Don't Burn Them! Even Witches Have Value!

”Lamen (this world’s Amen), I wonder what Your Excellency seeks by visiting the temple of God?”

The presiding priest of the White Pine Church, dressed in a pure white clerical robe, forced a kind smile.

The reason it was so difficult for this servant of God to maintain a surface-level calm was that, at this moment, a black-haired young man in fine clothes was staring fixedly at the transparent glass donation box in the church.

”Money... I want money...”

Looking at the murmuring young man, the priest’s mouth twitched. He then signaled the several ascetics behind him to remove the donation box.

”Hmm?”

Lynn, having regained his senses, finally began to size up the interior of the church.

It was a magnificent temple where pure white marble was adorned with colorful glass, reflecting a pure radiance under the candlelight.

Standing at the front of the church’s worship area were four solemn, towering divine statues.

At the very center was the God of Pure White and Light, who possessed twelve wings. His form, which only had a human outline, was enveloped by half-spread wings.

To the right was the Goddess of Wisdom, wearing a simple robe. Her face couldn’t be clearly seen beneath her veil.

Standing on the left was a deity that didn’t have a human form. It resembled a tall, large bird with a pair of scales atop its long neck, its equilateral triangle-shaped single eye looking down upon the mortal world below— This was the most mysterious of the Three Primary Gods, the God of Order and Law.

The slightly shorter statue standing behind the three primary gods was the ancient faith of Milan, the God of War, who had been officially recognized by the Church after the first Emperor of Milan offered up his lands.

Looking at the golden-lit armor on the statue’s body, Lynn unconsciously began to drool again.

”Ahem.”

The priest’s cough once again called back Lynn’s thoughts.

”I’m Lynn, the new Baron of Blackstone… Previously, I accidentally had some misunderstandings with the Church.”

A fawning smile appeared on his face.

”I’ve officially judged the witch of Blackstone Fief. This is the death certificate and her ashes. I completely agree with the Church’s philosophy. I wonder if the so-called inherited debt could be...”

As he spoke, he fished out a small pouch and a piece of parchment from his tunic, handing them over with both hands while smiling.

The priest revealed a look of sudden realization, and then his expression became strange.

”So it’s Your Excellency Lynn... The Bishop has already spoken to us about your matter in advance.”

What? The Bishop?

A Bishop was the highest administrator of a parish. One step further was a Cardinal, and after that was the Pope.

Could it be?

Lynn had an ominous premonition.

”Uh, that Lord Bishop... Have I met him before?”

The priest’s expression became even stranger. When Lynn saw him nod slightly, he knew that it was hopeless.

This was bad. He really had to pay sixty-four times the tithe, and in all likelihood, not a single penny less.

The priest didn’t bother to inspect his forged certificate much, directly telling him that he would report the matter truthfully that the judgment had been completed.

”However, if we subsequently receive a report and, after investigation and verification, find that you’re harboring a witch...”

The priest didn’t say more, but Lynn already knew the consequences. The debt would double again, and if he couldn’t afford to pay it back with his territory as collateral, he would have to go to Mount Malnar to work off the debt.

...To ensure his safety, should he lock Elysia in the basement to work?

A somewhat disheartened Lynn left the church.

”Mishter Lynn... Boss, I’m hungry again.”

After reuniting with Iyanna, he sprawled across the goods on the cart while weakly supporting his forehead. Although he had indeed made her do quite a bit of manual labor recently, how could her appetite have more than doubled?

Was keeping her truly the right choice?

Lynn, feeling like his life was over, felt like he was out of options. He had no choice. He had to move up the dinner he had originally planned to mooch off of.

To be honest, as someone on a light fast, he was also nearly starving to death.

”Do you see that big house in the distance? We’re going there. I guarantee that you’ll be able to eat your fill this time, and there’ll be meat too. However, you have to be obedient. You can’t take off your hood, and you can’t run around... Ahhh!!!”

Before Lynn could finish his sentence, he let out a tragic scream and tightly grabbed the hemp rope as the sled charged toward the mansion of the Viscount of White Pine amidst the cries of alarm from the surrounding people.

Behind them, a figure also quickened its pace among the crowd, weaving through people nimbly.

————————

”Oh, respected Mr. Elcasinoreas, so it’s you. My, my, this truly makes me quite excited.”

A middle-aged man with blond hair and a mustache stood behind numerous guards while greeting Lynn with an amiable smile.

”I heard the guards say that someone was attacking the castle, and I thought that an enemy had arrived, hahaha.”

Lynn, supported by Iyanna, dry-heaved a few times. Fortunately, because there was almost no food in his stomach, he only spat out some sour water that he didn’t feel heartache over.

”Viscount of White Pine... Please don’t use that surname again... It’s no longer worthy of respect... Is it?”

A weak Lynn revealed a smile and managed to perform an elegant salute.

”It’s is truly a shame. Otherwise, the Count of Lion’s Ridge wouldn’t have become my vassal... Oh, let’s not be so formal, Your Excellency Lynn. Just call me Milangell.”

Intal Milangell, the Viscount of White Pine, held several subordinate fiefs including Baronies under him, one of which was the Blackstone Fief.

”I’m truly sorry. I really don’t have the financial resources to purchase a gift worthy of the Milangell family.”

Faced with Lynn’s apology, Viscount Milangell’s eyes widened, and he hurriedly waved his hands.

”How can that be? Your Excellency Lynn, I once received a favor from your father, and for so many years I haven’t had the chance to show him my gratitude. How could I possibly need a gift from you?”

For some reason, Lynn didn’t sense any affectation from this Viscount. This body had grown accustomed to cold stares after the previous Lynn’s great fall, and in his previous life, Lynn also understood the disguises of snobs very well.

However, he also didn’t feel the slightest intent of wanting to kick someone while they were down or gloating from the Viscount.

This was truly... a great opportunity!

Lynn grinned, and as if remembering something, he pointed to the sled behind him.

”I’ve been so muddled... I happened to have brought something worthy of being a gift.”

As he spoke, he instructed Iyanna to carry over a box of charcoal. After picking up a piece from it, he handed it to Viscount Milangell with a smile.

”This is a specialty I’ve been researching in my territory recently. A small token of my respect for you, my liege.”

Milangell looked at that piece of charcoal, and an expression of shock appeared on his face. Because between the black carbonized layers, there was actually a faint, translucent white.

This was a sign of extremely high quality charcoal known as White Charcoal.

This kind of charcoal produced very little smoke and was a product used by Milanese nobles who enjoyed hunting when they held banquets in the wild. And the more ”whitening” there was, the more precious the charcoal.

”I happened to be preparing to hold a winter hunt recently. Unfortunately, this winter has been extremely cold, and I really haven’t managed to get any good charcoal. Since it’s such a coincidence, I’ll accept this grand gift, Your Excellency Lynn.”

Seeing that Viscount Milangell had accepted this box of charcoal without the slightest disdain, Lynn forcibly suppressed the corners of his mouth from rising and continued.

”Lord Milangell, if you don’t mind, could I add a sentence when selling the charcoal from Blackstone Fief— ’The same model as used by the Viscount of White Pine’?”

Just as Lynn had speculated, the Viscount, who lacked any pretense, immediately nodded.

”Of course, what’s wrong with that?”

‘No, I can’t laugh yet.’

But, having obtained such powerful advertising for free, how could he possibly hold it in?

Thus, under the Viscount’s slightly confused gaze, Lynn let out a hearty laugh.

”Hehehe...”

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T/N - Lol, the MC reminds me of Mr. Krabs from Spongebob. That donation box scene was definitely Mr. Krabs-like.

Also, that priest was actually a Bishop? That’s even more suspicious. What’s a Bishop doing all the way to a backwater territory like Blackstone Fief? Just to burn a witch? Either there’s something special about Elysia, or he has another agenda behind the scenes… Maybe he knows about the uniqueness of the black stones?