In order to prepare for the Saemaul Movement, I have made all the necessary arrangements, including the introduction of an Academy to raise the technical and academic levels, as well as labor standards and childcare support through the guise of improving workers’ morale and quality of life.
Although I did hear the news from the Archbishop that the Pope is selling indulgences for the construction of the Great Cathedral, the Archbishop, who is likely to become a future cardinal familiar with the taste of money, has knelt down first, and agreed that indulgences will only be used to exempt confessions, so there should be no disruption to public order.
With such thorough preparations, I should be able to achieve the results I desire.
Alright, today I think I’ll leave work early for a change and have some snacks with Ela.
As I was thinking that, Chris entered and handed me a report just as I was finishing signing the last document in front of me.
“Your Excellency, the report from Upper Priest Wilke has arrived.”
Damn it, I was hoping to take a break… Of all times, a mountain of reports that I must read has piled up right now!
“Let’s read it.”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
With that final word, Chris left my office, and I tore open the seal on the cover of the report.
It was written like this:
[The footsteps of those who seek to follow the path of Deus, Adel, etc.]
A title like this is not something that clerics would normally use.
But Wilke, having mixed verses from the Reformation with scriptures I possess, must have thought I have a tremendous faith based on my actions, and that is why he chose such a title.
Yet, one cannot deny the fate that is…
As I, Priest Adel, decided to serve the suffering serfs of Maxburg together with Priest Wilke, I felt my heart racing.
This is because I believed that it is God’s will to save the serfs of Maxburg, who are floundering in the marsh of poverty, while purifying myself through poverty and labor.
And by doing so, I hoped to become a truly righteous person in the eyes of Deus, as stated in the teachings that blind us.
At the same time, I felt that if I continued this way, I too could become a great person like Priest Wilke, who sacrificed his elevation to bishop for the sake of the saints.
The fields had become so desolate due to the war between Maxburg and Count that nothing else could be planted, and even the makeshift houses built with the delicate hands of children now lay in ruins.
While I was thinking about this, sweating as I toiled in the tough fields alongside the serfs, I heard a voice calling me from beside me.
“Oh my, Priest… Since you, who rarely do tough work, are holding a hoe meant for small tasks, your hands are all scraped up…”
“No, according to the letters of Paul, it is written that if a shepherd finds himself in a situation where he cannot receive what he needs while doing his ministry, he should work with them to eat. Therefore, I am practicing the words of Deus. Do not worry and work hard.”
“Priest…”
“If you feel sorry for how I am working, then during the harvest festival, please bake me a delicious loaf of bread full of gratitude. I’m sure Deus won’t mind that much.”
Upon hearing that, the middle-aged woman who called out to me looked at me with tears welling in her eyes.
“What on earth are we, the lowly ones, that you would go this far, Priest…”
“Because Deus has done so. As someone who is lower than Deus, I must work even harder.”
A little while later, seeing the woman who was overwhelmed with emotion, her husband came over and said,
“Oh my, you tearful wife. You’re making the Priest uncomfortable… Let’s quickly focus on working and restore the fields. We must ensure we can eat delicious food this year.”
“Be quiet, you old man… I know that.”
“Alright then, let’s get back to work. Let’s work hard and eat our fill next year.”
With those words, the serfs and I toiled diligently in the fields just as we had for the past few weeks.
Afterward, I went to the well to wash myself and lightly held an afternoon mass.
I then gathered the children who were still unable to assist with farming and moved to share various stories from the scriptures.
Previously, I thought it was necessary to always maintain a formality when teaching the scriptures, so I would only read the verses and add explanations…
“Scripture belongs to everyone; therefore, priests must strive to teach it in a way that is easier and more enjoyable than anyone else so that faith can begin from it.”
After reading this statement, I changed my teaching approach to be as gentle and engaging as possible.
“So, Daniel did not bow before the king’s idol, even in front of the wicked king. Then, the king…”
When I paused, the children’s eyes were drawn to me.
“The king threw Daniel into a lion’s den. In the lion’s den, where lions as big as watermills were swarming…”
“… It’s scary.”
“What happened to Daniel?”
“He entered the lion’s den, but Daniel bravely endured for three long days. And during that time, God helped him, so he was unharmed.”
The children’s eyes sparkled at my words as they asked.
“Really?”
“He entered a cave with beasts bigger than that watermill and didn’t get hurt?”
“No, if it were a lie, it wouldn’t have remained in this scripture. So even if we are struggling a bit now, if we pray to Deus and live diligently, He will surely help us.”
In unison, the children responded to my words.
“Yes! Thank you for the interesting story, Priest!!”
I then began to serve a porridge made from the ingredients that the poor serfs of this village had given me to provide for the hungry children.
In the Count’s domain of Croilet, such porridge would be unfit for anything other than dogs, but these children were different.
“I’ll eat well!”
“Thank you, Priest!”
As soon as those words were spoken, the children gobbled down the thin porridge without letting it cool, and returned with cheerful smiles.
As I washed the bowls that the children had used, I sighed and said,
“Lord, it is the wicked Duke of Maxburg and his lackeys who have sinned… Why must these fragile serfs suffer… and why am I so powerless…”
Though I was powerless, I was finally able to harvest the turnips planted in the fields that I barely managed to cultivate.
Though they were just turnips, thanks to God’s grace, we successfully harvested enough to barely survive this year.
Because of that, smiles bloomed on everyone’s faces.
I should pray before the harvest, but seeing the hungry serfs eager to eat the turnips…
I couldn’t possibly pray for long…
I made a short internal repentance to God and prayed as quickly as possible.
“Thank you, Deus, for allowing us to harvest the turnips! Now then, let’s begin the harvest!”
And we started harvesting at lightning speed.
“Even if they’re just turnips, they’re still something! Line, wait, Daddy will make a soup full of turnips!”
“It’s time for a feast… this must be the grace of Deus.”
“Oh dear, you’re moving too slowly! You said I should have harvested the turnips a few days ago…”
“Shut your mouth!”
Everyone’s faces were full of smiles as we harvested for the first time in a while; I naturally began to harvest turnips with them.
Grabbing the green tops of the turnips and pulling them up from the ground to put them into the basket on my back was so enjoyable.
This was because I was just as hungry as they were and had not eaten much, but more than that…
“I could do this because the Priest told me not to give up and to keep my spirits up. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have harvested the turnips at all.”
“Hey, I was just joking! I have a rusty sword at home!”
“If the Priest hears that, he’ll get mad again. Stop it, or you’ll get in trouble!”
“Hey, I’ve discarded those thoughts, so I’m just joking.”
Seeing that people found hope in me, a fragile servant of Deus, filled me with joy.
Perhaps Priest Wilke, who had given up on becoming a bishop, was able to abandon all his status and come here because he held such feelings as well.
Seeing them like this, I smiled and said,
“Even if you have no intentions of becoming bandits, just having such thoughts counts as a sin. So, after we finish harvesting today, you will help me clean the church.”
“….. Priest…”
And so I worked together with them, sharing smiles and conversations while we harvested until the sun began to set.
Then, we took out the large pot that had been hidden in the corner of the village, added the washed turnips and turnip greens along with a little salt, and boiled it vigorously.
After about 30 minutes of cooking, the villagers were the first to serve me the turnip soup and then it was distributed to everyone.
“In the name of Deus…”
“Thank you for the meal!”
“Thank you, Deus!”
And we hastily consumed the soup filled with just turnips, which was not even properly seasoned with salt.
Everyone’s faces were full of smiles, and we laughed happily together.
I prayed, looking up to Deus. Please, let them be even happier.
And then I read the miserable contents written on the last page of the report.
[Though we managed to farm turnips so the serfs wouldn’t starve, the Bailiff soon came and took seventy percent of the turnips.
I even had to bow my pride as a priest and ask the Bailiff to reduce the tax, but he did not listen.
As a result, the serfs were so severely exploited that they withered away… gradually beginning to give up on life.
While no one chose to commit suicide, fathers and mothers could only watch with tears as they had nothing to give their starving children other than the turnip soup.
Thus, those who wished to become priests like me, Rain, who hoped to one day be a great soldier, and Lance, who wanted to be a merchant, have all died.
What’s more horrifying is that this dreadful situation will continue.
Count, I am fearful. If you had not sent us here…
I cannot sleep, worried about how terrible this domain could become.
So, please provide us with more support.
– Priest Adel, respectfully -]
That bastard Maxburg, how could he be that cruel even when cornered.
At this rate, the serfs will be too weak to even wield hoes or spades, losing the strength to revolt.
Then, the value of the money invested will vanish, and I may even become suspicious to my father-in-law in the North, who must take over that domain…
Given that this is the case, I need to secretly invest money into one of my merchants under my command, to ensure that they can support the serfs with enough food to not starve.
I will buy some wild weeds or mushrooms from the mountains at exorbitant prices and exchange them for just enough wheat for them to avoid starving.
Then, I opened the letter sealed with Wilke’s seal at the bottom of the report.
[The printing press is ready for use. Additionally, the young priests have recently been expressing their desire to rise up… I too have begun to question my unwavering loyalty to the Holy See.]
The key point is how can the cardinals who oversee the church… sell indulgences just to exploit these people more?
If I endure this state longer, I will surely get the results I desire.
There will be rivers of blood, but the decisions I must make as a lord are clear.
If it comes down to choosing between a drop of ally’s blood and the lives of tens of thousands of enemy serfs, I will of course choose the lives of tens of thousands of enemy serfs, even if it means seeing bloodshed…
I will protect the vassals of my domain.
And for that purpose, it is time to start preparing for the wedding.
Next week, Count Vladimir, or rather, Count Vladimir who has become the Count of Mainz, will be coming.
