Chapter 153: Era

Green sprouts emerged from the sunken ground, with a bit of water accumulated at the bottom.

It had been raining continuously for three days here, and today was a rare moment of sunshine.

Beneath the Morning Star, the tall Patriarch stood silently. Balmung was planted before him, both hands resting on the pommel, as if supporting his massive frame.

If one drew closer, the thunderous sound of snoring could be heard.

In the distance, an army approached. At its center was a heavy cross, upon which three White Doves perched.

“Stop!” Marl shouted loudly.

He had seen the figure ahead.

He pulled a letter from the pouch at his waist. It had been delivered yesterday by a White Dove sent from the Church, indicating the whereabouts of the Church Nation’s Patriarch.

Comparing the information written on the letter, Marl found it hard to believe. The once frail person he had undergone Enlightenment with had become so gigantic.

After a moment of hesitation, he lifted a bundle from the Lord’s Throne beneath the cross, refused the company of the Temple Warrior, and approached alone.

It was only upon getting closer that he realized the Patriarch was even taller than he appeared from afar.

To stand before him required tilting one’s head upward just to see the helmet.

“Darks!” Marl called out.

The snoring gradually quieted, and then the towering figure began to move, stretching his body.

“That nap was truly refreshing,” he said, voice deep and muffled.

“Darks, is that you?” Marl shouted again, asking.

Darks lowered his head and finally noticed Marl.

“Marl?” Dropping to one knee, he bent down, looked at Marl as if observing an ant, and asked.

“It’s me! Marl!” Marl smiled, a little delighted.

“You’ve changed. You’re stronger than before,” Darks said with a hint of emotion.

“Compared to you, my change is hardly worth mentioning.” Marl looked up and down at Darks, as if looking at a small hill made of Dark Golden Armor.

“I…” Darks fell silent.

Marl’s joy gradually faded. “I heard Saint Zecel is dead.”

“Yeah, he was devoured by that guy.” Darks’s voice grew even heavier.

“And this form of mine is also the result of a transaction with that guy,” Darks said, raising his hand and clenching it.

“Can it be reversed?” Marl asked.

He didn’t mention who ‘that guy’ was. He was a clever and cautious man, naturally knowing that some existences were not for him to know.

“No, it can’t.” Darks shook his head. “My spine has already been severed, and after the transaction with that guy, my body has fused with this armor.”

“This armor is my body now.”

“But compared to Saint Zecel, this is already good enough,” he said.

Saint Zecel was utterly dead, his flesh and internal organs devoured, leaving only a skin behind.

Marl fell silent, then handed the book he carried on his back to Darks.

“I know you’ve already established the Church Nation, so in addition to the Church classics the Bishop asked me to bring, I’ve also brought a few other books already verified by the Monastery,” Marl said.

“The Church, huh!” Darks sighed, then said, “Stay and help me, Marl.”

“I can pass the title of Patriarch to you. I’m not suited to lead everyone as the Patriarch, and I don’t trust those scholars either.”

“Even now, the Church Nation has a population exceeding fifty thousand. I can still expand more territory. This is a land far greater than the Church.”

Marl shook his head and said, “I’ve heard the doctrine of the Church Nation from the Bishop. I know it’s meant for the future, and I also hope you all succeed. But unfortunately, I personally don’t agree with your doctrine.”

“Besides, I am now a Monk of the Church. Compared to your Church Nation, I believe the Church is more capable of realizing that future we look forward to.”

“Heh, that’s the future you two look forward to.” Darks snorted and said, “For me, I just want to guard the Church Nation now. This is his final legacy.”

Marl nodded, unaffected by Darks’s contempt.

During their brief time studying together, Darks had always trusted and depended greatly on Saint Zezel.

“I haven’t seen the Church Nation with my own eyes, but Knight George sent me a message about it. The Church Nation is in trouble right now,” he said.

“Yes, because of that guy’s existence, it’s a mess. But now that guy is gone, I can return and deal with those people,” Darks said.

“And you’ve already reached the border of the Church Nation. Come with me to the Holy City.” He extended the invitation again.

Marl still shook his head.

“This expedition has lasted nearly two months. The warriors are exhausted, and we’ve lost some manpower. We must return to the Church and end this campaign,” he said.

“Besides, we traversed the Nation of Werewolves. If we don’t return soon and the werewolves blockade us, we might suffer even greater losses.”

“After all, I haven’t encountered an Upper-Ranked Werewolf until now.”

“They seem to be engaged in other matters.”

“If a pack led by an Upper-Ranked Werewolf appears, our losses could be catastrophic.”

“I must take responsibility for these warriors.”

“Hmph, those werewolves.” A hint of fury surged in Darks’s deep voice.

“If not for them, Saint Zezel wouldn’t have died.”

“Once I’ve dealt with those in the Church Nation, I’ll mobilize the army to wipe out those filthy creatures.”

Marl chuckled and said, “Then you better move quickly.”

“Werewolves are Dark Creatures, an evil the Church is destined to purify.”

“This expedition has already yielded enough intelligence. Next time, we will cleanse them thoroughly.”

“You people of the Church…” Darks fell silent.

When he had unleashed the Holy Relic against that man, he had still been conscious. But afterward, that guy seized control of his body.

His consciousness was imprisoned in endless darkness.

And within that darkness, he saw a beam of warm light piercing through.

It felt like mercy. That light dispelled the presence and greatly relaxed his body and spirit. Thus, he fell into a long-awaited slumber.

When Marl awakened him, that oppressive sensation on his body had disappeared. He was completely at ease, and there was no awkwardness in controlling his body.

He understood that he seemed to be free now.

“Yes, the Church.” Marl nodded and then pointed to the bundle containing the books.

“The three volumes of Church classics are my personal copies. I made notes on them during Priest Nyx’s lectures. You should read them.”

“That way, you’ll better understand the Church’s doctrine.”

“And the Bishop also said, although what you established is the Church Nation, it is ultimately founded on Faith in the Lord. The Flower Church is the Lord’s Sanctuary, a holy land for the Lord’s Believers. If you’re willing, you may send people to the Church’s Monastery to study.”

“Believe me, the knowledge in the Monastery is very useful. It’s not just reading classics—there’s knowledge on crafting tools, cultivating crops, and raising livestock.”

Darks shook his head and reached out to pick up the bundle.

The bundle Marl had to carry on his back, Darks scooped up with one hand.

“I’ve said before, I’m not suited to be the Patriarch who leads everyone. So all internal decisions in the Church Nation have already been handed to those three scholars,” he said.

“Whether people should be sent to study at the Church’s Monastery is up to them to decide.”

With that, Darks turned and walked away.

“Next time we meet, you must come to the Holy City and see the future he hoped for.” His parting words drifted back.

Watching his departing back, Marl let out a sigh.

Was that really the future Saint Zecel hoped for?

He was a clever man. Though he had exceeded the age for studying at the Monastery, he was someone the Bishop valued, so Nyx and Oscar didn’t mind tutoring him additionally.

And in those lectures, aside from the Holy Scriptures of Nyx and the magic of Oscar, there were also Nyx’s administrative experience and Oscar’s observations in the southern Altlinsmann Empire.

From those lectures, he came to understand the significance and value of Nobles and Local Gentry in this era.

At least, in this chaotic world filled with all manner of strange things, the existence of Nobles and Local Gentry was necessary.

It was impossible, as Saint Zecel had written, that after eliminating these classes, Commoners would gain freedom.

Yet, the doctrine of the Church Nation aimed to eliminate them.

Marl felt, as the Bishop had said, that such a doctrine should not exist in this era.

And a doctrine that exceeds its era…

With a sigh, Marl could only offer silent prayers for Darks in his heart.

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