Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: Hospital
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Earth Church.
Saintess's private quarters.
The Saintess read the letter that had just arrived.
[... The devotee Elwin does not understand how important worship is. ... The reason priests exist is to offer worship to the Goddess. ... The devotee Elwin is exploiting loopholes in the temple laws to issue unjust orders. ... We earnestly request that you hasten the revision of the temple laws.]
"Phew..."
The high priest's words were correct.
Worship to the Goddess was more important than anything.
That was what she had been taught,
and what she herself had taught others.
She clearly thought the high priest was right...
The Saintess set the priest's letter on the desk and picked up another one beside it.
It was content she had already read several times.
This letter had also come from the Frontier.
The sender was Elwin.
[... Worship only requires one priest. The rest of the work can be handled by temple staff. ... Why did the Goddess grant divine power to priests? Is divine power necessary for worship? ... This is what I believe. The reason She granted divine power is to fulfill Her will to heal the sick. ...]
"Phew..."
Conducting worship with just one priest?
That was absurd.
Yet Elwin's words did not seem entirely wrong.
[... For these reasons, I have built a new facility called a hospital. Here, the sick will be treated. ...]
Even this much seemed plausible.
But then.
[... Below is the hospital price list.]
A hospital price list was included.
The prices were shockingly high.
And at the end, it used merchant-like phrasing: "Half price for devotees of the Earth Goddess."
"How could he..."
This was not language befitting nobility.
Much less for use in a temple.
[... Even using the hospital will increase the number of people who serve the Goddess...]
Crumple.
Her hand clenched without her realizing it.
[... The current estimated number of devotees in the Frontier is around 20,000.]
"..."
20,000.
In the few days since she had met Elwin, the number of devotees had grown by 20,000.
[... We are test-operating the hospital in southern Frontier, and plan to expand it across the entire Frontier later. If successful, the number of devotees in the Frontier is expected to exceed 50,000.]
"50,000..."
[... If expanded across the entire island, 300,000 is possible.]
"3... 300,000!"
The number of Earth devotees had been decreasing every year.
But this year, it was set to increase.
Thanks to Elwin.
Knock. Knock.
"Saintess, everyone is gathered."
"I'll be right there."
Church conference room.
The church's top executives had assembled there.
Due to recent events in the Frontier.
"Saintess, we cannot let this stand."
"Exactly. The temple laws must be revised immediately."
The need to revise the temple laws was acknowledged.
They could not grant the church the same status just because someone held temple operating rights.
The opinions in the conference room were unanimous,
and the temple laws were revised by unanimous vote.
A single sentence was added below the clause stating that priests were obligated to follow the temple laws.
[If the temple operator is not the church, priests may report unjust orders to the church, and the church may correct them.]
"Now we must correct Elwin's unjust orders."
"Indeed. Tampering with worship, of all things."
"Right. Isn't worship the primary reason priests exist?"
"Exactly."
"Agreed."
While the executives debated,
other thoughts swirled in the Saintess's mind.
30,000 devotees!
Expected 50,000!!
If spread across the island, 300,000!!!!
The massive numbers danced in her head.
"Saintess, please decide."
"Saintess."
"Saintess!"
Everyone was looking at her.
With unanimous agreement, they wanted her final approval.
According to their will.
This decision was clearly right.
It was just doing things as they always had.
But.
Was this truly okay?
Just keep doing things the old way?
And what had the results been?
Earth Church market share: 2%.
Devotee numbers kept declining,
and the church's influence shrank year by year.
Without change,
the share would drop to 1%,
and eventually to 0%...
The Saintess squeezed her eyes shut.
The downfall of the Earth Church.
Could there be a greater mistake than this?
"Saintess."
"Saintess, decide quickly!"
The Saintess slowly opened her mouth.
"The priests' report that Elwin's orders are unjust... is dismissed as invalid."
"What!?"
"What do you mean...?"
The executives wore shocked expressions.
The Earth Church's highest authority rested with the Saintess.
But most matters were decided by the executives.
She had often been little more than a rubber stamp for their decisions.
Perhaps because of that.
Some were even furious.
The Saintess rose from her seat.
If it meant the church could thrive, she would be a rubber stamp or a puppet—anything.
But they hadn't managed that, had they?
The market share was 2%.
A little less, and it was 1%.
After that, only 0% remained.
If the church was doomed to fall like this,
they needed to grasp the new lifeline named Elwin.
"We will restate our decision! The orders at the Frontier temple are unjust, so the priests..."
"The Goddess's will exists in the Frontier as well."
She, the high priests, and temple knights had witnessed the proof.
That mercenary Enohn had received a stigmata, hadn't he?
"But..."
"Even so..."
"I know you have all devoted yourselves to the church. But what have the results been? Devotee numbers have declined every year. All we have left between us is 1 and 0. It's time for change."
Faced with the stark numbers, the executives' voices quieted.
"She who is closest to the Goddess. In the name of Lu Terra, I decree: The orders at the Frontier temple are legitimate, and priests must obey them."
At the name Lu Terra, most executives bowed their heads.
Lu Terra.
It was the word of the only being permitted to use the Goddess's name as a surname.
Even so, not everyone acquiesced.
"This decision is the Saintess's sole discretion. If problems arise, you alone will bear the responsibility."
"I will take full responsibility."
Plain City.
Government office conference room.
The high priest arrived with several priests and temple knights in tow.
He then opened the conference room door.
Elwin sat at the head,
surrounded by his subordinates.
The high priest took the seat opposite.
Priests and temple knights arrayed to his left and right like spread wings.
'This mere heir thinks he can show off his power? To a high priest?'
"Devotee Elwin, I hear the church's reply has arrived."
Isaac handed over the letter, and the high priest read it.
[... She who is closest to the Goddess. In the name of Lu Terra, I decree.]
"Oh..."
It wasn't just the executives' decision—it specified the Saintess by name.
How long had it been since the Saintess last invoked her own name?
Emotion welled up.
No, it nearly did.
If he hadn't read the next part.
[The orders at the Frontier temple are legitimate, and priests must obey them.]
"Wh... What is this?"
"High Priest, what's wrong?"
"Is something amiss?"
He passed the church's reply to the priests.
It circulated among the other priests.
With each handoff, their expressions darkened.
The church had ruled.
The Frontier temple's decision was correct.
A matter decreed in Lu Terra's name, no less.
'If the church has decided that...'
"As high priest, I humbly accept the temple's decision..."
Pfft.
Laughing?
Elwin was laughing.
"My apologies. Please continue."
He was barely holding back his laughter.
It showed plainly on his face.
"Kh... Humbly accept, and the priests will go to the hospital."
Pffft.
Laughing again?
"We take our leave."
He left the conference room.
Elwin's laugh looked like a victor's smirk, and he couldn't bear to see it.
Either way, this was his defeat.
"Hahaha!!"
"Kh..."
Elwin's laughter echoed even outside the conference room.
"Let us return at once, brothers."
"Yes, High Priest."
"Understood."
Plain City.
Conference room.
He shouldn't laugh.
Pfft.
Laughter kept leaking out.
"My apologies. Please continue."
"Kh... Humbly accept, and the priests will go to the hospital."
Pffft.
He forcibly held back the laughter.
Even so, he couldn't suppress the occasional sounds.
"We take our leave."
Only after the priests had left the conference room
could he laugh freely.
"Hahahahaha!!!"
Now he could make money to his heart's content.
All hospital revenue was his.
At first glance,
it might seem like it should be shared with the priests,
but no.
Priests' salaries were included in temple operating costs.
He was already paying them.
Or more precisely, they were deducted from temple taxes.
So, no need to pay more.
In other words, any extra profit from using priests was pure income for him.
And that wasn't all.
Once the hospital was built
and started treating people,
the number of Goddess believers would grow.
"Hospital revenue plus increased temple taxes—what will this amount to?"
"My lord... Please lower your voice."
Isaac spoke up.
Not just core subordinates were in the conference room—Plain officials were too.
He dismissed the officials from the room.
"My lord, are you that pleased?"
"Of course I'm pleased. We're filthy rich now."
Isaac thought.
Not us—you, my lord.
"Hahaha!! Money is the best!"
Isaac thought.
My lord is truly delighted.
"So... where should we invest next?"
My lord's eyes turned serious.
Isaac thought.
He has his lighthearted moments,
but he's a serious man at heart.
"Nothing comes to mind, Isaac?"
Isaac thought.
And answered.
"Establish a theology department at the school. More people will receive the Goddess's stigmata, and eventually, the number of priests will grow."
"Oh... Isaac? You've grown a lot."
"Thank you for the praise, my lord."