The Soldier and The Novelist

The Knight, The Killing Intent, and The Cardinal

There were already many exam hopefuls in the church, but the atmosphere was oddly tense and quiet. Everyone was silently reading the pamphlets that had been handed to them. Even though the exam wasn’t starting for a while, everyone was studious and serious.

I took a seat at the far end of the back row, in a corner where no one had yet sat. I could probably count on one hand the number of times I had ever sat on a church wooden chair in my life.

Shortly after I sat down, someone took the seat next to me. I could sense his presence without looking. Without thinking, I scowled at him, and he spoke up.

“Going straight to the back row, you really are the typical underachiever, aren’t you?”

“Why are you here? Are you planning on listening to the presentation, or what?” I retorted.

With a smirk, Gold laughed out loud. “There was a really attractive woman at the entrance who invited me over,” he said with delight.

“Oh, that female knight?”

“You know her? She was assigned here from the capital about a week ago.”

“I don’t know her. Besides, I’ve been away on a business trip for two weeks, how would I know?”

“She’s a famous knight, apparently. The commander of the 14th Division, Vilatis Knight. Rumor has it she fought off ten fanged beasts and didn’t even get a scratch.”

My eyebrow raised slightly. “If that’s true, she’s an amazing swordsman.”

“Who do you think is stronger, us or her?” Gold asked, half-jokingly.

I chuckled. “We’ve taken on thirty beasts before, haven’t we? The math is simple, we win.”

“Oh, that’s right. I think I killed eighteen and you killed twelve,” Gold said proudly.

This guy was someone who remembered even the smallest details. In reality, when I arrived, he had already killed the first five beasts. So, the difference in the number of beasts we killed wasn’t that significant. Even if we had started at the same time, I decided not to argue. Still, it was thirteen to twelve, damn it.

“That female knight’s transfer means she’s replacing us, the mercenaries, right?” I muttered with a bitter taste in my mouth.

“That’s probably it. Thanks to that woman, the Ixlaha assigned squad has gained an additional unit. It also means the church isn’t neglecting maintaining public order.”

“They can’t even protect the tomb of the former emperor. What do you mean by maintaining public order?” I grumbled, and Gold agreed, laughing.

“By the way,” Gold said, lowering his tone. “Do you know why the church crushed the mercenary union, Sword? Do you know the truth behind it?”

“It was the appeal of the central council of the cardinals…?” I answered. Gold looked a little surprised.

“Wow, that’s a surprisingly decent answer for you.”

I could only force out a wry smile.

“But that’s just the public reason. The truth is something else,” Gold continued, grinning, with a penetrating look. “The Papal States is preparing for the movements in the north.”

“The north?” I repeated the word involuntarily. “Do you mean Aldanak?”

Aldanak Federation.

It was a military state located to the north of the Papal States of Yunaria. Despite being a neighboring country, there were no diplomatic relations with Yunaria, and its internal affairs were always shrouded in mystery.

“There’s been an escalation of civil war recently, and there’s a possibility of a change in leadership. Do you know how many refugees have fled in the last two months? Apparently, enough to create a small village,” Gold said.

I placed my hand on my chin and pondered for a moment. “Not refugees, but defectors.”

Most of them were probably former authorities ousted by the old regime.

Actually, it’s not uncommon for people to flee to Ixlaha from the north. Many refugees have sought asylum in Yunaria due to poverty, hunger, or desertion from the draft. Among them are also military and government officials who have fallen out of power. In other words, there are quite a few defectors. It’s easy to imagine that the federal government is unstable.

“It’s obvious that the other side’s system is unstable. We’ve maintained an implicit non-aggression pact with Aldanak until now, but if the leadership changes, we’ll have to reconsider our position. Especially with a military power like Aldanak.”

“That’s why we’re hurrying to establish a new regime? Ridiculous. The idiots in the church should realize that they’re taking away the self-defense power of the citizens.”

“You came here to join those idiots, right?” Gold chuckled at my silence. “Well, this mercenary commotion isn’t about policy or anything like that. It’s more like they’re afraid of the flames of civil war spreading.”

“Flames spreading? Does that mean the war will cross the border?”

“Use your head, Sword. Even defectors can hire mercenaries if they have money, you know?”

I was a little irritated by the tone, but his words made sense. What would happen if the Aldanaks hired Yunarians to attack the federal government? It didn’t take much thought.

“At worst, it’ll be a pretty enjoyable fight.”

The situation has escalated from an international issue to a full-blown war. To make matters worse, this city is situated relatively close to the border and has a considerable number of defectors from Aldanak. It’s difficult to say that such a possibility is unrealistic. With a major festival scheduled to take place, the church cannot afford to take any chances.

With a big sigh of resignation, I muttered to myself.

“You can’t bend the country’s will with just your brute strength.”

“Hey, were you seriously considering a coup?” I twisted the corner of my mouth in self-mockery.

“About twenty percent.”

“Well, if you team up with me, who is eighty percent serious, we can make it happen.”

It’s not a happy thought, and the math doesn’t make sense.

“Hey, Sword. If you’re serious, there’s no better day for a coup than today.”

I furrowed my brows at Gold’s meaningful words.

“Why?”

“There’s a special guest at this gathering.”

“A special guest?”

“You’ll see. Hey, it looks like it’s starting.”

I can see the female knight climbing up the podium that Gold had pointed to with his chin. I recall the name Gold had taught me earlier. She’s in charge of this gathering.

After scanning the hall, the knight raised her clear voice, “Thank you for aspiring to become a valuable member of the Church Knights.”

Everyone sitting in the chairs leaned forward, paying attention to her words. It felt as if the exam had already begun, and I was the only one leaning back, feeling annoyed. However, the man next to me didn’t just lean back; he even placed his feet on the backrest of the seat in front of him.

My spine reflexively straightened. It’s unpleasant to be seen as equal to someone like him, even before the examination begins.

From my perspective, it should be impossible not to notice Gold’s disrespectful attitude, but the knight seemed to be completely unaware of it. She must be ignoring it.

“As you know, we, the Church Knights, are a public military organization under the jurisdiction of the Holy See. What is demanded is not only individual martial arts but also knowledge, education, and, above all, moral values as a human being. Therefore, it is safe to say that this selection exam will assess the qualities of a knight rather than their strength.”

Well, there’s a man in this space who lacks both qualities and moral values. I thought to myself and looked at the man next to me. To my annoyance, he also looked back at me with the same expression. This bastard…

“I apologize for not introducing myself earlier. I am Vilatis Knight, the leader of the 14th division. All the recruitment personnel will be from the 14th division, so if you pass, you will be under my direct command. I’m counting on you.”

It’s not bad to have a beautiful woman as my direct boss, I thought trivially. But then, I noticed someone who quietly appeared beside the female knight on the podium and it all made sense.

Ah, so that’s what Gold was talking about.

“Now, let’s begin the briefing on the Church Knights selection exam. But before that,” the female knight paused, took a step back, and turned her gaze to the person beside her.

“I would like to ask for words of encouragement from Cardinal James Malmsteen, the administrator of Ixlaha. Your support means a lot to the candidates who are facing this challenging exam. Cardinal, I kindly ask for your words.”

With a polite bow, the female knight stepped down from the stage. Taking her place was a middle-aged man wearing a black robe adorned with golden threads. Only one person in the city had the privilege to wear such a garment: James Malmsteen, the cardinal directly under the Pope’s jurisdiction and the highest authority figure in Ixlaha.

It was my first time seeing him in person.

The cardinal cleared his throat, though it seemed more like a formality than a necessity, and then proceeded to smile and begin his speech. His gentle tone and relaxed expression exuded an air of confidence and composure, the very traits that those in positions of power wielded like potent weapons. These traits were honed to perfection, allowing them to charm and captivate a larger audience.

“First and foremost, I would like to express my gratitude to all the candidates. Thank you for aspiring to join our glorious and prestigious Church Knights.”

His words sounded like textbook phrases, yet his delivery was impeccable and flawless.

“Your strength is crucial to us. Despite celebrating our independence for 90 years, our country still lacks the international power it deserves. To compete with other nations on an equal footing, we must reinforce our defense force. As the future knights who will wield the sword, this responsibility falls on you. It is only through your efforts that we can fortify our nation and secure a prosperous future for our people.”

The cardinal continued his speech, spouting words like he was reading from a textbook.

“The selection exam for Church Knights is widely renowned as one of the most rigorous entrance exams within the Holy See. Despite its difficulty, I implore you to devote all of your efforts towards this challenge. Should you successfully pass through this gate, I assure you that a sense of pride and a promising future await you.”

During my time as a mercenary, I had encountered countless people who spoke like him—whether they were my client or my escort. I quickly learned to never trust them with my heart. From my experience, I knew that behind their smooth and friendly demeanor lay vast schemes and ambitions.

But, of course, I wasn’t the only one who knew that.

I glanced around the room. Among the seated individuals, I could see a few who regarded him with suspicion. They were the people I had grown used to seeing before.

The cardinal paused, cutting off his words and looking around the auditorium in silence.

“By the way, what do you all think hell is?” the cardinal suddenly asked. Many people, including myself, were a little taken aback by the seemingly unrelated topic. Hell?

“After some thought, I believe that it is not knowing what one’s ideals are. Standing in a barren wasteland, not understanding the destination to aim for or the reason why one has come this far, simply standing there dumbfounded as the wind blows… That is what hell is,” the cardinal spoke, his tone a little less calm than before, a faint intensity shimmering in his eyes.

“Perhaps I’m unworthy to speak of such things as a clergyman. However, most of the people here have already understood the difference between reality and idealism to some extent. Therefore, it is only natural that I respond in kind.”

After bowing his head and taking a moment to breathe, the cardinal raised his face once more. His eyes shone with a sharp clarity.

“Embrace your ideals. Pursue them. And make them come true. Sometimes you may get hurt, and sometimes you may hurt others. When you’ve hurt someone, repent. When you yourself have been hurt, come to the church. We are here for those who have been hurt and those who have hurt others.”

The auditorium was now filled with a heavier tension than before.

“I’m not suggesting that you should forsake your aspirations of being a decent human being. Nor am I encouraging you to trample on others to achieve your goals. My message to all of you here is simple: ethics are just as important as ideals. Yes, it’s a challenging path to tread. Balancing two different principles, you may occasionally lose sight of one. It’s possible that you might become weary, exhausted, and even desperate at times. But trust me, beyond those obstacles, you will find flowers blooming on your path.”

The cardinal briefly lowered his gaze. A faint shadow hung over his expression.

“Truth be told, I’ve caused pain to many in my pursuit of my ideals. Some might say it was a path of atonement. Despite my constant efforts to repent, there are still individuals who refuse to forgive me. That’s why I believe the most genuine form of repayment for my wrongdoings is to turn my ideals, which I’ve pursued fervently, into reality.”

Then he looked out at everyone in the auditorium once again, speaking as if addressing them all.

“As such, I will say it again and again. If you want to give meaning to the steps taken so far, raise your ideals!” The cardinal said, slightly raising his tone and making a fist on the podium.

The faces of those who had been seated now showed no trace of doubt, having been persuaded by the cardinal’s words, which had a convincing power of their own. They were certainly not just empty words, but words that carried the weight of truth.

As I gazed up at the man on the podium once more, I once again realized that he was a middle-aged man with an ordinary face that would leave little impression if he were not wearing clerical garb. However, he had clearly climbed the ranks of the Holy See and was now in a position of authority. Even I, for a moment, was captivated by his persuasive words.

But then, a fleeting suspicion crossed my mind and brought me back to reality. What if his words and actions were merely a facade, with no true sincerity behind them? The thought made me shudder.

The blade hidden within his heart was completely inscrutable.

After a silence that filled the room with the afterglow of his words, the cardinal’s expression softened once again.

“I apologize for my clumsy speech, but please allow me to use it as words of encouragement for all of you. Once again, thank you for applying to join the Churh Knights. I wish you all the best in your endeavors.”

With those gentle words, Cardinal Malmsteen bowed slightly. The applause erupted immediately, which was to be expected given the quality of his speech. As I watched his back as he descended from the podium, I inwardly groaned at the thought that some of the former mercenaries might be easily swayed by him.

That’s when it happened.

Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through my neck. It felt as if a blade had been thrust into me.

The applause that was filling the room abruptly stopped, and a tense silence filled the space.

There was no clear reason for it. But everyone present felt it. The intense and unmistakable “killing intent” that engulfed the entire space.

I instinctively turned to the man sitting beside me.

Gold, his eyes shining like those of a predator, was smiling.

The killing intent that Gold had unleashed had been fleeting. By the time I had elbowed him, it had dissipated. A murmur of confusion arose in the room, and everyone began to look around, perplexed by the sudden shift.

“What the hell are you doing?” I leaned in and questioned Gold. In response, he answered with his usual grin. “Huh? Did I do something? I was just listening to the speech respectfully.”

What a load of crap. The intensity of the aura was so great that it felt as if the prey’s head was about to be severed. Had it persisted for just a moment longer, Gold would have jumped out of his seat and approached the cardinal with the intention of decapitating him.

Putting away killing intent isn’t as easy as sheathing a sword. It requires the kind of discipline and composure that only those who deal with it regularly possess.

“Why are you so worked up, Sword? It was just a harmless joke. Besides, no one even noticed.” Gold said with a genuinely happy expression.

Many of the participants had a puzzled look on their faces, not understanding what made them stop applauding. The source of the overwhelming killing intent was so strong that even highly skilled individuals would struggle to identify it, unless they were as unfortunate as I was and had become accustomed to Gold’s killing intent.

“Are you insane? You…”

The other party was a dignitary of a nation. It could result in more than just punishment if he acted carelessly. However, Gold twisted his mouth wickedly.

“Are you insane to ask me that?”

I had no words to reply. He’s gone mad.

I nervously turned my gaze towards the stage. In the restless auditorium, however, Cardinal Malmsteen looked around calmly, as if being targeted for assassination was an everyday occurrence. I couldn’t help but be impressed by his demeanor.

Amidst the commotion of the examinees, the female knight’s sharp rebuke echoed through the room.

“Silence!”

As if water had been splashed on everyone, the room fell silent. She ascended the stage and began to speak.

“You are in the presence of His Lordship. Please refrain from whispering. Also…”

Her gaze swept across the room, and when it landed on our area, a surge of intense anger radiated from her. But just as quickly as it had come, it vanished, and she resumed speaking.

“…refrain playing any kind of joke as a prank. Otherwise, your head will be rolling the next moment.”

This woman was aware, I thought.

Looking to my side, Gold was holding his belly, trying to suppress his laughter, looking thoroughly pleased. “She’s the best, isn’t she, Sword?” he said.

I didn’t answer, I just let out a gloomy sigh.

Afterward, the explanation of the exam details began, but honestly, I could hardly concentrate. I was too worried that I might be caught in the crossfire because of my neighbor’s actions.