Ch.436Unexpected Visit

A letter from Kurt Reiher, Cardinal of the Church of Imela.

For correspondence to someone who was nearly a political opponent, it was an invitation filled with quite courteous phrases.

He was inviting me and Lacy to discuss the future of the Holy State.

He also wanted Millia to come, though there wasn’t any special reason—he seemed interested simply because her nickname was “Arrow of Imela.”

“The future of the Holy State. What a grandiose expression. In reality, he’s concerned about his own church’s future, I suppose.”

Lacy’s response was somewhat cynical.

Well, even I found it blatantly obvious.

What other reason would this man, who until now had shown nothing but vigilance and hostility toward Lacy, suddenly have for sending an invitation?

With both Paulus and Erich dead, the Holy Night Struggle Council was on the verge of collapse, so that must be it.

Three churches had united as one, but before they could accomplish anything, he was left alone—how frustrating that must be.

“So what will you do? I think it’s better to meet him at least once.”

“I suppose so. The Church of Kranus has refused to cooperate with us, and the Church of Menes remains silent, so shouldn’t we try to bring in the Church of Imela at least?”

Lacy smiled as if this was indeed a good opportunity.

—-

The cathedral of the Church of Imela was a place befitting the temple of the Goddess of Love, for better or worse.

The interior of the cathedral was decorated in bright colors and, like other cathedrals, was filled with statues and large paintings, but their content differed significantly from other places.

The Elpinel Cathedral was adorned with war paintings depicting holy battles and statues of heroes, creating a solemn atmosphere.

The cathedral of the Church of Menes felt like the night sky had been brought indoors.

In contrast, the paintings and statues of the Church of Imela revealed the goddess’s figure and the appearance of the priests who served her without any concealment.

In other words… they were all nude.

The statues depicting the goddess and the paintings presumed to be portraits of priestesses were all completely naked without a single piece of cloth.

Looking at each piece individually, they felt more classical than obscene… but still, with naked women everywhere, it was hard to tell whether this was a temple or a high-class brothel.

At least there were no works depicting the process of making children.

Though there were many works showing children being held.

Fortunately.

If there had been such paintings or statues, it really would have seemed like a brothel.

Even the priests walking around the cathedral were mostly women.

At a glance, there seemed to be about nine times as many women as men.

…I heard the Cardinal was definitely a man.

Could it be that the cathedral of the Church of Imela was like a harem for him…?

“This is a bit embarrassing… if I had come with Demian, it might have been awkward.”

With flesh-colored displays all around, even Millia was walking with slightly flushed cheeks.

She kept her gaze lowered as if troubled by having nowhere to look.

“How surprising. So you still have emotions like embarrassment left in you, Millia?”

I thought all that had evaporated long ago.

“……”

Millia didn’t say anything after that.

Judging by her expression, she wasn’t particularly angry, just seemed to have reached her limit of embarrassment.

—-

“I thank you for accepting my invitation. Acting Cardinal Elmaine, Lord Median, and Lady Millia.”

Cardinal Kurt welcomed us as if he was genuinely delighted to see us.

He was an old man with a particularly weak impression due to his drooping eyes, and his complexion was pale with dark circles under his eyes, suggesting his health wasn’t very good.

Though not to the point of looking like he might die from overwork like Drexler.

We sat on the sofa he guided us to and enjoyed the tea and refreshments that seemed to have been prepared in advance while having a long conversation.

He appeared determined to join hands with our side. He lavished praise on Imelia de Median, whom I had never even met, and even gave Millia some advice about married life, saying he had heard that she and her husband got along well.

Watching a seventy-year-old celibate old man giving marital advice to a teenage girl, I couldn’t tell whether it was counsel or harassment.

Well… since neither Millia nor Lacy seemed offended, I suppose it was indeed advice.

After finishing his introduction filled with flattery, Cardinal Kurt finally got to the main topic.

As the conversation turned toward the politics of the Holy State, Millia lost interest and began looking around at the decorations in the Cardinal’s office, while I, unable to smoke, satisfied my bored mouth with refreshments.

“So… this has become quite troublesome, hasn’t it? I merely joined the Holy Night Struggle Council to balance power, but Paulus has passed away and Erich, true to his character, has left us. Now I’m the only Cardinal left in the Holy Night Struggle Council.”

“Both were truly regrettable incidents.”

Lacy calmly sipped her tea without even a twitch of her eyebrow.

While Paulus was one thing, Erich’s suicide was essentially caused by her and me, yet she showed not the slightest hint of it—a poker face that could be considered exemplary.

Come to think of it, I wonder what state the Church of Menes is in now.

With the Cardinal dead, has that woman who was a candidate for Holy Maiden taken control?

“Regrettable… well anyway, whether by chance or fate, only the Cardinals of the Holy Night Struggle Council have met with misfortune. As the one who has unintentionally become the head of the Holy Night Struggle Council, I can hardly sleep for fear of when an assassin’s blade might be turned toward me.”

“My, you must be very concerned.”

It seemed to be more than just concern, as Cardinal Kurt let out a deep sigh.

I had heard he was particularly weak-natured among the Cardinals, and his appearance certainly matched that description.

At least Erich had shown some spirit and shouted before being cornered.

Though his speeches were those of a warmonger, so I had taken them with a grain of salt.

“It’s no small worry. Even if I try to ally with other churches, the dogmatic Holy Solar Alliance would never accept our church, and as for allying with the Church of Volberg, they’re simply not trustworthy. So…”

After moistening his throat with tea, Cardinal Kurt finally revealed the original purpose for calling us.

As I had already anticipated, it was a proposal to cooperate with them.

Since the Holy State couldn’t be unified, the only way to maintain stability and peace was for the three factions to maintain balance and check each other.

He proposed abandoning the name Holy Night Struggle Council and forming a new faction by combining the Churches of Elpinel, Ausrine, and Imela.

There seemed to be no reason to refuse.

I wasn’t sure what would happen after new Cardinals were born in the Churches of Menes and Kranus, but for now, Cardinal Kurt’s proposal was close to the best solution.

“…Indeed, for the stabilization of the Holy State, that method would be best.”

Lacy, who had been silently listening to Cardinal Kurt’s passionate speech, seemed to share my thoughts as she nodded after some consideration.

“However, if you wish to ally with us, you must follow one condition.”

“Condition?”

“Yes. Acknowledge the existence of the Imperial Diocese and officially recognize their independence. That is my condition.”

Lacy put forward the same condition as she had with Paulus.

Firmly, as if to say don’t even dream of cooperation if this condition isn’t accepted.

It seemed to be a difficult question to answer, as Cardinal Kurt pondered for a long time without responding.

Until the teacup he had been sipping from showed its bottom.

“Is it difficult?”

“…It’s not a simple matter. While the Empire may view the Diocese positively for its contribution to witch hunts… here in the Holy State, the Imperial Diocese is seen as a puppet organization pandering to secular power and a seed of new division. To allow such an organization to exist, shouldn’t we first address the distrust and prejudice that the faithful have toward the Diocese?”

It was a valid point.

Though probably not very welcome to Lacy.

“So you’re refusing. How truly regrettable.”

Lacy’s voice expressing regret was slightly lower than usual, giving the impression of a judge pronouncing a death sentence.

…When she speaks like that, it makes me feel like I should draw my sword and cut off this old man’s head.

“No, wait. I’m not refusing. I just mean I cannot accept the current Diocese.”

Perhaps feeling the same impression as I did, Cardinal Kurt hurriedly continued, sweating nervously.

“I have a plan, so please hear me out. So…”

To summarize his words in one sentence, it was advice to solve the Holy State’s problems in the name of the Diocese to gain the support of the people of the Holy State.

The current Holy State had many problems besides the division of the churches, so if Lacy personally stepped forward to solve these problems, the people of the Holy State would view the existence of the Diocese more positively.

Like how she had annihilated the Council of Dream Utopia in Holon.

“That’s a reasonable suggestion. Except for the fact that I cannot leave the capital due to the hearing issue.”

“As for the hearing issue, there’s no need to worry. If all the Cardinals were intact, it might be different, but with only six remaining, if I and the Church of Ausrine oppose it, it couldn’t even be held in the first place. At this point, postponing the hearing indefinitely shouldn’t be difficult.”

Cardinal Kurt raised the corners of his mouth as if to reassure her.

—-

The meeting with Cardinal Kurt concluded successfully.

Lacy accepted his proposal and promised a united faction of the Churches of Elpinel, Imela, and Ausrine.

The name Holy Night Struggle Council seemed cursed, so they planned to change it to an entirely new name.

After finishing our conversation, we shook hands with the Cardinal and returned to the cathedral, where we informed our companions that we might need to visit other cities soon.

Our companions, who seemed to be getting bored waiting idly in the capital, all reacted positively to Lacy’s explanation.

Especially Lena, who was most pleased at the opportunity to visit her hometown.

=====================

And a few hours later.

After the sun had completely set and people had gone to bed, an unexpected visitor came to the Elpinel Cathedral.

“Excuse me for the late hour. I’d like to meet Elmaine Stardolf, the Holy Maiden candidate of the Church of Elpinel… is it possible at this hour?”

A girl with sparkling gray eyes, long dark blue hair like the night sky, and sharp eyes.

“Please tell her that Agnes Menesilia, the Holy Maiden candidate, has come to see her.”

She revealed her identity by showing the holy symbol hanging around her neck.

The disc-shaped holy symbol unique to the Church of Menes, with different colors on each side.