Chapter 84 - Episode 27 (Interlude: Inside the Royal Castle's Meeting Room)
"...What in the world is the meaning of this?"
On that day, the King was looking at the recommendation from the Cathedral with a face exhausted to the limit. What was recorded there was that Fawn Tart Hornbone, the eldest son of the prestigious House Hornbone, had performed a second demon summoning and taken the lives of many within the Cathedral. And after that, Fawn, who had gone insane—perhaps due to the influence of the demon summoning—was judged to have 'no room for repentance,' and to prevent further damage... he was executed by burning.
Along with that, a recommendation has been sent to the Royal Castle to 'execute every single member of House Hornbone without exception.'
Certainly, the head of House Hornbone and several others are in the dungeon of the Royal Castle... but as they are members of a prestigious family, they cannot be easily subjected to severe punishment, and the King had intended to handle their treatment by 'keeping them in a VIP cell for a while and then quietly releasing them.' But... now that a recommendation from the Cathedral has been sent, he must reconsider this treatment.
"It is troubling. Nothing but troubling things..."
The King held his head.
Following House Fruitier, even House Hornbone has suffered devastating damage. The prestigious houses that have been close to the Royal Family have truly been reduced to only House Clarino.
Is this not an indication of the collapse of this country? The King thought so and shuddered. ...The state of the country was rolling toward a terrible direction day by day.
Although the Kingdom Festival was held, it also resulted in the Royal ballroom being burned and many nobles losing their lives. Because of that, the Kingdom Festival was canceled. The people of the Royal Capital are trembling in fear at the sudden arson incident that occurred within the capital. That fear will eventually turn into strong anger and be directed at the Royal Family.
And at that time, the Royal Family is also suffering serious blows.
"How is Scola's condition?"
"Ha. Her condition has not yet improved... She does nothing but shed tears, lamenting the barbarity of Fawn Tart Hornbone-sama..."
Yes. Since that day, Princess Scola had disappeared once... and while the entire Royal Family was despondent, thinking she had lost her life caught in the fire, they received a report that 'the head of House Hornbone was accompanied by a slave who looked very much like Princess Scola,' and they succeeded in rescuing the pitiful Princess who had been reduced to slave status.
However, although she was rescued, Princess Scola suffered deep wounds to her spirit, and since learning that her own fiancé, Fawn Tart Hornbone, had performed demon summoning and been imprisoned, she has spent her days doing nothing but weeping.
Furthermore, Princess Scola seemed to have been forced into various contracts while she was a slave, and they remained completely ignorant of who the culprit was that had degraded Princess Scola to slave status or through what route she had been bought and sold.
The country's leading mages are attending to her treatment... but the curse from the Slave Collar is powerful, and the opinion has been given that it would be impossible to completely break the curse without harming Princess Scola.
...Even if that were not the case, Princess Scola, who has suffered deep spiritual wounds and was even reduced to a slave for a period, can likely no longer be brought onto the public stage.
This fact also depressed the King.
"Is the destruction of the Kingdom Festival this time, and the atrocity of Fawn Tart Hornbone... are these all, once again, the work of Violia Nico Fortesia?"
Because one of the Princes said that, the King tightened his lips again.
...Regarding Violia Nico Fortesia, some information has come in. Just before the Kingdom Festival, information was received that 'she had defected to a neighboring country.' That was likely almost certain, coming from a reliable source. ...Despite that, the Kingdom Festival was canceled after being engulfed in flames. If Violia Nico Fortesia, who was supposed to be in a neighboring country, was the one pulling the strings, it is terrifying, but...
"...In the first place, did everyone in House Fortesia except for Violia Nico Fortesia die?"
"Yes, given that fire... however, it is true that no bodies have been found. Though after that, the servants were scavenging through the burn sites, so there is a possibility the bones were sold somewhere..."
"I have also heard that things like 'Demon's Bones' are circulating in the market. Could they be the bones of the Fortesia family?"
The King said, "I see," but somehow, he felt as if members of House Fortesia other than Violia Nico Fortesia were still alive, and he shuddered again.
It was no joke. It would be unbearable if there were several such demons. But... certainly, regarding the deeds until now, it is too much to assume Violia Nico Fortesia did them all alone. If so, is there a collaborator, or... are there other survivors?
"By the way, what happened to the witness? The one from a branch of House Clarino..."
The King wanted even a sliver of information and called out. But he could see from the Minister's expression that the result was not favorable.
"After the last sighting of him heading toward Elisabatri, his whereabouts have been lost... Currently, House Clarino and House Esclan are searching for him together."
"Elisabatri, you say...? Is that not a den of monsters?"
The Elisabatri being discussed was a land that had been devastated in a past war. It had become too desolate for people to live in, yet apparently, it had become a comfortable land for monsters; they lived there in large numbers and were beyond control.
If he headed to such a place... he might have intended to commit suicide out of despair for the world.
It might be better to give up on Lital Pia Esclan. The King thought so, sighed deeply, and continued.
"Continue to search for the members of Fortesia. If we can find and kill them, it will bring us much closer to the stability of the country. Conversely, if we continue to let them escape... the collapse of this country is also fully possible."
At the King's words, not only his close aides but also the Princes and Princesses gasped. 'The collapse of the country.' Those words, far too heavy to come from the King's mouth, made the meeting room fall into a dead silence.
...But no one could argue. They couldn't even offer platitudes. Because the situation was not one where they could laugh off the words 'collapse of the country.' Right now, the country was indeed moving step by step toward collapse.
They didn't even know where to start to stop this collapse. If this was the curse of Fortesia, they would want to break the curse immediately, but even that was not possible.
They had quietly sent troops to the neighboring country where Violia Nico Fortesia was said to be, but they gained no results there either. Furthermore, they were investigating places where Violia Nico Fortesia might be hiding, but despite the guilds and guards in various places moving cooperatively, her figure was not found at all.
And yet, the country faced one crisis after another. Regarding the atrocity of House Hornbone this time, the kidnapping of Princess Scola, the fire at the ballroom... ...It seemed as if whatever they did was in vain.
The King did not think he had made wrong judgments, but even so, he was being crushed by the reality that he could not stand against a great evil. So much so that... finally, he even strengthened his prayers to God.
"That is right. Regarding the Cathedral, has a successor been decided?"
The King changed the subject. From the documents sent along with the recommendation from the Cathedral, it was also understood that, whether by God's protection or by chance, a surviving Saint was currently acting as the leader of the Cathedral. But it is impossible for one Saint to perform all the various tasks. Originally, the Saint was only a symbol. The internal operation of the Cathedral should have been carried out by several priests. That being the case, the Cathedral would now be replenishing its priests, but...
"No, we are also inquiring about such matters. Currently, it seems the Elsemarin Guild is providing support to the Cathedral, but even so, they cannot keep up with everything."
The King sighed deeply. Apparently, it was truly a situation where one Saint was performing all the various operations. And naturally, it was thought that it would only be a matter of time before the Cathedral collapsed like that. ...There, the King made a decision.
"The country shall provide support to the Cathedral."
At the King's decision, the vassals, Princes, and Princesses were all taken aback. Because the Cathedral and the Royal Family are in a sort of adversarial relationship. Although they ostensibly have a relationship of mutual respect... at the very least, the Royal Family does not think well of the Cathedral.
Under the pretext of relief for the weak, they interfere in the Royal Family's governance and even go so far as to criticize the Royal Family. They must know that if they do such things by involving the masses, the country will naturally become turbulent and public order will worsen, yet the Cathedral does such things. On top of that, they think that justice is on their side, which makes them troublesome.
"Support for the Cathedral...? If it collapses here, I would think that would be convenient in its own way..."
Naturally, an outspoken opinion was voiced by a Prince. ...The King himself had thought many times that the Cathedral should just collapse. But.
"Weakened people need faith and a spiritual anchor. It is a foolish move to take that away."
The current King. To the Cathedral that championed the relief of the weak and sought God's salvation, he himself also wanted to seek salvation.
"The Cathedral is a troublesome institution that interferes with the country, but it is also a fact that they have great support from the masses. I want to avoid the country openly crushing them."
"However, wouldn't the Cathedral collapse sufficiently just by leaving it alone..."
"If we help them there, the masses will be satisfied with the Royal Family's governance. This is a good opportunity to make known the broad-mindedness of the Royal Family in reaching out to the Cathedral."
When the King said that, the people in the meeting room were greatly convinced. Now that the trust of the masses in the Royal Family is thinning, the Royal Family should indeed show an attitude of reaching out to the Cathedral and the masses.
"Besides, if we can successfully intervene in the Cathedral, we might even be able to take the troublesome Cathedral into our hands. In that sense as well, we should provide 'support' to the Cathedral."
If the Royal administration does not move the hearts of the masses, they should move the Cathedral and indirectly have them move the hearts of the masses. If they utilized the Cathedral, it was thought possible to gain trust that would more than compensate for the resentment toward the Royal Family.
"...She might think of the same thing."
There, the Seventh Prince Dactor said so.
"She?"
"Violia Nico Fortesia."
Dactor narrowed his eyes and spoke that name with a complicated expression. It was the name of his former fiancée, but to him now, she was an enemy of the Royal Family, and even if she weren't, she was a criminal... and those feelings of loathing mixed with the debt of having framed her and unilaterally broken the engagement were swirling within Dactor's chest.
"Thinking of the same thing, you say... that great sinner would also aim for the Cathedral?"
"I believe it is not unthinkable... Of course, if she is still in exile in a neighboring country, she shouldn't even know that the Cathedral is on the verge of internal collapse, but..."
The 'Violia Nico Fortesia' that Dactor knew was a formidable young lady. At the Magic Academy in Elsemarin, she achieved excellent results through her rare talent and unceasing effort, and because she won every single Martial Arts Tournament held at the turn of the seasons, eventually the categories became 'Male,' 'Female,' and 'Fortesia.' It was a consideration on the part of the Academy that if she was going to ruthlessly strike down the children of prestigious families and win every single time, it wouldn't be a problem if her victory by default was decided from the start.
...If such a Violia Nico Fortesia is still alive now... would she try to quietly hide her breath in a neighboring country?
"Hmm... we should be careful."
"Yes. If there is anyone trying to enter the Cathedral, we should be extremely vigilant."
Dactor's suggestion made the King nod deeply.
"Then we shall scrutinize and dispatch the people who will hold the actual power of the Cathedral from here. Should we take this opportunity to replace the Saint as well?"
The King said so and began to think about which talent should be assigned where. ...But.
"Eeeeh~? Is the King going to decide the Saint-sama himself too~?"
Such a drawling voice echoed in the meeting room.
"...What is the meaning of this, Amavire Rent?"
When the King asked while feeling fed up, Amavire Rent tilted her head with an intentionally blank face.
"Eeeeh, but, choosing the Saint-sama is by a vote of the citizens, isn't it~?"
At the commoner's unique perspective, the King was struck by a realization. That was exactly right. If the Royal Family's intention to fill the Cathedral with reliable talent was too blatant, it would instead buy the resentment of the masses. If rumors were spread that 'the Royal Family is trying to make the Cathedral their own,' the trust in the Royal Family would finally fall to the ground.
"Certainly... the Royal Family cannot openly intervene, can they..."
It is preferable for the Cathedral to be seen as 'an institution that monitors the Royal Family.' It is more convenient if it is not thought that the Cathedral and the Royal Family are connected. Therefore, rather, talent that is at a distance from the Royal Family should be recruited and placed at the top of the Cathedral.
"I see... I had forgotten. That is true. The masses are unexpectedly observant. If only those with deep connections to the Royal Family entered the Cathedral, it would invite distrust toward the Royal Family."
"That's right~"
The drawling voice of Amavire Rent was a bit irritating, but the King regained his composure and nodded deeply.
"Then we shall gather talent immediately. First, high-ranking priests and... if there is room, I also want to prepare a girl who can be placed as the Saint. And once they have successfully entered the Cathedral, after that, we will prepare Holy Knights from here and have them enter the Cathedral. With this, the Cathedral will belong to the Royal Family."
The King said so and looked around at the Princes, Princesses, and subordinates. "Does anyone have a talent in mind? At this point, status does not matter."
When he called out like that, voices rose here and there. Not priests in the Royal Capital, but priests in local cities. Why not recruit reliable talent from the Adventurer Guild, which is closer to the masses? If we prepare several people for the role of Saint, the votes will naturally disperse and things will proceed as intended. ...Such opinions were exchanged, and the meeting room of the Royal Castle became lively for the first time in a long while.
A forward-looking action is indeed pleasant. In this long-absent sensation, the King and the others did not rebuke Amavire Rent's words, "Maybe I'll volunteer for the role of Saint-sama too~," but rather had enough leeway to laugh and forgive her.
And so, the meeting proceeded smoothly, yet strongly.