A Crusader with System in the Middle Ages

As Beatrice’s words fell, Matilda remained silent.

”Cast aside your emotions, my daughter. Immerse your soul in supreme rationality. That is the most perfect gift and blessing God has left for mankind. Humanity has no need to yearn for more miracles, for human reason is the greatest miracle of all.

My daughter, perfect rationality will make you stronger, even in this world ruled by men.” Beatrice hugged Matilda’s shoulders and whispered in her ear.

”You don’t need to remind me of that.” Matilda pulled away from Beatrice. ”I have remained rational. I have been, from the beginning until now. Even more so than you.

Do not place expectations on a stranger. One should not have unnecessary fantasies about him. Instead, one should try to see him as the worst of men and prepare for every worst-case scenario.

Would you dare say that is not rational?”

”Rational, yes, rational,” Beatrice replied in a deliberately dismissive tone. ”But based on the information we have so far, he’s hardly the worst choice, is he? After all, you were the one who personally selected him...

My daughter, the truth is you have high hopes for him, don’t you?”

”I do not.” Matilda glared at Beatrice, then felt her reaction was a bit too strong and added an explanation. ”It’s just... it’s just that he is the youngest of the suitors.”

”Yes, I remember. This young Count is not even twenty this year, is he?” Beatrice said, smiling at her daughter.

”He will gain all of Tuscan!” Matilda said suddenly, as if wanting to emphasize a point.

Just as Beatrice was about to say more, a knock came from the door. Three knocks exactly, as was Matilda’s rule.

”Enter.” The spaciousness of the room gave Matilda’s voice an ethereal quality.

A middle-aged guard entered. It was the same guard who had been tasked with suspending Belem.

”Marchioness, as you predicted, Count Belem was saved by the Earl of Gloucester,” the guard said respectfully.

”The notorious Robert Belem. He travels in the company of such a man.” Matilda seemed to have found her pretext.

”Perhaps you should rephrase that. Ah, the merciful Earl of Gloucester, Eric De Outville, refuses to abandon even a man like Robert Belem.

Just like Christ of old, Christ never abandons anyone, because everyone has sinned, and everyone is a sinner.” Beatrice smiled, casually dismissing Matilda’s objection.

By now she had finished braiding Matilda’s hair. She placed her hands on Matilda’s neck, her cheek brushing against her daughter’s ear, intrigued and awaiting Matilda’s reaction.

”Did you finish reading the note I gave you?” Matilda asked the guard, gritting her teeth and speaking in a cold voice.

This startled the guard.

’What did this have to do with him? He was just the messenger.’

”Everything was done as you commanded. And Lord Gloucester has given a response.” The guard lowered his head, holding a piece of parchment in both hands above his head and presenting it to Matilda.

Matilda took the parchment and her eyes quickly scanned it.

”A vile and sinful body can more appropriately explain sacred things than a noble and holy one... humanity does not need to become Angels...”

Matilda’s eyes froze on the words.

Beatrice leaned in to look as well.

However, her eyes fell on another sentence.

”Only through the most twisted things can one see God...”

Beatrice liked this sentence. ’It’s as if it’s describing me,’ she thought.

Seeing Matilda silent, Beatrice chose to break the silence.

”It seems he’s a genuine Monk... no, I should say, a genuine Theologian.

I’m starting to feel ashamed of your childish behavior, my dear daughter Matilda.”

”So what if he’s knowledgeable and silver-tongued? He is peddling the wisdom of the Lord of Heaven to defend sin. That is worse than being ignorant. He is distorting the truth!”

”It sounds like you’re getting flustered. Be rational, my daughter. If you believe you possess the truth, why can’t your truth refute his ’sophistry’?

If you cannot defeat him with logic, then how do you intend to defeat him? By using your power in Tuscan? Or by personally swinging a butcher’s knife at his neck?

Frankly, when a person cannot defeat another in a logical argument, yet refuses to concede or accept the other’s point of view, the only remaining option is violence.

Just like the Jewish mob that abandoned Christ!” Beatrice took a few steps away from Matilda.

”I...” Matilda was taken aback.

”Dare you say that not even the faintest violent thought flashed through your mind? Matilda, I must remind you again.

The current predicament of Tuscan, including your predicament and mine—the hostility and discrimination we face because we are women—is all because the people of this world prefer and are more willing to resort to violence than to logic and reason!” Beatrice frowned, her tone hardening.

”I’m sorry.” Matilda glanced at Beatrice, then turned her head away.

She had to admit, there had been a fleeting moment.

’It was subconscious.’

’I’m sorry...’

.....

「Canossa Castle, the room of the Holy See.」

The candlelight was still faint, able to illuminate only a small area.

This small patch of light was sufficient for a young man, but for Gregory (Gregory), who was nearly sixty, everything appeared somewhat blurry, especially at night.

Gregory rubbed his eyes and squinted hard, trying to bring his vision into focus. However, the words on the parchment did not become clearer; instead, they grew even more blurred.

The parchment letter was from Southern Italy, and the sender was none other than its ruler, the Norman, Giscard.

Being unable to read the letter vexed Gregory, as he instinctively felt that the contents of the parchment were not good news.

He pulled open a drawer and fumbled around for something inside. But he couldn’t find what he was looking for.

This heightened his agitation, but soon, the very thing he wanted was passed before his eyes.

It was his close friend, Gerard’s Otto (the future Pope, Urban II), the Cardinal of Ostia and Abbot of Cluny Monastery.

The man was younger than Gregory, but Gregory never dared to underestimate him. He possessed an unparalleled and excellent quality: acuity.

Gregory took the object Otto offered. It was a round, glass-like object. When looking through this ’glass,’ the script would appear larger and clearer.

”It seems you’ve grown accustomed to it, Hilbrand,” Otto said with a smile.

”Perhaps one must make some changes. No...” Gregory paused and looked at Otto. ”Not change, but a return to how things were. In ancient times, this land we now stand on possessed far greater wisdom. That was an age of masters.

They could create many wondrous things. What we do now is merely replication. Like the Giant Crossbow and various siege engines—those existed in ancient times, they were just forgotten.

We no longer possess the skills of the ancients. Just as people today have begun to forget Christ. The rightful place of the Church has been usurped.”

”Speaking of which, I had someone make inquiries about this little gadget. It seems they’ve started producing these things in Venice recently. They call them ’Lens,’ and they sell for a steep price—six Bolonese Silver Coins for two pieces.

However, regarding the ’Lens’... some say it is Witchcraft, or a scheme of the Devil.” Otto took the ’glass’ from Gregory’s hand and held it up to the candlelight, focusing the light into a single point.

”Magic also comes in two forms. One is the kind of magic intended to make people fall into depravity through its cunning. But the other kind of magic is sacred.” Gregory took the ’glass’ back from Otto, placed it before his eyes again to read the letter, and continued explaining. ”It reveals the knowledge of God through the knowledge of man. It can alter nature, and one of its purposes is to extend the breadth of human life.

And this Lens is a sacred Magic. People should devote themselves to studying it, not only to discover new things but also to rediscover many of nature’s secrets.

You must understand that God’s wisdom has revealed these secrets to the Hebrews, the Greeks, and other ancients—and even to the Heretics of today.

Christians should reclaim all of this knowledge, and not let the Heretics and Unbelievers have it all to themselves.”

Gregory put down the ’glass’ and slapped his forehead. Just as his intuition had told him, it was bad news.

”What is it?” Otto asked.

”Giscard says the Greek Emperor shamefully launched a surprise attack on his domain, and for the glory of God, he must counterattack. He even brings up the insult the Roman Curia suffered twenty years ago. He certainly knows what to say.” (In 1054, Rome and Constantinople mutually excommunicated each other. Gregory VII attempted to mend the schism during his reign.)

”He probably doesn’t want to come. After all, Normandy has already made a move, so he feels there’s no need to take such a big risk and provoke the Emperor so early. Besides, now that we have Normandy as an ally, his own value is diluted,” Otto said with a smile.

”So fickle. Truly worthy of his name, ’Giscard’,” Gregory cursed. ”If we were to rely on him completely, the Holy See would never return to its rightful place.”

”Speaking of which, does he know his son is getting married?” Gregory looked at Otto.

”Probably not. The letter was only sent three days ago. We have to be mindful of the Marchioness’s feelings; she is likely not very keen on getting married. Moreover, Giscard rarely stays in one place for more than half a month, so we’re unsure of his exact location.

It could take a week at the earliest, or a month at the latest, for him to receive it.” Otto paused, then pointed to the ’glass’ in Gregory’s hand. ”By the way, this ’glass’ was a tribute from his son, the Earl of Gloucester from Normandy. I’ve seen the gift list.

He’s outside the door right now. Do you plan on seeing him?”

”Why are you only telling me now?” Gregory stood up, frowning, slightly displeased with Otto. ”I am to be his marriage witness, at the very least.”

”One must properly display the majesty of the Holy See. Relax, Hilbrand. He is a clever boy.” Otto gestured for Gregory to sit back down, indicating he would go and receive the visitor.