Chapter 4: The Physics of Dialectics
At this moment, Leo was still unaware of what those courtiers intended to do.
Under Matilda’s arrangements, he took up residence in Canossa Castle. Perched upon a massive stone mountain, the castle boasted excellent defensive capabilities, but this also meant its living conditions were… well, to put it kindly, meager.
Ordinary wouldn’t even begin to describe it—“bare walls and empty rooms” was no exaggeration.
It was not a jest. Even as a distinguished guest, Leo was allotted only a single, solitary room within the castle. The chamber contained a bed, a small table, and a tiny window. Nothing more. It was scarcely better than a detention cell.
Yet Leo harbored no complaints. He simply lay on the bed, closed his eyes, and checked his system.
[Personal Information]
[Name: Leo]
[Title: Papal Envoy]
[Rank: Third-Class Exorcist]
[Money: 0]
[Fame: 190]
[Piety: 190]
Gazing at the sudden leap in his fame and piety, Leo couldn’t help but sigh in admiration—wealthy patrons truly were wonderful.
He hadn’t secured any funds yet, but this mission was already proving most rewarding.
And now, with a bit of accumulation over time, Leo finally had the chance to visit the system’s shop and see what items he could exchange for fame and piety.
[Exchange Shop]
As the page opened, a dazzling array of goods unfolded before Leo’s eyes.
Money was the most versatile of currencies. Nearly everything could be purchased with it, though it was far more expensive than paying with fame or piety. Moreover, just like money, both fame and piety would be consumed through Leo’s various actions.
Fame was mainly useful for recruiting talent. Knights, soldiers, even immigrants—all required a certain amount of fame to enlist.
Piety, meanwhile, could unlock culture and technology, and facilitate various religious operations.
So, what should he acquire first?
The overwhelming selection didn’t sway Leo’s resolve.
The weapon of criticism could never replace the criticism of weapons.
In the brutal Middle Ages, anyone wishing to debate theology needed to ensure their arguments weren’t cut short by a blade. Even the Papacy itself was not immune to such realities.
Peace only existed when one’s fist was sufficiently formidable, and negotiations only commenced when opponents felt apprehensive.
Leo understood clearly: if his own fist was not strong enough, all else was but empty talk.
Thus, he turned his attention to recruiting soldiers with fame.
[Basic Unit: Light Infantry (Base Strength: 60)]
[These poor light infantry hail from impoverished regions and will be led by a knight. So long as you keep them fed, they will fight for you. However, do not place too much hope in their combat ability.]
[Cost: 150 Fame]
It seemed rather unimpressive.
Leo wanted something better and casually checked another option.
[Basic Unit: Saxon Heavy Infantry (Base Strength: 50)]
[Cost: 2,000 Fame]
Two thousand?
Leo immediately withdrew his impoverished gaze and returned to the light infantry.
It wasn’t that he couldn’t afford Saxon heavy infantry, but light infantry offered better value for now.
When his fame was high enough, Leo certainly intended to recruit stronger soldiers. But for the time being, making do with light infantry would suffice.
As Leo confirmed the recruitment, his fame dwindled rapidly.
[Personal Information]
[Name: Leo]
[Title: Papal Envoy]
[Rank: Third-Class Exorcist]
[Money: 0]
[Fame: 40]
[Piety: 190]
The fame he had painstakingly gathered was almost entirely spent in an instant.
Though Leo felt a pang of regret, curiosity soon took over—how would the soldiers arrive?
[The light infantry you recruited will arrive at Canossa Castle this afternoon.]
So they wouldn’t appear out of thin air.
Leo opened his eyes and sat up, anticipation stirring within him for the arrival of his new troops.
…
That very afternoon, the guards of Canossa Castle encountered something unusual.
They saw a group of people approaching in the distance. As they drew nearer, the guards realized it was a knight leading a band of ragged folk!
For people of the Middle Ages, such a sight was hardly rare.
The castle guards promptly shut the gates and remained vigilant.
The light infantry were left dumbfounded.
“Friends, we’re here to see Lord Leo!” called the leading knight. “We are in the service of the Papal Envoy—please let us enter!”
The guards remained unmoved.
Instead, they chose to inform Leo—and until he appeared atop the wall, they did not exchange a single word with the knight.
The moment Leo appeared, the knight below became visibly excited.
“Lord Leo! It’s me, Enrico!”
The towering knight bounced and waved beneath the wall, clearly overjoyed at Leo’s arrival.
Leo, however, felt far less jubilant.
He made a rough count of the people behind Enrico—there were certainly not just sixty. It was clearly an entire group, families and all; perhaps there were a hundred. Among the ranks were women and children, all bearing the unmistakable look of displaced folk.
“Are these your people?” came Matilda’s voice as she too arrived on the wall, hands folded neatly before her. From her calm demeanor, it was clear she had seen such things before.
“They are,” Leo nodded.
He could easily recognize the soldiers he’d summoned from the system.
Yet Matilda regarded Leo with newfound curiosity.
Where had he found these people?
As a humble cleric, it would be unsurprising for Leo to know some within the Church. But these soldiers, though not formidable, were nonetheless willing to follow Leo. That was remarkable.
Matilda allowed the soldiers inside, eager to see what would unfold next.
The first to enter was, naturally, the knight Enrico, leading his men.
“At last, I meet you in person, Lord Leo.”
The tall, burly Enrico was so overcome with excitement that he fumbled several times before finally grasping Leo’s hand.
“Very good, very good,” Leo replied, unsure of the situation and careful to keep up appearances.
Enrico, eager to explain himself, continued, “Lord Leo, the people I’ve brought are all my countrymen from Corsica. Rest assured, they will serve you with all their hearts.”
Though directed at Leo, Matilda caught every word.
From Corsica.
A whole group, families in tow, traveled across great distances to pledge themselves to Leo.
What extraordinary loyalty!
Matilda was momentarily at a loss. She was deeply curious: what kind of charm did this cleric possess, that people would follow him so willingly?
“Your Grace,” Leo approached Matilda, interrupting her thoughts, “may my soldiers temporarily reside in your castle? And if possible, I’ll need to borrow some provisions.”
“Of course,” Matilda replied immediately, without a hint of hesitation.
After all, feeding a group of this size was no trouble for a duchess.
What truly concerned her was something else entirely.
Just how many secrets was Leo hiding?