“Your Excellency.”
“What?”
“If the salt of the earth loses its flavor, with what will it be salted?”
“Hmm?” The duke regarded my sudden question with suspicion.
I continued. “If all the world’s torch bearers remain under the light of day, on what will their torches shine?”
He said nothing. I looked into his keen eyes. I met his gaze. I didn’t look away, I didn’t flinch. I looked straight at him.
“I have been gifted with a portion of the light of Gracefeel, god of the flame.”
Look into his eyes, I kept telling myself.
“I believe that those who carry the torch of Gracefeel must take the first step into darkness, ahead of all others. They must shine a light on people suffering in the dark, and show the way to those that would follow them. I believe that to be my mission.”
Face what’s in front of you. Appeal to him with words from the heart. That was the only way, and the right way. Affectation and trickery were clearly going to be counterproductive against this man.
“So I beg you. Can you grant me some form of permission for my activities?” I got up from my chair, kneeled down, and lowered my head in a deep bow. I wasn’t being clever or wily. I was just being completely straight with him. It might have been naïve, but I thought that if you were going to make an unreasonable request of someone, you owed it to them to be honest.
The duke was silent.
“William,” he said, after a long pause. “In almost all cases, that road leads to despair. It will rarely lead to the result you desired, and even if it does, you will be paying a hefty price for it.”
Hearing those words, I slowly raised my head, and smiled at His Excellency. I know that, I thought. But all the same—
“The thing is, I have some business with despair,” I commented.
“Oh? What kind of business is that?”
“Well, I just don’t like the looks of it, so I was planning on kicking its ass until it gets the message,” I said, shrugging.
The duke looked a little stunned at my answer for a moment... and then he burst out laughing. “Hahahah! Kicking its ass, huh. I like that. Hah hah hah!”
It had gone over well. The duke was holding his sides and slapping the table. There were even tears in his eyes.
“Haha. Yes... That was a good reminder. You are, after all, a high priest, who even wields the prayer of Sanctuary. Not to mention the good friend you have!”
“Huh? Uhh...”
“Hm? You didn’t notice? The instant I mentioned killing you, that half elf behind you had the nerve to shoot me a murderous glare. Those were the eyes of a soldier ready to die for his cause. He was prepared to kill everyone here and go down fighting to protect you! Most impressive, most impressive...” The duke laughed.
I slowly turned back to look at Menel.
“Th-That’s bull! I was just... steeling myself, figured he’d kill me as well, that’s all... Dammit, quit grinning like an idiot!”
I didn’t realize I was, but it made Menel’s mood even worse.
Suddenly, from somewhere down the corridor, I heard a rush of stomping footsteps and a great deal of shouting.
“B-Bishop, I beg you to stop, His Excellency is engaged in conversation—”
“Wait! Dad, wait!”
“Let go of me! I said let go!”
I could hear all kinds of voices.
“Stop with your meddling, you witless fools!”
The door flew open with a bang.
It was Bishop Bagley. He was followed by a train of the mansion’s servants, a young woman who I assumed was a deacon, and more besides. Breathing heavily, he tromped into the room, dragging people along as they clung to him in protest, and without any reservation, he stood before the duke.
The bishop’s eyes glinted in a different way than Ethelbald’s, and he took a moment to glare at him before opening his mouth. “I would greatly appreciate it if Your Excellency would refrain from this sort of bullheaded behavior.”
“Oh? Bullheaded behavior? To what do you refer, Bishop Bagley?” He shrugged as he asked, looking almost amused.
“Do not take me for a fool!” The bishop stomped loudly on the floor. “This young man,” he shouted, pointing at me, “is registered at my temple! Temporary arrangement or otherwise, he is a member of the temple! Yet you beckon him here without a single word of notice! What is the meaning of this?! Does Your Excellency mean to completely disregard the temple’s authority?!” He was so incensed he hardly paused for breath.
“Oh, I see... I had no idea. Is that true?”
“Um... yes.” I did write my name in the register. But that had clearly not been anything very important... It was more like a guest book or something...
“Ignorance is no excuse! Just because I was absent does not give you license to ignore verification procedure!”
“That may be so, but the people at your temple seemed quite happy to send him here.”
“A simple lack of training! I will give them a good scolding later!!” he said, and slammed his bloated hand, covered in gold and silver rings, on the table. The way the fat wobbled from the impact looked somehow ridiculous. “In any case, he belongs to this temple! It is not acceptable for Your Excellency to freely—”
“That is where you are mistaken, Bishop. He is more than that.”
“What...?”
“He asked me to let him form a private army. He says he wants to save the poor people of Beast Woods.”
“What?!” The bishop’s head snapped towards me this time. “Y-Yo-You...” he sputtered, his eyes wide.
“To be honest, I would be lying if I said the thought of killing him didn’t cross my mind.”
The bishop was speechless now, and his mouth was flapping open and closed like that of a goldfish.
“But he spoke his mind so openly,” the duke continued, “that I found myself intrigued.”
“Wh—?!”
“I am thinking of appointing him as a knight. What would you say, Bishop, about the temple giving its blessing?”
“Wh-What?!”
“You know, a holy knight. A paladin. Both I and the temple would take equal share of the responsibility and the profits... Well?”
“WHAAAAT?!”
He was so loud. The entire room was trembling.
“He would fall under our joint authority, and if it came to it, you could always have him excommunicated.”
“That is not the issue!”
“The temple can attest to his good character, and with him being the Wyvern Killer... Yes, I’m sure it will work out.”
“That is not the issue!”
“Then what is?”
“This is too sudden!” He slammed a fist against the desk again. “I will take him back with me and we will discuss this! Will you settle for that?”
“Hmm, that will do fine. Discuss all you wish. But I would be truly happy to see this a reality, Bagley. I have taken a liking to this man.”
“I had this when you gave me your support. I’ll thank you to keep me out of your ridiculous games!” he said at the top of his voice, then scowled at me and Menel. “You! Novice! We are leaving! Come along!”
“Y-Yes!” I hurriedly stood from my chair.
Hurricane Bagley was gone as quickly as it had come, and with that, my meeting with His Excellency Ethelbald, Lord of Whitesails, came to a close.