Lord! Lord!
It started as a simple invitation to the Great Festival, but the process took several days after I became an adult-like figure.
While walking to clear my head, I heard whispering from behind.
“Can we really call him Karl?”
“Shouldn’t we call him the Light Lord?”
“Otherwise, he’ll get scolded again. Are you okay with that?”
“But how can we act normally after seeing that scene!”
You kids. Our proud protagonist kids? You damn Hydras? You can all hear it?
You guys are pretending to whisper quietly, but from my perspective after fighting the Gganfs for three years, that level of whispering feels like calling out in the military.
You should learn some stealth techniques.
Not knowing my inner thoughts, Schlippen speaks louder.
“Even if it’s like that, it doesn’t change that we’re friends. If we do that, Karl might get upset. So, acting like usual is correct.”
“Is that so…?”
“Of course! If friends do this, it’s not right!”
Crying. Schlippen. As the first in the Four Idiots, you’re moving me!
Yes! Of course it wouldn’t be okay! Suddenly acting distant because I received some light, calling me Lord or whatever, if I don’t feel upset, what kind of person am I?
Of course, I deliberately didn’t say anything and waited for the Four Idiots to talk to me as usual.
Honestly, these past few days have been really tough. No matter where I go in the Holy See, everyone is shouting “Lord! Lord!” and kneeling to pray.
Thankfully, they accepted my meaning that it’s too burdensome, otherwise, the Light Church might have become the Karl Adelheit Church.
Moreover, this happened right during the Great Feast of All Saints. Now, people in the church are saying I need to perform a miracle or something.
It was absurd. No, not a miracle, what miracle? Not even a blessing.
I didn’t sacrifice for the church or receive a miracle, right? Calling receiving some light a miracle is stretching it… um, is it stretching?
Let me recall the incident during prayer. The Pope couldn’t receive the light, but I received it without any loss. And at the kiss, even moonlight… what? Does this mean I received two miracles?
“Hey, Karl!”
In the meantime, Schlippen sneaks up next to me and puts his arm around my shoulder. Yeah, you kid. Act normal like before. So you can ease my mood!
“Don’t overthink it. No matter what kind of person you are or where you are, we’ll always be friends!”
Thanks, Schlippen. Still, your thoughtfulness is really—
“More than that, it’s a pity! If you had been bald, I could have thrown it at someone else with reflection! In times like this, having hair doesn’t help! Hahaha!”
“…?”
I might have misheard. What did you say? Because you were bald, you could throw it at someone else with reflection, it’s a pity? Is this a fart joke? Are you telling me to pull out all my hair right now?
I subtly turned my head back to look at the other three: Wilhelm, Alexander, Joachim.
If they also joined in on this nonsense. Or at least added to the meaning.
Dori-dori—
Jolle-jolle—
The three are desperately telling me: We didn’t do it! We really didn’t say anything! It was all that guy’s doing! We’re innocent, Lord Karl Adelheit!
“Schlippen.”
“Yeah, Karl.”
No need to say more. I pulled out a holy sword from my pocket. Actually, it’s a holy greatsword.
“Eh! Ka, Karl?!”
“It’s fine. This one has been blessed by His Holiness the Pope, so now it’s a holy sword. Kind people don’t feel pain when pricked.”
“What are you saying! Whether it’s a magic sword or a holy sword, drawing blood is the same!”
“I can prick without drawing blood. Do you trust our glorious Medal of Honor recipient?”
“What’s the connection between that and this!”
After about five minutes of Schlippen and I playing tag, a group of priests appeared in my sight.
You should know your luck. If it weren’t for the priests, I would have been pricked once.
“You are here. Lord. And the other four of you. His Holiness the Pope is looking for you. Please come with us.”
The words “looking for me again?” almost slipped out. Since he called me Lord, I couldn’t show my reluctance in front of him.
Anyway, the person who promised to pray for my family, friends, comrades, and even my nephew is none other than His Holiness the Pope.
It might be better to be next to the Pope. If elsewhere, the people from the Holy See would surely stare secretly and pray. This isn’t even treating me like a living totem.
“Come on, let’s go. Lord and his friends.”
“I heard you were called. Your Holiness.”
“Yes. Tomorrow, you will all return to your original positions. So, I called you to talk a little more.”
As the Pope said, the Great Feast of All Saints is over, and tomorrow it’s time to return.
I’m curious how things will spread when I return. Haha. Ah, my head.
“Ah. Brother Karl. How is the thing you’re holding?”
“It feels even more sparkling than before, Your Holiness. Since it’s Your Holiness who personally blessed it, I can’t find words.”
“Don’t say that. This old man just put a period at the end of what the two cardinals did. If you want to convey gratitude, do it only to the two cardinals.”
Then the Pope turns his gaze to the Four Idiots next to me.
“This old man says. This young man here is truly enviable.”
“What kind of words are those, Your Holiness.”
“You didn’t receive the greatest gift. That name, the most sparkling and most glorious thing among friends.”
“…Ah. Is that the gift you’re talking about? The thing called ‘friend’? Your Holiness?”
Looking at the Four Idiots’ reactions, it seems correct. All four look at me at the same time, then smile and say “Yes! Your Holiness!” or “Your Holiness’s words are truly correct!”
“Friend is already the best gift in life. If it’s a respectable friend, it’s even greater. So, this young man should do his best with Brother Karl. Without being unworthy of the name ‘friend’.”
“It will definitely be so. Your Holiness.”
Since those guys are saying it in a serious tone, I can’t help but laugh.
Still, the Pope’s words aren’t entirely wrong. Actually, I have influenced those guys, and vice versa.
Friend is the best gift in life. As always, the words of senior mentors are precious.
“Build a brighter future. Young souls. The world you change is something an old man like me couldn’t do. But I wanted to make that wish come true.”
Naplio Marquisate, the previous owner of the Ifreet family. Roem. A devout believer of the Light Church.
By chance, thanks to my granddaughter-in-law, I received an invitation to the Holy See and had the great fortune of meeting the Pope himself. That was what I thought until a few days ago.
[…Father?]
Through the communication device, the Ifreet family head, the Naplio Marquis, appears. The sudden call from my father surprised me.
“Marquis.”
[Is there something wrong? Calling out of the blue—]
“Now, I can die without regrets.”
The Naplio Marquis’s face shows even greater astonishment at Roem’s words. Any child would react that way if their parent said they can die without regrets.
[What kind of astonishing words are those, Father. Without regrets? It’s not even time for the granddaughter’s marriage yet. I understand the meeting with His Holiness the Pope that you dreamed of, but still—]
“Granddaughter. Our Lenny. Yeah. Lenny was there. Hehehe. Hehehehe!”
It seems something is definitely happening. And it’s related to Lenny. The Naplio Marquis thinks so and checks his father’s eyes through the device.
“Marquis. About our granddaughter’s marriage.”
[Yes, Father.]
“Is it impossible even now?”
[…Yes?]
I don’t know why he’s saying this. I tried to listen more, but it was too much.
[Even if so, both of you must graduate from the Academy.]
“Cough. I see.”
[…Father. Why are you saying this? As a child, saying something confusing, suddenly switching to the granddaughter’s wedding. I want to know the reason.]
Reason. Reason. Of course it’s obvious. Roem muttered to himself and answered.
“Marquis. I swear that Lenny’s marriage will be the greatest fortune for our Naplio Marquis family since its birth.”
“Greatest fortune… is it?”
Following his father’s words, the Marquis nodded.
Actually, there’s no mistake. Lenny. Selena. Who is my daughter’s lover? It’s Karl Adelheit.
He received the Medal of Honor, the Empire’s greatest glory, twice. He also received national treatment in Heigens and Lasquer, and is called the saint in the church.
The Naplio Marquisate here is certainly a great place, but it can’t cover Karl’s current prestige. So, marrying such a young man as a son-in-law is indeed a fortune.
But… the Marquis’s reaction now is something even beyond that?
“Don’t be surprised and listen well. Marquis. Our granddaughter-in-law is. The saint of the church, actually a lord.”
[Father?]
“God personally touched the young man’s cheek, patted his shoulder, and stroked his head! A miracle! It couldn’t be explained without that word! If the Marquis were here with me, you would surely understand!”
What kind of nonsense is this? I can’t understand what the father is saying!
And several hours later. Finally, the incident in the Holy See spread across the Empire like wildfire.