Chapter : 54

“Waah-! Your Excellency, travel safely!”

“You must come back.”

“Ugh huh huh huh.”

With a grand send-off from the citizens of Canton, my army quickly departed the city.

What should have been a short trip to Canton ended up becoming an unexpectedly long stay.

Moreover, to get to the Holy See from Canton, we had to go around the Arhen Mountains.

Thanks to this, we were rapidly heading south towards the Holy See without a moment's rest.

-Whoa!

-Flap!

-Heeeigh!

-Watch your step!

-Keep your eyes forward and go slowly. Hey, you there-! Match your pace!

It was a forced march through the dense forests of the rugged mountain range, but it was manageable.

The magician with me was none other than Agpiel, the great sage of the forest. Befitting his reputation, Agpiel was demonstrating incredible abilities in this dense forest.

-Ruuuumble!

-Craaaack!

With a single gesture from Agpiel, the dense undergrowth would part, clearing a path.

Furthermore, no matter how rugged the road, tree roots would shoot up from the ground to create a flat path.

‘This is a skill that would make army sergeants drool, wouldn't it…?’

Watching him quietly from horseback, that thought naturally came to mind.

“Why are you looking at me with those half-lidded eyes?”

Then, Magician Agpiel, who was riding far ahead, steered his horse towards me.

“Ahem, I was thinking that since you must be tired, it might be a good time to rest soon.”

“Is that so? Well, that would be good.”

Agpiel's face lit up at my words.

“We’ve just about left the Arhen Mountains, so it's a good time to take a breather. I was starting to feel the strain myself, so this is a relief.”

With that, Agpiel patted his waist. I chuckled at his pretense and ordered the soldiers to rest.

We had been on a forced march for a while, so it was definitely time for a break.

* * *

“Here, take this.”

“?”

While I was resting for a moment in the camp, Magician Agpiel, who had stepped out for a bit, suddenly threw something at me.

“What do you mean, what is it. It’s an apple.”

“Why this…?”

“Don't you need to practice controlling the power of your blessing?”

“Ah-!”

The power of the blessing received from the goddess was good, but it was too powerful.

As a result, I had been breaking everything from the hilt of my longsword to my gauntlets recently.

“Try to hold the fruit gently. Like you're holding your newborn child's bottom.”

“I'm not even married, though…?”

“It's an example. And a man of your age still has no children? I thought you might have an illegitimate child, even if you weren't married.”

“……”

Seeing my sour expression, Magician Agpiel shrugged and urged me on.

“It's a joke. A joke. That one wasn't funny. Now, hurry up and try holding the fruit.”

“Understood.”

I wasn't sure what this was all about, but it seemed like a plausible method. I slowly clenched my hand around the apple in my palm.

However.

-Crunch!

As expected, I failed to control my strength and crushed the apple.

“Again.”

-Crunch!

“Again-!”

-Crunch!

“Drat, it's hard to find fruit. Try to handle it a little more gently.”

“It’s, it’s not easy.”

Magician Agpiel clicked his tongue.

“If you don't adapt to this power quickly, something terrible could happen. It might be best to avoid contact with people as much as possible until you get used to it.”

“Hmm….”

It was true that this was an era with a fair amount of physical contact. If I made a mistake and failed to control my strength, it would be just….

Ugh-!

When I accidentally imagined it, a truly terrible scene unfolded before my eyes.

“I will be careful. It would be a disaster if I made a mistake.”

“Yes, that's a good attitude.”

“By the way, what is the Holy See’s capital, Romulus, like?”

I asked, throwing the crushed apple to the ground.

Now that we were about to enter the Holy See, I needed to gather information about it.

I had to accurately grasp how different and changed it was from what I knew to prevent any unforeseen variables.

Magician Agpiel answered as he cleaned up the fallen apples on the ground.

“It's a huge city, and a very prosperous one at that. You'll probably be very surprised when you go.”

“Because of its size? I heard the city is very large.”

“Well, I hear that over a million people live there, so it's practically a country in itself. But its true value lies elsewhere. Romulus has an enormous amount of heritage from the Ancient Empire. You can't help but be amazed by the mysteries, culture, art, and advanced technology that abound there.”

“Aha.”

Romulus, the capital of the Holy See.

It was the capital of the Ancient Empire, much like Rome in the original history.

The only difference was that it hadn't been plundered and destroyed like Rome.

That's why I knew it as an incredibly developed city, truly deserving of the name 'city of a thousand years.'

Even in [Pangea Universalise], it was the only metropolis in the western region with a development level exceeding 30.

“It certainly seems to be developed, Magician Agpiel.”

“You'll be surprised when you see it. Hahaha. But don't get your hopes up too much. In the end, a place where people live is all the same.”

“Of course it would be. By the way, I wonder who will be guiding us in the Holy See. It's not like I know anyone there.”

I was immediately worried about stationing the army and finding lodging.

If only I knew someone there, I could move a bit more quickly.

As a last resort, I thought about asking the L’Isle-Ponte merchant guild, which had invested in my domain's relay market. Then, Magician Agpiel replied indifferently.

“What are you worried about? Isn't that goat beastman right there?”

“You mean Bishop Marco?”

“Yes. Isn't that fellow a bishop? Even if it's just in name, as a bishop, he must have connections within the Holy See.”

“Hmm….”

It made sense, but why did I feel so untrustworthy?

Just then, the ever-quick-witted Bishop Marco suddenly stuck his head in, blinking his square pupils.

“Mwa? Did you call for me. Mer?”

“Ahem, who called you?”

“Our lord said he trusts you. Goat Bishop. When one thinks of the Holy See, one thinks of you, right?”

“Meheheheheheht-! That's right, Mer! The old magician knows his stuff, meeeh~.”

It seemed he was in a good mood after receiving a compliment.

The goat beastman, Bishop Marco, jingled his shiny gold trinkets and let out a pleasant goat's cry.

“Mehehehet. Just trust me. Lord-nimu! I will give you the most amazing introduction to the Holy See-! Meeeeh~.”

“Right, right. Thank you very much. I'll be counting on you.”

He was a very reassuring(?) goat beastman.

I surreptitiously decided I should look for another way and turned my head.

But at that moment.

“Stop-! How dare you trespass in the forest!”

“????”

“Insolent bastards-! You thieves!”

From a distance, a man covered in animal skins came running, huffing and puffing.

At first, the man was like an angry bear, but as he got closer, his momentum rapidly decreased.

He hadn't realized it because he was hidden by the forest, but up close, the group of people was larger than he had thought. Moreover, seeing the dwarves and knights in armor, they seemed to be nobles.

“How dare you? Insolent?”

“Uh…. Who… are you?”

The man, who looked like a gamekeeper, opened his eyes wide like the pitiful eyes of a rabbit, unbecoming of his appearance.

“Th-this is a forest owned by the Barbeau family. May… may I ask where you are from?”

“You cur! Can you not see this banner-! This is the great and faithful Margrave Bellua-!”

“Meeeeeh! I am Bishop Marco, who rules the Bellua Diocese-! Mer!”

“Heek! I-I apologize. This lowly one is illiterate and did not recognize the crest.”

Hearing the names, the gamekeeper prostrated himself on the ground.

It seemed he had picked the wrong people to mess with.

A bishop and the Margrave Bellua. Why would such high-ranking people suddenly come to such a remote forest-!

‘Huh?’

Then, a thought occurred to the gamekeeper, and he raised his head.

“Is-is that the performer of miracles, Margrave Bellua?”

“……”

To think I would hear such an embarrassing title here. I unconsciously covered my forehead with my hand.

“That's right, you cur!”

“Meeeeeh-! You lowly thing! This is the faithful and great performer of miracles. The Lord-nimu!!”

“Oooooh-! Your Excellency. Margrave.”

He then bowed deeply.

A bow filled with a much deeper respect than before.

“Your fame seems to have spread this far. Heh heh.”

“Stop teasing me, Magician Agpiel.”

“Why? Everyone likes it. There's nothing better than the noble you serve being honorable.”

“Ugh….”

Better to die than to suffer. I sighed and helped the gamekeeper up.

“An excessive bow is worse than no bow at all. It's embarrassing for me, so please get up.”

“Oh, thank you very much.”

The gamekeeper clumsily got to his feet. But he didn't leave and was hesitantly glancing at me as if he had something to say.

“Are you perhaps on your way to the Holy See?”

“????”

“Mwa?”

How in the world did a mere gamekeeper know this? My vassals and I stared at the gamekeeper in surprise.

As all eyes fell on him, the gamekeeper trembled and cautiously opened his mouth.

“W-well…. It's just that. The special envoy from the Holy See and other nobles are currently in the domain.”

“Aha.”

Is that all? I was startled, thinking some strange rumor had spread everywhere.

“Lord Barbeau is currently inviting everyone on their way to the Holy See. If it's not too much trouble, would you not like to come and rest? I would be happy to guide you.”

“Oho? Is thaaat so?”

“Meeeeeh-! An invitation! An invitation, Lord-nimu! Mer.”

No sooner had the gamekeeper finished speaking than everyone began to glance at me. It was evident that they wanted to rest after the long forced march.

“Well, alright. That’s good. We should also get some proper rest after a long time, shouldn't we?”

“Meeeeh~~!”

Everyone cheered at my words. It was good timing; we needed to clean up before entering the Holy See soon.

Thinking so, I said to the gamekeeper.

“Lead the way.”

“Oh-! It is an honor, Your Excellency.”

* * *

After following the gamekeeper down the forest for a while, I could see the city walls in the distance and the army and soldiers camping below them.

“Oh, he must be a rather great noble, then? I suppose it makes sense if a special envoy from the Holy See brought him personally.”

“Indeed, Magician Agpiel. I wonder what kind of noble he is.”

There wasn't even a flag raised, so there was no way of knowing.

As we were talking, the city gates opened and a group of people came out to greet me.

“Ooooh-! The knight of miracles, Margrave Bellua! Welcome to my domain.”

It was Baron Bardou, the ruler of this region. The lord was laughing heartily and welcoming me with a bright expression.

“I hear you came a long way around from Canton to get here.”

“Uh, that's right.”

“Hahaha. To come through those rugged Arhen Mountains-! Truly amazing. Please rest well in my domain before you go to the Holy See. Come, come. This way.”

With that, the lord, along with his vassals, led me to the lord's manor.

They said a grand banquet had been prepared. Sure enough, upon entering the hall of the manor, a magnificent banquet was unfolding.

And there, there was the special envoy from the Holy See who had come to me before, and an unexpected, unwelcome guest.

My uncomfortable neighbor right next to me.

Count Bozen.

“It's a pleasure to meet you, Margrave Bellua. I am Count Bozen. I wonder if my sister is doing well?”