“You say you’re from the Order?”
“May the blessings of earth and stone be with you. I am Kiera from the Order of Zyros.”
A priestess with her face partially covered by a white veil made the sign of the cross as she introduced herself.
“May the protection of sword and shield accompany you. I am Sir Corellius, Paladin of the Order of Batar.”
“Guiding ranger, Shimar.”
“5th Circle Mage, Regan. I specialize in breaking barriers.”
“A hero called by the gods, Asher.”
Five visitors introduced themselves in Raul’s office: a priestess, a Paladin, a ranger, a mage, and a hero.
Seeing their names, Raul’s brow furrowed slightly.
‘Kiera, Asher. No doubt about it. These are….’
They were exactly the individuals Raul had feared would show up.
“An assembly from the Orders of Zyros and Batar, as well as a mage. It’s quite a rare combination. Regardless, welcome to the First Viscounty.”
Raul greeted them professionally. After they settled on the prepared sofa and tea was served, he inquired again.
“What brings members of the orders all the way to a remote territory like this?”
The First Viscounty was located in the southwestern outskirts of the kingdom. Moreover, the Holy Empire was situated far to the northeastern part of the continent, quite a distance from the Ruben Kingdom. Even with portals, it would take three transfers to reach here. The reason for their visit had to be significant.
“We’re here to investigate continental threats on behalf of the Order, following divine guidance. However, the reason we’ve come to see you today…”
“Viscount Raul! Cease your despicable act of deploying outsiders for your selfish gains immediately!”
“Sir Corellius!”
In the midst of Kiera calmly explaining their purpose, Corellius suddenly interrupted, glaring at Raul and shouting. Startled, Kiera called his name in an attempt to stop him, but Corellius looked ready to draw his sword any minute.
Of course, it didn’t escalate further. At the moment his voice rose, a dozen escort knights appeared from nowhere, hands on their sword hilts, standing behind Raul with a fierce aura.
Raul raised his hand slightly to stop the knights, gazing calmly at Corellius without any sign of agitation.
“Hmph. Denying it won’t help. Our investigation has already confirmed that you’ve been recklessly involving outsiders in territorial wars and disrupting the balance of Connect!”
Corellius crossed his arms, treating Raul like a criminal, and sent him a challenging look, daring him to speak. Raul opened his mouth to respond.
“I don’t know what you heard, from whom, or what you investigated. So what exactly are you trying to say?”
Raul had no intention of being polite to someone openly provoking him.
“Hmph. So you show your true colors now? Outsiders are warriors summoned by god to serve the entire Connect Continent. They are not mere chess pieces for you to use at your whim to fulfill your greed! You’d better release the outsiders from your control and disband that inappropriate organization, the First Knight Order, immediately.”
“…….”
Once Corellius finished his long-winded speech, silence fell upon Raul’s office. Raul turned his gaze away from Corellius and looked calmly at the other party members.
Priestess Kiera averted her eyes slightly, feeling uneasy. Mage Regan seemed intrigued. Ranger Shimar appeared disinterested, staring blankly, while Warrior Asher looked at Raul with burning eyes, seemingly in agreement with Corellius.
Sipping his tea as if nothing had happened, Raul put down the cup and spoke calmly.
“First, let me ask. Is Sir Corellius indeed the representative of your party?”
“Well, no, that’s not…”
“Yes, I am effectively their leader.”
Corellius interrupted Kiera again.
“Is that so? Then the statements you made just now—are they your personal opinions or those of the entire Order?”
“……. Hmph! As the one leading the investigation, my opinion is the Order’s opinion. Since the report has already been filed, it’s too late for you to make excuses. You should repent and follow the divine will now.”
Raul couldn’t help but chuckle. It was amusing how personal thoughts had morphed into representing the squad and even the Order, and now supposedly reflected the divine will.
‘Well, there’s no need to endure this nonsense any further.’
With a slight gesture, Raul spoke.
“So that’s how it is. Are his words really the complete representation of the Order’s will, bishops?”
Clunk.
The door opened, and about a dozen individuals hurriedly entered the office.
“Th-that can’t be true! That’s just the thought of one ignorant knight!”
“This has nothing to do with our Xenon Church.”
“There’s been a misunderstanding. The Order does not judge the First Knight Order in such a manner!”
These were the bishops in charge of the various orders that had established themselves in the First Viscounty.
Having guessed the approximate identities of the visitors and anticipating their arrival, Raul had summoned the bishops beforehand. He had them wait in the adjacent room where they could overhear the conversation, hence their current anxious expressions were understandable. Especially the bishops from the Order of Zyros and the Order of Batar, whose faces were turning ashen.
“Well, it seems Sir Corellius here has a different perspective. Honestly… I find it rather shocking. I thought I had worked closely with the Order and had demonstrated my sincerity.”
Raul’s words made the bishops flinch visibly. Among the nobles of the Connect continent, Raul’s viscounty contributed the most donations to the orders. Additionally, at Calix Castle, larger temples were under construction, even surpassing those in the capital of the Ruben Kingdom. Once completed, it was set to be the largest religious district on the continent, apart from the Holy Empire’s grand temple.
Moreover, it was the First Knight Order that introduced players enlightened about the divine to the orders and sent devout children to temple schools regularly. Reducing donations or severing cooperation would be catastrophic for them, thus the bishops were incessantly issuing apologies, while Corellius and his party wore bewildered expressions.
Of course, there were individuals who had not grasped the situation.
“Wh-what is this disgraceful behavior! How can bishops turn a blind eye to the truth and grovel before a mere noble! Since when did the orders become so corrupted by the secular!”
Corellius stood up abruptly, pointing and shouting at the bishops. However, no one was paying attention to him and instead glared at the Bishop of the Order of Batar with discomfort.
“Enough, brother Corellius. You’re making a grave mistake. Viscount Raul is not someone to be falsely accused like this.”
“What! Have all of you lost your minds? It’s obvious Raul is using the outsiders as private soldiers! How can you call it falsehood? Our duty is to guide and protect the outsiders, yet you intend to ignore them being exploited and oppressed by a noble? I will report this to the higher-ups immediately!”
“The higher-ups? I don’t know which higher-ups you’re referring to, but you’d better take this communication right now.”
The bishop handed him a portable magic device. Scoffing, Corellius took it.
“Hmph, whoever you are, you won’t change my mind… What the….”
Brother Corellius, what on earth are you doing there?
On the other side of the device was a stern-looking elderly man with white hair, smiling at him. Yet, if one looked closely, they could see his smiling eyes and lips trembling slightly.
“Gr-grandmaster! How is it that you…?”
– I will be brief. Apologize to Viscount Raul and fulfill your original mission.
The communication cut off abruptly without waiting for a response.
“W-why…?”
Corellius stood there in a daze, still holding the device.
There are people who, once they set their minds, cannot accept others’ opinions. They firmly believe their view is absolutely correct, while any differing opinions are inherently wrong. Such individuals distort all circumstances to fit their beliefs. Corellius was a quintessential example of this.
Regardless of what stories he had heard and where, he had already painted Raul as a heretic in his mind, refusing to change it even at the bishops’ words. But could he truly ignore the words of the grandmaster, the supreme leader of the order?
As the situation escalated, the investigation team seemed to realize something had gone terribly wrong. Priestess Kiera looked like she wanted to say something, but Raul was quicker.
“I allowed this meeting out of respect for the Order and a hope to provide any small assistance. I never expected to be insulted and subjected to unreasonable demands. It seems further discussion is meaningless. I suggest you all leave. Today has been… truly disappointing.”
“W-wait… that’s not our intention at all, Viscount Raul….”
Kiera finally spoke, but Raul ignored her and left the room.
From behind, Bernard, who had been standing by Raul’s side from the start, spoke with an icy voice that felt like it was dripping with frost.
“While the master is a devout man and may let this pass, I do not feel the same. I will review all the support and policies we have been providing to your orders and reassess them from the beginning.”
“N-no, overseer Bernard, you can’t just say something like that!”
“If what we’ve been doing is out of selfish desires, disrupting the continent’s order, it’s only natural to stop.”
“It’s a misunderstanding. We didn’t visit with that intention at all…”
“I understand that you’re a special investigation team from the Order. It’s safe to assume you represent the Order’s will, right? As you’ve desired, we will retract all support and policies regarding the outsiders in our territory and guild. We will clearly announce this to prevent any further misunderstanding. Rest assured.”
“…!”
Bernard’s firm words made the bishops’ faces turn pale.
‘This is a disaster!’
‘Absolutely not! If that happens…’
They knew all too well the immense scale of support and benefits provided by the First Viscounty and Guild to the outsiders. Various associations and orders had their own support measures, but combined, they didn’t even approach a tenth of what the First Knight Order offered.
If such support were to vanish immediately due to the orders’ protest, where would the outsiders direct their resentment?
‘To think foolish brothers ignorant of the ways of the world would bring such calamity upon us!’
‘There might even be a revolt!’
Orders meant to support and lead the outsiders could end up being attacked and shunned by them. If such a scenario unfolded, what face could they present to god in prayer?
“…This can’t be! Please, calm down!”
“Overseer Bernard! Please reconsider. This incident is due to our negligence. I implore you to consider the greater good!”
Eventually, the bishops were able to reverse Bernard’s decision only after endless begging and apologizing. And the primary culprits who had caused this mess had no choice but to leave the manor, hounded by the hostile glares of the Viscount’s knights and staff, as though being chased away.
Raul, observing their pitiable departure from a distance, felt a sense of relief.
‘For those disasters to leave on their own, truly the heavens have aided.’
The identities of those who had caused Raul so much distress were none other than the “Hero Party”, the central figures of Connect’s main scenario, and its greatest troublemakers.
(To be continued.)
TL’s Corner:
Foolish Paladin. I suddenly remembered Motoyasu from the Rising of the Shield Hero.