Fearing the crowd’s fury might engulf her, the woman began to sob.

Aaron stepped forward and explained the situation.

“The person who instigated this woman was an old woman from next door, and the one who manipulated that old woman was her son. After five more such steps, we were able to find the person who ordered the attack on my wife. My subordinate had quite a difficult time tracking down that individual.”

The method was both meticulous and despicable.

However, by releasing the woman, Aaron had caused the priest to lower his guard, and after persistently investigating, they had finally found the end of the connection chain.

“Your Excellency, do you still intend to leave under these circumstances?”

“…”

The Archbishop was in a very awkward position, as forcibly extracting the priest could trigger a riot.

‘Did the Pope send me all this way to save such an incompetent person?’

He couldn’t help but sigh.

Meanwhile, Aaron strode forward, blocking the Archbishop’s path and exerting silent pressure.

Just as the Archbishop showed his displeasure at this aggressive and disrespectful behavior, the priest immediately lowered his tail.

He feared that if he made things more difficult for the Archbishop here, the situation would spiral out of control.

“I’ll a-admit that. It was my fault for making a mistake in a moment of impulse.”

“A mistake? How is a premeditated crime a mistake?”

“Baron… I too was concerned about the witch’s true nature.”

“Is that how the temple resolves its concerns?”

The Archbishop remained silent.

As the one who could save him began to merely observe, the priest didn’t know what to do.

If he insisted to the end, the Pope would completely abandon him, so he had no choice but to cleverly take the blame himself.

“I’m s-sorry… I apologize.”

Watching the fool meekly surrender, the Archbishop spoke with an annoyed expression, as if this should be enough.

“Since he has confessed his crime, we will have him punished by the council. Trust that it will not end with an acquittal.”

“Imprison him.”

“Are you refusing my request even after I’ve gone this far?”

“What are you waiting for? I said imprison him.”

The cold command bound the criminal’s feet.

As they confronted each other over the priest, people tightly sealed their lips to prevent any sound from escaping.

As Aaron took an intimidating stance, the knights’ aura also sharpened intensely.

In response, the Holy Knights protecting the Archbishop gripped their spears and swords tightly.

As both groups of knights faced off without yielding an inch, a gruff old voice shook the silence.

“Baron! No matter how long you’ve made your living as a mercenary, you’ve lived as a nobleman for years—don’t you know that the right to punish clergymen belongs to the Papal Office?”

“Handling incidents that occur on the battlefield is the duty and authority of the commander. Trying to suppress me with authority won’t work. Let me be clear: this matter will be dealt with under military law.”

“You really fear nothing, don’t you!”

‘How could I possibly fear anything? When you lot, who have built your foundation on a hotbed of sin, are strutting around like this, why should I?’

Aaron swallowed the words he wanted to say and pretended not to hear.

Instead, he clearly conveyed his intentions in a strong tone.

“There’s one more thing. I must fulfill my responsibility as the lord of Tudra. From now on, I will use every method to ensure Tudra’s safety.”

“What does that mean?”

“After imprisoning the criminal, I will begin investigating the temple.”

“Listen here, Baron! Where exactly are you daring to intrude? Are you in your right mind?”

Though the Archbishop didn’t need to fear with the Holy Knights firmly protecting him, the crowd’s hostility was considerable.

The townspeople, thoroughly disappointed by the priest’s vileness, trusted Aaron and held their ground.

The Archbishop, who had shouted in anger, instinctively felt the rebellious spirit of the crowd washing over him like a wave, and took a deep breath to calm himself.

It seemed impossible to reach a compromise without bloodshed.

To break the deadlock, he had no choice but to offer a second-best solution.

The Archbishop first suppressed the energy of the Holy Knights.

As he raised his hand, the knights removed their hands from their sword hilts.

“I heard you submitted a request to replace the priest. I’ll send a new priest tomorrow.”

“You’re making it sound like a favor when it’s only natural. We were discussing the right to punish.”

“Sigh… Fine, fine. Then the Baron can handle the priest… under military law as you wish. In exchange, stop the investigation of the temple.”

When he gave in too easily, the priest flared up and lashed out.

“Your Excellency! Are you abandoning me and leaving? Let me see His Holiness. I’ll speak to him directly!”

“Silence! How dare you order people around when you’ve committed crimes driven by selfish desires and greed!”

“You know well that I’ve never shied away from doing difficult tasks for His Holiness. Are you really going to throw away all glory like this? Huh? What if I lose my mind?”

“Wait, I said. Since we can’t resolve this immediately, just keep quiet for now. That way, I can at least explain the situation to His Holiness, can’t I?”

While the two were bickering, Aaron nodded to Rombon with a bored expression.

Rombon approached with a menacing aura, roughly grabbed the priest’s arm, and shoved him toward a subordinate.

“Not the firewood storage, put him in the underground prison.”

“Your Excellency! Your Excellency! Please save me!”

The Archbishop looked contemptuously at the priest struggling and refusing to go, then turned toward Aaron.

With his lips pursed as if to say “are you satisfied now,” he attempted to negotiate again.

There was no trace of the stern, confrontational demeanor he had shown just moments ago.

He urged with a generous tone, as if he had always been gentle and never angry.

“Escalating this will only increase confusion. His Majesty wouldn’t want any disturbance either. The royal family and the Papal Office should maintain balance for peace.”

“I’m not at all curious about which way the scales will tip. I’m simply handling this according to principles, so please understand, Your Excellency.”

“Are you going to continue like this? Even when this old man is pleading with you?”

Aaron sneered softly and muttered loudly enough to be heard, “Anyone watching would think you’re genuinely begging me.”

The Archbishop’s sagging skin trembled with humiliation, but Aaron, far from showing respect, firmly stood his ground.

“You may insist this falls under the Papal Office’s jurisdiction, but it won’t go your way.”

“I’ve been patient, but this is too much! If I’ve given up one thing, you should concede another. Saying you’ll ransack the temple—aren’t you afraid of God’s wrath?”

“What’s the real reason you’re so desperate to take the priest away? I’m saying this because it’s perfect for misunderstanding that the Papal Office is involved.”

“What nonsense.”

“Isn’t it strange that you’re so adamantly opposing my investigation of a criminal’s base?”

“Haa…”

“Rombon, send a messenger to the royal palace immediately. Tell them that due to the temple’s lack of cooperation, I will execute this under my authority as commander and report afterward.”

“Yes, sir!”

After the order was given, the Tudra Knights efficiently carried out their assigned tasks.

The priest had already been dragged away, and Rombon called a subordinate to give instructions about dispatching the messenger.

Only now did a warm light appear on Aaron’s face.

“Please understand that this is for the peace of the nation. His Majesty might be angry that I acted on my own authority, but if so, I will take full responsibility.”

“…”

“Then, taking your silence as agreement, I will withdraw now.”

The Archbishop clenched his molars and inwardly chewed on curses.

‘His Holiness ordered me to defend the temple at all costs, but what can I do now?’

* * *

When the new Saint Birgita appeared, crowds gathered in the capital’s bustling district.

“Saint, please save my child. Sob… possessed by an evil spirit, he can’t sleep at night. This morning, I barely saved him from hanging himself. Sob…”

Since the war with Mrangel broke out, a gloomy energy had settled over all of Caldman.

Though there was currently a ceasefire, the kingdom’s people trembled with anxiety, not knowing when the epidemic from the front lines might spread.

To make matters worse, the groans of those possessed by evil spirits were rampant everywhere.

They said it was all because the witch hadn’t died.

Birgita placed her hand on the head of the man who was shedding tears.

“Where is the child?”

“Will you heal him yourself, Saint?”

“That’s why God bestowed this ability upon me.”

Her red lips, as if stained with flower dye, stretched into a smile.

Though far from compassionate, her smile exuded confidence and strong authority.

The new saint’s ministry built people’s trust through such successive miracles.

After busily traveling from the bustling districts to the slums, driving out evil spirits, Birgita returned to her separate quarters built on the eastern side of the monastery and immediately showed her irritation.

“Those beggars should pay money for their requests. They have no conscience whatsoever.”