The Cardinal's Benevolent Offer
Cardinal Nicolaus, the 1st Parish Cardinal of the Bright Light Church who supports the Goddess of Light, was gazing at the young man walking away.
This 'old man' possessed benevolence and a fairly cold judgment.
"Actually... although it's embarrassing, there's an alchemy foundation that bears my name―"
"Would you please provide support in the name of the Church. Ah, please don't mention that I asked you. Just say that the Church willingly did a good thing with good intentions..."
"It's nothing special. It's a bit unfortunate that my friends are suffering. Since I'm using my name, I think it's right that I help in various ways."
When asked to say what he wanted, he gave such an answer. Hearing that, Cardinal Nicolaus almost let out a 'huh' involuntarily.
'Was he probing? Or was it sincere?'
Aging means having experienced a lot. Although one's regrets also increase in proportion, at least one has seen more and more than others.
In that regard, to Cardinal Nicolaus, the young nobleman Karl seemed like a rather strange person.
Since the Church owes him, if there's anything he wants to ask, he should say it without hesitation.
No need to hold back. Since the Church received a lot, returning it would be good for the Church as well.
If he says this, most nobles would drop their polite refusal and ask for what they want.
It's not bad. Rather, it's good. Those who hide it till the end can't go along with it.
Instead, by asking for something that can be accepted moderately, the relationship improves even more.
That's what he's thinking. He did ask for a personal request as he said, but the content wasn't personal at all.
'If probing, extreme image management. If sincere, not just a hero who received the Medal of Honor once, but twice.'
Cardinal Nicolaus, still looking in the direction Karl had disappeared, closed his eyes.
There was still doubt, but looking at all the parts so far, it was the latter.
'Not a worn-out figure from the political world. Rather, a quite pure young man. If he really had other thoughts inside, the God wouldn't have guided him on the path to the holy relic.'
The holy relic that he had searched with all his might from the 4th Parish, no, from the entire Church.
But it was all in vain. Even the Empire side had supported but couldn't find it.
If the God, disappointed in our lack, turned the sword back into light, perhaps. So, it was circulating that it might be better to give up.
In such a situation, suddenly smashing a boulder, the Sword of Saint Louis appeared inside.
If he doesn't say this is the will of the God, what else could it be? And is it possible that the one who received the will of the God has a dark heart inside?
"The Friedrich County has made the previous heir the Crown Princess, and now even has a splendid young master."
Cardinal Nicolaus muttered to himself unconsciously.
The Alchemy Foundation, an imperial foundation. It was a foundation centered on the two dukedoms and two imperial counties of the Empire.
And now, with several noble families, including the ducal house, each contributing one arm, it's growing bigger and bigger.
Even according to secretly conveyed news, the imperial will to reduce the scale of the Crown Prince's wedding and use the remaining funds to help the Alchemy Foundation.
Many imperial citizens died or were injured in the war. And the Empire never treated the soldiers who became that way for the Empire lightly.
They did enough. They did as much as they could. So, there's no need to do more. Nevertheless, they did. And Karl wanted to create such a foundation to help them.
A great young man. No lack of heroic voice. After all, that's what it takes to receive the Medal of Honor not once but twice. And even the elves were impressed by it.
So, the God must have made a miracle by bestowing favor and finding the holy relic.
'It started with good intentions, but in the end, those good intentions will become a grand cause greater than anything.'
Karl asked the Church to lend a hand in such a matter. He added that it's enough to say that the Church voluntarily participated, without mentioning that he asked.
It's a request, but also not a request. Karl gets nothing, only the Church gets the request.
'Actually, the Church had already discussed it. We should also register our name in the foundation before it's too late. Before that good intention becomes a cause, we need to move quickly so that the Church can also shine in the cause.'
So, simply helping the Alchemy Foundation is not fulfilling Karl's request.
What he asked was only that, but the Church also has pride. If we do what we were supposed to do and then claim credit, the God might get angry and punish us, but we have nothing to say.
"Convey my words to the Cardinals of each parish. There is something to discuss at length."
"What kind of agenda will you discuss?"
"Increasing the orphanages and medical facilities operated in the name of the Church in each parish to a maximum of twice as many. After the discussion in the Imperial Parish, we will formally submit the agenda to the Holy See next."
This is the will of the God. This is what the God desires. This is our, the new crusade!
*
'Kuuh... I'm going to die!!'
Tired. It feels like my whole body is full of lead. Having been stiff all day, it's only natural.
After the Crown Prince, now even the Cardinal. Even though he's a young master, these are people who are a bit too big for a noble's son to handle.
"You've worked hard, Karl."
Fortunately, Selena was next to him. Even though all she did was pat him saying you've worked hard, it felt like the fatigue in body and mind was somewhat relieved.
Thank you, Selena. Thanks to you, I feel a bit comforted. After all, the best support for a man is from his girlfriend.
"Elioise... wasn't she with us?"
From what I know, right after Selena returned, she went into 'consultation' with Elioise.
The consultation here is not that kind, but rather 'Why did you hide from me that you were with Karl in the same bath? Do you really want to die?' kind of consultation.
I was worried that Selena's wording might be too harsh, but looking at it this way, it seems there was no problem. After all, the opponent is not an ordinary elf, but a woman who was chopping gganf left and right.
'Do you want to die?!' Such threats from Selena would probably look like 'Too much! Hiiing!' level of tantrum to Elioise.
So, I definitely say Selena went first. Honestly, Selena is the weakest.
If Elioise had made up her mind and ate it all at once, she could really eat it.
'I never want to see that sight. No way. Absolutely not.'
As someone from the military, I can never allow a junior to eat a senior. That's obvious. If the senior is trash or a waste, then maybe... Ah, damn. Why do I keep drifting into military stories.
"After that, I went to the Academy because there was something to do."
"...Academy? Suddenly?"
"Yeah. This time, there are new elf students coming, right? Elioise is also a new student in a way. There, I greeted the people there, and there's a club for elf students. I went there."
"Hmm."
It seems Selena only knows up to there. Which is correct.
But on my side, it's different. Elioise told me, and I already knew.
'Was it monitoring?'
Luzens is anti-Empire. Conversely, Heigens is pro-Empire. Therefore, the side that comes to study at the Imperial Academy is naturally Heigens. The goal is to learn the Empire's good points and benefit their own country.
But whether Luzens or Heigens, in the end, the foundation of the society is the elves. No matter how kind and understanding, the root is the elves. There are things that don't change and things that are hard to change.
Naturally, there might be vague superiority complexes, or self-conceit that they are better than humans.
Luzens used that well. So, in the early days, most elves sided with Luzens.
Now it's completely chaotic, but that ideology can always rise again.
'It's hard for an elf to become a gganf, but it's instant for an elf to become a gganf.'
If such things happen on Heigens land, it's a problem for the Heigens side.
But what if it happens inside the Imperial Academy? If the student guys suddenly get polluted with strange ideology and start yelling 'Gganf! Gganf! Gganf!!' and collapse?
So, the Empire always has monitoring forces. And the one to take on that monitoring role is, naturally, an elf who has the most pro-Empire tendency among the students, an elf who has more interest and affection for the human society than the elf society.
And this time, Elioise was secretly chosen as the target.
Ah, no. Not chosen, but volunteered, I guess.
"Um, by the way. Karl. There's something I want to ask."
"Ask?"
She looks at Selena as if asking what that is, and she answers.
"Will you have time tomorrow or the day after?"
"Time?"
"Yeah. If possible, I want to know if you can visit my family."
The Marquisate of Naplio? Ah, is it that? To introduce my parents—"
"My grandfather. Count Friedrich is looking for Karl."
"...Selena's grandfather? Suddenly, why am I?"
"Actually, my grandfather is a devout believer of the Bright Light Church."
...Ah.