The World I Was Supporting Was Real - Chapter 74



74. The Boy Who Dreams of the Ideal

* * *

A few days had passed since humans and demons began their unprecedented path of cooperation.

People were adapting to the new era’s order with incredible speed and without a hint of chaos.

This was partly due to the Emperor’s and the Church’s full support, and the aid programs for migrants―

but the biggest reasons were that demon magic wasn’t as terrible as they thought, and for some reason, they could easily read the demons’ emotions.

Already, whispers were surfacing about crossing district lines and pursuing even more active collaboration with the demons.

Humans could provide knowledge and tools to demons wanting to farm, while demons, inherently stronger than humans, could offer their physical strength.

In a win-win situation, people naturally wanted ‘broader exchanges’—

And just like the first time is hard, but the second is easy, the Imperial Family was once again preparing a new proclamation.

The people living around the dungeon were the ones who benefited the most from this.

Originally, the area around the dungeon was a place to be avoided as a residence, so it was mainly the weak and those pushed to the margins who were holding ground there.

It was as if a cow had stepped backward and caught a mouse—a kind of miracle, a ‘peaceful redistribution of wealth where nobody loses.’

Peace achieved through communication, instead of a bloodbath where they killed each other.

Naturally, the support of the people for Saint Erin, who facilitated the conversation between the Demon King and the Emperor, and for the Goden Church, was bound to skyrocket.

“All of this is thanks to Guoguo’s simple facts.”

“Guo-men.”

“May the simple facts of God be with you……”

“I’ve pledged my body to God this time. I’m thinking of sending my child to the monastery.”

This was an unparalleled opportunity for the Goden Church, which adhered to the principle of ‘absolutely not forcing religion’ according to its doctrines.

They didn’t need to grab people and beg, ‘Please, believe in the Goden Church,’ because the people were flocking to the faith on their own—what could be better?

And so—

“Isn’t now the perfect opportunity to restore the Papal States? His Imperial Majesty also believes in Gweodeonism, so he probably wouldn’t be displeased.”

“Let’s formally propose it to the Saintess and His Holiness the Pope.”

—Religious figures, naturally, couldn’t help but reach for the restoration of the Papal States, their lifelong aspiration.

The Papal States.

Back when the Pope’s power was so great he could topple emperors, the region of Ainsberg, excluding the monastic city of Igwogweodeon, had been under the effective control of the ‘Papal States.’

Due to corruption, including the sale of indulgences, the Papal States were dissolved, leaving only Igwogweodeon Cathedral standing—

But now, with such favorable public opinion, and even the Emperor on the side of Gweodeonism, most high priests thought it was only a matter of time before the Papal States were re-declared.

However—

“I refuse. What we must do is solely God’s will. Unless a divine revelation is given, we cannot risk needlessly antagonizing the Imperial Family, who are loved by God.”

Due to the opposition of Saintess Erin, the core of religious power, it remained at the discussion stage for now.

But since the Saintess had said ‘if a divine revelation is given,’ if the One God Igwogweodeon desired a Papal State to serve him, they could proceed with the matter as fast as a firecracker—

‘…’

—As a member of one plate of Holy Knights, what Linea feared most was precisely that aspect.

Even if the Saintess had no ambition for power, she couldn’t rule out the possibility that high priests or the Pope harbored other intentions.

At least before her mother, Eirene, converted to religion, there wasn’t even a worry of such a discussion arising—

‘My mother now… she wouldn’t hesitate to allow it.’

Linea was certain.

For the sake of God’s will, her mother would do anything. Ever since the moment Linea had welcomed Eirene as her new mother, it was the first time she’d witnessed such unwavering devotion.

Probably, just like her mother, the vassals who met with the Saintess would all quickly agree to the establishment of the Papal States.

Well, even if the Papal States were established, relations with the Empire would remain very friendly for the time being. Never had the religious community and the imperial family been so aligned.

But, that was only the story *so far*.

What if, as time flows on, Mother steps down from the Emperor’s seat, Erin-nim retires, and a new Pope, a new high priest, fills those places?

‘I have to stop it while I can.’

She knew it, but how could she, herself, possibly stop this situation?

She’d been selected as a Holy Knight, but the truth was the biggest reason the religious order selected Holy Knights was to deal with the demonic race that arose alongside the appearance of the Saintess.

But, Saintess Erin had succeeded in sealing the conflict with the demonic race in a way that had never been tried even once before.

Naturally, the influence of the Holy Knights, already divided into three, was bound to wane compared to the Saintess. Even she, herself, the work she did as a Holy Knight was mostly just chores.

She had no intention of looking down on the work itself. Serving for everyone was a job that quite suited her nature. It just didn’t guarantee a voice.

What if.

What if the Order had considered all of this and selected three Holy Knights?

‘… I absolutely can’t take them lightly.’

If they had ambition, then as a member of the Imperial Family, she needed to be wary, and even if they didn’t have ambition, it meant they had the talent to unconsciously secure power, so she had to be careful.

Was there some way, she thought, as she diligently transferred the still-remaining pickled chicken into the container holding the relief supplies.

“Princess!”

A man’s voice came from behind, and turning, she saw a guard wearing armor bearing the Imperial crest, bowing his head in greeting.

He wasn’t from the Order, it seemed he was a soldier from the Imperial Palace.

“You were here, Princess Linea. It’s a relief to see you well.”

“What brings you here?”

“The Prince has sent word that it seems he will be able to see the Princess this evening.”

“… … !”

Despite my repeated requests to meet, my younger brother, who had remained holed up, finally seemed in the mood to see me.

With my older sister Yuria and my mother Eirene having become ardent followers of the Gwodeon religion… He was the last remaining royal bloodline I could speak openly with.

“Understood. I shall come as soon as I finish my duties.”

“Yes!”

* * *

That evening.

On my way back, I ran into Ophelia, with a rabbit perched on her head.

“Good evening, Ophelia. Good evening to you too, Rabbit-sama?”

“Dalmatgodon.”

“You’ve worked hard. If you’re not busy, how about we train together now, Linea? Rabbit-kong is offering to help too.”

“I have somewhere I need to go today. I’m sorry.”

“Ah, it’s alright. My apologies for being presumptuous. Then, let us meet this evening. May the rich potcha—”

“Igogodon.”

“—no, may the plain fact be with you.”

Linea left Ophelia, who was giving her a plain fact blessing, and the rabbit making strange whimpering noises, behind her as she quickly made her way to the Igwogwodon Imperial Palace.

The residence of the third son, Ares, was in the rightmost spire of the Imperial Palace, the tallest of them all.

Upon arriving, a maid was already waiting for her.

“You have arrived, Princess. Please, come this way.”

And as the door to the place she was led to opened, what unfolded before her was—

Sunlight barely seeing through the window curtains, various scattered books placed here and there in the room.

The first thing that stood out was the sheer number of board games scattered about – chess, playing cards, all sorts.

The most obvious evidence that the room’s owner possessed static hobbies.

Beyond that, a diverse array of ornaments were placed here and there, lacking any kind of uniformity. More like a collection than decorations.

Binding it all together was the sound.

*Scratch, scratch.*

Following the sound of a quill pen moving across paper, my gaze landed on-

Ares von Einsberg, the third prince and youngest of the three siblings.

His golden, shimmering hair and deep blue eyes were the clearest indication that he too was a member of the royal family.

From a young age, he’d shown immense intellect, so his late mother had placed high expectations on him…

But the big-brained Ares had somehow gone astray, holed up in the library delving into obscure studies that no one else cared about, a quirky figure who occasionally made explosive pronouncements.

Things like republics, political systems that existed only in ancient times – things an emperor would have absolutely no need to learn.

Perhaps it was a blessing that the succession was so neatly settled on Yuria, thanks to that.

“Ares.”

“You’re here, Linea, sister.”

“Looks like you’ve been busy? Judging from your continued absence from official events.”

“I’ve been writing a new book.”

“A book?”

“A novel. In a format as easy for people to read as possible. I was hoping many would read it, but… these days, everyone is busy reading the Bible, I suppose?”

Ares’s book may have taken the form of a story, but in reality, it served as a kind of philosophical treatise consistently asserting a particular ideology.

Eirene used to heavily disapprove of Ares’s writing activities, but it seemed now she wasn’t interfering much, perhaps in line with the Guorden Church’s doctrine of ‘not forcing religion or ideologies.’

So, I guess that’s why I can confidently say I “wrote a book” in the Imperial City.

“How have you been, sis? It feels like ages since I last saw you, especially since you became a knight of the Holy Order, is it… bearable?”

Ares’s words held a sharp edge, and Linea slightly turned her head as she replied,

“It’s… manageable.”

“Really? You were actually suited for spreading the will of god?”

“Yeah. And besides that, I’m part of this chosen knightly bunch. If I don’t diligently deliver the unvarnished facts, I’ll be tarnishing the Imperial name.”

Ares stared at Linea as she spoke, blinking a few times-

“You’ve never been good at lying, sis.”

“…What?”

“You have a habit. Like when you lie, you blink your eyes really fast or something.”

Unlike Linea, who looked flustered, Ares maintained a very calm tone.

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“And, if you were truly focused on delivering those ‘unvarnished facts,’ you wouldn’t need to come all the way to find me, would you?”

Linea tried to say something, but ended up just lowering her head.

There wasn’t any point in lying, after all.

She was cautiously about to bring up the main topic after assessing his situation, when-

*Thunk,* the quill landed on the table.

“Sis, you said you had something you wanted to discuss, right? But, you know, opportunities will come naturally, you don’t even need to try so hard.”

“You seem to know what I was going to say?”

“Wasn’t it something about wanting to keep the religious world in check to balance the power?”

Linea offers her silence as confirmation.

Ares, from way back, had always given the impression that he wasn’t exactly an ordinary person. Just like now.

“Well, gods don’t exist… and Saint Erin is just a human, so that power can’t be everlasting. For sure, there will be a moment when discontent boils over, and then it’s natural to keep them in check. There’s no point in poking at the Guodon Church, which is loved by the people, right now It’d be nothing more than stirring up trouble, and that kind of check on public will, even if you try to crush it with force, will. eventually explode.”

And, he.

The only male with the overwhelming position of possessing the legitimate bloodline of the Ainsberg Imperial Family, he spoke in a tone as if he were talking about tonight’s dinner menu—

“And, even if that opportunity does come… it’s not necessarily our, Ainsberg’s, place, is it?”

“…!”

“After all, the god said so, didn’t they? The old is bad, the new is good… and all the logic that sustains the Empire is old.”

“Ares, you…!”

—Words that a member of the Imperial Family should never utter, he spat them out without a care.