Chapter 57

The Medieval-Modern Man With A Gamer Mindset 57

57. Killing Three Birds with One Stone

There is one existence that attracts attention anytime, anywhere.

An existence that minstrels sing about as they pluck the strings of their lutes while wandering from place to place, making the hearts of many ladies flutter.

An existence that is both a target of criticism and satire, and at the same time, an object of longing and respect.

Knights.

They live and die preparing to stand on the battlefield their entire lives. They fight to prove their honor, bravery, romance, and loyalty. People often call such knights foolish, but they tend to fall for their honesty.

However, behind this honest and honorable warrior, there is anguish hidden in their arduous life. Resolute on the battlefield, tactful in the palace. The moment Germain asked if Bishop Narva could prove it, he guessed his intention in a breath.

‘It has come.’

Sir Germain, the knight.

A warrior who distinguished himself in the era of the late King Aethelbear and was granted a rich manor. And a pitiful soul who had to prove his continued loyalty and bravery in order to pass on the granted manor to future generations.

The reason for this is the principle that the manor is not hereditary.

It may sound absurd, but a knight’s manor is a concept that is [leased] by the lord. It was never [transferred]. When a knight dies, it legally reverts to the lord.

Because of this, knights had to prove that they were outstanding knights or loyal warriors in order to inherit the manor and serfs, or to prevent their children from being thrown out into the streets.

Until the moment they are buried in a coffin.

That’s why he was able to be prepared when Narva asked if he would help and prove it. Germain vowed to endure it for the sake of his children, no matter what the cost.

However, he couldn’t help but be wildered when the time came for Narva, who had finished abolishing the monasteries on February 21st, to leave with his entourage.

Germain slowly turned his head as he watched the serfs loading fruits, unleavened bread, and wine onto the entourage’s wagon. Bishop Narva was standing there blankly, writing continuously in his ledger with a quill.

His characteristic sharp, obsidian-like eyes sparkled.

He hesitated to speak because he was engrossed, but Germain opened his mouth to dispel even a shred of anxiety.

“Your Grace, is this all right?”

“Hmm?”

“Well… I’m not in a position to say this…”

Could it be that he was trying to torment him because he had not given him enough? Germain was a brave and courageous knight, but at the same time, he was a father with only two sons.

The Bishop of Powys was a high-ranking clergyman that a knight with a manor would not dare to challenge. It was better to endure some shame than to be optimistic and make a mistake.

However, Bishop Narva blinked his eyes wide when he heard Germain’s worries and then burst into laughter.

“What do you mean? Why, would you like me to squeeze you dry like a dishrag?”

“…”

“We must help each other live. I have no intention of monopolizing or exploiting.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes.”

Germain breathed in relief and then admired Narva, who had just become an adult.

He was known as a madman when he was young, and later, there were rumors that he was a prodigal son whose abilities had not been verified. When he was asked to prove it, he thought he was greedy.

However, Narva’s proposal was quite reasonable and, in some ways, even generous.

[You may operate the church territory as a tenant. In return, you will pay 10% of the produce to the local parish as church dues.]

[You will tell stories or give testimonies about the cases you handled while operating the manor.]

[You will provide food and supplies for the next visitation free of charge.]

[You will visit King Aethelton of Powys within the next three years and pledge your loyalty once more.]

[You will be put in the back seat of the church’s administrative work until you have renewed your oath of allegiance and submitted a deed with Aethelton’s seal.]

Narva’s proposal was not overly coercive and had a generous deadline.

The last of the five was not a proposal but a recommendation, but even that was convincing enough. Most of them were just a bit bothersome, but they did not ask for a huge price or do anything dishonorable.

The sanctions that would be imposed for not fulfilling them were also a bit harsh.

Of course, the most unexpected catalyst for Germain’s high evaluation of Narva was the carrot Narva offered.

“Otherwise, would I have suggested helping the second sons and below of knightly families, who were not granted fiefs, to stand on the battlefield?”

There’s no one who doesn’t have a finger they don’t feel pain when biting.

The same goes for knights. It might be possible to somehow divide the land up to the second son, but from the third son onward, there would be no end to the worries about how they would make a living. Narva had prodded precisely this point .

[The Church will provide the funding, receive the approval of King Athelstan, and train, ordain, and enlist the sons of knights in cooperation with the knightly orders on the mainland.]

Bishop Narva intended to achieve countless goals through this tour.

Stabilizing public order and fostering reliable soldiers were among them.

If the sons of knights were properly educated from the beginning, it would be possible to reduce the number of freelance knights who wandered around looking for fiefs to settle down on or merchants to fleece.

At the same time, they would help to fend off the pagan raiders along with Terbair.

Of course, this would require enormous financial resources. Money was always an issue, no matter when or where.

Money, money, where would he get it? Where would he find the laborers to reclaim the wasteland and fill the granaries?

This was the fundamental reason why Narva was pushing through the abolition of the monasteries, despite the anticipated backlash.

Narva had identified the minor lords and knights as targets for persuasion, and the excessive number of monasteries as targets for elimination.

However, even the quick-witted Germain had not noticed everything Narva intended to gain from this tour. Germain could only see that Narva was an unusual man who could accomplish multiple tasks at once and enjoyed doing so.

“Your Grace, I apologize if my question seemed disrespectful. I was merely wondering if there was anything else you might desire.”

“You are quite perceptive for a knight.”

It was an so apology neat that even Narva, armed with a deep-rooted prejudice against knights, could not help but be impressed. Unable to overcome his regret, Narva even made a subtle suggestion. Searᴄh the ηovelFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

“Do you happen to have any children who dream of becoming priests?”

“Hmm.”

At that moment, Germain rolled his eyes and looked beyond the wagon. Beyond the sight of the serfs sweating and carrying things back and forth, there was the retinue with their sharp eyes.

Every single member of the retinue was either leaning against a tree or rolling around on the ground. They were rubbing their fingers, which were smudged with soot from the stove, on paper or scratching at the ground.

“Two golds are roughly equivalent to 24 silvers, but the record only shows 17 silvers…”

“What? Why is the type of gold listed in the ledger? Did these, these brats use gold from another country?”

“Does anyone know how many silvers a Stellium gold is worth?”

“The gold is not the problem right now… are we using Strali for our usual silver coins? Does anyone know!!!”

Germain concealed the clamoring and screaming retinue deep into his mind.

Only then could he face Narva, who was looking at him with a puzzled expression.

“Unfortunately, I have no children who are interested in the priesthood…”

“That’s a pity. I think you would have been better suited to the priesthood yourself.”

Narva turned his back quietly, his mouth set in a thin line.

Leaving behind a startled Germain whose shoulders were trembling.

***

Narva displayed even more astonishing enthusiasm after leaving Germain’s estate.

First.

“The criterion of ‘any group of five or more can be called a monastery’ is wrong. Without a Stigmata bearer, at least twenty members are required, and without the approval of the local parish priest to attest to their purity, they will not be recognized.”

He had set clearer criteria for the examination of monasteries.

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To be precise, he had more strictly defined the criteria for monasteries to which various privileges applied. Anyone was free to establish a monastery, but in order to receive privileges, they had to gather at least 20 members and obtain the approval of the local parish priest.

It was only natural that as monasteries were abolished, the items that had previously been glossed over were now being made concrete and announced with great fanfare.

Above all, it was significant that he had clearly defined the responsibility, which had previously been ambiguous. Several parish priests who had been critical of the abolition of monasteries stopped their protests when they were told that the responsibility would be placed on them.

And second.

“Oh my, Bishop. What business do I have with…”

“Rest assured, I mean you no harm. I have a question for you. Village elder, this village has slaughtered pigs that fattened themselves on another’s pasture without permission. Where do you think the meat from those pigs should go? If you have mediated or judged a similar case, please tell me.”

“My lord Bishop, what use could a great man like yourself have for such a trivial matter?”

“I would like to hear it. Why, can you not speak?”

“Oh, it is not that! I shall tell you everything I know…”

Narva meticulously recorded various customary laws and trial records as he toured each region for his visitation.

They were not cases with severe punishments or exciting ones like murder or apostasy, but rather dull and boring stories at first glance. They were cases related to property disputes between farmers and shepherds.

Indeed, it was a taste far removed from the medieval average sensibility, which enjoyed stories of honor and chivalry.

Narva would summon local notables and witnesses related to the actual case, and after transcribing for a long time, he would often smile with satisfaction.

“You must have many troubles. Wouldn’t it be of great help if there were simple and clear laws that applied to everyone?”

“Y, yes…”

Narva intended to use this opportunity to find out if there were any different customs in each region, and to compile the better parts of them into guidelines that would be used in all trials where the Church attended as a jury.

Since he was going to prepare them anyway, he decided to collect as much material as possible while he was traveling. Narva smiled with satisfaction every time he piled up the various trial records he had transcribed onto his wagon.

‘By the time I return, Bishop Ganista will have nothing to do and will be bored, so I should prepare in advance.’

The last third.

Narva looked down at the abandoned monastery from a distant hill and nodded with a serious face.

‘With this, I have secured a shelter that can accommodate refugees and serve as a stronghold if necessary.’

The pagan raiders were not only rampant in Powys. In the early morning, the pagan raiders were constantly plundering along the coastline of all five duchies of the archipelago.

In the case of the Duchy of Powys, it had become quiet thanks to Terbaire’s great efforts, but it was a situation where an invasion could begin at any time.

‘On this land, which was originally a delicacy for the raiders, a powerful force called Yubas has emerged, and each duchy has begun to resist desperately. The alliance arranged by the Papacy has also played a role to some extent. Even our weakest Duchy of Powys has been able to thwart the plundering thanks to Terbaire’s efforts, so the raiders will have to move differently than before.’

It was a world where there were more raiders who plundered for a living than there were embezzlers who lived off of it.

If the weight that came up on the scale with conscience was not wealth and honor, but children who would starve to death right away, most of them would take the path of immorality. It was too early to give up and judge that it had become quiet.

At least, that’s what Narva thought.

‘Even if an invasion occurs, we must establish strongholds everywhere to block their advance and leave room for counterattack. If the refugees simply flock in, there will be infighting over food or land to farm. If there is even the slightest chance, it would be good to prepare in advance.’

If necessary, he would have to cooperate with King Athelstan, his successor Etheldred, or Terbaire, who led the knights.

Of course, it was a huge source of anxiety in wartime that he could not command or demand the transfer of command authority to the monastery, which had acquired strong autonomy. Narva had pulled out the seeds of discord in advance in preparation for that time.

Even if he had to endure a new discord.

‘King Athelstan, no, Father. I am working so hard to show my filial piety. Please let go of your resentment.’

Narva was keeping his promise to work hard in exchange for selling the right to appoint.

Although he himself had no sense of working.

***

It was about four months later that the visitation led by Narva was concluded.

June 28, 1212.

And the exact figure was revealed the moment Narva returned to his episcopal see. Out of 104 monasteries, both official and unofficial, that existed in the Duchy of Powys, 72 had been abolished, a great upheaval.

The 32 surviving monasteries were recognized for their piety or usefulness.

Among them were Janggi-mal, which was used for Yubas’ forced marriage proposal, and the nunnery where Miriam Orn Yubas had entered. Etheldred had sent it while Narva was busy with various things.

It was an appropriate measure taken while the world’s attention was focused on Narva himself.

Narva thought of Miriam Orn Yubas’ existence in advance, and looked at the entourage unloading the ledgers from the wagon.

‘Saint Ariata Convent.’

He thought about visiting… but stopped.

Narva and Miriam were not close in the first place. He only persuaded her with plausible sophistry because he felt sorry for the child and to use her as a hostage against Yubas’ invasion attempt.

‘Even if the Papacy has no intention of attacking Yubas, we can’t handle Yubas with the national power of Powys alone. Yubas may have eyes and ears, so they must know Miriam’s whereabouts. If we meet her now, it will only send the wrong signal.’

Even the child who was born was not a son but a daughter.

There was no rumor of having a child, and Miriam was said to be close to a little nun abandoned in a convent. Given the circumstances, it was 100% likely.

‘But if we don’t take care of her too much, she might go back to Yubas later, so we have to take care of her.’

However, Narva was not the only one he had to take care of.

Bishop Ganista, who he met to ask about his well-being since he had been playing well, brought shocking news.

“A girl from the Tribunus in the Holy Land wants to come?”

Tribunus.

The descendants of the leaders who first revolted against the world during the advent of Lux Stella. Narva had a faint expectation at the news that one of them was coming.

“hahahaha, it seems that Your Grace is still in high spirits. I can tell by how excited you are.”

“Does that girl have the Stigmata?”

“Of course. Otherwise, even a Tribunus cannot meet Your Grace at will.”

“Since she is a child of a prestigious family, she must be good at writing.”

“Hmm…?”

Only then did Bishop Ganista realize that Narva was not paying attention to the part about the girl.

“By any chance, did you not study law?”

“…”

Narva was rubbing his hands together, excited at the thought of combining the customary law of Powis and the civil law of the mainland.