A Crusader with System in the Middle Ages

Eric figured Brand was likely in the library.

This was because almost as soon as Dean Brand was quarantined and disappeared from the Cultivators’ sight, the library was placed under strict guard.

Thirty of the Cathedral’s household knights took turns guarding the entrance to the library, showing no signs of relaxing their watch even after nightfall.

Eric decided he would ask Delang tomorrow. Perhaps he had a way into the library.

However, just as night fell, a horrifying piece of news spread: Belenga was dead. The manner of his death was particularly bizarre—drowned in a vat of pig’s blood. His corpse was in a horrifying state.

A wave of panic immediately spread among the Cultivators.

Talk of the Demon grew more intense. One by one, the Cultivators broke their vows of silence, turning the refectory into a debate hall.

This continued until Torod appeared with his personal translator in tow to deliver his usual boilerplate speech.

”Demons exist because they are part of God’s plan. In their despicable traits, the Power of the Creator is also made manifest. By God’s design, the works of Wizards, the secret arts of the Jewish people, the fables of heretical poets, the lies of Heretics, and so on all exist.

Those who built this Monastery, and those who have maintained it for centuries, firmly believed that even in books of falsehood, a glimmer of God’s wisdom could still shine through for the discerning reader. That is why the library holds such a collection.

But this has been proven wrong. The wisdom of Heresy only leads one to Hell! ... The library absolutely must not be opened to just anyone!”

Only this time, unlike before, more and more of the Cultivators agreed with him.

...

That night, in the dormitory.

The dormitory was a large, open room with rows of beds. Only three were empty.

Gwen didn’t choose the bed against the west wall, opting for the one in the middle instead.

Eric took the remaining bed by the wall.

Bedtime at the Monastery was early. After dinner and a short, simple prayer, it was time to rest.

Soon, all the Cultivators were settled in for the night.

Surprisingly, the dormitory was quiet. There was no snoring, or at least none that was noticeable.

Gwen, however, was wide awake, not the least bit sleepy.

Her mind raced with the events of the past few days.

’Demon... suicide... punishment... corruption...’

It was the first time she had ever heard such religious terminology used so frequently in a single day.

Even though Gwen didn’t consider herself a person of Devotion, she felt a flicker of fear for the first time.

She recalled the mentally unstable Belenga she had seen earlier that day, and the image of the Demon carved into the stone pillar...

She couldn’t stop thinking about it, and the more she thought, the more a chill ran down her spine.

’Wait, a chill...’

’Why is it so cold all of a sudden...’

Gwen then realized Eric had hogged her blanket.

Eric seemed to be fast asleep.

Gwen gave it a yank. Eric wasn’t holding on tightly, so it came back easily.

Pulling the blanket back over herself, Gwen stared at the ceiling.

But sleep was still nowhere in sight.

The dormitory was pitch-black, the moonlight filtering through the window the only source of light.

Gwen had the unsettling feeling that somewhere in the darkness, a Demon was watching her.

She knew it was a ridiculous, childish feeling.

Her senses on high alert, Gwen soon heard another strange noise.

It wasn’t snoring. It was a sort of squelching, smooching sound.

She tried to ignore it, but the sound was right next to her ear, making it impossible.

It wasn’t coming from Eric, but from one of the other Cultivators.

And it sounded very close.

Gwen turned her head, her eyes scanning the darkness.

And then Gwen saw a truly startling sight.

Two Cultivators were locked in a fierce, passionate kiss.

Startled, Gwen instinctively recoiled.

Her head bumped against Eric’s chin, jolting him awake.

Actually, Eric hadn’t been asleep either. He was only pretending.

He had business to attend to and was waiting for Gwen to fall asleep first.

He was supposed to meet Delang; they had arranged to inspect Belenga’s body and find a way into the library.

But Gwen showed no signs of falling asleep anytime soon.

”W-what’s wrong?” Eric asked, doing his best to sound like he’d just been woken up.

”N-nothing. It’s nothing.”

Gwen stuttered, quickly turning to face away from Eric.

”Fine. I’m going back to sleep. And don’t wake me up again. I get angry.”

”Er...” Gwen hesitated. ”Um, can I ask you a question? Cultivator.”

Gwen slowly turned back to face Eric. She held up a single finger, and for the first time, Eric saw a hint of pitiable vulnerability in her.

”What do you think about Demons?”

”Do you mean this current situation, or...”

”Either.”

”Only God can truly answer questions about Demons. The Bible teaches us how to save ’ourselves.’ So when we face a problem, we should first examine the human element. To blame everything on Demons is, philosophically speaking, taking the lazy way out.

That’s all I can say on the general matter. As for this particular incident... if, as Torod claims, reading books is a sin, then why would the Demon harm a Cultivator for doing something sinful?

Wouldn’t doing something sinful be exactly what a Demon wants...?”

”That’s true.”

For some reason, the patch of moonlight had shifted, and now it illuminated Gwen’s face.

It made her cheeks seem as smooth as porcelain.

Eric was suddenly reminded of Cecilia. He subconsciously reached out, his fingers gently touching Gwen’s cheek.

Eric’s sudden movement made Gwen freeze for a second, a blush creeping up her cheeks.

Just as Eric realized he had crossed a line and was trying to figure out how to explain himself...

The ’moonlight’ now darted onto his own face, dancing around erratically.

Eric followed the light with his eyes and discovered Delang clinging to the outside of the dormitory window, making hand signals at him.

The gestures urged Eric to hurry up and get out.

Eric used the interruption as an excuse to pull his hand back from Gwen’s cheek.

”Want to come with me?”

Figuring she wasn’t going to get any sleep anyway, Gwen nodded.

The two of them tiptoed out of the dormitory.

They made their way into the Monastery courtyard.

Seeing them emerge, Delang hurried over.

Eric felt a bit awkward as he looked at Delang, wondering just how long he had been watching from the window.

Delang glanced from Eric to Gwen and back again.

”I hope it’s not what I think it is. Otherwise, I’d really have to believe a Demon has snuck into this Monastery to wreak havoc.

No offense intended, but frankly, I can’t stand seeing men get that intimate,” Delang said, shaking his head.