The Returned Sword King Decided to Become a Tyrant Chapter 39
Where does God’s will go (2)
Crunch-!
“I’m going.”
“……okay.”
As I entered the office, I saw my father reading a silver letter.
On the back of the letter was a design of a cross surrounded by thorns, clearly the symbol of the goddess Rhea.
I got straight to the point without any conventional courtesy.
“Is that a letter from the temple?”
“right.”
“I heard that the Holy Empire is sending a saint and a high priestess.”
“… … It must be true since it was sent directly from the temple.”
Swish-
My father put the letter he was reading down on the desk and pushed it towards me so I could see it.
I stared at the silver letter that had been pushed forward, picked it up, and checked its contents.
Although the content was filled with all sorts of useless rhetoric, the message was simple if you boil it down to it.
“It feels like you’re asking about the relationship between Esteban, the Federal Empire, and the dwarves.”
“… … .”
I put down the letter I had finished reading and smiled.
“It’s as if they were just waiting for me to return, my connection to the dwarves.”
The temple sometimes served as a portal through which the will of the Holy Empire was communicated.
In other words, it is the same as planting their eyes and mouths in other countries for the purpose of spreading their doctrine.
In this case, it would mean that the Holy Empire was watching my movements.
Knock- knock-!
The fingers that had been still began to tap the handle lightly.
“The formal tone and informal nature of the visit are probably just an excuse to talk about dwarves and the Federation Empire.”
“Do you think so?”
“Yes. In conclusion, I think the purpose is to put pressure on Esteban. If there is even the slightest quibble, the pressure will come right away.”
“… … Phew.”
It was an answer that was close to certainty.
Because it was so clear what they wanted.
‘Of course, that’s not the only reason.’
My father, who was listening to the story, rubbed his temples and said.
“You’ve caught the Pope’s eye… … So your future movements may be restricted. I wonder what you think.”
“It won’t be the Pope.”
“hmm?”
It might not be, or it might not be?
My father’s voice lowered as if he was being cautious in his confident answer.
“What does that mean?”
“At least the current Pope is not of that type. That much is certain.”
“… … Hmm.”
This incident must have been caused by the voices of the high priests.
At least as far as I know, he was a sincere man who carried out God’s will even among the rotten high priests of the Holy Empire…
‘He wasn’t the type of person to become something like that in the first place.’
Yes, at least the current pope.
I lifted the hand that had been tapping the doorknob and lightly stroked my chin.
“What matters here is not whether the Pope moved or not.”
“That means… … .”
“It was a foregone conclusion that they would move anyway. Now the question is how to utilize that movement.”
Then, my father got up from his seat in surprise.
“It was a done deal?! Are you saying that even this situation was within your expectations?”
“Why not?”
“Oh, how on earth… … .”
“It’s a simple story. From their perspective, the series of events that occurred in Esteban would have been completely incomprehensible.”
This was something that would never happen in the future.
If I had been certain that something like this would happen, it would have been because I knew better than anyone the dark intentions they had.
‘So it can’t not be fun.’
The fight that will take place in it is something I have also been waiting for… … .
Right from the moment I thought about taking over the land of the Federal Empire.
By this time, my father was able to clearly understand what I was trying to say.
“Are you saying that we should use the Holy Empire’s movements… as a new means of restraining the Federal Empire?”
“Yes.”
I was laughing as I said that.
The point was that both empires were still unaware of Esteban’s plans, that’s all.
“Please leave this matter to me.”
The saint’s coming in person was a variable, but even that was only used as a means.
What matters is how well Esteban can withstand their pressure.
How big and secretly does it grow beneath the surface of the chaotic Northern Continent?
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Oh, is this the first time you’ve said something like that to your father?
“Our enemy now is not Roena, but Carrot.”
“… … !”
The voice that contained the name of the Federal Empire felt cold and chilling.
* * *
The sight of nobles walking hurriedly was not a common sight.
From the beginning, the situation in which the entire palace was moving in a hurry could be seen as an unusual event.
The maids, who were carrying on with their daily lives as usual, glanced around curiously, feeling a slight sense of uneasiness.
“I wonder if something really happened?”
As one maid expressed her anxiety, the maid who was cleaning the window struck a gong in response.
“That’s right. I thought it was just a minor commotion earlier, but now it looks like something has happened.”
“It won’t be a big deal… … .”
“well…….”
The maids began to wonder why there was so much chaos.
The first thing that comes to mind is the return of the first prince from his mission.
Since he was the first prince who had recently been showing unconventional behavior, it is most likely that the uproar was caused by something related to him.
But one maid shook her head, dismissing the possibility.
“It doesn’t match the time His Majesty returned. Besides, His Majesty the First Prince also left in a hurry just a moment ago.”
“I see… … .”
Well then, there is nothing particularly obvious… … .
At that moment, the maid who was cleaning the window clapped her hands and shouted as a vague memory came to mind.
“Ah! Could that be it?”
“huh?”
“Why, I mean the carriage that came into the palace earlier!”
“carriage?”
The maids who heard the story tilted their heads and began to recall their memories.
In the royal palace, where dozens of carriages came and went every day, the very act of a carriage coming in was not that unusual.
But if a carriage with a different meaning than usual had come and gone, it would have been different.
Even if you pass it over without thinking, your mind will remember it unconsciously.
“Come to think of it.”
“I think a silver carriage came in earlier… … .”
A silver carriage.
A color that signifies a visit from the temple side, or a carriage carrying a religious envoy.
However, the religions that are widespread in Esteban are very few. And if there is a ‘temple’ built in Esteban, it is the only one that exists outside of them.
“Ah! The carriage of the Holy Empire?”
At that moment.
A faint breeze began to be felt behind the maids’ backs.
The scent of spring. Or the freshness of summer. It was such a pitiful sway that none of the maids noticed anything unusual.
One, the wind was definitely blowing.
“I thought it was noisy, but this happened while I was away for a moment.”
An unadorned smile and a refreshingly cheerful voice.
The man’s eyes sparkled as he listened to the maids’ chattering.
“Isn’t work becoming a hassle?”
Soon the wind slowly disappeared into the shadows, leaving a long aftertaste.
* * *
It would be nearly impossible to leave theology out of human history.
From the secret story of its birth to parts of history, it was because humans had a closer relationship with the being called God than anyone else.
So it was not surprising that those who served Roena, the God who gave her, held great power.
“I am Garden, and I am performing the duties of high priest.”
His white hair fell down his lowered head and onto his priestly attire.
His untidy beard and hair were also given to him by God.
‘Fundamentalist.’
Just by watching this, I could figure out the man’s personality.
I sat down and received the greeting.
“Allen Esteban. He is the first prince of Esteban.”
Even at first glance, his strong personality and picky side were enough to make the teacup-carrying servants flinch.
Perhaps it is an atmosphere that blooms subtly, like a murderous spirit that is ingrained in the body.
I waved my hand lightly, dismissed the servants, and asked a question in passing.
“I heard the saint was coming. I haven’t seen her yet.”
“I am sorry. Saint Roena has stepped forward to look after the lives of the believers who reside in this land.”
“I see. That’s too bad.”
Even though he beat around the bush, the meaning was obvious.
─You ran away.
I shrugged my shoulders jokingly and opened my mouth.
“Don’t worry, today is just a light conversation. Welcome to Esteban.”
“I don’t know what to do with myself when you welcome an uninvited guest like this.”
The etiquette of the ‘Kingdom’ that flows naturally as if it were set in stone.
also.
A fundamentalist. And he was a very closed-minded person.
I confirmed the character of the Archpriest of Garden once again and smiled deeply.
“It’s been nearly fifty years since the Holy Empire sent a diplomatic envoy. So, why did the Pope send you here?”
“… …His Majesty was concerned about Esteban’s movements.”
“Huh. The Pope?”
At that moment, Archpriest Garden’s eyebrows twitched.
Although it was only a momentary movement, I did not miss it and continued speaking.
“The Pope must be busy looking after the chosen people of the empire, so why did he turn his attention to such a small country?”
“All those on this land are the people of Roena. There is no reason why the eyes of the Holy Nation should not be upon them.”
My smile grew deeper.
“It was definitely a doctrine. If my memory serves me right.”
“Yes, that is why His Majesty has sent me to bring the word of Roena to this land once again.”
“I see.”
I nodded, but I couldn’t help but smile.
There were a few things that became clear to me from that short conversation.
One. The existence of the saintess is only a figurehead, and the actual work is focused on the high priestess named Garden.
Second, the Pope’s decision to deliberately send a high priest who was a staunch fundamentalist was none other than his own.
One, this was the Pope’s mistake.
I hoped that sending a high priest with a closed personality would bring more accurate information.
For me, who had already anticipated their movements, that character was nothing less than a story representing honesty.
‘finally…….’
three.
The fact that their so-called ‘concerns’ are not mere diplomatic expressions.
They were wary of us siding with the Federal Empire.
No, we were extremely wary of our own actions.
This is different from the story of simply giving away the heart of the Holy Empire.
‘Then the story is simple.’
“I hope that I can use this opportunity to alleviate that anxiety.”
The lips that lifted the teacup curled up.
