A Powerful Martial Artist Reincarnates as a Nun Knight

As it turned out, the men blocking the cardinal’s path were envoys from the Count of Monferrato, a noble supporting the Crown Prince.

“Truthfully, it was nothing too surprising. With rumors swirling about the king’s precarious condition, their growing desperation was inevitable.”

At the cardinal’s nonchalant remark, Sophia knitted her brows in displeasure. However improper their chosen methods stemmed from desperation, their conduct had undoubtedly crossed a line.

“And in their desperation, they conceived of soliciting the Church’s support,” Hildegard continued the cardinal’s train of thought, her own brow furrowing. Well, such incidents proved unavoidable given the Church headquarters’ proximity to Ravenna’s Royal City.

‘But why now of all times?’

With the demonic forces poised to regroup, the Church needed to reorient humanity towards the coming great conflict. Getting embroiled in secular power struggles could prove disastrous.

Some might argue the Church actively intervening to install a pro-Church regime seemed the rational choice. But Hildegard herself remained uncertain whether that truly aligned with the Church’s greater mission – likely a common sentiment among many clergy.

“In any case, I am grateful for your timely assistance today.”
“I merely did as duty required. Think nothing of it.”
“I cannot simply disregard it. Since I have nothing prepared presently, allow me to offer recompense at a later juncture.”

As they bade the departing cardinal farewell, the lingering quandary could not be dispelled from their minds so easily.

Yet their daily cultivation could never cease. After unpacking and resting briefly, Sophia soon led Conra to the dormitory’s rear courtyard, followed by Hildegard and Ezio who trailed the pair with amused smiles despite Conra’s grumbling protests.

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In the aftermath of the Council, Sophia’s party had been tasked with initiating disciples across the continent in the foundational Immovable Bright King Technique and her personalized training methods.

However, Sophia could not feasibly traverse every church locale herself, nor summon all the continental talents to a single location – constraints of available time, space and transportation precluded such options.

So the proposed solution involved gathering the southern continental disciples at the well-connected port city of Ravenna’s Holy City with its established road networks. Then proceeding to instruct the western disciples at lowlands Stravenhur before finally convening the northern coastal talents at Aarhus Cathedral in the Jutland peninsula.

This proposal swiftly gained approval and consensus among the clergy, naturally determining Sophia’s itinerary – with Ravenna’s Holy City as her first destination.

Originally, per Sophia’s plans, this should have precluded any entanglement with the Royal City’s tumult.

“Or so it should have been.”

Pinching the bridge of her nose, Sophia sighed exasperatedly while seated in the receiving room, an invitation lying before her on the table – its troubling wax seal insignia and contents vexing her.

The double-tailed eagle seal – typically reserved for counts as the double-tailed eagle denoted lesser princes eligible for succession, while dukes used triple tails and non-inheriting princes single tails.

Sure enough, the invitation came from Alfonso d’Este, younger brother to the Marchioness of Mantua and eldest son of the Duke of Ferrara – a royalist supporter according to Sophia’s knowledge.

“It seems they failed to heed your warning to Count Monferrato’s men, Master.”

Emerging freshly bathed while toweling his damp hair, Conra chuckled wryly upon learning the invitation’s contents.

“Indeed. Though even if informed, it likely would not have swayed their judgments. You realize human cognition hardly operates so conveniently, do you not?”
“I suppose so.”

Tossing aside the towel, Conra casually inquired as he passed by Sophia:
“So what are your intentions, Master?”
“What else but decline their invitation? This nation lies beyond our jurisdiction – why should I grace them by accepting?”

Nodding his assent, Conra replied:
“Certainly reasonable.”

As her acquiescing disciple returned to grooming himself before a mirror, Sophia suddenly asked:
“By the way, where are you headed?”
“To tour this millennial capital while I can. Hilde said wasting such an opportunity would be a shame.”
“Hmm, she does have a point. But the situation remains precarious.”

Conra seemed to recall something at Sophia’s concerned words:
“Ah, is the Royal City’s succession conflict still an issue?”
“More than an issue – the Royal City streets now essentially constitute lawless grounds where anything could transpire.”
“I see, then I shall confine my sightseeing to the Holy City.”
“Frankly, even the Holy City cannot be assumed entirely safe… But your capabilities should suffice to avoid major incidents.”
“Very well!”

Brightening at Sophia’s implicit permission which he seemed to have awaited anxiously, Conra responded vigorously. Yet a few hours later, the youth found himself amidst a perplexing scene – a group of suspiciously garbed men lying prone in avant-garde postures around him.

“Why did this happen…?”

It had begun so pleasantly after grabbing lunch – touring the historic architectural marvels proved an enriching experience, as did exploring the lively marketplace using his meager allowance for snacks.

That delightful time ended abruptly when he chanced upon a deserted alleyway.

Instinctively sensing something amiss, Conra reacted with trained reflexes, subduing a shadowy figure attempting to abduct him from behind with a single deft technique.

Momentarily winded by a crippling elbow strike while his arms and collar were seized, the assailant folded helplessly in a dizzying reversal, crashing senseless to the ground.

Stunned by his own unprovoked violence, Conra’s rationality briefly short-circuited upon registering the robed, masked assailant’s blatantly suspicious guise. His disorientation peaked as similarly garbed men emerged from the alleyway’s recesses.

Thus began the unarmed youth’s skirmish against seventeen would-be kidnappers – swiftly rendered a one-sided rout as Conra systematically crippled them through precise vulnerability strikes, leaving them helplessly entangled in avant-garde human chains amid agonized wails.

Having instinctively subdued them without conscious thought, Conra could only heave a weary sigh while surveying the groaning, contorted forms strewn haphazardly – utterly incapacitated despite their feeble twitches resembling lifeless corpses, their pained whimpers alone confirming they yet lived.

“What am I to do about this…”