Chapter 42 - Volume 3 (1/2)
Volume 3, Chapter 12: I turned 9 years old, Part 3
“…Yu-Yurushia-sama”
Although I was disturbed from my good mood, since my mood had been so good, I greeted the owner of the voice with a smile anyways.
“Ah, it’s Archbishop Callisto, how may I help you?”
How did he, who was previously the Archbishop of the church in the neighbouring country Shiguresu, become the archbishop here… well, I wasn’t surprised. He said he’d be coming to Taterudo, so I wasn’t surprised when I heard that Archbishop was calling for me.
“That thing before, about your changing the offering… well…”
As I steadily smiled at him, he stopped talking.
“Don’t worry about it.”
“…Yes”
How weak. I’m worried that this Archbishop won’t be able to make a living like this.
And, Callisto…… although he was trembling with fear, when he met my eyes, he blushed a bit. I felt disgusted for a moment.
Ever since I started growing, my [Intimidation] hasn’t been very stable…
“So, that Holy magic that you used just now, how much magical power does it use?”
“Magical power…?”
How much? Maybe if the magic power expenditure is huge, there was supposed to be an equal tithe?
“Hmm, well… It’s about three times the cost of a 【Feast of Blessings].”
“………”
Callisto’s eyes went wide and he stared at me. Well, it’s alright. It’s the kind of magic that only the pope should be able to use.
“That… that much magical power……”
As Callisto squeezed out the words, he lowered his head as if deciding something.
“There is a ceremony asking for Yurushia-sama.”
“What is that, I wonder…?”
“We would like for you to use your great magical power in the service of God. We will do my very best to repay you. We will try our best to accommodate you, so please.”
“………”
It’s too suspicious……
“It is to be done in the old castle owned by Duke Kapell in the suburbs, and as for the guards, I have left the [Hero]in charge of security, so it’s safe.”
“……I see.”
Although it’s a failure of a presentation, I’m interested.
Besides, if they could arbitrarily conduct such a dubious ceremony in a place where I couldn’t see, then I’d be worried anyways.
I’ve understood from our investigations that the Daemons might be involved.
But I don’t know if Callisto and the [Hero] have any relation to the Daemons……
“Very well. I will help you.”
“Ooohhh, thank you so much Yurushia-sama. I will guide you.”
If possible, I’d like to crush it on the spot.
Besides, since my sister-samas are in the hero’s party, let’s check on how much they’ve matured in this long absence.
＊＊＊
“Lucy…… do you really believe that Archbishop Callisto’s words?”
“I have never heard of Callisto. If he was capable enough to have become an archbishop, it’s nearly impossible for me not to have heard of him.”
Even though I didn’t want to talk about it at all, after hearing that I had been given a request by Callisto, Rick and Noel said those sorts of things.
“As a citizen of the Holy Kingdom, should you really be doubting an archbishop of the state religion?”
Although I know what’s behind him, I glossed over it because I would be troubled if they opposed me now.
“Princess Yuru-sama, I am also against it.”
“…Vio”
While walking from the cathedral to the carriage, I stopped when Vio spoke up.
Because we can’t bring all the members of the guardian knights into the town, today the guards are about half-strength.
Still, of the knights that Rick brought, three of them came from the [Holy Knights] that were the primary force of the Holy Kingdom, and I also only took the elite of my guardian knights like Bree-chan and Sara-chan.
Although we brought various people from the mercenary company like Noel and Bear-san, Vio still seems to be uneasy about our war potential……
“Rick, Noel, could you all go to the carriage first?”
“I want to know what’s going on first before I move,”
“Understood. Let’s go then, Your Highness.”
“Oi, Noel.”
Noel who heard something in my voice dragged the reluctant Rick away.
…… they’re unexpectedly chummy.
There was still Bree-chan and gang, but my attendants read the mood and soon everyone else had left.
“Vio… now that you mention it, you used to hate the church, right?”
“……Your memory’s unexpectedly good. It was when you were two, I think.”
“It was Vio’s family…”
At my words, Vio was surprised, but smiled gently at me.
“What happened… may I ask?”
“Will you reconsider if I tell you my story…?”
Vio was a little anxious… so I looked her straight in the eyes and answered honestly.
“U~n, if I don’t know I can’t understand.”
When I said such, Vio smiled a little bitterly and let out a light chuckle.
“Princess Yuru-sama. I think I’ve talked to Ria-sama about this in the past, do you remember?”
“Yeah, I remember.”
Vio was Mother’s junior in school, and when when her family was in decline and she fell behind on her studies, Mother helped her.
“Just like Yuru-sama, I was able to use Holy Magic at a young age. Besides my capacity for water and wind magic, because my magical power was high, I caught the attention of the church and they attempted to woo me many a time.”
“Is that so…”
I can understand that a little.
“At the time, I was being constantly solicited by a priest but after I refused him because I was helping out my family’s business, nasty rumors began to circulate…… I was too young at the time, so I can’t tell you any concrete details of what happened but Ria-sama, who was close to Archbishop Molt, helped get that priest excommunicated. After that, the malicious rumors died off.”
“What happened to that priest…?”
“Apparently, there was an effort to protect church members, so I heard that he had been handed over to the neighbouring country, Shiguresu, without being deprived of his priesthood.”
That makes it nearly impossible for me to believe in the church……
“His name… do you know it?”
Although my voice sounded slightly disgusted, Vio hesitated a little bit before she lost to my gaze and said the name.
“Although my memory might be a bit faulty, but I’m sure……… it was Cristor” (TL: Callistoru in engrish)
“Hmmm…”
It seems that my mouth has spontaneously curled into a smile.
It’s probably… not the kind of smile a decent [Human Being] would make. Vio’s face somewhat scrunched a little.
“Well then, shall we go?”
“Princess Yuru-sama!?”