Faith and Goals

Late at night, Lothar lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

Tomorrow, after replenishing their Grain and Fodder, water, and feed for three packhorses and one warhorse at the manor,

they would follow the Alps eastward, pass through the Austrian March, and head to Venice to board a ship.

Crossing the Alps and entering Italy directly to take a ship only looked closer.

In reality, the Alps were filled with cliffs and steep precipices. Even along the lower-altitude routes, one careless step could easily send someone plunging into a deep ravine.

Otherwise, Hannibal and Caesar's crossings of the Alps would not have been hailed as military miracles.

"Good rest is crucial for a warrior."

Prajna's emotionless voice suddenly rang out.

She was sitting in the adjoining sitting room, on a felt bed covered with a thin blanket, resting with her eyes closed.

The night wind blew in from her direction, turning into a cool breeze that made her like a little air conditioner.

"Prajna, I'm a little lost."

"I want to talk to you. After all, you're the person I trust most in this world."

Though her attitude was cold, Prajna had been summoned by the system and personally designed by him. Their relationship was undoubtedly the closest.

Even Otto, his older brother in this world, could not compare.

At first, no response came from the sitting room.

Only after a long wait did her clear voice sound. "Go ahead."

She really was cold.

Lothar smiled. "In my previous life, I was just an ordinary person. The most ordinary sort. At school, my grades weren't the best, but they weren't the worst either. I followed the rules, though I occasionally caused trouble. I liked singing, dancing, playing basketball, and video games."

"But whether it was studying or those hobbies, without exception, I was mediocre at all of them. Like most people, I was just a screw in society, nothing special. The Emperor of Russia once coined a term—consumable material. I think it fits quite well, because without me, the world wouldn't change at all. A new screw could replace me at any time."

"To be honest, I didn't resist being transported to this world all that much, even though the life of a King here might not have been much better than my life in my previous world."

"Because I wanted a brand-new life. One that was less mediocre, filled with excitement and surprises."

"I needed land and a title to strengthen my power. That meant winning merit and wealth with lance and sword."

"But I also understood one thing clearly: the Crusaders were not righteous. Traveling thousands of miles to the Holy Land to take other people's lives for power and wealth—how were they any different from bandits?"

"If I were a native of this world, perhaps I would think this was perfectly normal. But I'm not. In this world, I know very well that I'm different."

"The system gave me the goal of opening up territory, but I had no goal of my own. Like a small boat drifting at sea, I blindly followed the lighthouse's guidance, yet had no idea what lay at the end of its light."

"I have no faith, no conviction, and no goal. I don't know what the meaning of all this is. Am I supposed to simply move forward according to the system's will?"

Lothar's tone was very serious.

"If you have no conviction, then find one for yourself."

Prajna paused slightly before asking, "What do you think of this world? Is it beautiful?"

Lothar shook his head. "Of course not. The level of productivity is far too backward. Even counts, Electors, Archbishops of archdioceses, Kings, and emperors do not truly live all that well. And if the common people beneath them end up with a miserly lord or priest, their lives become even more unbearable."

"Do you want to change it?"

Prajna asked in return.

Lothar nodded. "Of course."

"Then make that your goal. Let the people loyal to you live and work in peace, eat their fill, unite the lands ravaged by war, and ensure people no longer slaughter one another over ridiculous faiths."

Prajna's cool voice rang out. Her tone was calm, without any impassioned fervor, yet it was like a lamp lighting up the darkness before Lothar's eyes.

Lothar could not help glancing sideways.

When Prajna saw that he had not replied for a long time, she frowned. "What?"

"What you said was wonderful, Prajna."

Lothar spoke in amazement. "That's right. What you described truly is something I'm willing to do, something I find deeply meaningful."

"Then do it."

"Mm."

The room fell silent.

After a long while, Lothar said, "Thank you, Prajna."

"Mm."

"Good night."

Prajna did not reply again.

In his mind, the system's pleasant notification sounded: Prajna's intimacy toward you has increased. Current intimacy: Indifferent.

Still indifferent?

A faint smile appeared on Lothar's face. Indifferent was fine. At least she was not the sort of person he could not deal with at all.

Even if Prajna did not treat him very well, she was still someone worthy of trust.

He turned over and fell into a deep sleep.

At the manor.

Ryan and Moder sat beneath the eaves, intensely discussing Prajna's identity. Lothar had not explained her to them.

In truth, he had not figured out how to make something up either.

But at the same time, he had no obligation to explain.

The two were Lothar's retainers.

Strictly speaking, retainers did not look all that different from servants on the surface. Both did work attending to others; the difference lay in their essential nature.

"That long, smooth black hair... could she be Eastern Empire royalty?"

"No, no, no. Didn't you sense the aura around her? It was truly terrifying. She was clearly just a woman, yet the danger I felt from her surpassed even a mountain lion."

Moder said with absolute certainty, "She's a Witch!"

"Are you sure?"

Moder fell silent for a moment, then shook his head. "No, but she's definitely not an ordinary person. You know my instincts have always been reliable."

Ryan nodded in complete agreement. "I never expected the young master to know a Witch. I heard that the entire Gaulish Crusader force only hired two Witch advisors."

"Does that mean our journey will be much safer?"

"Perhaps. But it could also be the complete opposite."

A trace of worry appeared on Moder's face. "Witches are mysterious, powerful, and beautiful. But they are also dangerous, terrifying, and awe-inspiring."

"I can't imagine why she would follow the young master. To put it bluntly, the young master really isn't worthy of a Witch's allegiance."

"Hey, friend, you're overthinking it. Maybe it's love? A Witch falls in love with a handsome knight—that's how novels always write it. The young master is the handsomest knight I've ever seen."

"In any case, this is not something we should be considering. We are only retainers, and not even particularly formal retainers at that. The young master is our lord. We have no right to comment on it."

After a long silence, Moder nodded. "That's right, Ryan. You make a lot of sense. From today onward, we can no longer call him 'young master.' He is now the 'lord' to whom we have sworn loyalty. Even the count can no longer command us. We obey only him."

Ryan patted Moder on the shoulder. "Don't underestimate the young master. He may be younger than either of us, but he's also smarter than both of us. He'll lead us down the right path."

He paused, then added, "And even if he is wrong, we might not be able to do any better in his place."

Moder smiled. "Perhaps. I hope I'm simply overthinking things."

The two retainers were also somewhat lost. They did not know what future awaited them if they followed Lothar—whether they would one day be knighted, or die suddenly from illness before even reaching the Holy Land.

No one knew.

"May the Heavenly Father bless His devout followers. Amen."