Chapter 85 - Episode 1: "I Shall Obstruct Her with All My Might"
Gokigenyou! I am Violia Nico Fortesia!
Right now, I was smiling at the money I obtained from drug trafficking.
"It was the right choice to invest in it, wasn't it?"
"We can leave the care of the Bag Village to the slaves now. Isn't this a pretty well-made system?"
The Bag Village we created and the leaf fields inside the Bag Village. Since it's inside a bag, the climate is always mild, making it an optimal environment for growing leaves all year round. Therefore, the leaves can be harvested there throughout the year. We had another harvest recently, and we've made a killing. Ohohohoho!
"Mystic Ruby is already a favorite in the market. Well, for me, the fact that its contents are the young lady's blood makes me feel a bit complicated."
"It's a hazardous substance, after all."
Mystic Ruby's sales are also stable. It was likely good that we expanded the sales channels mainly among the local nobles. Since it's a narcotic in the form of a magic potion in a beautiful bottle that looks like perfume or high-end liquor, unlike ordinary leaves or mushrooms, it has a sense of luxury and 'properness,' which apparently made it easy for nobles to accept without resistance. In reality, it is more powerful than leaves. Because of that, it seems there are not only those who were already habitual drug users but also nobles who were deceived by the beautiful appearance and luxury of Mystic Ruby and started using only Mystic Ruby. That means we are selling drugs to people who weren't buying drugs before, so it is much better than fighting for customers in a narrow market. It is very efficient. ...In this way, the seeds of the drug business we sowed have splendidly sprouted and are about to cover this country. Ohohohoho.
By the way, if you're wondering why I started reviewing the drug-related matters, it's actually because I wanted to accurately grasp the number of people in the Bag Village. The Bag Village was peacefully turning inside the bag as usual. There are no particular complaints from the villagers. After all, they can get a salary slightly higher than an average farmer and two holidays a week just by growing leaves that are relatively easy to grow in farmland with a constantly blessed climate, rich soil, and abundant water? There are no complaints at all! Moreover, because I, the owner, occasionally go to check on the village with souvenirs like high-end wine, delicious sweets, wonderful clothes, and simple accessories, their trust in me is perfect. Yes. Bag Village is a good village. I can say that with pride. ...And regarding that Bag Village. Depending on the number of people, it could be used to gather votes, so I wanted to confirm the population.
Our immediate goal is the suppression of the Cathedral in Elsemarin. And that is a suppression to be carried out gently, softly, and flexibly from the inside. ...Yes. We intend to make the Cathedral our own by making the next Saint, the high-ranking priests, and the Holy Knights all my subordinates. The value of the Cathedral is great. If we can make the Cathedral our own, it will be easy to meddle in the politics of this country! So, for now, I want to win the upcoming Saint election.
The Saint is chosen by a vote. ...Yes. A vote. Every citizen has the right to vote, and on a designated day, they submit a voting slip with a single drop of their blood on it at a polling station to choose which girl should be the next Saint. In the Royal Capital and such, it's a festival every time. This. The last Saint vote I saw was five years ago, but at that time, it was a huge commotion. Even if you say 'choosing a Saint,' in reality, it's like 'choosing the girl with the best appearance.' Those who vote don't look at their character one by one. Some people seem to choose by listening to or reading the oaths (basically like a statement of intent on how they will work hard as the symbol of the Cathedral) that each Saint candidate puts out, but there's no way every foolish citizen is doing that. After all, the most important thing is beauty! And cuteness! That is what it's about! This is just a vote to choose 'who is the most beautiful and cute'!
...And naturally, since each person has one vote in this election, if you surround and secure enough people, you can win. So, for now, I am counting the people in the Bag Village. "Even if we combine all the Bag Villages, it's only 140 people..."
"It'll be 141 if you include the baby that's about to be born."
"Taking a baby's blood would be too pitiful... In the first place, I wonder if a baby has the right to vote...?"
The reason for dropping a drop of blood on the voting slip is, in short, 'so the same person doesn't vote over and over again,' but at the same time, it means 'those who cannot provide blood cannot vote.' Yes. For example, people who are sickly, or babies for whom it would be too pitiful to hurt, or me, whose blood is almost entirely cursed. Me. Me! ...And even if voting itself were possible, whether one can enter the polling station is another matter. Soldiers stand at the entrance of the polling station to ensure a system that doesn't overlook fraud. Specifically, it's to filter out slaves. If you could make slaves vote, it would just become a matter of buying up all the slaves. Slaves, who might be made to act regardless of their own will, are not permitted to enter the polling station.
So, I was placing my hopes on the villagers of the Bag Village, who are not slaves but work just like slaves, but well, 140 people is far too few. ...Now then. How shall I go about earning votes from here? This is my current worry!
"...Therefore, Saint-sama. The preparations for the vote to choose the next Saint are steadily being finalized."
"Ah, thank you... With this, I will finally be able to rest slowly..."
The Saint, whom I had intentionally made slightly overworked, let out a sigh of relief on her bed, looking completely exhausted.
"I have already issued my retirement declaration, and once the next Saint is decided, I can finally take it easy, can't I..."
"Yes. Just a little more patience. And until then, we, the members of the Guild, will help you."
"It helps. Truly, thank you..."
For now, the current Saint is still in her position. Of course, since she collapsed from mental strain and overwork, she has practically been in a state of retirement. For the time being, until the next Saint is decided, this Saint is the Saint. "By the way, Saint-sama. If you retire, do you have anyone you plan to recommend as the next Saint?"
"Eh? ...Well, yes. I have received several proposals. I must also ask my family, though..."
...The current Saint is a lady from a noble house. Although she is a daughter of some minor noble, she was successfully chosen as the Saint due to her beauty, her calm and gentle atmosphere, and her achievement of firmly demonstrating that her wits were better than the other Saint candidates at the time. If a Saint comes from a house, the status of that noble house also rises. This Saint has splendidly contributed to her house. Therefore, until just before she retires, she seems to work hard to ensure her house is at an advantage. How admirable.
"Um, by any chance, is an acquaintance of Ayle Kanone-sama going to run for the next Saint?"
"Yes. My student. ...But, Saint-sama, please prioritize those from your own house. That girl can work hard on her own."
A recommendation from the previous Saint is, naturally, a great boon. Especially toward the masses. It is truly effective for the masses who vote with the mindset of 'well, the previous one is recommending her, so this girl is fine' without thinking about anything. But conversely, for nobles who are in an adversarial relationship with the former Saint's house, or for power-hungry people who want to meddle in the Cathedral in the first place, a 'Saint who changes the current flow' is sought, so it would instead be poorly received. Well, the votes of those nobles themselves are few... but how the masses under the influence of those nobles will move is another matter.
Besides, a recommendation from a former Saint stands out far too much. If you stand out too much, it's easy to make enemies, so that is also something to consider.
"I see... if there is anything I can do to help, please let me know."
"Yes, thank you, Saint-sama."
But it seems I have a good impression from the Saint. It's strange. The Saint's overwork is my fault... ...But because I was with her and busy alongside her during the most difficult times, and yet I was trying to protect her, from the Saint's perspective, I seem to look like a benefactor. How should I put it, I think this Saint has a bit of a thin sense of crisis... If anything, I hope I can utilize this Saint with a thin sense of crisis somehow... Ah. That's it!
"...By the way, Saint-sama. If it is not an inconvenience, would you happen to know the names of those who are planning to run? A friend of my student might be running. In that case, my student said she would give up on running."
Even a Saint is a source of information! The other party doesn't seem to understand the value of that information, but this information is huge! After all, I can find out the names of the 'candidates who want to be recommended to the Saint'!
"Yes, I don't mind. Ayle Kanone-sama wouldn't do anything bad... These are the letters I have received, but is your friend's name among them?"
...And I was easily shown a bundle of letters, and I began to check them. I thought the Royal Family would move if there was an opportunity to make the Cathedral their own. The Royal Family and the Cathedral have a bad relationship, and the Royal Family is currently in a state where they would even borrow a cat's paw. They're probably thinking, 'It would be the best if I could throw my own trusted subordinate into the Cathedral!' anyway. Looking at the bundle of letters, as expected, there are several distant relatives of the Royal Family. Well, these are probably intended to be sacrificial pawns. The Royal Family's real targets are likely here, several daughters of nobles and daughters of priests who are close to the Royal Family. Well, fine. After that, if I also check with the Guild and gather information more widely... ... "Oh? This name is...?"
I found a name that slightly caught my attention. "Ah, could it be your friend's name...?"
"N-no... she is an acquaintance, but..."
A name I've seen somewhere. A name I've seen somewhere. It's not in the noble world, but I don't have a good impression... let's see... Ah.
"This is the name of the Pin-Hane Girl from the Guild!?"
Why is this person running for the next Saint!? I can't believe it!
"A-Ayle Kanone-sama...?"
"Excuse me, I lost my composure."
Before the Saint, I immediately put on a sharp expression and said this. "Saint-sama. I have found the name of someone who absolutely cannot be made the next Saint. I absolutely cannot allow this person to become the next Saint."
"Eh!? W-what in the world is that about!?"
I softly convey my overflowing determination to the Saint. "Therefore, in order to absolutely prevent that person from becoming the next Saint, I have decided to support my student."
I don't know at all what that Pin-Hane Girl is thinking! Rather, I'm surprised she's even still alive! But! No matter what she is thinking, my action is decided! Whatever that Pin-Hane Girl is trying to do! I will! Obstruct it! With all my might! With my whole heart and soul! I shall obstruct that Pin-Hane Girl! (T/N: 'Pin-Hane' refers to skimming off the top or taking kickbacks.)