Jonathan recognized the old man at the door. That man was his grandfather and the current strongest Belmont of his family.
Sebastian Belmont, the one who had passed down the magical whip of their family to him. Jonathan suspected that he was here because of the last letter he had sent him, in which he told him something about what he had discovered regarding the Black Tower.
"Jonathan, have you become an ungrateful Belmont now that you serve as an Exorcist Priest?"
"You've filled me with so much work that I can barely sleep. Should I be an ungrateful Belmont or fulfill my duties?" Jonathan looked at his grandfather with an expressionless face.
His grandfather's personality was dry, gruff, and extremely strict when it came to his obligations as one of the supreme hunters in this world.
As a great man who had passed through more than a thousand battlefields, Sebastian had the appearance of an old man and was dressed elegantly in a traditional black uniform. His hair was completely white, as was his immaculate beard. He had visible wrinkles on his hollow face, which made him appear gentle, but his eyes were as sharp as an eagle's.
This man had trained Jonathan in a hellish way, and although their agreements were now vague, Jonathan felt deep respect before this ordinary-looking old man.
"I've heard everything you've done. Although I dislike your methods, the results have always been perfect, so despite what others may say, I feel proud," Sebastian said as he walked toward a seat in front of a confessional.
Jonathan was surprised. He looked around and noticed at least a dozen men in suits guarding the perimeter. These were his grandfather's bodyguards, so he said nothing and sat down beside him after confirming that there were no more surprises.
"This lifestyle is very exhausting, Jonathan. Always remember that. Now more than ever, you must consider protecting yourself. One of these days, assassins will come looking for you," Sebastian said, omitting the word grandson and calling Jonathan simply by his name.
"I always keep that in mind, old man, but I have a question. How can we anticipate our destiny?" Jonathan had undergone serious changes after becoming an exorcist, which led him to try smoking and many other things, such as certain calming substances.
Sebastian scoffed lightly at Jonathan's words and said, "You never do. You'll live with that question and learn to manage it very slowly. That's how exorcists begin to digest their true purpose in this world."
"That's not an answer… But now that we're having this conversation, what exactly are you doing in this place?" Jonathan asked, slightly confused. His grandfather would not have wasted time on a simple conversation like this, so something must have happened.
"I know your work is very heavy, but considering the problems you've faced, I don't think it's a good idea for you to stay in one place. You are the future of the Belmont family. We cannot lose you."
Jonathan fell momentarily silent, turned his head toward his grandfather, and asked, "Are you suggesting that I hide under a rock?"
Sebastian closed his eyes, the veins on his forehead bulged, and he murmured, "Don't play dumb. You know perfectly well what I'm referring to."
"Where should I go?" Jonathan sighed. Taking advantage of the fact that he was inside a church, he made a tasteless joke toward his grandfather. Although it was funny and stupid at the same time, he understood that his grandfather was here to suggest that he take other alternatives.
The Belmont family, in addition to Jonathan and Sebastian, had other members, but not all of them were powerful, much less great hunters. Aside from Jonathan, no other Belmont had gone through the hellish training the family imposed on its descendants, so it was obvious that he would be treated differently.
Since he was not a Royal Priest, but one who was in charge of eliminating evil and being the guardian of the paranormal, the Belmont family would normally expect him to become the head of the family and continue the legacy.
That also meant finding a suitable woman to be with.
Jonathan, to be honest, had never fallen in love. His mind had always been focused on his work, and truthfully, he was not a romantic man that a normal woman could fall in love with.
The darkness that accompanied him turned him into a cold, fearsome, and very bloody man when he was not pretending to be a kind priest. That was why, taking many more factors into account, the current leader of the family usually sought a suitable wife for the next leader.
"If you don't have options, here are some," Sebastian said as he handed a folder with information to Jonathan, who had fallen silent.
"I don't want an arranged marriage. Those things don't work in a modern world like this, grandfather…" Jonathan stood up and said, "Right now we should be focused on finding the portal to the Dark Tower, having an advance team ready to enter, and going straight to war."
"I will lead the advance."
"No." Jonathan shook his head and said, "You know much more about our enemies and the darkness hidden within this church, so you should be the vanguard."
The smile on Sebastian's face grew wider. He stood up and said, "Since you're clear on that, we'll see each other later."
"Yes, grandfather."