Chapter 106
Chapter 106
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 106
Chapter Title: The New Continent Exists
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* * *
Quite some time had passed since the start of cola sales.
Some skeptics would gossip that this divine beverage was just a fleeting fad, like the foam on beer—
"I'm sorry! The on-site sales stock has already sold out..."
"Reservation purchases will take more than a month—would that be okay?"
—But contrary to their predictions, demand for cola showed no signs of waning.
It was selling like hotcakes, becoming a full-blown social phenomenon.
As a bonus, the number of people converting to the faith just to buy cola cheaply was skyrocketing.
"I'll try believing in the Igugwoden Church for this alone."
"Lord Roengrin was right. Why did I have to be so stubborn...?"
In particular, most of the noble houses gathered in the capital and influential figures equivalent to nobles were converting in droves.
When you thought about it, since it was basically a luxury item, it was only natural that those who weren't scrambling to survive—the common folk—would respond more enthusiastically.
On top of that, while its exquisite taste and refreshing sensation were key factors as a luxury good—
For these people, cola's greatest value and purpose was replacing alcohol.
The capital's unique position, where a high proportion of people had enough capital flow to live comfortably rather than scraping by—
And many of them spent a large portion of their earnings on buying drinks—naturally leading to widespread addiction to alcohol itself.
Of course, alcohol addiction brought no positive effects and could even be seen as a social issue—
But telling people with nothing to play with or do, "Don't drink too much alcohol,"—how much would that even work?
In that sense, cola was nearly a perfect alternative.
The sense of fullness when drinking it like alcohol or the unique thrill of beer felt a bit different—but the lack of alcohol alone made cola valuable enough.
Anyway, most of the proceeds from selling cola to these well-off people were invested in poverty relief and education.
Pope Agnus III was a man who understood that now, more than ever, was the time to be impeccably honest.
Even a single mistake would deal a fatal blow to the Igugwoden Church, which was expanding its influence with the backing of the Imperial Family.
That was why he transparently disclosed funding operations—even those that didn't need to be public—so that even low-level priests could check them.
And as a bonus, not forcing religion on the poor during aid efforts had greatly boosted the Igugwoden Church's image.
"Thank you, Priest..."
"I never dreamed I'd get to eat bread... Thank you so much."
The wealthy and nobles got cola. The cathedral gained capital, social prestige, and believers. The poor got opportunities for education and meals.
The absurd cycle created by a single cola was solving the continent's social problems more efficiently than anything else!
And—
"......"
The 3rd Prince Ares, now an official believer of the Igugwoden Church, was witnessing all of this with his own eyes.
'Amazing.'
At first, when he heard the saintess and Wood Magic Tower were collaborating on something called "cola"—
Ares had naturally assumed it was just to bolster the church's finances.
He now believed in the existence of God. He no longer doubted that holy being.
Even so, he couldn't imagine God devoting Himself to something as trivial as spreading a near-luxury drink—
So he thought they had simply labeled their own creation a "gift from God," like they did with the new fried chicken dish, to add value.
But.
If this absurd virtuous cycle continued?
If a fairy-tale world where everyone was happy—without side effects or anyone left behind—unfolded in reality?
God's love.
It could only be explained as God's love.
Ares quietly placed his hand over his heart.
Something in his heart was overflowing. The warmth of God's care for humanity—a sensation he had been fully feeling since a certain point.
Yet for some reason—
Ares couldn't help thinking he shouldn't let his guard down.
What if.
'What if—just what if—God changes His mind and stops watching over our world...? What happens then?'
In other words—Ares hadn't believed in God at first because the world hadn't operated this way before Saintess Erin appeared.
All the miraculous events the Igugwoden Church called miracles had started with Erin's arrival, so pre-enlightenment Ares naturally saw them as mere white magic.
However, God exists. He himself was living proof, feeling it more deeply than anyone.
Therefore.
It was reasonable to conclude that God had begun cherishing and caring for this world—from the moment the saintess descended.
Sister Karen had said it. God's Plain Facts were not infinite but finite.
Like that, if God suddenly vanished one day...
In a world where so many could no longer live without Plain Facts, if He departed as abruptly as He appeared.
We who receive Lord Igugwoden's love...
What would become of us?
"Prince-nim—!"
What interrupted Ares's spiraling thoughts was Sister Karen running toward him from afar, cradling something precious.
Comically, his eyes were drawn to her bouncing chest as she ran, so Ares hurriedly turned his head.
"Huff, huff... I-I'm back...! Hehe. Did I keep you waiting long?"
"No, Sister. It hasn't been that long. Did you handle everything okay?"
"Yes! I wrapped it up perfectly. Oh, right! Here!"
Karen carefully unwrapped the cloth bundle she had brought.
And inside it was—
"This is...?"
"Cola! I got a bottle from Lady Linea!"
"...Isn't this in short supply? Is it okay to just take one?"
"It wasn't for sale—it seemed like one she received as a gift!"
Karen said that and handed it to Ares with a smile.
"Here! Prince-nim, you first!"
"......"
Ares silently took it.
It was cold. As if it had been submerged in a bucket full of ice.
When he popped the cork, pure white vapor rose gently. —Plain Fact.
Ares easily recognized it as the afterglow of a Plain Fact.
Cola.
He hadn't tried it yet, but... whatever...
—Gulp, gulp.
"......!"
A tingling sensation pierced his mouth, and an immense refreshment enveloped his head—
Ares instantly understood why this was called God's love.
"Wow... This really is delicious."
"Me too! I want to try some!"
Ares absentmindedly handed the cola bottle to Karen.
Karen, for her part, guzzled it without a second thought.
"...Kyaa! For real! Just like you said, Prince-nim! This is good! I should've gotten a few more bottles..."
"Even for you, Sister, I doubt she'd give us several of those expensive ones......!!!!"
And so.
Ares, speaking casually—
—Whoosh!
"?"
Finally noticing something, he whipped his head around, face flushed beet red.
"Prince-nim?"
Karen's voice didn't reach his ears.
Because...
He had just realized what happened.
The bottle he had drunk from—Sister Karen drank from it directly, without even wiping it—
'Th-this... in-indirect... indirect... k-kiss...!!'
"???"
"N-no! I mean... L-let's go, Sister! Quickly! Aren't you... uh... hungry? Let's eat something delicious!"
"I don't know why you're suddenly so flustered... but sure! Okay!"
Hand in hand, the two crossed Igugwoden Square, where a new breeze was blowing.
—Youth.
The man who once wanted to turn the world upside down now wanted to protect it.
* * *
"Then, let's end this meeting here. You've all had a long journey—good work."
""Thank you, Your Majesty!""
After finishing with her retainers, Eirene let out a short sigh.
She had decided on additional support for the Wood Magic Tower and revised unrealistic parts of the demon negotiations.
The demon accord was within the emperor's sole discretion—but expanding the Wood Magic Tower by allocating part of the forest land to their ownership required quite a cumbersome process.
If it were inside the capital Igugwoden, no issue—but the land including the Wood Magic Tower was owned by the Ashfill Ducal House, not the Imperial Family.
Even as the emperor above all lords, she couldn't arbitrarily handle nobles' territories, so negotiations were inevitable.
Fortunately or unfortunately, Duke Ashfill was satisfied with a monthly quota of cola, so things didn't get complicated.
The thought that came when blankly sitting on the throne after one task ended and before the next began—
'...Lonely.'
—The desire to lean on someone.
Specifically, the woman's heart yearning to be held in Lord Igugwoden's broad embrace.
In the past, handling imperial duties alone suited her. She saw wanting to lean on someone as childish weakness.
But after learning of God.
After learning of men, of love—it was different.
Finishing all tasks and returning to an empty room to lie alone in bed felt unbearably lonely.
She steeled herself with prayer, but her body, now knowing man, pathetically craved the one who first taught her.
"Lord Igugwoden..."
Eirene carefully whispered His name.
Igugwoden.
My light, my one and only love, my Master...
Her heart raced and her lower belly throbbed every time she recalled His face, His voice.
As a mere human, not God, the serpent of desire coiled in her heart was too hard to bear.
She wanted to rush into Lord Igugwoden's arms right now, unleashing everything she held—
'...No.'
Eirene quickly shook her head.
A ripe woman must wait chastely until Lord Igugwoden came for her.
Hadn't they promised? To meet again when He descended someday.
She had never forgotten those words, not for a moment.
'I should go pray to Lord Igugwoden this evening...'
The moment Eirene cautiously called for someone.
From afar, a soldier ran up with a troubled expression.
"Y-Your Majesty."
"What is it?"
"Well... There's someone causing a commotion in front of the palace, demanding an audience with Your Majesty."
"A commotion?"
"Yes."
Perhaps a commoner with some grievance?
In the old days, she would have raged at the audacity of seeking an unscheduled audience with the emperor and had them ejected without mercy—but now she knew a ripe woman must show broad magnanimity to anyone.
"Explain in detail. What is this person's purpose for coming here?"
"It's none other than... He claims to be Duke Lengard von Euler."
"...What?"
At the unexpected name, Eirene's eyes went wide.
Duke Lengard von Euler.
She knew him.
From when she was not yet twenty, the outstanding head of the Euler family who had received orders from the previous king—her older sister Aisha—
"What should we do?"
"Let him in for now."
"Yes!"
After the soldier left.
Soon after, a shabby-looking man slowly walked in, stepping on the red carpet.
"......!"
Eirene carefully examined the man's face.
Though he looked much aged, with a bushy beard and ragged clothes—
It was indeed the Duke Euler who had departed amid high expectations from many, including her child-self and Emperor Aisha.
The man, upon seeing Eirene's face, hesitantly spoke.
"Um... Are you... Emperor Aisha, Your Majesty?"
"...Do I look like it?"
"Well, if I may be so bold... if you are indeed Her Majesty, you look far younger than I imagined..."
"That makes sense. My sister died long ago."
"Died...? P-passed away?! Wait, 'sister'—"
Lengard bowed in confusion, then cautiously recalled another name.
"...Could you be... Princess Eirene?"
"Yes. You remember."
"How could I forget, Princess...! You've grown so splendidly... I should have come to see you much sooner..."
"I was just about to bring that up, Lengard."
The reason Eirene was shocked to hear Lengard's name.
He had gone missing and was officially declared dead.
When the ship he sailed on washed ashore half-wrecked—no one thought he could have survived.
The mission he was given had failed, and at that point, most erased "possibility" from their minds.
Yes.
The ship he sailed on had washed ashore half-wrecked.
And now, he returned alive and well—
"Your Majesty. It seems I had amnesia. Suddenly, I remembered who I am, but too much time has passed. I wasted years just scraping by, knowing nothing. It's too late, but there is something I must report now."
—He cautiously reported on the mission from Aisha.
"Your Majesty. ——
It
exists."
"......!!!"
"The legend was true.
The New Continent...
exists!"
——A decree from the emperor decades ago.
The report on the command to find the new continent said to lie beyond the sea.