The Fifteenth Study: Age of Rebirth (2)
“A regular customer’s keepsake.”
“I see.”
The scripture was a scroll bound from papyrus. When he placed his hand upon it, various lingering thoughts were detected, and he infused it with mana to materialize them.
3rd Tier, Lore of the Soul
Memory Restoration
Show me the traces of the soul.
“…”
The life of an old scholar who had devoted his entire existence to the study of ancient history flashed by. His academic talent had been outstanding, yet his ability to deal with people had been lacking.
“So University Scholar Aemus was your regular customer.”
“…You know of him.”
“These days, anyone who claims to have read a book has encountered his writings.”
University Scholar Aemus had been an ordinary person who never awakened mana, yet the scholarly achievements he had built reached a level comparable to magic itself. That was why he had been driven from the lecture hall and died alone in exile.
“And you are his successor.”
“I am grateful for your recognition.”
They shook hands.
“I am Tellorian, disciple of Salasien.”
“I am Fiona, disciple of Aemus.”
He would refrain from commenting on the circumstances under which the University Scholar had taken a street woman as his successor. It would suffice to record that Fiona had been the only person present at the scholar’s deathbed.
‘Besides, no matter what Fiona may have been or done in the past, what matters now is that she is a scholar.’
Neither race nor occupation mattered.
Only one’s attitude toward learning was important.
“You do not worship the Sun God.”
“!”
“It is fine. I do not worship him either.”
The Sun God was a deity recognized as a guardian deity in most nations. Thus the Church of the Sun God was regarded, alongside royal authority, as one of the pillars supporting the realm.
Esil had been the same.
Before Belladia’s reign.
“I wish to observe your religious rites.”
“…”
“I happen to know someone who would find it interesting.”
At this, Fiona led the Grey Sage into the red-light district. They passed through streets crowded with those who pursued desire like mayflies and entered a dangerous, dimly lit building. Yet the Grey Sage’s calm presence overpowered the atmosphere of the place.
“…We greet the Sage.”
The people of the red-light district showed extreme deference. It was respect born of fear rather than reverence.
“Act as you normally would.”
“…”
“I have come to observe you.”
“…Understood.”
The people of the red-light district glanced at Fiona, and when she nodded, they continued their ritual with fearful expressions.
“…”
The rite of the red-light district was a primal form of religious gathering. The worshippers bowed before a crudely fashioned idol of the Serpent God, then tore out the heart of a traitor and engaged in violent orgies. When the orgy ended, they concluded the ceremony with a lavish feast.
Witnessed a change in religion!
Experience +10
Lore Points +1
60/100 until Level 39
Lore Points: 24
“Interesting.”
“…Thank you for your kind regard.”
“How did you come to worship the Serpent God?”
The manner in which the red-light district honored the Serpent God was a corrupted form. It followed the rituals by which the people of Karamsan had once revered the Serpent God, yet in an extremely degraded state.
“I read the ancient gods’ lore in the texts left behind by the University Scholar. The references to the gods of Karamsan were especially fascinating.”
The ancient gods had not been radiant and benevolent deities like the Sun God of today. They had been utterly self-centered beings, much like mortals.
“According to the texts I interpreted, the priests of the Silver Serpent celebrated the abundance of life through acts of prostitution. That is what drew our attention.”
Therefore the ancient gods had never denied human desire. The custom of the high god’s priests openly engaging in prostitution reflected this aspect.
“The Sun God calls us sinners. But the Silver Serpent has declared us to stand in the most noble position. If that is so, how could we not worship the Silver Serpent?”
Fiona spoke with fierce conviction.
“That is not all. The Sun God’s priests denounce human desire as a sin by day, yet indulge in it once the sun sets, living hypocritical lives. If that is the case, is it not right to serve a god who affirms desire from the beginning?”
Tellorian thought Fiona’s learning was shallow. Yet what did it matter whether her learning was shallow or not? The important fact was that it sounded plausible to the common people of this medieval land.
“Excellent!”
“…Pardon?”
When Tellorian expressed satisfaction, Fiona looked bewildered. She knew her own learning was not deep.
“Let us go to the Queen at once.”
“???”
“You need only repeat what you just said.”
The royal advisors frowned as the prostitute expounded the doctrine of a pagan god. Setting aside the content itself, the very fact that a lowborn woman whose mere gaze was unpleasant dared to lecture them was intolerable.
“So.”
However.
The Queen’s thoughts differed.
“Are you my loyal subjects?”
“Pardon?”
“I asked whether you would swear an oath of loyalty to me.”
The Sun God’s priests had never sworn loyalty to secular monarchs. They pledged allegiance only to the Sun God who ruled the heavens and to the Pope who acted as the god’s proxy.
“Of course!”
“Then from today onward, the Serpent God faith shall be the state religion.”
?
??
???
“Therefore, as the high priest representing the state religion, you now have both the duty and the right to attend the advisory council. Guards! Bring a new throne at once!”
Every advisor vehemently opposed the declaration that shattered common sense. The Queen dismissed them all. Including the Lord Protector.
“Your Majesty! What is the meaning of this!”
“I am beginning my reign.”
“…”
“Even after my coronation, I always had to watch my father’s mood. Because it was a throne he had placed me upon. But the situation has changed now, has it not?”
The present Belladia enjoyed the firm support of both the army and the populace. She possessed achievements that captivated them, and above all, tangible improvements in daily life had followed.
“Father never liked the capital to begin with. I shall preserve the title of Lord Protector for you, so return to your homeland and rest in peace.”
At this, the Ironhammer Duke felt a deep sense of betrayal toward his daughter. He had always intended to hand over all power to her one day, but not like this.
“And if I refuse to step down?”
“Then we shall meet on the battlefield.”
The Queen’s gentle expression turned to ice in an instant. She had revealed her will to power, refusing to tolerate any separate wielder of authority.
“Your actions violate the laws and traditions of the kingdom.”
“I am the kingdom, the law, and tradition.”
“This measure will earn you many enemies. Even if they bow their heads outwardly, there will be many who cannot accept it inwardly.”
Nod.
“And so?”
“And so what?”
“What I demand of my subjects is not sincerity but obedience. They may rage at me and hate me. As long as they follow my commands.”
…At Belladia’s bold reply, the Ironhammer Duke smiled with satisfaction. At last his daughter was ready to rule the kingdom alone.
Awakened Belladia!
Lv25 Queen → Lv35 Tyrant
Experience +10
Lore Points +1
70/100 until Level 39
Lore Points: 25
“You have grown splendidly.”
“…”
“At the very least, heed Tellorian’s advice.”
“Deciding whose advice I will listen to is also a matter for me to decide. It is not for Father to determine.”
At this, the Ironhammer Duke burst into hearty laughter and withdrew. On the other hand, the upright ones remained to the end in opposition, yet they did not meet a good end.
“This measure is somewhat hasty, but…”
“Even so, I am right this time, Teacher.”
Belladia boldly ignored Tellorian’s advice as well. Her teacher tended to drag things out in the name of smooth progress.
“Opposing factions will gather around any issue anyway, so it is better to push everything through at once. That way the enemies and allies become clear and can be dealt with swiftly.”
Belladia’s edicts did not end there. Decrees that shattered the existing power structure poured down like a surprise attack.
“What is the meaning of levying taxes on convents!”
“If they conduct business, they must naturally pay taxes.”
“Is caring for orphans and widows a business?!”
“It is a business that wins public favor, is it not?”
The Church lost all its long-standing privileges.
“This edict violates noble privileges—”
“So, do you oppose my edict?”
“I am merely offering loyal counsel for the sake of the realm—”
“I desire only sycophants who speak pleasing words, so if you lack the courage to wage war against me, then hold your tongue! From today onward, the noble assembly is also dissolved!”
The nobles too were stripped of most of their traditional privileges. The target these edicts aimed at was clear: the strengthening of royal authority through a sweeping reorganization of the state.
“Demanding taxes from the Church! It is sacrilege!”
“We nobles are about to have the castles we have inhabited for generations taken away! That young girl seems to think we will simply sit back and take it…”
At this.
The opposition gathered to plot.
“What do you intend to do if you do not simply sit back and take it?”
However.
The opposition were no fools either.
“We must of course gather an army! Count Alençon!”
“Have you forgotten how the Mountain Orcs were destroyed?”
…Everyone fell silent.
“The Queen has a mage who commands a dragon as her vassal. Even if we remove the Grey Sage, what of the trolls who wield martial arts? What of the Ironhammer Duke who swings his siege maul? How many among us could even win a duel against the Queen herself? And do you know this? The army and the people we would lead support the Queen.”
…No matter how they thought about it, they could not muster the resolve to reclaim power by force. Therefore the kingdom’s nobles completely changed their approach.
“I shall polish Your Majesty’s shoes!”
“No! Such an honor must fall to me!”
“Out of the way! I shall empty Her Majesty’s chamber pot!”
The elders who had only recently flaunted their power as dukes and counts now groveled before the Queen like serfs assigned the most menial tasks.
“Count Alençon.”
“Command me!”
“You are quick-witted, so from today you are a duke!”
“Your grace is boundless! Your Majesty!”
Only then did the kingdom’s power holders realize that the rules for obtaining power had changed. Military ability or the size of one’s domain no longer influenced power. Only how much one could please the Queen would become the measure of acquiring power.
“Teacher. Are you satisfied with this outcome?”
“It does not strike me as an excellent system…”
…The system Belladia had formed was extremely crude. She had achieved the strengthening of royal authority, yet she had destroyed all institutional safeguards against royal tyranny.
“In any case, the result is satisfactory.”
But what did it matter either way?
After all, she had built an entire university instead of a mere mage tower.
Research Progress: Age of Rebirth
Established a new Arcane University!
Research Clues 1/5
Experience +10
Lore Points +1
80/100 until Level 39
Lore Points: 26
At the same time.
The Holy See in the west.
“The succubus queen has established an arcane university?”
“Yes, Your Holiness.”
“That violates the Pact of Silence, does it not?”
The Pact of Silence.
The implicit agreement between the Church and the monarchs.
“Secular rulers may employ mages. However, they are forbidden from training mages or learning magic themselves. That was the unwritten rule.”
The Pact of Silence had been the limit of the Church’s concessions to secular rulers. Yet the succubus queen appeared unsatisfied with mere concessions.
“Shall we declare a holy war?”
“Hmm.”
The Pope pondered calmly.
“That is the move the succubus queen desires.”
“I see.”
“If we mobilize the Holy Kingdom’s forces, we could destroy Esil, but… in the meantime the demons would move. The Sage of Death would also begin to stir.”
Great powers have many great enemies.
Therefore they cannot act recklessly.
“This time let us resolve it like civilized people, through law.”
“Then which lawyer shall we summon?”
“Summon the invincible Wilhelm.”
Before long.
A monstrous holy knight entered.
Radiant from head to toe.
“Greetings, Holy Papa!”
“I have answered the sacred summons! Your Holiness the Pope!”
“Welcome, Sir Wilhelm.”
The Pope smiled at Wilhelm’s imposing figure. Wilhelm was the invincible holy warrior who had always brought victory to the Church. This time would be no different.
“We are not Wilhelm!”
“We are not Wilhelm!”
He.
Was a double-headed ogre.
“I am Bill!”
“I am Helm!”