Chapter 29 : Capital (2)

Magic Cult’s Seventy-Two Arts.

These were the foundation of the Magic Cult, established by Chun Sowol, who unified the martial world, after spending thirty days in the Shaolin Temple’s library.

Perhaps it was the price for daring to abandon the greatest martial artist in the world and uttering the phrase “All under heaven studies martial arts from Shaolin.”

It was as if he had severed Shaolin’s pride instead of cutting off their lineage.

“Padir… the atmosphere around you has changed a lot lately.”

“Ah, this too must be the grace of Lord Dantalian.”

Even before, Padir’s body, which looked as if it were carved from stone, had transformed into a true stone statue as he mastered martial arts.

His sturdy muscles and slightly grayish skin made him look like a war god carved from basalt.

From Modir’s perspective, who had been with him since childhood, it felt like too drastic a change, so he felt awkward…

“Whoa! Padir, what on earth happened to you while I wasn’t looking?!”

“Your muscles are insane! What did you do to your body?!”

The church’s visitors, especially the young men, couldn’t hide their excitement at Padir’s transformation.

Wasn’t wanting to look like a tough and rugged man a desire of young men, regardless of the era?

“Hehehe… I thought Padir was a kind person, but lately, he seems too cool.”

“Right! I wish he would grab my waist with those rough arms.”

“The rough appearance that contradicts his kind heart drives me crazy~’

And it was also common for young men’s desires to be connected to the desire to look good to women.

The women who visited the church felt more than just peace of mind; they felt enriched.

Of course, the men were captivated by Modir’s mature charm, so it couldn’t be said that both of them were at the peak of their popularity…

“You happy? Happy that you’re popular with young women?”

Around evening, when the parishioners were about to leave, Modir poked Padir in the side and glared at him.

Padir scratched his head and replied.

“…Even so, it’s a bit uncomfortable. I’m already thirty years old.”

In the Empire, thirty was an age where it wouldn’t be strange to have a one-year-old grandchild.

Honestly, it was burdensome when girls who weren’t even twenty years old giggled and gave him subtle glances.

Padir felt much more comfortable dealing with the male parishioners.

At his sincere grumble, Modir unknowingly raised the corners of his lips slightly.

“Hmm… is that so?”

“Yeah. And I’m so busy trying to make ends meet right now, how could I possibly have time for that kind of thing?”

Padir, wearing clothes that resembled a monk’s robe, took out an old book from his bosom.

Modir, noticing the strangeness of the clothes, asked.

“But do you really have to wear those clothes?”

“Because the person drawn in the book is wearing them. Since I can’t read the sentences, I’m trying to understand the meaning by imitating as much as I can.”

There were few better ways to understand someone than to imitate everything and think about the meaning within.

Although, wandering around in unfamiliar clothes with his chest exposed was beyond comprehension.

Sensing Modir’s disapproving gaze, Padir chuckled and approached a rock tucked away in the corner.

“Watch closely.”

With a light word, Padir’s eyes calmed.

He focused his divine power, which started in his heart, into his fist, taking a stance while infusing his breath with prayer.

‘Repeat one hundred straight punches three times every morning.’

If the meaning was unknown, he could simply imbue it with his own meaning.

First, for his past self, who was powerless.

Next, for the god who had given him a new opportunity.

Finally, for his newly established beliefs.

Thus, he would be able to cast out the demon in his heart and truly embrace God in his heart.

Crack!!

The lightly swung straight punch left a deep mark on the rock.

A moment later, cracks that started from the fist mark spread out, shattering the rock into pieces.

It was a great feat that an ordinary human could not achieve.

11

But Padir couldn’t be satisfied.

He understood in his heart that this wasn’t everything.

Surely, the person who wrote this book was something much greater—

Slap!

“Ow?! M-Modir, why all of a sudden?!”

“You idiot! That was made by the parishioners who worked hard to carve it for ornamental purposes, and you destroyed it!!”

“I, I just thought it was leftover from construction.”

“Well done!”

Modir’s nagging continued until the moon in the night sky hung over the church’s steeple.

However, Padir’s mind was still elsewhere.

If he could study this book more diligently and reach even half of the author’s level,

Surely, he would be able to provide even greater help to the two of them.

Time passed, and one week before enrollment.

Joanna and Ailey, having finished their preparations, headed to the carriage waiting in front of the church. Dantalian, who was already waiting in the carriage, chewing on a citron he had secretly packed, thought.

‘A princess and a servant….. no, a prince and a servant would be more accurate.’

As if the bright sun was blessing the world, Joanna, wearing sleek clothes and a cloak, was breathtaking.

One could feel the spirit of a prince heading to the battlefield.

On the other hand, Emily was well-dressed, but she seemed uncomfortable with the attention, her eyes darting around…..

‘She hasn’t grown at all.’

Surprisingly, she was no different from Emily on the day they first met.

Usually, people change after experiencing great events, but what kind of tenacity was this?

Clunk.

Thomas, who had been chosen as the coachman again, politely opened the carriage door and bowed.

The beginning may have been a coincidence, but Thomas couldn’t help but be influenced by Joanna during their time together.

More than anything, he felt like he was getting younger as he followed her around.

“Mr. Thomas, please take care of us again this time.”

“Don’t worry, Saintess. I will do everything in my power to ensure that we don’t encounter any bandits this time.”

“Heehee… saying things like that is said to bring bad luck.”

Joanna chuckled and pushed Emily inside.

She stopped as she stepped onto the carriage. Then, she turned around and looked at the people of the church.

“Don’t worry about us and have a good time!”

“We won’t cause any trouble for the Saintess. We will work diligently and show you that we are useful!”

“We’ll be good! Please come back!”

The people who shared her intentions saw her off with smiles.

Honestly, it would be a lie if she said she wasn’t worried about them. Every night, she had continued to worry about whether leaving was the right thing to do.

But once she had made up her mind, there was no choice but to move forward without backing down.

“I’ll be back.”

She returned the smiles and boarded the carriage.

Thomas glanced at her through the carriage window. Her fists, clutching her clothes, seemed to represent her emotions.

‘She’s such a kind young lady.’

As if her beautiful heart had been conveyed, Thomas also smiled and shook the reins.

A moment later, the carriage left the city with the farewells of many people.

The road from the gateway city to the capital was so peaceful that it was boring.

Traveling along the well-maintained road, they were able to reach the capital in just four days.

The capital they arrived at was truly…

“I am the second son of the Mahnir family. Let the carriage pass immediately!”

“I can’t! Regardless of status, everyone must verify their identity when entering the capital!”

“Damn it, my time is different in weight from you lowly people!”

There were so many frivolous guys that it made one’s eyes squint.

What good was it if the gate was wide enough for three carriages to pass through? Because of the people flocking in for enrollment, it took forever to

get through.

Impatient nobles poured out abusive language to the innocent soldiers, causing a nuisance.

Joanna frowned at the sight and tapped her fingers on the armrest.

‘Heeek!? Joanna, she’s about to explode!’

Emily trembled, as if she was about to draw her sword at any moment.

The image of her drawing her sword and bisecting the nobles was vividly appearing before her eyes.

“Those nobles have no dignity.”

“What!?”

“How dare a lowly person guarding the walls…”

A giant appeared among the soldiers guarding the gate.

A huge man, easily over two meters tall, wearing heavy armor…

“A woman?! Where in the world is there a woman like that!!”

“Isn’t that a man dressed as a woman?!”

…It was a very huge woman.

The woman snorted as if she was used to it and struck the ground with a huge iron mace.

“I am Kathleen of the Elstro family, the commander of the 3rd Battalion, responsible for the capital’s security and gate inspection.”

Only nobles could refer to their family.

The nobles, thinking that someone they could talk to had finally appeared, cleared their throats and puffed out their chests.

“Ahem, listen here! How could you have trained your soldiers to be so rude to a noble—”

“Noble? All I see are traitors who defy the national law, not nobles.”

“What?”

However, Kathleen reacted as if a bug was buzzing around and gestured to the soldiers.

The soldiers, drawing their spears and swords, moved in unison to surround the nobles.

One of the panicked knights drew his sword and shouted.

“Y-you guys!? Do you know who these people are…”

Thwack!

Kathleen, as if she couldn’t be bothered to explain, struck the knight with her iron mace.

As if a pebble had been flung away, the knight rolled several times and crashed into the ground.

‘Did she hit him just hard enough to keep him breathing? Not bad.’

Dantalian was quite impressed by Kathleen’s delicate control of her strength.

Now that he looked at her, wasn’t she a skilled woman who possessed both technique and strength, like an experienced bear?

“T-the family’s best knight in one hit…”

“S-save me! I’m visiting the capital for the first time, so I made a mistake!”

Where had their confidence from a moment ago gone? They knelt down and begged Kathleen for their lives.

However, Kathleen didn’t seem to have any intention of killing them.

Kathleen, with her iron mace slung over her shoulder, ordered the soldiers to take away the nobles who had caused the disturbance, shouting loudly

so that it could be heard to the end of the long line of carriages.

“Anyone who ignores the national law and acts recklessly will be punished according to the law, regardless of whether they are commoners or

nobles! I warn you to refrain from causing disturbances, as you will be able to enter if you wait!!”

Even the birds preening their feathers on the gate were startled and flew away at her booming voice.

guys who had been trying to sympathize with the foolish nobles shut their mouths, and the soldiers at the checkpoint gave Kathleen respectful

The

glances.

Dantalian felt quite favorable towards her principled actions.

‘She’s close to being a model of someone who enforces the law.’

And Joanna, who seemed to have judged similarly, smiled and said to Emily.

“That person seems really nice, don’t you think?”

“R-really? I’m a little scared… She seems like a very inflexible

“That’s what’s good about her.”

person.”

Perhaps it was because there were no people causing trouble that the flow became faster.

As Kathleen’s warning had worked properly, Joanna’s turn came quickly.

“Open the window!”

At the soldier’s command, Joanna opened the window and smiled.

“It must be difficult with so many visitors, but it’s good to see you working so hard.”

“Uh…”

The soldier stared blankly at Joanna’s radiant smile.

Kathleen, sighing at his foolish appearance, walked over and knocked the soldier on the head.

“Ouch?!”

“You idiot, can you really call yourself a soldier of the 3rd Battalion if you stop inspecting just because you’re charmed by a face!”

As the soldier who had been charmed by her face fainted, Kathleen took over the inspection.

And after confirming Joanna’s face, she flinched.

‘…There was definitely a reason why he was flustered.’

Kathleen, realizing that it wasn’t entirely the soldier’s fault, cleared her throat.

Regardless of how pretty the visitor was, the inspection had to be carried out properly.

“State your identification and purpose of visit.”

“I’m visiting to enroll in the Imperial Academy. Here are my identification and a certificate to prove my family.”

Unlike the identification, which could be forged if one was skilled, forging a certificate to prove one’s family was close to impossible.

The sacred seal bestowed by the Imperial Family left behind magical traces when stamped, due to its magical treatment.

‘The Darc family… I think I remember hearing that name before.’

After confirming that there were no problems, Kathleen checked the identities of the other two people.

“It seems there are no issues. You may pass.”

“Thank you. Um, but…”

“Hm?”

Did she have something else to say?

Kathleen looked at Joanna with a puzzled expression.

Joanna smiled warmly like sunshine and took out a bible.

“I admire your upright character so much. Do you happen to have a god you believe in? If not, I was thinking of introducing you to a good one.”

Kathleen was speechless, utterly taken aback by the type of question she had never experienced before.

…Should I really let this woman in?