A Powerful Martial Artist Reincarnates as a Nun Knight

Crossing national borders is not such a light matter. Especially between Frangian and the Holy Griffon Empire, which had a long history of growling at each other over continental hegemony.

But do worldly affairs always unfold according to common sense?

Traditionally, the borders between Frangian and the Holy Griffon Empire have endlessly shifted shapes over the ages. As a result, the respective regions facing each other across these borders tended to have relatively faint national identities, not to mention being quite familiar with their cross-border neighbors.

Intertwined with ties of interest and blood, any borderline was practically negligible in effect.

Furthermore, the bureaucrats objectively dedicated to serving their assigned regions were mostly University of Bologna alumni in this area. In other words, even these bureaucrats shared a bond of academic pedigree among themselves.

And Sophia possessed a token from that very University of Bologna alumni association to bypass administrative procedures.

“Is it really okay to pass through so easily?”

Despite the audacious nonchalance typical of adolescent boys, Conra, who had been raised with common sense by his parents’ guidance, expressed bewilderment at the alarmingly swift processing they were experiencing.

Having just witnessed some unknown person rejected and dejectedly turned away from the checkpoint, or another furiously told to return after several days for the next processing period, the young boy’s eyes were shaken to their core.

“Remember this well. This is precisely what connections and power mean.”

As the beneficiary, Sophia cheerfully whistled while grinning. Of course, who would enjoy administrative delays dragging everything out? Moreover, she was someone who would bluntly cut the line at the city gates under the pretext of urgently tracking and eliminating demons.

Of course, if it caused someone critical harm or severely undermined the system itself, even she would have reconsidered. But in this case:

“Do you understand? Fish cannot live in excessively clear water, and water cannot accumulate without a sufficiently low, wide basin. Water flows from full places to empty ones, competing neither eastward nor westward, simply following its course until finally gathering into great rivers, lakes, and seas.”

Saying this, Sophia continued in a singsongy tone:

“With their vast sizes, seas can easily bear large ships and massive fish, and by raising tidal waves, they can render populous coastal cities uninhabitable. Then, as they lighten, they rise to meet the cold winds and become clouds, growing heavy once more to descend as rain upon the land – such is the principle of water. Then what of human life?”

Lost in contemplation over Sophia’s entrancing words, she and Conra casually crossed the border between the two nations on horseback.

After approximately three days of travel, they finally entered the Badenbaden region, their destination. However, the closer they drew to Badenbaden, the grimmer their expressions became.

“Wow, this is really serious, isn’t it Master?”
“……Yes, it would seem so.”
[……]

The Holy Spirit Jibrail too flickered a somber light, indicating her troubled state. Though not to the extent of the Bronze Age or the Era of Priestly Strife, even this age saw misfortunes and sorrows sprouting like poisonous mushrooms wherever people dwelled, proportionate to their numbers.

The aftereffects of the Badenbaden-Aghno succession dispute had tormented the inhabitants of those lands accordingly. Commoners suffered looting or forced “strategic conscription” of their property from both sides, while farmers abandoned their ruined harvests, forced to leave their fields fallow for the year.

Only unscrupulous merchants profiting from trading military supplies and spoils frequented the area, while ordinary traders vital for invigorating the local economy shunned passage. In other words, the civilian populace of this region was practically devastated.

Yet despite this, the lords of Badenbaden and Aghno remained solely fixated on asserting legitimacy over claiming Badenbaden’s succession, neglecting any proper contingencies – an utterly infuriating inaction.

Local priests and bishops denounced their conduct with critical statements, but voicing disapproval without substantive action only invited cold ridicule, leaving their words unheeded – seen as mere nuisances hampering secular authority.

“Tch, looks like I’ll have to pay Aghno a visit after returning home.”
“Will you handle them like Brhymath?”
“What do you think?”

At Sophia’s savage, curled lip expression, Conra momentarily offered a silent prayer for Aghno’s as-yet-unseen lord.

“What about here?”
“Didn’t you hear? The empire also has its own Paladin knights active in imperial territories. One of them will be joining us, so I’ll leave that matter to them. It would only complicate things if I took the lead.”

As Sophia answered, Conra suddenly changed the subject:

“By the way, I wonder what this other Paladin knight joining us will be like?”

Conra was truly curious about this. His master Sophia already had such a strong personality, so he naturally wondered about the other Paladin knights. Initially raised solely in the forest, he had thought all outsiders might be like Sophia. But after venturing out with her, none of the outsiders they encountered resembled her, fueling his lingering curiosity – which was quite understandable.

Pondering Conra’s question, Sophia soon replied with a wry expression:

“Well, while I don’t know every Paladin knight’s face, I doubt there are many nun or monk knights as well-mannered and cultured as me. Most likely have at least one eccentric personality flaw.”
“Ah…is that so…?”
“Hm? What was that ambiguous reaction?”
“Ah, haha. No, it’s nothing, don’t read too much into it, Master. I definitely wasn’t thinking something like ‘So the Paladin knights are probably all like Master’ or anything.”

Not fearing future punishment, Conra boldly responded. Why, he had not actually harbored any thoughts unbecoming enough to be ashamed of before heaven. Even if unjustly misunderstood and mistreated, he would have no regrets.

Of course, such brazenness, boldness, and self-assuredness did nothing to mitigate the iron fist sanctions that soon rained down upon him.

Though the Badenbaden gate inspection was quite strict, the sheer volume of traffic meant they did not have to wait long to pass through. This time, Sophia did not attempt the queue-cutting antics she had in Strasbourg.

Unlike Strasbourg, Badenbaden was imperial territory belonging to the Holy Griffon Empire rather than Sophia’s native Frangian. Additionally, the psychological and social atmosphere of those coming and going could not be disregarded.

Avoiding actions that might hurt others for her own convenience was the principle guiding Sophia’s conduct.

After passing through Badenbaden’s oppressively gloomy gate, the two followed Jibrail’s lead. Unexpectedly, the Holy Spirit did not head for Badenbaden’s church, but rather stopped before an old tavern.

“Surely not? No way, right Master?”

Conra exclaimed. Sophia too wore a troubled expression as she replied:

“It seems that ‘surely not’ is correct. I sense a powerful aura of advanced luminous power and might emanating from within.”
“Aah…..”

Clutching his head with both hands, Conra followed as an employee greeted them at the tavern entrance, leading their horses to the stables. After tipping the employee, the two entered through the tavern doors.

As soon as they opened the doors, raucous laughter from an excessively drunken patron assailed their ears:

“Puhahaha, you drink quite well! In that case, I cannot lose either. Come, quickly pour me another!”

The boisterous laughter seemed to drown out all other noise, naturally drawing the gazes of Sophia and Conra, who had just entered the tavern, towards its source. Soon, they identified the owner of that laughter.

“Hohoh, now this is a new type.”
“Aah, someone please return my shattered illusions…”

There sat the very person they had been seeking – a short-haired nun in armor with a veil, holding a wooden mug brimming with beer aloft in one hand as she threw her head back, roaring with unrestrained laughter.