Chapter 239 : Standpoint
Chapter 239: Standpoint
The remains of Knight Wolf and his Holy Relic were naturally sent to the Church. Such Mystery was not something ordinary people could handle.
The Burial Mechanism lay beneath the cemetery area of the Church of the Sanctuary’s headquarters, specially built to bury remains of those who died due to Mystery.
Meanwhile, the main structure of the surface-level cemetery was the Hall of Heroes.
Naturally, the present headquarters of the Church of the Sanctuary would not casually enshrine anyone. Outside York City, there was a cemetery specifically managed by the Church for burials.
However, after its construction was completed, this was the very first time the Burial Mechanism had been put into use.
“I think that, given Knight Wolf’s contribution to York Territory and to the Church, he should be interred within the Hall of Heroes.” said Melia.
What the Burial Mechanism interred were those meant to be forgotten, while those placed within the Hall of Heroes were ones meant to be remembered.
After the Hall of Heroes had been built, Nyx’s corpse had been transferred into it. Later on, only a few Temple Warriors who died resisting the Fishmen were buried there.
Agamemnon said, “Knight Wolf was not a devout believer. Moreover, he carried too much bloodshed in life, and the reason for his death was not one worthy of remembrance.”
Dissatisfied, Melia said, “But many of Knight Wolf’s killings were for York Territory, for the Church. Your judgment of him is unfair.”
Agamemnon watched as the Temple Warriors slowly pushed Knight Wolf’s body into a square burial chamber and said, “Melia, some people only look at the present, but some must see the future.”
With a sharp tone, Melia asked, “Then what kind of future do you see?”
Agamemnon replied, “You work in the Monastery, so you should know this. An era never remains stagnant. Even if, for certain reasons, it seems to halt, that is only a temporary pause. The clearest sign lies in the scholars. The knowledge they have accumulated, once given a suitable environment, will swiftly transform this era.”
“You experienced this personally. Back when Mr. Nyx had you living in the Lord’s Fortress, even the Lord’s own castle was not as beautiful as an ordinary house in York City today, was it?”
Melia said, “And what does that have to do with the definition you gave to Knight Wolf?”
Agamemnon shook his head, placed the box holding Knight Wolf’s Holy Relic Erebus on the stone pedestal before him, and said, “It has nothing to do with it. I only mean that everything of an era is inevitable. It does not change because of the actions of one individual.”
Melia frowned. Agamemnon’s cryptic words gave her a headache. “You’d better speak more plainly.”
Agamemnon said, “What I mean is, we cannot judge Knight Wolf’s actions from the standpoint of beneficiaries. We must view them from the standpoint of the era.”
“Then, Melia, imagine when you stand before the heroes enshrined in the Hall of Heroes. If among them you saw a knight who slaughtered commoners indiscriminately, and in the end, that knight merely turned his blade on humanity of his own will, killing countless people before finally being hunted down by nobles—would you regard him as a hero, or a butcher?”
“You’ve read the storybooks written about the deeds of George and Marl. If Knight Wolf’s story were written down, would you consider him a hero, or a butcher of the masses?”
“You must realize—the Hall of Heroes is not for us alone. Those ordinary priests, those Temple Warriors, those children—when they see that the ones they are supposed to revere as heroes entered the Hall because of such deeds, what will they think?”
“And besides, Knight Wolf was not a devout believer. Then, would those who also lack firm Faith but carry sharp blades and heavy armor be able to imitate him—slaughtering enough gentry and bringing enough benefit to the Church—to gain entry into the Hall of Heroes?”
“As one close to him, as a beneficiary, of course I would thank him. But from the standpoint of the future, I can only allow him to rest eternally within the Burial Mechanism.”
Melia felt saddened. Since Agamemnon had spoken this far, she naturally knew she could not make him retract his judgment.
“This is not fair.” Melia finally said.
Agamemnon said, “From the Church’s standpoint, it is fair.”
Melia fell silent.
Agamemnon continued, “But as for the Monastery, it does not need to obey the Church’s standpoint.”
Melia was stunned.
“For Knight Wolf’s contribution to present-day York Territory, he is worthy of being remembered by the Monastery.” Agamemnon said. “I will ask the Monastery’s scholars to compile a book recording Knight Wolf’s life.”
From its very founding, the Monastery had determined its mission to transmit knowledge. Regardless of type, as long as the knowledge was proven and not directly misleading, it could be spread. Historical events themselves were sediment of knowledge, proof of knowledge.
Melia brightened, but recalling Marl’s story, she asked doubtfully, “Will they write it well?”
“This matter will not be handed to Oscar. I will ask Scholar Caleb to write it. He teaches history. Knight Wolf’s actions were shaped by history, and he will write it carefully. He even rewrote Marl’s story, but perhaps you did not hear of it because you dislike such steady narratives.”
These words left Melia awkward.
After all, even she had once rewritten a story according to her own preferences. She actually knew that for dissemination, some editing was necessary. Still, she herself preferred not to read overly stiff works.
But to her, Wolf was a senior worthy of respect. She did not want his life’s story to be casually reworked like Oscar and the others did.
After speaking, Agamemnon laid out a beast hide and charcoal on the ground, writing words upon it.
Melia asked, “What are you writing now?”
Agamemnon replied, “A eulogy for Knight Wolf. Written under the name of Agamemnon Adams. It will briefly describe Knight Wolf’s life. Later, someone will engrave it upon this stone.”
Melia watched as he began with: ‘The respected Knight Wolf…’ She said, “Didn’t you just say, from your standpoint…”
Without turning, Agamemnon said, “That was from the standpoint of Agamemnon the Priest.”
“…” Melia thought to herself that perhaps, since she would not be permitted to become a priest nor inherit Burke Church, she might not end up as conflicted as Agamemnon.
…
After finishing the eulogy, the two left the Burial Mechanism and returned to the Monastery.
As Agamemnon flipped through the roster, Melia asked, “If you intend to declare war on Viscount Youn, are you certain the Church’s strength alone is enough?”
Agamemnon answered, “Of course not. Far from enough.”
“From what we know, Viscount Youn has more than ten knights, over eight hundred elite warriors, and a Holy Relic. In his own territory, he can summon two to three thousand militia at any time. And the reason he forbids York Territory merchants from entering his land is that he is spreading tales of Knight Wolf’s massacres to turn his people and gentry against the Church and York Territory.”
“After all, it has not been long since Knight Wolf’s indiscriminate slaughter in that region.”
Melia was stunned. She seemed to somewhat understand what Agamemnon had meant earlier by ‘the future’.
Agamemnon continued, “And not all nobles and gentry willingly accept the Church or York Territory’s Senate. From their perspective, if Viscount Youn can resist the Church, they will not hesitate to secretly aid him.”
Melia said, “In that case, why not let the Senate act?”
With the number and quality of warriors under the Senate’s command, they could sweep away Viscount Youn in ten days. Even if Viscount Youn held a Holy Relic, even without the Church providing Sacred Relics, the Senate would find a way to defeat him.
That was why the Senate had considered throwing Knight Wolf’s deeds onto Viscount Youn, using the excuse of crushing him as a warning to the cluster of nobles deeper inland.
Agamemnon said, “Those newly dependent nobles still lack reverence for the Church.”
Melia asked, “Then what do you plan to do?”
Agamemnon said, “Landon is suffering greatly over there.”
Puzzled, Melia asked, “Of course I know he suffers greatly, but what does that have to do with your plan?”
Closing the roster, Agamemnon looked at her and said, “Leo and Vito will depart for the northern territories tomorrow. You must pack your things and go with them. If you need a carriage, arrange it yourself. The Church’s assets are under your management now.”
Looking at Agamemnon, unwilling to say more, Melia herself felt pained.
…
Leaving the Monastery, Agamemnon went alone to the Clock Tower.
Pushing open the first-floor gate, he stepped inside and saw a Horn resting on a small wooden stand.
Even though such occurrences—where his thoughts were read before he spoke—had happened many times, Agamemnon still felt uneasy.
Walking up to the wooden stand, he hesitated, then asked, “Even if You allow me to act so, I am uncertain whether this decision is right. It will bring many deaths and much fear of us. Therefore, I wish to ask You.”
The first floor of the Clock Tower remained calm. Then Corleon’s voice reverberated through it: “You are afraid. Afraid of those who will die because of your decision. Afraid that after making it, your Faith will waver.”
The voice was calm, so calm it seemed devoid of all emotion.
Agamemnon answered honestly, “Yes, I am afraid. Among them are many, many innocent people. They are merely coerced by Viscount Youn. They could have been guided by us.”
Corleon replied, “As you told Melia, some things must be seen from a certain standpoint. From the standpoint of the Church, from the standpoint of you as Priest Agamemnon—what you are about to do, is it right or wrong?”
Agamemnon lowered his head and said, “I believe it is right.”
Corleon answered, “Since you believe it is right, why are you still afraid?”