Chapter 19: Guardianship
Although Yara had given a warning, the reinforcement of the fence did not cease.
After all, it was something that needed to be done.
As the Morning Star descended, and after everyone had eaten the porridge, they all entered the church.
"…May glory, power, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, and praise be unto you, from now until forever." Corleon finished the evening prayer, and there was still no movement outside the church.
Turning back, he saw George holding the cross at his collar with a devout expression, and the other refugees also showed no signs of fear on their faces.
Just as Corleon thought nothing would happen tonight, George suddenly stood up.
"Priest, there is an evil force approaching the Lord’s Throne." He bowed slightly and said.
"Evil forces should not approach the Lord’s Throne." He picked up the long spear beside him.
He wanted to go out and purify the evil approaching the Lord’s Throne.
Seeing the look in George’s eyes, Corleon did not stop him and said, "The Lord is watching over you."
After speaking, he signaled the refugees to help open the door that had been barricaded.
After George went out, the door was barricaded again.
Inside the church, it was quiet, and the atmosphere became somewhat tense; faint sounds of collision and George’s shouting could be heard inside the church.
But just as George had said, he would not allow evil to approach the Lord’s Throne.
There was no terrifying impact on the door like the previous night.
Under George’s guardianship, the church was very safe, and the refugees gradually fell asleep.
Having been anxious the previous night and working during the day, they felt a bit of safety at night, and sleepiness gradually crept in.
Corleon did not sleep; he was in the world of light, watching the light orb.
The accumulated Faith was already enough to nurture a second [Commandment · Holy Knight], but Corleon was somewhat hesitant.
This Commandment was naturally powerful—just look at George.
Just a militiaman, and within a few days after receiving the Commandment, he had become so strong.
But the Commandment was also idealistic; George could become so strong because his heart was firm enough, his Faith devout enough, and he could truly practice his Commandment.
If Corleon himself received the Commandment, he probably wouldn’t be able to reach George’s level of strength.
So he wanted to interfere with the generation of the Commandment.
‘Lord of Hosts, I will follow your teachings.’
‘The Lord loves the world; the Lord’s shepherd conveys the Lord’s teachings to the world; the Lord’s Throne is a sacred place.’
‘When someone offends the Lord’s Throne, when someone wants to harm the Lord’s shepherd, that is sinful.’
‘My shield is the shield of the Lord of Hosts; I guard the sacred crown of the Lord.’
‘My sword is the sword of the Lord of Hosts; I will punish the sinful.’
‘I am the wrath of the Lord of Hosts; the Lord of Hosts is with me.’
After Corleon finished speaking, the light orb surged, and then a milky-white Commandment was nurtured.
[Commandment · Guardianship]
The one who receives the Commandment will have enhanced physique; when fighting to guard the Lord’s Throne, there is a slight enhancement of physique and a slight increase in luck; when fighting to guard the shepherd, there is a slight increase in physique; when holding a shield in one hand, there is a slight increase in magic resistance; when holding a sword in one hand, there is an increase in anti-magic attribute.
The one who receives the Commandment, when persisting in morning and evening prayers daily, when remembering #@&.
The final garbled text was the sacred scripture practiced by those who serve the Lord, but Corleon had not formally written it yet.
Although overall it was far inferior to the Commandment of the Holy Knight, it was more suitable for Corleon.
After all, morning and evening prayers were something he did every day, and even the scripture he hadn’t compiled yet, even now he could receive full blessings.
He took out the previously granted Toward Life and bestowed this Guardianship upon himself.
Opening his eyes, the sounds outside had already returned to calm, and Corleon could clearly feel his body gradually becoming stronger.
…
The next day, as the Morning Star rose, Corleon opened the church door, and George was standing by the door, guarding the church.
Even after fighting all night without sleep, George’s eyes were still bright.
"Good morning, Priest Corleon." George bowed slightly.
"Good morning, Monk George." Corleon returned the bow.
"The Morning Star has risen, evil has retreated; you can go rest for a while."
"I want to pray to the Lord first." George did not refuse, but he wanted to pray to the Lord first.
"The Lord is watching over you." Corleon nodded.
George entered the church to rest, and the refugees also came out one after another.
He had Bede cook the porridge, while Corleon picked up his shield and spear, leading the others to gather the fragmented corpses outside the church fence.
They were densely packed, an extremely exaggerated number.
The black filth soaked the ground, and under the illumination of the Morning Star, it was slowly purified, even forming a thin layer of black mist on the ground due to the excessive amount.
"The Lord is merciful; the deceased have passed away. I will follow the Lord’s teachings and help them return to dust." Corleon said.
"I ask for your help; this is a good deed, and I will pay you for it. This is the reward you deserve for your labor." He said to the refugees.
These refugees were not personnel of the church, and Corleon had no intention of incorporating them into the church.
They were the lord’s subjects, the lord’s wealth, and only the lord had the authority to command them.
Only George could stay.
The Flower Church was allowed to have one priest and one attendant.
The refugees were under protection and did not dare to accept payment, but Corleon insisted it was the Lord’s teaching, so they reluctantly accepted.
Just one silver coin per person.
However, for these refugees, it was already a somewhat excessive reward.
One gold coin could be exchanged for ten silver coins; one silver coin could be exchanged for a hundred copper coins, and three copper coins could buy enough black bread to feed a family of five for a day.
Of course, given the conditions of these refugees, they preferred to buy some wheat flour and then gather some wild vegetables in the wild, relying on cooking porridge to survive.
And such a copper coin’s worth of wheat flour was enough to feed a family of five for three days.
Among the collected fragments, the human parts were gathered together, but it was impossible to piece together the corresponding limbs.
Corleon found that among these fragments, there were two upper bodies wearing iron armor.
In York Territory, where iron resources were strictly controlled, only knights could wear armor.
Following the search in the pile of fragments, he quickly found the corresponding body parts, piecing them together and placing them aside.
Corleon planned to sew the bodies of the two knights together later; this was considered his old profession as a church priest.
As for the others, after some hesitation, Corleon still transported them to the cemetery, dug a large pit, and buried them.
The fragments of animals were burned with a fire.
When the refugees were burning them, their eyes clearly showed some reluctance, especially when the meat sizzled and emitted a fragrant aroma.
They were people who couldn’t contribute to production and naturally rarely ate meat.
However, although they were tempted, the black liquid oozing from the fragments made them dare not eat it.
After handling the corpses, the sky gradually darkened, and Corleon, outside the church, could see the army returning to the town with nearly half its numbers reduced.
The flags belonging to the knights had disappeared by three.