Why Are You Here?!
“Wow….”
Selena sitting beside me kept letting out gasps of amazement. From behind, Selena’s grandfather chuckled heartily, “Heh heh heh.”
And I was surprised. To be honest, I was completely dumbfounded.
No way. These insane church people. Are they renting the entire train just for me? Not one car, the whole train?!
Moreover, this isn’t even a regular train—it’s a special train made up entirely of special-class cars. The very train that even regular Empire citizens find difficult to board once! Does the church have money to burn?!
“Amazing, Karl! This is really the first time! The church rented out an entire special train for an invitation! And the people who came directly are high-ranking priests of the church!”
“Uh, yeah. That’s right.”
“Impressive. Karl Soga. I can really feel how much this old man has gained a granddaughter.”
“Hahaha. If you say so, it’s an honor, Grandfather.”
Something ominous was rising. The words from Schlippen a while ago kept floating around in my head.
“Why do I keep seeing a future where I get a medal with your name on it?”
The scene of a medal with my name on it hanging on my chest. Or even without that, in the near future of the Empire, a great Empire hero’s chest with a medal hanging, and an image automatically playing: “Karl Adelheit Medal — Awarded!”
It seems too much. So I grabbed the priest with a polite demeanor and asked.
“Excuse me, Priest-nim.”
“Yes, Brother Karl. Please speak.”
“Um… First of all, I am truly grateful for the church’s great hospitality.”
“That is indeed a pleasant remark. We are grateful as well. We were worried if there might be any shortcomings in accommodating Brother.”
“Shortcomings? How could that be. Haha! But, that is to say… Aren’t you going a bit too far…? I’m a bit worried.”
My companions are not dozens, but just three. Just three! But renting the entire large train?
I haven’t heard of the church being extravagant. Just the right amount, maintaining the pride of being the best religion on the continent. The Pope’s territory is grand like a castle, but not to the extreme of flamboyance, I heard.
Actually, that grandeur was because architects, sculptors, and painters from all over the continent came to contribute free talent to honor the church.
Even the Pope’s territory where he resides is that modest. How much more so for those invited here, who love modesty like important figures of the Bright Light Church.
Therefore, going by renting out an entire train just to take three people (enough for a few hundred at once) is completely out of sync.
“Hahaha! I understand Brother’s concern. Truly a kind-hearted person. I didn’t expect you to consider the Pope’s territory situation as well.”
“Ah. That’s just….”
“However, the church cannot yield any further. Not just anyone, but Brother Karl. You have received the Pope’s personal seal and found the church’s sacred relic. If even a little discomfort on the way, that would be making a person who receives God’s love uncomfortable, wouldn’t it?”
As expected. That damned relic. No, where is that relic that pops out with a “bang!” when you hit a rock?!
“Moreover, since there are others, I thought this much was necessary.”
Others? Ah, you mean Selena and Grandfather? But they are also my companions.
Just as I was about to recall that, the door to the rear car suddenly burst open.
“Ah! What a racket! Karl Soga!”
“That’s right! Why are you complaining when the church is taking good care of you!”
“When you were in the army, didn’t you say there was no complaint no matter the situation?!”
“I’ll give a no-comment, Karl. I have no fault.”
…Eh? Eh? I momentarily doubted my eyes. Did I see wrong? Yeah, I saw wrong, right? Am I dreaming right now? Otherwise, why are the faces of the Four Idiots there—
“Schlippen?”
“Yeah.”
“Wilhelm?”
“Why.”
“Alexander?”
“Huh?”
“Joachim?”
“I really didn’t say anything, Karl.”
Oh my, really? Not a dream? Suddenly, the ones bursting out of the train car door are the Four Idiots? They were also going to the Holy See?
“…Priest-nim.”
While barely keeping a smile, I turned to the priest standing next to me.
There was no sign of surprise. That means they knew about these guys’ accompaniment from the beginning. I didn’t know. I couldn’t have imagined it!
“What is going on here… I need an explanation….”
“Eh? Didn’t you know? The same applies to these people who were invited to the Grand Festival.”
“Those Hydras. No, those Four Idiots. I mean.”
“That’s right. Of course, only Brother Karl received the Pope’s personal seal.”
I don’t think that’s important right now! No, why are they tagging along?!
I’ve seen them too much at the Academy! Not somewhere else, but on the way to the sacred Pope’s territory! And yet, the Four Idiots who bring incidents wherever they go are together?!
Damn it! This is no different from whispering to me, “You will definitely see a medal with your name on it.”!
I must never forget. When looking back, the Academy raid also had those guys, and finding the relic was also near those guys.
There’s always something with the protagonist guys. So I’ve been avoiding them lately!
“…Priest-nim.”
“Yes, Brother. Please speak.”
“Those guys. Why to the Holy See? Why were they invited to the Grand Festival?”
At least let me know the reason. Why were those guys invited to the Grand Festival. At minimum, I need to know the reason so I can feel less aggrieved.
“Aren’t they the ones who created the Alchemy Foundation in your name?”
“Is that all…?”
“It can’t be all. Because of that, the Empire’s various nobles moved, and as a result, our church also got involved. My, future nobles who honor forgotten heroes. Where could there be a happier thing? In fact, many people say they received help from the Alchemy Foundation!”
Those guys. So, starting with those Four Idiots, there have been incredibly happy events all over the Empire.
The church’s official stance was that since everyone participated with noble intentions for the right cause, the starters also deserve the blessing of the saints on the Grand Festival day.
…Yeah. So, in conclusion, we’re going to the Holy See by making an Alchemy Foundation in my name. Correct.
“Um, wait a moment. Those guys. I’ll talk with my friends for a bit.”
Leaving Selena and Grandfather with the priest for a moment, I immediately headed to the train car where the Four Idiots were.
And immediately closed the door and turned my gaze to the ones who were “Keke!” “Kilkil!” “Huhuhu!”
“Hey, you bastards! Why didn’t you say anything earlier?!”
“Heh. This is what a surprise party is. Karl!”
“Surprise my ass! If you told me in advance, would it have been better?!”
If I had known in advance, I would have blocked them or not gone at all.
Going to the Holy See with the protagonists? This means there will definitely be something happening in the Holy See. Is it a terror attack?! Or an assassination attempt?! Damn it! No matter what, I don’t want it!
“Too much. We came all the way because you were bored, Karl.”
“Bored? Aren’t Selena and Grandfather here?”
“Oh. Calling Grandfather in the middle?”
“Yeah. It seems you’ve properly greeted them? Congratulations, Karl. So when’s the wedding?”
“It goes without saying that you all have to be invited to my wedding, right?”
Wow. These bastards. Communication doesn’t work. So kids, if you stick your nose into somewhere important or an incident, something happens there, right?
Imagine. If the Gganfs cause a ruckus at my wedding. Then, um… um. That day might be the day I chop off the heads of all Gganfs on the continent and grind them into dust.
I’m not even going to do that to my sister or mother, I’m sure!
“Sigh… Done. What can I do now. It’s already happened.”
Yeah. What more can I say here. Actually, those guys didn’t initiate it themselves; they were invited like me.
Not somewhere else, but the church. And an invitation on the Grand Festival day. Anyone who says “I’m not going” there has a very high chance of not being in their right mind.
Moreover, incidents will eventually happen according to probability. In that regard, it’s correct to think that the Gganfs causing terror or assassination in the Holy See is unlikely.
At least, before entering the Holy See, the Empire must be breached first, and the probability of being blocked there is very high. The Empire army is not the Tang army either.
Those Gganfs with that level of skill have already been exterminated by my sister and Eloise, and by now they should have met the King of Yama or experienced reincarnation or hellfire or whatever.
“When you think about it, despite sticking with those guys for half a year, there hasn’t been any notable incident… Maybe it’s really okay.”
Yeah. Yeah. Think positively, in a good direction. Nothing has happened yet?
It could really pass without any incident, and it might be my overthinking.
Um… But. If by any chance something happens—
“Hey. Karl. Karl? Karl!! Why are you always making such a scary face.”
“It’s all good, but if you don’t stop fiddling with your medal and think a bit…?”
“Damn. It’s too scary! Take your hands off the medal! Hey, Joachim! Pull that arm out!”
“Why do you always tell me to do it! I’m scared too! Just looking at that expression, how can I touch it!”