C127: The Bretus Kingdom / The Holy Land of Bretus
The Bretus kingdom is an island country far from the continent.
Although it is a little smaller than other kingdoms in terms of the size of the country, there is no country on this continent that ignores the Bretus Kingdom.
"Is it the Holy Knights? The troublesome bastards have moved."
Their real strength lies in religion. The Holy Land of Bretus is the headquarters of the Lumensis Church, which believes in the God of Radiance.
Because it is a country that performs miracles of God, other countries could not tamper with the Bretus kingdom and did not try to offend them.
'They hardly act, but the fact that they dispatched the Holy Knights on a large scale this time… … Is it because of the Beast of Gévaudan?'
The Holy Land of Bretus has been active under the mission of saving mankind from the past to the present. Therefore, they have been steadily performing purification ceremonies by removing heresy from various parts of the continent by hunting cryptids.
The Holy Knights of Bretus are, in a way, more faithful and pious than anyone else, and are a completely perfect organization that cannot be touched by any group.
'……It is true that it is a thing of the past now.'
The Holy Land of Bretus is now considerably less powerful than hundreds of years ago.
Too much blindness led to fanaticism, and the doctrine deteriorated. Just like the religions that existed in history, the Holy Land of Bretus has taken the path of corruption.
"If the Tower was divided between the Old and New powers with the advent of science, the Bretus Kingdom was weakened by its outdated policy.'
Science has developed, and the world has advanced at a noticeable rate. Now the rich ride in luxury steam cars, not wagons led by horsemen.
However, Lumensyism has not changed anything from the past. They did all kinds of atrocities, saying that only they could do it for mankind.
After the colonial war, anti-war movements took place, and it has been more than 50 years since countries on each continent signed treaties to take peaceful steps but only the Holy Land of Bretus protested.
How could they leave those heretics alone?
'Because the Holy Land defines as heresy the subspecies of Elves, Dwarves, and Suins.'
The Holy Land of Bretus believes in the extreme doctrine that only human beings are the sole offspring of God, and that only human beings should exist in the world.
'But for the past 20 years, they've been quiet and solved internal problems in the country.'
Five years ago, during the blood night in the Kingdom of Durmant, the Holy Land of Bretus did not come forward.
'But the fact that they moved this time…'
It means that they've solved the internal problems they've been suffering for 20 years.
The dispatch of the Holy Knights due the incident in Leathervelk will be just the beginning of their future moves.
"I can't believe they've been quiet for a long time and come out right away because they caught a trace."
"They have been looking at this opportunity for a long time."
"Yeah. That's because they sent out the Holy Knights with a statement bearing the seal of the Holy King."
It was such a fast job that the expression "stir-fried beans in lightning" came to mind.
I can clearly feel that they've been waiting for years.
"It's a little suspicious. Why is the Holy Land, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly moving?"
Sedina was quite wary of the reason why the Holy Land of Bretus was moving. Bretus's existence itself is a nuisance to the secret society Black Dawn.
"Maybe it's because the fight for the throne in the Holy Land is done now."
"I can't believe there was a fight for the throne in the Holy Land. Teacher even knows that?"
"……It's just a guess."
I changed the subject because I was worried. Whatever happened, it didn't change that those annoying guys started to come forward.
"Sedina, have you finished what I asked you back then?"
"Yes? Ah yes."
I gave her one order a while ago. I wanted her to do a background check on Joanna Lovett, a student supposed to be Esmeralda.
Sedina replied as if she had waited to show that she had faithfully fulfilled my orders.
"Joanna Lovett is one of the Second Orders and one of the new students. The last name, Lovett, is a fake status created by the society."
"You know that's not what I'm curious about."
"Yes, I did, and it turns out that Joanna Lovett is from the Kingdom of Durmant."
"Kingdom of Durmant?"
"Yes, and she is even a survivor of the Roteng Fire."
'The great fire of Roteng, I've heard of it.'
A huge fire broke out in Roteng, a well-known beautiful town in the Kingdom of Durmant, and everything was burned down. It was an incident that was so damaging that there were few survivors, and the cause of the fire is still unknown.
Although it happened more than a decade ago, it was famous enough to rank among the biggest disasters in history.
'Joanna Lovett is a survivor of the fire in Roteng?'
The moment I heard the word fire, I remembered the spirit of fire I saw that day. A hateful body of fire that is not considered a common spirit, with endless malice against mankind.
It occurred to me that maybe the fire was related to this guy.
"That's all I've found out for now. I need time to check more……."
"Do you know how many survivors of the Roteng fire are there?"
"There are three people in total, including Joanna."
"Three people?"
The fact that there were only three survivors was something that could not be understood by common sense and it was certainly suspicious.
"Do you know the whereabouts of the other two survivors?"
"One has been confirmed, but the other is in the dark."
"Then who's the one you know about."
"It's a young man named Pierre. Well he must be over 30 years old now."
"What is he doing?"
"He's a painter. He liked the beautiful scenery of Roteng, so he stayed there and painted."
A painter? He may not be an important person, but it was interesting to hear that he was a survivor of the Roteng Fire.
There was only one thing that intrigued me. It's the identity of the last survivor.
"Is there anything else you're curious about?"
"This is enough. Thank you for checking."
"Oh, no. I just did what you told me to do."
Sedina was so pleased with my compliment that her blunt face glowed.
"Sedina, isn't work hard?"
"What?"
"Other teachers basically have at least three assistants."
However, Sedina alone is responsible for more than half of my work.
Given that other assistants also complain every day, Sedina should also be quite tired but she's just not showing it on the surface. I felt like I was overworking this small, thin girl.
Besides, she's in charge of all kinds of information, so she must be way busier than regular assistants.
"I think it would be better to pick a few more assistants……."
"No, it's not!"
Sedina shouted.
"I'm not tired! I can sleep less than two hours a day if I can help Mr. Rudger."
"……You'd better get a good night's sleep."
"Do you not trust me? Is it because I didn't live up to your expectations?"
She, whose voice was already watery, bowed her head and clenched her fist.
This sight baffled me.
I thought it would be difficult, so I tried to make it a little easier, but I didn't know the person in charge would react so radically.
As I've felt before, she seemed quite on the edge mentally.
"……I see. Let's pretend I didn't say anything just now."
"Really?"
"Yes, Sedina Rocheen. I don't have any complaints about your work. I'm rather very satisfied."
Sedina, whose eyes were slightly red, stared at me with a moved expression. His face, which seemed to be collapsing until a while ago, changed in an instant, like a bipolar patient.
"It's just that your work seems to be too much, so I said it to reduce your burden a little."
"Oh, no. I'm really fine. Yes, really."
"Now that you're saying that, I understand. I won't bring this up any more."
Come to think of it, she was also not an ordinary person. Although she has the name Rosheen, she also belongs to the Black Dawn Society.
She is very talented, that's why I kept her around for so long.
"Let's go. It's class time soon."
"Oh, yes!"
I packed my coat and left the teacher's office while Sedina caught up with me in a hurry.
* * *
The students waiting for class talked loudly about the incident that happened in Leathervelk the other day.
The appearance of the Beast of Gévaudan, called the King of Nightmares, was enough to interest not only students but also teachers.
It was even said that the appearance of the werewolf in Theon that day may have been a harbinger to the appearance of the Beast of Gévaudan.
'I'm sure everyone is very interested.'
Erendir, who was sitting still, listened to the other students. Most of them were talking about what happened at the Kunst auction house and the Beast of Gévaudan.
'I can't believe I was able to escape without getting hurt in that situation. It's a relief.'
It was all thanks to Casey Selmore. Of course, there was help from Betty and Enya. After escaping safely, the bodyguards and her maids appeared and made a fuss about whether she was injured.
While grateful for their concern, Erendir thought inwardly.
'If I tell this story to other students…….'
Maybe this is her chance to emerge as a big star.
Erendir has long dreamed of living in the Academy. Making friends within the peaceful academy grounds and enjoying youth with each other. It was Erendir's simple dream after living under the pressure of her sister for a long time.
If she begins to unravel her experiences, which are like a part of a heroic story, wouldn't her classmates' views toward her change?
If it were this, the students, frightened by the shadow of her older sister, who was the first princess, would also be interested in her.
'Did you really see the monster in person?'
'Oh! That's amazing! As expected of a princess!'
'Actually, I have admired Princess Erendir for a long time!'
Students praising her with their eyes shining, just imagining the scene made her lips curl up.
'But I have to be patient. It's not sophisticated at all to start talking about it on my own.'
Erendir's last conscience caught hold of the mouth that was about to open.
She couldn't say 'Hey, I was there at the time' or 'Would you like to hear about it?'
When she was a freshman a year ago, she talked unconsciously to get close to other students, but it was a trauma for her because every time she lay on the bed she would kick the blanket when she thought of the embarrassing gazes staring at her at that time.
She was bound to be cautious because she vowed never to repeat her past mistakes this time.
'I just need someone to talk to me.'
If someone gave her a slight push, she was confident that she could talk about it but no one approached Erendir.
Sometimes they gave her a curious glance, because she was restless like someone who was desperate for something, but that was all.
Erendir became nervous because at this rate the class would begin.
'No! Not yet. I still have Rene!'
She looked at the empty seat next to her.
The first friend she ever made since she came to Theon. Although it was a senior and junior relationship, Erendir was genuinely thinking of Rene as a friend.
As Rene was also isolated like her, Erendir considered Rene as a soulmate because they could sympathize with each other.
"Senior. Hello."
Rene arrived just in time and greeted Erendir, sitting next to her, which was now her regular seat.
"Oh, yeah, yeah. How are you?"
"Yes. How have you been?"
Rene nodded and slowly organized the textbooks she had brought while Erendir stared at her.
'Rene! Talk to me now! Come on!'
She stared at Rene with such an intense gaze, but contrary to her wishes, Rene was eager to prepare for the class.
Erendir, who couldn't stand it, spoke.
"Wow, hmm. Junior, did anything special happen?"
"What? No. I just studied, reviewed, and looked for a part-time job as usual."
"Okay."
Erendir smiled awkwardly and carefully began to rhyme.
"……You went to the auction house, right?"
"What? Oh, yes. I did."
"Okay."
Erendir realized something was wrong with Rene's reaction.
If she had sent her so many signals, wasn't it time for her reaction to come? It was as if she had no idea what gossip was going on around her.
'No way….'
Erendir asked cautiously just in case.
"Rene, did you read the newspaper today?"
"The newspaper? No."
"Uh, um. Have you heard the rumors? Everyone is talking about them now."
"Rumors? I don't really talk to anyone, so I don't care about other people's stories.…"
Erendir realized that the innocent girl in front of her is not interested in gossip at all, even though she doesn't have any friends like herself.
Rene put his index finger on her lips and thought hard about something.
"Well, come to think of it, the atmosphere is a mess unlike usual. Did anything happen recently?"
"… Uh, yeah, well, there was. Yes."
But at the moment she wanted to say more.
"Everyone, take your seats."
The door of the classroom opened and Mr. Rudger came in.
Erendir had no choice but to give up the "dream of becoming a celebrity in the class" operation, shedded tears in her mind.
Standing on the platform, Rudger opened his mouth, standing upright as always.
"The results of the first test are out."