61. A Gift for a Tomboy
On the scorching hot day of July 17, 1212.
I had just arrived at the clean and tidy city of Illenfoot and was organizing a few things when I wondered if the staff of Illenfoot would oppose my measures. But it was all for naught.
When I sat at the office on behalf of Bishop Ganista, flipped through a few documents, and answered them, everyone followed faithfully.
“Your Grace, you just arrived and it must be difficult to grasp the situation, so why don’t you leave this to us…”
“I’m not doubting the financial soundness of Illenfoot. The inspection of the religious order must have been done properly, so there won’t be any loopholes. What I’m worried about is whether there were any problems with Yubas due to the recent conflict. Is the church functioning properly within Yubas’ jurisdiction?”
“Of course. Yubas has recently been trying to avoid friction with the church, and in return, the churches within Yubas’ territory are doing their best.”
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“How long has it been since you sent an inspection to grasp the situation?”
“Excuse me?”
I don’t know why a question mark popped up here.
Yubas was originally disliked by the church because they were researching the relics of the heresy on their own. Wasn’t it just a few years ago that the church was divided into factions supporting Yubas and factions supporting the Papacy?
It’s strange to think that the aftermath of that would be resolved without proper measures in just a few years.
It’s scary and ridiculous, but it’s part of the Five Seals for now. I recalled the story that the refugee Hraben had told me a while ago and decided to put aside the old grudge and focus on my work.
“I’m saying that Yubas is unlikely to easily allow an independent inspection by the church. Since Bishop Ganista doesn’t like Yubas and has been putting off investigating the church’s situation while helping me, shouldn’t we figure out how to cooperate with Yubas at this point?”
“….”
“As you said, it’s arrogant and foolish for me, who just arrived, to grasp the whole situation of Illenfoot. However, as I hold the significant position of archbishop, I can help with negotiating and coordinating with external forces. Bring me the related precedents.”
I said this because I had my own thoughts. The shoulder mantle bestowed upon me and the title of archbishop were not ordinary.
It’s obvious when you look at the black shoulder mantle with a gold border that symbolizes enormous authority and the title of archbishop that shows an independent ecclesiastical prince. It means that anything other than heretical acts that distort doctrine will be tolerated.
As I thought about it, I realized there was one more thing I could do.
“If there are any pending approvals because Bishop Ganista is absent, bring them to me. I will review their validity and make judgments on the parts that I can.”
Our bishop, who can’t concentrate even though he has come to play because he is bothered by the toys he left behind. I definitely intended to clean everything up so that he could concentrate. Absolutely everything.
The staff who came to protest to me couldn’t help but be deeply moved when I said this. They stiffened their bodies as if their skulls were being crushed by a hammer and glanced at each other.
“W… Your Grace. I guess it could be seen as excessive interference.”
“His Holiness gave me the title of archbishop and bestowed upon me the black shoulder mantle that symbolizes various authorities. I have the passion to take care of the diocese and the will to help you, but you’re asking for another qualification.”
“…”
“Alright. Tell me what that qualification is. I will obtain that qualification and convince you.”
After a while. They began to pack up various things with fumbling hands.
When I looked through them roughly, most of them were the number of residents collected in the Illenfoot diocese, and some were about tariffs and various expenses collected by Illenfoot as an independent diocese.
Hmm. Judging from the condition, it seems they have been diligently investigating all along. There were almost no subtle differences that would have appeared if they had just made rough estimates or forced them to fit.
Thanks to that, it was very easy to grasp the overall situation. If it was someone who had just touched it for the first time, they would have stuck out their tongue and away, but… fortunately, I was someone who could see how hard the staff of Illenfoot had worked.
Yes. People always want to be recognized.
The qualification that the staff of Illenfoot asked of me was nothing more than a childish tantrum and an earnest desire to know if I could recognize their efforts.
I can feel it. The frustration of not being able to do more despite the absence of the person in charge. The disappointment and resignation of those who felt joy and satisfaction while recording the changes in Illenfoot with their own hands.
The bishop must have been worried.
Just thinking about such excellent people spending their time blankly would make my heart pound and all sorts of worries would arise.
So I stepped forward.
“I don’t know if it’s because of political retaliation against Yubas, but the tariffs on trade with their territories seem to be quite high. I heard that Yubas has formed a fleet… But their docks and ports haven’t been properly Maintenance and arranged yet, have they? Or maybe they can’t guarantee safety.”
I combined the common sense and geographical information that I had learned earlier, and the new information that I had recently acquired, to come to one conclusion.
The unholy fog that is said to bloom thickly in the sea.
If you think that it has spread to the sea in front of Yubas, it could explain everything. The Principality of Penrad, which is located just above, is suffering from a famine, so it’s hard to expect Yubas, which is adjacent to it, to be safe.
Considering that the islands in the morning depend on the mainland in many ways, most of the luxury goods and strategic materials that Yubas needs now will be passing through Illenfoot.
Ilenefoot would be the best landing base since it has been a developed port city since ancient times, being the closest to the mainland on the island.
“…!!!”
“Personally, I want to raise the tariff by tenfold, but Yubas is audacious and rash, and despite being uncivilized and barbaric, they are still a part of the alliance. Perhaps it would be easier to persuade them to strengthen our influence in forming a joint inspection team.”
“Yes, Your Excellency. Are you truly serious about this?”
My staff was surprised by my words and asked me back.
Of course, it is natural to react that way when you see my sublime and meaningful decision to put aside personal feelings for the sake of the cause. However, the story I heard a few days ago kept coming to my mind.
I persuaded my staff by objectively evaluating Yubas.
“Yubas is not someone we can trust completely, but they will hold out to some extent. We can expect them to give us enough time to build up our strength, and that’s enough for them to be useful.”
“…If that is Your Excellency’s will, we will not argue any further. We will do our best to assist you.”
Only then did the staff put aside their minor complaints and join my cause.
“By the way… Your Excellency. We need you to greet Magister Tribunus Karina De Vien, who will be arriving soon…”
…If it wasn’t for the fact that she was a high-ranking person from the mainland, I would have done so.
***
I was only able to stay in Ilenefoot for two days.
It was not only because of the ominous story told by Hraven, a refugee who had fled from the Principality of Penrad, but also because of the distinguished guest I had to greet soon. A distinguished guest. Yes. She was someone so precious that I , who had officially received the title of personally Bishop, had to move.
It wasn’t for nothing that I had Terbear as my escort.
I breathed deeply on the horse’s saddle, chewing over and over the meaning contained in the guest’s name.
The name I found out belatedly.
Karina De Vien Magister Tribunus Norpeng.
Even at a glance, the long and twisted name tells me that it is not an ordinary noble family. Just by looking at the titles [Magister] and [Tribunus], which the church does not easily give, you can tell.
To explain the common sense of this world… De Vien is a higher middle name than De, which is a common middle name for nobles. It is a middle name given to those of royal descent from the mainland.
On top of that, why are Magister and Tribunus together? This means that the child was born from a marriage between the Tribunus bloodline, which led the uprising of the Ince, and the Magister bloodline, which drove out the heretics with achievements various and doctrinal disputes.
Norpeng is the name of the royal family that rules a kingdom on the mainland.
When I found out the truth, I felt like I had been happy for nothing. Our Powis family is not a pushover either, but I have to be one step, no, several steps ahead of the girl who is coming now.
If our Powis is a true bone, then our opponent is a holy bone among holy bones.
I already hated this filthy and disgusting blood-centric medieval world. Fortunately, I am a member of the church, which is somewhat different from a blood-centric society.
Even though we are both Stigmata bearers, there is a clear difference in rank between me, a prince of the clergy, and a bloodsucking girl. I armed myself with a firm belief that I would prove the authority of the church and the supremacy of the Papacy against the fragile and unstable secular power.
You, a servant of the secular world, will really lose if you mess with me.
With this in mind, I held the reins of my horse, and the eyes of my entourage changed.
“Your Excellency, this is the first time I have seen you so serious.”
Poros, the embezzling priest who became the leader of the entourage, showered me with compliments.
“We are both members of the church, but I am a prince of the clergy. The eyes of the world are upon me, so how can I disappoint His Holiness and the people by acting recklessly?”
“Did you know that you were being reckless…”
Poros, this bastard, must have made a vow of honesty.
If a bastard who didn’t make a vow was blabbering, I was thinking of sending him to a medieval 4D horror theme park. With these thoughts in mind, I arrived at the toe of Saint Ilenio, the port where the arrogant merchants had set up, and I heard some surprising news.
The priests I had sent ahead to greet the distinguished guest were drenched in sweat despite the cool sea breeze, and they said.
“Th, that way. Your Excellency. Stigmata bearer Karina is currently traveling along the coast of the mainland.”
“Did she encounter a strong storm?”
“That’s… She said she wanted to do some sightseeing since it was a rare trip…”
Did I hear wrong?
When I glanced back and looked at the group, their reactions were all the same.
“Was he sent from the homeland to be trained?”
“His Holiness might be testing his subordinate. Since he’s young, perhaps he’s trying to test him this way.”
My heart swelled with pride as I watched the group come up with reasonable inferences and arguments.
But the moment I saw the priest blushing, my intuition told me something else.
“Tell me the truth.”
“…”
“Our honored guest changed course to play a joke on you. Am I right?”
Oh, yeah.
I had guessed it since he was about my age. How long would he be able to stand being in such a stuffy and cramped space?
It was a good thing I had prepared plenty of things to play with while traveling on the Illefon.
“Send a message to the Pabalsun. Tell them that I have prepared a lot of entertainment for him, so he can come with peace of mind. It may be a humble place, but he’ll have a fulfilling and enjoyable time.”
If there’s nothing to do, we can make some.
I had countless relics that I had confiscated, or rather, retrieved, from the monastery. Even a girl who couldn’t read a chart would be able to distinguish the grade of the relic, such as the stigma, so it was a toy that was designed to be enjoyed.