Chapter 113 - 113 Detention
Steve's teleportation to Aurora was a very simple trick.
They moved by steam locomotive to the eastern edge of the Kingdom of Cascade, and after the railway ended, they moved by the church carriage loaded together. Inside were only Steve, Prince Carter, and Eton. So, Steve showed his illusion to Eton, made him think he was staying there, then teleported.
Prince Carter wears magic items that block mental magic, so magic effects won't activate. Also, Steve didn't intentionally show illusions to grasp if Prince Carter was an ally. If Prince Carter told Eton, it would mean he's an enemy.
For now, there is no such sign.
Still, the reason Steve's stay at Aurora's was short was because if there was an accident with the carriage and the driver looked inside, they'd be found missing, so being away for too long was risky.
So, he would finish the business in a very short time and come back.
Wives and children were evacuated to safe places, but regarding parents, Freya, and Sherry's sister couple, they refused transfer to safe places saying they had no intention of leaving their territory. Even though the church is targeting him, he cannot abandon politics leaving behind the people.
Only told to not hesitate if taken hostage.
Can't not hesitate, but can't tie rope around neck and drag to safe place, so Steve gave up on parents and sister couple.
Bored in carriage, Steve was debating with Eton about Fries Holy Church doctrine.
"If God made humans in His image, why are humans imperfect?"
"That is because God imposed training on humans. Our lives exist for training."
"Then, what training is it for infants who die from illness or war right after birth?"
"The trials given by God are difficult for humans to fully understand."
"I want to say that's giving up thought, but actually humans can only understand up to four dimensions of length, width, height, and time, and while they understand higher dimensions exist, they can't understand what they are. If God is such a higher dimension existence, I can accept we can't understand God's thoughts. However, I think Fries Holy Church doctrine didn't have such a concept of higher dimensions."
Eton was impressed by Steve's words. Though Steve said he doesn't recognize God, he has knowledge and understanding of Fries Holy Church doctrine, allowing such debate.
"Shouldn't you have pursued the path of theology? Then perhaps you wouldn't have been charged with crimes like this."
"The God the church believes in has no worldly benefits. My territory was poor land where dead from starvation appeared every year. Crops didn't grow well, so I decided to make and sell things that make money. Thinking about things not in the world, I reached science. Pedagogy also clashes with Fries Holy Church doctrine. Probably teaches children are small adults, but actually children's minds develop, they aren't mentally adults from the start. So I banned making them work like adults from young age. It was tough because labor force decreased."
"That is a problem I cannot answer."
Eton began thinking about errors in doctrine while conversing with Steve. But it led to church criticism, so he couldn't speak it out. Steve felt the lingering doubts in his heart slowly eroding Eton's faith. But he didn't speak it out.
Prince Carter listened to the two's conversation with interest. However, he didn't speak to avoid being caught in words.
Thus without trouble, sometimes Steve went out, but the carriage proceeded smoothly toward the Holy Nation.
Well, why Steve was summoned to the Holy Nation, the cause lay in Camilla, the Saintess's Holy Knight.
Time goes back quite a bit, before Viscount Matthews moved.
By Julia's order, Camilla was investigating the Great Cathedral in the Holy Nation. It was suspected the Great Cathedral was manufacturing drugs. Because all luggage trying to smuggle drugs came from the Great Cathedral.
Though Great Cathedral, grounds were wide, various buildings. Buildings where Pope and Saintess lived, facilities for believers coming from far to worship. Investigated scope of authority, result no manufacturing site found.
Then, remaining was facilities managed by Pope faction, thought so, tried to invade.
Though invasion, no special permission needed. Even if Holy Knight Camilla walked inside, no punishment. But if opposition faction people walked, stood out. Camilla herself tried not to stand out, but if someone who never came suddenly arrived, Pope faction would be alert.
Soon that was reported to the Pope.
"Your Eminence, the Holy Knight at the Saintess's place is wandering."
"Frank?"
"Yes."
"Hmm, location?"
"Near the factory."
"Troublesome."
Factory was drug manufacturing factory. Priest bringing report knew existence too. Understand Pope's feeling not wanting Saintess to know, also troubled if lose drug benefits. Feeling to hide is same.
"Call her?"
"Yes."
Thus, Camilla was summoned by the Pope.
Camilla who received summon notification reported to Julia.
"Saintess-sama, should I respond to Your Eminence the Pope's summons?"
"No revelation, but should respond. If refuse, they'll suspect our guilt."
"Then, must think of excuse that recently searched around that facility."
Camilla couldn't think of excuse searching Pope faction facility, consulted Julia. Julia thought a bit, instructed Camilla to blame herself.
"Say you followed my revelation. Then responsibility is mine."
"Understood."
Thus Camilla responded to Pope's summons.
Alone with Pope in room made for Pope. Camilla was bad with Pope. Physically repulsed by ugly fat appearance, plus thinking involved in drug manufacturing, driven to impulse to cut him down immediately.
Conversation endured that.
Pope has no guards because opponent is Holy Knight. Not enough conflict to need alert.
"What is the business today?"
Camilla asked Pope. Pope responded smiling with unpleasant smile.
"Before that, tea is prepared. Drink before it cools."
Saying that drank first. Natural due to status. Seeing that Camilla thought no poison, drank tea served. Immediately vision shook, body freedom lost. At that time noticed poisoned.
Regretted grandly, but already late. Before losing consciousness knew multiple men entered room, didn't resist, lost consciousness as is.
Man entering room spoke to Pope.
"It went well."
"Hmm. Having him drink tea without alert like this. Take to basement, use drugs to make confess reason wandering this area."
"If Saintess inquires, what do?"
"Say returned. Saintess authority cannot search us."
"Yes."
Thus Camilla taken to basement, there drugs massively administered, confessed purpose. And discovered information about drugs transmitted from Saintess to Lord Archibalt of Kingdom of Cascade.
Pope moved immediately.
Saintess detention state, instruct Bishop of Kingdom of Cascade diocese to make excuse for Archibalt summons. Also instructed to dispose of family possible Archibalt transmitted info. At that time already info passed to King and Aurora, but didn't grasp that far, thought to prevent further info spread from Steve.
Regarding Steve, intended to summon to Holy Nation, confess info spread destination by threat or drugs.
Thus Steve was summoned to Holy Nation.
Priest reports movements up to here, Pope relieved initial response done, turned bad smile to priest.
"God gives no trials that cannot be overcome. This was trial given to us."
"When heard Frank's confession, chilled my liver."
"Saintess detention and canceling all public duties, Saintess faction opposition was big, but worth that much. If idol Saintess gone, their unity fragile. Should have done this from start. Around next year, have Saintess we prepared replace."
"Current Saintess will travel to God's presence."
"Immediately too forceful, so wait a bit more period. Then church power unified, more prosperity."
"All world affairs are nothing."
Priest nodded with bad smile too.
Even Empire Emperor needs church authority at coronation, Pope who can monopolize that church, sensed his springtime.
On other hand, Julia in detention state reflected on own actions. Worried about Camilla who contact lost, prayed to God.
And, thought where did I go wrong.
Revelation never made mistake once in past. Following that revelation produced good results. But this time Camilla contact lost, I detained, is it really good result?
This not doubting God. Revelation was telling Steve drug facts. After that movements all actions thought and taken by self.
"Where did I go wrong?"
Asking self in single room, but answer didn't come.
Thus, Fries Holy Church power map changed greatly. This was disturbance that became trigger for Steve being summoned.
And finally Steve group arrived Holy Nation. Small country, so immediately arrived at capital.
Steve worried about Saintess. Thought what doing now. At that time carriage shook greatly, sudden stop.
"What is it?"
Eton asked driver from window.
"Person jumped out."
"Run over?"
"No, stopped somehow."
While that exchange, Steve obeyed spider in carriage with magic, sent outside to check situation. Entering spider's vision was Camilla wearing one cloth, empty eyes.
Thank you always for typo reports.