An Old Man from the Countryside Becomes a Swords Saint: I Was Just a Rural Sword Teacher, But My Successful Students Won’t Leave Me Alone! - CH 103

“By Lebios, did you mean Bishop Lebios Salleon?”

“That’s right. I’m surprised you knew him, Master~,” Rose said.

“… Hmmm?” Gatoga went.

I wonder what’s going on. You wouldn’t think these two situations would be connected, but they are. With that unexpected name from Rose’s mouth, my head was even more confused.

“Gardenant, what’s up?” Gatoga said.

“Ah… the Bishop was sentenced, wasn’t he?” I asked.

I try to confirm it again.

I don’t know what happened after me and Thyssel arrested him. I know that Lucy, Alexia, and Ibroix did something to him, but I don’t know where that happened and what their end goal was

“Well, about that,” Gatoga said. “His charges were ‘Arbitrary Interpretations of Scripture’ and ‘Brainwashing the Public’, which were contributing factors to ‘An Act of Blasphemy.’ The backlash against the charges was also massive.”

How grave were those charges, by Supheniardvanian standards? I’m not sure.

However, that there was a huge protest of the charges meant that Bishop Lebios had plenty of supporters. What’s going on next door, beyond our borders?

“I think the Royal Faction was working to reduce the authority of the Pope~,” Rose said.

“No…” I said. “Bishop Lebios was guilty, alright,” I said.

“… Huh?” Rose asked.

Where and how was the information twisted?

Maybe they had, but the truth is the opposite of what Rose says. In short, the Royal Faction did not spread rumors in order to reduce the power of the Papal Faction, but rather the Royal Faction judged Lebios reasonably despite the Papal Faction’s opposition.

“… You say that like you know something,” Gatoga said.

“I do know,” I said. “Because I was the one that arrested Bishop Lebios.”

“The hell…?” Gatoga asked.

Both Rose and Gatoga stiffen up.

To be precise, I caught him with Thyssel, but that’s a small detail.

“Bishop Lebios was involved in human trafficking to try and recreate the miracle of the resurrection of the dead,” I said.

“That, can’t be…” Rose whispered, losing her voice as Gatoga continues to carry her.

Well, the justice she believed in was only partially, if at all, true. Isn’t it natural to be shocked?

“The miracle of the resurrection of the dead cannot be reproduced…. that’s right, isn’t it, Sir Gatoga?” I asked.

“Yeah… I’m sure there are some who believe in it, but it’s just a legend,” Gatoga said. “I think it’s just a dramatization.”

Seems Gatoga thought the same as Ibroix. No, I don’t think it would be a good idea for a clergyman to explicitly call the content in the scriptures dramatizations. Realistically, I wonder if they were all aware of that.

I mean, I’m sure Ibroix said that Bishop Lebios was a Supheniardvanian citizen. That Gatoga and Rose also know about him means that he came from their home country.

“But, what do you mean by human trafficking…” Gatoga said. “Ah, I see, did he keep it to the Kingdom of Rebelis?”

“That’s not the end of it,” I said. “He even used his half-baked miracle to revive the dead. Well… let’s say what came out were like corpses being used as puppets.

“Ugh. That’s disgusting,” Gatgoa said.

I thought I should say it but was it something I should have said? I feel like it’s awkward now but it’s a little too to come up with something. Not after I’ve already spoken it out loud.

Ah, whatever. Let’s just say that I can trust these two people. Let’s leave it at that. I don’t know anything.

“Then… what the Pope was saying…” Rose whispered.

However, Bishop Lebios’s case wasn’t what was important now.

It’s the information that should have passed from the Kingdom of Rebelis to Supheniardvania. There is a discrepancy there. It seems that the question is half-answered, about who had messed with the message.

“I don’t even know what the Pope said,” I said. “But… I think it’s dangerous to come up with this sort of strategy and even take child hostages to ensure it’s carried out. Personally, I think it’s dangerous to even trust that sort of man.”

I don’t want to pick a fight with Supheniardvania over this, so I don’t really care what they say about that.

After all, I’m just an old man who isn’t a citizen of their country, so I’m not going to poke my head in that far.

However, if one of my former disciples went on the wrong path in the process, then that changes the story a bit.

“I hear you on that,” Gatoga said. “Much as it must hurt to hear, Rose.”

“………” Rose was speechless.

And with that, silence reigned.

It seems that our stretch of the South District was not the only place attacked and where fighting had occurred, the violence seemed widespread. There aren’t many of them, but I could see that the black-clad guys were laying still.

Among them, there were a few knights in full-plate. So far, it’s a relief when I roll them over and see they’re not bearing Rebelio’s coat-of-arms.

Of course, I don’t know why these knights fell in the first place.

They may have been cut down by Alexia or Henblitz, after pointing their swords at Prince Glen in this crisis. There is also a conflict of loyalties between the Papal Faction and the Royal Faction.

However, it’s not my job to figure that out, and more importantly, not the job of the Kingdom of Rebelis. It seems that the tragedy caused by the selfishness of one country will play out a while longer yet.

“I… I can’t die yet,” Rose said.

“Hmm?”

After a bit of silent marching, Rose spoke up with a determined voice.

“To be more accurate, I’m not ready to die anymore,” Rose said. “Until I can see true justice dealt with my eyes.”

“That’s not something people ought to say while they’re being carried, yeah?” Gatoga said.

“Uuu~…” Rose whined.

Seems she’s recovered from the shock.

Of course, her sins will not be washed away. It’s hard to say it’s the right path but she should make proper compensation for her actions.

Whatever the case, you can only atone when you’re alive.

It may be running counter to the doctrines of Supheniardvania, but I personally think that there is room here, considering the situation. There is also the shadow of a disturbing inter-faction war.

“It may just be you, but you can’t stay in this country one way or the other,” I said.

“I know that,” Rose said. “I’m sure there are still things I can do from the outside~!”

It may be bad to say, but if Rose is still alive, it’s going to be very inconvenient for the Pope. And I feel that it would also be bad for the Royal Faction after they’ve got evidence of an assassination attempt.

Furthermore, the Kingdom of Rebelis would likely press charges for endangering Princess Salacia.

The only solution I can think of is to throw everyone into exile. Can they really do it?

“With all that said,” Gatoga said, “Regarding Rose, I need you to do me a favor, Gardenant.”

“Well, I realized that much…” I said.

It doesn’t make sense for me to blow the whistle on Rose. I have no choice but to remain silent about her involvement.

Sure, if I was asked if I wanted her to die, I would say “No, I don’t”, but somehow, I’ve also become an accomplice to a crime.

“So, what are your plans for the future?” I asked.

I don’t think I can help her directly, but I’d like to ask you about her next few moves. If we’re going to work together, it’s important to share information.

“For the time being, let’s say she was injured in the battle with the assailants and sent away from the frontline immediately,” Gatoga said. “Either way, she can’t move at all with this wound. From there… well, we’ll see what we can do.”

Looks like there really is nothing I can do to help. At best, I should keep my mouth shut.

“I’m sorry I can’t provide you any help beyond that,” I said. “You’re on your own there.”

“… Mm-hm-hmm, I understand~,” Rose went.

If I get too involved in Gatoga’s plans, it seems that my traces will be tracked. It seems the correct answer, for now, is to erase as much of my involvement with them as possible.

In the future, my chances of meeting Gatoga and Rose will be significantly reduced. Perhaps this time may be our final farewell, and I’ll never see them again.

However, there was no such air of melancholy from them.

Speaking of my familial ties, it’s about my father and my mother… Oh, is Miu part of it now? That’s about it, but if you say I can’t meet them for the rest of my life, I feel like I can’t just be at peace with that. In that respect as well, I feel that they are strong.

“Master~,” Rose said, still hanging from and rocking on Gatoga’s shoulders.

“Hmm? What is it?” I asked.

“… Thank you very much,” Rose said. “I’m sure I’ll have some way to thank you for this, someday~!”

“Hahaha, don’t worry about it,” I said. “It’s the master’s job to suffer the mischief of his students.”

We left the South District with a slightly awkward thank you.