209 CHAPTER III PEACEFUL RESOLUTION (1/2)

SIDE: Toad.

'I've done ...... I've done a terrible thing . No matter how impatient I was ......

A night later, I was in my room with my head in my hands .

Because even though I was the first to arrive to deepen our friendship, what I did yesterday was the exact opposite of what I did yesterday.

I thought I'd nod if there was any profit to be made, so I was forceful, but I was refused without even negotiating ...... the price.

It's not as if a man as good as Lord Leons is obsessed with such trivialities as love.

It's probably better for the empire that the church has to go to war with the kingdom.

There's no point in regretting the past. Let's think about our next move.''

I looked up at the old voice and saw Bruno, the chief of staff, come into the room .

'You say so, but ...... do you have any ideas?'

'Yes, you're right: ....... Shouldn't we wait and see here?　I'm sure Master Leons won't shake his head at anything he says now.

Wait?　What's the point in waiting?　Once those two get married, you can't make them saints, can you?

”I understand, sir. ....... But it would be the end of the world if we allowed relations with the Empire to deteriorate any further here. If we turn completely against Master Leons, our position in the faction could be in jeopardy.

'That's true, too, but it's hard for me to be Pope without ...... saints.'

Shit. I don't know what to do.

Master Toad, you are in too much of a hurry. After the next war, the balance of power will be in the Empire's favor.

They don't care about the royalists. Our enemy is the Pope's neutrals, the Imperialists. We have the enemy of the Kingdoms to hold us together for now, but if the Kingdoms are weakened, we'll see a fight among ourselves. Can't we see our people fighting each other?

The Pope is still going strong. He won't be deposed for ten years.

Ten years, ten years, and you never know what you'll find.

That's right: ....... But if Master Rihanna doesn't return to the Church, then Master Lelia will be the best holy wizard in the Church anyway. In the end, don't you think we can settle on making Master Lelia a saint?

'No, it's not. Lelia isn't overwhelmingly different from the others. You never know when you'll be overtaken.

The young ones will have passed us by in ten years.

That's why all the noblemen are hiring so many great tutors now.

So why don't you ask Master Leons for help?

Ah, you're still a man of cards, aren't you? What do you want me to do for Lord Leons?

Bruno is always like this. When I give him advice, he comes up with a few suggestions that are deliberately designed to test me first.

If I wasn't good enough, I'd dismiss him immediately. ...... I don't know how many times Bruno has helped me in the past.

''During this period, no, why don't you leave Master Lelia with Master Leons for the next six months or so?

Huh, I don't know what you're suggesting again.

What are we going to do with it?　Do you want me to color-match them?

You don't mean... You will be taught the secrets of magic.

”Magic Tips?

Yes. It seems to be a special technique that's only been passed down to the Forster family and the previous saints.

'I see. ...... Is that one of the reasons why the Forster family and the saints are renowned for being the strongest?'

Yes.

'But how do you convince the guys in the country?　Six months without a saint would not be acceptable, would it?

The Fontaine family will be in hot water. I'm not to use the saints for personal gain.

”Missionary work in the Empire” would suffice.　If you call it missionary work, no nobleman would criticize it, even outwardly.

I see... Our saints have also served as missionaries in other countries.

Surely they wouldn't be considered saints for personal use?

Okay. I'll write a letter to the Church about that.

Yes. Yes, please.

So, do you think Leons can teach us the art of it?

It will be harder to convince the country than it will be to convince Master Leons.

After all, teaching Lelia the secrets of magic won't be of any benefit to Sir Leonce.

In fact, it would be detrimental to the stability of our country and to Sir Leon's interests if I were to gain power.

''He will surely teach you.

Always?

Where do you get that kind of confidence from?

''Yes, sir. First of all, by sending Master Lelia to the Empire, we won't have to worry about being attacked by the Church. I'm sure he's willing to do this much to help Master Rihanna. I'm sure Master Leons loves Master Rihanna that much.

Love?

...... are you serious?

Yeah. I'm serious.

'There's no way ...... such a sweetheart could be this big.

Even though I have been so ruthless in making the Fontaine family so big: .......

'Surely this laxity would be fatal to the everyman.

You're saying it's okay because he's not an ordinary man?

''Yes . He has the power to have trudged through dungeons, gained power by being betrothed to an imperial princess, and gained wealth by being betrothed to the richest man in the world. And most importantly, he has the brains to accomplish all this at a young age. It's hard to believe that he's an ordinary man.