Chapter 27: Has Chanting Sutras Made You Foolish?

“Sir, sir!”
Leo, who was still standing by the Enza River, turned his head immediately when he heard Enrique’s urgent call, a hint of puzzlement in his eyes.
What could possibly make his knight so anxious?
“Is something the matter?” Leo asked.
Enrique jogged up to Leo, his tone brimmed with urgency, words tumbling out like a barrage.
“There’s a messenger outside, sir. He says he’s from the Holy See.”
“From the Holy See?”
The moment Leo heard that, he felt certain nothing good would come of it.
After all, when the Pope sent him out, the intentions were far from pure. If they were sending someone now, it was unlikely to be a bearer of glad tidings.
Enrique’s reply was exactly what Leo expected.
“Yes, he’s from the Holy See. He says he’s here to escort you to Rome for a report, and frankly, he’s quite disagreeable.”
To be taken back to Rome for a report...
As Leo pondered this, the system’s notification chimed in, ill-timed as ever.
[New Task Triggered]
[The Road to Accountability]
[Completion Criteria: Follow Cleric Boniface back to Rome for a report, and obey the Holy See’s instructions.]
[Reward: 200 Devotion Points, promotion to ‘Sixth-Rank Deacon’]
A task from the system?
Leo stared at the mission, lost in thought. After a brief period of contemplation, he seemed to have reached a decision and looked at Enrique.
“Bring him over first, find him a place to settle,” Leo said.
“Sir, does this mean...”
A trace of confusion appeared on Enrique’s face, perhaps wanting to ask Leo about the purpose behind this course of action.
But Leo didn’t answer him, saying, “No matter what, I must finish the affairs here at the monastery first. If any issues arise, we’ll address them later.”
It was these words that made Enrique temporarily suppress his doubts.
Perhaps Lord Leo had his own arrangements.
Carrying Leo’s instructions, he headed to the monastery gates. By now, Boniface, already impatient from waiting, had begun complaining.
“Is this how you conduct yourselves? Leaving me blocked here, you scoundrels!”
Boniface paced back and forth, but these burly soldiers were beyond his reach.
They seemed completely deaf to his threats, utterly unaffected by intimidation—what else could he do?

He was no match for these troopers either.
“Let me in! I’m here on official business...”
“Let him through!”
Enrique appeared among the soldiers and, with a shout, caught their attention.
“No more blocking, let him in.”
After confirming Enrique’s command, the soldiers allowed passage.
Boniface finally entered, though his expression remained sour. Once inside the monastery grounds, he surveyed his surroundings with a sinister gaze.
Was this a newly built monastery?
After scanning the area, his eyes settled on Leo.
Most of the time, Leo actually disliked wearing clerical robes.
Though they were elegant, they were terribly inconvenient, especially when work was needed—they were a nightmare.
So, Leo often donned a simple gray shirt.
To Boniface, such attire was the mark of a provincial bumpkin.
“Leo!”
Boniface called out, then strode to his side.
Leo glanced at Boniface, searching his memory, only to realize he had no recollection of this cleric—likely just another insignificant nobody.
“Never expected you’d be here, Leo. You really lucked out, didn’t you?”
As soon as Boniface reached Leo, he launched into a string of nonsense.
“You’ve been holding onto such a nice post as papal envoy, but that’s about to end. The Holy See has decided—you’re to be recalled...”
“Wait, what’s your name again?”
Leo paid Boniface’s ramblings no mind—he was simply curious.
Were they acquainted?
Such disregard made Boniface’s face bulge with indignation. His complexion shifted from green to red, as if he’d suffered some monumental humiliation.
And Leo became all the more intrigued.
How did one sentence set him boiling?
“Don’t you remember me? I’m the one who always passed the cardinal exams—Boniface.”
“Can’t recall at all.” Leo spread his hands. “So many pass the exams—how could I remember which one you are? But it doesn’t matter, Boniface, your name is noted.”
Leo’s casual dismissal made Boniface nearly explode with anger.
Desperate to regain face, Boniface strode back and forth, eyeing the surroundings with feverish scrutiny.

At last, his gaze locked onto a large pit.
Several soldiers were pouring lime into it; branches and flax rested within, white lime falling on them like scattered snowflakes.
“What are they doing?” Boniface pointed.
“Oh, I’m making Andalusian paper,” Leo replied.
“Andalusian paper? You?”
For some reason, Boniface’s expression suddenly turned mocking, as though he’d seen a ghost staring at Leo.
“Don’t be ridiculous, Leo. You? Andalusian paper is a secret of the Arabs, and you, who can’t even recite the Bible, claim you can produce such a thing? Good heavens, perhaps you should come back to Rome with me—I’ll have the bishops examine you for signs of demonic possession.”
“Seems you’ve been chanting prayers one too many times,”
Leo frowned, unable to fathom why the Holy See would send such a fool.
Seeing Boniface’s smug look, Leo even suspected the Holy See had sent him deliberately to irritate.
“You surely can’t make such a thing, Leo. I’m entirely at ease—all the young students in the Holy See, only you are the most...”
Boniface’s finger finally pointed to his own temple.
He deliberately rotated his finger, provoking Leo, as if that might restore some dignity.
Leo didn’t even look at him.
“Is the fire under the pot started yet? Not done? Hurry up.”
Leo walked over to the soldiers making paper, directing their work.
Repeatedly ignored, Boniface felt fury rise within him. His mind might not be swift, but he could sense Leo regarded him as nothing.
Why?
Boniface seethed; clearly, he had performed better in the past, yet Leo had reaped all the rewards.
But seeing those soldiers obey Leo’s commands, Boniface took a deep breath.
Endure, endure.
Once back at the Holy See, he would denounce Leo before the cardinals—then Leo would surely suffer. Boniface plotted silently.
Swallowing his frustration, Boniface turned and looked at Enrique beside him. The knight’s face was contorted, flushed red with the struggle to contain his laughter.
He nearly burst out laughing, but managed to restrain himself. Enrique mused inwardly.
“Is there somewhere I can stay? Take me...”
Boniface hadn’t finished his sentence when his gaze was drawn away by a dazzling figure.
It was Matilda.