Walking in the Question and Answer System of Heroic Spirits

[Grey: "Teacher, what happened?"]

"I've most likely found the answer. However, this..."

After a moment of silence, the Second Prince abruptly turned around and asked, "Trimmau, how many minutes until sunrise?"

[Trimmau: "If sunrise is defined as the sun fully rising, I estimate it will be another thirty-seven to forty-three minutes."]

"Get out of here immediately!"

[King II ordered Trimmau to retrieve the floating number disk and then turned to leave.]

Grey hurriedly followed behind him and asked, "What's wrong? Teacher?"

[Second Generation: Sorry, there's no time for details now. We need to get to the swamp quickly, so let's talk as we run.]

Rin Tohsaka: "Did he decipher this affinity diagram? What exactly did he discover?"

Lion's Tribulation Realm: "I don't know, the scene was too fast, I couldn't see it clearly at all."

Weber: "Is it another swamp? What secrets does that swamp hold?"

"Hey, I think you'll collapse first if you keep doing this?"

[Kai looked at the Second Prince's pale face and said half-jokingly, but as soon as he stepped out of the hut, his expression froze.]

"Oh dear, this is dangerous!"

[Grey: "What do you mean, Sir Kay?"]

Kai: "Sigh, I knew they might come looking for me, but I didn't expect it to be so soon."

At this moment, Gray also heard a commotion of voices approaching from the other side of the forest, towards the village across the swamp.

[Kai: "Looks like the villagers think something's wrong and have started searching the mountains. Haha, this route to the swamp will lead to a direct confrontation with them. Unless you escape, you'll be killing each other with people you know. Make up your mind now."]

Lion's Tribulation: "Another hurdle that must be faced."

Kenneth: "Hmph, I hope this girl isn't too soft-hearted, or she'll definitely regret it."

On the other side, halfway up the mountain, Fernand was laboriously climbing the slope, clinging to the mountainside.

He had also been swept away by the flood, but luckily crawled out of another cave and survived. He then received a telepathic message from Ilumia, who was also safe and sound.

[“They actually sent people to the swamp right away! I almost drowned... Ugh, how much manual labor does Sister Ilumia plan to force me to do…”]

Fernando climbed the hillside, sweating profusely, and complained heavily.

Suddenly, a voice rang out.

"You are safe and sound, Priest Fernand."

A figure emerged from the shade of the trees; it was Bersak.

Rin Tohsaka: "How should I put it? Such a huge flood, and yet everyone is unharmed. It just seems absurd."

Lion's Tribulation Realm: "Yes, I thought that even if the fat priest survived, he would be saved by that nun. Who would have thought that he would escape on his own?"

Ilya: "It's probably because he's too fat that he can float on the water."

"Be... Bersak! What... what are you planning to do to me?"

Upon seeing the person who suddenly appeared, Fernando was immediately startled.

[Belsauk shook his head and said, "I have no intention of harming you, I just have something I want to ask you."]

[Fernand: "...As the gravedigger of Blackmore?"]

"Perhaps."

[Belsauk said seriously, "I've had my suspicions for a long time. You and Sister Ilumia often talk to Grey. The sister is mostly trying to monitor Grey, but you seem genuinely concerned. Can you tell me your stance?"]

Fernand cleared his throat and said, "Well, from the perspective of the Church, King Arthur is certainly a heretic. His way of life is too deeply integrated with local customs and beliefs to be considered as belonging to the same religion as us. However, that matter has nothing to do with that girl in essence, right?"

[Belsauk: "You mean it's irrelevant?"]

"How could it possibly be related!"

Fernand became emotional: "Ultimately, what is wrong if not imposing old customs on future generations and forcing them to sacrifice? But I have no right to say such a thing."

[Belsauk: "Why?"]

[Fernand: "...Because ten years ago, I was the one who reported to the Church of England the news of Grey's sudden change in appearance."]

【"..."】

Upon hearing this, Bersak fell silent.

[Fernand: "At the time, I didn't realize how serious things were. Seeing a young girl's appearance gradually change was indeed frightening, but the change wasn't too far off from her original appearance, so I just assumed it was something that could happen during puberty. But the villagers began to worship her with fervor, especially the mother, which made me feel I had to report it to the church. So, just to be on the safe side, I wrote about it in my regular reports. That's about all I did. As a result, not long after, the church sent Sister Illumia over."]

"She is a true member of the Holy Church, a young talent trained in the Knights Templar, possessing the ability to exorcise magicians and non-humans, unlike me, a mere watchman from a remote village forcibly chosen because of my limited abilities. She has told me several times that if something that threatens the Church is about to be born, plucking the tender shoots of disaster is also the Lord's teaching. Ah, that must be the right view."

"Strictly speaking, we're not even from the same religious sect. In the past, I would probably have been considered a heretic she would hunt down. So, I have no right to say such things. Of course, I'm certain that my actions at the time were justified based on my duty. Although I'm certain of that, I've been thinking for the past few years about whether it can be asserted as a sacred duty... Why, your expression is strange. Did I say something ridiculous?"

[Belsauk: "No, it's just that everything that happened in that village wasn't a lie, and I'm grateful for what I believe. At least I think what you saw in the village is the same as what I saw."]

Rin Tohsaka: "I see. Looking at it this way, this fat priest isn't so bad after all."

Kenneth: "On the condition that what he says is true."

Kotomine Risei: "He has no reason to lie about something like this."

The rebellious knight: "How dare you call my father a heretic! You lot are the heretics!"

Feng Xi: "There's no need to get angry over something like this. For the Holy Church, anyone who doesn't trust their God is a heretic and should be eradicated."

[Fernando: "Which side do you intend to support? Us, or the villagers?"]

"We already knew you had connections with the government of this country, because Sister Illumia is very sensitive about such matters. However, you are not a government spy, are you? The history of the gravediggers of Blackmore is probably older than King Arthur's. Therefore, you wouldn't be as blindly devoted to King Arthur as the villagers. Even if you support us, it wouldn't be against your beliefs, would it?"

[Belsauk raised an eyebrow and said, "I think I understand why the Holy Church chose you as the monitor. In peacetime, no one is more suitable than you to slowly help the heretics adapt to their environment."]

[Fernando: "Is that a compliment?"]

[Belsauk: "That's what I meant. As the successor of the Gravekeeper, I will protect that girl. If Grey falls into the hands of your Church, she won't escape unscathed. Of course, your religion appeals to forgiveness, but its scope doesn't include our world. Forgiveness exists for humanity; there's no need to apply it to the inhuman."]

[Fernand: "Hmm...you're right, but..."]

[Belsauk crossed his arms and leaned against a tree trunk, closing his eyes. He said, "I haven't seen anything here, haven't met anyone. I'm a little tired, so I've decided to rest for a few minutes. Maybe someone just left in the meantime."]

Ferdinand understood what the other person meant and immediately started walking up the hillside, saying as he went, "Although I still have something to say, I appreciate your kindness."

[Belsauk: "Next time we meet, it'll be a fight to the death."]

[Fernand: "No, no, no, please spare me."]

Weber: "Did you let him off the hook because of his attitude?"

Kenneth: "Hmph, I hope it's not like we're letting a tiger return to the mountains."

After Fernand disappeared into the fog, Belsac picked up his axe and began climbing the hillside.

[The path ahead led to a swamp; he had a premonition that most things would likely come to a close there.]

【"ah!!!"】

Just then, a bloodcurdling scream pierced the forest.

[Belsa's expression changed, and he suddenly took off running, quickly reaching the source of the shout. His eyes widened in shock.]

[Fernand was lying face down on the ground, his back stained crimson with blood.]

[Belsauk rushed over and touched his neck, then froze.]

Fernando is dead. He had only been out of his sight for a few minutes, and it had only been a few seconds since he heard the screams and came over, and he was already dead.

What exactly happened in those few minutes?

Rin Tohsaka: "Hey, this is going too far..."

Lion Jie Li: "This time, our good intentions have backfired."

Weber: "It looks like a fatal blow. Who could have done it?"

Kenneth: "Was it the villagers? No, Belsack came immediately upon hearing the shouts; those villagers don't have that kind of skill. Then, was it the nun? Did she overhear their conversation?"

[Belsauk examines Fernand's body.]

[It looks like someone stabbed him in the back with a short knife or similar weapon? Fernand had no combat training; anyone in the village could easily kill him if caught off guard. But who did it? After all, Fernand would naturally be on high alert in this situation. The only person he might feel comfortable interacting with was Sister Ilumia, but she shouldn't have had any reason to kill him.]

"Hmm? His body is dry?"

Chapter 256 - Still One Step Too Late

Rin Tohsaka: "Dry? What do you mean?"

Weber: "With such thick fog around, you should be covered in fog, right?"

Kenneth: "This is probably a clue."

Meanwhile, the Second Prince and his group descended the mountain together, with Trimmau leading the way and Kai bringing up the rear.

The Second Prince asked anxiously, "Are you sure you can face the villagers? Your mother might be among them."

Grey nodded and said, "...Yes, I understand, I can."

She was indeed deeply shocked when she heard the news of the search for the village, but that was only temporary. Since becoming enemies with the village, she knew she would have to face her mother.

[Second King: "Well, but what's more important now is what Hartrace did here? Although I've deciphered the affinity diagram to some extent, my thoughts on what he did are still hypothetical. However, I speculate on his actions in the days leading up to the incident."]