a loyal servant, who cares so much for his master. Do not worry. I have prepared refreshments for you in advance, including wine and simple snacks.”

“I have even set aside a portion for the prince. Don’t worry and go!”

Or perhaps he was regretting not being able to finish off the wine in the underground storage.

Well then. I clicked my tongue inwardly and followed the old priest Tebano. However, as the saying goes, misfortune comes in pairs. Unfortunately, Tebano wanted to take this opportunity to show off his knowledge.

“The cathedral of Illenfoot is not a place that just anyone can enter. The reliefs engraved here are the work of Jo Marmang, a great artist from about 230 years ago…”

Needless to say, I was not interested in what Tebano was rambling on about regarding the interior of the cathedral. The only saving grace was that he did not notice my lack of interest in his replies.

How long did we walk like that? Just when I was about to sit down and rest, Tebano opened a large door next to the corridor without knocking.

His behavior was so unceremonious that even I, who was following him, was surprised.

“Is it okay to open it like that?”

“It is fine. The bishop is a generous man who does not mind such things. Come, come in.”

As Tebano spoke, he began rummaging through the room. Dried fruits and fragrant herbs continued to emerge from the various cabinets.

This priest was so shameless that even a thief would have given up his ways. I couldn’t stand Father Tebano’s rambling any longer, so I subtly hinted at my impatience.

“What kind of person is the bishop?”

“He is a very generous person. Not only does he have a strong sense of mission to evangelize this land, but he also has a close and enduring relationship of trust with His Holiness the Pope. Of course, he constantly studies the scriptures and the surrounding political climate, and he works hard to make the world a better place.”

“Okay, that’s enough…”

It seemed like he wasn’t going to get the hint, so I was about to open my mouth when I suddenly had a premonition. I quietly lowered my outstretched hand.

At that moment, Father Tebano was popping a piece of dried fruit from his bag into his mouth and rolling it around like candy. He was doing this while taking out his spectacles from his pocket.

Soon, the priest opened his closet and began taking out clothes to wear.

“Tebano is my birth name.”

Wearing a white cassock symbolizing his role as a bishop, a gold-trimmed cape over his shoulders, and a purple silk sash around his waist, Tebano looked even more rigid and scholarly as he gazed at me.

“The name I received when I entered the priesthood is Ganista. I am called Lux Stella, and I serve as the bishop of Illenfoot, following the calling of His Holiness and opposing heretical apostates.”

As I looked at the bishop introducing himself in a serious voice, there was only one thought on my mind.

“Aren’t you ashamed of what you just said?”

“Ho ho ho.”

I had thought that he was a power-hungry man who enjoyed flattery, but now I saw that he was just putting on an act. I asked him this question because I was so taken aback, but the bishop simply shrugged his shoulders as if he were proud of himself.

“For more than a decade, I have desired to be praised and noticed by others. Then I came to a true realization. What difference does it make if I praise myself?”

“…”

“That’s why I speak my mind. Thanks to that.”

My first impression of the bishop was not good. Those who serve Lux Stella all seem to have a screw loose in their heads.

What washed away all those doubts was this.

“I only received my stigmata after I had fulfilled my vows and turned sixty.”

The bishop raised his hand, and there was a cross-shaped wound carved into it.

***

When I saw the stigma carved into the back of the bishop’s hand, I couldn’t help but have a slightly, no, somewhat irreverent thought.

“Are stigma common?”

I wondered if Lux Stella wasn’t performing too many miracles. Even though it might seem like it, this is still a Tier 2 miracle. But I never dreamed that I would see another stigma right after seeing one.

To be honest, it was purely because of my reaction. At the very least, shouldn’t he have gone, “Oh my god!!! Lux Stella has bestowed stigmata upon me!!!” and trembled with awe?

The bishop seemed to have noticed my dissatisfaction, and he chuckled as he spoke.

“You must be thinking that Lux Stella is performing too many miracles by now.”

“…”

“If you’re asking if stigmata are more common than you thought, then yes. That’s right. But if you’re asking if they’re common for a Tier 1 miracle… no. They’re extremely rare.”

“Why is it Tier 1? Stigmata are Tier 2.”

“They’re Tier 1.”

I furrowed my brow, wondering what he meant, and he gave me a detailed explanation. To summarize, it was this.

The Church has been hiding the truth.

The Miracle of Perfect Health is a Tier 0 miracle that is simply granted for believing in Lux Stella. The real Tier 1 miracle is the manifestation of stigmata. And those who have stigmata become stronger as they fulfill their vows without tiring.

However, the social significance of stigmata was much greater than that. Bishop Ganista pointed to the back of his hand and explained in detail what stigmata were.

According to the bishop, stigmata were once a qualification to enter the priesthood. It was considered blasphemous and obscene to join the priesthood without proof of one’s devotion to God.

In the early days of the Church, when it was first established, it was so strict that those without stigmata were forbidden from even crossing the threshold of the church. The problem was time. Old age was like an enemy that followed them everywhere.

“The dawn of the human era erased the fear of the Other World, but ironically, it also erased faith. 1208 years have passed since Lux Stella descended, and the fear of the Other World has long since become an old myth used to scare children .”

There were cases where the people turned back to their old faith in pursuit of immediate benefits, and there were also cases where the leadership of the Church or the local churches became corrupt and suffered civil wars. They all said the same thing.

I’d rather convert to the old gods with the mindset of just offering them tribute than do annoying stuff like vows and wait for a miracle.

Everyone must have the same mindset. Even if you don’t necessarily believe in the old gods of this world, not being devout is pretty much the same. There won’t be any particular punishment even if you don’t follow them anyway, and most people just make vows and live their lives half-heartedly.

At least they were nobles because they made vows. It’s been a long time since people started living their lives without making any vows at all. The situation being like this, the number of those with Stigmata has begun to decrease sharply even within the Church.

Oh, well, it’s a heartbreaking story. But even in this boring and tedious story, there was excitement and lessons that thrilled me.

“Given the situation, nowadays, those with Stigmata are treated like ordained priests even if they are not clergy, and if they wish, they can apply to become bishops.”

“Up to the bishop’s seat in one breath…”

Just when I was about to be tempted by the words that they don’t care about seniority and will just make me a bishop right away, I recalled the common sense that I almost forgot and quietly shut my mouth.

It’s something that people tend to overlook, but there is no race as politics as the clergy. Especially, there was no way that a bishop who is interested in secular affairs would have uttered such words in vain.

I realized what Bishop Ganista was trying to say and clicked my tongue.

“…If there are so few Stigmata holders that you can say for sure that you will send them, it would have been difficult to operate the existing dioceses. Naturally, those without Stigmata would have taken over as bishops, and in the process , secular monarchs would have intervened and exerted their influence. They would have said that since they are people without Stigmata anyway, wouldn’t it be better to have someone more capable in charge of the diocese.”

“Oh.”

“Even if there were Stigmata holders, I think that the secular monarchs would have pointed out that it would be difficult to manage the existing dioceses due to their small number and created new dioceses or split the existing ones. Perhaps it was the occasion when the right to appoint, which the Church had tacitly exercised, explicitly passed into the hands of the secular monarchs.”

“Whew.”

“After all, up to the bishop’s seat in one breath… That’s something that only works in a direct bishop’s territory where the Pope’s right to appoint is recognized.”

When he said that, Bishop Ganista started clapping without saying anything. He kept clapping for a long time before he finally leaned back and cleared his throat.

“My Lord. Do you intend to leave Bishop Powys, who has been persuaded by Yubas, as he is?”

“That’s.”

“Someone has to take his place anyway. If so, it would be best for you, my Lord, the son of King Aethelstan who rules Powys, to take his place. The problem is how to get Bishop Powys out of the way.”

Bishop Ganista touched his pince-nez as he said that.

“With King Aethelstan’s current weak control, there is a high possibility that his vassals will rebel the moment he dismisses or kills the current bishop. It is clear that he will be isolated in the future.”

“…”

“On the other hand, if he is appointed in the manner of the Pope, who values Stigmata rather than King Aethelstan’s right to appoint, he can receive the support of devout believers. Of course, he will also have the support of the Pope. “

Bishop Ganista spoke on behalf of the Pope’s position.

He will make me a bishop. In return, hand over the king’s right to appoint to the Pope. This was… a matter that required careful consideration.

I gulped and asked a very important question.

“Bishop, if I apply for the position of bishop.”

“I’m listening.”

“Do I have to study separately?”

“hahahahaha.”

Bishop Ganista let out a dry laugh and replied.

“Only those without Stigmata study.”

***

When I returned to the reception room, Terver, the knights, and John were eating porridge.

“Huh? Narva, how did it go? Your expression is strange.”

“Brother.”

Terver put down his bowl and wiped his mouth with his sleeve after hearing my serious voice. Then, he carefully looked around in a low voice and opened his mouth.

“What’s the matter? Did something go wrong?”

“To Father.”

“…I’m listening.”

I confessed my filial piety to King Aethelstan with a little guilt.

King Ethelston, no.

Father!

“…I do not need my share of the inheritance, Father. Please give it away.”

I had originally intended to play around and eat, but I will work hard.