The Holy Man of Another Century Gospel

Chapter 225 Stage Jump
Eric's final visit to Oren was to a young widow.

She herself had little power or wealth to speak of. Her recently deceased husband was merely a second-generation nobleman who had not yet inherited the family's wealth and title. To make matters worse, her husband had a lively and energetic brother.

Fortunately, her father was Austin, the governor of Rentane.

“Yes, I’m pregnant,” the young widow said, looking into Eric’s eyes.

"..."

Eric looked away. “Then Mrs. Rodney should take her unborn child and continue south, back to the Marquis of Rodney’s territory, or west, back to your hometown, Sunset City of Rentani. You won’t be taken care of here alone.”

"But my husband died here! Waaah... I shouldn't have listened to that person and buried him here..."

The widow covered her face and wept bitterly.

Eric leaned back, raised his eyes slightly, and glanced at Natalia sitting next to him.

She noticed his gaze almost immediately, turned around, and pursed her lips at him.

This last widow was not originally on their visit list.

During a visit to another nobleman's house in the morning, the countess mentioned that Governor Austin's youngest daughter was in Oren and seemed to be having some minor trouble.

With the intention of getting closer to each other before going to Rennes, the two still came over. However, after only a few words, the other person started crying.

—Her husband died when she was young, and she was pregnant. Eric didn't know what the countess was thinking when she called it a "minor trouble".

Once the widow had somewhat stopped crying, Natalia spoke:

“Mrs. Rodney, now that Mr. Rodney has been laid to rest here, he will not be disturbed. You can go back and give birth to the child first, and then consider what comes next... After all, you have too many difficulties to face here alone.”

“If Mrs. Rodney can’t contact the family for the time being, I can send a carriage to take you back, whether to the southern territories or the governor’s mansion in Sunset City,” Eric said.

The widow raised her tearful eyes, "But I want my child to be born where his father died."

"..."

Eric didn't quite understand, but he expressed his respect and then said, "Has Mrs. Rodney contacted anyone in the family? Either way is fine."

“My husband got sick on his way north because I wanted to go to Lutia, and he eventually died here… I don’t know how to tell his father and mother.”

"Doesn't the Marquis of Rodney know about his son's death?" Eric asked in surprise.

The widow looked at him and nodded.

Eric took a deep breath.

"...Now the problem is simple: go back to your parents' home, Miss Austin. The Marquis of Rodney's attitude is unpredictable, but your biological father will certainly not let you get hurt."

Natalia continued, "We're going to Sunset City in a few days, so we can escort you there."

"But my husband..."

"—This saint will go to the cemetery to pray for him, ensuring that his soul can peacefully ascend to the divine realm, awaiting your reunion with him a hundred years from now," Eric said.

The widow stared at him blankly.

"What, you don't believe me?"

"I believe……"

“Then let’s do it this way.” Natalia patted the back of her hand, comforting the widow who was two years younger than her. “We will make all the necessary preparations, and Mrs. Rodney can just leave with us.”

Why are you helping me like this?

As they were about to leave, the widow finally couldn't help but ask.

Eric sighed, wanting to remind her to read the news more often, but remembering that her husband had just died, he swallowed his somewhat harsh words.

"In order to get closer to your father, Miss Austin."

He looked at her. “We need his army and gold to support the front lines in Lutia, so we’ll do everything we can to please him. Taking care of you is one way to do that. You can trust us completely until we achieve that goal.”

"...Okay. But I can't guarantee that..."

"It's alright, whether it works out or not is our business, it has nothing to do with you."

Miss Austin didn't ask any more questions.

As Natalia left her rented apartment, she looked back and said, "There are still two days before we leave. Your Highness, would you like to send some people from the city lord's mansion to take care of her?"

An owl flew down from the roof and landed on Eric's shoulder, and he glanced back at it.

"Should we have the people from the city lord's mansion take care of this widow?"

"...Isn't this a bit inappropriate?"

“It’s alright.” Eric shook his head. “This is my home, after all. I’m still the saintess. Who would dare to say anything out of line?”

Natalia smiled faintly and mounted her horse.

"In that case, our mission in Oren City is now completely over."

"Yes."

Eric mounted his horse, and the two hurried back to the city lord's mansion. "After resting for a day or two, we'll set off for Rentani."

Natalia looked around at the streets on either side. "I wonder when I'll be able to come back here again."

“Once the demons are driven out and the empire is stable, Your Highness can come at any time,” Eric said.

Natalia smiled. "I look forward to that day."

Upon returning to the city lord's mansion, Eric first arranged for someone to take care of the distinguished widow.

Although he said he wasn't worried, Eric reminded the maids to try not to attract attention before they left.

"Is it all over?"

Eric had just returned to his study when Eileen came looking for him.

"Yes, I'll be leaving in a couple of days."

He sat down behind his desk and looked at his sister outside. "While I'm still here, say whatever you're reluctant to part with. We won't see each other for at least half a year after this."

Eileen pouted, "Save that for your lovers."

"They didn't come with me because of you."

"Don't try to blackmail me with those words. I'm the same age as you, Eric."

“If you were more mature, you should have said ‘okay, brother’ at this point, and at least pretended to make me feel at ease.”

"Okay brother."

"..."

The brother and sister glared at each other for a while.

"Alright, I'll be an eighth-tier archmage soon, what else do you have to worry about?" Eileen walked around the desk and squeezed into a chair with Eric.

Eric looked at his sister's face, which was almost identical to his own, and said, "If individual power can determine everything, then why should I become a saint?"

Eileen turned to look at him. "Didn't Eric become a saint to save me?"

"...Well, that's also an important reason."

"Eric—"

"In short—" Eric forcefully steered the conversation back on track with an even louder voice, and the maid outside the study couldn't help but peek inside.

“I will be leaving soon. The situation in Lutia is unclear right now. You’d better stay here for a while longer before considering heading north.”

Eileen nodded without hesitation, "I'm not in such a hurry, I still have some things to find."

"What is it?" Eric asked. Since his return, almost every time he tried to find Eileen, she was searching for something in the manor, but she wouldn't tell him.

This time is no exception.

"You do not understand."

"..."

Eric frowned, but didn't ask any further questions. "After I leave, everyone here will have to listen to you. But on the way back to Lutia, you'll have to listen to Elise, and once we get back, you'll listen to your uncle, okay?"

"I'll try my best." Eileen finally stopped fighting with him for the same chair and got up to sit outside. "Don't think I'll run around everywhere. When we get back to Lutia, I'll go back to the academy."

Eric hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

Although the Lutia Magic Academy is isolated outside the city, the archmages within the academy are capable of handling most threats, making it actually safer than the turbulent military camp.

"Alright. After you return to Lutia, please keep an eye on my uncle's condition for me. You saw his condition recently."

"Hmm..." Eileen's expression turned serious, and she nodded solemnly to him.

After Eileen left the study, Eric leaned back and couldn't help but start thinking about why he could never let go of his sister.

Three years ago, she began to break free from that chaotic state after she came into contact with magic. Although he couldn't treat her like a three-year-old, Eric always felt that his sister was still immature.

"...Could it be because I'm too mature?" he suddenly wondered.

After all, his body, which was not yet twenty years old, contained the soul of an older man, or rather, carried more mature memories.

Recalling his state when he was eighteen or nineteen in his previous life, Eric felt much more at ease about Eileen.

"Concern leads to confusion... No matter how immature Eileen is, she wouldn't put herself in danger or even to her death."

The day ended peacefully. The next day, Eric got up and had people pack their things to prepare in advance, then took some time to spend with Molly.

"By the way, have you finished writing your letter to your teacher?"

“I’d completely forgotten if you hadn’t mentioned it.” Molly slapped her forehead. “Go write it now. Go to your room.”

After Molly finished writing the letter, she prepared to attach her own magic mark, following the method Eileen had taught her.

"Why don't you practice on a blank sheet of paper first?" Eric suggested.

Molly glared at him as she pulled out a new sheet of paper and succeeded on her first try.

Don't undermine my confidence.

Eric then stamped the letter paper with the mark, folded it, put it in an envelope, and carefully placed it away.

"I hope your letter can help your teacher see the error of his ways."

"You haven't even met him yet, how do you know he'll definitely side with Simagu?"

Eric took a breath. "Because for a master of soul studies, it is simply too difficult to resist such temptation."

Molly didn't say anything, but leaned on his shoulder.

In the afternoon, a messenger flew in from the north, and Eric went to his uncle's study again, with Elise accompanying him.

"Is it some important news? Should we call Princess Natalia over?" Iris walked towards the door.

Eric opened the letter delivered by the messenger, quickly glanced at it, and said, "It's nothing...it's not a big deal."

Elise's eyes darted around, and she went out for a short while before returning to the study. She then dismissed the maid at the door.

Hearing the noise, Eric glanced up from the letter and asked, "What do you want?"

"Eating alone."

"Then don't come tonight."

"Then Molly can't come either."

Eric looked up from the letter and then looked down again. "At least close the door."

"Nobody's coming."

Elise returned to his side and glanced at the contents of the letter.

"An entire monastery wants to come to you, and that's not a big deal?"

“It’s a big deal, but it’s only my business and has nothing to do with Natalia. I’m more worried about whether they can see me alive… Although the demons’ current focus is on Lutia, they won’t let up on the areas they’ve already occupied in the North.”

Eric frowned. "The road south has been blocked, and Frostwind City has been completely occupied by the demons. Who can save them? Where can they escape to?"

Elise bent down, hugged him from behind, and kissed his cheek.

"Let them stay quietly in the monastery and wait for the humans to counterattack; perhaps that's the safest option."

"But the demons will likely cease hostilities on the Lutia front and then turn back to consolidate the northern territories they have already occupied."

Seeing his solemn expression, Elise abandoned her original plan, simply walked around to the front, sat on his lap, and wrapped her arms around his neck.

“They are beyond Your Highness’s reach right now. Have you forgotten that your mission is to secure sufficient support for the front lines?”

Eric took a breath, tossed the letter onto the table, and hugged her. "You're right, but since they want to come to me, I can't let them get nothing in return..."

Elise didn't say anything, but leaned forward and rested completely against him.

Smelling the faint fragrance emanating from her hair and feeling the rising temperature between their pressed bodies, Eric reached out and picked up the letter again.

"Have you forgotten that it's summer now...?"

Footsteps suddenly stopped at the door of the study.

Elise closed her eyes, leaned on Eric's shoulder, and whispered, "I didn't mean to."

"..."

Eric glanced at Natalia outside the door, then looked down at Elise, who was huddled on his shoulder and refusing to look at him, and took a deep breath.

"I'm sorry, Your Highness, for showing you such a shameful side."

Natalia remained silent for a long while, then walked into the study with a cold face. "What does Your Highness wish to discuss with me?"

“Get off me,” Eric said calmly to Elise. She got off him, and the two exchanged a brief glance.

He handed the letter to Natalia, saying, "There are people from a monastery in the North who want to come to me, but I don't know how to rescue them, so I would like to ask Your Highness to come and discuss it with me."

Natalia deliberately avoided looking at Elise, who had stood up beside him, and instead pulled the letter over her shoulder and began to read it.

She quickly replied, "I'm sorry, Your Highness, I can't help you."

Eric nodded. "I'll think of something myself."

The two exchanged another glance.

"Is there anything else, Your Highness?" Natalia asked.

“We will depart tomorrow morning. Your Highness, please prepare accordingly,” Eric said.

"I know."

"That's all."

Natalia nodded and left the study; Eric could only hear her increasingly rapid footsteps.

He looked at Elise.

"...She'll find out sooner or later." She moved behind him, avoiding his burning gaze.

“Then I’d prefer a more dignified way,” Eric said.

"How can we do it in a dignified way? When Yera descends, will we tell her that we were actually given to you by the gods?"

"If I were Yela, I would strike you dead with lightning!"

Realizing he wasn't actually that angry, Elise hugged him again. "I made her jump directly from the stage of just flirting with you to thinking about whether or not to get involved. You'll thank me later."

Eric turned and looked at her for a moment. "I'm starting to suspect that even if you stabbed me in the back, you'd say it was for my own good."

"Are you sure you want to plant the seeds of doubt before we part ways?" Elise asked.

Eric pinched her thigh.

"hiss--"

“Natalia is not Molly. If you really drive her away, you'll be in big trouble.”

“I know my limits…” Elise rubbed her thigh. “Besides, that princess isn’t someone who acts on impulse. Even if she sees you having affairs with us, she’ll still come looking for you when the time comes.”

"..."

Eric stared at her, then suddenly remembered that she had originally planned to eat alone. If it weren't for the contents of that letter that had made him more concerned, who knows what Natalia might have seen when she came over.

Elise lowered her head. "That prince looks kind, but he's actually very domineering. I just don't want him to deliberately hide our existence in order to please her when he goes to bed with her... until he really hides us away in the end."

Eric was helpless; even though he knew she was faking it, he couldn't bring himself to say anything harsher.

Are you sure you want to plant the seeds of doubt before you break up with me?

“No,” Elise laughed. “I already picked out that seed myself.”

"..."

Eric pinched her thigh hard again, then chiseled her for half the afternoon.

As evening approached, just as Iris had said, Natalia came to his study again—the information delivered by the winged people usually arrived at this time.

Elise was no longer there. After they finished reviewing the intelligence together, Natalia was about to leave when Eric called her back.

"I am very sorry that Your Highness witnessed such a scene before."

Natalia remained silent, then shook her head.

“I have long known that Your Highness and Miss Elise have a special relationship, and today I have only confirmed my suspicions with my own eyes. I am not a member of the Church's Inquisition and have no right to question Your Highness. I only hope that Your Highness can restrain yourself when necessary, so as not to affect your reputation and thus affect our next arrangements.”

"Has Your Highness's trust in me wavered?" Eric asked.

Natalia fell silent again and shook her head once more.

"will not."

“Then I’m relieved,” Eric said.

Natalia suddenly looked over, glared at him, and turned to leave the study.

As she was about to leave, she slowed her pace and said without turning her head, "See you at the banquet, Your Highness."

Eric responded and leaned back as the footsteps outside faded into the distance.

"...You'll thank me later..."

"maybe."

(End of this chapter)