Chapter : 158

“So, did you talk things through properly?”

“That’s right. Just what on earth did you say to drag things out that far? And it took such a long time, too. Hmm?”

“Meeeeh. A very dark and ominous conversation was had. Meh heh heh. Right? Lord-nimu? Mehr.”

Late at night.

No sooner had I returned after finishing the meeting than I was greeted by a barrage of questions.

At this point, it was impossible for it to have nothing to do with me. Having been active at my side all this time, they were already firmly branded in the public eye as the close aides of the Margrave of Bellua.

Because of that, the people around me, led by Magician Agpiel, could not help but be more sensitive than anyone else to information related to my movements.

Of course, it was a little strange that that half-wit mage Azuela was acting like that, but still.

‘Hmm… Are they really trying to fall out with the Emperor now?’

I tilted my head slightly.

How are they planning to handle the aftermath? My head felt dizzy. It was obvious that the Holy Empire’s Emperor and I were on very bad terms, and yet they were still acting so carefree.

As a rule, those who held power never looked kindly on traitors.

If it were me, I would come to my senses right now, fawn over the Holy Empire’s Emperor, and diligently send letters.

‘Well, they’ll handle it properly on their own. They’re not children.’

I tried to think positively.

He was a magician, in name at least, so surely he would do something.

There was no way he was really living without any countermeasures. Probably… maybe?

“Mm. Yeah, that’s probably it. Probably… it has to be. If he’s really in his right mind, that is.”

“Meeeeh. Lord-nimu. What are you talking about all of a sudden? Mehr. It sounds like you’re thinking someone is stupid. Meh heh heh.”

“Stupid? It’s not like that, Bishop Marco.”

“Huh?”

Bishop Marco tilted his head as if he did not understand, but I deliberately looked away. If I kept staring at that expression, I felt like my true thoughts might slip out without me realizing it.

“C, cough. Enough nonsense. Let’s talk.”

I hurriedly changed the subject and looked at Magician Agpiel.

“As Bishop Marco mentioned last time, it seems the friction between the faction following Cardinal Adriano and the Crusader Knight Order was quite severe. Cardinal Adriano asked me to support the expulsion of the Crusader Knight Order by backing the King of the Elang Kingdom.”

“Just as I thought. Being clergy does not mean there are no power struggles. But for our goat beastman to have pulled something off… that really is surprising.”

Though his tone carried a hint of admiration mixed with mild sarcasm, it seemed it did not even scratch Goat Beastman Bishop Marco.

“Meh heh heh. See? Great Sage. This is me. This is the ability of Bishop Marco. Meeeh.”

Pleased with the rare recognition, he bleated in his characteristic goat voice and started chanting in a loop. I clicked my tongue briefly and continued.

“But it seems I’ve gotten entangled in something a bit troublesome.”

“Why? Does the reward they promised for backing the King of the Elang Kingdom seem absurd?”

“……?”

This old man was called a Great Sage, but was he using mind reading now?

“What is with that pathetic expression? Have you been infected by that goat beastman as well? That much could be deduced through reasonable inference, could it not?”

“Cough. Who said anything? Magician Agpiel.”

He really was quick on the uptake.

I carefully hid my inner thoughts and continued speaking.

“Cardinal Adriano said that if I help expel the Crusader Knight Order, he will support me in reclaiming the lost Holy See lands below the Apennine Peninsula.”

“The lost Holy See lands?”

“Yes. He said he would give me the County of Campania.”

“Hoh… Is that not territory currently ruled by the family of the Holy Empire’s Emperor? He is prepared to endure another clash? Well, considering how he supported the War of Succession in the Kingdom of Aragon for the Prince-elector of Bohemia before, it is not that strange. But… hmm….”

At that moment, Magician Agpiel sensed something odd.

No matter how much Cardinal Adriano was effectively the true ruler of the Holy See, taking the Kingdom of Aragon and giving away the County of Campania, which had originally belonged to the Holy See, carried very different implications.

This was practically an act of extreme overreach that could even invite impeachment from his own supporters. It was tantamount to abandoning the Holy See’s original rights.

Then was Cardinal Adriano really that foolish?

From what Magician Agpiel knew, he was not. If anything, he was a ruler who was cunning, insidious, and adept at using the sly schemes of a fox.

“Could it be… you…?”

At this point, Magician Agpiel realized whom this young noble must have met.

A being capable of making such a decision without hesitation.

The true ruler who governed the Holy See.

“Mm, yes. You are probably imagining correctly, Magician Agpiel.”

“Ho ho ho. No wonder it was so secretive, and the security was so strict. So there was a reason for it. Then what was it like, meeting him?”

“His presence was far greater than I expected. His health did not look very good.”

“In his youth, he was famous for performing miracles almost as much as you. And I heard he could handle mystery as well, so though his body has weakened, his mind must have remained strong.”

“As soon as I entered the room, the surging mystery weighed down on my body. Haha.”

“You had a rare experience.”

Magician Agpiel nodded at my words.

Facing the Pope, who was even called a living divinity, was not something one could easily experience. Especially after his condition had worsened, the number of people who had met him could be counted on one hand. It truly seemed that this young noble was blessed with fortune.

“Huh?”

“W, what on earth are you talking about?”

Of course, Goat Beastman Bishop Marco and Mage Azuela could not follow this conversation at all.

Who would ever think someone had gone to meet a Pope who had been in seclusion for over ten years due to chronic illness?

“What do you mean what. He is saying the Margrave met the Pope.”

“Meeeeh? The Pope-nimu?! W, what was he like, Lord-nimu! Meeeh.”

“Whaaat? You mean His Holiness the Pope? Oh my! What was he like, Your Excellency?”

Why were they so identical, like two fish from the same mold?

Goat Beastman Bishop Marco and Mage Azuela reacted with the same startled expression. Finding that sight pitiful, Magician Agpiel clicked his tongue.

“Is that what matters right now? The proposal regarding the County of Campania is far more important. Tsk tsk.”

“B, but still….”

“That’s right. Mehr….”

The two replied in equally deflated voices, but Magician Agpiel did not seem to care much.

“So, what does our young noble intend to do?”

“What reason would I have to refuse? Of course I will accept.”

“You will end up completely at odds with the Emperor. Making not only the King but also the Emperor your enemy will not be good.”

“But you know as well, Magician Agpiel. The current abnormal weather conditions are no ordinary matter. Do you think the Emperor, already beset by enemies, can afford to turn his strength against me as well? He will be hard-pressed just to suppress rebellions in his own domain and within the Holy Empire.”

People had not yet given it much thought, but these abnormal weather conditions would not stop in just one or two years.

The Great Famine.

This global event would strike not only the Elang Kingdom but the entire continent for a long five years in [Pangea Universalise]. The continental powers that upheld the existing order would soon be driven to ruin.

“Well, that may be so.”

Magician Agpiel nodded.

From his accumulated experience, he too had sensed that this climate anomaly was no trivial matter. One year’s harvest had already failed, and the next year’s harvest was on the brink of failure as well.

This was clearly not a situation that would be resolved easily. To deal with the aftermath, most nobles would have to tighten their belts and suffer for several years.

Even taking that into account…

‘He still seems a bit hasty. Or is this aggressive? Ho ho. He really is young.’

The Emperor’s power was not something a young count could face alone.

‘Well, it’s not completely impossible.’

Military preparations and famine countermeasures were already more or less in place. If territorial consolidation could be completed before the Emperor came to his senses, it would not pose much of a problem. Of course, for that to happen, Magician Agpiel’s own role would be extremely important.

He would likely have to take the lead and help, so that the County of Campania could be stabilized before the Emperor managed to respond.

‘Ho ho, thanks to this, I will be running myself ragged.’

Even so, Magician Agpiel was not displeased. Rather, he was enjoying it.

As an advisor, watching a young noble grow in what he believed to be the right direction was a rare and truly enjoyable experience.

“Magician… Agpiel?”

Unaware of his inner thoughts, I cautiously called out to him. Only then did Magician Agpiel flounder back out of the sea of his thoughts.

“Ah, did you call me?”

“Yes. Do you have any concerns about my accepting this?”

“Concerns? Nonsense. As I said earlier, it is not bad. Proceed without worry. I will help you.”

“Mm… Is that so?”

I felt uneasy at his more favorable reaction than expected.

Why was he suddenly being so proactive?

It was not bad for me, of course, but sudden changes were not a good sign, were they?

And Magician Agpiel was of an advanced age where his health was a concern!

“You are not ill, are you? If anything seems off, please be sure to tell me. I will assign you the best physician.”

“…….”

Naturally, such a misunderstanding left Magician Agpiel utterly dumbfounded.

—

There had been some commotion(?), but the visit to the Holy See ended very well.

Not long after that meeting, we received an official invitation to a banquet from the Holy See, where we were able to make acquaintances with various influential figures and, at the same time, receive substantial human and financial support.

For me, who had been maintaining a system of recommendations and appointments from subordinate families while accepting side effects due to a lack of intellectuals and technicians, it was truly like welcome rain in a drought.

How was it that talent so hard to find elsewhere was overflowing in Romulus, the capital city of the Holy See?

Exaggerating a bit, there were so many they could be kicked around on the roadside.

And not half-baked dabblers, but scholars who had studied for long periods at proper universities, and skilled technicians trained in workshops.

“As expected of a city that inherited the legacy of the ancient empire. Wouldn’t you agree, Magician Agpiel?”

“Well, I suppose so. Perhaps there might even be a great physician who can cure my old age, no?”

“C, cough.”

To think he was still sulking over that misunderstanding from that day.

Well, it did seem like I had treated him a bit too much like an old man…

Trying to explain further just felt like it would only make me look like the bad guy.

Why did things turn out like this just because I misspoke?

I had meant it out of concern… and it was simply sad.

‘Ugh….’

With that, I sighed inwardly and leaned back against the swaying carriage.

Everything that needed to be done at the Holy See was finished. It was time to head home.

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