A Crusader with System in the Middle Ages

Perhaps the commotion from Hessin and the others was too much, for the old man stirred and opened his eyes.

He seemed to notice something, but his blurry vision forced him to squint.

Hessin immediately felt a pair of hands cup his face.

”Such a fair maiden.”

”Hey, hey, hey! Old man, what do you think you’re doing? I’m a man!” Hessin cried out.

”English? No wonder you’re so ugly.”

Lanfrank shook his head and hastily let go.

”Archbishop...”

Robert immediately stepped forward.

Yet his face, too, was cupped in the old man’s hands.

”Such an ugly maiden.”

”Archbishop, it is I, Robert.”

Lanfrank was a fair bit taller than Robert, which Robert found rather humiliating.

”Robert? Ah, so it is you. It’s been a long time. You’ve gotten much more handsome.”

Lanfrank sheepishly released his hands.

He then looked past Robert, his gaze falling upon the person at Robert’s side—Eric.

As usual, Eric was dressed as a Cultivator, an appearance that lowered his perceived threat.

Lanfrank slowly walked toward him and reached out his hand.

This time, however, Eric intercepted the hand before it reached him. He had no interest in being pawed at by an old man.

The two men locked eyes. The atmosphere grew still, and a tense aura filled the air.

The onlookers couldn’t help but grow tense as well.

Eric and Lanfrank remained in a standoff for two minutes, neither speaking a word.

Just as Robert was about to step in and interrupt them, Eric spoke.

”Is there something I can help you with, Archbishop?”

The atmosphere made Eric uneasy; he felt targeted. It was like being singled out by a teacher in class.

”I don’t know why, but my first impression of you was one of admiration. However, my reason tells me I ought to despise you.”

Lanfrank’s tone was placid. It was clear he was not joking.

Lanfrank now had a strange and absurd premonition: the current predicament of London City and King William was deeply connected to the Cultivator before him.

”I thank you for your praise. It is flattering. But more than that, I am eager to know your decision regarding the present situation, Archbishop.”

Eric sensed that Lanfrank was trying to build rapport, so he cut off any avenue of evasion, forcing him to address the main issue.

”You think you have won?”

A faint smile played across Lanfrank’s deeply wrinkled face.

He spoke not in French, but in Latin.

Robert’s Latin was poor. He could barely write the language, and his ability to speak and understand it was abysmal.

As for Hessin, a boy from the countryside, he probably didn’t even know what Latin was.

There were no other Clergy around, and even if there had been, their grasp of Latin would likely have been mediocre at best.

Thus, only Lanfrank and Eric could understand the exchange.

”I mean no harm. Why should a vibrant young man fear a decaying old one?” Lanfrank said with a smile.

”I can see no reason why we would not win,” Eric said, his brow furrowing.

”Are you so certain, you confident Monk?”

”A humble Cultivator is willing to listen to the Archbishop’s wisdom.”

”Or perhaps, arrogant. Nothing is impossible for God; His will cannot be obstructed.”

”Words cannot serve as swords to break down walls,” Eric said with a shrug.

”But the Blood of God can.”

A dagger appeared in Lanfrank’s hand.

But he pressed it not against Eric, not against Robert, nor against anyone else. He pressed it against himself.

”Guess which side Hilbrand will take.” The blade began to break his skin.

”Would you truly choose William’s cruelty over Robert’s mercy?”

Eric shouted hastily.

Lanfrank merely paused for a moment.

That single moment, however, was all the opportunity Eric needed to speak his next words.

”No. He will never know. Because everyone here—every single person—will die because of you.”

”Is this what you call mercy?” Lanfrank stayed his hand. ”A Crown is a heavy burden, for it carries the weight of immeasurable blood and sin. Does it truly matter whether the Monarch who wears it is merciful or not?

Robert will not necessarily be a better ruler than William. Did you know William in his youth? The Crown? It will only lead to another slaughter. A merciful God would never wish to see such a thing.”

”You believe God is merciful? Then let me ask you: if God is merciful, why is there evil in the world He created? Should a merciful God not have made a world containing only good?” Eric asked, slowly approaching Lanfrank.

”Evil stems from the temptation of the Devil. The Devil tempted Adam and Eve to disobey God’s will and eat the fruit of evil. It is irrational to blame God for evil.

God gave humanity the right of free will, but mankind constantly misuses this freedom to choose evil.

You should reread your Bible. That is the first lesson.”

”Then from where did the Devil come? If God is both omnipotent and merciful, why did He create the Devil? Why would He give humanity the option to choose evil?” Eric pressed on.

”Well...”

For a moment, Lanfrank was at a loss for words.

’He had actually never considered this question.’

”Allow me to tell you why. Because evil is necessary! God does not desire puppets, but individuals who can respond to Him freely. That is why humanity was given a spirit and, unlike the animals, the capacity to grow and mature.

God uses this world to cultivate the human spirit; the world is a vale for the nurturing of souls. God teaches us to be good, but without evil, how can good even exist?

Evil is a form of education. The sorrow and suffering it causes allow people to better understand God’s grace and love, to know the value and meaning of good.

Good and evil are also interactive. If good is misused or becomes useless, it can lead to evil. By the same token, if evil is properly applied, it can lead to good.

Therefore, to perform good and to perform evil are both part of God’s will.

So tell me, Archbishop, do you wish to defy the will of God?”

”You...”

Lanfrank was stunned by Eric’s outrageous claims.

But its logic was so sound that, for the moment, he could find no way to refute it.

”You can neither reject Robert on moral grounds, nor refute me with reason, nor can you deny God in matters of faith. I see no reason, Archbishop, for you to refuse our reasonable request.”

As he spoke of morality, Eric pointed to the starving citizens gathered in the chapel. When he spoke of reason, he pointed to himself. And when he spoke of faith, he pointed to the Holy Image on the chapel wall.

”Your martyrdom will be meaningless. God will not take pity on a stubborn disciple who rejects His will, and the people will not sympathize with an Archbishop who condones a tyrant.

A violent Prince who delights in sodomy, or a merciful and devout Prince... I think for any believer, the choice is an easy one.”

”You...”

Lanfrank glanced back at Robert. At that moment, Robert was digging in his ear with his finger. Sensing Lanfrank’s gaze, he hastily pulled his hand back, wiped his finger on his trousers, and began to whistle as if he had done nothing at all.

”Very well.”

He paused for a long moment, his thoughts unreadable, before he finally relented.