Chapter 120

Col finally pulled back from his position across the table and sat in his chair. Myuri stared at his profile with a sharp gaze—she was both telling him not to make her worry and telling him not to go too far without her. “Thank you.” Had he put his thanks in a sourer manner, that might have made Eve feel better. Eve was putting in so much effort acting the part of a villain because she was a good person at her core. “How about a meal?” With a strained smile, Col turned down her invitation. Myuri did not say a word on the way back to the inn. Canaan was quiet, because he could tell this was not a situation where he could brush her aside and say what he liked. The moment they entered their room, Myuri slammed her fist into Col’s chest, and clung to him so hard it almost hurt. She was a smart girl and knew perfectly well what, exactly, he was preparing for when he declared he would not be stepping down from his role as Twilight Cardinal. And on top of that, they had been given a grace period of only three days. Perhaps she was angry that she, a knight, had been left out of the conversation when they made that decision. Myuri immediately pulled back, rushed into the hall, and stopped Canaan as he was about to enter his room. “Help us, Canaan! We’ve got to find a solution!” Canaan beamed. “Of course!” he said before bursting into the room in high spirits. There was a considerable difference in age between Col and the other two, yet in his eyes, Col felt like they were much more grown up than he was. Ashamed by the kindness they were showing him, he said, “Please grant me your wisdom. I want to save those being fooled by the bad people.” He grabbed the desk and dragged it to the center of the room and placed a piece of paper on it. The people of Ohlburg trusted the imposters, had been filled with religious zeal, and had crossed a river they should not have. They had to find a way to safely bring them back to this side of the river. Of course, the priests of this city had pondered on how to do that but had come up with no good ideas; now the situation had become one where they had to quell it as quickly as possible. Eve had told him that he could not have everything. There may be one or two things he would have to forsake for his massive goal of fixing the Church. But once he had grown used to doing so, he was certain he would no longer believe in God. No—perhaps he would stop believing in himself first. And so he had to resist that as much as possible. Though he knew it was foolish, getting through this fight believing, to the line, that truth will win out in this world, was the only way he could remain himself. “It would not be difficult to denounce the imposter as an imposter. Arresting him would be the same.” He winked at Myuri. If Myuri put her mind to it, she could turn every last one of the swindlers into sausage meat in the span of one night. “But that would have the opposite effect on the enthusiastic people.” “It is said saints are created upon their death.” Canaan knew a lot about the history of the Church, and he knew of plenty of situations where heresy had been involved. When it came to these things, it did not always end with the death of their leader. If anything, their leader often became deified or martyred, which only strengthened their bonds, and that was when the true subjugation of the heretics began. “And it’s unlikely those in Ohlburg would readily acknowledge they were wrong. And that is preventing Estatt from offering them forgiveness.” As a ruler, it was impermissible to make allowances for their people, who were so viciously insulting and slandering them, without punishment. If they established a precedent where they could do anything with impunity, there was a chance it could happen again, and the nobles would soon begin to challenge the cathedral’s authority once more. And because of that, Hyland and the other leaders of the Winfiel Kingdom sent Eve over. Because they expected Estatt to become the Twilight Cardinal’s ally, it would be terrible for all of them if the city could not maintain political stability. The problem was simple, and there were several solutions. But the answer that Col, Myuri, and Canaan wanted was the most difficult of them all. “We will bring sanity back to the people of Ohlburg. And then they will display repentance to Estatt.” Somewhere in his rational mind, he knew this was impossible. Regardless, Myuri and Canaan drew their quills from their pockets in concert. Like knights drawing their blades. “I’m gonna tear out Miss Eve’s eyeball.” What a savage thing to say. Col wondered where she learned that. Canaan giggled. Myuri huffed, then turned to look at Col. He was not alone. And so there were times the pen was indeed mightier than the sword.