Chapter 345

The person who should be in the Osnabrück Diocese is in the Munich-Freising Archdiocese? Why? Why are you, who should be in northern Germany, in the south? No matter how I looked at it, that face was the same as the one I saw then. A hollow face with not a single bit of humanity, those features that were subtly familiar yet felt like something seen for the first time in my life—how could I, or anyone else, forget them? Why do you, in 1891, look at me and say I look familiar? Don’t you meet me only in the autumn of 1897?

Ainsidel’s blue eyes weighed down on me. Leaving behind countless questions that were becoming as faint as fog, my gaze passed over the mage’s face to the shoulders, and from the shoulders down to the legs. The sensation of the boot heels that would be under that table rested on my fingers, and soon, an extreme malice crushed my bones. My left fingers went numb, so I intentionally curled my hand.

“Brother?”

The priest turned back to me. Feeling as if I were lifting my body out of water, I pulled up the corners of my mouth that remained firmly in place.

“Where should we sit?”

“Sit here.”

The priest pointed to an empty seat at the white table. Having noticed the anomaly in me somehow, Mecklenburg grabbed my shoulder.

“What is wrong.”

“I just saw someone I know.”

“…What?!”

I felt it during the time with Maria von Österreich-Este as well, but the system’s time-space settings were not random. The system wants me to know something and, at the same time, wants me not to know. So, it was time to think. Bishop Ainsidel entered the Pleroma during this period seven years ago, and he was a preliminary believer of Munich-Freising before becoming the Bishop of Osnabrück. Why?

Even considering that the Pleroma is a heresy that shows rubber-band flexibility however they please, it is usually the priority and common to become a believer in the diocese of the region where one lives. To reduce the problems derived from the ambiguity of the word Junker—which covers both regional and political meanings and, in a narrow sense, refers to East Prussian landowning families—I now consider exactly where the main branch of the Ainsidel family is located. Their direct line exists in the Kingdom of Saxony, and as the ruling families and nobles of the pro-Prussian Duchy of Anhalt do, the activities of major Ainsidel individuals mostly take place in Prussia, so a direct residence also exists in Brandenburg. Furthermore, the collateral branches had already set up camp in Brandenburg long ago. Therefore, if a person from the Ainsidel family were to enter the Pleroma, it would be proper for them to enter the Dresden Diocese of the Kingdom of Saxony or the Brandenburg Archdiocese of the Kingdom of Prussia, not the Osnabrück Diocese in the northwest of the Empire or the Munich-Freising Archdiocese in the south. Incomprehensibly, this Bishop is active in a place with no ties, whether it be now, seven years ago, or seven years later. If he had only been active in Osnabrück, I would have let it go, but in another region as well.

‘Thinking about the fact that he is of the Junker class, no matter how I think about it, this person should belong to the Brandenburg Archdiocese….’

What is the reason he came to the Munich-Freising Archdiocese instead of the Brandenburg Archdiocese? Let us retrace the information I knew about Munich-Freising. Before the Pleroma International Conference, the Federal Council member from the Pleroma Brandenburg Archdiocese whom I had interrogated said that their diocese was in a competitive relationship with the Munich-Freising Archdiocese. Useful information ended at this point. I was severely lacking in knowledge regarding Munich-Freising.

“I am truly happy that new preliminary believers have come on a day when we are having an exceptionally important class. Please give a brief introduction.”

A grave voice came from the priest standing before the platform. At the priest’s request, I stood up from my seat and greeted them with a smile.

“I am Emil Abel, from Austria-Hungary. This person who came with me is my servant, Clemens Schmidt.”

“…!”

Mecklenburg snapped his head around at the unnegotiated servant role. However, despite Mecklenburg’s protest, no one in this place questioned it. I also turned my gaze back to Ainsidel.

“Good. Well then, let us begin right away. Yesterday, we explained for an hour about the voice of one calling in the wilderness. Shall we look from the part we finished yesterday? I baptize you with water for repentance, but the one coming after me is more powerful than I…. Just who is this ‘one coming after me’? Do you all remember Malachi 3:1?”

Ainsidel stared at me for a long time and then turned his head. After that, he never looked at me again.

“You said I look familiar. Have we met before?”

I could not just let him go like this. After the education ended and I sent Mecklenburg elsewhere, I spoke to that tall mage. He had a rather disheveled appearance, and the areas under his eyes were dark. Ainsidel looked at me for a long while and answered briefly.

“I do not know.”

He passed by me as if he were not interested.

I had no choice but to hesitate at his attitude. This person is different from the human I knew. That person is someone who packages malice close to murderous intent with a smile, not a person who lets everything flow away with such an expressionless face. Of course, it is possible that his reaction changed depending on the value of the person he was dealing with, but if that were the case, the conclusion is that even if my face is familiar, he does not know exactly who I am. He might have simply overlapped a person he knew onto me. I shouted toward that white hair.

“What is your name? Meeting like this is a stroke of fate.”

At those words, Ainsidel stopped his steps and looked back at me. His snow-white robe fluttered. He stared at me intently and muttered.

“Ein.”

The same answer as I heard at our first meeting. The only difference was that this time, there was no smile on him. I did not bother to question him further and nodded.

“I see. I am Emil Abel.”

“…….”

“Why did you come to Munich-Freising? I heard you are a Junker.”

Junkers are the military foundation of Prussia. They are essentially the pillars of Prussian militarism and conservatism. There is no reason for them to come to the liberal Bavaria.

“Then why did you, who should be in Austria-Hungary, come here?”

“This organization does not exist there.”

“Aha. I see.”

Ainsidel replied in a flat, soulless voice.

“Then what are you chasing that you came all the way here? Moreover, your accent is very far from Austro-Bavarian, so I do not know why you say you came from Austria-Hungary.”

“My place of origin is Berlin.”

“The same situation, then.”

Ainsidel burst into laughter and shrugged his shoulders.

“What do you mean?”

“It is the same in that both you and I have passed through many places, so what are you curious about? How different do you think your circumstances and mine are?”

Listening to Ainsidel’s languid voice, I cannot shake the thought that it is as if hypnosis were melted into sound. While feeling as if I were being sucked into the transparent irises of his profile, he continued to speak.

“It is obvious what you came here looking for. Eternal life…. I do not know why you buy and chase after misfortune.”

I felt it by instinct. I must answer carefully. I thought about the countless possibilities floating in my head and slowly spoke my words. It was a statement that contradicted the lie I had used earlier to enter this place.

“I have no intention of living forever. What meaning would eternal life have in a world where everything has left and I am the only one remaining?”

Only then did Ainsidel raise his eyebrows, open his unfocused eyes wide, and chuckle as if it were interesting. For a moment, Elias flickered across that face, so I had to strive not to stiffen my expression. The laughter was brief, and Ainsidel turned around and disappeared.

“…….”

I tried to say something to him but slowly closed my mouth. The air entering my lungs and staying on my clothes was as chilly as if it were mixed with a uniquely strange magic power.

Good.

Holding him back any further was a meaningless act. I found Mecklenburg and came out to the world outside the Pleroma. There was no problem up to the point of coming out.

“Let go, already….”

I glared at the empty back alley and spoke crookedly. As soon as we returned outside, Mecklenburg tied both of my hands with magic power and pushed me against the wall. Do they raise high schoolers as police at the Imperial Second Academy…. It clearly wasn’t like that in my time. Even though I tried to turn my head as much as possible, feeling the bricks scraping my cheek, I opened my mouth once more. At that moment, Mecklenburg coldly took the lead.

“What do you mean by saying there was someone you knew there?”

“I am sorry, but please cast at least some sound insulation magic. Speaking here is….”

Sound insulation magic, my ass. There was no need to cast it. In fact, not casting it might be more beneficial. I spat out words I didn’t mean, but they were immediately cut off as the force pushing my back grew stronger.

“Why do you know someone in a heresy in Munich? And just what have you been doing to be this proficient?”

“…….”

“Speak. No matter how I look at it, you were not someone doing this sort of thing for the first time.”

“I suppose you are not thinking about catching me and sending me away anymore? Looking at your face, you were only thinking about handing me over to the police.”

“Speak!”

“Fine. This is not my first time doing this sort of thing, Albert. I came to overturn the Munich-Freising Archdiocese.”

“…….”

At the bolt-from-the-blue statement, the magic power tying my hands weakened. I thrust my hands out strongly, shook off the magic power, and turned toward Mecklenburg. I stomped my foot hard to cast sound insulation magic and then calmly opened my mouth.

“The priests here, or the deacons, or the preliminary believers, whoever they are—they will soon inflict harm upon me and the people I know.”

Upon you as well. I looked into the eyes of the Albert Mecklenburg of seven years ago and spoke straight. Mecklenburg blinked rapidly in confusion.

Seven years of time would change the structure of Munich-Freising a lot, but that is why starting from the bottom right now is useful. Since the believers, deacons, and priests who are showing prominence now will at least rise to the position of Monsignor after seven years.

“I know well now that there is a limit to what I can change with my own power. This is something already scheduled. I came to know how to deal with the Munich-Freising Diocese before they harm us, and I have to fight them now. This is as far as I can explain to you.”

“What are you talking about? These grave robbers harm us? …Right, it has been a frequent historical occurrence for such heresies to recruit believers and handle them as they please. I am not saying this is right, but to be honest, it is rare historically for them to even recklessly touch nobles. Where did you hear that information….”

“It is not at the level of grave robbers.”

“Of course it is not at that level! They have been continuously claiming for years things like bringing the dead back to life or becoming stronger by drinking blood. Among the numerous heresies existing in our country, they might be the most foul and apostate ones.”

Can it be explained only with the words foul and apostate? I burst into laughter at the continuous hollow words. Right, you would know it that way. Since the Pleroma remains at that level of status until the summer of 1897, you are right. According to what I read, it should have been that way at least until 1907.

“Albert. I did not come here with just that much resolution. I do not know how it will sound to you, but my goal was the truth. I am going to fight here, and I have to return after finding a preventive measure.”

“…….”

Mecklenburg frowned and his lips trembled. It is clearly revealed that even though he thinks it is nonsense, he is feeling confusion. I opened the carrier that was rolling on the ground due to the wind Mecklenburg threw and took out an artifact. Among the numerous artifacts the system had put in, there was a portable portal generator, and like the ones at school, this was something that would not come off once put on. It might be illegal, but surviving and getting out is the priority. I slipped it onto the wrist of Mecklenburg, who stood there with his mouth open.

“I am sorry for dragging you all the way here. I am giving this to you, so if it becomes dangerous, leave immediately. I have already done something to the bathroom earlier, so with just this, you will immediately move to the Munich train station.”

“Why are you giving this to me?”

“I do not want you to die. Even if you are a person whose sense of ethics is backward, fitting for our era, and who creates a catastrophe because you are twisted somewhere, I do not want you to die a dog’s death due to a group’s greed in a place like this.”

“…Just what have I done so wrong to you for you to speak this far…. I have to ask more accurately. Do you hate me? Then why are you doing this much for me?”

I have already seen too much of you. The fact that your existence is suitable for opposing Adrian Askanian is useless in this world. So, even if it is a short relationship in a world that will disappear once I open my eyes, a relationship where I cannot create any benefit in the long term, I could not say that I am fine with whatever happens to you.

There were no other words I could give him, but I did not even utter those words. I knew well how it would sound. Since Mecklenburg, who had been staring at me for a long time, nodded, I smirked and patted his shoulder.

“Do you believe my words? Are you going to stop reporting me now~?”

“To be honest, I do not know. It is my first time seeing a person who acts as irrationally as you, and I do not know how to handle someone like you. But….”

“But?”

“Do not copy my words! …Even so, I….”

Mecklenburg hesitated for a long while before looking elsewhere and speaking.

“I wonder why I felt relieved after hearing your words. I want to try believing that my guess is true.”

“…Wow.”

I was stunned for a moment and unknowingly muttered briefly. Since Mecklenburg glared at me, I answered seriously.

“I was not joking. I did it because I was a bit surprised. Thanks.”

“Forget it. And this is what I have been wanting to say for a while, but who gave you permission to call me a servant?!”

“Ah, that. I look forward to your help, Clemens Schmidt.”

“Do you think that makes sense? In a situation where you should be my servant based on status, what are you doing?”

“We are friends.”

“What does that matter?! You can be friends with a servant originally!”

“It is not bad to try living with roles reversed once in a while. Ah, I will be under you for my whole life, so give me a break just this once.”

Mecklenburg let out a hollow laugh and turned around.

“…It is my first time seeing a human who acts like you in my life, so I am flustered. I do not know how to take it….”

“How unfortunate. There should have been a human acting like me for that character of yours to be covered a bit….”

“What?”

“Nothing. Now I have to find a place to sleep.”

I thought while looking at the purple sky where the sun was setting. Ah, I want to invade the Crown Prince’s palace. I want to warp to the teacher’s room that Lukas Everett received. If I did that, it would be the end, though. I smiled and asked Mecklenburg, who was clearly debating whether to say something or not.

“Isn’t there a lodging your family caught for you in your name? Your family even handled the inspection for you.”

“…!”

***

Mecklenburg caused a commotion for a while, saying that every single one of those called student council presidents is annoying out of the blue—seeing how he even dragged the student council president out there, he is a guy one can easily figure out—and then entered the best hotel in Munich.

And so, when it became dawn the next day, we visited the factory owner’s house and moved to the education center. With this, it was day five. Four hours had passed outside the Extra Chapter.

‘It is already four hours.’

I am breaking into a bit of a cold sweat. I trust that the model student will have a model sleep.

Thinking that next time I come to Bavaria, I should come without Leo knowing and stay at a hotel, I put all the education of that day into my memory and followed the priest in charge of education along with Mecklenburg. I had to hear the answer I couldn’t get from Ainsidel.

“There are people from other regions among the believers here. In what cases do people usually come to a diocese in another region?”

“In what cases…. I do not know even that much. Actually, it is because I am from Freising.”

“Then what is the reason for accepting people from other regions?”

“Our sect’s power is very small compared to Catholicism or Protestantism.”

“Well, there is no comparison.”

“…Ahem, anyway, that is why we tend to actively welcome those who come. Furthermore, the more people there are with outstanding abilities and deep faith, the greater the help to the development of the diocese, so there is no reason to refuse.”

“I see. There is one thing I am curious about—for what reason is that Junker here?”

“He is such a person of few words that I do not know either. It also seems like he intentionally does not speak. We have already arrived. Let us go in and talk.”

The priest opened his office door and gestured with a kind face.

“Go in first.”

“…….”

Thanks for the consideration, so much it brings tears to my eyes. I stared at the priest’s face and then glared at the floor while smiling. The oiled ebony floor shook violently before my eyes. To say things had turned out this way meant that one of the numerous hypotheses I had established was clearly the correct answer, but that was not something to spend time thinking about at this moment. The moment I took a step forward, the memory of that day ended there.

I opened my eyes in the darkness. Someone was tightly blocking my windpipe, so I was forced to wake up.

‘Again….’

Just how many times has it been that I was moved in this way with Mecklenburg. Whether I expected it or not, I secretly hoped that such an experience would end on that day. This time I am with the 18-year-old Mecklenburg instead of the 25-year-old Mecklenburg, but I was fed up with this situation. The large hand pressing down on my nose and mouth fell away. Along with the air rushing in frantically, the smell of blood pierced into my nose.

White hair came into view even in the darkness. I heard the groan of someone that was hard to listen to. The smell of blood was gradually becoming thicker. Ainsidel muttered as if letting out a sigh.

“It is so-so… not bad.”

“…….”

He must have drunk Mecklenburg’s blood. Why didn’t that guy use the artifact to move? I curled my fingers and felt the thing hanging on my wrist. It is a typical Pleroma magic power restraint device. To think they used this model seven years ago—these guys have established their system since a truly long time ago.

“For what reason did you enter this place?”

The sound of something hitting the floor was heard. Having slowly adjusted to the darkness, I slowly turned my head and checked Mecklenburg. Fortunately, excluding the skin on his wrists, there were no noticeably injured areas. As I maintained non-responsiveness, a moderate answer was heard.

“You won’t speak. I would have been disappointed if you had.”

Ainsidel let out a smile with an unknown meaning. Right on cue, the sound of a door opening came from behind, and two people walked in. They lamented and spoke quietly.

“Brother Ainsidel, your ability is indeed outstanding. It is fortunate that we were able to catch these wicked spies early.”

“…….”

“What would have happened if we had accepted them as believers….”

Ainsidel narrowed his eyes and pulled his mouth up smoothly. After listening to the priest’s speech that continued for a long time, he took a long breath and raised his head. Only then did the priests stop their words and look at Ainsidel.

BOOM—!

“—For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.”

Along with a chillingly soulless voice, white light pierced into my retinas. Following the sound of hurriedly taking out wands, two impact sounds were heard. I see Mecklenburg’s mouth falling open.

“Get up.”

In the midst of the world’s colors repeatedly looking red and then blue due to the sudden light, a gloved hand was thrust before me. Ainsidel wore the same smile as the one I had seen in Osnabrück.

“Since you said you would overturn this diocese.”

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