The Holy Man of Another Century Gospel

Chapter 178 The Night Before Parting
On the afternoon of the fourth day after Eric succeeded to the rank of saint, a letter from his uncle Edgar, along with letters from several parishes and dozens of monasteries congratulating the new saint on her accession, arrived at the Saint Mary's Convent.

Alena carefully selected Edgar's letter and sent it to the Tower of Saintess, leaving the rest for the convent to reply to.

"Your Highness, your letter."

Eric glanced at it. "Eileen, it's a letter from Uncle."

"Hmm?" Eileen, who was standing by the window, turned around. "It was sent to Eric, probably to congratulate you on becoming a saintess."

Aren't you going to take a look?

"Um, okay."

Bypassing Sophie, who was standing obediently by the desk, and Alena, who was waiting, Eileen walked behind Eric, leaned on his shoulder, and read the letter her uncle had sent together.

As she had expected, her uncle congratulated her on becoming the new saintess at the beginning of the letter.

But this is only mentioned briefly.

The next long section describes the situation within the territory.

Eileen glanced at it a few times, her gaze gradually becoming fixed. She looked at her brother, then at Sophie who was turning her head to look at them, and lowered her voice: "What does it mean when Uncle says that most of the refugees outside the city have been trained into militia? Is our family going to rebel?"

"It's to prepare for resisting the demons." Eric glanced at his sister. "Didn't your uncle mention it to you at all?"

"No."

Eric didn't say anything, after all, he was the only college student in the family, and it was more important for him to continue focusing on his magic studies.

He continued reading, and the following content detailed the reserves of various strategic materials, such as the large amount of pig iron that Dante County had stockpiled as the abandoned Valena mine was reopened and continuously mined and smelted.

In addition, the uncle also mentioned in the letter that Governor Memphis of Guladia had sent an envoy to inquire about the situation in Dante County, and he estimated that Memphis had already noticed their preparations.

Eric didn't think it was a bad thing. At least judging from what happened later, Memphis actively resisted the demon faction. After Lutia fell, it was he who led the army to completely block the demons in the capital and prevent them from continuing their southward advance.

He planned to have his uncle make more contact with the people in Memphis in his reply, hoping to reach a cooperation agreement as soon as possible.

As Eric read on, his eyes lit up when he reached the end of the letter, and he held it out to his back.

"Hey kid, did you see that?"

[A reminder to Eileen: If you leave Lesser, do not delay on the road; return to Lutia as soon as possible.]

"..."

Eileen rolled her eyes. "You just want to get rid of me, don't you?"

“Who kicked you out?” Eric made her read the letter again, carefully understanding his uncle’s message, then took out paper and pen to reply. “You can stay here until the New Year if you want. But once you leave Lessier, you must return to Lutia immediately.”

Eileen couldn't stay there any longer.

She couldn't wander around the inner city, and she had already explored the entire outer city. The monastery was incredibly boring. Her main way of passing the time these past few days was to talk about magic with Molly. If it weren't for the fact that it was such a rare opportunity to go on a long trip, she would have run away long ago.

When Eric was halfway through writing his reply, Eileen sighed.

"Then I'll go back in a couple of days."

“Hmm.” Eric didn’t turn his head. “I really can’t bear to part with you.”

"..."

Looking at the back of his head, Eileen rolled her eyes and grabbed his neck.

Sophie and Alena both opened their mouths, but seeing Eric continuing to write the letter as if nothing had happened, they didn't say anything.

“By the way,” Eric put down his quill and turned to look at his sister, “ask Molly what she’s planning to do. I think she’s bored. If she’s willing, take her back to the academy and ask Archmage Agnes to arrange for her to go in and learn magic.”

Sophie's eyes lit up as she looked at Eileen expectantly.

Eileen paused, then asked, "Would she be willing to leave Eric?"

That's why I asked you to ask her about her plans.

"Ok."

After a while, Eileen asked, "What about Elise?"

“She’s gotten used to being in the church, and she probably wants to stay,” Eric said, then noticed that Sophie’s shoulders had slumped.

"Oh."

After writing his reply to his uncle, Eric read it over again, but couldn't think of anything else to say for the time being, so he handed it to Alena to mail.

Alena took the letter and folded it. "The monastery of the capital city of Chinraya has sent an envoy who arrived in the outer city half an hour ago and wishes to see Your Highness."

Eric looked up. "What are you here for?"

"It's mainly a greeting, congratulating Your Highness on becoming the new Saintess," Alena replied.

He shook his head. "Then you make the arrangements."

"tomorrow morning?"

"can."

Alena took the letter and went downstairs. Eileen leaned on Eric's shoulder for a while longer. "It feels like Eric is just like Uncle now... He's always either receiving and writing letters or meeting all sorts of strange people."

“That’s the job of a lord,” Eric said. “The so-called saintess is just the lord of this territory of the Saintess Monastery, there’s not much difference.”

Eileen frowned.

She glanced at Sophie, then suddenly squeezed forward and whispered in Eric's ear, "So when are you going to have a baby? I don't want to go back to being a lord."

"..."

Eric turned and glared at her. "Uncle isn't old yet."

"I'm not young anymore."

"You don't need to worry about that for now."

"Ok."

Eileen soon followed and came down from the Tower of Saints.

Once the commotion from the magic elevator subsided, Sophie approached Eric and asked, "Your Highness, what were you whispering to Miss Eileen just now?"

"Eileen said she set up a spell here so she can see what I'm doing or who I am at any time."

“…It’s a lie!”

Eric stayed atop the tower until evening, then returned to the St. Mary's Abode and secluded himself in his study. Later that night, Molly and Elise came looking for him.

"You really can't leave?"

Eric nodded. "Do I look like someone who can just leave whenever I want?"

“I couldn’t tell, I don’t see you all day anyway,” Molly said.

"Am I not staying at the Saintess Tower?"

"If Your Highness doesn't want to see me, how dare I run around?"

Her tone was somewhat reproachful, and Eric couldn't refute it. In the past few days, whether he was busy or free, he hadn't taken the initiative to contact them.

"I'm sorry." He held out his hand, and Molly stared at him for half a minute before taking it. Then he pulled her over and made her sit on his lap.

"Did Eileen tell you?"

“Hmm.” Molly closed her eyes and leaned against him. “I don’t want to go back to Castelfel alone either. I’ll just stay at that magic academy for now.”

Eric leaned down and kissed her ear. "Then I'll leave Eileen in your protection."

Molly shrank back and looked up at him.

"Protect her? She's more likely to protect me. A nineteen-year-old seventh-tier mage, do you know what that means? She could take on two of me with one hand! Are you two even human?"

"Eileen has already reached the seventh rank?" Eric asked in surprise.

"Yes, she told me."

Eric couldn't help but marvel at the power of the moon elf bloodline, and then said, "Eileen only has a little talent in magic and grows up relatively quickly, but she is still a child at heart."

Molly glanced at him sideways. "You and Eileen seem to be only a few minutes apart. Are you trying to say you're a child too?"

“Isn’t that right?” Elise, who had come along, suddenly spoke up. “Your Highness is only nineteen years old, not even twenty yet.”

"You weird auntie, how dare you lay a hand on His Highness?"

"..."

Elise paused, then gave a cold smile.

Molly immediately snuggled into Eric's arms, "Your Highness..."

"...Stop fooling around."

Eric was speechless for a moment. "I mean, Eileen doesn't have much experience. You've lived in Castelfellowship for so many years and have plenty of experience. Be careful around her."

“I know,” Molly sat up straight. “But she has that moon elf archmage protecting her at the academy, so who would dare to bully her?”

“Just in case,” Eric said calmly. “Eileen is sometimes too naive.”

"Ok."

When are you planning to leave?

“Tomorrow.” Molly stood up and sat down facing him. “Eileen and I can’t stay here any longer. We’re leaving tomorrow.” Eric took a deep breath and hugged her tightly.

"If you have any other plans, such as wanting to go back to Castelfeld, remember to write to me."

"We'll see when the time comes." Molly took his hand and reached inside her clothes. "This is my current plan."

Eric, of course, wouldn't refuse. He looked at Elise and said, "Close the study door."

"..."

Her skin was the fairest, so her blushing was the most noticeable. She glared at the two men who were already lifting their robes and pulling down their pants, then went over and closed the study door tightly.

"He means you... um... you close the door and go out."

Molly looked at Elise standing by the door, swaying slightly, "You're not coming with me tomorrow anyway, so why are you in such a hurry to join in the fun..."

Elise snorted and was about to open the door to leave when Eric stopped her.

"Come here too."

"..."

Her face flushed even redder, but she still walked towards the two of them.

The night before parting felt longer than usual.

"Won't we be discovered here...?"

“I’m not used to having someone next to me when I sleep, I mean anyone other than you.” Eric looked at the ceiling. “I’ve sent all the nuns away from the monastery.”

“Then the door was closed just now.” Molly rolled over and pressed herself against his chest, listening to the strong, pounding heartbeat inside.

“He’s afraid the two nuns who live here will come.” Elise, on the other side, was more tired and lay motionless with her eyes closed.

"Can we stay here tonight?" Molly asked again.

Eric shook his head. "The nuns will still come in the morning."

A sigh rang out simultaneously from both sides.

The three of them lay down for a while longer before Elise sat up and started getting dressed.

Molly stretched out her toes and stepped on her lower back. "Can't you let me stay a little longer? I'm leaving tomorrow."

“I didn’t ask you to come back to the room with me.” Elise ignored her.

"I don't know the way!"

Elise scoffed and continued getting dressed.

Molly stared at her until she recovered, then closed her eyes and pretended to be dead.

Eric didn't rush her. After Elise got dressed and lay down, he hugged both of them.

"You've been away from Castelfel for over six months now. Could your teacher, Rusdy, have already gone back?"

Molly opened her eyes. "I don't know. Even if the teacher goes back, she won't know where I am and won't be able to contact me."

“Hire a messenger and go check on where you used to live,” Eric said. “It’ll cost you a little money.”

“Okay,” Molly nodded. “I’ll write to you when the teacher gets back.”

Eric responded.

Elise, on the other side, said, "The whereabouts of Simmagu are still unknown."

Eric's face darkened. "The information I received from the church is that he suddenly disappeared last year, and he probably went to the Demon Realm."

"He is still the high priest of the empire."

"Hmm... His Majesty the Emperor is still unwilling to let him go. I never realized he liked Xinmagu so much."

“It’s probably because Simagu is one of the few people who are still willing to listen to him,” Elise said, “though only to a limited extent.”

Both of them fell silent.

At one point, Molly suddenly rolled over and kissed Eric hard on the lips before starting to get dressed.

"Do those priests, pastors, or bishops in your church who secretly keep mistresses treat their lovers the same way?"

"I don't know." Eric sat up and casually threw on some clothes. "I'm not familiar with them."

Molly wrinkled her nose at him, put on her robe, and got out of bed.

"Is there anything else you want to say to me? Your sister will be there tomorrow, so it won't be convenient to say it then."

“I love you,” Eric said, looking at her.

"..."

Molly's cheeks flushed, but she smiled broadly; this was exactly what she wanted to hear.

Elise crossed her arms and waited to the side. "Go back to sleep, my little sweetheart from the South."

“After I leave, you’re not allowed to say anything like that to her,” Molly told Eric. “She’ll be so jealous.”

Eric smiled, Elise sneered.

The two left together anyway.

The next morning, Eileen, Molly, and Leslie got up early, and Eric also got up early to see them off before starting his day's work.

Having said all the farewells, Eric mainly instructed Leslie not to linger on the road and to return directly to Lutia.

"I understand, young master."

After hugging Eileen and Molly separately and watching them get into the carriage, Leslie drove the carriage out of the inner city. Eric suddenly felt a void in his heart.

"Go back, Your Highness. They've already gone far away."

He turned around and glanced at Elise. "I forgot to ask earlier, where did you get this nun's habit?"

“I got it from your deacon sister,” Elise said, standing behind him. “I think since I’m going to be staying here for a long time, it’s more appropriate for me to wear this outfit.”

"So you plan to follow the rules and regulations of a convent like a nun?"

She lifted the hem of her skirt and curtsied like a nun, "If Your Highness likes it."

The impact of his sister and lover leaving Eric lasted only a morning; by the afternoon, the void in his heart was quickly filled by trivial matters.

"A small monastery in a tiny southern country I've never heard of needs my confirmation to change its name?"

“Yes, Your Highness. In name, that monastery is also under the jurisdiction of our Saintess Convent, and we did indeed send a nun to that monastery.”

Eric then stamped his saint's seal on the document in front of him, and in doing so, he remembered something.

"Alena, how is your teacher Dania doing as abbot of the monastery in Grandia?"

Alena smiled. "Successfully, Your Highness. I keep in frequent contact with Teacher Dania."

Eric looked at her. "So, do you want her to come back here?"

Alena's smile faded slightly, and she shook her head.

“I think this is the best situation for Teacher Dania, for me, and for Sister Gabi.”

Eric didn't say anything more and continued stamping.

As Alena waited, she subtly glanced at Elise and Sophie, who were standing on either side of the desk.

It wasn't until Elise changed into her nun's habit that she realized she looked quite convincing, even adhering to certain church etiquette rules. To someone outside the convent, it would be hard to tell she was actually a fake nun—if one ignored her silver hair, which was almost completely covered by a nun's headscarf.

Alena's understanding of her was actually quite limited: three years ago, she was an attendant of High Priest Simmagu, stayed here for a few days and then left; three years later, she came with His Highness's sister and transformed into a teammate who had been adventuring with His Highness for more than half a year...

Alena had a vague idea about the actual relationship between her and Eric, but she didn't want to think about it too deeply. She and Elise were only superficially acquainted, so she couldn't really develop any special feelings for each other.

However, she could clearly see that Sophie had a completely different attitude.

Alena's gaze lingered on Sophie's face, who kept glancing to the other side, sometimes biting her lip, sometimes frowning, unable to hide her anxiety.

Alena could understand her feelings: before Elise arrived, this small room at the top of the tower was almost her own private paradise, but now it was occupied by another woman she had never liked before.

This situation, in particular, seems likely to continue indefinitely.

Anyway, it's not her turn...

The thought suddenly popped into Alena's mind, and she immediately stopped herself, but emotions are hard to stop just like that.

She couldn't help but think about what would have happened two years ago on that night atop the mountain, if she hadn't refused.

She had pondered this question countless times, but could only ever arrive at a result that left her feeling restless yet vague.

"..."

Alena sighed, thinking she had done it discreetly, but when she looked up, she found that the other three people in the room were all looking at her.

"What's wrong? Is there a problem?" Eric asked.

“…No.” Alena coughed. “My throat is a little sore.”

Eric's gaze swept over her, and he lowered his eyes, the seal in his hand falling to the ground.

"Really? Drink more hot water."

(End of this chapter)