TranslatorCorner
Minasan oideyasu. This is Yukkuri demasu!
Sorry for being late for almost 2 weeks.
Please bear me until 10 May 2018 when thenew doctors are scheduled to arrive as reinforcement. Until then, I will needto hold the fort. Consecutive 24 hours shifts? HERE WE GO!
Also, CLICK THE b.u.t.tON!
DISCLAIMER: There is noguarantee that my translation is 100% correct. Please correct me if I waswrong.
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Author:
Dozeumaru(どぜう丸)
Translator:
Yukkuri Oniisan
Editor:
Mehdi
Enlightenment Arc
Chapter 5 As a Person E
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WARNING‼! 18++ CONTENT! NOT SUITABLE FOR MINOR!
I, the man, will not take up thetime of my readers by detailing the circ.u.mstances under which Alice, the maid,roused in me the desire for vengeance which resulted in the way I adopted andwhich I am about to relate. Suffice it then to say that Alice cruelly andunjustifiably jilted me! In my bitterness of spirit, I swore that if I ever hadan opportunity of getting hold of her, I would make her voluptuous personrecompense me for my disappointment and that I would s.n.a.t.c.h from her by forcethe bridegroom"s privileges that I so ardently coveted. But I had to dissemble!Alice and I had many mutual friends to whom this rupture was unknown; we weretherefore constantly meeting each other, and if I gave her the slightest hintof my intentions towards her, it would be fatal to the very doubtful chances ofsuccess that I had! And so successfully did I conceal my real feelings under acloak of generous acceptance of her action that she had not the faintest idea(as she afterwards admitted to me) that I was playing a part.
But, as the proverb says,everything comes to the man who can wait. For some considerable time, it seemedas if it would be wise on my part to abandon my desire for vengeance, as thecirc.u.mstances of our daily lives were such as did not promise the remotestchance of my getting possession of Alice under conditions of either place ortime suitable for the accomplishment of my purpose. Nevertheless, I controlledmy patience and hoped for the best, enduring as well as I could the torture ofunsatisfied desire and increasing l.u.s.t.
It then happened that I hadoccasion to change my residence, and in my search for fresh quarters, I cameacross a modest suite of a sitting-room and two bedrooms which would bythemselves have suited me excellently; but with them, the landlord desired tolet what he termed a box or lumber-room. I demurred to this addition, but as heremained firm, I asked to see the room. It was most peculiar both as regardsaccess and appearance. The former was by a short pa.s.sage from the landing,furnished with remarkably well-fitting doors at each end. The room was nearlysquare, of a good size and lofty, but the walls were unbroken, save by the oneentrance, light and air being derived from a skylight, or rather lantern, whichoccupied the greater part of the roof and was supported by four strong andstout wooden pillars. Further, the walls were thickly padded, while iron ringswere let into them at regular distances all round in two rows, one close to thefloor and the other about a height of eight feet; from the roof beams dangledrope pulleys in pairs between the pillars, while the two recesses on theentrance side, caused by the projection of the pa.s.sage into the room, looked asif they had at one time been separated from the rest of the room by bars,almost as if they were cells. So strange indeed was the appearance of the wholeroom that I asked its history, and was informed that the house had been builtas a private lunatic asylum at the time when the now unfashionable square inwhich it stood was one of the centres of fashion, and that this was the old"mad-room" in which violent patients were confined, the bolts, rings andpulleys being used to restrain them when very violent, while the padding andthe double doors made the room absolutely soundproof and prevented the ravingsof the inmates from annoying the neighbours. The landlord added that thesoundproof quality was no fiction as the room had frequently been tested byincredulous visitors.
Like lightning the thoughtflashed through my brain. Was not this room the very place for the consummationof my scheme of revenge? If I succeeded in luring Alice into it, she would becompletely at my mercy, for her screams for help would not be heard and wouldonly increase my pleasure, while the bolts, rings, pulleys, etc., supplementedwith a little suitable furniture, would enable me to secure her in any way Iwished and to hold her fixed while I amused myself with her. Delighted with theidea, I agreed to include the room in my suite. Quietly, but with deepforethought and planning, I got certain furniture made which, while in outwardappearance most innocent, as well as most comfortable, was in truth full ofhidden mechanisms planned for the special discomfiture of any woman or girlthat I might wish to hold in physical control. I had the floor covered withthick Persian carpets and rugs, and the two alcoves converted into nominalphotographic laboratories, but in a way that made them suitable for lavatoriesand dressing-rooms. When completed, the "Snuggery" (as I christened it) was inappearance a distinctly pretty and comfortable room, while in reality it wasnothing more or less than a disguised torture chamber!
And now came the difficult partof my scheme.
How to entrap Alice?Unfortunately she was not residing in London but a little way out. She livedwith a married sister, and never seemed to come to town except in her sister"scompany. My difficulty was therefore how to get Alice by herself for asufficiently long time to accomplish my designs, and sorely I cudgelled mybrains over this problem!
The sisters frequently visitedtown at irregular intervals as dictated by the contingencies of social dutiesor shopping. True to my policy of l"entente cordiale, I had welcomed them to myrooms for rest and refreshment and had encouraged them to use my quarters; andpartly because of the propinquity of the rooms to Regent Street, partly becauseof the very dainty meals I invariably placed before them, but mainly because ofthe soothing restfulness induced by the absolute quiet of the Snuggery afterthe roar and turmoil of the streets, it soon became their regular practice tohonour me with their company for luncheon or tea whenever they came to town andhad no special engagement. I need hardly add that secretly I hoped these visitsmight bring me an opportunity of executing my revenge, but for some months Iseemed doomed to disappointment. I used to suffer the tortures of Tantalus whenI saw Alice unsuspectingly braving me in the very room I had prepared for herviolation, within actual reach of me and of hidden machinery that would placeher at my disposal, did I set it working, were it not for her sister"spresence! In fact, so keenly did I feel the position that I began to plan thecapture of both sisters together, to include Marion in the punishment designedfor Alice, and the idea in itself was not unpleasing, as Marion was a finespecimen of female flesh and blood of a larger and more stately type than Alice(who was "pet.i.te"), and one could do much worse than have her at one"s disposalfor an hour or two to feel and f.u.c.k! So seriously did I entertain this project,that I got an armchair made in such a way that the releasing of a secret catchwould set free mechanisms that would be actuated by the weight of the occupantand would cause the arms to fold inwards and firmly imprison the sitter.Furnished with luxurious upholstery and the catch fixed, it made the mostinviting of chairs, and from its first appearance, Alice took possession of it,in happy ignorance that it was intended to hold her firmly imprisoned while Itackled and secured Marion!
I was awakened by the light flowingthrough the window and in front of my eyes was Liscia’s face. Because we sharedthe one pillow together, she was really close. A gentle sleeping face. Everytime Liscia breathed in her sleep, her fair-skinned chest, that was wrapped ina blanket, moved up and down. Just by looking at this scene, an indescribable mixtureemotions of joy, embarra.s.sment, and love surfaced from my heart that made me gentlyplaced my arms on her cheeks. Then,
「Muu……」(Liscia)
Liscia twisted her body as if shefelt ticklish and slowly opened her eyes. Perhaps she was still half-asleep. Shelooked around restlessly, then when she noticed me lying beside her……
「Ah……Souma. Good morning……」(Liscia)
She greeted with a wide smile. Sinceher action was unbearably cute, I hugged Liscia and kissed her still closed lefteyelid. The half-asleep Liscia laughed ticklishly.
「Geez,Souma~ What are you doing~?」(Liscia)
「Hmmm,I want to see more, but…… Sorry, Liscia, please wake up.」(Souma)
「……Eh?」(Liscia)
After gently shaking her body,this time Liscia’s eyes fully opened. And when our eyes met, as if accompaniedby a “Poof” sound, Liscia face becamered and she pulled the blanket until her nose and hid behind it. Perhaps, the shynesswas suddenly welling up in her. Surely…… that includes what happened the lastnight. I patted Liscia’s head.
「Goodmorning, Liscia.」(Souma)
「Go-goodmorning. Uuuu……Please don’t look atme too much.」(Liscia)
「Evenif you say to not looking at you, yesterday I have comple-…… Hoph.」(Souma)
「Evenso embarra.s.sing is still embarra.s.sing!」(Liscia)
Liscia press a pillow on my face.After I put away the pillow, I stretched my hand and body.
「Ugghmmmm……I don’t want our second time to be in the office.」(Souma)
「Why?」(Liscia)
「Sinceit’s my workplace, I have to order for the bed to be tidied early in themorning. As much as I still want to make out, I have to get up. It’s a torture.」(Souma)
「I-Isee……」(Liscia)
I got off from the bed and began puttingon the clothes that I was wearing yesterday. Since I didn’t bring a change ofclothes, I had to return to my bedroom. After I finished putting on the clothes,I asked Liscia.
「Umm……Is your body feeling alright?」(Souma)
「Y-yeah……a bit sluggish, though……」(Liscia)
「Isee…… Then I will ask the maids to tidy up the bed.」(Souma)
「Yes,please.」(Liscia)
After I kissed Liscia"s forehead,I left the office room. When I opened the door, I found Carla, who was avertingher flushed face away and Serina, who was smiling gently, standing there. IgnoringCarla who was standing outside as a guard, why was Serina here? Serina thenspoke with a gentle smile the likes of which I have never seen before.
「Goodmorning, sir. Did you enjoy last night?」[1](Serina)
Whoaa. Although it was a templatequestion, when she actually said it, it was painful to hear.
「…… Youwake early, Chief Maid.」(Souma)
「BecauseI am also the Princess’ personal maid.」(Serina)
Uttering something that couldn’tbe judged as an answer, Serina bowed her head with a refined gesture. I wantedto say, 「Yeah, you just think that this will be absolutelyamusing.」, but if I pointed this to her, I had a feeling thatshe would respond with knife-stabbing words three times sharper, so I kept silent.An undisturbed Super-S[2]Maid won’t torment me. If we ignored her bad habit hobby of 「teasing」 cute girls, she is an extremely capable person.
「…… Ileave Liscia and the room to you.」(Souma)
「Iunderstand, Let’s go, Carla.」(Serina)
「Yes,Chief Maid.」(Carla)
After giving a bow, Serina andCarla entered the office. After a while, I could hear voices coming frominside,
『Se-Serina!I am still naked!』(Liscia)
『SinceI have to tidy the bed, please get off at once. Otherwise, I will have to ask Carlsanto take you and the bed outside.』(Serina)
『WaitCarla! Don’t lift up the bed!』(Liscia)
『……Sorry.But if I resist the Chief Maid, I will suffer embarra.s.sing things at her handsafterward……』(Carla)
『Kyaaaaaaaaa!』(Liscia)
…… Yeah, Liscia. Please staystrong.
「Nowthen……」(Souma)
Let"s change the mood. My resolutionis settled. My willpower is plenty. If I want to protect my beloved family, whethera Major Power or a Religious State, let me show them who’s boss.
「ShallI devise a sinister plan or two with Hakuya?」(Souma)
I started walking down thecorridor.
I admit I kissed her.
Perhaps I should not have doneso. Perhaps I would not do so again. Had I known what was to come I could nothave done so. Nevertheless I did.
After all, it was not strange.All things about us conspired to be accessory and incendiary. The air of theVirginia morning was so soft and warm, the honeysuckles along the wall were solanguid sweet, the bees and the hollyhocks up to the walk so fat and lazy, thesmell of the orchard was so rich, the south wind from the fields was so wanton!Moreover, I was only twenty-six. As it chances, I was this sort of a man: thickin the arm and neck, deep through, just short of six feet tall, and wide as adoor, my mother said; strong as one man out of a thousand, my father said. Andthen—the girl was there.
So this was how it happened thatI threw the reins of Satan, my black horse, over the hooked iron of the gate atDixiana Farm and strode up to the side of the stone pillar where Grace Sheratonstood, shading her eyes with her hand, watching me approach through the deep troughroad that flattened there, near the Sheraton lane. So I laughed and strodeup—and kept my promise. I had promised myself that I would kiss her the firsttime that seemed feasible. I had even promised her—when she came home fromPhiladelphia so lofty and superior for her stopping a brace of years with MissCarey at her Allendale Academy for Young Ladies—that if she mitigated notsomething of her haughtiness, I would kiss her fair, as if she were but a girlof the country. Of these latter I may guiltily confess, though with no names, Ihad known many who rebelled little more than formally.
She stood in the shade of thestone pillar, where the ivy made a deep green, and held back her light blueskirt daintily, in her high-bred way; for never was a girl Sheraton who was nothigh-bred or other than fair to look upon in the Sheraton way—slender, rathertall, long cheeked, with very much dark hair and a deep color under the skin,and something of long curves withal. They were ladies, every one, these Sheratongirls; and as Miss Grace presently advised me, no milkmaids wandering andwaiting in lanes for lovers.
When I sprang down from SatanMiss Grace was but a pace or so away. I put out a hand on either side of her asshe stood in the shade, and so prisoned her against the pillar. She flushed atthis, and caught at my arm with both hands, which made me smile, for few men inthat country could have put away my arms from the stone until I liked. Then Ibent and kissed her fair, and took what revenge was due our girls for herPhiladelphia manners.
When she boxed my ears I kissedher once more. Had she not at that smiled at me a little, I should have been aboor, I admit. As she did—and as I in my innocence supposed all girls did—Ipresume I may be called but a man as men go. Miss Grace grew very rosy for aSheraton, but her eyes were bright. So I threw my hat on the gra.s.s by the sideof the gate and bowed her to be seated. We sat and looked up the lane whichwound on to the big Sheraton house, and up the red road which led from theirfarm over toward our lands, the John Cowles farm, which had been threegenerations in our family as against four on the part of the Sheratons"holdings; a fact which I think always ranked us in the Sheraton soul a triflelower than themselves.
We were neighbors, Miss Grace andI, and as I lazily looked out over the red road unoccupied at the time by eventhe wobbling wheel of some negro"s cart, I said to her some word of our beingneighbors, and of its being no sin for neighbors to exchange the courtesy of agreeting when they met upon such a morning. This seemed not to please her;indeed I opine that the best way of a man with a maid is to make no manner ofspeech whatever before or after any such incident as this.
"I was just wandering downthe lane," she said, "to see if Jerry had found my horse,f.a.n.n.y."
"Old Jerry"s a mile back upthe road," said I, "fast asleep under the hedge."
"The black rascal!"
"He is my friend," saidI, smiling.
"You do indeed take me forsome common person," said she; "as though I had been lookingfor—"
"No, I take you only for thesweetest Sheraton that ever came to meet a Cowles from the farm yonder."Which was coming rather close home, for our families, though neighbors, hadonce had trouble over some such meeting as this two generations back; though ofthat I do not now speak.
Before, however, I resorted tothis desperate measure, my patience was rewarded! And this is how it happened.
One evening, the familiar notecame to say the sisters were coming to town on the next day and would come forlunch. A little before the appointed hour Alice, to my surprise, appearedalone! She said that, after the note had been posted, Marion became ill and hadbeen very poorly all night and so could not come to town, though better. Theshopping engagement was one of considerable importance to Alice, and thereforeshe had come up alone; she had called to explain matters to me, but would notstop to lunch, she would get a cup of tea and a bun somewhere.
Against this desertion of me, Ivigorously protested, but I doubt if I would have induced her to stay had not asmart shower of rain come on. This made her hesitate about going out into itwith the dress she was wearing, as it would be ruined, and finally sheconsented to have lunch and leave immediately afterwards.
While she was away in the sparebedroom used by the sisters on their visits, I was in a veritable turmoil ofexcitement! Alice in my rooms by herself! It seemed too good to be true! But Iremembered I yet had to get her into the Snuggery; she was absolutely safe frommy designs everywhere but there! But it was imperative that she should be in noway alarmed, and so, with a strong effort, I controlled my panting excitement,and by the time Alice rejoined me in the dining-room I was my usual self.
Lunch was quickly served. Atfirst, Alice seemed a little nervous and constrained, but by tactfulconversation, I soon set her at ease and she then chatted away naturally andmerrily. I had craftily placed her with her back to the window so that sheshould not note signs that a bad storm was brewing: and soon, withsatisfaction, I saw that the weather was getting worse and worse! But it mightat any moment begin to clear away, and so the sooner I could get her into mySnuggery, the better for me - and the worse for her! So, by every means in mypower, I hurried on the procedure of lunch.
Alice was leisurely finishing hercoffee when a rattle of rain against the window panes, followed by an ominousgrowl of thunder, made her start from her chair and go to the cas.e.m.e.nt. "Oh!Just look at the rain!" she exclaimed in dismay, "how very unfortunate!"
I joined her at the window: "ByJove, it is bad!" I replied, then added, "and it looks like lasting. I hopethat you have no important engagement for the afternoon that will keep you muchin the open?" As I spoke, there came a vivid flash of lightning closelyfollowed by a peal of thunder, which sent Alice staggering backwards with ascared face.
"Oh!" she exclaimed, evidentlyfrightened; then, after a pause, "I am a horrid little coward aboutthunderstorms: they just terrify me!"
"Won"t you then take refuge inthe Snuggery?" I asked with a host"s look of concern. "I don"t think you willsee the lightning there and you certainly won"t hear the thunder, as the roomis soundproof. Shall we go there?" and I opened the door invitingly.
Alice hesitated. Was her guardianangel trying to give her a premonitory hint of what her fate would be if sheaccepted my seemingly innocent suggestion? But at that moment came anotherflash of lightning, blinding in its intensity, and almost simultaneously a roarof thunder. This settled the question in my favour! "Yes, yes!" she exclaimed,then ran out. I closely following her, my heart beating exultingly! Quickly shepa.s.sed through the double doors into the Snuggery, the trap I had so carefullyset for her! Noiselessly I bolted the outer door, then closed the inner one.Alice was now mine! mine!! At last I had entrapped her! Now my vengeance wasabout to be consummated! Now her chaste virgin self was to be submitted to myl.u.s.t and compelled to satisfy my erotic desires! She was utterly at my mercy,and promptly I proceeded to work my cruel will on her!
"Cannot a girl walk down herown carriage road of a morning, after hollyhocks for the windows,without—"
"She cannot!" Ianswered. I would have put out an arm for further mistreatment, but all at onceI pulled up. What was I coming to, I, John Cowles, this morning when the beesdroned fat and the flowers made fragrant all the air? I was no boy, but a mangrown; and ruthless as I was, I had all the breeding the land could give me,full Virginia training as to what a gentleman should be. And a gentleman,unless he may travel all a road, does not set foot too far into it when he seesthat he is taken at what seems his wish. So now I said how glad I was that shehad come back from school, though a fine lady now, and no doubt forgetful ofher friends, of myself, who once caught young rabbits and birds for her, andmade pens for the little pink pigs at the orchard edge, and all of that. Butshe had no mind, it seemed to me, to talk of these old days; and though nowsome sort of wall seemed to me to arise between us as we sat there on the bankblowing at dandelions and pulling loose gra.s.s blades, and humming a bit of tunenow and then as young persons will, still, thickheaded as I was, it was in someway made apparent to me that I was quite as willing the wall should be there asshe herself was willing.
My mother had mentioned MissGrace Sheraton to me before. My father had never opposed my riding over now andthen to the Sheraton gates. There were no better families in our county thanthese two. There was no reason why I should feel troubled. Yet as I looked outinto the haze of the hilltops where the red road appeared to leap off sheer tomeet the distant rim of the Blue Ridge, I seemed to hear some whisperedwarning. I was young, and wild as any deer in those hills beyond. Had it beenany enterprise scorning settled ways; had it been merely a breaking of ordersand a following of my own will, I suppose I might have gone on. But there areever two things which govern an adventure for one of my s.e.x. He may be a man;but he must also be a gentleman. I suppose books might be written about the warbetween those two things. He may be a gentleman sometimes and have credit forbeing a soft-headed fool, with no daring to approach the very woman who hascontempt for him; whereas she may not know his reasons for restraint. So muchfor civilization, which at times I hated because it brought such problems. Yetthese problems never cease, at least while youth lasts, and no community isfree from them, even so quiet a one as ours there in the valley of the old BlueRidge, before the wars had rolled across it and made all the young people old.
I was of no mind to end mywildness and my roaming just yet; and still, seeing that I was, by gentlenessof my Quaker mother and by sternness of my Virginia father, set in the cla.s.s ofgentlemen, I had no wish dishonorably to engage a woman"s heart. Alas, I wasnot the first to learn that kissing is a most difficult art to practice!
When one reflects, the matterseems most intricate. Life to the young is barren without kissing; yet a kisswith too much warmth may mean overmuch, whereas a kiss with no warmth to it isnot worth the pains. The kiss which comes precisely at the moment when itshould, in quite sufficient warmth and yet not of complicating fervor, workingno harm and but joy to both involved—those kisses, now that one pauses to thinkit over, are relatively few.
As for me, I thought it was timefor me to be going.
◇ ◇ ◇
―――A few days later.
I informed the Holy Maiden Marywho was staying on the Lunaria Orthodoxy Church in the Capital City about asecond audience and summoned her to the castle. Thus, in the 『AudienceRoom』 within the RoyalCastle, having the same members and arrangement as the last audience severaldays ago, Mary and I faced each other.
Mary was still as beautiful as whenI saw her for the first time several days ago and still felt artificial in somerespects. After we exchanged formal greetings, I decided to immediately cut tothe chase of the real issue.
「Nowthen, about the issue of recognition of Lunaria Orthodoxy as the StateReligion……」(Souma)
「………」(Mary)
「Ifyou could accept several conditions, I could accept it.」(Souma)
「Several……conditions?」(Mary)
「What?It is not too difficult. Furthermore, it is only two. First, I won’t become LunariaOrthodoxy’s Holy King. I want your side to also stop nominating me withoutpermission. I want a firm promise on this matter.」(Souma)
「MayI ask why? If you become the Holy King, then will you not rise above all LunariaOrthodoxy believers in every country?」(Mary)
The puzzled Mary slightly tilted herhead to the side, so I slowly shook my head.
「BecauseI am not a Lunaria Orthodoxy believer. If an unbeliever like me is suddenlyappointed as the Holy King, it will only provoke a backlash from the believers.So I will respectfully decline that honor.」(Souma)
「I……see.」(Mary)
Although Mary seemed to bedisappointed, she promptly backed down. Of course, this was no more than an officialfacade. I don’t want to become a Holy King and put this country back into anera when religion constrained science. The objective of this condition was toprevent the Orthodox State from arbitrarily appointing me as the Holy Kingwithout my permission and turn me into their figurehead against the Empire.
「Then,for the second condition…… I’ll have the Prime Minister Hakuya to explain it.」(Souma)
After I declared so, Hakuya bowedand moved a step forward.
「Then,let me explain. The other condition that we would like to present is that we wishto invite a bishop from the Lunaria Orthodoxy State who will oversee the affairsregarding Lunaria Orthodoxy believers inside the Kingdom.」(Hakuya)
「Ofcourse, we will accept this condition. I will humbly accept that position.」(Mary)
Hakuya waved his hand to Mary whowas holding her hand in her chest.
「Please,that couldn’t possibly be accepted. We don’t wish to trouble Holy Maiden-dono withthis position. What we intend to do is to invite a certain person to ourcountry.」(Hakuya)
「Thereis someone you want to invite? This might be rude, but may I know who thisperson is?」(Mary)
「BishopSouji Leister.」(Hakuya)
「……」(Mary)
The moment she heard Hakuya mentionedSouji Leister, Mary"s slightly narrowed her brow. I saw it only for a fewseconds, but she was obviously felt a hatred. It was the first time thedoll-like Mary showed a human-like expression. Mary then asked with a slightlystiffened expression.
「Hakuydono……Do you know what kind of person that man is?」(Mary)
「Yes.I have heard that he is a very sharp-minded person.」(Hakuya)
「Heis only cunning. That… man is a fallen sinful bishop. He is an insolent man whoswindled large amounts of money from various believers, drank wine, and philanderingwith women. While a priest should be abstaining from the pleasure of the world,that person is tainted by worldliness and acts without self-constraint. EvenHis Holiness the Pope and the Cardinals also view him as a problem. Even forme…… I don’t like that man.」(Mary)
It was a clear rejection. So heis a man who even disliked by the doll-like girl. I became a bit interested inhim.
「Howcome a man like him became a Bishop?」(Souma)
When I posed this question, Mary pursedher lips briefly, after which she opened her mouth to speak up.
「…… AlthoughI am embarra.s.sed to say this, we who are adorned with the robe of the priesthoodare supported by donations from the believers. Since Souji had gathered a substantialamount of money through numerous methods, there are Cardinals who are nominatinghim as a Bishop……」(Mary)
Ah, I could vaguely see it.Perhaps, that Souji guy had bought off some of the Cardinals. Excepting theHoly Maiden, it seemed that the top hierarchy of the Orthodoxy State, ratherthan just smelled like worldly men, they felt more corrupt and smelled fishyinstead. That’s why even if they want to remove him, they couldn’t. Mary turnedtowards Hakuya.
「However,I heard that even in the Church there are rumors that the Church ought to expelhim soon. I believe that it is simply a matter of time until he isexcommunicated. So why would you invite a man like that?」(Mary)
Despite the opposing party’sglare implying major objection and disagreement, Hakuya’s calm smile stoodunbroken.
「Isn’tthis a good opportunity? If he will be expelled, then let"s have our nation takecare of him. His Majesty Souma likes unparalleled talented people and has commandedthat if there is such a Bishop like that, then His Majesty would like to meethim.」(Hakuya)
Really? But no, I don’t ever remembersaying that. This whole plot was something that Hakuya had fabricated on hisown. After all, I was not even aware of Souji’s existence until now. Marydirected her eyes full of dissatisfaction at Hakuya.
「Todispatch him as a Bishop means that he will stand at the top of the Lunaria Orthodoxybelievers who reside in this country, won’t it? I do not believe that he is fitfor that position.」(Mary)
「Ifthat is really the case, then it will merely be an issue of having anotherperson replace him. If he is a person who doesn’t measure up to our expectation,then we won’t mind, “dealing” with him ourselves.」(Hakuya)
Whoaa…… My my, Hakuya, you have areally terrifying evil smile. Since in the first place, he has a clever-lookingface, this should appropriately be called as a 『FreezingSmile』[3]. Mary had nothing more to say, thanks to his impressivepresence.
「…… Thatwill be fine. If by any chance, he can’t come to this country, then I will bereplacing him instead.」(Mary)
「Yes.We will be depending on you at that time.」(Hakuya)
These two had already maneuvered aroundand fathomed on each other intention. A violent confrontation between a pokerface and an evil face, rather than clashing sparks, the surroundings werewrapped in a freezing atmosphere. Even Liscia and I were repelled by their mood.Aisha, who also wasn’t used to this, felt sick.
At any rate, with this we could a.s.sumethat the negotiation had concluded. To summarize the details that we decidedthis time, it would be these three points.
· Friedonia Kingdomaccepted Lunaria Orthodoxy as a State Religion
· Lunaria Orthodoxy Statewill not appoint Souma as the King Holy.
· The Orthodoxy State willhave to dispatch Souji Lester as a Bishop.
As soon as the discussion finished,Mary left the audience room. They could not trick me into becoming a Holy King,but since they were able to make the Kingdom recognize Lunaria Orthodoxy as theState Religion, this could be said to be an adequate result. With this, sheshould return to the Orthodoxy State peacefully. I waited until the report thatshe had left the castle to finally release the nervousness wrapping me.
「Fuu……With this, perhaps we could succeed?」(Souma)
「Mostlikely, I dare say. The Holy Maiden-dono too should be satisfied that she has achievedsome results.」(Hakuya)
I shrugged my shoulders when Hakuyagrinned.
「Hakuya,you still have your evil face.」(Souma)
「……Pardon me.」(Hakuya)
When Hakuya returned to his usualcalm face, I asked.
「Then,tell me, have you made any preparations to invite a bishop like that Soujifellow?」(Souma)
「Yes,Your Majesty. The Black Cat Squad led by Kagetordono has already infiltratedthe Orthodoxy State. Perhaps they already brought Souji-dono to the border. I amconfident that they will escort him into our country in the next few days.」(Hakuya)
That was an extreme cautionary measure.It was almost as if they were acting like bodyguards.
「Isthere a special reason to depute the Black Cat Squad as his bodyguards?」(Souma)
「Byseeing the Holy Maiden-dono’s reaction, they would hesitate to dispatch aperson who would become a disgrace to the country as the Bishop. The sHolyMaiden-dono also accepted that conditions only so that Lunaria Orthodoxy willbe recognized as a State Religion. However, even after we have their guarantee,there is a risk that they will annul it because of “a reason”. For example, they may claim that Souji-dono is“injured in an accident”, so they would have to dispatch another person. Forthis reason, I had to send the Black Cat Squad beforehand to accompany him.」(Hakuya)
Injured in an accident…… yeah,right….. This was just my own mental image of them, but this is something that Ibelieve the Orthodoxy State would do. If it would only just stop at mere injuries,it would still be fine, but nothing prevented them from things like, “imprisonment”(read it as: “His whereabouts are unknown”) or in the worst case, “a.s.sa.s.sination”(read it as: “He pa.s.sed away from an illness.”) To think that far ahead andantic.i.p.ate it, as expected from Hakuya.
「Itlooks like the Kingdom’s celebrated 『Black Robed(Man Behind the Scene) Prime Minister』 t.i.tle is not just for show. After all, your serpentinedeviousness had taken it that far.」 (Souma)
I poked fun at Hakuya, when Liscia,who stood next to me, sent an unamused look at me.
「Speakingof serpentine deviousness, wouldn’t it suit Souma more? After all, you havedeceived that pure and innocent Holy-Maiden-sama.」(Liscia)
「Iwish you spoke like I am the villain here. There were no lies in my words to her,you know?」(Souma)
My words about recognizing LunariaOrthodoxy as a State Religion is not a lie. However…….
I grinned.
「I onlychanged the “meaning” of the phrase: 『State Religion』.」(Souma)
☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽
Two serpents, tricking a woman to take thepoisonous apple, the result: Fall of Eden.
SERIOUSLY CLICK THE b.u.t.tON!
[1] This is a standardresponse from the Innkeeper in Dragon Quest series.
[2] Inj.a.panese: do-S. Like Kazami Yuuka.
[3] Imagine Lelouch, Shiroe, or Gin Ichimaru’s smile.