The World I Was Supporting Was Real - Chapter 76
Chapter 76. Starting from a Bible Study…
* * *
Igugwodun Royal Palace, inside Ares’s room.
Tap, tap.
The sound of chess pieces being placed on the board echoed.
The game was clearly in progress, but – only one person was sitting in a chair.
During empty times, Ares often liked to spend his time like this, playing chess alone.
Then.
Knock, knock, the sound of someone knocking on the door was heard, along with the maid’s voice.
“Your Highness. You have a guest.”
“You may enter.”
Squeak, and appeared – Duke Karl Bayan, who had met with Emperor Eirene not too long ago.
“Good day, Your Highness.”
“It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other, Duke Karl Bayan.”
Tap, tap.
“Were you playing chess?”
“Yes. It will be over soon.”
“Please take your time. I was just thinking if my skills were better, I might have been able to play against Your Highness myself…”
“No, it wouldn’t do to force the busy Duke to indulge in such a personal pastime.”
Ares said that, but—his true feelings were a little different.
Chess with Duke Carl Bayan was tedious. It was a game where the outcome was already decided.
The most unfortunate thing was that it wasn’t even the Duke’s attempt at hospitality. There was no fun in unilaterally crushing a weaker opponent, naturally.
Tap, tap.
“It’s over. Black won after all.”
Ares rose from his seat and immediately fetched the teapot.
“What would you like? I have Darjeeling, Assam, Lapsang Souchong, and Keemun.”
“Anything Your Highness wishes are fine with me. However, this old man would really appreciate it if you could warm up some milk.”
“The tea leaves I worked so hard to obtain are going to weep.”
Ares said that, then with a light smile—
“I’m joking.”
And with gestures as adept as when he had served Linea, he prepared the tea.
Even for a Duke, to have the imperial heir directly make tea was a rather awkward scene in this era—
But, in truth, Duke Carl Bayan didn’t seem particularly apologetic, as if he was used to it, and quietly waited for Ares to prepare the tea.
“Here you are.”
“Thank you.”
Taking a sip from the teacup, the real conversation began.
“What brings you to the capital?”
“I was summoned by His Imperial Majesty. I presume His Highness is aware of the recent decree issued by the Emperor?”
“Now that you mention it, there was a dungeon entrance in Cal Bayan too, wasn’t there…”
“How have you been, Your Highness? I was about to return to my territory when I heard the word that your seclusion might be lifted, so I lingered in the vicinity for a while.”
Istirid di Cal Bayan, the Duke.
He was a vassal who ruled the Cal Bayan region in the southeastern part of the continent, and a leading figure in the pro-Ares faction.
He was the most prominent among those who had sworn to share in the cause that Ares might raise, moved by his “will”.
If necessary, his background as a Duke and Cal Bayan’s fertile lands would undoubtedly be a great source of power for him.
“I wrote a book. Here.”
Ares handed him a stack of manuscript pages.
The Duke took them with an air of familiarity, quickly skimming the contents and easily grasping Ares’s intentions.
“You wrote this to be read by the people.”
“Yes. I was rather confident, you see. I even took a class from a famous novelist on ‘stories that people like’ and it became my pride and joy…though it’s a problem now.”
Ares’s goal wasn’t to be a great novelist.
His only purpose was to have as many of the people as possible read the ‘truth’ contained within the novel.
But, coming now, reading this would only make them wonder what he was talking about, instead of understanding anything.
Because—at least recently, the majority of the people were very happy and content with their lives.
“Your Highness. I had an audience with His Majesty a few days ago.”
“How was it?”
“Facing her directly, it felt so vivid. She’s become a completely different person. There wasn’t a single hint of falsehood in her gentle, benevolent tone, and the various policies she laid out during the luncheon were, on the whole, understandable. while also maintaining a clear direction toward easing the burdens of the people. Honestly, I was surprised.”
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“In a good way, it’s a decision unlike our mother.”
“I had heard rumors that she had changed after encountering the Saintess and converting to the Godden faith… but I never imagined it would be to this degree. If she maintains this current course while the policies of interaction with the demon tribes start to show concrete results, then His Majesty will go down in the Empire’s history as a truly great ruler.”
Duke Karl Bayan finished speaking there-
then he completely shed his previously relaxed demeanor, and spoke in a very serious tone.
“My Lord. At least in the current situation, it’s highly likely that our actions will actually bring more harm to the lives of the people.”
“…….”
“In the end, isn’t everything we do to gift the people with a better life?”
At the Duke’s words, Ares silently stared at his teacup-
“Have you by any chance, met the Saintess?”
“No. I was encouraged to, but I have not met her directly. It’s also because those who have met the Saintess seem to be entirely different than before, which is unsettling.”
He cleared his throat, casually adding, “In fact, I was a little taken aback when His Majesty and Count Ernest hit it off discussing matters of faith.”
Ares said nothing, slowly stirring the teacup with a spoon.
Whirling, a tiny whirlpool filled the teacup.
“Mother, the Master of the Flame Magic Tower, and everyone else… it’s all because they met the Saintess, isn’t it? So, from now on, it’s right to view the Saintess as the de facto leader.”
“….Thank goodness you’re saying that to me, such words must never be spoken outside.”
“No. I’m confident I can say that even to her face. The Saintess is the proxy of the God Iggwoden. Which means our current mother would not be angry by these words.”
“Your Highness…”
“Anyway, I just want you to know that the target we should be watching has changed from His Majesty to the Saintess. Up until now, she’s only in the phase of expounding upon the ‘benevolent will of God,’ who knows how she might change as time passes?”
The Saintess, being human, is quite capable of changing her mind.
“As long as this system relies on a single human being, there’s no guarantee a moment won’t come where blood must be spilled.”
“…Many could be caught in the crossfire, including the people.”
“You’re not getting cold feet now, are you?”
Ares spoke with a chilling tone to the Duke, who couldn’t answer.
“Even if there are unfair sacrifices, if it’s the right path for everyone… I think it’s unavoidable. If I were afraid of that, I wouldn’t have started in the first place.”
Duke Kal Bayan seemed like he wanted to say something at Ares’s unexpectedly firm stance –
But before that, a maid’s voice came from beyond the door.
“Your Highness. His Majesty the Emperor has summoned you.”
‘…Mother?’
With Ares slightly taken aback by the sudden summons, Duke Kal Bayan slowly rose from his seat.
“It seems like we’re done for today. Thank you for the tea.”
“No, thank you for coming. When will we meet next?”
“Well… I’m not sure, but if possible, I’d like to play a game of chess over tea like today. A day where we can talk about such simple things without worries would be a better time than one where we talk of grand causes.”
“…….”
Ares saw Duke Kal Bayan off, then lightly adjusted his attire and left the room.
* * *
Upon arriving at the audience chamber, the First Princess, Yuria, was already kneeling before Eirene.
Ares found a suitable spot, and bowed respectfully.
“I greet His Majesty the Emperor.”
“You’re here, Ares. You can call me Mother comfortably.”
“……”
Of course.
The benevolent woman, Eirene, smiling warmly before him, was a completely different person from the mother he knew.
“Yes. The reason I called you here, is to ask a personal favor.”
“What is it, Mother?”
At Yuria’s words, Eirene very demurely put her hands together and bowed her head.
“You all know, that all things in this world are made of the ‘plain facts’ of the one and only god, Iggwogweodon.”
“That is an obvious truth. I, too, feel the god’s plain facts anew every day.”
“With the national religion being Gwodeonism, our Imperial family needs to study the Gwodeon faith. And it just so happens that the order made a good proposal. The reason I called you here, excluding Linea, who already receives the benefit of learning the god’s will naturally while serving a plate of holy knight, is for this reason.”
“Then, will we be able to properly learn the will of god?”
“……Did you say the order made a proposal?”
Unlike Yuria who was gleaming with affirmation, Ares asked a question with a nuance of incomprehension.
“Yes. Is there a problem?”
“As far as I know, the Gwodeon faith absolutely doesn’t force their religion. It’s also certain in the bible… There must be a reward for a recommendation, or something like that—”
“Are you talking about chapter 5, verse 2 of the ‘The Great Ggweodeon Book’, which says「A plate of facts) If you force religion on non-believers, the person listening will just be annoyed and bothered. If you want to seduce them, you must give them a reward that is appropriate」?
Eirene’s answer was so cutting, that Ares was flustered for the first time, and answered in a scattered tone.
…Mother, she memorized it. The bible.
“…..Yes.”
“Huhu… Ares, for you, so intelligent, to quote a verse from the bible… this mother is truly delighted just by that fact. Especially, Chapter 5, Verse 2 of the The Great Ggweodeon Book is a very special verse to this mother.”
Eirene calmly placed her praying hands on her chest.
Then, with an expression like a girl in love—
“Because it’s a message full of love, directly given to me by God… Hehehe…”
“You’re really something, Ares. I haven’t even properly read the Daeguo-Guodeonggi yet.”
“……”
Seeing Yuria and Eirene’s attitudes, Ares could somewhat grasp why Linea feared the Saintess so much—
And what the Duke Kal Bayan had felt was off.
“Anyway, it’s God’s will that our Imperial Family studies religion. And the reward is simple and clear. It’s the very fact that God bestows love upon our Ainsberg Imperial Family.”
“And what could be clearer proof of God’s love than the Saintess herself saying it?”
*The interpretation of doctrine is ultimately the Saintess’s responsibility,* she didn’t bother saying aloud.
“A nun dispatched from the Order will be visiting you soon. I would like you to take the time to learn the simple facts of God from her.”
“Of course, Mother. I pledge to diligently engage in learning, even for the sake of my qualifications befitting an heir, and the honor of the Ainsberg family, beloved by God.”
“……Understood.”
She didn’t know their true feelings, but sending just one nun seemed manageable.
*I can just deal with her appropriately.*
And if she could learn what religious people think and believe in the process, that could be a worthwhile result in its own right.
“Good. Thank you both for complying. To repay God’s love for the Imperial Family, forget your status during the visitation period and thoroughly immerse yourselves in studying the Bible.”
“”Yes!””
* * *
After the conversation, it was nice to have a meal after hearing Eirene’s suggestion that since they were together for once, they should eat—
Listening to Yuria and Eirene passionately delve into their religious talk at the dining table wasn’t exactly a pleasant experience.
‘Feels kind of draining.’
Going back to the room, I’d wash up, mess around with playing cards a bit, then just crash… I cautiously opened the door.
‘… Huh?’
“Ah, you’re back!”
Right in front of me, was someone I’d never seen before.
A young woman with long, brown hair and porcelain skin.
Her eyes, a subtle dark brown, a shade deeper than her hair, held a strangely captivating allure.
But what grabbed my attention wasn’t her bright and cute appearance, but her clothing.
An outrageously revealing outfit, exposing her large breasts and plump thighs—Ares had seen it before.
It was the distinctive attire of the Guodeon Order nuns. So striking, it was impossible to forget.
“Hello, Prince Ares. It’s an honor to meet you! Let’s get along well from now on!”
“…Who are you?”
“Oh my, look at me. I haven’t even introduced myself yet! Hehe.”
She beamed, and casually approached Ares-
‘…!’
And grabbed his pale hand, firmly.
In an instant, Ares’ face went *pop,* visibly flushing red.
“Oh my. Prince, you have such beautiful hands! I had a feeling your hands would be pretty considering how handsome you are.”
“W, wh, what…!”
“Huh? Ah, this! It’s a handshake! A handshake!”
She beamed, grabbing Ares’s hand and shaking it up and down unilaterally.
She was a young lady who was, in many ways, terribly self-willed… and yet, for some reason, Ares was even struggling to properly respond to her.
Seeing Ares, face flushed, completely flustered, she offered a dazzling smile, bright like sunshine.
And—
* * *
[Iguogwodun: (Donation / 3,000 won / Z) ]
[Iguogwodun: The simple truth going in this time is temporary.]
[Iguogwodun: Start by putting in a girl with a pretty smile.]
[Iguogwodun: Let’s steal their souls so they can’t help but believe in God.]
* * *
—Her smile is really pretty.
Comically, that was the first impression Ares had of her.
“It’s nice to meet you, Prince Ares! I’m Karen! I’m a nun studying the will of God! I’ve come this time, on the orders of the Saintess, to tell you, Prince, Iguogwodun-nim’s simple truth!”
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