At this time, the knights behind Father Eliza suddenly began to whisper.
"Father, don't listen to this kid, we don't have time."
"Yeah, after going to Cohen Town, we have to go to Flor Town and Canter Town. It's impossible to do any damn investigation."
"This little bastard is here to cause trouble. Let's whip him with a riding crop."
"When I see his parents later, I have to ask them to discipline this kid. He dares to openly oppose the Church of Light."
"Maybe he was sent by the cultists to cause trouble."
"..."
Father Eliza raised his hand, and the knights behind him quickly became quiet.
"Go around him and let's go," the priest ordered.
Hearing this, Howard took a deep breath, with a look of disappointment on his face that could not be concealed, and felt that the last glimmer of hope in his heart was quietly shattered.
Looking at the Church of Light knights waving their whips, he raised his hand and whispered a spell.
"Shield".
After Allen's improvement, not only the length of the spell was greatly shortened, but its function also underwent wonderful changes.
It has changed from a protective shield that protects the magician to an invisible wall blocking the magician.
Under the influence of the improved "shield technique", the cavalry of the Church of Light were blocked by this invisible wall and were not allowed to move forward.
Until then, Father Eliza's face finally showed a look of extreme shock. Apparently, he did not expect that this young man who dared to block the road turned out to be a magician.
"You are actually a magician?"
Howard nodded and did not deny it.
Father Eliza was silent for a moment, glanced at the cursing knights next to him, and then said to him: "Sorry, Mr. Magician. According to Archbishop Nerga's order, we need to complete the construction of ten towns around Alexandria within today.
I’m afraid the tax collection work can no longer be delayed here.”
"I just need a promise from you." Howard repeated what he just said.
Father Eliza shook his head, showed a helpless smile, and then took out a sparkling pendant made of pure gold from his pocket.
Immediately, he turned over and dismounted, used magic, passed through the invisible barrier created by the "shield technique", came to Howard's side, and put the pendant into Howard's hands without any explanation.
"Mr. Magician, this is the amulet of our church. As long as you carry it with you, you will be blessed by the goddess of light," Father Eliza introduced with a smile, "This is a small gift I give you on behalf of the Alexandria Church.
Just accept your offer! We are both loyal believers of the Goddess of Light, and it’s not easy for us, so don’t make things difficult for each other.”
Howard let go of his hand.
There was only a "pop" sound, and the pure gold goddess of light pendant fell to the ground, and then rolled into the soil on the roadside.
If Howard was just disappointed with the current situation of the Church of Light just now, then at this moment, when he saw Father Eliza's behavior, he was completely chilled.
At the same time, Father Eliza also stopped her friendly smile, and her face gradually darkened.
"Do you know that you are blaspheming the goddess of light?" He said to Howard in a cold tone, "Once you are convicted of this crime, not even the Mage Tower can protect you."
Howard looked at him seriously and said word by word: "It is the real blasphemy to use the statue of the goddess as a thing to win people's hearts."
Father Eliza's expression became extremely strange, and she glanced at Howard in anger.
If gaze is a sharp blade, then at this moment, Howard must have been cut into countless pieces.
Then, the priest opened his mouth slightly, as if he wanted to teach Howard a few words, but in the end, he didn't say anything and just got on the horse again.
Then he performed magic.
A dazzling light flashed by, and Howard's magic shield instantly shattered.
Howard took a few steps back, a trace of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.
Then he raised his head and saw Father Eliza riding on the horse, telling the knights behind him: "Let's go. He is only a first-level magician at most. Although he knows some weird spells, he can't stop us.
Let’s get things done as soon as possible!”
The knights laughed loudly, mocking Howard's mantis behavior and saying all kinds of flattery to Father Eliza.
Howard sighed softly.
At this moment, he felt an unprecedented sense of powerlessness.
Unconsciously, his right hand reached into his pocket and grabbed the invitation letter given to him by Archbishop Arcelga.
He knew that if he still wanted to save everything, then he had another way.
The only way.
A very costly approach.
And in his mind, what Allen said a few days ago came to mind:
"Howard, you know, once you make up your mind to become a priest, you are destined to be a bachelor for the rest of your life."
Howard naturally understood what he meant.
That is, once he takes this step, he can never look back.
The mage tower, magic research career, dormitory 601, and the agreement with Allen to perfect spiritual magic... will all leave him and become memories that cannot be recalled.
This is the crossroads of destiny.
One path can lead to your dreams.
One thing can save the present.
As for where to go, it's all in his mind.
He gently licked the blood from the corner of his mouth and showed a sad smile.
"Sorry, Alan," he said to himself, "I really can't stand by and do nothing."
Then he took out the Archbishop's letter.
Howard had to admit that he actually lied in front of Allen.
What he told Allen was that Bishop Nerga invited him to serve as "priest".
But in fact, Bishop Nerga left a blank in the position column and only stamped it with his own stamp.
In other words, under the "Bishop", no matter what position Howard wants, as long as he is willing to join the Church of Light, Bishop Nerga will approve it.
According to the structure of the Church of Light, based on divine favor, status and seniority, there are several levels from top to bottom:
The auxiliary bishop is the deputy of the archbishop, responsible for assisting or acting on behalf of the archbishop in handling diocesan affairs; within the entire Braden Kingdom, his status is only under the archbishop.
Howard knew that if he wanted to have absolute say in front of Father Eliza and these knights, then he had only one choice.
So he took out a pen from his pocket and wrote "auxiliary bishop" in the blank space of the letter.
The moment he started writing, the morning star in the sky suddenly shone brightly, as if there were two suns in the sky, even more dazzling than the original sun.
And more holy radiance rushed out from Howard's chestnut hair, from the corners of his blood-stained mouth, from the sleeves of his double-breasted trench coat, and from his thin body, like spring water.
Flames swayed in the wind, lighting up the entire forest without paying attention.
At this moment, he was like an angel descending into the world in "The Light Canon".
Under this blazing light, Father Eliza and the knights suddenly stopped waving their whips.
They sat on the horse in a daze, looking at this miraculous scene, and they were at a loss for a moment; there was even one person who was so distracted watching Howard that he fell off the horse and fell all over the mud.
, but didn’t dare to hum.
Howard shook his head.
He held the invitation in his hand and walked slowly to Father Eliza.
"It seems I have to re-introduce myself," he raised the corner of his mouth slightly, trying to imitate the seemingly unfathomable smile that Allen often wore on his face, "my name is Howard, the new auxiliary bishop of the Braden Diocese of the Church of Light.
.
"Father Eliza, I hope you can give a reasonable explanation for your attempt to bribe and the following act of blasphemy against the goddess."
As soon as he finished speaking, there was only a "snap" sound, and the riding crop in Father Eliza's hand fell to the ground, and then rolled into the dirt on the roadside.
Then, without saying a word, Father Eliza dismounted from her horse, touched her knees to the ground, and knelt at Howard's feet.
"Please forgive me, Auxiliary Bishop."
The knights behind him also knelt down one by one, lowered their heads deeply, and kissed the soil at his feet.
"Please forgive me, Auxiliary Bishop."
From the eyes of these people, Howard saw respect, fear, and luck.