Chapter 65: Friendship
Nyx moved swiftly, returning with a group of people before the evening Sacrament began.
Inside the Flower Church, Nyx placed four pieces of beast hide in front of Corleon.
"Those four families all have people in town; I went to talk to them," Nyx said.
"Knight Wolf's family gave me all nine survivors, the Hughes family gave me that slave, and the other two families only gave three of the most severely injured individuals."
"Those two families can't compare to Knight Wolf's. Their prospective knights were seriously injured and haven't officially obtained knighthood. They need to preserve more strength to deal with changes."
"Although, due to the new lord's decree, the population in their fiefs has increased significantly these days, recruiting and training warriors into combat-ready forces still takes time."
"These are the contracts of the transactions." Nyx tapped the beast hides. "As for the price, they only charged one gold coin."
"Is it because of your friendship with them?" Corleon asked.
"No." Nyx shook his head. "They hope to gain the friendship of the priest."
"…Is it because of the Blessing?" Corleon frowned.
"Perhaps it's just that they feel their friendship with me is already solid enough and doesn't need further strengthening." Nyx made a dry joke and then continued.
"Priests don't need to consider so much. For them, casually giving something as 'friendship' has become instinctual."
"Priests also don't need to refuse; these are just 'friendship'."
"When they ask the priest for help, the priest's refusal won't affect this 'friendship', as long as the priest doesn't help others against their families and is deemed valuable by them, this kind of 'friendship' will always exist."
"If you don't accept their 'friendship', it will be assumed that you are hostile to them, and some matters may not proceed smoothly."
"You need to get used to the survival rules within the circle of those with power."
"There are no eternal friends, no eternal enemies, only eternal interests."
"When they truly need to ask you for help, they will offer a condition you can't refuse. That's when you need to consider whether to accept it."
Corleon closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his brows relaxed. He slightly bowed his head to Nyx and said, "Thank you for your help."
"Rather than thanks, I look forward to how the priest will help them," Nyx said.
"That might disappoint you."
...
The next day, after the Sacrament and morning prayer, Cicero received a large task.
Corleon asked him to design accommodations for these purchased warriors, and naturally, the builders were these warriors themselves.
Watching Cicero, scratching his head in distress, take away ten people, Corleon looked at the slave sent by the Hughes family.
The remaining five people were to continue helping Nyx build accommodations.
Yesterday, they had only built shelters that could block wind and rain; today, they needed to do some finishing work.
"Hod, right?" Corleon asked the slave.
"Yes, master." Hod knelt on the ground and responded.
His bare upper body and scarred face were full of whip marks. It was evident that the Hughes family had vented their anger over Noah's death on him.
He was also the only one among the sixteen people Nyx bought back who had no Faith.
"I've read your information. You were Mr. Noah Hughes's guard and also his deputy. When he charged into battle, you would take his place as commander."
"He trusted you greatly and treated you as his brother in training," Corleon said.
"Yes, all of this was Mr. Noah's grace to me. I thank him. I once said and swore to always be loyal to him." Hod shed tears.
"You didn't let him down." Corleon helped him up and said.
"When facing that evil, you didn't flee like the others but bravely fought to the end."
"I think Mr. Noah would also be proud of your bravery. He would say to others in the Heavenly Kingdom, 'Look, this is the brother I acknowledged. He is so brave that even when facing evil, he fights courageously.'"
"No, I'm still not strong enough. Under that guy's command, I even attacked my comrades." Hod said sadly, "I'm a failure, always have been."
"But you're still alive now, aren't you?" Corleon said.
"These repeated failures couldn't kill you, and what doesn't kill you will make you stronger. One day, you will kill that evil."
"Alright, Hod, Mr. Noah wouldn't want to see you so depressed, right?"
"You're right." Hod nodded, restraining his sorrowful emotions. "What can I do to help you?"
"You've helped Mr. Noah command before, so you should be able to lead these warriors, right?" Corleon asked.
Those with command abilities were considered elites in those families and wouldn't be easily abandoned.
Hod was abandoned not only because of the Hughes family's anger but also because of his slave status.
"Yes, I can." Hod said.
"I hope you can temporarily act as the leader, lead these warriors, and after building your accommodations, have them maintain basic training. Agamemnon will lead you in morning and evening prayers." Corleon said, taking out the Holy Scriptures.
"This is the Holy Scriptures. Agamemnon will lead you in reciting its contents daily. You need to recite it earnestly."
Agamemnon, with a tense little face, nodded seriously.
"I understand. I will remember your instructions. If possible, I hope you allow me to copy the Holy Scriptures. I will memorize its contents as soon as possible." Hod said seriously.
"Hmm? You can read?" Corleon was stunned and asked.
"Yes." Hod said, hesitating before continuing, "I come from the Northern Kingdom. When I was young, my family hired scholars to enlighten me."
"In that case, after you memorize the Holy Scriptures, you can become a monk." Corleon was somewhat pleased.
After understanding the reason why literacy required enlightenment, Corleon decided that monks in the church must be literate.
Monks are the stage of practice before becoming priests and need to study and understand the Holy Scriptures, so literacy is fundamental.
However, upon hearing this, Hod was somewhat shocked. He, Hod, was just a slave, and now they were talking about making him a monk?
"Master, I'm just a slave." He couldn't help but say.
"Slave? No, no, no, the Lord loves all people. In the Lord's eyes, there is no distinction between slaves and commoners." Corleon said with a smile.
"As long as you are kind and without sin, the Lord will give you equal love."
"However, to become a monk, you need to understand the Lord's teachings and the Lord's words."
"So if you don't agree with the Lord later, although I respect your Faith and won't discriminate against you because of it, you won't be able to become a monk."
"Do you understand?"
"…I understand." Hod's voice was somewhat complex.