The Master of the Strange Realm

"The church has entrusted me with the arrangement of your fighting lessons. My original plan was to find a captain-level gifter who is proficient in fighting as your teacher, but recent events have made me understand that our city will still face There are more dangers, so being proficient in fighting is a very important thing.”

"so......"

He raised his head and glanced at Jenkins:

"So, I decided to teach you in person. Twice a week, on Monday and Wednesday nights, right in the church. I know you have to teach night classes every Wednesday. That's okay. We can postpone the time a little further."

"This is good."

Jenkins hesitated to speak, his fingers unconsciously scratching Chocolate's chin.

The temperature inside the church was suitable, with heating ducts in the walls providing heat to the room, so both men and women in the room took off their outer clothing.

Jenkins was wearing a white shirt, a dark sweater that Mary had knitted for him, and a cotton vest on top. He doesn't often wear this sweater because the cat gets very upset when holding chocolate while wearing it.

"Think I'm not good enough?"

the woman asked.

"No no no."

He hurriedly denied it, and then said worriedly: "I just think that learning to fight will inevitably involve physical contact. Is this harmful to your reputation?"

Miss Bevanna looked at Jenkins as if she were looking at a precious animal. She raised the corners of her mouth and shook her head with a smile:

"Your worries are really interesting. It's okay, young gentleman. I won't care about it."

Jenkins nodded slowly and did not object anymore.

Because the next topic suddenly turned to Jenkins' love life for some reason, he immediately said that there was something else, and then stood up to leave.

Walking out of Miss Bevanna's office as if running away, she met a nun head-on. She blushed and told Jenkins that Bishop Parrod wanted to see him.

Normally, Jenkins meets the bishop once a week, but due to the 31-day cycle, he has actually not seen the bishop for almost half a month.

If he remembers correctly, last week he went to a rural town with the priests to preach, but now he seems to be in good spirits. At his age, this is not easy.

The bishop was wearing a very ordinary white sacrificial robe, with a ring of authority on his right hand, and was waiting for him in the deserted side hall.

The side hall was quiet, with the holy symbol and statue bathed in the sunlight coming in from the window. It is only open on weekends for preaching, lectures and blessings to the crowds of believers. Except for the bishop, almost no one can enter here on weekdays.

The old man sat on the bench in the first row, praying quietly with his eyes closed. Jenkins sat next to him, and after hearing clearly the content of the bishop's prayer, he also prayed along with him.

Due to its long history, the Orthodox Church has so many religious classics that it is difficult to find the so-called core. In this era, the Church of the Sages regarded a total of 5 books as must-read books for believers.

One of them is the "Gospel of the Sages" that Jenkins is most familiar with, and the one the bishop used for prayer this time is "The Ghosts of Trisius". This book collects the experiences of legendary figures in the church throughout the ages. It is roughly similar to a collection of religious stories. There are few doctrines and many stories here, which believers like to be exposed to when they are young.

"Very good, young people must have such patience."

After praying, the bishop said this to Jenkins.

He nodded solemnly and followed the old man to complete the final step of drawing the Holy Emblem.

"There is nothing big to do with you this time. The main reason is that the kingdom has made a decision to award this year's Rhett Award to you. The royal family will probably issue a specific announcement next week, but we have been informed in advance."

"Oh, so do I need to go to Belduran?"

I had heard Professor Burns talk about this before, so Jenkins didn't show much surprise.

"Of course, do you want the king to come to Nolan City in person to give you the award?"

the bishop asked amused.

Jenkins smiled and shook his head.

"Don't feel pressured. "Stories of Strangers" has now been sold throughout the continent. According to the information compiled by the church, you are probably the most famous young writer in the past ten years. This award is well-deserved, and you Your religious identity doesn’t matter. I’m proud of you, young man!”

The bishop explained, then touched his beard and added:

"But there will probably be some things happening over at Belduran. It doesn't matter. The Holy See is in the capital, so what else can happen? Anyway, you have to prepare first. Based on previous years' experience, the award ceremony will be on November 11. Held in the middle of the month, you can pack your bags recently.”

"Do we have to go to Belduran?"

Jenkins was very reluctant to leave the city, not only because he was too lazy to travel, but he sometimes had the illusion that it was the center of the world.

"You must go. This is an honor, a very big honor. You are still young and don't realize how much convenience this award can bring to your future."

The bishop said, then stretched out his hand and tapped his forehead:

"Is there anything here that you miss very much? You are only going to come back for a week or so, and you don't want to stay there for a long time. Heh, speaking of which, I will arrange your etiquette lessons... Listen "Oliver said, you have been close to two noble ladies recently? I remember their last names are...Hesha and Mihail?"

Chapter 374 Chapter 369 Unable to find information

Jenkins laughed awkwardly at the bishop's question. This kind of thing was getting darker and darker, so he didn't answer. Although this somewhat damages the reputation of the two ladies, the bishop and the father are not the kind of people who like to talk about privacy with others.

"No matter what the reason is, etiquette courses are very necessary. When you are canonized as a saint, your performance is very stiff. You should behave accordingly when you are carrying the honor. This can also be regarded as promoting the glory of the sage.

Your father and I have discussed this matter. The original plan was for the etiquette teacher in the church to be your teacher. But after just talking to Oliver, I changed my mind. "

Looking at the bishop's face and the smile on his lips, Jenkins suddenly had a very bad feeling.

"Etiquette classes are different from fighting and firearms. Even if you learn from random people, it will not arouse any suspicion, not to mention that you are going to meet the king in a few days. This is more reasonable. Jenkins, the teacher of etiquette class, It's up to you to find it. Yes, you do it yourself. I don't care who you find in the end, as long as it can teach you the most basic noble etiquette, religious etiquette, habits and knowledge. "

Teachers who can truly teach etiquette courses are not easily found. Based on Jenkins' social circle, the only person he is most likely to seek help from is Hathaway.

Perhaps Miss Audrey could find a suitable candidate by begging her, but Jenkins didn't want to bother the soothsayer all the time.

"Aren't you forcing yourself?"

he said half-complainingly.

"I'm just forcing you."

The bishop nodded and looked down at the chocolate on Jenkins' lap: "Your life cannot be limited to Oliver and your cat. It is important for young people to learn to communicate."

"But I think it is enough to keep moving forward on the path of my choice. Socializing will only distract me and make me go astray on the road of looking up to the sages."

The old man sighed deeply and looked at the young man who had grown up with complicated eyes:

"Sometimes I really think that you have the same tough character and spirit as those legendary ascetics. But times are different now, child. The power of steam allows mortals to walk more freely in this world, and the gift of grace The researchers are also gradually recovering the lost power of ancient times; ancient alien species appear in the world, and modern reforming systems and ideas are also crushing the ancient system like wheels.

I hope you can always remain religious, but also don’t forget that you are still a human being. Sages teach us to learn to be reverent. This kind of awe is not only awe of the unknown, but also awe of new things.

This era has changed a lot compared to when I was young. When I was your age, steam trains were still unimaginable. Observe with your eyes and feel it all with your heart, Jenkins, this is also getting closer to the world. "

The old man's voice became louder and louder, and finally he even shouted. Jenkins remembered his words with awe, and Bishop Parrod said a lot. This is indeed an era when mankind is facing important changes.

Although I agree with this, for travelers from other worlds, the most important thing is to continue on the path of God.

He originally planned to go back to the antique store with his father, but the church recently took in a difficult item and he needed to stay to help, so he didn't plan to go back today. So once again, Jenkins got a day off.

He did not leave the church immediately, but entered the Gate of All Things to search for some information.

The first is about the savior.

This is not the first time he has searched for this kind of information, but at least up to the second floor of the Secret Library, there is no systematic information recording the content related to it.

This does not mean that no clues can be found. On the contrary, the term "savior" frequently appears in materials related to the end of the era, but most of them are mentioned briefly.

He had no plans to try to ask his father for the time being, he had to find a better excuse, but maybe he could ask Professor Burns. Since he devoted himself to studying this aspect, it was impossible not to know these contents.

"Nine people are competing for one divine position. It's actually not too fierce. The most important thing is to get the qualifications to enter."

As he thought this, he began to think about what other special abilities he might have besides the [Twin Demons] and the [Immortal] who were suspected to be saviors.

The second item I searched for was naturally related to the moon. But it is a pity that there is no data to record the information. What can be found about the moon is just to describe the important position of the double moon in mysticism.

In the first piece of information obtained on the 31st, there was only one moon in the sky, which must have been very long ago. Perhaps the long time has completely obliterated the information. But Jenkins has not given up yet. He believes that the [Night and Secret] church may have this aspect. After all, the priesthood of Ms. [Lightless Moon] includes the moon.

For the Giver, the red and blue moons are very important natural landscapes. The waxing and waning of the double moon will affect the effects of many rituals. At the same time, there is a saying that the double moon itself is a manifestation of the spirit of the world.

According to Dad, the way for newcomers in the [Dark Night and Secret] Church to accumulate their souls is related to worshiping the moon.

After spending an hour and a half in the library, when I returned to the ground again, it happened to be lunch time in the church.

Without anyone's invitation, Jenkins sat down at the dining table with chocolates. The kitten was angry again, and the reason was of course that Jenkins threw it outside the door and went to the library by himself.

But it only took half an hour for him to lose his temper. As long as he kept stroking him, Chocolate would soon forgive him.

The church in winter was busier than in the past, and the orphans adopted by the church would hardly leave the church door. They have a special room for dining, but sometimes they are with the clergy, like this time.

Jenkins sat down next to the bishop, and the old man took advantage of this opportunity to talk to him about some profound topics again, and then "accidentally" talked about his society.

Jenkins could only listen patiently, nodding and smiling in agreement from time to time, but in fact he did not remember what the old man was saying at all.

His eyes unconsciously ran across everyone's faces, and then he saw a somewhat familiar face at the end of the long table.

It took me a few seconds to recall, and then I remembered that she was a little flower girl I met twice on the street.

Chapter 375 Chapter 370 A moment of kindness

The girl had new clothes and a clean face, and the church meal was so much better than living alone that Jenkins almost didn't recognize her.

It happened that the bishop's words stopped, and Jenkins asked in a low voice:

"Is that girl over there also receiving relief from the church this year?"

The bishop squinted in that direction and nodded. The middle-aged priest sitting on the other side of the bishop introduced:

"Her name is Elisa Campda, one of the 104 children who received relief this year. Her parents were local residents of Nolan City and lived in the slums. They died of illness in the early spring of this year. She has no relatives. , once had a younger brother, but he was abducted by human traffickers the year before last..."

This is a story that often happens in slums. The girl's experience cannot be called the most tragic, because at least she is still alive and has not been harmed.

After listening to these introductions, Jenkins pursed his lips and thought for a while, then asked the bishop and priest in a low voice:

"After the winter is over, can she continue to stay in the church, whether it is to let her go through the test and become a nun, or to stay here to be responsible for sweeping."

There was very little he could do for those poor people, but since he had such a deep bond with the girl, he would help if he could.

The middle-aged priest looked at the bishop, but he knew in his heart that the old man would not refuse.

"Can."

He stroked his beard and nodded.

[Knowledge and Books] The wealth of the church is completely beyond Jenkins' imagination. The bishop knew very well that even if he took in 100 girls like Eliza, it would not have an impact on the operation of the church.

But this kind of thing cannot be done by the church on its own initiative. First, because the sages have taught us that we must rely on our own hands to acquire knowledge and survive independently. On the other hand, the church cannot help everyone. Once there is a third Once, it will be difficult to do the following things.

It's different when Jenkins opens his mouth. He rarely takes the initiative to make requests, and as the Holy Son, this is not a request at all.

But there is one more thing the bishop needs to confirm:

"Your future marriage partner must be a woman, right?"

He confirmed implicitly.

"Of course...well, did you misunderstand something? I..."

"I know I know."

The old man interrupted him and at the same time motioned with his eyes to the nun who was pushing the dining cart not to eavesdrop on the conversation between the two.

"I think the woman you like is not a girl with a big age difference, right? Jenkins, I want to warn you, the sage is in "..."

Jenkins once again felt that his reputation had been seriously insulted. He is not the perverted friend Li Qian from his previous life. Helping the girl is just a momentary act of kindness.

After lunch, I met Captain Binsi again. Today it was his team's turn to be on duty at the church, so it was quite free.

I asked if there was anything new recently, but the man's answers were all related to the 31st. But who knows those things better than Jenkins? He could only pretend to be curious and listen, and would express his opinions from time to time.

The good news is that the captured cultist of the [Magic Eye Collection Association] Boglo Stepi, nicknamed the Eye of Stillness, finally revealed important information.

The breakthrough point was the body of the Thousand-Eyed Priest. The moment the prisoner saw the corpse of his companion, he finally collapsed.

Stepi confessed the purpose of the Collection Association's coming to Nolan City and the composition of its personnel. More importantly, the church learned for the first time a shocking secret in the Society.

"This is an absolute secret and must not be known to a third person."

Captain Binsi warned seriously.

The middle-aged man I met during the suicide eye incident said that not all eye collectors worship the evil god [Void Eye Demon]. In fact, the contradictions within the collection association are very large, and the struggle between the two factions of believers and non-believers has almost reached a point of dire straits.

This is also one of the reasons why the Eye Collection Association has almost disappeared in recent eras.

Stippy is not sure when the worship of the evil god began, but he is sure that the association existed at least before [Void Eye Demon] became a false god.

This is a rare sober person. He fully realizes that the result of not leaning towards any faction is to be crushed by the struggle. Therefore, he chose a more dangerous path: pretending to swear an oath to the evil god, but in fact he is a spy of another faction.

"This is really..."