Chapter : 59

Fortunately, contrary to my concerns, there were no major mishaps. In fact, it was foolish of me to have worried.

-Oh, welcome, Your Excellency. Our city welcomes the Margrave's visit-!

-In the name of the Father, and of the Son…. Our diocese thanks the faithful Margrave for his visit.

-If there is anything you need, just say the word. We will assist you on your journey to the Holy See.

Upon entering the territory ruled by the Holy See, the administrators and priests managing the area welcomed our party enthusiastically.

And that wasn't all.

The city officials and the clergy of the diocese even dispatched their own temple knights to serve as escorts.

It was a truly lavish reception.

Thanks to this, the special envoy from the Holy See and I were heading south towards the capital of the Holy See at a very fast pace, amidst a grand send-off.

“Umm….”

Of course, this kind of reception was rather unsettling for me.

“This is quite burdensome.”

“Haha, what is there to be burdened about, Your Excellency? It is only natural, Your Excellency.”

The special envoy from the Holy See said as if it were a matter of course.

“A word without legs travels a thousand li. Your Excellency's beautiful faith has spread far and wide within the Holy See. You are truly a role model for all, Your Excellency. Hahaha.”

“……”

I couldn't for the life of me figure out where the misunderstanding had started and where it had gone wrong.

Beautiful faith? Me?

A role model for all? Meeee?

Well.... I wasn't moving with that intention. It was me, who acted purely to pursue my own self-interest. And yet, this misunderstanding.

‘The gulf of misunderstanding is indeed deep.’

But these things tend to get more twisted the more you try to fix them.

It seemed it was about time I just accepted this reputation.

“At this point, how about you just give up and enjoy it? That might be the better way.”

“I was just thinking that.”

“Wise. It's easier and more certain to think about how to effectively use what has already happened, rather than trying to change it.”

“Hmm.... Thank you for your advice, Magician Agpiel.”

“What advice. It's just the nagging of an old man. Hahaha.”

Magician Agpiel was right.

The sage's advice was sharp and sometimes pierced through to the essence of things.

A rumor that has already spread cannot be undone. In that case, it was reasonable to actively use this rumor to my advantage.

The problem, of course, was what and how to gain from it.

‘But nothing in particular comes to mind.’

I wracked my brain as I rode my horse, but nothing immediately came to mind.

At most, it would be convenient to use my reputation to order around the clergy.

Of course, if I continued to exert my influence in this way, I might be able to get deeply involved within the Holy See, but that was still a long way off.

“We have arrived-!”

As I was thinking that, I heard the shout of the advance party from the front.

We had arrived at the Palatine Hill, the first gate to the Holy See’s capital, Romulus.

“Oh-!”

“Meeeeeh~ My beautiful hometown, Romulus! Mer.”

“Indeed, it is the city where God resides….”

The entire party exclaimed in admiration at the majesty of the great city of Romulus, visible in the distance beyond the hill.

The dignity of the thousand-year-old capital of the Ancient Empire, a vast city spreading out radially with towering walls like mountain cliffs and a great river, was unfolding right before our eyes.

As expected, seeing it with my own eyes was a different dimension from seeing it on the game screen.

The majesty of the visual panorama provided by the immense size was something that could not be expressed in words.

“How is it, Your Excellency? This is Romulus, the capital of the Holy See.”

The special envoy from the Holy See said in a voice filled with pride. It seemed a bit informal, but no one dared to question it.

And for good reason.

The closer we got to the city of Romulus, the more we were amazed by the architecture of this great Ancient Empire.

A deep and long moat, a huge city gate, and countless spires. But what was even more surprising was that this city was a huge metropolis that housed a population of one million people.

‘It's much grander than I thought.’

Of course, what I was amazed by was in a slightly different sense.

‘Considering the era of [Pangea Universalise], it’s unbelievable.’

How is such a large city maintained in the medieval era? What about food? And can they manage plagues?

There must be some management technology that has been passed down since the era of the Ancient Empire that still remains.

Otherwise, there would be no way for a population the size of a small kingdom to survive in a single city.

‘I covet it.’

I felt like I could understand why the Holy See was the center of culture and science in [Pangea Universalise].

My mouth watered at the thought of how many scholars and top-tier individuals would be there.

* * *

Cardinal Adriano was usually good at controlling his emotions. But today, he couldn't hide his bewilderment.

“Is this true?”

The reason was a single document in Cardinal Adriano's hand.

It was the report from the special envoy of the Holy See on the lords of the southern Elang Kingdom.

“Could the special envoy have been bribed by Margrave Bellua?”

No matter how he thought about it, it was absurd, so Cardinal Adriano asked again. Then, the administrative official, sweating profusely, opened his mouth.

“Th-the special envoy is a fundamentalist among the frugal faction, Your Eminence. If he had been bribed, he would have publicly rebuked him and would never have written such a thing of his own accord.”

“I know that, but….”

It was Cardinal Adriano himself who had chosen the special envoy.

That's why he knew very well what the administrative official was talking about.

The report was not a lie.

If that was the case, then Margrave Bellua was not an ambitious young noble trying to use the Holy See, but in fact, an incredibly faithful pro-Holy See noble....

“It's too much of a coincidence.”

It was too much of a coincidence.

At this very moment when they were trying to project the power of the Holy See externally.

And the content of the report was too extravagant to be believed.

“Heh heh, miracles. And he performed them one after another?”

Just listening to the content, it sounded as if a real saint had appeared.

If the entire report was true, the Holy See would have to kneel and welcome Margrave Bellua.

“This is a headache.”

Cardinal Adriano felt a throbbing in his head.

“What should we do, Your Eminence?”

“Hmm….”

But he couldn't just waste this attractive card.

And such rumors and achievements were not just made up. At the very least, something akin to a miracle had to have actually happened for such rumors and achievements to spread.

Even if only a quarter of this content was true, Margrave Bellua was a very attractive partner from the Holy See's point of view.

“When will they arrive?”

“According to the report, they have just arrived near Romulus a little while ago. By now, they should have entered the city, Your Eminence.”

“Good. Then let's do this.”

Having organized his thoughts, Cardinal Adriano put down the report he was reading and continued.

“Welcome them as much as possible. Hmm, treat them as guests of the level of kings of various countries. Give them a separate palace and treat them lavishly.”

“Is that alright? Are you not treating him too highly….”

“Shouldn't we hurry up and embrace him before others approach him? And even if only half of the report is true, he should be treated that way.”

“Understood.”

It was a moment when Margrave Bellua, through a series of misunderstandings, ended up receiving top-class treatment.

* * *

“This way, please, Your Excellency.”

“???”

At first, I thought I would have to wait in a reception room in one of the inner palaces, just like the other nobles, until my schedule was arranged after passing through the city gates.

But then, an administrative official suddenly called me separately and gave me a whole huge detached palace.

“What is the meaning of this sudden development?”

“It is Cardinal Adriano's order, Your Excellency, the Margrave.”

“Cardinal Adriano's?”

“Yes, Your Excellency. He said to treat the faithful Margrave in a manner befitting his status. If you have any inconveniences, please do not hesitate to call on us at any time.”

“Hmph….”

I was bewildered as I watched the administrative official who bowed and left. Cardinal Adriano was a major power player who virtually ruled the Holy See.

Why would such a person show me such favor? Usually, if something comes, something must be given. Then, Magician Agpiel clicked his tongue as if in frustration.

“You are very prudent, but in another sense, you are too cautious.”

“Ahem. Wouldn't anyone be suspicious if they were suddenly treated so well?”

“Has it been only a day or two that nobles are treated differently according to their reputation? Considering the achievements you have built up, this is an act that is in accordance with custom.”

“Hmm….”

Listening to him, it seemed to be a valid point, so I made a sour expression. The reputation I had built up through all the misunderstandings was indeed ridiculous.

“But still, which madman would believe all of….”

“Meeeeeeeh-!”

Then, the goat beastman, Bishop Marco, who had been listening quietly from the side, shouted.

“Lord-nimu! Who dares not to believe. Meeeeeeh! If they doubt, this Marco will take responsibility and testify. Praise the performer of miracles-! Mer.”

At his rather fanatical words, I broke out in a sweat and calmed Bishop Marco down.

“Y-yes. I understand, Bishop Marco.”

It was Bishop Marco who had tasted the sweetness of money by selling his lord's name. The lord's reputation was, in other words, the goat beastman's own money.

And hadn't he witnessed numerous miracles(?) himself?

For Bishop Marco, his trust in the lord was at an all-time high.

“So just trust this Marco. Mer! I will make you the most famous person in Romulus, Lord-nimu! No one knows Romulus as well as I do. Meeeeeeh.”

“That is a very reassuring statement, Bishop Marco.”

“Meheheheheheh.”

It was slightly sarcastic, but fortunately, the goat beastman didn't seem to notice. He was smiling happily, blinking his distinctive square goat pupils.

“Soon, the influential people of the city will come to see you, Lord-nimu. Mer! Don't just accept anyone! Meeeeeeh.”

“Umm? Is that so?”

We had just entered the city of Romulus. Who would know me and already be trying to get in line?

And even if they knew, in terms of military power, there was Count Bozen who had come with us. If it was about money, there were other southern nobles who had ports.

I was in a position where I had to go around and negotiate myself.

But this time, the goat beastman was right.

“Your Excellency-! Margrave. I have come to see the Excellency I have always admired. If you would please meet me….”

“My family is holding a grand banquet. We would be grateful if you could attend.”

“I know something amazing, Your Excellency. This information….”

Suddenly, at some point, numerous people began to visit the detached palace where I was staying.

“Oh-!”

“Indeed, even a slow worm has a talent for crawling-! It seems Romulus is indeed the bishop's birthplace.”

“Meheheheh.”

Thanks to this, Bishop Marco became very triumphant.

“Alright, then Bishop Marco. You can screen the people for me. I don't know what to do with so many people coming.”

“Meeeeh~ It's very easy. Just wait, Lord-nimu!”

Then Bishop Marco called a servant attached to the detached palace, whispered something, and began to throw the invitations into the trash can.

It was a truly unhesitating gesture, without a single moment of deliberation. I was impressed by his appearance and stealthily asked.

“What criteria are you using to choose? The family's tradition? Or a newly rising family that is just beginning to flourish? I am simply amazed that you are so well-versed in so many families, Bishop Marco.”

“Meeeeeh?”

Then Bishop Marco snorted as if I were saying something strange.

“Lord-nimu. Of course, it's this, isn't it. Mer.”

“This…?”

“Meeeeeh! That's right, this.”

As if frustrated by my question, the goat beastman, who had been tapping the table, raised his hand.

At his fingertips was a circle neatly drawn with his finger.

The meaning was, of course, money.

“I asked the servant, and those guys didn't pay much. Mer. How dare they be stingy with money in Romulus! That's just not basic. Meeeeeeh!”

“……”

I had forgotten.

That this goat beastman was a clear-eyed madman obsessed with money.