Chapter 133
Chapter 133
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 133
Chapter Title: The Crown Prince's Request (3)
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“Bishop Valliere, could you please reiterate once more what His Holiness the Pope desires?”
“Very well. His Holiness has no intention of demanding that the Franco Republic and the Reich Empire continue their war indefinitely. However, he has stated that no nation on the Europan continent, bound by the teachings of the Deus Church, can forgive the Republic for plundering your country without even a proper declaration of war.”
“Robespierre and the other hawkish assemblymen have already undergone heresy trials, and we've received a massive atonement of 200,000 gold. On top of that, the Republic holds penitential masses every Sabbath to pray for the lifting of their excommunication.”
Honestly speaking, we were the ones who suffered the losses, and it was our Reich Empire's army that extracted territory and reparations as punishment in the form of war.
I just couldn't comprehend why these church bastards were acting so brazenly, as if telling us to shut up and charge in again to fight and die for the dignity of the Deus Church.
But the Reich Empire couldn't afford to turn against the church, so we had to endure it.
Damn church scum. No different from the Catholics before the Reformation...
“We are aware. Yet as the foremost shepherd of the Deus Church, His Holiness believes the Republic's atrocities warrant even harsher punishment. If they truly wish to prove their remorse, they must offer greater atonement.”
And that atonement would likely be hundreds of thousands of gold in cash or policies that elevate the Pope's authority.
His Highness the Crown Prince had warned me they would demand either money or expanded influence to bolster their power, so as his envoy, I had permission to concede anything except ceding territory.
We could reveal ways for the church to increase its influence within the Reich Empire, or note how we secured vast lands and reparations from this war.
To save face, we could promise to build a grand cathedral in commemoration of the victory, suggesting the Emperor shout praises for the Pope there.
We might even pledge to grant the church greater authority within the Empire.
But I had no intention of letting the church strut around the Empire, interfering like this—taking 200,000 gold, equivalent to a year's living expenses for 200,000 imperial citizens, on some flimsy pretext, and still demanding more.
No, more precisely, I would give the church no room to meddle in the Empire's internal affairs.
“Your Excellency the Bishop has been so gracious in your responses as an envoy, and I truly wish to assist in any way possible. However, beyond extracting more reparations in exchange for lifting the Republic's excommunication, I would like to propose something better.”
Bishop Valliere nodded with evident interest and replied.
“When it's Major Jaeger himself speaking, how could I not listen? After all, you're the famed general who personally demonstrated the power of Deus in the Hatten Forest.”
There was a hint of sarcasm—no, frankly, the bishop was clearly displeased, as if questioning how I dared oppose the Pope's will.
Yet he was willing to hear me out because the Emperor and Crown Prince had specifically designated me as the negotiator against the Pope's envoy.
The Vatican had already proclaimed the victory in the Hatten Forest battle—where 10,000 Republican troops were not just repelled by my 4,000 but utterly annihilated—as the power of Deus.
Thus, he judged it prudent to at least hear the commander of the 12th Brigade.
While warning that any unwelcome words would greatly displease them, of course.
Damn these insidious church bastards. I wish Deus would just strike them down.
“Let me be direct. Does His Holiness have no intention of abstaining from worldly affairs henceforth? Or, like Popes of old, does he plan to personally rebuke and instruct those who defy Deus's teachings?”
To rebuke and instruct here was a euphemism for appropriately interfering in secular nations' wars, negotiations, and the like.
If a nation planned to declare war on another, they could bring vast offerings and beg the Pope for justification.
Or a nation weary of war could seek the Pope's aid, receiving mediation proposals—and hefty donations—in return.
Through such exertions of influence, the Pope would expand his own power and authority.
The bishop's face twisted slightly, and he replied in a voice laced with anger.
“It is only natural for His Holiness to issue teachings to secular nations! How dare you phrase it so?”
As expected, His Holiness sought not just a short-sighted grab for more money this time, but to wield papal authority indefinitely.
That would actually make negotiations easier, playing right into my hands.
Because papal authority ultimately required the acquiescence of all Europan nations to hold weight.
Spouting nonsense would render it worthless.
Proof lay in the Humiliation of Canossa, where Henry IV was excommunicated for defying the Pope's claim to sole clerical investiture rights by insisting the Emperor held them too.
All the princes of the Holy Roman Empire sided with the Pope, enabling that outrage.
The same applied to the Deus Church's Pope, whose absolute authority on Europa hinged on other nations' agreement; absurd demands would make his edicts ignorable.
“Then view this as a parent and shepherd would. The Franco Republic's politicians have handed Robespierre—the assembly chairman responsible for the atrocity sparking this war—and other assemblymen to the inquisitors, offering 200,000 gold in atonement. This was possible only because they have shown true repentance. Demanding more would be something they cannot accept.”
“Your words carry merit. But sin is not forgiven merely because the sinner fails to comprehend...”
“I agree with that. However, other secular monarchs—even His Imperial Majesty our Emperor—believe the Republic has paid sufficiently for absolution. If the Vatican persists in opposition, how will other nations see it? They might think that, due to His Holiness's fiery wrath, wars cannot end when they should, and thus the church's mediation is unreliable.”
At those words, the bishop's expression turned as if he might slap his balding forehead in frustration.
We had him all but hooked.
“Think of the future. For His Holiness to truly earn the respect of secular powers, he must approach matters in ways they can understand.”
As I suggested, ending the Republic's excommunication here would benefit both the Empire and the Vatican most.
Moreover, monarchs sane enough wouldn't openly offer massive donations begging the Pope to declare their foe utterly evil for a declaration of war pretext.
Unless they plundered three baronies or so in a preemptive strike without declaration—like what happened to us—they wouldn't directly seek excommunication from the church.
Monarchs knew today's enemy could be tomorrow's closest ally.
Without certainty of total annihilation, they avoided dragging the church in to foster irreconcilable enmity.
Post-war, to bolster legitimacy or when stalled, they might discreetly offer donation bundles for secret mediation.
That made it harder for opponents to unilaterally break treaties.
After all, breaking treaties without cause risked excommunication if unlucky.
The bishop, lost in thought for a long moment, finally nodded and said,
“His Holiness is so impeccably honest that he was enraged by the Republic's grave sins warranting excommunication. But if the victimized Empire forgives them, demanding further atonement seems untenable. I will convey this well to His Holiness. However...”
I replied as swiftly as possible.
“Within days, we shall hold a grand victory mass celebrating our triumph over the Franco Republic. And there, I shall gladly testify to the great grace of Deus I received.”
“Heh, Major, it seems you have the gift of reading minds.”
“It is only what one serving Deus must do. With that, may we secure the lifting of the Franco Republic's excommunication through this victory mass?”
Instead of words, the bishop extended his signet ring.
“Consider it accepted.”
Thus, without additional expenditures, I succeeded in averting the disaster of prolonged war with the Franco Republic.
But an immense unease lingered. This feels dangerous.
So I submitted a report to the Emperor and Crown Prince detailing grounds and circumstances suggesting the church might attempt something insane.