episode_0041

The next day.

“Idol worship… So, you’ve checked how this country operates?”

At the scheduled meeting, the Emperor answered the Saintess’s question with a calm expression.

“Are you admitting that you made the clergy praise you?”

“What is there to admit or not? Everything the Saintess has confirmed is probably correct.”

A confession that was almost too cool.

He willingly nods at the question of whether he pressured the clergy to enhance the dignity of the monarch and increase support for the war.

As if he had no intention of hiding it from the start.

The Saintess came with the intention of questioning him, but she was dumbfounded by his attitude.

“…Then, why on earth did you do that? If Your Majesty is also a follower of the Goddess, you should know that such actions are taboo.”

“Because it was too convenient.”

“Yes?”

A reason that was simple and clear. Therefore, it was also an expression that properly grasped the essence.

“Do you know how old I am this year? I’m 65 years old. I’ve ruled this country for almost 40 years.”

The Emperor briefly took off the crown he was wearing and swept back his hair.

His desolate hair seemed to reveal his old age and long career.

“But there has never been a time when the country was so obedient to me and moved so smoothly as it is these days. This year, out of 40 years, the royal authority is the strongest.”

“Thanks to committing acts close to heresy, right?”

“What does it matter? I’ve got the whole country in my grasp, so I have to bear that much of a price.”

He knows it’s wrong.

He also knew that it was a sin that the clergy would never tolerate.

If it weren’t for the war, it wouldn’t be strange to receive a sentence of excommunication.

But he didn’t care.

The benefits gained from seizing this opportunity were so great that they were worth the risk.

“When I go outside, everyone worships me, this Emperor, like a saint. The nobles, who used to be so proud, grovel abjectly, and the imperial family doesn’t even dare to challenge my authority.

If I say just one word, hundreds of thousands of troops move according to my will, and supplies are mobilized from all over the country.”

It was still an era when lords’ territories were overflowing in various regions, and each operated their own private soldiers.

The foundation of centralization was being laid to some extent, but the monarch’s power was by no means absolute.

Other countries may have slightly different circumstances, but at least the Kram Empire was like that.

But that changed due to the war.

The nobles’ private soldiers were dragged to the battlefield and consumed, and the army created by the Emperor through conscription filled the void.

In front of the trinity of The Prince, Social Contract Theory, and Leviathan, the power that had been dispersed in various directions was integrated under the monarch.

The people’s support for the imperial family is higher than ever and even obedient.

“War has given me power as a gift. So, what’s the big deal about that taboo?”

In other words, the Emperor seized the opportunity of war to establish an absolute monarchy. Using the books written by Ishmael and the clergy cornered as a means.

With a few timely policies and tricks, and by pressuring the priests, he gained power that no emperor in history had ever enjoyed.

He had gained the power and position that his ancestors had dreamed of so much.

“Frankly, I’m not the only one who’s done this. Those guys in Nabre to our east and Ilaine to the north are the same. They’re all doing similar things, just to different degrees and in different ways. They know that now is the time to increase royal power and control the entire country.”

And manipulating priests and using them as they please?

It wasn’t a particularly unusual or extraordinary act.

When the clergy falters, every powerful person wants to devour its influence.

There have been many cases in the past, and this is the same.

The Emperor had simply chosen the optimal means that were useful to him, according to tradition.

Therefore, the Emperor never regretted his actions. As a politician, there was no reason to regret it at all.

“If you came here to criticize and make me repent for what I’ve done, it’s no use. I have no regrets about my actions so far.”

The Emperor, who had declared confidently, paused for a moment, then spoke in a softer tone, as if he was willing to compromise a little.

“But I’ll try to get rid of the practice of hanging deserters’ bodies in the streets. My subordinates seem to have committed strange acts because they were too loyal to me.”

He thought that displaying corpses like decorations in a perfectly fine city was a bit too much.

It was unsightly, so he intended to stop it soon. There was also the possibility of an epidemic.

“…Thank you for Your Majesty’s mercy. Then, I’ll be on my way.”

“You’re welcome. Please, take care on your way back.”

In the end, the Saintess had to return to her lodgings without gaining anything.

Carrying only bitterness, frustration, and regret in her heart.

* * * * *

‘Should I, retreat like this?’

Agony swirled in Joan’s head.

Knowing that the world is going in the wrong direction, yet unable to stop it.

Should she leave each country to freely use the clergy for their own benefit?

‘No. Still, I can’t give up.’

It was a desperate situation, but even so, the Saintess did not despair.

She couldn’t. As someone who receives the Goddess’s oracle, how could she give up without continuing to work for world peace? It was out of the question.

Since she failed to persuade the monarch, she had no choice but to change direction.

“Let’s target the people.”

After all, she can’t stop the war itself.

In a situation that is already heading to extremes, what more would she get than swearing if she told them to stop?

The clergy’s Kram branch was reluctantly implementing praise for the monarch and support for the war, but it was difficult to stop it due to lack of power.

If she forced them to stop, they would suffer the same fate as the Alcyone Federation’s state church.

They would have their influence taken away from the clergy leadership and become a puppet religion run by the state as they please.

‘Just focus on the original goal. So that the war doesn’t escalate any further.’

But. There seemed to be hope if she could suppress the violence of the war.

Wouldn’t they accept a proposal to stop overly cruel acts and fight while maintaining the minimum line?

After all, both allies and enemies are followers of the Goddess, so what’s the point of hating each other?

If they capture prisoners, put them in camps, don’t kill soldiers who have surrendered, and define the massacre of civilians as a crime.

Let’s make them keep even those basic things. By suppressing only the hatred that is soaring to extremes day by day.

If she could achieve even her original goal, that would be half a success.

“Bishop.”

“Yes, Saintess.”

“Could you prepare for me to give a speech to the citizens soon? Please inform the imperial family as well.”

“I will prepare immediately.”

If she was determined, it was right to act immediately. She couldn’t stay in this country forever.

Soon, the Saintess received the opportunity to freely express her opinions for a day in the central square of the imperial capital.

Thanks to the fact that they had used the clergy arbitrarily in the past, the imperial family granted her this much convenience.

And soon, on the day of the speech.

“Hello, citizens of the Empire. I am Joan Ayende, the Saintess of the Goddess Church.”

The Saintess earnestly expressed her thoughts and arguments to the crowd that had gathered like clouds.

How terrible war is, how excessively radical the current Empire is, and how such a trend is of no help to the world, and so on.

She tried to somehow suppress the madness and violence that people harbored.

“Constant hatred towards each other only leads to destruction. What’s the point of pointing knives and shooting bullets at people who live under the same sky?

The Goddess does not like it when people who worship the same God kill each other. Everyone, let’s calm down our anger a little. Let’s embrace love and peace rather than hatred in our hearts–”

It was hard to say that it was very good, but it was still a speech full of sincerity and passion.

But unfortunately.

“What bullshit is that?”

“I came because I heard the Saintess was giving a lecture, but I just wasted my time.”

Surprisingly, no one paid attention.

* * * * *

“Tsk, how foolish.”

When I received the report sent from the organization’s Kram branch, I could only sigh.

This lady was like this when she was learning from me, her head is too full of flowers.

I would have given her education with a kind of shock therapy, but she still hasn’t come to her senses.

“Humans are animals that live on hatred, so if you say such nice things, it will work.”

Humans are usually better at hating and being angry than loving and cherishing someone.

To the point of constantly waging wars while shouting peace and harmony.

Moreover, haven’t the people of the Kram Empire been addicted to the government’s propaganda for a long time?

To hate demons, dislike other countries, and be infinitely loyal to their own country.

‘She should have distinguished the time and situation.’

It is impossible for people who have been tamed by the ideology of nationalism to listen to religious virtues now.

Especially if the atmosphere of the country is rising due to the war and the pro-war arguments are gaining strength.

“They’re going to be kicked out to another country soon.”

“Are you talking about the clergy’s delegation?”

“Yes. If they did such a foolish thing, the imperial family would give them a hint to get out of here quickly.”

At my words, Kalia shrugged her shoulders.

Maybe it was because she had just come out of the bath, her face was full of redness and she was pretty.

“If that happens, we’ll welcome it. More than that, what’s happening with the work I asked you to do?”

“I’m still making a draft. Such a grand plan can’t be completed overnight.”

While grumbling, she shook the wad of paper in her hand.

It was written there in large letters.

[Reorganization Plan for the Post-War World Order]