Chapter 23 - Chapter 22: Side Story: The Lords of the Hailhord Region
[Leventein Rubalwarus's Perspective]
"Does anyone else have anything they wish to discuss?"
Saying that, Marquis Leventein cast his gaze upon those gathered around the table.
They were the lords holding lands in this Hailhord Region, and the vassals for whom Marquis Leventein served as their direct liege lord.
Leventein Rubalwarus.
He is the current head of the Leventein Marquis family, a man in his prime nearing forty years of age.
Ash-blonde hair and deep green eyes.
His well-exercised body is clearly visible even through his clothing, and combined with his sharp gaze, it is easy to imagine that he is a warrior.
Deeply carved wrinkles stand out on his face.
Because of that, he appears somewhat older than his actual age.
But that also led to an authority that could make people shrink back.
Those who do not know him well would tremble just by standing before him.
Though he himself had no such intention.
The lords of the Hailhord Region share a somewhat special relationship.
Over fifty years ago, during the war with the neighboring Gronoir Empire, their fathers and grandfathers fought together.
As part of the Domain Army of the Margrave Leventein.
This Leventein Marquisate was previously a Margravate.
A retainer group that continued to support the overall commander, Margrave Leventein, through a long and painful fifty-year war.
Those were the lords of the Hailhord Region.
There were twists and turns from the time the Margrave was elevated to Marquis until the retainers received their own titles.
At one point, the Margrave Leventein of that time found himself in a precarious position.
However, due to the arrangements of the current King of the Kingdom of Ektrem, who was still a twenty-year-old Crown Prince at the time, they were granted the titles of Viscounts and Barons.
Normally, one would not grant titles to a noble's retainers en masse.
If one suspected disloyalty or feared future rebellion, there was no way they would allow such a thing.
Was the Crown Prince who made this happen deeply loyal to righteousness, or perhaps an idiot who thought without consideration?
At that time, it is said that a great controversy erupted, involving many nobles.
"If there is nothing else, this meeting will conclude here. As mentioned in the agenda, this year has been hotter than ever before in history. Because of this, fires have broken out in various places. It should be getting cooler soon, but make sure to issue proper notices to all relevant departments."
Marquis Leventein told the gathered lords to be even more vigilant.
Due to this year's abnormal heat, fires had occurred not only in this Hailhord Region but throughout the entire Kingdom.
Not just forest fires, but fires had broken out in various factories, fields, and general houses, and His Majesty the King had issued an order to "exercise maximum caution against fires and prepare for the worst."
Furthermore, rather than fires caused by simple negligence like usual, there were frequent cases where fires broke out in unexpected places due to unexpected causes.
Therefore, it was considered that unless there was gross negligence or intent, heavy penalties should not be imposed on those responsible.
Instead of punishing those responsible, the focus should be on containing the situation and subsequent reconstruction.
Indeed, fires are happening in so many places right now that if we were to impose heavy penalties on all those responsible, various sectors within the domain and even the nation would cease to function.
If we lose many excellent talents in a short period, even reconstruction would become impossible.
Even if there was a slight negligence, if the cause is mostly due to weather conditions, we should utilize them effectively rather than eliminate them.
"Also, there are reports of unsettling movements from the Gronoir Empire. I don't think anything will happen immediately, but please keep this in mind. Although more than fifty years have passed since that war, it has not been a time of pure peace. Skirmishes occurred frequently, and it would not be strange if they developed into a major conflict at any time."
The lords nodded at Marquis Leventein's words.
When the Marquis stood up, the lords surrounding the table also stood up simultaneously.
"We are the shield of Ektrem!"
"We are the shield of Ektrem!!!"
As the Marquis squeezed out a voice from his belly, the lords continued in the same manner.
"Iron and blood are our glory!"
"Iron and blood are our glory!!!"
"Glory to the Leventein Knights Order!"
"Glory to the Leventein Knights Order!!!"
This was the war cry performed as Battle Fervor before battles during the former "Fifty-Year War" era.
The organization known as the Leventein Knights Order no longer exists; they are now individual Domain Armies led by each lord.
However, the lords of the Hailhord Region remain united by this bond of the Leventein Knights Order even now.
With the Marquis's voice of "Dismissed," the lords saluted in unison and left the room.
Usually, after a lord's meeting, there would be a luncheon, or if it went late into the night, they would stay overnight, but now the lords are busy due to fires in various places.
Everyone wants to return to their own lands as quickly as possible.
When the Marquis went to the entrance to see them off, only Baron Limpēre remained, waiting for the Marquis instead of getting into his carriage.
There was a report that fires had also occurred in the Baron's lands, in farmlands and factories, causing trouble in containing the situation and reconstruction.
"What is it, Baron Limpēre? Do you have something to consult?"
It was common for someone to come for individual consultations after a meeting.
The Marquis walked with the Baron toward the office.
Knights stood on both sides of the office door, saluting to welcome the master of the room.
Inside the office, calm furnishings were lined up, suggesting that the master of the room valued quality and practicality over appearance.
"Would you like something to drink?"
The Marquis offered a bottle of distilled liquor, but Baron Limpēre politely declined.
Since the Marquis knew well that the Baron was not good with alcohol, he sat on the sofa without much concern.
Sitting opposite each other, the Baron seemed to find it difficult to say something.
Baron Limpēre was a man in his mid-fifties with white hair.
He was somewhat slender for a knight, but he had graduated from the Knight Academy properly and served well as a lord.
However, as his appearance suggested, he was better at administrative work than martial arts, a fact acknowledged by both himself and others.
"What is it, Joran? There is no need for reserve between us. Is that right?"
Rubalwarus spoke in a friendly tone.
Although there was a difference in status between Marquis and Baron, that was only in official settings.
In private settings, the lords of the Hailhord Region called each other by their first names.
Before being lords, they were comrades of the Leventein Knights Order.
And Joran was older than Rubalwarus and had inherited the headship of the Baron's family earlier than Rubalwarus.
Among the lords of the Hailhord Region, who were mostly outstanding in martial abilities, Joran was one of the few who excelled in administrative work.
When Rubalwarus inherited the headship, he had been helped quite a bit.
"Actually... something troubling has occurred. I would like to borrow your wisdom, Rubalwarus-sama."
Saying that, Joran explained the circumstances.
It seems that a child blessed with magic power had appeared in the Baron's lands, which was rare.
That itself was a welcome thing.
Few could become Mages, and in the Baron's lands, such children had hardly been born until now.
According to the measurement of this child's magic power at seven years old, it had not reached the standard.
However, a few months later, it was discovered that they could use God's Miracle.
Since the period was too short, naturally, "Academy Evasion" was suspected.
Had they been hiding high magic power from the beginning?
Had they somehow deceived the measurement?
It was common for talented children to show such growth when entering the Magic Academy.
But this child had grown their magic power independently in a short period.
By common sense, this was impossible.
The fact that they could use God's Miracle made it clear that someone had taught them.
The child would be punished as an "Academy Evasion," and the person who taught them God's Miracle without permission would be found and punished.
That was all.
According to the Village Head's report, the village priest was saying something, but he was probably just talking nonsense to reduce the punishment for the child.
It was not even worth considering.
However, a troubling thing happened here.
The Church's intervention.
The Bishop of the diocese said, "This child is not an 'Academy Evasion'."
If the lord were to punish the child, the Church said they would put the child in a convent.
It is a national law that children with magic power above a certain level must attend the Magic Academy at ten years old, but there are several exceptions.
One of them is the convent.
A convent is a place where one faithfully follows God's teachings and lives according to them.
It is a place where those who have firmly sworn to live with God gather.
The country would not forcibly drag out those who decided to live with God and separated themselves from the secular world.
No matter how much it was national law, the Church could not tolerate such a thing either.
Although there were exceptions, the Church did not actively try to utilize them.
Entering a convent at a young age was rare anyway, which was why the country had turned a blind eye.
If the Church were to put promising children into convents and monopolize children with magic power, the country would not just stand by with its mouth shut.
Even if relations with the Church worsened, they would abolish the exception provisions and move to secure the children.
But this Church had declared that they would protect the child even by putting them in a convent.
If the lord made an unjust ruling, the Church would protect the child.
Rubalwarus, who had been listening silently, deepened the wrinkles between his eyebrows.
"......Again, troublesome matters......."
Rubalwarus felt anger toward the Church.
What was this interfering with the lord's ruling?
Since the child was still seven years old, they would not go to the Magic Academy in the Capital, but first to the Magic Academy in the Marquisate.
If the Magic Academy at ten years old is a national law obligation, then the Magic Academy at eight years old is a domain law obligation.
If that obligation was violated, punishing them was natural.
But———.
"......Have you checked the records?"
"Yes. In the records I kept, it certainly seemed they had not reached the standard. Just in case, I checked the copies kept in the Marquisate before the meeting, and they were the same......."
Fuu...... hum, Rubalwarus crossed his arms and leaned back on the sofa.
Magic power measurements were conducted every year.
However, the measuring tools were very expensive, and in the Hailhord Region's lands, only the Leventein Marquisate possessed them.
Therefore, officials from the Leventein Marquisate visited each domain every year to deliver the measurement results to representatives of villages and towns.
And the same items were kept by the lord of that domain and stored in the Leventein Marquisate.
According to those records, they had not reached the standard, yet in just a few months they exceeded it?
Even to the extent of performing God's Miracle?
(Could such a thing happen?)
It was easy to understand why Joran was troubled.
Even if the opponent was the Church, once a lord made a ruling, it could not be overturned.
Especially if there was pressure involved.
"Joran, have you already made the ruling? Have you given instructions to the officials?"
"No, not yet. After receiving the report from the Village Head, the Bishop immediately requested a meeting on this matter. I received an urgent request for an audience."
"Then, you have not given any instructions to anyone, have you?"
"Yes."
"Hmm...... hum."
The pressure from the Church was concerning, but the kept records showed they had not reached the standard.
The possibility of fraudulent deception was high, but I cannot say there was no mistake on the measuring side either.
I cannot deny the possibility of a sudden increase in a short period, but it is a probability that can be almost ignored.
Regarding this matter, it can be said to be almost definitely guilty.
(Although it is almost definitely guilty, if I call it gray, it is gray. It is close to black.)
Rubalwarus stood up from the sofa and walked toward the cabinet.
He poured distilled liquor into a glass up to the finger joint and drank it in one gulp.
A burning heat fell into his chest, and he exhaled with a haa.......
"......Regarding this matter, I will lodge a protest with the Archbishop on my behalf."
"The Archbishop, you say?"
"It is unheard of to interfere with a lord's ruling. Is the Church trying to disrupt the governance of the Baron's lands?...... I will tell Wagnare Shubeist, the Archbishop dispatched to the Marquisate this year, quite clearly."
Whether the result of the ruling was originally innocent or not, the mere fact that the Church interfered was a nuisance to the governing side.
It would appear that the matter became innocent because the Church interfered.
The Church understood this, so normally they would not do such a thing.
I suppose there was a certain reason for it—but—.
"He came to pay his respects when he was first appointed, didn't he? That Archbishop is quite sharp. It's a pity he is a monk. If he wanted to, he could probably make room for himself in the Cardinal's seat anytime with his claws and fangs."
"Is...... it that much?"
"I don't know what he is thinking to remain a monk, but he is completely one of our people."
Although he puts on the face of a clergyman, that man is completely on the side of the rulers.
Being at the upper levels of the Church means he has aspects of a ruler, but that man is completely suited for politics.
It would have looked much more fitting if he had become a high official in the Royal Palace or some administrative agency and was fighting for power.
"If I tell that man, he can also warn the Bishop of the Baron's lands. For now, let's settle this matter with that."
"Yes."
Joran nodded.
As for the child's treatment—but—.
"As for the child, they can enter the Academy next year."
"Next year?"
"By spring, they might have the prescribed amount of magic power. The Academy is natural, right? They can already use God's Miracle, so there is no need to let them play around for two more years. I will issue a notice to the Academy to prepare for acceptance. It seems one more will be added."
"I understand."
For now, with the general policy set, Joran let out a sigh of relief.
Due to the Church's interference, he had been quite worried.
No matter how much it was the Church, interfering with a lord's ruling was not allowed, but on the other hand, it could not be ignored.
That was truly troublesome.
The Church of Light was the state religion of the Kingdom of Ektrem, and its statements carried a certain influence.
That was not a small influence at all.
After all, nearly 100% of the citizens believed in the Church of Light, and only a small number of immigrants did not believe.
We could not allow interference in governance, but we could not oppose them either.
The Church was such an opponent.
"Just in case, I would like to conduct the magic power measurement again. May I borrow the measuring crystal?"
"Yes, please check it thoroughly and inform me. If it fails, I will have to cancel it with the Academy as well."
Joran nodded.
On the way back, he had to stop by the Government Office to arrange the measuring magical tool and the responsible official.
"If it really exceeds the standard, treat them generously. It will be ruled that we showed exceptional grace by not sending the child to the 'facility' as originally intended."
"Hahaha, yes. We will do that. Then, what about the person who taught God's Miracle?"
"Do you have any idea?"
"No. Since the claim is that they learned to use it independently......."
It was an unbelievable story.
But, precisely because of that, if they were lying, they would have thought of a better story.......
"This time, let them eat a bitter pill. Thanks to that person doing unnecessary things, we were able to avoid missing out on a valuable Mage."
"......Indeed, if you say so, that is true."
Teaching God's Miracle without permission was forbidden.
Still, in this case, thanks to that, we were able to discover a Mage who had slipped through the list.
With that merit, we will turn a blind eye.
Joran stood up, thanked Rubalwarus, and immediately left the office.
He had to drive his carriage and return to his own lands, taking more than a full day.
The Leventein Marquisate and the Baron's lands were adjacent, but there was no direct road blocked by a deep forest.
He could not return without passing through another Viscountate.
Rubalwarus moved to the desk and reached for a beautifully decorated table bell.
When he rang the bell, the butler came immediately.
"Send messengers to the Academy and the Government Office. Bring two or three people."
"Understood."
The butler bowed respectfully and was about to leave the room.
Rubalwarus threw additional instructions to such a butler.
"......Ah, and tell Magnus to accompany me for a while after this. Bring a few lively ones."
Turning around on the spot, the butler bowed respectfully again and quietly left the room.
Rubalwarus reached for a pen and began writing the order to the Academy first.
■■■■■■
[Wagnare Shubeist's Perspective]
The Great Cathedral in the Leventein Marquisate. The Archbishop's office.
The office was lined with furnishings that were slightly too luxurious for a clergyman to use.
These furnishings were gathered by the previous Archbishop and did not suit the tastes of the current master of the room.
However, buying new furnishings would be extra expense.
The Church's budget, needless to say, was covered by donations from believers.
The current master felt uncomfortable with the lavish furnishings but, to avoid further unnecessary expenses, reluctantly decided to continue using them.
Even if the current furnishings were sold and replaced with new, appropriate ones, the next Archbishop to be appointed would surely buy luxurious furnishings again.
In the room were the Archbishop Wagnare and Chief Priest Kararebas.
And four subordinates had visited with the lord of the Leventein Marquisate.
"As Your Excellency said, I will give them a strict warning."
Saying that, Wagnare quietly bowed his head.
Wagnare wore a bishop's robe that was clean and suitable for an Archbishop.
His dark brown hair was combed back with a glossy finish, and his somewhat too sharp eyes were striking with blue irises.
Just sitting quietly on the sofa, he exuded an atmosphere like a bird of prey eliminating its presence and sizing up its prey.
This Archbishop, who turned fifty this year, gave no sense of weakness, combined with his refined mannerisms.
Wagnare listened carefully to Marquis Leventein's protest, which had come in a fury, with the calmness befitting a clergyman.
The content of the protest itself was an incident in another diocese.
However, Wagnare had supervisory responsibility over the Bishop of the nearby minor diocese.
Mostly, the Cardinal in charge bore the supervisory responsibility first.
Nevertheless, the Archbishop entrusted with the large diocese also had the responsibility to supervise the Bishops of neighboring dioceses.
As a target of the protest, it was not entirely misplaced.
"Due to His Majesty's deep faith, we are showing maximum consideration to the Church. But if that is leading to the Church's arrogance today, we must reconsider various things....... Do you understand?"
"Of course. From His Holiness the Pope down to a single believer, everyone is grateful for His Majesty's special consideration. I was greatly surprised by this matter, but Your Excellency's anger is justified."
Wagnare accepted the pressure of Marquis Leventein, who leaned forward from the sofa and glared, head-on.
The Marquis was originally imposing due to his physique, and his glare became even more terrifying.
Moreover, behind the Marquis stood four knights, not interrupting but intimidating with their entire bodies.
Kararebas, whom Wagnare had kept behind, was being pushed by that imposing presence, gasping repeatedly.
(......I thought this was experience and brought him along, but was it a mistake?)
Among the priests under Wagnare, he was the closest to a Bishop.
Once a Bishop, all the responsibility in that diocese would press down on them.
In some cases, they might receive protests from lords like this.
I thought it was experience and brought him along, but it might have been a bit too stimulating for him.
This time, with a strict protest, we drove the Marquis and his men away after giving them a huge warning.
Normally, the Marquis would not visit for such protests.
It was usual to summon the Bishop.
Ignoring such customs and having the lord themselves suddenly rush in was likely to dramatize the seriousness of the matter.
Wagnare thought that bringing along a strong-faced subordinate for the protest was a bit too much of a performance, but it seemed to work more than enough for Kararebas.
(One of the knights behind was, I believe...... Magnus? I remember he was a general of the Domain Army. The others were probably just handsome knights gathered for intimidation.)
Wagnare smiled bitterly at the Marquis's too obvious performance.
Well, with such performances, it is better if they are a bit excessive; it makes things clearer.
Without leaving room for misunderstanding or misinterpretation, the will is conveyed straight.
Such performance ability can be said to be one of the skills that those in leadership should possess.
"W-what do you intend to do, Your Eminence? Because the Bishop of the minor diocese did something over the line, this happened......."
Supporting his body with his hand on the sofa backrest, Kararebas asked.
He probably felt like his legs were about to give out.
"I will do nothing special. The Marquis's words are justified, and it is true that the Bishop went too far. The Bishop understands that as well. There is no need to warn them specifically."
Saying that, Wagnare stood up from the sofa and moved to the desk.
Kararebas let go of his hand and seemed to really feel his legs giving out, barely managing to turn around while supporting his body.
"Is it really okay with just that......?"
"I know the Bishop. He is not someone who would do such things normally....... Besides, I roughly understand the circumstances."
Wagnare opened the drawer and took out two letters.
One was from the Bishop of the Baron's lands.
The other was from Radi.
The Bishop's letter contained a brief account of the circumstances.
And there was also a post-report on the Bishop's unauthorized actions.
The Bishop had already understood the seriousness of the matter and had sent a report letter to Wagnare for that reason.
Perhaps, he might cause trouble for us.
The letter did not explain why the Bishop took such action, which was strange.
However, it was revealed by the letter from Radi that arrived at the same time.
The letter described how a boy used God's Miracle to save someone left behind in a fire.
That was the trigger, and suddenly the "Academy Evasion" commotion erupted.
The details of this series of circumstances were written.
......However, it took quite a lot of time to grasp the content due to the excessive embellishment of words praising the gods and the power bestowed upon the boy.
"God's overflowing love," "mercy deeper than the sea," "heart wider than the sky," etc., it was a bad habit of Radi that she could not write a sentence without adding words praising the gods one by one.
Thanks to such a letter from Radi, it was understood that these were incidents in Rish Village.
And if this was an incident in Rish Village, the Bishop's excessive actions could be explained.
(......Kifrod is there, after all.)
The Bishop would not move just by Radi's request.
Moreover, it was impossible for the Bishop to take such unauthorized actions himself.
But, if Kifrod was behind it, the story was different.
Kifrod was now a priest in a small village like Rish Village, but he had once served as the Chief Priest in the country's second-largest city.
It was many decades ago, but many people were guided or helped by Kifrod at that time.
Wagnare also learned much under Kifrod and was one of those who were helped.
He was demoted after being trapped in a trap in the promotion race, but many people did not doubt Kifrod's innocence.
Many people would still feel indebted to Kifrod.
Among those helped at that time, many are now at the upper levels of the Church.
There were those among them who tried to work to restore Kifrod's status.
But Kifrod firmly refused.
He said he was half-retired now.
He had said he wanted to serve leisurely in Rish Village.
(If Kifrod [that person] is behind this, the pieces of this matter fit together. In fact, it can be said that it was good it ended with just the Bishop.)
If he wanted to, he might be able to move several Cardinals.
There was a possibility that such connections still remained.
Thinking of that, this matter was settled peacefully enough.
"......I am glad to see you are in good health, I suppose."
Wagnare muttered to himself, imagining the faces of the two.
Kifrod and Radi. How many years had it been since they last met?
Remembering the time when he was first appointed as a priest in Kotontesse, he felt nostalgic.
But he could not just feel nostalgic.
There were parts of Radi's letter that were concerning.
(Using God's Miracle without being taught by anyone......? Could such a thing happen?)
It was hard to believe at first glance.
Radi wrote in the letter that it was proof of the gods' overflowing favor, but was it really God's Miracle?
That would be the first thing to question.
I smile bitterly at Radi's blind faith as always, but that is Radi for Radi.
(......The only user of God's Miracle in the village. She should be the first to be suspected. But.......)
That was not it.
Wagnare held a conviction.
Radi breaking her oath with the gods and teaching God's Miracle on her own?
If that were the case, it was more likely that the boy really learned God's Miracle alone.
(Thinking here will not yield an answer. There is too little information.)
Wagnare read through Radi's letter again, checked for any oversights, and put it away in the drawer along with the Bishop's letter.
(If that person is there, it will not turn out badly. For now, I will leave it as is.)
If necessary, they would say something.
Wagnare, accompanied by Kararebas, headed toward the chapel.