616 – The Saint Is Busy – 6
Residents gather to form a village, the village further develops to become a city, and the city forms a huge fence to become a country. All countries existing across the continent were founded through such a process.
However, the North was an exception. The North is a place where nomads, not settlers, live. A vacuum of power where no nation exists and various tribes abound. An unknown world where no one knows detailed information.
Therefore, even compatriots of faith spread across the continent could not set foot in the North. The power of faith that converted even Lucene, who was far from civilization, did not reach the North.
‘The blocking of the empire also played a role.’
Crucially, the empire, which had the only land border with the North, was very reluctant to allow priests of the Dawn Church to go to the North. They say it is for the safety of the priests, but it is correct to say that the priests were reluctant to come to the negotiating table after being captured by the nomads.
But now the north has become the territory of the empire. There is no longer any need for the empire to block access to priests, and there is no need to regard the North as a barbaric and unknown world filled with nomads.
“I will speak well to the great lords of the North.”
Rather, they were promised convenience by the powerful advisors of the empire, so it can be said that today the north has become a place of harmony between settled people and nomads.
“Welcome. The North, including Barandiga, welcomes your visit, brother.”
As proof of that, we were able to be welcomed by Brother Ainter in the North.
A situation in which the imperial family welcomes the next saint of the Dawn Church in a nomadic homeland. If we do not call this evidence of harmony, what can be considered harmony?
“Thank you for your hospitality, brother. I never thought I’d see you here again.”
“Haha, me too. I guess the Lord appreciates our friendship.”
I nodded at Brother Ainter’s words. If you meet the royal family of the empire in a place other than the system, it is truly the guidance of the Lord.
‘Is she the daughter of the Marquis of Barandiga?’
Eventually, I turned my attention to the woman standing next to Brother Ainter.
A woman with silver hair that contrasts with the blonde hair of her brother. Because she is a nomad who lived in the grasslands, she exudes the spirit of a confident woman, but she quietly guards Ainter with her shy face.
Because it looked so fresh and warm, the corners of her mouth slowly rose.
‘You are sincere with each other.’
The news that Brother Ainter was planning to marry the daughter of the Marquis spread across the empire and across the continent. This is a rare event in which the current emperor’s only younger brother unites with a nomad. Worldly royalties and nobles are bound to be interested.
The world is evaluating this union as an arranged marriage to maintain the empire’s occupied territory, but looking at the appearance of the Marquis’ daughter and Brother Ainter’s smile, I could see that it was just speculation.
‘It is the Lord’s protection.’
That appearance cannot come out through politics. This is only possible when everyone respects and cherishes each other.
If you were me in the past, you wouldn’t have known, but if you are me now, you can.
Because I am also similar to Brother Ainter.
“Brother, I would like to say hello to those who will become my close friend’s family. Could you please introduce me?”
“Of course. I was itching to show off to you two.”
At my request, Brother Ainter smiled slightly and pointed to a middle-aged man.
“This is the Marquis of Barandiga, my future father-in-law.”
“This is Batal Gurt, Marquis of Barandiga. It is an honor to meet the next saint.”
As soon as the brother finished speaking, a middle-aged man—the Marquis Barandiga—bowed his head and greeted me.
Indeed. Is this the Marquis of Barandiga?
“I, too, am honored to be able to meet my compatriots walking the same path.”
The Marquis Barandiga’s eyes widened slightly at those words.
A compatriot who walks the same path as you. As if I never expected to hear such words from the next saint.
“Your energy is clear. Have you had enlightenment?”
“…I just removed the illusion that was covering my eyes and looked up at the sky.”
“You are great.”
It was a short question and answer that seemed to come out of nowhere, but neither I nor the Marquis de Barandiga continued.
In short, there are things that are common in this world.
“I’m happy that the priests seem to have a common understanding, but can we continue the introduction?”
“Oh, of course.”
And when Brother Ainter nodded his head at what he said, he smiled brightly and wrapped his arms around the Lady of the Marquis Barandiga’s waist.
“This is Shati, the greatest heroine of the North and my only wife.”
“Hey, Marquis!”
I just burst into laughter at the affectionate introduction and the young lady’s shocked appearance.
She is glad that she comrade her, who also had feelings for the same woman, seems to have found a good partner.
‘Are other people doing well too?’
Brother Erich has two fiancées, Brother Ainter has one fiancée, and I have a sister with whom I have a deep relationship.
If Brother Lyutis and Brother Laterer also find their partners, it is a happy ending for everyone.
***
The future father-in-law welcomed her pilgrimage group with a smile and guided them around the North.
A vast plain with no end in sight, the Zorton River, which is the lifeblood of the North, horses and sheep huddled together in winter, and even the temple of the Marquis of Barandiga, which was completed first.
The pilgrims nodded and exclaimed exclamations at the sight that anyone who came to the North for the first time could not help but admire.
“I have never seen such a beautiful horizon since the granaries of Chenes.”
“If you felt the abundance of golden light in Chenes, you can feel freshness and cheerfulness here.”
“It’s a shame. It would have been better if we had come in the summer.”
I felt proud when I heard the pilgrims whispering.
I too was amazed by the nature of the North, and now I feel proud as a member of the North. In order to maintain this beautiful nature, we are working together with future father-in-laws to pursue balanced development.
Of course, considering the vast north and small nomadic population, this nature would still be beautiful even if developed haphazardly, but the story changes when the development continues for several generations. If the treasures of the North are to be damaged, it is right for us, who are the first to dig in, to suffer a little more.
‘It is easier to build a new building in the middle of nowhere than to repair an existing building.’
After our generation passes, this pursuit of balance will become a luxury.
“For nomads, the sky was an object of reverence. The sky was the only space they could not touch as they roamed the earth, so their ancestors worshiped the sky.”
“It is similar to the origins of the Dawn Church. Our faith began with the grace of the sun, which warmly illuminates and guides us.”
“Haha, just the environment is different, but people’s lives are not very different.”
Before I knew it, I took a few steps back as I saw my future father-in-law and Tanian talking about faith. There is no need for secular royal family members to participate in the priests’ conversation.
And it is a somewhat strange sight. Was your father-in-law a person capable of such religious conversations?
‘I knew he was the only priest.’
I know that my father-in-law is the only priest of the faith in the eternal blue sky. We know that the reason Barandi became a marquis from the tribal chief was because he had the title of priest.
However, my father-in-law, whom I had seen so far, was not a very religious person. Although he had the appearance of a priest, at his core he was more cynical and bitter about faith than anyone else.
My father-in-law has such religious knowledge. It is truly amazing.
‘In the first place, having knowledge makes you cynical.’
If you know little, you can’t even be dissatisfied. Because there is so much to know, it can be twisted. I think my father-in-law probably went through that process as well.
“Your energy is clear. Have you had enlightenment?”
“…I just removed the illusion that was covering my eyes and looked up at the sky.”
Although the distortion seems to have been corrected recently.
“You look happy.”
I turned my head when I heard Lady Shati’s voice from next to me.
“My father has never discussed faith with anyone. He received teachings from my grandfather, a former priest, and I am also learning from him.”
“It must have been a boring road.”
I felt sad because it meant that there was only learning and teaching.
If what Youngae said is true, for my father-in-law, faith and belief were not mutual, but one-sided inheritance. Not being able to share one’s knowledge and enlightenment with others. How boring it must be for the learner.
If I had learned the sword alone like my father-in-law, would I have progressed as much as I have now? No matter how much I had a teacher who was the best sword in the continent, would I have been able to move forward steadily without close friends like Erich and Lyutis?
‘My father-in-law was distant from other tribes.’
The Barandiga tribe was not active in forming connections with other tribes, although they may have had ties with priests of other tribes. Therefore, my father-in-law’s faith only lingered in one place.
“Anyway… It seems like a most important guest has visited.”
The young lady also nodded at my words.
The next saint who can talk to his father-in-law who was stuck in a boring religion. No matter how many gold coins were used, luck that one could not dare to have came to him.
I am truly grateful. If Enen and the eternal blue sky are watching over us, they must be Bowham.
‘How should I repay this favor?’
I burst into laughter as I saw Tanian talking non-stop with my father-in-law.
As a prospective son-in-law, how should I express this gratitude? What expression would Tanian like?
‘Should we assign them both to the same room?’
After thinking about it, I looked at the woman who was walking right behind Tanian.
Cardinal Alexandriana, Congregation for Canonization. A person who looks at Tanian with a coy look, and occasionally Tanian responds with a warm look.
Just as I had a connection with Lady Shati, a person who seemed to have a connection with Tanian.
Hmmmm…
‘I have to lock it up for now and think about it.’
I would like it if the two developed a deep relationship as I expected.
Even if it wasn’t, wouldn’t it be a relationship if we exchanged such affectionate glances? Something will definitely happen in the locked room.
There is no loss either way.