The Holy Man of Another Century Gospel

Chapter 44 Pilgrimage
The rain stopped completely during the night, and the next morning the sun rose, illuminating the cloudless sky, a clear blue.

When Eric woke up, he felt soft and warm behind his head, and his body was embraced by a reassuring warmth. He struggled unconsciously, and his eyes suddenly became bright.

The wings suddenly spread out and retracted behind him where he could not see them. The gentle voice of the winged woman was heard from behind him: "Mr. Eric, you are finally awake."

The female winged man supported his shoulders and stood up, while at the same time, intentionally or unintentionally, she gently pushed him away to get rid of the warm embrace.

His gradually awakening consciousness also caught up at this time, and Eric quickly remembered that he had slept on the body of the female winged man all night.

"Thank you for your saintly watchfulness and companionship, and for your warm hospitality last night. You are the most gentle, polite, and compassionate nobleman I have ever met." The winged woman bent down, thanked him, and said goodbye. "It's getting late. I must set off."

His back was still craving for the warmth that was constantly disappearing. Eric opened his mouth, not knowing what to say, and in the end he just said goodbye.

"Okay...be careful on the road."

The winged woman smiled at him, looked at the two carriages that were still motionless, fluttered to the ground, spread her wings, and flapped into the sky.

After circling over the camp, she waved to Eric who was looking at her below, and then flew southwest, gradually getting farther and farther away.

Eric didn't look away until he was out of sight. He covered his face with his hands and rubbed it a few times.

"Why is it like a dream..."

When the nuns and guards woke up one after another and asked about the whereabouts of the female winged man, Eric just said that she had said goodbye early.

Sophie said with some regret, "I was thinking of asking her if she could take me flying."

Probably not, Eric smiled but didn't say it.

The experience of the rainy night was just an episode in their journey. After getting back on the road, the memories and emotions were quickly overwhelmed by the new scenery.

Of course, some individuals will still unconsciously linger for a while longer.

"Is the place I lean on so hard?" Eric looked back at the carriage where he had been leaning for several days.

"It's always been like this, Master."

"is it?"

"Yes."

The carriage continued to gallop along the road deep into Gradia.

After this unexpected experience, Eric and others paid more attention to the weather on the subsequent journey.

However, their luck was pretty good. It didn't rain for the next four or five days. The weather was basically sunny. At worst, it was cloudy without a drop of rain.

On the ninth day after their departure, Eric and his party entered the province of Tebniti.

The holy city of Lasir is located at the foot of the holy mountain north of Tebniti.

"We should be able to reach the outer city of the holy city before sunset today." Head Sister Alena said after looking out the car window for a while.

"Should I go directly to see the Saint?" Eric looked back at her.

"No... According to the rules of visiting the Saint, you should go to see the Saint at sunrise." said the head nun.

The time when the sun rises...that means he has to stay in the outer city for one night and can meet the saint tomorrow morning.

Eric had no objection to this, and his mind began to recall the outer city of the holy city that he was familiar with.

Like many large cities, the holy city of Lasir is divided into two parts, the inner and outer parts. The difference is that those who live in the outer city of Lasir are devout believers, not poor people. The outer city is also very expensive, and the truly poor cannot settle here at all.

The outer city has many densely packed buildings, while the inner city is spacious and is where the Holy See is located, including the Convent of the Virgin Mary.

After entering Tebnitti, the two nuns became much quieter, especially Sophie, who suddenly became silent. Eric, who was sitting in front of them, was really a little uncomfortable.

This is probably another form of "homesickness".

Eric took a deep breath and became a little nervous due to their influence.

The galloping horse in front could not sense his emotions and continued to gallop, dragging the people and the carriage closer and closer to Lesire.

By the afternoon, the carriage had to slow down again under the driver's intentional control.

"these people……"

Eric frowned as he looked at the figures kneeling and prostrating themselves on the avenue ahead. "Are they all pilgrims?"

"Yes," the head nun replied.

Eric looked ahead. "These people are blocking the road. Can we really reach Lesire before sunset?"

"It's precisely because of them that we need so much time." The head nun's voice was calm, as if devoid of any emotion. "Mr. Eric, please look to your left."

Eric turned his gaze away, his eyes narrowing.

Not too far ahead, two tall towers stood behind the city wall, pointing straight to the sky.

Alena said: "That is..."

"-The Pope's Tower." Eric recognized both towers, "and the Saint's Tower." "We're already near Lesel," said the head nun.

"Okay." Eric understood now. It turned out that the whole afternoon would be spent on avoiding these pilgrims kneeling on the avenue.

The carriage moved forward slowly, carefully avoiding obstacles, while the pilgrims on the road seemed to have only the two tall towers in the distance in their eyes, and they didn't care about anything else. They knelt down with every step and crawled forward.

"Is this what you requested? We have to kneel down and move forward when we can see the two towers?"

Alena glanced at Eric in front of her. He stood up and she could only see his lower back in the car.

"No, this is a spontaneous act of believers."

"Can this display of piety really make the gods look at them more?"

There was no reply from inside the carriage.

Eric didn't expect her to answer anything. He stood there and watched for a while. Apart from complaining a little, he had no choice but to sit down.

"Willy, do you dare to speed up and run over them?"

"Master?! I don't dare..."

"Okay, I wouldn't dare to do that either, so you can't be impulsive, okay?"

"……Yes."

Slowly moving along the avenue outside the city, it took almost an entire afternoon for the carriage to reach the outer city of Lassel.

The outer city was gradually built around the inner city, which was the original holy city wall. It was not closed in itself, but there were still guarding knights standing at the intersections of the main roads to check.

The carriage stopped, Alena got out and showed her ID. The two knights immediately bowed and let the carriage pass.

After entering the outer city, Alena guided the coachman, gradually approaching the inner city, and finally came to a large building guarded by knights of the religion.

"This is where special audiences stay before entering the city. Mr. Eric, you will stay here tonight. I will handle the necessary procedures for you."

Eric heard the hidden meaning in her words, "Is Sister Alena going to the city first?"

The head nun nodded and said, "I will come out to take Mr. Eric in tomorrow morning."

Eric thought so too. Coming here was like coming home for her. There was really no need for her to wait with him in the outer city for another night.

"I understand."

Then they walked into the embassy-like residence. Eric didn't have to do anything. Alena arranged and handled everything until she took him to a separate room on the third floor.

"I have arranged other accommodations for Mr. Eric's guards. They are guarded by the Vatican knights, so it is very safe. You don't have to worry. Anyone who needs anything will be delivered to you."

"Yeah." Eric had been busy nodding for the past few minutes.

"So……"

The head nun stood at the doorway of the room without entering. She took one last look at him and bowed her head. "Sophie and I will take our leave now, Mr. Eric."

The two nuns left together, and Eric stayed in the spacious and luxurious room. He was a little uncomfortable with being alone suddenly, so he walked to the window and looked out.

Alena and Sophie came out quickly, got into another carriage and left, while the two knights closest to the door took a step to the left and right, directly blocking the entrance and exit.

"..."

Eric suddenly had a feeling that he was not staying here for a short time, but was imprisoned here. It was just that the space for activities was larger and the environment was better.

He felt around his waist, but it was empty.

The weapons were left on the carriage...

Feeling that he was a little too nervous, Eric lay down on the soft big bed, took a deep breath, cleared away those worried thoughts, and went over his plans in his mind again.

"It's all here..."

Anyway, the worst result would be to lose everything and be scolded. Could the Saint actually kill him?

Lying there until dark, Eric called the waiter and said he was hungry, but the waiter was very nervous and asked him to wait a little longer.

“…What are you waiting for?”

The waiter said nothing, just lowered his head.

Eric suddenly understood.

He no longer asked for food, but for clean water. He returned to his room, cleaned himself carefully, changed into the dress he had originally intended for tomorrow's audience, and waited quietly.

When it was completely dark, there was a knock on the door.

Eric stood up and opened the door, then took a step back, put his hands on his chest and bowed deeply.

"Eric of the Kimino family sends his greetings to Her Highness the Saint."

(End of this chapter)