Game Mind of a Medieval Modern Person - Chapter 250



Only Krnovel

250. The Virtuous Cycle of Good Intentions

Vagrants who cannot settle down and wander are targets of vigilance wherever they go.

It is not because of the dishonor of not being able to protect one’s hometown.

This is because the desperate determination of someone who has already been driven to the edge of a cliff is terrifying.

Since we are just passing through anyway, there is no need to form a relationship.

Since I’m destined to starve to death anyway, I’d rather take the gamble of taking it.

It’s ironic.

Sadly, the morals and ethics that people share are not absolute values.

Just as steel rusts when it comes into contact with water, human conscience also rusts the moment it comes into contact with a crisis.

He is now following the exact same behaviors that he once condemned as things that a human being should not do.

This was especially true for refugees who had fled after being exposed to extreme violence.

In this age and world, refugees are just another word for bandits and thieves.

Of course, refugees will not attempt to commit robbery without any guilt.

If all that was at stake was my life, I might as well starve to death.

But is it really the right decision to starve your family to death just because of a little conscience?

Or is it the right decision to feed your family even if it means killing others?

Most people would say the latter is correct.

And the refugees’ choices were similar.

The refugees were those who could betray the favor at any time by holding a knife if they were put in danger.

As a result, those who had not yet lost their homeland could not help but look at the pouring stream of refugees with a mixture of fear and suspicion.

This kind of suspicious evil spirit could not be stopped even though the church cried out for a human race and emphasized a sense of camaraderie, saying that this was an era for all mankind.

Herein lies the problem.

Even if the refugees are ungrateful, they are our compatriots living on the same level of human rights.

They are ordinary, bourgeois people who would have lived ordinary lives if not for their misfortune.

I couldn’t abandon them from the beginning just because I was afraid they might turn into thieves.

The royalties were enough to build my own body, but they came from the heart-pulling Tribunes who pitied their fellow countrymen.

This was especially true for the crusaders who set out for the salvation of Nevar while carrying a religious cause.

Moreover, the fact that Commander-in-Chief Terwehr was a knight of honor with strong humanistic tendencies also played a major role.

What should we do now that there is a high possibility that apostates and spies are mixed in with the influx of refugees?

After much deliberation, Terveer came up with a simple and clear proposal.

“Let us seek advice from His Eminence the Bishop.”

An unintentional trick of the Principality of Powis.

He asked Bishop Narva, the most famous of the three brothers for his radical and bizarre measures, for further instructions.

“Until I get an answer, we will stop advancing any further. We have already gone too far in. We will stabilize the surrounding area for a while, so please help us all. A quick advance to Netalium would be a way, but as Your Majesty requested, the liberation of the local monastery comes first.”

There was also a concern about rear-end disruption caused by a rapid advance and the purpose of stabilizing the connection with the Powis home country.

But most of the knights who had participated in the crusade responded with unpleasant silence or groaned and slurred their words.

Very few.

Only a few knights who had heard of Terveer’s reputation and respected him answered with difficulty.

“Ugh. My ankle got caught again.”

“…I will listen to the opinion of Lord Terveer.”

It was inevitable that the hot-blooded knights would complain.

The temple was going in a very different direction than initially expected.

Amidst the swarm of heretics and pagans, the two armies face each other across the plains and engage in a fierce battle that will be remembered for a long time in history.

The knights’ goal in that battle is to achieve feats and achievements worthy of being sung about.

But the temple itself was filled with boring marches, paranoid locals, and small-scale skirmishes that could hardly be called battles.

“…”

Terveer sensed that the knights were growing discontented.

I felt it, but I couldn’t do anything.

Whatever you say to someone who is already dissatisfied will be heard in a distorted way.

‘We should never laugh at the miracles performed by pagans. However, the more we warn of this fact, the more counterproductive it will be…’

Unfortunately, Terveer’s concerns have long since become reality in some areas.

The story centers around survivors who encountered the hunter Toryon.

“What? A storm comes with one arrow?”

“Those who lack skill tend to overestimate the prowess of their enemies.”

The ten thousand strong Holy Army was confident in their weapons and skills.

Moreover, since entering Nevar, they have been advancing smoothly and steadily without any fierce resistance, so their confidence soon turned into arrogance.

This tendency was more severe among young knights who had never fought in foreign lands or directly against Ise.

They treated survivors who spoke of being wary of Ise as cowards or potential apostates steeped in heresy.

Among them, the one who was most easily targeted was Martin.

“Your Majesty…! The miracles of this world are real. The demons have survived and are growing stronger for revenge, waiting for us to let our guard down!”

Martin was the most passionate preacher of what he had seen and experienced.

So, he would have been marked as a target for bullying.

There were more than one or two reasons why I had always looked down on him.

The young knights were quick to scoff at Martin’s claims.

“That’s a bit like the bishop’s advice to avoid fighting.”

“That… what?”

Martin was known as the squire of Narva after his bishopric.

Every time I suggested a fight, the bishop’s servant who kept nagging me couldn’t look good.

Moreover, Martin had the honor of assisting Terveer’s only legitimate daughter, Aritaun Yurid, and was even given actual command of the unit.

At an unusually young age.

This background was enough to make most of the knights who risked their lives to participate in the Holy War because they did not have a title.

The knights showed their hostility whenever Martin tried to persuade them.

“Hey. Do you think all country bumpkins who get appointed by the desk clerk are the same knights?”

“No. He inherited the manor because his father died in battle, so he is a knight.”

“Huh? Your father died fighting against pagans? Even though he’s a country bumpkin, he’s still a knight.”

“That’s right. How strange… My father died fighting some lowly pagans. Thanks to his trivial achievements, he was recognized as a hereditary leader, so it was a luxury for his son.”

That sinister hostility was sharper than a blade.

“Maybe he didn’t die at the hands of a pagan.”

It was natural that a fistfight would break out.

When Sir Herset heard the news and rushed over, Martin was being beaten by the servants.

“What are you doing! If you were a knight, you would fight a duel proudly!”

Then the young knights tilted their heads and laughed.

“Knight? Hmm…”

“I am a knight. I inherited the manor.”

It is the deep-rooted inferiority complex, envy, and contempt of those who do not have.

Sir Herset frowned at the behavior befitting a free knight and insisted on his principles.

“Sir Martin is a knight appointed by the Bishop. If you deny the Bishop’s authority, I will inform you immediately!”

Only then did the knights who had been stretching out click their tongues and take a step back.

Then and now, the one who handles the money holds the leash.

Although it is not known whether the Bishop was an outstanding knight, it is clear that he had a great influence on the knights who were awarded the title.

“Oh. Was that an act of disrespect toward Sir Martin’s patron? Apologize now.”

“Sir Martin. Next time, let’s fight a duel.”

The crisis has passed.

Martin, who was hit, staggered for a while and then collapsed.

Sir Herset was only able to hear the story after he had stopped the fight and dispersed both the onlookers and the knights.

“I insulted my father who died in battle.”

“…”

“I, my father, am going to inherit the estate…”

“Thieves, don’t listen to them.”

I could guess without even hearing the aftermath.

A son, a knight, should not tolerate those who insult his father’s honor.

Although it was possible to make the excuse that I was lacking in ability, it was an unacceptable act of unfilial piety to endure my father’s dishonorable reputation.

Sir Herset sighed as he looked down at Martin, who was sobbing quietly with his cheeks swollen.

“It seems like everyone’s lost their patience.”

***

October 30, 1226.

A messenger from Terveir arrived in Powis asking how to deal with the influx of refugees.

Because it was such an important matter, senior figures gathered together for the first time in a while.

Duke Athelton and his successor Aethelred, along with his close associates Lord Overt and Bishop Narva.

All four of them reacted in different ways.

“They are people who ran away to survive…”

Prince Athelton put his hand on his forehead with a gloomy expression.

“In principle, it would be advantageous to spread false information, but the problem is distribution. If Sir Terveer continues to accept refugees, we will not be able to handle the finances.”

Sir Overt pointed out a practical problem.

“If it’s Terveer, there should be a stigmata. Narva. Can’t you confirm whether he’s in league with Ise by the stigmata?”

The successor, Ethelred, asked questions with increasing vigilance.

“Ise’s influence only manifests on those who have been granted protection, blessings, or miracles. If a verbal promise is made between fellow humans, he will not respond.”

Narva answered the question immediately and then let out a deep sigh.

ha.

The dilemma of the Holy Army that set out to save people.

After Bishop Powis, Narva accepted the dilemma quite plainly.

“Why do you ask about killing everyone?”

“”?””

“…If I answer like this, there will be a huge backlash, so I have prepared a realistic alternative.”

If it had been the warrior king Barialdo, rather than the bishop of Narva, he might have done so.

If it were a time when we went to the battlefield and created it with the sole purpose of defeating the enemy and being blinded by revenge, we would have destroyed all obstacles that blocked our advance.

But unlike Barialdo, Narva learned to compromise.

“They are all precious human resources who plow the fields and cut down trees. We can’t just let them die.”

He was reborn as a prime minister who drew a blueprint for the future, breaking away from the vengeful spirit that only chased the lives of his enemies.

Narva smiled kindly, befitting his status as a priest, and reassured his shocked colleagues.

Then King Athelton breathed a sigh of relief.

“Whew. Narva, I thought you forgot your priesthood.”

“Hahaha. Even though I look like this, I’m trying to make my father a true king. Why would you do something that would turn the people’s hearts against you?”

“Were you serious about that?”

“yes.”

However, Narva’s policies clearly had some sloppy and contradictory aspects.

“Your Majesty, I ask that Sir Tervere send all refugees to Powis. Sir Athelred ask the barons if they require additional manpower… and Sir Overt is to weed out any spies that stand out.”

“Are you okay? I guess your finances aren’t all that great…”

“Well, then we’ll need troops to escort them. Father, I’ll ask the lords to send volunteers.”

“Yes? Why do you need that?”

“?”

This time, Narva was surprised.

“Just give me food and a place to sleep. Why do I need an escort? You’ll have to figure it out yourself.”

Then Ethelred asked back in a dejected voice.

“No… You just said that people are precious?”

“You are precious. You are precious.”

Narva shrugged and answered.

“I’m accepting it to hire workers, so what’s the use of taking away workers? In that case, it would be better to let them know.”

“What if I die on the way?”

“One of the thieves is dead.”

“…when I arrive?”

“We will receive a small donation in return for the church’s kind assistance in providing lodging and job placement.”

Tub.

Prince Athelton and Aethelred hitting the snowball.

Narva looked at the two rich men and smiled.

“There is no right answer to this problem. I will take responsibility and push it forward, so you two should first calm the public sentiment that is agitated by the large-scale refugees.”

But beyond the confident smile, a dreary chill was rising.

‘The Heart-Eater, Bateson.’

A new pagan leader who has begun a confrontation with Terveer.

‘Looking at his actions, is this guy the one who sent the Nevar’s carnivores?’

Suspecting that the man named Bateson might have sent all the lost lords of Nevar here.