Chapter 330
(Kyle Calendar Year 514: Age 21)
Showdown with the Central Church ① (Opening Stages)
Translator : PolterGlast
In Kylar, the Royal Capital of the Kyle Kingdom, the crossbow competition
gathering strongmen from all over the Kingdom had reached its final day,
and the banquet crowning its conclusion was being held grandly.
At the same time,
gathered in a room of the Supreme Court located at the innermost part of a vast
plot of land including the cathedral and other Central Church-related
facilities, the medical school, and the charity hospital in the massive corner
of the Third District of the Royal
Capital, there were men exchanging arguments.
「Regarding
the meeting requested by the Archduke of Westlights, who has visited the
Royal Capital this time, what do you
all think of his intention?」
「Sir! This time the Archduke
has come to the Royal Capital
accompanied by Honorary Bishop Rosa and Parish Head Grace.
According to the proposal by Grace, who arranged tomorrow's meeting, it
is probably a consultation regarding the expansion of the church in the new
territory...」
「Fufufu,
he is diligent too. Does this mean he is desperately trying to newly increase
the parishes under him?」
「It
seems so. Ever since he stuck to the Archduke, he has shown great
contributions, after all. Your Eminence the Archbishop, at the dawn when he
extends his reach to the former Empire
territory as well, how about appointing him as a Cardinal for his achievements
up to now?」
「Hmm...
his achievements are sufficient, but there are also some problems. Because he
is ultimately of a lowly origin even within the clan.」
「Cardinal,
it is exactly as His Eminence says. In the first place, isn't he of your
lineage? If you make him of equal rank, the things you have obtained will also
become his own achievements, are you fine with that?」
「That
is troubling...」
Although he answered
so, the Cardinal did not look particularly troubled. Therefore, the Archbishop
added an explanation.
「In the
first place, if we were to pull him up, we would either have to break the
long-standing custom and increase the slots for Cardinals, or dismiss one of
the five Cardinals.」
In the Central
Church, the following hierarchy was established.
(Position)
(Stipulated Number and Treatment in the Kingdom)
General
Archbishop (Clan Head of Holy) : 1 person, Duke treatment
Archbishop
(Holy Clan) : 3 people, Frontier Count to Marquis treatment
Cardinal
(Holy Clan) : 5 people, Count treatment
Central
Church Specially Appointed Honorary Bishop : Currently 1
person, Count treatment
Parish
Head (Bishop) : 8 people, Viscount treatment
Central
Church Bishop : 10 people, Baron treatment Regional Church
Bishop : 20 people, Baronet treatment
Central
Church Priest : 30 people, Knight treatment
Regional
Church Priest : 50 people, Commoner
Father : Over 200 people, Commoner
Due to a secret pact
with the first King Kyle, they do not possess inherent territory, but
the Holy Clan receives noble treatment like other clans while taking root in
the territories of each noble, securing solid power and income sources.
By placing churches
in all noble territories, the Central Church collects gold coins under the
pretext of gratitude for God's will, while simultaneously collecting
information from various places.
They were warming
their own pockets by selling that information to those in power at the time or
opposing factions in exchange for a price...
「Your
Eminence the General Archbishop, Lord Archbishop, my proposal is slightly
different. The fixed number is strictly limited to within the Kingdom.
It is fine for the core of the clan to occupy this unchanged. For example, how
about newly establishing a 'Frontier Cardinal' or something similar. Of course,
the authority would be one step below a Cardinal.」
When he proposed so,
the one called Cardinal slightly raised the corners of his mouth, hiding a
chuckle.
「He has
a talent for collecting alms. He must have won the Archduke's favor quite well.
Therefore, we should just give him bait and encourage him more and more. That
will ultimately become our profit, and furthermore beyond that...」
「Hohoho,
are you saying to use his case as bait to encourage the ones in the north and
east as well?」
「Yes,
Your Eminence, I believe the more alms gathered, the better.」
「I see,
the ones given the opportunity to collect gold coins in newly acquired lands
are not limited to him. That is what you mean?」
「Yes,
exactly as Lord Archbishop says. The new territories where we should spread
God's teachings are by no means limited to the south. Because they exist in the
north and east as well.」
「Hahaha,
are you saying you can make those guys strive even harder to obtain a new rank,
no, to maintain it?」
「As you
perceptively observe. Once their rank is raised, they will need to make an
effort (collect gold coins) to meet God's will corresponding to that.
Otherwise, demotion is unavoidable...」
「Hohoho,
Cardinal, it seems you have the most talent to meet God's will. The Gods will
surely adore your talent too.」
「Yes,
as is God's will.」
Thus, their
discussion converged in a certain direction. Of course, what Takuhir was
thinking was not within the scope of their understanding. Resting on their
laurels in the composition of power after all, they were only able to predict
what lay ahead within the scope of their own imaginations.
※
The day after the
banquet in the Royal Capital ended,
I visited the Central Church accompanied by Rosa, Bishop Grace,
and several attendants besides Sigurd and Carla to carry the
bright yellow sweets (gold coins).
The one advancing at
the front as a guide is Rosa, who knows the inside of the Central Church
like her own backyard.
Right now, she is a
Specially Appointed Honorary Bishop of the Central Church, and although she
lacks real power, formally she ranks higher than Bishop Grace, who is a
Parish Head. While walking along the path, church officials opened the way one
after another, bowing respectfully to Rosa.
And the deeper we
went into the interior of the building, the more gorgeous and luxurious it
became, elaborately adorned with extravagance.
「I
mean, the luxuriousness inside is surprising too, but I'm also surprised by Rosa's
rapid promotion.」
Although it is an honorary
position, there are only 9 superiors to her in the church. According to Rosa,
the ranks above her are on a separated, high plane...
However, the
achievements she has made through the church so far were also unparalleled.
·
Elucidating the cause of the epidemic that had
tormented people since ancient times.
·
Discovering and deploying a lost treatment
method.
·
Anticipating the outbreak of the epidemic and
sounding the alarm nationwide.
·
Standing at the forefront and fighting the
disease without regard for her life.
·
Highlighting the importance of the church in
responding to the epidemic and demonstrating its value.
Because as a result,
she saved tens of thousands of human lives, and in that process, unexpectedly
brought massive wealth to the church.
And one more thing,
the fact that she is a Holy Mage is also significant. Because the number
of Holy Mages the church directly retains is only a little over 10.
The church side is
also desperately trying to win over such a Rosa.
「I have
only come beyond this point a few times myself... actually, I don't really like
it. Because it always smells like bright yellow sweets (gold coins) and gives
me heartburn. Besides, I hate being thought of as being in the same category as
them...」
I bet... It's the
head temple of those whom everyone unhesitatingly calls 'misers', after all. Rosa
herself is an existence far removed from that bad reputation.
After a while, we
arrived in front of an exceptionally luxurious building, and guided by the
waiting guide, we entered the depths.
「Umm...
beyond this point, the attendants are...」
When I was stopped
like that, I shook my head slightly and ostentatiously glanced at the bags they
were holding. Then, he floated a full smile as if he understood something.
「I see,
before God, everyone is equally given the opportunity to receive blessings.
Attendants, please proceed as well.」
「...」
No, you're way too
easy to understand! What's with this quick change of attitude!
I swallowed the
words that unintentionally floated up with a wry smile.
Then, following the
guide, we were led into an extravagantly luxurious room. There were seats for 3
people facing each other across a low table, and behind our seats, for some
reason, a large table was placed.
I felt a silent
pressure, as if being told, 『Please put the sweets (gold coins)
over here...』
Following Carla's
instructions, the attendants placed only 3 bags in front and deliberately
placed the remaining 7 in the back corner, then bowed and left the room. After
that, the guards Sigurd and Carla lined up at attention behind
me.
After a while...
When a door with a more luxurious build than the door we entered through
opened, 3 men came in. Then, they sat on the chairs facing us across the table,
which were clearly more luxurious than where we were sitting.
「First
of all, thank you very much for His Majesty the Archduke of Westlights
coming personally. I am Crevaras, a Cardinal of the Central Church.
Allow me to introduce our General Archbishop Miser and Archbishop Greedy.」
The one who spoke up
and greeted us first like that was the Cardinal, still in his mid-30s and quite
handsome.
Hmm... General
Archbishop Miser, the representative of misers, has entered old age from
his prime, and at first glance looks like a slightly plump man who appears to
be a harmless, good-natured person. The Archbishop has fox-like eyes and a
slightly harsh countenance. Well, peel off a layer and they're probably the
same inside, though.
『Crevaras...
I feel like I've heard that somewhere? Where was it?』
「Cardinal
Crevaras, I was greatly indebted to you previously. His Majesty the Archduke,
the one who recommended me to the medical school was Cardinal Crevaras,
who was a Bishop at the time.」
『I
see, so he got promoted! And so...』 He should have still been a Bishop at
that time. To have climbed to Cardinal in just 6 years, he's probably the most
successful person even within the church.
「Cardinal
Crevaras, thank you for your help at that time. I express my gratitude
anew. Also, this is my first time greeting General Archbishop Miser and
Archbishop Greedy. I thank you for willingly accepting the meeting this
time despite the sudden request.」
I dared to speak,
ignoring the hierarchy while keeping my words polite. There is a reason for
that.
Originally, I am a Archduke,
the King of a nation. Although I also have the position of a subject of the Kingdom,
as a Duke, I am in the top position. Even the General Archbishop, who inherits
the clan headship of the clan of Holy Mages, is only treated as a Duke
in status.
Originally, the
proper way in this country and this world would be for them to wait and the
General Archbishop himself to greet us. But I dared to feign innocence and let
it go with that level of sarcasm. Well... for now, anyway.
『Because
the bargaining has already begun.』
Thinking so, I
returned a full smile to the bewildered General Archbishop. Well, to be honest,
I came here fully ready to fight.
「S-So,
regarding the matter of His Majesty the Archduke visiting us this time, is
there anything we can be of use to His Majesty?」
「It is
exactly as Cardinal Crevaras perceptively observed. We have come to this
place harboring great expectations. But first, allow me to observe the proper
formalities.」
Saying so, I
sequentially received large bags containing 200 gold coins from Sigurd and
lined them up in front of them. I untied the string closing the mouth of just
one bag, showing the contents.
「These
3 bags of gold coins total 600 pieces. This is alms in gratitude for the
achievements of Parish Head Grace and everyone who assisted in the
founding of our country. Please accept it.」
I presented the 3
bags nonchalantly, but deliberately did not even glance at the bags piled up
behind. Meanwhile, I stared intently at the 3 of them and confirmed something.
That the General
Archbishop and the Archbishop were confirming the number of bags piled on the
back table with their eyes... Now then, since they have also finished
confirming the bait ahead, the remaining 1,400 gold coins, the real match
starts from here.
「Now
that greetings are done, I would like to move to the main topic. This time, I
have come to confirm and request regarding the church expanding into our new
territory, the former Empire territory.」
What is with these
two. They floated an expression like 『Here it comes!』 for a
moment right away, and are hurriedly covered it up, but...
「Regarding
that matter, allow me to speak. Since Parish Head Grace is always
indebted to the Archduke of the Demon Territory, after all. Considering
that area as well, we wish to thoroughly scrutinize and examine it as the
church.」
「Archbishop
Greedy, is it still at the examination stage?」 (To
go from examination to confirmation, bright yellow sweets... that's probably
what it is.)
「My,
my, the Archduke of the Demon Territory is not the only one who obtained
new territory, you see. Embarrassingly, the church is also short-handed, and we
have various expenses too.」 (If you want priority, pay the price.
Those gold coins behind are for that purpose too, aren't they? You must
start from there. Stop putting on airs.)
「I see,
exactly as the Archbishop says, it seems there are various problems. Then let
us first discuss the issues in this place.」 (You guys are the
ones making the problems bigger! Sorry, but I won't issue the prescription
(gold coins) right away.)
「Discussions
are fine, but establishing multiple churches is ultimately at our discretion,
no, God's will. First of all, why don't you pray to God to that effect?」
(What kind of foolish
talk is this brat doing? Just bring out the gold coins in the back quickly.
Even though I'm taking the trouble to give him the timing for it... Is this
guy a little weak in the head?)
「I see,
an honest way of speaking. But even if you make the vessel, it will be
troubling if the contents do not accompany it. Now that I have seen everyone's
feelings, let us talk about the crucial matters.」
I mean, what is
that! That expectation-filled expression.
There's no way I'd
let you have your way that easily. Then... shall I demonstrate my true ability?
Floating my usual smile, I fixed my gaze on them. The battle begins!
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