Iron Powder and Spellcasters

   Chapter 330 Magic

  The wood was beeping and peeling in the hearth, and the bright yellow flame was undulating.

   "If you are implying that 'all divine arts are derived from the divine arts of the church', it would be a bit too arrogant." Winters put down the cup: "But it seems to be the consistent style of the Catholic Church."

  Saul put the peeled beetroot on the stove, made the fire more vigorous, and added more wood: "No, on the contrary."

"Oh why?"

  Saul turned his back to Winters and did not answer directly: "You have seen pagan magic, right? Judging from your attitude, it should be said... You have experienced pagan magic."

   Winters is not a devout believer, and he is not shy about being rescued by Hed shaman: "Yes."

   "You have also been exposed to church magic."

   "Isn't Kaman your priest?" Winters said without hesitation: "I have seen him heal the wounded."

   Hearing Winters' words, Saul shook his head: "What do you think are the similarities and differences between the two?"

   Winters mulled over his words: "The paths are different, the end points are similar."

   "In other words, you think they look alike too, don't you?"

   "As far as I know, there are some similarities." Winters replied cautiously: "But I don't know much."

   "For..." Saul paused and used the third person calmly: "For the priests, even just 'similarity' is already a serious offense."

   "The pagans also eat bread with their mouths, hold knives and forks with their hands, and have limbs and facial features." Winters frowned slightly: "Isn't this blatant plagiarism even more offensive?"

The door was pushed open, and Kaman rushed into the kitchen angrily: "The Saracens don't eat bread! They don't use knives and forks! St. Philip thinks they are the 'Fourth Kingdom', so Saracens are exactly like us. Understandable!"

   "Why are you back?" Winters asked helplessly.

   "Leaving leaks is also against my oath." Kaman replied bluntly.

   "Don't worry, Father Kaman, I haven't broken my oath." Saul slowly sat back on the bench and said with a sigh, "I'm just telling some things from the past for those who want to hear."

   "Then can I listen in?" Kaman immediately requested.

   "Of course, of course."

  The kitchen in the officer's quarters is very small, with only two benches, one for the old man and one for Winters. Kaman refused to leave in a fit of anger, and could not sit on the table or stove with his face down, so he had to stand.

Winters caught a glimpse of a bench in the pyre, but he planned to wait a while before telling Karman: "I'll let you know the origin of the Saracens. What about further east? Brother Rhett is also two. Arms, legs? He's from the Far East."

"There is also a rich and powerful country in the Far East that believes in Catholicism, and their ruler is named [Priest John]." Kaman suddenly became serious: "So they are also descendants of Adam and Eve, and naturally look like us. "

   Winters' expression became a little subtle, and he looked at Kaman with pity: "You... shouldn't you be deceived by that old guy Reid?"

Old man Saul was present, but Kaman was inconvenient. He suppressed his anger and explained earnestly: "John the Priest is a descendant of the Three Magi, and he is gifted by the Lord so he is immortal and immortal. He is stronger and more powerful than anyone in the world. Prosperous. His roof and inner walls are all made of gold, and the weapons of his army are also made of gold]. In 237 of the imperial calendar, the then Pope received a letter from the priest-king, and the Popes of all dynasties also repeated many times. Send someone to look for the priest-king..."

   Winters became more and more outrageous. He turned his head and asked old man Saul, "Do you believe it?"

   Old man Saul was half-smiling, noncommittal.

   Silence is the greatest contempt, and Kaman is a little aggrieved: "Everything I said is clearly recorded in the archives of the Supreme Church."

   Wintersborn didn't want to continue this topic, but he couldn't control the desire to refute: "Writing on parchment is true?"

   The grievances and unwillingness disappeared, and Kaman gradually became cold and severe: "Your current thoughts are no different from the idea of ​​swearing against religion."

   Winters was silent for a long time, and reminded Kaman in a low voice: "You forgot? I am not your lamb."

  Kaman's momentum was instantly dissipated.

"If the dossier is wrong, then the Pope's decree may also be wrong. If the Pope's decree is wrong, then the Gospels may also be wrong." Old Saul slashed the head of the beet and slowly Said: "The more authoritative, the less it can be questioned. At any time, people's willingness to defend their beliefs is always strong. Because it is not only denying the doctrine, but also denying the meaning of the existence of priests."

"It's okay to deny, don't people still live the same?" Winters decided not to tell Kaman about the other stool: "Someone said to me that 'existence comes first, meaning comes later, reality always precedes conception '."

   Old man Saul stopped what he was doing: "There is material first, then consciousness. Has the school of enlightenment spread to Plato?"

   "I'm Veneta." Winters was a little embarrassed.

Saul seemed to smile and continued peeling the beet: "Actually, look at Kaman...Father, you should also be able to understand why the clergy don't think—or don't want to think that pagan magic comes from [the first schism]. "

   Winters didn't fully understand, waiting for Saul to continue.

"Divine magic is a sure miracle, a direct expression of the Lord's will." Old man Saul said bluntly: "If the northern pagan magic comes from [the first great schism], it means that the pagans can also With catholic magic, the definition of magic becomes paradoxical."

   "Hmm." Winters asked thoughtfully, "Like the paradox of [Goodness and Omniscience]?"

"Yes."

   Winters glanced at Kaman, who was silent: "But someone gave an answer when he preached - the Lord sent sufferings in the hope that mankind would love him."

   "If you are willing to accept this explanation, that's fine." Old man Saul sighed: "Religion and religion have always been two different things, just like politics and political science."

   Winters couldn't help laughing, and the corners of Kaman's eyes twitched slightly.

"So what? What does all this have to do with you and the Reformation? You still haven't told me." Winters restrained his smile and his posture became correct: "Why did the Church of Gervoudan want to kill you? Why did Gervoudan kill you? The church can't wait to kill you?"

"After [the first great schism], the exploration of divine arts has always been a taboo within the church." As if to approve Winters, Old Man Saul no longer circled around: "It is human instinct to explore the unknown, and to kill It's not enough to kill. After coming into contact with the 'witchcraft' in the north, the vast majority of the clergy are facing a big enemy, but a small number of clergy are excited..."

   Like the mist being blown away by the storm, Winters has woken up: "What you want is pagan magic!"

   The old man half-drooped his eyelids and tacitly agreed with Winters' words.

"Because it's taboo to explore Catholic magic, so you can bypass the restrictions by studying pagan magic? So that's what the Reformation Order did?" Winters laughed dumbly: "Then the name is too conspicuous, and it advertises innovation. Isn't that setting a target for people to hit? Maybe... it would be better to put up the Inquisition's sign."

  Kaman stood where Winters couldn't see, his fingertips trembled slightly, his pupils dilated violently unconsciously.

"Mr. Montagne." Old man Saul put down the paring knife and beet head in his hands, straightened his back, and looked at Winters solemnly: "The name of the Reformation Order comes from the founder of it, the monk Seifer, so please You don't joke about this."

   Winters felt a little rude: "I'm sorry... what's next? What happened after the Reformation was founded?"

  The old man picked up the paring knife again: "Then apply to the Pope for an decree."

   "And then?" Winters raised his eyebrows slightly.

   "The matter of obtaining the order." The old man slowly peeled the beet: "It took two hundred and eleven years."

   Winters' first reaction was not to admire the church's amazing work efficiency, but to use the time given by Saul to compare the timeline of the empire's expansion to the north.

   "Two hundred and eleven years?" Winters frowned involuntarily: "Almost... the middle of the third century of the imperial calendar? The emperor failed to obtain the crown of Via, and the Great Northern War started? At that time, the northern border was converted, right?"

   "The North converted to Catholicism, what about the demigods? Where did they go?"

   "They are all dead."

"died?"

   "That's right, he's dead." Old man Saul peeled the beets intently: "The Reformation Order killed it, we killed it."

   Winters didn't react at first. When he understood the information contained in it, he stood up suddenly: "You are also a priest? Are you a magic user?"

  The old man raised his eyelids slightly and made eye contact with Winters: "The members of the Reformation Order are all users of divine arts."

  …

   "Madame." Madame Medellin, with her hair tied in a black veil, entered the living room: "Mr. Montagne is home."

  Although I have heard it countless times, Anna's cheeks still get a little hot whenever someone calls her "Mrs.".

  Anna sat up straight: "He went home?"

   The single officer's apartment is very small, and the corridor and living room after entering the door are only separated by a thin wooden wall. Winters' footsteps were also very special, and Anna could always distinguish them easily.

   Mrs. Medellin said Winters had come home, but Anna was sure she hadn't heard Winters come in.

   "Where is M. Montagne?" Anna picked up her coat: "The stable?"

   "The kitchen," replied Mrs. Medellin.

   In order to prevent fire, the single officer dormitory does not have a separate kitchen, but shares a large one with a yard.

  When Anna came to the kitchen door, Winters happened to push the door and come out.

  Anna wanted to ask Winters how to get home to the kitchen first, but she saw that Winters was not in a good mood, and the words changed into: "What's the matter?"

   In the face of Anna's concerned eyes, Winters squeezed out a smile: "It's nothing, is it cold?"

  Anna held her face, dragged a long voice, and whispered coquettishly: "cold..."

   In fact, not all of them are coquettish. The Navarre sisters grew up in Hailan and have never experienced the cold winter of Palatu.

   In the face of the cold wind that can freeze her skin, Anna occasionally goes out and walks, and Catherine is completely a burrowing animal. Ms. Navarre Jr. even turned down all ball invitations, leaving the young men of Gervodin disappointed every so often.

   Coincidentally, Kaman pushed the door and walked out of the kitchen.

  Anna was ashamed, but fortunately Father Kaman was also very worried. Kaman dazedly bowed to Anna and walked away.

   "What are you doing in the kitchen?" Anna asked curiously, "Why is Father Kaman there?"

   Winters sighed: "It's a long story."

  Anna could feel that Winters was a little dignified, and reached out to hold her lover's arm: "It's so cold, go home first."

  After thinking about it, Winters decided not to tell Anna for the time being.

   At this moment, he began to understand the deep meaning of what his adoptive father said, "You don't know what we paid for".

  Can love make one person unreservedly accept the whole of another person?

   Including all flaws and dark side?

  Who knows?

   Not to mention love, even if it is flesh and blood, can a son accept his father's "evil deeds" without reservation?

   Winters wanted to be honest with Anna, the saddest thing in the world is not being understood and understood by anyone.

   It was like a middle-aged farmer stopped his work, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and looked to the horizon.

  Passers-by think that the farmer is being lazy, but who would dare to say that an ordinary farmer's inner world is not full of turbulence? Who knows what hardships he has gone through in his life?

The    or inverse proposition is easier to understand: having a "confidant" is the most fortunate thing in life.

   But Winters didn't dare to explain, because he vaguely felt that the process and result of this matter would not be very good, and he didn't want Anna to fear him, or think he was a "bad guy".

Winters finally understood why the Church of Gervoudan had to kill Saul and offered such a high price—the Church of Gervoudin was not trying to kill a heretical theologian, but a **** who was probably out of control. technology user.

  Perhaps since the Reformation was purged, the Church of Gervodin has been waiting for Saul.

  Perhaps they once sent people to investigate the Heard tribes, but there was no result.

   So they can only wait and wait, if there is no news, they will wait forever, and if there is news, they will immediately find a way to execute them.

   Winters even had an unspoken guess: Father Kaman might be the one waiting for Saul.

   Against a magician, the best weapon is another magician. Then send a priest to deal with another priest?

   There is no special cleanup department for spellcasters within the Alliance Army—or rather, Winters doesn’t know if there is a cleanup department for spellcasters within the Alliance Army.

   But Winters concluded after self-assessment that without such a type of law enforcement, it would be too dangerous if the caster lost control.

  For example, Winters, if the out-of-control Winters is allowed to enter the throne room where the meeting is being held, no Veneta general will come out alive.

  The alliance does not, perhaps it can be explained by the "spellcaster system has been established for a short period of time and is not perfect".

   Then, as an organization that has been able to drive the users of divine arts for thousands of years, is there a "law enforcement" department within the Catholic Church?

   However, there are some awkward joints in this speculation. For example: Suppose Saul does not show up for a day, does Kaman have to wait forever? Is the catholic really willing to pay such a large cost for a priest who may have died?

   Winters thought again of the delicate relationship between Carman and Mrs. Ellen Mitchell... His cranial cavity was aching again.

   Back to old man Saul.

   It is one thing to shelter a heretical theologian who is dying, but another thing to shelter a magic user.

   And the risks and rewards are far out of proportion. Although the magic users of the waning years have been excommunicated, they are still pious.

  In Winters' view, if piety can also be measured, then Saul's piety is deeper than Carman.

  Kaman cannot tolerate any attack on the church, and when provoked, he will erect a hard needle like a hedgehog.

  Saul, on the other hand, can discuss 'heresy' calmly, and can be called a model of 'I am guilty, I am converted, but my soul belongs to the Lord forever'.

   "Anna." Winters called softly as he entered the door.

   "Yeah." Anna helped Winters take off his coat.

   "I'll explain it to you later, okay?"

"Um."

Winters breathed a long sigh of relief, he hugged Anna from behind, and physical contact with Anna always brought him a special sense of security: "I want to say something that will make you blush, but I Don't know what to say. Try imagining it yourself?"

   "This is the corridor." Anna's cheeks flushed: "Mrs. Medellin will come."

   "Then go to the bedroom? I can."

   "Bad guy! You really are!" Ana gritted her teeth and stepped on the toe of Winters' boots, suddenly a little lost: "Mr. Leo, I don't think I can drag it any longer."

【I was wrong】

   [Debt repayment plan: In the next days, try to update it every day until the debt is repaid]

   [The green code turns yellow, follow the district's epidemic prevention requirements, and isolate at home for seven days]

   [seal, camera, can't go out, don't have to go to work]

   [plan: writing hard]

   [Reality: Hahaha, are you quarantined at home? Hahaha, why don't you play around the world? Pretty capable of killing time]

   [pinched five villains: Winters, Anna, Bud, Andre and Mason]

   [As soon as he made the emergency landing, Bud harassed Anna frantically. Obviously, I have set 'Anna and Winters are fiancées', you **** ah ah why? ]

   [After many times of harassment was rejected, Bud and Anna had a big fight, and Anna's leg was permanently disabled...(艹艹)]

   [Can't keep looking directly at Bard]

   [Unbearable, restart the game, add the 'asexual' trait to Bud, delete Anna's 'handsome' trait, and add the character 'Catherine']

   [Then it was Andre and Mason's turn to harass Catherine...NMD, why, Catherine is only sixteen! ]

[Six people out of the world, the most reliable is actually the little sister Catherine, Miss Navarre is fortunately sewing clothes day and night to earn money to support her family, and even bravely rushed out of the base to rescue Andre at the most critical moment, in the hail of bullets Dragging a comatose Andre into a safe area changed my impression of the character a lot]

   [Finally, I watched the senior being taken away by the pirates—exited with grief and anger]

[what? today is wednesday? ]

   [The above is the author's experience in the past few days, not in the game...]

   [To a certain extent, it is better to enter the game…]

   (end of this chapter)