Drawing Cards in the Middle Ages to Rise in Ranks-Chapter 512 - 291: Last Rites (Happy Mid-Autumn Festival)
When Derum returned with the medicine, Urding had already changed into his Bishop’s robe, which was less decorative but still very solemn.
"Are we going to meet someone important?"
"Yes, to perform a final prayer for a patient."
Urding tidied his appearance and led the way out: "His name is Timo, an axe-bearing soldier under the Hanfry Viscount, found beneath the body of a dead Dragon Beast."
The Holy Church in Yesterday’s Giant Ship world is quite similar to Christianity in many places.
It’s just the developmental paths are different.
The Holy Church in Yesterday’s Giant Ship, as Italy turned into the domain of the Wolf Race, gradually moved its base to the rising Kingdom of France, becoming a role akin to the Eastern Orthodox Great Shepherd to the Roman Emperor.
Thus, the Holy Church in Yesterday’s Giant Ship world gradually split into countless branches—no one could tolerate a Pope under another King’s control, and the only solution was to establish one of their own.
This was why Urding could smoothly take up the role of Clergy in this world.
Derum thought of those monstrous beasts rampaging on the battlefield, feeling incredulous: "He actually survived till now?"
"Lying bedridden and suffering is not a lucky thing."
Urding shook his head: "If it were you, what would you choose?"
Derum instinctively remembered the eight family members lost on the battlefield, comparing it to the torment of injuries; dying quickly seemed genuinely luckier: "You’re right, it’s not lucky."
Urding lamented: "People only see the rewards, the spoils, and the cheers from victory, forgetting that when war comes, death can descend on anyone at any moment."
"Without you and your Lazarus Potion, more would have died."
Derum was genuinely grateful to Bishop Urding.
"But my power is ultimately limited."
The two chatted as they walked.
Urding stopped outside a tent. Inside was cool, without any candles lit, and he stepped directly onto a straw-covered wooden bed: "Timo."
"Bishop, you’ve come."
The man lying on the bed unexpectedly looked in good spirits, though his lips were extraordinarily pale, and an unbearable stench emanated from beneath him.
His eyes stared intently at Urding, filled with both expectation and unease.
"Hmm, is there anything you’d like to say to me?"
Timo nodded heavily.
"Father, I need to confess to you."
"Hmm, I’m listening."
"I once foully tempted a married woman and slept with her... for many days and nights, I know my sin is unforgivable, but through various battles, I’ve killed no less than thirty Heretics; can that atone?"
After saying this, Timo was exhausted and gasped for breath, yet still stared intently at Urding, awaiting a response.
"I’m sorry, I don’t know."
Urding silently drew a cross on his chest. The Pope says killing Heretics is not a sin; it’s redemption, but it’s not what the Heavenly Lord says.
Even if it were, it’s not the Lord he believes in.
"Ha."
Timo’s breathing grew more rapid, his chest heaving like bellows; he forcibly endured the pain throughout his body, sat up, and grabbed Urding’s arm, showing surprising strength for a dying man.
Urding gently patted his back, and Timo’s breathing finally smoothed out somewhat, continuing: "Master Bishop, I’m... I’m grateful to you for coming here in my final time, willing to see this humble person one last time."
"People say you are the greatest, most upright Wise Man. So, please tell me straight, have I washed away my sins?"
Urding was silent for a moment and said: 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦
"My child, your sins will be forgiven, and you will ascend to the Celestial Kingdom, returning to the Lord’s embrace."
Killing Heretics does not grant redemption, but Urding did not want a suffering dying man to live in fear and unease even in his final moments.
"That is good, that is good..."
Timo unconsciously repeated, his voice getting smaller, until his head gently slipped along Urding’s shoulder as if freed from a heavy burden.
Urding calmly laid Timo’s body flat and extended his somewhat rough but warm palm over Timo’s face to close his eyes: "In Christ’s name, Amen."
Derum quickly bowed his head and drew a cross, reciting "Amen."
He used to be a devout follower of Fire Worship, kneeling daily at sunrise before the first rays of sunshine, welcoming dawn, praying with his tribesmen as the sun rose.
Until he later discovered that the Fire Worship god did not bless him.
Leaving the dim barracks, the air became fresh again.
He watched the corpse bearers respectfully salute Urding before wrapping Timo’s body tightly in linen cloth, placing it on a cart, and creaking away along uneven dirt roads, somewhat lost in thought.
"Derum, do you have something on your mind?"
"No, nothing."
Derum hesitated for a moment but said: "I just feel that so many important people are busy with various grand matters, but only you, such an important person, would pray for a bunch of soldiers who aren’t even worth mentioning."
"Child, without the support of the Marquis, where would all these tents, the linen for dressing wounds, and the ingredients for medicine come from? Recently, the market price of herbs has soared several times, and if not for the Marquis judging a dozen Jewish merchants, there would have been even more shortages of herbs."
Urding said plainly: "They... or rather, you, are not insignificant little people; everyone is the protagonist in their life."
Derum laughed self-deprecatingly: "If people like us can be considered protagonists, then surely, no one would want to read this book."
Urding shook his head: "Derum, Timo was a strong Soldier. He once single-handedly killed a Knight who attempted to rob their village and set off on a pilgrimage wearing his equipment."
"In Messina, the renowned place where Pilgrims set sail, he single-handedly saved a Lady attacked by Saracen pirates."
"And these are just his known deeds; in reality, he was a person of few words, rarely seen boasting."
Derum said sincerely: "Then his story is indeed fascinating. If Timo were under the Marquis’s banner and survived, he surely would have been knighted; I believe he deserves it."
"But he never herded sheep, nor could he ride horses; he was once a Hunter serving the local Lord, roaming the forest daily, hunting wild boars, rabbits, fallow deer... sometimes providing early warnings for demon sightings around the village."
Urding smiled: "If you tell him about your experience in the tribe, he would also find it fascinating."
Derum nodded understandingly, but he still didn’t quite comprehend what’s interesting about sheep herding.
"Let’s go."
"What’s next?"
"Grinding medicine, it’s laborious work. You came at the right time. If you have strength left after this, you can weed the herb garden."
Derum asked with some confusion: "Are we staying here for a long time?"
"No, not really. Those herbs grow quickly because they’re watered with the spring under the Tree of Life... or the Divine Wood as you call it."
"Divine Wood..."
Derum’s face showed a trace of longing: "Speaking of which, when I first saw the Divine Wood in Alandler, I thought there could be no taller tree in the world, but then I heard it was merely a sapling from the one in New Habsburg."
"Perhaps in a few years, the yellow earth beneath our feet will turn into a lush Oasis with flowing springs."
Urding smiled and pointed to the ground.
"It is God’s gift."
Derum devoutly drew a cross on his chest; he is a realistic person, but with one miracle after another before him, even a nominal believer would become devout now.
