After obtaining the fief of the Saint, Jenn and the others' mission here came to an end, so he and the others left without hesitation.
Even Barty and Carter were the same. They were physically and mentally exhausted from their adventures in the Western Wilderness. If possible, they wanted to leave this place as soon as possible, so after receiving their rewards, they also said goodbye to Bishop Hegel and left in a hurry.
Carter still had to take the remaining people to make arrangements for their relatives. According to Carter, he would bring these people to his fief.
On the other hand, Barty seemed to have nothing to do and planned to take up his position in the fief without bringing anything.
According to him, he only had an empty old house in his hometown, and there were a lot of creditors waiting at the door, so he couldn't get any benefits even if he went back.
It was better to go to the fief first and return home after settling the trouble so that he could deal with those creditors.
After they left, Jenn also left the temple and walked toward his carriage.
According to Bishop Hegel, Fafna had been sent away by Johnson, so there was no point in staying here.
But when he came to the carriage and saw the person waiting there, a glint flashed in Jenn's eyes.
"Ah … Hello, Miss Nadia."
"Hello, Mr. Jenn."
Nadia, who was standing next to the carriage, bowed respectfully to Zayen. As a member of the entourage, of course, she had also been promoted. Just by looking at the three golden stripes on her chest, it was obvious that the girl in front of her had been promoted to a grand knight. Although there was not much difference between a grand knight and a knight, it was just that their status was slightly higher. However, this also meant that Nadia would definitely become the next head knight.
If nothing went wrong, she should be able to step onto a whole new stage as a knight leader after a decade or so.
If nothing unexpected happened.
"Congratulations on your promotion to a Great Knight."
Glancing at the golden ribbons on Nadia's chest, Jenn said with a smile.
Upon hearing this, Nadia's face blushed. Apparently, she wasn't used to it.
"Thank you, Mr. Jenn.
But strictly speaking, I don't think I deserve such an honor … "
However, before Nadia could finish her words, Jenn waved his hand and interrupted her.
"The Holy Church probably doesn't have the habit of casually giving out merit points out of boredom. No matter what others say, what's yours is yours. Just take it.
Some people think that I don't deserve to be a noble, but this thing is already mine. Can they take it away from me?
If they really dare to come, I don't mind showing them how I became a decorated noble. "
Hearing Jenn's words, Nadia revealed a bitter smile. Of course, she knew how Jenn became a decorated noble and what he had done before.
One had to know that in the Valkyrie Principality, Jenn was listed as a first-class wanted criminal. According to the Valkyrie Principality's requirements, as long as Jenn was discovered to enter the Principality, he must be immediately arrested or killed. This was a deadly feud.
But Nadia believed that with her understanding of Jenn, if he really went to the Valkyrie Principality, then blood would flow like a river.
If it was in the past, Nadia would definitely not approve of Jenn's actions. But now … apart from smiling bitterly, she didn't have any other thoughts.
"Alright, let's cut the crap. Miss Nadia, I think you didn't come here just to bid farewell to me, right?"
"Yes, Mr. Jenn."
Speaking until here, Nadia's expression became much more solemn.
"After returning, I thought a lot … I think that the Holy Church's current actions have somewhat deviated from our original intentions. We once swore before the nine saints that we would act for the sake of fairness, kindness, and justice in this world.
But in reality, the Holy Church has no choice but to lower their heads in the face of harsh reality … "
Speaking until here, Nadia clenched her fists.
"I know what the bishops are thinking. Divine authority shouldn't interfere with political power, but if the Holy Church continues to act like this, then how many things will we be able to protect?
I think that the Holy Church should fulfill its duty of supervision to stop the cruel and tyrannical actions of the nobles, and not remain silent.
Therefore, I intend to return to the Church of the True Eye and gather those like-minded knights to protest and make demands.
We must think of a way to change the current situation of the Holy Church … "
"Then how do you intend to change it?"
With his arms crossed in front of his chest, Jenn narrowed his eyes and looked at Nadia with a hint of a smile.
"Could it be that you intend to jointly write a petition and send it to the higher-ups of the Holy Church?
But I can guarantee that this petition will definitely mysteriously disappear in the process of being delivered, or it will be directly pressed into a corner of the warehouse and moldy. Even if you are lucky enough to send it to the desk of the higher-ups of the Holy Church, what use is it?
I think it won't be long before your companions who signed their names will be transferred out of here for various reasons and be assigned to other places. "
As he spoke, Jenn shrugged his shoulders.
"Or do you intend to directly break the silence and directly arrest a nobleman when he commits atrocities and send him to prison?
Then what crime do you intend to use to sentence him?
With the laws of the Holy Church?
Or with the laws of the local lord?
If it is the former, do you intend to change the name of the country?
If it is the latter, you know the outcome better than me. "
"…"
Hearing Jenn's words, Nadia fell into silence.
She had to admit that her thinking was still too simple.
Before talking to Jenn, Nadia indeed wanted to gather those like-minded companions and then petition the higher-ups.
But what use would it be?
Although Nadia thought that as long as she made a big enough noise, the higher-ups of the Holy Church would definitely respond.
But how big would it be enough?
Before this, there were many Holy Knights who left the Holy Church out of anger and even degenerated into black knights. But these were of no use.
The Holy Church was still the Holy Church. After so many years, it had never changed.
"Then, Mr. Jenn, what should we do?"
Thinking until here, Nadia couldn't help but feel dejected. Her beautiful dream was so fragile in the face of the cruel reality, which made Nadia angry and depressed. At the same time, she also felt dissatisfied and sad for the Holy Church. Why did an organization that vowed to protect the world become like this?
But Jenn wasn't as depressed as Nadia. Instead, he shrugged and whistled.
"Very simple, strengthen your faith. Because Holy Knights uphold justice, fight against evil, and get rid of the tyrants, isn't that right?"
"That is indeed the case, but …"
"Then, is overthrowing tyranny an act of justice?
Or is it a symbol of evil?
If a group of peasants overthrew their cruel lord, what would the Holy Church do? "
"This …"
Hearing Jenn's words, Nadia couldn't help but be taken aback.
It wasn't that such things hadn't happened before. The brutality of the nobles wasn't something that everyone could tolerate. There were people who tried to resist, but most of the people who resisted were annihilated by the nobles' private armies.
Those who tried to resist the nobles were also arrested and hanged to death. Although the Holy Church had expressed their dissatisfaction in private, they still wouldn't say anything on the surface.
After all, this was considered interfering with the internal affairs of the country, and to the Holy Church, this wasn't an act worthy of praise.
"But the Holy Church …"
"Oh?
That's surprising. I thought that Holy Knights believed in God and not the Holy Church. "
"What …!"
Jenn's words were like a bolt from the blue that struck Nadia, causing her to stand there dumbfounded. For a moment, her mind was completely blank.
Jenn's words were like a heavy hammer that opened a new door in front of Nadia.
All along, Nadia had never separated the Holy Church from God. The Holy Church was the spokesperson of God, and as a person who believed in God, Holy Knights naturally had to listen to the orders of the Holy Church.
From Nadia's point of view, this was a matter of course and right.
But now, Jenn told her that the Holy Church was the Holy Church, faith was faith, and God was God. The three of them weren't the same thing at all.
This was a huge blow to Nadia's values. She even felt that her vision was completely blank and she couldn't see anything.
However, Jenn obviously wasn't interested in accompanying Nadia in a daze. After saying this, Jenn elegantly bowed to her.
"Then, I shall take my leave now, Miss Nadia. I hope that you can achieve your goal soon."
After saying this, Jenn walked around Nadia and entered the carriage.
Shortly after, the little maid peeked her head out of the carriage and whistled softly. Then, the pitch-black carriage began to move forward.
At this moment, Nadia seemed to have reacted. She turned around and gazed at Jenn's carriage. Then, she raised her hand and waved with force.
"Thank you, Mr. Jenn. I know what I should do …!"
"Hmph …"
Hearing Nadia's voice from outside the carriage, Jenn let out a chuckle and leaned against the sofa.
Tinidale, who was beside him, tilted her head curiously and gazed at Jenn.
"What did you do?"
"I'm just pointing out the right path for a lost lamb out of kindness."
Facing Tinidell's question, Zayen shrugged and answered with a smile on his face.
Then, he pushed up his spectacles and a cold glint flashed in his eyes.
"So then … Enoya, we have something to do."