The Holy Man of Another Century Gospel

Chapter 237 Bold
When the carriage returned to the outskirts of Lutia, Elise leaned out of the window to carefully observe the movements ahead.

The once prosperous land-based divine kingdom was now faintly visible. She squinted, gazing at the city walls of Lutia in the distance, ready to warn the coachman of any sudden danger.

What actually appeared in her eyes first was the camp of the human alliance.

After inspection, the carriage was allowed to proceed and continued towards the western gate of Lutia.

Molly peeked out of the other window, glanced at the soldiers receding into the distance behind her, and then looked at the Lutia city gate in front of her.

"I never thought we'd be back."

Elise and Eileen, both inside the carriage, heard her murmurs and reacted differently.

"My butt is about to split open from the car ride," Eileen stretched lazily. "We're finally here."

Elise looked at her before asking, "Is Eileen planning to return to the academy immediately?"

"Yes. I'll go see my uncle and then go back to the academy. My teacher is probably still waiting for me." Eileen nodded, her right hand stroking a wooden box beside her. Inside were the relics she had found in her mother's grave, the so-called belongings of the moon elves.

Elise stared at the wooden box for a moment, wondering to herself how Eric would react—mainly whether he had written to the siblings' uncle Edgar to tell him about Eileen digging up the grave.

A short while later, the carriage crossed the drawbridge over the moat and returned to Lutia through the west gate.

They are still at the same location where they left the former commander's camp; the location has not changed, only the size has increased considerably.

"Is the situation in Lutia still evenly split between humans and demons?"

When Eileen got off the carriage, she looked towards the center of Lutia. More than half a month had passed, and the continuous billowing black smoke could no longer be seen in the city.

“We weren’t even halfway there before we left.” Elise followed closely behind, jumped off the carriage, and gave Molly a hand.

"They must have reclaimed quite a bit of territory by now, right?" Unlike her brother, Eileen didn't pay much attention to the situation on the front lines and could only guess.

“Why don’t you ask your uncle?” Elise suggested.

"Hopefully he's free now." Eileen headed towards the commander's camp, and before entering the commander's tent, she underwent several simple body searches.

"Uncle, I'm back."

Edgar was the only one in the tent at the time. He had already received news that Eileen had returned, so he was not surprised to see his niece.

And he received more than just this one piece of news.

“Eileen, I heard that you went into the family cemetery and dug up your mother’s grave.”

"……Yes."

Edgar glanced at Elise and Molly, who had come in with him. As soon as they saw the expression on his face, they turned and left without hesitation for even half a second.

Before leaving, Elise heard Edgar continue, "Even if you're looking for something from the moon elves, you can't just vandalize the family cemetery, especially your mother's! Have you considered discussing it with me or Eric first...?"

The two deliberately walked a little further away.

"What should we do?" Molly asked Elise.

"What do you mean?"

"About Eileen."

“A scolding will do the trick.” Elise glanced at the tent. “Or you could take the scolding for her, or share some of the firepower?”

“Then forget it.” Molly shrank back. “I still don’t know if his uncle knows about our relationship with him. Every time I see his uncle looking at us, I feel like his uncle looks at us strangely.”

Elise paused for a moment, "She should know something... Even if Eric didn't say it, Eileen wouldn't have been able to keep it to herself."

"Should we call him uncle too?" Molly asked.

Elise stared at her expressionlessly.

"...Never mind, I didn't ask."

The two waited for a while, but Eileen didn't come out. She was probably being scolded mercilessly, so they dared not go over to disturb her.

“I’m not waiting anymore. You wait. Anyway, you’re going back to the academy together,” Elise suddenly said.

"Huh?...Where are you going?" Molly was taken aback.

"We're not going anywhere, just checking out the situation in the city."

Elise tilted her head toward the other side of Lutia. "Eric told me to keep an eye on things here after I get back to Lutia and to keep in touch with him."

Molly looked at her. "Are you sure you're okay on your own?"

"Did you think I was going to spy on the demons?" Elise chuckled. "I certainly wouldn't risk my life, don't worry."

"Ok."

Just as Elise was about to leave, the tent in the camp suddenly opened, and a short figure walked out.

Although her status was extremely high.

Queen Mia noticed them almost immediately, paused for a moment, and then quickly remembered that they were the people who had traveled south with Eric and Natalia.

"you!"

Elise hesitated seriously for a moment about whether to acknowledge her, but since the other party was, after all, the Empress of the Empire, and Eric was giving her face, she should show the same respect as him. So she obediently went over and gave a proper bow.

"Her Majesty the Queen."

Molly also bowed.

"Didn't you go south with the Holy Maiden and your aunt? Why are you back? Where are they? Did they come back too?"

“We only traveled together to Otwell and then parted ways, Your Majesty,” Elise replied. “The Saintess and Her Highness the Grand Princess should still be in Sunset City in Rentani. We had other plans and returned first.”

The Queen could not hide her disappointment. She glanced at her and Molly again, then turned away.

“I feel sorry for her,” Molly suddenly said. “She’s still just a child.”

Elise shook her head and said nothing.

"You can continue waiting for Eileen. I'll go check other places and then I might come to the academy to find you. Or if you want to find me, come over here; I should still have the tent I used to stay in."

"Oh."

Molly stayed in the camp, watching her walk away quickly and disappear from sight. She then looked back at the commander's tent, just as Eileen came out.

Seeing her dazed look and the expression of someone who seemed to be questioning the meaning of life, Molly could guess that her uncle had scolded her severely.

At least, digging up one's mother's grave is something most people wouldn't do...

Once she got closer, Molly greeted her, "Are you alright?"

Eileen looked up blankly, shook her head, and remained silent for a long time.

After a while, she finally spoke, "Where is Elise?"

"She went to find out what was going on in the city, saying that Eric had instructed her to do so."

"Really?" Eileen didn't seem to care much. "Let's go back to the academy."

"it is good……"

The two then boarded a carriage and exited through the west gate, heading straight for the magic academy in the suburbs.

Elise watched their carriage disappear into the distance from the city wall at the west gate.

"It seems nothing has changed here."

After looking around to the south and north, she thought for a moment and decided to go to the south district first, which was where Eric had stayed the longest.

As she walked along the city wall, before she even reached the south gate, she was stopped by soldiers on the wall.

"The area ahead is occupied by demons, it's very dangerous, don't go any closer."

Elise wasn't surprised. Looking ahead, she saw a group of demon soldiers guarding the other side of the city wall not far away.

The two sides stood about fifty meters apart, staring at each other, making no attempt to hide their hostility, but that was all. Under the general trend of a ceasefire, small-scale conflicts often occurred in more secluded corners.

Elise descended the city wall at the nearest point and walked along the streets inside the city.

She tried to get as close as possible to the center of Lutia, but failed. Every few steps, human soldiers formed a humanoid boundary between the occupied and liberated areas.

Climbing up an empty house, Elise first looked towards the safe zone behind her.

Compared to when they left, the area under human control within Lutia City has expanded considerably, but from what she can see now, it is probably less than half of the entire city of Lutia, only a third or slightly more.

She looked ahead again. In the area occupied by the demons, apart from a border formed by a group of demon soldiers, there were also many demons wandering the streets.

The two sides are only a few dozen meters apart, and there are no insurmountable barriers or black ice walls in between. It is hard to imagine that less than a month ago, the two sides were still locked in a life-or-death struggle.

She looked in the direction of the palace, which should still be occupied by the Demon King. There was no longer any sign of war or black smoke in the entire city of Lutia; it was eerily quiet.

"This false peace won't last long..."

Elise stood on high ground, whispering Eric's prediction of this situation.

After gazing for a moment, she jumped down from the height and followed the invisible boundary formed by the human wall from south to north, until she stopped at the northern section of the city wall of Lutia.

Having completed the entire circuit, her previous assessment proved quite accurate; the human-occupied area of ​​Lutia was currently only about one-third of the way in.

Returning to the vicinity of the west gate along the city wall and back to the camp, Elise found the logistics officer and asked if her previous tent was still empty, but received a negative answer.

"...Are there any spare tents?"

"No, there aren't any. But there are many empty houses left behind by the city's fleeing residents. They've now been taken over by the Military Commission. You can find any empty one to stay in."

Elise nodded, and as she prepared to leave, she caught sight of a large tent in the camp and wondered, "Since there are houses to stay in, why is Her Majesty still living in a tent?" The logistics officer paused for a moment, then said, "Her Majesty prefers lively places, so she insists on staying in the camp."

Is it because you don't feel safe living in a house?

Elise secretly guessed that there weren't many maids and guards to fill the house now; the larger the house, the emptier it felt, which made her uneasy.

Especially now, there are basically no matters that require Her Majesty the Queen to make decisions, which means that no one will come to her all day long.

What a pitiful child...

The Queen's situation was somewhat similar to her own in the past, and Iris couldn't help but feel a little sorry for her.

She looked for vacant houses nearby and found that most of the houses nearby were occupied, so she searched south of the city and found more vacant houses there.

After looking around one of the houses and deciding it was a good place to stay, Elise thought about it and came out again.

She suddenly remembered that the house Eric used to live in, which was also the house of his family bodyguard Leslie, was still within the human realm.

If she had a choice, she would still prefer to live in a familiar place.

When they arrived, they saw Leslie at the camp; he was standing guard outside the commander's tent. As Edgar's personal bodyguard, he probably wouldn't be staying here anymore.

Although she only stayed there for a few days last year, Elise has lived in Lutia for ten years, so she can easily remember the location of Leslie's house.

Following the street, Elise quickly found the two-story building and discovered that it seemed to be inhabited.

"..."

She frowned, thought for a moment, and then went over and knocked on the door.

"……who?"

Upon hearing the wary voices inside, Elise's furrowed brows immediately relaxed.

"Demons, here to collect rent."

"..."

The person inside quickly recognized her voice, opened the door, and glared at her.

“How did you end up living here?” Elise asked.

“His Highness said I can stay here,” Sophie replied.

“Then he won’t mind me living here.” Elise smiled slightly at her and went into the house.

Sophie followed his gaze, her emotions a mix of feelings.

After her initial instinctive resistance, she discovered that she actually still longed for more.

Why don't you ask me why His Highness didn't come back with me?

Elise wandered around downstairs, glancing at the room she used to live in, feeling a pang of nostalgia.

“I know His Highness’s itinerary perfectly well,” Sophie said, closing the door tightly.

Elise turned to look at her. "Aren't you afraid living here alone?"

"It's alright. Mr. Leslie has already given instructions that the guards will pass by here on patrol. If the demons suddenly attack, someone will also notify me."

Elise looked at her for a while, "No wonder she dared to seduce the saintess in a place like the Saintess Convent, she's got guts."

"..."

Sophie blushed. "Don't talk nonsense. It's you who colluded with the demons and almost killed His Highness, you're much bolder."

The two looked at each other for a while.

"Which room are you staying in?" Elise asked.

"Go upstairs, it's on the left," Sophie replied.

“You have a good eye for choosing.” Elise remembered that it was the room Eric had stayed in, so she pointed to the room in front of her. “I’ll stay here.”

"up to you."

Elise went into her room to tidy up, then turned around and saw Sophie watching her from the doorway. She casually asked, "Don't you have anything to do now?"

“Yes. The Holy Capital sent a lot of nuns, and with the recent ceasefire, there’s no longer a need to treat the wounded day and night like before.” Sophie watched her retreating figure. “She only needs to go and help out about every five days.”

"And what about daily life, such as how to eat?"

"Of course, we'll go to the camp."

“Ugh, this is such a hassle.” Elise shook her head.

“If you can bake bread, I can bring some flour back tonight,” Sophie said, then saw her turn around and look at her. “…Why?”

Do I look like I would?

"Not like."

"That's it."

After tidying up the room to a comfortable living condition, Elise sat down and said, "We'll have to live together until he comes back."

Sophie simply responded with an "oh".

“Eileen and Molly might move in too,” Elise added.

"If I had known you would be back so soon, I would have gone south with you." Sophie didn't mind having two more people stay, but she regretted her previous choice.

Elise smiled but didn't say anything, and the two remained silent for a while.

"I heard that your grandfather passed away on his way south. Please accept my condolences."

Sophie pursed her lips and then nodded.

“Grandpa’s body couldn’t hold on much longer… If he stayed here, he might be able to hold on for a little longer, but probably not for very long.”

“Your other family members are all fine; they’ve settled down in Grandia,” Elise continued.

Sophie smiled faintly. "Yes, I know that too. His Highness told me."

Elise didn't say anything more.

"Are you hungry? I have a piece of bread left here; I got it at noon."

"I'm not hungry yet."

Elise went upstairs to look at the other rooms, then said to Sophie, "I have to go out again to the magic academy to find Eric's sister. Do you want to come?"

Sophie wasn't interested.

"Okay, I'll be back before dark."

"I won't open the door after dark."

Elise smiled slightly, turned her body to show her the weapon at her waist, and said, "Do you think I can get in?"

Sophie pouted. "It's awkward. Nobody's watching here."

After leaving this place, Elise found herself feeling much more relaxed than when she arrived.

Perhaps it was because she saw familiar faces in this increasingly unfamiliar place, she thought to herself.

Back at the camp, Elise borrowed a horse and headed straight for the magic academy.

Outside the academy, the animated gargoyle was still pacing back and forth at the bridgehead. As soon as it saw her, its red eyes immediately looked over.

What happened...

Iris was sweating. She always came with Eileen or Molly, and had almost never faced a living gargoyle alone. It was hard to say whether the thing would attack her, let alone let her in.

She reined in her horse to slow it down, and the gargoyle suddenly stopped in place.

...Does this mean it's permissible to proceed?
Elise steeled herself and swung the reins forward, her body tense to the extreme as she passed the gargoyle's massive body.

Safe and sound.

After she passed by, the gargoyle continued to move.

Upon reaching the stone bridge at the academy gate, Elise dismounted, tied her horse to the side, and then crossed the bridge to find Eileen and Molly.

The academy had long since become deserted; the students had either gone home or been drafted into the army, and very few remained.

Crossing the stone bridge and entering the academy, Elise easily found Eileen's dormitory, only to discover that she wasn't there, but the door was ajar.

She went inside and found a note on the table left by Eileen, indicating that she and Molly had gone to see Archmage Agnes.

"On that mage tower?"

Elise quickly dismissed the idea of ​​going to find him, after all, she knew nothing about magic and the archmage wouldn't even give her a second glance.

At that moment, an invisible wave spread out to this place.

"..."

When she came to her senses, Elise found herself kneeling on the ground, her limbs trembling, an indescribable fear fading away.

"what happened……"

On a nearby tower, Eileen floated in mid-air, a slowly rotating amber sphere before her, while Molly lay beside her. Both were unconscious.

(End of this chapter)