Chapter 340 - Episode 332: Freedom and Morality ②
"—Therefore, such evil things that rot the human heart should be purified by the flames of God. These flames brought by the light of God—"
"Why! Why are you burning them!"
"Shut up! To think you would write such vulgar things, you shameless brat!"
"Ah... I worked so hard to write them... I thought so hard about it..."
"Stop crying! You're a disgrace to your family!"
"Hey, you don't have to go that far..."
"Outsiders stay quiet! This is a family matter!"
Entering a scene where a variety of voices from the involved parties to onlookers were mixed—ranging from despairing cries to angry shouts—Mai raised her voice.
"Be quiet! What is this commotion!?"
Though it had been a long time since she left the battlefield, Mai was once a mercenary who had seen her fair share of action. Her sharp voice possessed sufficient power to silence a crowd.
"B-Baroness Granat!"
Hearing Mai's voice and confirming her presence, the onlookers hurriedly bowed their heads. The guards who had been standing by to prevent an outburst snapped into a salute.
Then, Daniela and the others who had been arguing in the garden also stopped burning the papers and shouting at each other to look toward Mai.
"Daniela-san, may I enter your property?"
"...Of course. Please come in, Lady Granat."
While a noble can order a commoner to let them into a house if necessary, Mai deliberately asked for permission before entering the garden to avoid offending Daniela's feelings as much as possible.
Coming right up to the site where the papers were being burned—she suppressed a sigh. What was being performed there was a "Purification Ritual" of the Milleon Holy Church.
A ritual where one draws a simple magic circle on the ground and burns bad things upon it, and by doing so, they are purified by God's blessing. It began long ago as a ritual for burning the corpses of criminals sentenced to death, and now it is casually performed when disposing of unlucky things, such as burning gifts from a betrothed partner after a broken engagement.
By its nature, what is burned in this ritual are "things that, if left in this world, would bring a negative influence to the individual or society." To perform this in order to burn someone's creative works could be called quite tasteless.
"...For starters, let me hear what you were doing."
"I shall explain. First, my friends and I examined the stories and poems that our children and the youth of our relatives have been writing amidst the recent trend of creation. This was as responsible adults, to determine if dialogue or advice was necessary. As a result... we found several creative works with content that exceeded all bounds."
Romance stories depicting the love between unmarried men and women, including direct descriptions such as kissing. Stories of righteous thieves who steal from wicked merchants to distribute money to the poor, justifying theft. Stories of fierce battles that clearly treated depictions of violence as a form of entertainment.
Daniela spoke of how such "evil creations" had been found.
"If such things remain in the hands of the youth, the hearts of our children and the young people who will carry the next generation will rot. Before reaching adulthood, they might enter into relationships between men and women for mere play, turn to theft, or even hurt someone out of an interest in cruel acts. To prevent such situations, we are performing the Purification Ritual. This is an action to protect our families."
Daniela looked straight at Mai and declared this in a tone of absolute sincerity. Mai looked back into her eyes and understood that she was performing the Purification Ritual truly for the sake of her family.
She understood what she was trying to say. She understood the feeling. That was exactly why she agonized over how to persuade her.
"...First, how one provides education to their own kin is a matter for each family, so I will not reprimand the Purification Ritual itself."
At those words from the Baroness, the children and youth whose creations had been burned cried even harder, or hung their heads as if in resignation.
Mai did not understand the act of creation, but she understood that it is sad to have something you worked hard to make burned. However, there were no words Mai could offer them right now.
For the time being, Daniela had only performed the Purification Ritual in her own garden. What she burned were merely papers, and they belonged to her own family. Regarding the others, it was simply that the head of the household had decided to burn things belonging to their own house and did so.
Regarding that fact itself, Mai had no right to interfere. Even as a noble, interfering in the domestic lives of the Grand Duchy's citizens was not a commendable thing.
"However, regarding the fact that you caused this much of a commotion, as the head of the Women's Association who bears a certain responsibility for protecting the peace and security of the people's lives, I must express my disapproval. The surrounding residents have gathered to see what is happening, and even the guards have been deployed. You must understand that it is not a good thing for such a commotion to occur in the capital city of Noeina."
"...Yes. Regarding that point, I lacked consideration. I am very sorry."
At Mai's disapproval, Daniela bowed her head honestly.
She was by no means a bad person. Rather, she could be called a good person. This action also began from her sense of justice.
However, having been born into a retainer's family in the southwestern urban area, she had grown up receiving a relatively high education without knowing conflict, and because of that, she simply held somewhat puritanical ideas. That was why Mai found this matter troubling.
"...And, you wish to spread those ideas to other people as well, don't you? The idea that the youth and children should be forbidden from engaging in inappropriate and evil creations."
"Of course. I believe my actions will contribute to the healthy growth of those who will carry the next generation of the Grand Duchy of Arqvist."
"In that case, why not submit a petition to Lord Arqvist? Convey your thoughts and request that certain regulations be placed on the creations of the younger generation in His Lordship's name."
When the people have a request for the ruler who governs the land where they live, they can convey it in the form of a petition.
Whether it is the arbitration of a major dispute, a plea for tax reduction during a poor harvest, or even requesting the removal of monsters or bandits from the highways, anything can be delivered as long as it conveys the people's desire to rely on the ruler. Whether the ruler listens to it depends on the content and the ruler's own personality.
And since Grand Duke Noein Arqvist is a ruler who is kind to his people, he will certainly lend a hand if he judges the petition to be reasonable in content.
"If you intend to expand the matter that far, it exceeds your jurisdiction as a commoner, even if you are an influential person. You should obtain understanding and borrow the strength of Lord Arqvist through a petition. I will put in a word so that it reaches His Lordship with priority, so I strongly recommend that you formally draft a letter of petition."
Though she said "strongly recommend" politely, this was effectively an order from Mai: "If you intend to act beyond the framework of your own kin, obtain the understanding and permission of Grand Duke Arqvist."
"...I understand. Then, I shall submit a petition by letter as early as tomorrow."
Daniela also understood this, so she nodded obediently.
.....
"...So, a petition like this came up, huh."
Noein muttered as he read the letter of petition from Daniela, which he had received directly from Mai, while listening to the details of the matter.
"I am very sorry for troubling you, Lord Noein... I should have reported this much sooner, before it became such a commotion."
"There's no need for you to apologize, Mai. I'm sure you didn't think it would turn into something like that. I was a bit surprised myself after hearing the story."
To the bowing Mai, Noein smiled and shook his head to show he was not angry.
Noein had also known through reports that creation was beginning to trend among the youth and children, and he felt that this in itself was a joyful thing.
According to Mai, it was two weeks ago that Daniela raised the issue regarding this trend. With content of this level, it should have been sufficient to receive a report during the next regular meeting with the high officials. No one would have thought it would become a situation where a commotion broke out and soldiers had to go out to observe.
"Still, to burn creative works in a Purification Ritual... how pitiful."
"According to the report from the soldiers who went to the scene, there were no problems regarding the handling of fire. Although some arguments occurred between the parties who performed the ritual and the onlookers, it did not escalate to violence."
"Which means, no one has committed any crime."
To the words of Yuri, who had come to report along with Mai—noting that a situation requiring the deployment of soldiers, even if just for observation, had occurred within the capital city of Noeina—Noein replied with a faint, wry smile.
"Now, Lord Noein, regarding the content of Daniela's petition..."
"Let's see. For now, I don't think I can accept it."
"...As expected."
Whether Noein's answer was as predicted, neither Mai nor Yuri, who stood beside her, were particularly surprised.
Collecting a wide range of books and frequently visiting performances of the Noeina Theater Troupe, Noein loves culture and the arts. It could be said that this is the only hobby Noein pursues enthusiastically, as he does not engage in the flashy diversions typical of nobles.
From Noein's perspective, there was no way he could consent to plucking the buds of a new culture that had finally begun to grow within his own country.
"Mai, what do you think about this? Do you think what Daniela says is reasonable?"
"...No, I do not."
When Noein asked as a trial, Mai answered after showing an expression of slight thought.
"At first glance, it sounds plausible, and if asked whether stories and poems have absolutely no influence on a person's thoughts... it's probably different. But humans should not be such simple creatures. I believe that even if some of these creative works are forbidden because the content is extreme, that does not mean the education of the younger generation has been achieved."
"Right, I think so too. If they were writing texts directly appealing with ideologies like 'you should kill people' or 'you should attack merchants and steal things,' that would be one thing, but forbidding such depictions as imaginary stories is meaningless... Yuri, what do you think?"
"I'm of the same opinion as Mai. People don't turn to killing or stealing because they admire a story. It's when they can no longer suppress their anger or hatred, or when they are troubled by a lack of money or food. Also, it's when they've come to think that seizing other people's property by force is easier than working honestly. If so, what we adults should do is not forbid creation. It is to teach that one must not kill people out of grudge, to let them acquire the means to live without lacking money, and to preach the importance of working honestly."
"Fufu, as expected. I'll make those words the mindset I use when I teach morality to Eleos and Philia."
As a father, Yuri was many years senior to Noein. Hearing his words, which held a certain persuasiveness, Noein nodded with satisfaction.
"I'm humbled by that."
"Then, I will tell her that Daniela's petition is rejected, but..."
At Mai's confirmation, Noein answered after thinking for a moment.
"...No. If I just tell her it's rejected, Daniela will likely feel dissatisfied. It could lead to misunderstandings with the people and leave friction even within their families. I'll create an occasion to speak with her directly."