Chapter : 62

As soon as news of a gathering at the Holy See spread, the nobles who were being entertained by the influential figures of Romulus began to flock in one after another.

A rumor that a crusade was about to take place had already spread widely.

Their goal was to make an impression and get a piece of the pie.

“Hahahaha. It’s been a while, Baron. How did you manage to lift your heavy buttocks and come all this way?”

“Hmph. What are you saying! You, who were so reluctant to donate to the church, came running so quickly for something like this?”

“What? Are you insulting me now!”

Thus, some hurled accusations at each other.

“Ahem~! Now, now. Calm down, everyone. Shouldn't we be firmly united under one faith?

Stop fighting and have a glass of this wine of reconciliation that I, a Count, offer you.”

Some used their authority to mediate, showing off their presence.

When a crusade to purify heretics occurred, the families involved were all excommunicated and bound to lose their lands.

To claim those vacant spots, they had to move swiftly from this moment on.

Of course, I wasn't paying any attention to that.

“Mm, this food is truly delicious.”

“You ate so much until noon yesterday, and you still have room in your stomach?”

“That was for alcohol, and this is for food. You see, the stomach for alcohol and the stomach for food are different, Magician Agpiel.”

“That's the first time I've ever heard such a thing in my life. The stomachs are different! Not even a child would believe that.”

Agpiel clicked his tongue as if to say I was pathetic, but I just shrugged my shoulders.

As expected of a place where goods from all over the world were concentrated, the food in Romulus was very diverse. Such a variety of spices and cooking methods. For me, who had been eating the poor and monotonous food of a medieval native, this was a truly happy situation.

“Meheheheh. It’s so delicious. This is why I like Romulus. Merr!”

“Oh, right. Bishop Marco. You think so too? The food here is really delicious. A sauce made by reducing wine with various spices and sugar!”

“Meeeh~. Lord. You know your stuff. Meheheheh!”

The goat beastman, who had already had another hearty drink, replied, drawing out his goat cry in satisfaction.

“Shouldn't you stop eating and start mingling like those fellows over there?”

Magician Agpiel chided me, perhaps feeling sorry for me who was continuously gorging on food.

Since I had come this far, it would be good in many ways to build friendships with various nobles.

After all, the more friends you make, the better.

But for some reason, this young noble was like a merchant obsessed with food, tasting dishes all day long.

From Magician Agpiel's perspective, watching this was bound to be frustrating.

However, my thoughts were a little different.

“Agpiel. No matter how much they move around like that, nothing will change, will it?”

“What do you mean?”

“Haven't you already heard? This war is not simply about subjugating heretics in the south.”

All their movements were futile.

Only the friends with slow information would move so busily, hoping to get some scraps.

Weren't most of the great nobles already aware of the situation and staying still?

“Indeed.... That is true, but….”

Still, Magician Agpiel wasn't pleased.

To think a grown young man could have such a strong appetite. He was great in other aspects, but to be like this in this area was quite....

Agpiel lamented inwardly.

And while we were bickering like that.

“Oh, the main character has finally arrived.”

I chuckled and pointed to the door leading into the hall.

There were busy servants, and among them, a man appeared triumphantly.

“The Prince-Elector of the great Holy Empire, the protector of the Eastern Orthodox Church, is entering. Everyone, pay your respects.”

It was the appearance of the Prince-Elector of Bohemia, an elf with striking white skin and pointed ears.

* * *

“What…?”

“Why is the Prince-Elector of the Holy Empire here?”

“Something is strange?”

The sudden appearance of the Prince-Elector of Bohemia bewildered the nobles gathered in the banquet hall.

Why would the Prince-Elector of the Holy Empire appear for the subjugation of heretics in the south of the Elang Kingdom? And that of all people, the incredibly arrogant elf Prince-Elector.

No nobles would like a foreign monarch meddling in their country's affairs.

That elf Prince-Elector was, in a sense, an uninvited guest.

“Cardinal Adriano, it's been a long time.”

“Oh, Your Excellency the Prince-Elector. Thank you so much for accepting.”

“Haha, wouldn't I be a fool to refuse such good terms?”

But upon seeing the Prince-Elector of Bohemia immediately approach Cardinal Adriano and speak with a cheerful laugh, they realized.

The Prince-Elector of Bohemia's appearance had been coordinated in advance.

And that meant the commander-in-chief of this summons had been decided from the very beginning.

There was no noble here with a reputation higher than that elf Prince-Elector.

“Hah….”

The nobles who grasped the truth of the situation were all dejected.

They had gone to the trouble of leading soldiers and working hard, but it had all been in vain. But on the other hand, a few nobles' eyes sparkled.

If they were bringing in a foreign noble, a Prince-Elector at that, this was definitely not an affair limited to the south of the Elang Kingdom.

This subjugation would surely expand further.

Just as they expected.

-Far away, heretics are gnawing at our civilization.

-Especially the heresy in the southern region of the Elang Kingdom is very serious. And the Kingdom of Aragon on the Hispenia Peninsula is supporting it-!

-Therefore, the Holy See excommunicates the King of the Kingdom of Aragon-! We will strip the said family of their throne and pass it on to the rightful successor-!

The crusade, which had been convened simply under the pretext of subjugating heretics in the south of the Elang Kingdom, had expanded into a war of succession for the throne of the Kingdom of Aragon.

“Ooooh-!”

“Excommunication! It's war-!”

Thanks to this, the faces of the attending nobles once again showed joy.

The larger the prey, the bigger the chunks of flesh that fall off. Although they were playing a supporting role, if they won this war of succession, they were certain to be guaranteed enormous benefits.

“Hah….”

Of course, upon seeing this announcement from the Holy See, I let out a dumbfounded laugh.

“The pretext of subjugating the heretics and the King of Aragon who supports them is good, and the authority is strong enough to restore an old, dusty right of succession through excommunication. That is the power of the Holy See. Turning assertions into reality.”

“Indeed….”

I nodded at Magician Agpiel's words.

They were a formidable force even in the game [Pangea Universalise], but experiencing it in person, they were even more formidable than in the game.

There was a reason why the official strategy in [Pangea Universalise] was to raise a bishop to Pope and turn the Holy See into a puppet.

If you carelessly made an enemy of them, you would end up like that King of Aragon.

Of course, the bishop I was currently raising was....

“Mwa? Why are you looking at me like that, Lord. Meeeh~.”

...quite unreliable.

“It's nothing. I was just thinking how dependable you are. So just keep eating.”

“Meheheheh. I am quite dependable. Merr!”

“……”

* * *

After the in many ways groundbreaking banquet ended, the nobles began to gather in small groups.

They all seemed to be discussing how to make an impression on the Prince-Elector of Bohemia, the key figure in this war.

I, too, was about to return to the annex palace to discuss opinions with Magician Agpiel and my other vassals, but there was an unexpected summons.

“Welcome, Bellua Margrave.”

“It is an honor to meet you, Cardinal Adriano.”

It was a summons from Cardinal Adriano, the de facto head of the Holy See, with the Pope being bedridden.

“Your fame as the ‘Performer of Miracles’ is so great that I have always wanted to see you in person.”

“How could I dare use such a title, Cardinal Adriano. It is all just a groundless rumor born from a misunderstanding.”

“Hmm.... I wonder. The reports from the bishops that came to me said otherwise, Bellua Margrave. They all said the miracles were real.”

“Hahaha….”

At Cardinal Adriano's impassive words, I laughed awkwardly and broke into a cold sweat.

To think a rumor that started from a misunderstanding would come back to me like this-!

Fortunately, Cardinal Adriano didn't seem to view it too negatively.

“Of course, I don't believe all of these words. I take half of them with a grain of salt.”

“Hmph. What I have done is too trivial and ridiculous to be called a miracle, Cardinal Adriano.”

“Hmm.... I suppose it is because of such humility that the bishops like you. If you insist, I will believe you.”

Cardinal Adriano replied with a smile at my words.

“Actually, the reason I called for you, Margrave, is simple.”

“What is it…?”

“As I recall, the number of troops you mobilized during the rebellion in the city of Markel last time exceeded 5,000. Is that correct?”

It wasn't something I had hidden, but to think he knew this. I was momentarily taken aback by the Holy See's intelligence network.

“That is correct, Cardinal Adriano.”

“I see. In that case, I want you to mobilize a force of that size for this expedition as well, befitting your piety.”

“……”

It was phrased as a request, but it was practically a polite but firm command.

It was also quite tricky to refuse. I had done so many things by selling the Holy See's name that I couldn't handle the aftermath.

Fortunately, Cardinal Adriano was a rather reasonable person.

“Ah-! I'm not asking you to do it for nothing.”

“Then…?”

“There is a city with a port in the south. It is called Mangtong. I will give you that city.”

“???”

At the unexpected proposal, I became wary.

Of course, 5,000 soldiers was a large number, but wasn't giving a wealthy southern port city too good of an offer?

As if reading my thoughts, Cardinal Adriano let out a chuckle.

“There is no need to be so wary. Mangtong is a city that was lost in a past war. Isn't it about time it was taken back from the heretics? It is a city perfectly suited to be given to a faithful person like you as a reward.”

In other words, he was telling me to conquer and rule this city myself.

In return for mobilizing the army.

Come to think of it, it wasn't a bad deal for either of us.

From the Holy See's perspective, it was lost land anyway so it didn't matter, and for me, it was a fair reward, neither excessive nor poor.

Moreover, since it had a port and access to the sea, I could expand the sales of my domain's products to the Eastern Empire.

Looking to the future, it was a pretty good investment. Thinking so, I opened my mouth.

“Very well. I will mobilize as many soldiers as you wish. However, I have another condition.”

“A condition?”

“Yes, Your Eminence.”

Hearing those words, Cardinal Adriano's brow furrowed slightly.

To ask for more here....

This young noble was clearly not pious, but an ambitious man.

“What is the condition? Speak, well aware that I cannot accept an outrageous demand.”

But soon.

“Of course, I am well aware. The only thing I desire is one. I wish to bring Vesalius and his Moorish friends to my domain.”

“You mean that bizarre corpse dissector?”

“Yes, that is correct.”

“They are doing things that are forbidden by the Holy See. Are you aware of that?”

“I am well aware. But for that very reason, shouldn't we embrace them in the name of God?”

“What?”

“I wish to embrace them and reform them before God. Please grant me permission.”

“???”

At my following words, Cardinal Adriano couldn't help but be flustered in turn.

‘No, this man.... Is he not lying, but truly pious...?’

Along with a minor misunderstanding.