Chapter 241:

Chapter 241:

Isaac headed towards the accommodation where the Brient Paladin Order was staying. While Ian went inside to call Captain Rottenhammer, Isaac took a look around the quarters.

The Brient Paladin Order was using a building that was originally a villa of a wealthy tycoon as their lodging.

Though the luxurious facilities and decorations didn’t quite match the paladin order, there was no particular reason not to use them either.

“Isaac! Our Saint of Resurrection has arrived!”

Before long, Captain Rottenhammer emerged with a bright smile. His robust build and bushy beard were the same, but unlike Ian, he was dressed in casual clothes, indicating he might not have been on duty.

“It’s been a while, Captain Rottenhammer. I intended to visit sooner, but my greeting is belated.”

“A busy Holy Grail Knight like you should focus on your noble journey instead of worrying about greetings! The stories I hear about you are incredible. I occasionally relay them to Gebel.”

Isaac couldn’t help but smile at the mention of Gebel.

He recalled the night when they left Ariet Monastery.

If Isolde hadn’t suddenly visited the monastery, he wouldn’t have had the chance to retrieve the Rite of Division, and thanks to her request for support, he was able to meet the Brient Paladin Order.

Moreover, being appointed as a paladin by Captain Rottenhammer allowed him to start his journey as a Holy Grail Knight.

“It would have been difficult without your consideration, Captain Rottenhammer. There aren’t many who would appoint a child they just met as a paladin.”

“Regardless of anything else, I had already heard about the Abbot Yevhar’s nobility. He vouched for you, Gebel taught you, and moreover, with your skill capable of surpassing even current paladins, it would have been dangerous to leave you as an ordinary person.”

Rottenhammer laughed heartily and walked, patting Isaac on the back. Isaac detected a faint smell of sulfur from him.

“Seems like you’re quite enjoying life here?”

Rottenhammer sniffed his own arm and made an awkward expression.

“There’s a hot spring bath in the basement of this lodging. It feels like the paladin order is indulging in luxury, which is embarrassing. But nothing beats a hot bath after a whole day of training for recovery. Thanks to that, the guard duty at Baelbaden is practically a vacation.”

Isaac’s eyes gleamed.

This was an opportunity to confirm whether the Brient Paladin Order was an ally or an enemy.

Although Isaac knew Rottenhammer’s personality and his actions in the game suggested he wasn’t an enemy, he couldn’t be too sure.

“Why is the Brient Paladin Order guarding such a remote place?”

“Hmm, this is actually one of the parishes under the Renheim Cathedral’s jurisdiction. But it’s not just us; two other nearby paladin orders also take turns guarding the place.”

“Why do they do that? It doesn’t seem like an important place.”

“As I said, being assigned here is practically a vacation. Even though it was decided to close down the place to eradicate corruption and decadence, having the paladin order guard it just in case someone sneaks in for a bath is ridiculous. I think some high-ranking priest in the order is an idiot.”

Although his words were extreme, based on the surface reasons, his argument seemed right.

Isaac felt relieved.

Rottenhammer was enjoying his life here, but he was a paladin who preferred to be active on the battlefield, and it seemed he was unaware of any significant events happening here. Rotating the guard duties among different paladin orders also suggested a deliberate attempt to keep the situation unclear.

“Do people really sneak in for hot spring baths?”

“Of course not. Well, occasionally some suspicious groups come and go...”

Rottenhammer muttered, seeming uneasy.

“Suspicious groups?”

“Hah, even though they are suspicious, they are brought in by priests. It’s probably acquaintances or high-ranking individuals who couldn’t forget the pleasures they enjoyed at Baelbaden and begged the for entry. The bishop even told us not to leave any records. I don’t even want to know what those guys are doing in the basement.”

Rottenhammer shook his head, seemingly church not wanting to discuss the church’s disgrace in detail.

But Isaac had gathered enough information.

‘This is it.’

Isaac realized that the suspicious group Rottenhammer mentioned were the ones excavating or researching the hidden ruins here. However, given that Rottenhammer only found them “suspicious,” it was clear they were not the prominent heretics.

They were probably just amateurs like Claire or sacrificial lambs.

***

Rottenhammer entered his office and brought out a bottle of liquor.

There was a rarely observed rule that ‘clergy should avoid luxury and indulgence,’ but alcohol was particularly disregarded.

Rottenhammer pondered deeply before speaking.

“Access is forbidden.”

“Captain.”

“You should have sneaked in instead. I know that the activities in the basement are suspicious. But I’m a paladin, and a paladin is the sword of the church. When the hand holding the sword is not clutching money or a spoon, it’s none of my business. If you’re sure, report it to the Inquisition and come back with investigative authority. That’s the order and the rule.”

Rottenhammer spoke firmly.

He was a paladin of the Codex of Light. Without adhering to the rules, the church would shake from its roots.

Isaac knew that further persuasion was futile and quietly stood up.

“I’ll visit again.”

“Do so. Next time, let’s share a drink in peace.”

Expecting things to go smoothly, Isaac sighed as he left the quarters. Hesabel approached him with a puzzled expression.

“Didn’t go well? I thought you’d storm in with the paladin order.”

“It didn’t go as expected. But I got permission.”

“Permission?”

Isaac nodded, looking back at the lodging where Rottenhammer had been.

“He told me to sneak in. To go in as if he didn’t know.”

Hesabel looked at Isaac intently, wondering if that was really the case. But Isaac confidently headed towards the central part of Baelbaden, the grand hot spring bath.

Towards the hell that was boiling beneath the magnificent sulfur hot spring once enjoyed by the emperor.

***

After Isaac left in a cold atmosphere, Ian entered the office with a puzzled look.

“Captain, is something wrong? Sir Issacrea...”

Before Ian could finish asking what was going on, Rottenhammer interrupted him.

“Ian.”

“Yes?”

“You are on leave immediately. Return your armor and prepare with just a sword.”

“What?”

“Your leave area is the basement of Baelbaden. Enjoy yourself there as a paladin, but after your leave, report to me immediately. Whatever you find there, don’t try to do anything and return to report.”

Ian did not ask again. He smartly grasped the situation and saluted Rottenhammer.

“I will go on leave, Captain!”

After Ian left, Rottenhammer sank deeply into his chair.

He wasn’t sure if he had given the right order. He knew the command he had just given was skirting a fine line. No, if he looked inside himself, he felt he had already crossed the line.

“Whether Isaac is right or not, it’s a problem.”

If Isaac was wrong, he would blame himself for doubting the order. But he could regain his trust in the order, so it wouldn’t be all bad.

Rottenhammer had found Isaac’s claim plausible because he thought, ‘If it’s the current church , that might really be the case.’

But what if he found corruption within the church?

Rottenhammer would have to fundamentally question what the Codex of Light church truly was.

_____________

Rate us on Novel Updates, so this novel can reach many readers like you, and also it will motivate me to translate more chapters. (For every new rating I will release one new chapter.)

Hope you enjoyed this chapter.

If you want to read more than 20 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156