Chapter 370: Chapter 370
Jenkins managed an awkward laugh at the bishop's question. Trying to explain would only make things worse, so he offered no reply. While his silence might tarnish the ladies' reputations, neither the bishop nor Papa Oliver were the sort to gossip about private matters.
"Regardless of the reason, etiquette lessons are essential. During your investiture as a Saint, your conduct was quite stiff. With honor comes the responsibility to act the part; it is another way of upholding the glory of the Sage."
"I've discussed this with your father. My original plan was to have one of the church's etiquette instructors serve as your teacher. But after speaking with Oliver just now, I've changed my mind."
Looking at the bishop's face and the hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth, Jenkins was suddenly struck with a terrible premonition.
"Etiquette is not like combat or firearms training. Finding someone to teach you won't arouse any suspicion, and since you'll be meeting with the king in a few days, it's all the more reasonable. Jenkins, you are to find an etiquette tutor yourself. Yes, on your own. I don't care who you end up with, as long as they can teach you the fundamentals of noble etiquette and religious customs and knowledge."
A truly qualified etiquette instructor was not someone you could just find on the street. Given Jenkins's social circle, the person he was most likely to seek help from was Hathaway.
He supposed he could ask Miss Audrey, and she would probably find a suitable candidate, but Jenkins didn't want to constantly bother the diviner.
"Aren't you just forcing my hand?"
He grumbled, half-complaining.
The bishop nodded, looking down at Chocolate, who was nestled in Jenkins's lap. "Your life can't just revolve around Oliver and your cat. Young people need to learn how to socialize. It's very important."
"But I believe that continuously advancing on my chosen path is enough. Socializing will only distract me and lead me astray from the path toward the Sage."
The old man let out a deep sigh, looking at the young man he had watched grow up with a complex expression.
"Sometimes, I truly think you possess the same indomitable character and spirit as the ascetics of legend. But times have changed, my child. The power of steam has granted ordinary people more freedom to roam this world, and Enchanters are gradually rediscovering the lost powers of antiquity. Ancient aberrations have reappeared in the world, and modern reforms in governance and thought are crushing the old systems like a great wheel."
"I hope you will always remain devout, but do not forget that you are still a person. The Sage teaches us reverence. This reverence is not just for the unknown, but also for new things."
"This era has changed so much from when I was young. When I was your age, a steam train was an unimaginable thing. Use your eyes to observe, use your heart to feel it all, Jenkins. That, too, is a way of drawing closer to the world."
The old man's voice grew louder, rising to a shout by the end. Jenkins, filled with reverence, committed his words to memory. Bishop Parrold had said a great deal, and it was true—humanity was facing an age of profound change.
While he agreed with this point, for a transmigrator from another world, the most important thing was to continue advancing on the path to godhood.
He had planned to return to the antique shop with Papa Oliver, but the church had recently taken in a troublesome item. Oliver needed to stay and help and wouldn't be returning today. As a result, Jenkins once again had a day off.
Instead of leaving the church immediately, he went to the Hall of All Things to look up some information.
First was the subject of Saviors.
This wasn't the first time he had searched for this kind of information, but at least up to the second floor of the Secret Trace Library, there were no systematic records on the topic. Thıs text ıs hosted at NoveI-Fire.ɴet
That didn't mean there were no clues. On the contrary, the term "Savior" appeared frequently in documents related to the End of the Epoch, but it was always just a passing mention.
He had no plans to ask Papa Oliver just yet; he would need a better excuse. But perhaps he could ask Professor Burns. Since the professor was dedicated to researching this field, he couldn't possibly be unaware of such things.
"Nine people competing for one divine seat. It's not really that intense. The most important thing is getting a ticket to the game."
As he thought this, he began to wonder what other special abilities there might be, aside from [Twin Demons] and the suspected Savior ability, [Undying Man].
The second topic he researched was, naturally, the moon. But unfortunately, there were no records containing the information he sought. Everything he could find about the moon merely described the significant role the twin moons played in mysticism.
From the fragments of information he'd received during the first 31st, he knew of a history when only a single moon graced the sky, a time that must have been incredibly long ago. Perhaps the long passage of time had completely erased any record of it. But Jenkins hadn't given up. He suspected the Church of the Unlit Moon might have information on the subject; after all, the domain of the lady of the Unlit Moon included the moon itself.
For Enchanters, the red and blue twin moons were an extremely important natural phenomenon. The waxing and waning of the moons affected the efficacy of many rituals. At the same time, one theory suggested that the moons themselves were a manifestation of the world's spirit.
According to Papa Oliver, the way new Enchanters of the Church of the Unlit Moon accumulated Spirit was related to moon worship.
He spent an hour and a half in the library. When he returned to ground level, he happened to arrive just as lunch was being served in the church.
Without waiting for an invitation, Jenkins matter-of-factly took a seat at the dining table with Chocolate. The kitten was angry again, the reason being, of course, that Jenkins had left it outside the library doors.
But its temper tantrum would last half an hour at most. With some continuous petting, Chocolate quickly forgave him.
The church was livelier than usual in the winter. The orphans under its care rarely ventured beyond the church gates. They had their own dining room, but sometimes, like today, they would eat with the clergy.
Jenkins sat beside the bishop. The old man seized the opportunity to start another conversation on profound topics, which then "accidentally" drifted toward his social life.
Jenkins could only listen patiently, nodding and smiling from time to time to show his agreement, though in truth, he wasn't retaining a single word the old man was saying.
His gaze drifted unconsciously over everyone's faces, until it landed on a vaguely familiar one at the far end of the long table.
It took him a few seconds of recollection before he remembered her: it was the Young Flower Seller he had encountered twice on the street.