Chapter 16: Turmoil in the Royal Capital – Part 08
Sensing that the conversation was taking a turn for the worse, Larni leaned forward, as if about to say something.
I raised my hand to halt her and replied, “That may not be entirely true, but from the perspective of ‘Supreme Radiance,’ it’s not entirely unreasonable to interpret it that way. It seems to me that we are merely stating the same facts from different viewpoints and positions.”
“I see. That is indeed a very wise opinion. Sakurahime has provided testimony similar to what you just mentioned, Soushi-dono,” the Cardinal remarked.
“What is your view on this matter, Your Eminence?” I inquired.
“As a humble monk, I must respect Garsonia’s opinion due to my position. Since Sakurahime has received great favors from you, Soushi-dono, Garsonia believes she may be inclined to speak favorably on your behalf… and I cannot entirely dismiss that notion,” he explained.
“Are you suggesting that we are coercing Sakurahime into repaying her debt by aligning her testimony with ours?” I pressed.
“I did not imply that. However, Sakurahime is known for her strong sense of duty, and it is suspected that she would not say anything that could harm her benefactor. This has led to discord within ‘Supreme Radiance,’ ultimately resulting in Sakurahime leaving the organization,” he continued.
“Is that so…?”
It was frustrating to think that the outcome of my assistance had led to her expulsion from the party. Meanwhile, I noticed Larni’s ears twitching, indicating her usual scouting instincts were kicking in again.
The Cardinal continued, “Thus, regarding the favors Sakurahime received, it seems her family will be providing some form of compensation. Normally, this would be the church’s responsibility, but… I apologize for that.”
“No, it’s not a problem. We did not assist with the expectation of receiving anything from the church. However, based on your earlier comments, it seems you still harbor doubts about us, Your Eminence,” I stated.
“Oh no, that is not the case. I merely cannot ignore Garsonia’s words,” he replied.
Hmm, that was quite a roundabout way of saying, “The church can question ‘Soul’s Guidance,’ but I intend to keep my thoughts to myself.” It seems we’ve inadvertently created a debt with a massive organization, which could lead to complications.
Glancing at Larni, I saw her still wearing a dissatisfied expression, while Sfenia and Mariane appeared to grasp the Cardinal’s implications, their brows furrowing slightly.
What should I do? As a former Japanese, I felt an urge to take a submissive stance in such situations, but this was not Japan, and I was an A-Rank adventurer backed by the king. I needed to maintain my dignity in front of my companions.
“…While I understand that being suspected is unavoidable, we are innocent, and I have nothing further to say on that matter. I believe I was summoned here with the intention of receiving gratitude, yet discussing such matters now raises questions about Your Eminence’s integrity,” I asserted.
“Hmm…!?”
It seemed I had unintentionally infused my words with a hint of Intimidation. I hadn’t meant to, but the Cardinal visibly flinched.
Perhaps that was a misstep… Just then, the door to the room swung open without a knock.
Turning my gaze, I saw an elderly male priest standing at the entrance, clad in a pure white robe adorned with intricate golden embroidery, clearly of a higher rank than the Cardinal.
“Your Eminence, what is the matter?” he inquired.
The Cardinal sprang to his feet from the sofa and hurried over to the elderly priest.
Given his attire and the fact that the Cardinal referred to him as “Your Eminence,” it was clear that this sudden visitor was none other than the Pope of the Arshuram Church, Mordal II.
“Your Eminence, you are still in poor health. You should not be here. Please, return to your chambers. Someone, escort His Eminence to his quarters!” the Cardinal urged, his tone flustered.
Meanwhile, Pope Mordal stood at the entrance, motionless, not uttering a single word.
Upon closer inspection, his sunken eyes were clouded, and his gaze seemed vacant, as if he were a dazed patient who had wandered out of his hospital room.
I had heard that the Pope had recently taken office, but it seemed he was already in declining health.
Moments later, a group of guards and priests arrived to escort the Pope away. As they departed, I noticed Larni sniffing the air, her brow furrowed in concern.
The Cardinal closed the door and sat back down on the sofa, resuming his affable smile as if nothing had happened. In a way, it was impressive how he managed to maintain such composure. It seemed Cardinal Holwood was quite the cunning fox.
“I apologize for the disturbance. Now, regarding our earlier conversation, you are indeed correct, Soushi-dono. I must admit that my previous wording was lacking. The truth is, I genuinely wished to express my gratitude, rather than discuss the matters we just covered,” he said.
“That is good to hear,” I replied.
“However, as I mentioned earlier, since Sakurahime is no longer affiliated with the church, any direct expression of gratitude from us may face internal opposition. Therefore, I would like to propose that the church request a favor from ‘Soul’s Guidance’ as a form of gratitude. While it may seem odd to request a favor as a form of thanks, rest assured that the compensation will be above market rates, and more importantly, successfully completing an important task for the church will enhance ‘Soul’s Guidance’s’ reputation,” he explained.
“Understood. May I inquire about the details?” I asked.
At my words, the Cardinal’s eyes sparkled with interest as he smiled broadly.
“There are two requests. The first is a request for protection. We need someone to escort a transport team bringing relics from the ruins west of the Royal Capital. The second is a security request. In one week, we will hold a ceremony for the transition of the church’s Saint and the unveiling of the new Saint in the Royal Capital, and we would like your assistance in providing security for that event. I sincerely hope you will accept both requests,” he concluded.