81 Episode 19: Introduction to Western Diplomacy (1/2)

”Great!　That must have been quite a surprise for the heathens!

I see. So you and Master Lunalee saved the Kingdom of Hayastan from the Pagans!

So, the enemies outnumbered you?　So, what happened?

It was a victory thanks to your leadership and the efforts of your vassals!

Hercule gestured and exaggerated a bit as he talked about his own saga. ......

Cecilia looks happy and sometimes surprised.

It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one who's a bit of a jerk. ...... But that didn't stop Hercule from observing Cecilia.

(You look like you're ...... old enough, you know. But if you ask him a ...... question and make him think about it for a while, he will immediately give you a good answer. Smart, no doubt.

Hercule wasn't just bragging, either.

In his bragging, he included a test for Cecilia, ...... to decipher Cecilia's abilities and personality.

(...... She may not be a threat now, but in ten years, or even five years, she will be. If possible, I'd like to get along with them.

With that in mind, Hercule drinks his tea.

Sifanny immediately poured tea into the empty cup.

”By the way, Your Majesty. ”By the way, your Majesty, this tea smells very nice, doesn't it?

”Oh, you know ....... The future medium seems to have a good eye. Do you like ...... tea?

Yes, I do. I don't like alcohol. ...... But I also don't like that coffee drink because it's a little sour. Kuro tea is my favorite.

Hercule's mood improved a little when he realized that Cecilia was a tea drinker, just like him.

If you want, you can come to Nova Lemuria sometime. If you want, you can come to Nova Lemuria sometime. ...... I'll treat you to a nice cup of tea.

”Really?　I'll look forward to it.

Cecilia's eyes glittered.

I've heard that ...... you've started growing sugar in Misr province.

Cecilia said, pointing at the cookies.

Of course, sugar is used in cookies.

If it is a great success, will everyone be able to eat sweet things every day?

Depending on how big a success it is, ...... I'd like to aim for that.

That's a flat out lie.

If you mass-produce it, you won't be able to make any money.

You can get it if you work hard, but it's a luxury item.

The best way to make money is to keep it to a minimum.

After that, Cecilia and Hercule continued to talk and laugh.

Either Cecilia is a good listener, Hercule is a good talker, or both. ......

The conversation between the two was surprisingly lively.

”The Council of Aletheia, initiated by the Emperor. That council ended the long debate on the doctrines of Messianism. That's the Emperor.

”Well, the new ...... theory was half-baked and unreasonable, and it is true that there is a demand for ...... holy images. Even if I hadn't come to the conclusion, I'm sure that sooner or later, His Eminence Millenia would have come up with the idea. ......

As for the Council of Alexandria, Hercule thought it just happened to be his turn.

”But, Your Majesty. I'm not sure what to make of the Edict of Alexandria. It is true that forcing the heretics to change their minds will not be easy. But if we abandon that effort, the opportunity will be lost forever. The Edict of Alexandria is the thing that will divide Messianism forever.

(......?　Am I being preached at?

( Am I being lectured?) Hercule sensed that the tone of the conversation had changed a bit.

(? Am I being preachy?) Hercule felt the conversation changing a little. ”And how about imposing a tax on pagans instead of allowing them freedom of religion? If money is the only way to solve this problem, we should either allow it from the beginning or ban it entirely. It is true that imposing taxes may have the effect of encouraging conversions, but conversions on the basis of taxes are unhealthy.

Haha, ......, that's harsh.

I'm not sure what to say.

It seems that this girl is basically a fan of Hercule's. ......

It seems that this girl is basically a fan of Hercule's, but there are a few things that she would like to complain about.

However, Hercule is an adult.

If the person who said this was an adult high priest of the Messianic religion, and was asking for the revocation of the Aletheia edict, Hercule would have thoroughly debunked it. ......

The other party is a twelve-year-old girl.

There is no need to argue.

Besides, ......

(Well, everything Cecilia says is a good argument. There's no room for argument.

”There must be one messianism.

”Messianism must not be divided.

”The teachings of God should be preached to all people in the world.

This is an ideal and correct theory from the messianic point of view.

Even Hercule secretly thinks ”I wish that would happen ......”.

Well, the reality is that it won't happen, so he had to make a kind of contradictory and ungodly choice to announce the Aletheia edict and the Aletheia Creed at the same time.

(Well, she's not a medium yet. (Well, she's not a medium yet.) If you want to condemn my Aletheia edict again after she becomes a medium, I'll accept it. Well, I'm sure you'll change your mind once you become a medium.

When one's position changes, one's thoughts and arguments also change.

It is not uncommon for opposition parties that have criticized the ruling party to follow the policies of the ruling party that they criticized when they were in opposition the moment they become the ruling party.

Cecilia is now twelve years old, and while she may have achieved the status of a high priestess, ......

She is not yet in a position of responsibility.

We have the right to condemn the filthy adults who are idealistic and pragmatic.

You'll be a dirty adult in a while anyway. ......

Let them say it while they still can.

Cecilia. It is my understanding that the doctrine of the Messiahs is that they are equal before God ......, is there any difference?

”Yes?　...... Yes, I think so. What's wrong with that?

Even if it's a Nightmare?

A Nightmare?　Yes, I think that if he is a Messianic, he should be treated equally. ......

Cecilia looked puzzled as she spoke her mind.

The high priests of the Messianic religion tend to discriminate against heretics and infidels without treating them as human beings, while denying discrimination within the same Messianic community.

In fact, Lucanos and Cecilia do not seem to have any sense of discrimination against the demon race (nightmare).

On the other hand, lower-ranking clerics dislike demons (nightmares) as much as ordinary people.