Shylock returned to his mansion right after the not guilty verdict.

After suffering through hardships in prison at his middle-aged body, his face was much more haggard than usual, yet his expression still held deep gratitude and joy.

“Really… I don’t know how to repay this favor.”

“Haha, no need for that. I just did what I was supposed to do since I have received a lot of help from you, Mr. Shylock.”

“No, I know very well what it means for someone like you, a Paladin, to help a heretic like me. Not to mention how significant that cost could be…”

As a wealthy merchant occupying a large portion of the Benetsa market, he was quite knowledgeable about such matters.

He understood that the cost of aiding a heretic like him, even as a Paladin, would undoubtedly be no small matter.

Realizing that he felt even more grateful toward us, I secretly began to feel a deeper joy.

“Well, this is great; if I have to accept help, having such high likability is not a bad thing.”

Just as I was thinking that, Shylock’s gaze turned towards Cazerose, who was standing next to me.

“I must also express my gratitude to you once more, was it Cazerose? Your performance in court was truly impressive. To passionately speak for a heretic like me as a Paladin, I will surely repay this debt.”

“Not at all. I learned that regardless of different beliefs, it is the Lord’s doctrine to extend a helping hand to those suffering unjustly. Above all, everything I said was through Mr. Santana. The one who deserves the thanks is not me but Mr. Santana.”

Cazerose spoke with a humble demeanor.

Watching her remain consistent even in this situation made me inwardly admire her.

“I’ve always known she was like this, but she truly is remarkable.”

In ordinary situations, people often try to boast about their achievements or use it to gain something.

Even those who are normally without desires might feel tempted to do so when facing someone extraordinary with immense wealth.

However, seeing Cazerose maintain her composure even in such circumstances made me once again realize she was not an ordinary person.

After the gratitude for the trial was finished, Shylock cautiously asked us while sipping warm herbal tea.

“Well then. Let’s postpone the thanks for this part and slowly move on to the reason you came to find me.”

Being a merchant, Shylock immediately got to the point.

At the same time, there was a sense that he wanted to grant as many of our requests as possible regarding the current situation.

Recognizing this, I carefully began to recount my experiences so far.

My unjust excommunication and the loss of my Paladin status, and how Cazerose came along with me to this place.

And… our goal of heading to the eastern heretic nation.

Listening to this series of stories, Shylock, who had to endure this suffering for religious reasons, showed a look of sympathy toward us.

“I always feel this way, but those church folks seem to have a lot of issues. To expel someone like you is just outrageous.”

“It’s all my fault. If I had been more careful, it wouldn’t have turned out like this.”

“Even so, your excommunication is definitely a problem. I’ve heard the corruption in the church has become even more rampant lately, but who would’ve thought that a fellow Paladin would become a target.”

A situation where even a Jew was being insulted by others.

Once again realizing that this church was hopeless, I cautiously asked Shylock.

“So, Mr. Shylock, can you help us? It goes without saying, but given my excommunication and this situation, Cazerose and I cannot stay here in Benetsa for long. Please tell us how we can get out of the church’s territory as soon as possible.”

“I sincerely ask for your help as well, Mr. Shylock.”

“Hmm…”

So we pleaded with desperate voices.

In response, Shylock slightly frowned and said.

“If it were up to me, I would want to help you right away, but… it’s not that simple.”

“Yes?”

“W-wait… why is that?”

Shylock’s unexpected reply left us both bewildered, and while we were in shock, he continued in a cautious tone.

“Ah, please don’t misunderstand. If it were possible, I would have set sail for you right now. However, I must mention that the situation here isn’t very safe.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Shylock spoke with genuine regret.

Cautiously, Cazerose and I felt that there was something we didn’t know going on, and Shylock spoke seriously.

“You might not have heard it living inland, but… sailing from Benetsa to the heretic territories right now is practically a suicide mission. Just recently, the heretic nation, the Turk Empire, has put a naval blockade against Benetsa.”

“W-what?!”

Shylock’s revelation struck us like a hammer on the head.

Instinctively, Cazerose and I felt as if our heads had been hammered as we processed the shocking news.

“The exits to the Adriatic Sea are completely blocked by warships sent from the Turk Empire. Benetsa has assembled a fighter fleet attempting to break through, but… it will take at least a few weeks more. For normal trade to resume, it will take several months.”

“Ugh…”

When departing by boat from Benetsa, the distance was merely a week.

With favorable winds, it could take less than five days, which is precisely why I chose to come to Benetsa over anywhere else.

Of course, I knew that relations between the Turk Empire and Benetsa weren’t good at this time, but I never imagined they would go as far as imposing a trade blockade.

“In such a situation, no matter how much I try, there’s nothing that can be done right now. If it weren’t for the naval blockade, I could have rented a smuggler’s ship to send you off, but now that’s impossible…”

As Shylock spoke with genuine remorse, I concluded that I had no choice but to give up on sea routes and realized that a tough road lay ahead of me.

“Then… it means we have no choice but to take the road route, right?”

“That’s right, but that will also require quite a detour. The neighboring Hungary Kingdom is also blocked due to ongoing skirmishes, so if we must find a path, we can only travel north here and take another route.”

The mention of north was clear to me, and I found myself instinctively frowning.

“North… are you referring to the Sacred Empire?”

“Exactly. For now, that’s the only option we have.”

“…sigh…”

Shylock was painting a harsh reality that struck down like a thunderbolt.

All I could do was let out a deep sigh.

“The Sacred Empire… of all times, we have to pass through there…”

The background setting of the hellscape is the original work, and it’s clear that the gates of hell will soon begin to open in that country.

Besides, it’s highly likely that this nation will be sharpening its fangs regarding this situation.

But in a situation where we’ve already attracted so much attention, we couldn’t afford to linger here for months; our options were running thin.

“Well, if it’s just passing through, it shouldn’t be too much of a problem, right? It better not be…”

The only bit of relief was that unlike the region of Milano, where you had to cross the treacherous Swiss Alps to get to the Sacred Empire, there weren’t any such mountains in Benetsa.

Thus, pushing myself to think positively, Cazerose and I began to listen to Shylock explain the details about traveling by land.

With a deep desire in my heart that the uneasy premonition lingering in me wouldn’t come true…