Virgin Knight Who Is the Frontier Lord in the Gender Switched World - Chapter 167

The journey continues.

What started as a mere group of 30 accompanying the Holy Mother has now grown to 50.

Joining forces with Lady Valiere’s brigade, we travel from town to town, stopping at churches of the Cologne Sect to deliver letters from the priest to the Holy Mothers residing there.

Moved to tears, the Holy Mothers, in turn, recruit excellent pilgrims from among the nuns to accompany us to the imperial city.

As we repeat this process, our numbers steadily increase.

With a mace and pistol hanging from our waists, and a musket slung over our backs, we spend the modest savings accumulated through our vow of poverty, increasing the number of donkeys and carts along the way, loading up barrels of salt and gunpowder at each church, and marching relentlessly.

Selling gunpowder and lead bullets to mercenaries to earn travel money, distributing salt within the brigade, we recount the tales of the Cologne Sect, and to those intrigued, we also teach the “New Century Legend of the Redeemer,” the sacred text of the Cologne Sect.

Today, too, after having been begged by a poor horse borrower with two donkeys in tow, I delivered a sermon.

“Today’s sermon was truly well-done.”

Today’s sermon was about the time when the Redeemer, despite resisting with all her might, was captured because her bullets ran out, and a cowardly disciple, fearing being captured herself, denied knowing her three times.

It was a lesson on kindness in the face of weakness.

According to the sacred rite of the “Heart Punch Ceremony” of the Cologne Sect, God will forgive believers up to three times, and the Redeemer will accept and raise those who repent.

However, the disciple, due to her own weakness, exceeded the limit of three times, betraying not only the Redeemer but also her own faith.

The depths of misery of such cowardice, the vanity of betraying one’s own will and loved ones, were best understood by the disciple herself.

It seemed unlikely that the disciple’s heart would ever find peace again.

But a few days later, someone appeared.

Smiling pleasantly while pressing a pistol to the disciple’s temple, she said, “Look, I’ll give you one more chance. Say my name.”

The Redeemer, who was supposed to have been executed, stood beside her, resurrected.

Her voice was teasingly kind.

Overjoyed, the disciple, forgetting even the pistol at her temple, shouted the name of the Redeemer she respected most, like a rooster at dawn.

But the moment she shouted the name, the Redeemer disappeared like morning dew.

What remained was only the pistol supposedly held by the Redeemer and the soul of the Cologne Sect.

Clutching the pistol, the disciple wept intensely.

You understand, don’t you?

No more needs to be said.

Even though she had abandoned the Redeemer due to cowardice, even though she had betrayed her faith, the Redeemer did not abandon her.

Knowing everything about the disciple’s weakness, out of love, the Redeemer gave her a fourth chance for repentance and saved her heart.

This is true agape love.

That the disciple rose again goes without saying.

Armed with a pistol, she stood up to face all the evil, misery, sadness, discrimination, and poverty in the world, and rejoined the Cologne Sect.

This is written in the “Ceremony of the Rooster’s Crow” of the “New Century Legend of the Redeemer.”

After I finished speaking passionately, the poor horse borrower, moved, muttered as she rubbed against the two donkeys.

“I, too, am joining this journey to confront my own misery, discrimination, and poverty. If I can overcome this trial given by Lady Valiere, I should be able to grasp everything. The sermon you delivered has deeply impressed me.”

The borrower shed a tear, overcome with emotion.

I murmured.

“Yes, you joined this journey invited by the noble Valiere von Anhalt, a devout believer in the Cologne Sect. But remember, Lady Valiere is a strict person. If you do not stand up and shout like the rooster, she might abandon you. That’s why—I will not outright tell you to convert to the Cologne Sect.”

“But I am just a poor horse borrower. I have no education or culture, and I cannot afford to donate from my own assets. Ah, but if I push myself—”

“You don’t need to. What kind of faith would it be to take from the poor, to scrape coins from those struggling to live? Such an act is not permissible for a clergyman.”

I gently admonished the borrower.

The borrower looked troubled, as if wanting to say something more.

I opened my hands slightly, invitingly urging her to speak.

“If someone like me is allowed, may I convert?”

“You are welcome to join the ranks of the Cologne Sect forever.”

To convert to the Cologne Sect, one does not need money.

One only needs to declare their joining loudly.

This is what the Cologne Sect calls the “Ceremony of the Rooster’s Crow.”

If one is prepared to confront all the evil, misery, sadness, discrimination, and poverty in the world, that is enough.

Of course, for a deeper conversion ceremony, a little sanctity is required, but just to join, it is not necessary.

Surely, such poor borrowers, once they complete their trade journey to the imperial city and build their assets, will desire a formal conversion ceremony.

That is something merchants will want on their own, and there is no problem with it.

Today, I have added another believer to the Cologne Sect.

“Indeed, my sermon was really good—but no, that’s arrogance.”

I must check my own pride.

I still vividly remember being admonished by the priest at the Church of Anhalt.

Nevertheless, we continue to perform these sacred acts in accordance with the Redeemer’s will.

As we travel together, more merchants and mercenaries who find our tales and sermons interesting join us. Given that Lady Valiere is a devout follower of the Cologne Sect, the opportunities for full-fledged conversion ceremonies have increased, not just simple conversions.

Of course, some may be trying to show Lady Valiere that they are devout followers too, but—I will gradually guide them to the true path of faith.

We, as members of the Cologne Sect, are truly walking the correct path.

“We are mad.”

We must continue walking straight ahead, focused solely on this truth.

We have a purpose.

We must reach the imperial city; we have a mission to accomplish.

“Lady Polydoro, my sister.”

Just as I was reaffirming my determination, a voice called out from beside me.

“What is it, sister scribe?”

Turning around, one of the sisters who had joined us in the capital was standing there. She usually works on transcribing the “New Century Legend of the Redeemer,” but insisted on joining the march to the imperial city.

She sought inspiration—for discovering a new scripture.

She pleaded to come along, believing the experiences on this journey would provide the necessary inspiration.

One might underestimate her because she is a scribe, but we cannot allow our Cologne Sect to be equated with any half-hearted group.

She never neglects her training as a sister of the Cologne Sect, practicing striking wooden posts with spirit every day.

She carries a well-maintained musket on her back.

As a respectable cleric, she was nothing short of admirable.

“Lady Valiere is calling for you. You know what it’s about, don’t you?”

“Hmm?”

What could it be for?

I almost feigned ignorance, but I understood, honestly.

While we may not match the high education of royals like Lady Valiere, we are clerics after all.

Every Cologne Sect cleric studies Scholasticism (philosophy, theology) daily, along with geometry to master excellent architecture.

We have both culture and education.

Therefore, everyone understands what kind of questions (inquiries) she is seeking from us.

If she seeks answers, we as clerics must provide a forum for discussion and engage in genuine debate.

In my faith, as long as it does not shake the doctrines of the Cologne Sect, I must elucidate everything to Lady Valiere.

That is the proper way to be a cleric.

“What will you do, sister? Hide it?”

“No—if Lady Valiere is inquiring, there is no longer any reason to hide.”

“That would be wise.”

There are things in this world better kept hidden.

It’s not unusual in a human life to be happier left in the dark about certain things, without ever knowing them.

But what could there be to hide from Lady Valiere, a devout believer in the Cologne Sect?

Rather, once she understands our true intentions, she might grab my hand and exclaim, “What a wonderful idea and purpose! I’ll help too!!” like a crowing rooster.

“I will tell her everything. Sister scribe, please inform her that I will be there immediately.”

“Understood, sister. I look forward to hearing more about Lord Faust von Polydoro from the head of the Polydoro house.”

Lately, the sister scribe has become utterly fascinated by stories of Lord Faust.

“She shouts, ‘This will lead to a great discovery!’ and pesters me for stories.”

After talking with Lady Valiere, there will be more stories to share.

Well, that’s fine.

I love giving sermons and tales, but I also greatly enjoy casual conversations.

“Let’s go then.”

I patted my hips lightly.

There, alongside the pistol—was a long-handled mace entrusted to me by the priest.