Westminster Bank

Chapter 31: Chapter 28: Golden Law

"Time Grass?" Sister Teresa tapped her bottom lip with her index finger. "That sounds vaguely familiar. I think I might have seen a similar name in the church’s library."

"Please take me there," Baron said.

As he said this, his stomach let out an ill-timed, hungry growl.

Sister Teresa covered her mouth and giggled. "It’s breakfast time right now. Why don’t I have some breakfast prepared for you?"

"Then take me there after I eat." Baron’s face flushed, but he still put on a profound act.

...

"Mr. L," Sister Teresa said, smiling as she watched Baron wolf down his food, "although Miss Yarilan and Dr. Ron from town both say you’re a very knowledgeable Alchemist, in my eyes, you really are like a child sometimes."

"Can I take that as a compliment?"

"Of course, sir."

"Aren’t you going to have some?" Baron broke his bread in half and offered it to the nun.

The nun froze for a moment, then her eyes curved into a smile. She demurely accepted the black bread Baron offered and began to eat it in small bites.

As she ate, she said, "Actually, after last night, your reputation has already spread from Wisemo Village to Mundra. Even the town mayor wanted to meet you last night, but Miss Yarilan turned him down, using your need for rest as an excuse."

"Baron Camberra heard about how you countered the Divine Punishment Fire and is very interested in you. He even sent someone over this morning to deliver flowers and to take care of your daily needs in Mundra... Hira, she’s the maid who was sent to bring you the flowers."

Teresa smiled. "The church has never had maids to serve the nuns and Priests. Hira made all of this breakfast early this morning."

Only after the nun mentioned it did Baron turn his gaze to the maid.

She was a girl of fifteen or sixteen with brown hair tied in two thick braids. Her face had some freckles, which added a simple, rustic beauty to her.

When she saw Baron looking at her, her eyes went wide, and her face turned fiery red. She stammered out a less-than-perfect maid’s curtsy.

"Hi... Hira Beit, at your service. The flowers... I got the flowers dirty, I’m so sorry... W-would you be willing to wait two days? I get paid soon... I can... I can..."

"That won’t be necessary."

"But..."

"Weren’t the flowers already delivered? I’ve already seen them... Your breakfast was wonderful. Thank you, Miss Hira."

She watched as the Demon Hunter’s eyes swept over her for a moment, then he suddenly broke into a teasing smile.

At his smile, Hira’s face grew even redder. She thought this young man was so different from the boys in her village who liked to pull her braids. Not only was he handsome, but he was also well-mannered when he spoke.

’Miss Hira... But I’m just a maid... The boys in the village all call me ’country girl,’ and that guy Al is always pulling my braids...’

Baron made short work of the food on the table, wiped his mouth with the handkerchief the maid handed him, and said, "Sister, please take me to the library."

Sister Teresa smiled. "Miss Hira, I’ll leave things here to you."

Hira readily agreed.

...

At the Blood Church’s inner library, Teresa told Baron she’d be right back and went to get the key from the church’s Priest.

The one who opened the door was the fat, large-eared Priest from last night. His eyes raked over Baron and Teresa, lingering especially on Teresa with barely concealed lust.

After Teresa stated her purpose, the Priest coughed and said, "Teresa, you know the library is normally only open to the Clergy..."

Sister Teresa said gently, "Mr. L is a guest Miss Yarilan specifically asked us to look after."

"Is that so? This is quite a predicament." The Priest wore a troubled expression. "How about this, Teresa? You come to my room for a ’morning meeting,’ and we can... discuss this point further."

As he spoke, his fat, greasy hand reached for Teresa, but it grabbed onto Baron’s arm instead.

?

The Priest and the nun both looked at the young man in surprise.

He stood between Teresa and the Priest. He looked at the flabbergasted Priest, originally intending to say something kind, but for some reason, an uncontrollable, violent impulse suddenly surged within him—’Just slap the bastard’.

So, with a sharp SLAP, he sent the Priest spinning two and a half times in the air before he hit the ground.

The Priest clutched his bright red face, stammering "You... you..." from the ground for a long moment before fainting.

Baron shrugged at the nun. "Sorry, for some reason I just felt like hitting him. You’ll forgive me, won’t you, Sister?"

Sister Teresa shot him a reproachful glance but still closed her eyes to pray for Baron, asking God to forgive his violence.

Baron pushed open the Priest’s door and casually tossed him onto the bed. He then noticed the bed was a mess, a nun’s habit was strewn on the floor, and a corner of the *Blood Bible* on the desk was damp with some unknown liquid.

Baron secretly observed Sister Teresa but saw that she acted as if she hadn’t noticed any of it. She simply took the library key from a drawer and led Baron away.

...

In the library, Baron and Teresa split up.

The nun went to find the book she remembered that mentioned the Time Grass, while Baron browsed around, trying to learn more information about this world. fɾēewebnσveℓ.com

After fragmented readings of books like *Prole Geography*, *The Foundation of the Empire*, *Continent History*, and especially a blue-covered, travel-journal-style book called *Finn’s Notes, Fude City Edition*...

Baron gained a deeper understanding of the current world.

Just as he had guessed, the professions on Prole were nearly identical to those on the Inner Side.

The world was similarly ruled by something called the [Golden Law]. They were absolute rules, or rather, an existence even more ancient than the word "rule."

Among the [Rules] themselves, there was an even more ancient classification of [Rules]:

The First Law was comprised of concepts like [Nature], [War], [Time], [Death]...

These were concepts so magnificent and lofty, formed from the reflections of the world’s core components, that perhaps only the high and mighty gods could control them.

Then there was the Second Law, which extended from the First Law or was created by nature:

Concepts like [Sorrow], [Forgetfulness], [Elf], [Giant], [Dwarf], [Druid]...

These were destinies created by nature, too insignificant compared to the world itself, yet vast when compared to any single thing.

And the Old Races... or rather, the Law Enforcers, wielded Laws derived from the [Rules] of the Second Law.

This was the Third Law, also known by names such as "Professional Law," "Artificial Law," and "Gift of Destiny."

The Professional Laws that Baron knew of so far included:

[Wizard], [Knight], [Demon Hunter], [Saint]...

For example, the [Wizard] Law was derived and extended from the Second Law’s [Druid].

Each profession also had different factions and categories. Different organizations controlled one-third of a Law Fragment for their respective Professional Law, and this fragment allowed them to have at least one Golden Tier expert.

According to Lawrence, Gold was the absolute peak of this professional system.

A profession could have at most three Gold-level individuals existing at the same time, because the Law’s [Trinity Theorem] dictated that no matter how It was shattered, It would always and only be in three fragments.

And a person who possessed one of these three Law Fragments and was acknowledged by the Law would be a Golden Tier of that profession.

The Knight, Wizard, and Demon Hunter professions of this world were no exception.

The Tiers were also divided into Black Iron, Bronze, Silver, and Gold, and the Professional Laws were still called the Third Law.

However, on the Prole Continent, most members of the Knight Profession were Contract Knights. The Faith Knights, a specialty of the Inner Side’s Holy Cross Association, existed but were, according to the books, very rare.

As for Demon Hunters, they were the same as on the Inner Side, divided into the Silver Faction and the Beast Faction.

The same was true for Wizards.

Two worlds with such similar professional systems yet completely different backgrounds—Baron guessed there might be some deeper connection between them.

The Prole Continent was named after the ancient Dragon God Prole. He was one of the Seven Gods who sealed the Great Lord, and he was also the first Emperor on the Continent.

He wielded the Second Law’s Emperor Law and the Second Law’s Dragon Race Law.

After the Dragon God disappeared, the Dragon Race and other races like the Elves and Giants also declined. The Human Race rose to prominence, and kings vied for power.

This continued until about five thousand years ago, when King Feinan ignited the flames of war from the East. Commanding his Dragon Soldiers and leading the Dragon Masters, he crossed the strait and conquered most of what is now the Prole Continent in one fell swoop, establishing his imperial capital within the present-day Gillian Duchy and founding the Dragon Empire.

This war, in which the Dragon Empire swept across the continent, is known in historical records as the War of Conquest.

Because of this, King Feinan was also called the Dragon Emperor.

More than five hundred years passed. The Dragon Empire teetered on the brink of collapse as ambitious feudal lords ignited the flames of war, planting their banners in every corner of the continent and letting blood flow into every river.

Another five hundred years went by, until a frail young man returned from Dragon Mountain, burning with the will for revenge.

He was the first human to master the Emperor’s Law. Leading the unstoppable Golden Lion Legion and the Holy Dragons, he unified the entire Prole Continent, including Feinan across the sea.

He banished the Giant Race to the north, earned the loyal assistance of the Dragon Race, and had Bloodline Counts prostrate themselves before him in worship.

He forged the Throne of Fear, a symbol of imperial power, from gold, silver, and bronze. In every conquered city-state, he erected towering statues built from stones soaked in the blood of his enemies—depicting him seated on the throne, his hands resting on his sword, his gaze commanding the submission of all who saw it.

He was called the Emperor of Fear, and because he was Prole’s original emperor, historians also called him the First Emperor.

He lived for a thousand years. After his death, he was buried in a palace on Dragon Mountain. The majesty contained within his very bones caused thunder to rumble over Dragon Mountain year-round, and it was not until Dragon Mountain itself was lost to the cracks of history that the thunder slowly and stubbornly faded from the skies above Prole Royal City.

After the Emperor’s death, the Prole Empire quickly fractured. The feudal lords who had been suppressed by his might grew ambitious, raised their war banners, and swore to recreate the glory of the First Emperor.

But then, Holy Dragons roared as they flew forth from the royal city, and a new emperor was born there. The Golden Lion Legion, which had slumbered since the First Emperor’s death, reawakened. Years of war followed. Although the rebellions were gradually quelled, the once-vast Prole Empire ultimately split into seven nations.

From north to south, they were:

In the Land of the Far North, the valiant and battle-hardened Suluka Duchy;

Adjacent to it, the Wizard Country of Palmer, renowned for its Witchcraft, Magic, and Alchemy;

South of Palmer was the Sea Country of Haiwede, a land of Church and faith.

From west to east was the Knight’s Kingdom of Amel, which bordered both Palmer and Haiwede;

South of Amel was the Hunter’s Country of Gillian, where Baron was currently located.

And across the sea from Gillian, the island nation of Feinan.

The Prole Empire, named after the Dragon God, was surrounded and protected by these nations at the center of the continent. The political situation born from this arrangement has persisted for the last few thousand years.

There was also the Elector system, established by the second Emperor Prole and continuing to this day, in which the emperor is chosen from among the seven great nations.

Unlike the princes in German history who had the right to elect the "Emperor of the Romans."

The Prole Empire’s Elector system meant that the Emperor Law would select one candidate for emperor within each duchy, and the chosen person was called an Elector.

There were seven in total, and they would participate in an elimination-style Coronation Ceremony to determine the next emperor of the Prole Continent.

It was worth noting that in all of the past Coronation Ceremonies, Feinan had produced the most emperors.

’Dragon Gods, wars, emperors, Laws, Holy Dragons, Golden Lions, Electors... This world is much more complicated than I imagined,’ Baron thought.

Baron put the book back on the shelf, his gaze then falling on a dusty, notebook-like object fastened with a clasp in the corner of the bookshelf.

He picked up the notebook, wiped off the dust, and unfastened the clasp. Just as he saw the words [Traveler’s Journal], he heard a commotion from outside the library window.

Closing the book, he looked over and saw four or five burly men dressed as Demon Hunters surrounding the maid, Hira. Their hands and mouths were getting foul.

A young boy stood protectively in front of Hira, swinging his fists and shouting, "You’re not heroes at all, you’re just a pack of beasts more despicable than bandits!" all while being kicked to the ground again and again by the Demon Hunters.

Nearby, a blond-haired Demon Hunter whom he had never seen before sat atop a tall horse, watching coldly without a word. But any discerning eye could tell that the few Demon Hunters were his followers, as were the two long lines of the Demon Hunter party behind his horse.

This was because they all wore the same Iron Thistle Medal on their chests.