002: Longinus, Help Me!
Lucius Longinus—the centurion who realized his destiny on the hills of Jerusalem.
Novia clearly knew that in the Type-Moon world, Lucius appeared in "Fate/Requiem," a work by Meteo Hoshizora, as the servant of the protagonist's grandmother, Mahiru Chitose, winning a Holy Grail War and hailed as the optimal servant, ranked among the top-tier spirits in the Akihabara area alongside Galahad and Hannibal.
"You know me?"
Lucius's tone was calm, but the tip of his oar swiftly thrust toward Novia.
The silver-haired boy dodged the thrust at the last moment, taking a stance at the other end of the boat to create enough distance for a counterattack.
Thus began an unexpected battle. Novia had no time to draw his sword, so he grabbed a wooden stick from the boat. But compared to the oar used like a spear, it was too short. However, on the battlefield, no one waits for their opponent to find a suitable weapon.
"Good reflexes."
Lucius moved with relaxed steps, swinging the oar as he spoke.
Novia stared ahead, blocking the incoming thrust again. Seizing the gap, he immediately placed his hand on the hilt of a long sword hanging from his belt—
Lucius mistakenly thought Novia's move to touch his sword was to draw a weapon, missing the chance to create distance.
However, Novia did not act as expected. Instead, with the aid of wind reinforcement, he closed the distance between them in an instant.
"Oh?"
Lucius wanted to bring out a large shield to defend, but Novia seized the opportunity, striking directly at the neck with the stick, preventing any chance of resistance.
"What? Not planning to kill me?"
"My mission isn't to kill people."
Novia lazily dropped the stick, gazing at the man.
"Let alone getting thrown in jail with you—no thanks."
After mocking Lucius, Novia dispelled the magic surrounding the fishing boat, restoring calm.
Although this was an era after the retreat of the Age of Gods, the remaining Mystery had not yet dwindled as much as it would two thousand years later. In Europe at this time, those who used Mystery were everywhere.
Take five hundred years later, according to the esteemed Ms. Sakurai's "Fate/Prototype: Fragments of Sky Silver," even the Roman Sword Emperor Lucius Tiberius had tens of thousands of magi, sorcerers, giants, and other non-humans under his command.
Not to mention now, when Mystery was abundant. There were probably at least a hundred thousand or so. Likely, in major cities within the ancient Roman Empire now, there were quite a few magi stationed.
Moreover, when Lucius was a soldier, even the enemy had druids assisting in battles.
It's a pity that it's not the Age of Gods anymore. Novia is not someone like the Sword Emperor or the Old Swordsman, capable of destroying a country single-handedly.
"You're quite the thinker for someone so young. No wonder John thinks so highly of you and sent me here."
Lucius slowly lowered the oars and began rowing again.
Lucius actually understood Novia's meaning—or rather, he had always known. If he hadn't used magecraft to conceal himself from the beginning, he would have long been detected, captured, and interrogated by the Roman Empire's mages stationed in the Bosphorus Strait.
But after all, traveling alone required necessary vigilance, so Lucius had also taken this into consideration during his assessment.
"So it's that old man John. Just as I thought."
Novia replied with an unsurprised tone.
No wonder that guy only asked once and then left it alone—he had already arranged for a roadblock.
"How did you guess?"
Novia sighed and said, "No matter how much money I offered, he refused, nervously turning me down. Given the influence he has along the Mediterranean coast, the answer is obvious."
Before the era had developed to a certain point, religious faith was the most widespread source of cohesion.
"And keeping a distance from strangers is normal, isn't it? Be careful—acting overly familiar with someone you've just met can easily arouse suspicion."
"Haha, you're right. I'll keep that in mind."
The twisted cross-shaped scar left on Lucius's left cheek was impossible for Novia to miss.
But Novia was now fully focused on recalling his duel with Lucius. He deeply sensed that Lucius had held back significantly during their fight. If they were to face each other head-on with full preparation, the best outcome would be a draw.
His terrifying combat skills and strength, not to mention the fact that he hadn't even brought out the Holy Lance, Longinus, stained with holy blood. No matter how you looked at it, this was a formidable weapon...
Time passed peacefully. As Novia pondered, the fishing boat smoothly reached the opposite shore.
"We're here, kid. You can disembark. Be careful—don't die."
Novia snapped back to reality, his eyes taking in the vast expanse of shallow sea stretching from the shore into the distance, beautiful as gemstones under the moonlight.
"Aren't you curious how I know your name?"
After the boat docked, Novia stepped ashore and asked Lucius.
"It's just a name. They're all the same."
Lucius grinned. After a brief silence, he picked up his hat and bowed his head, preparing to return as if bidding farewell to an old friend he'd met by the roadside.
But Novia had already decided: he must recruit Lucius for his future plans involving the Praetorian Guard.
"I can alleviate your biting pain."
"This matter... How do you know about it?"
The moment Novia spoke, Lucius was already standing right in front of him, his expression serious and no longer gentle.
Knowing his name was one thing—it could have been told by John or others. But this pain? He had never told anyone about it, nor had he ever expected a solution!
Seeing Lucius's reaction, Novia breathed a sigh of relief. His guess had been correct.
According to the apocryphal Letter of Herod to Pilate, Lucius was punished by heaven for piercing Jesus's side. He was placed in a cave, where every night he experienced a biting pain until dawn, repeating endlessly until the end of time.
Of course, lunar history might not necessarily adopt this setting. But during his fight with Lucius, Novia noticed tension in Lucius's neck muscles, as if he were uncomfortable.
Combined with subtle factors like slightly raised eyebrows or a faint tightening of the jaw, Novia boldly speculated—
Lucius was enduring pain!
Judging by his reaction now, it was indeed the case.
"I don't know how you found out, but I don't actually care about the pain." Lucius grinned again, touching the vivid cross-shaped scar on his cheek. "Do you want to guess why I haven't erased this scar? I left it specifically so I wouldn't forget the pain. It's already a part of me, and so is the biting pain."
Goodness, you're impervious to persuasion, aren't you? So fond of pain.
But even though Lucius seemed unmovable, Novia still had a way—
"Yet this pain is proof that you dishonored a righteous man."
Novia cut straight to the point. After all, no matter what, Lucius was a saint passed down through later generations. Having had his eye ailment cured by Jesus's blood, he undoubtedly held deep faith.
"Such words... Even though you're young, you shouldn't speak recklessly."
Lucius's tone was calm, but it did not conceal his anger.
"But you're trembling. That proves you truly fear this. That's why I've come, Lucius Longinus."
Novia placed his hand on Lucius's tense shoulder. Lucius didn't move, his eyes fixed intently on Novia.
For Lucius, pain was the "answer."
He had always believed that his suffering was the answer in return for salvation.
Others had answers as numerous as the stars in the sky, but Lucius had only one answer: endure the pain.
The salvation of the new God had not yet descended to earth, and the old gods had vanished long ago.
The world was still filled with death and suffering. The people were weary, children cried out, and to be alive was to be a sufferer.
It was easy to speak beautifully about looking toward the future, but to teach it in practice was immensely difficult.
Some called it a curse; others lamented that the age of humanity was truly hell.
Thus, Lucius could only endure the pain and pray.
But the silver-haired boy before him, with his pale blue eyes, kept telling him that words could shine as brilliantly as the stars.
"Of course, life aims for completion. No matter how it is lived, it will end one day—both mine and yours. But—are your actions now a beautiful pattern of completion?"
Hearing this, Lucius seemed as if cold water had been poured over him during an intense battle. His entire body appeared somewhat drained.
"There's only one thing I can tell you now."
Without using any magecraft, his voice resonated around them.
"I promise you, Lucius Longinus—follow me, and I will grant you all radiance, certain to cleanse your current sins... That is all."
Having his pain laid bare by someone he had just met, Lucius undoubtedly felt sincere devotion poured into these words.
And so, almost as if possessed, Lucius Longinus nodded.
"...Alright. I am Lucius Longinus. Your name seems to be No—"
"Novia. That's my name."
Note: I'm new to translating so please be kind and tell me any mistakes you all find, I will try to release a chapter a day but don't expect much
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