97人人模人人爽人人喊谢绝

Vol 6: Chapter 17 (1)

Remaining Neutral Zone

★ Keith Gran Federation – Windle Republic ★

The Republic of Windle is a small country near Lake Brunstalk and is surrounded by countries belonging to the Federation. The land is small but blessed with fertile land. When referring to the “Federation’s grain-producing region”, it refers to the Windle Republic.

Because of that, the Republic was targeted by surrounding countries—small skirmishes took place all year round, despite belonging to the same Federation.

The Republic, which operates with the belief that “skill orb is unnecessary”, is likely to receive interference from countries with higher military power. However, the successive People’s Representatives managed to successfully avoid such interference.

The People’s Representative is required to be especially good at speaking and negotiations, to the point where they are able to avoid confrontations with their mouth alone.

Even such a representative was deeply troubled this time.

「Again? I have already turned it down 10 times.」

「Huh…」

The office of the People’s Representative Holiday was not located in some chalk palace in the capital, but rather in a one-story wooden building. This is a national tradition that values ”honorable poverty” and embodies the idea that “the People’s Representative should live a simple life.”

The people called this one-story house a “Wooden Palace” out of love.

That said, however, since it is the place where key figures of the country are located, the surrounding area is extensively vacant, and sorcery is set up to repel intruders except in the designated route.

It has been raining since morning. The “Wooden Palace” grew more and more dim.

「This time they’re saying, “We will cover the entire construction costs, so build the temple.”…Just what is going on. I did not expect these guys to be so pushy on this matter. Even the newspapers are publishing the “Temple Construction” nowadays.」

Holiday slipped the paper onto the desk with an exasperated look. His close aide caught the paper as it was about to fall off the desk.

It was an official letter sent from the king of a neighboring country. It read, “The Windle Republic should definitely build a temple of the goddess. We will cover all the costs”.

The same country that asked double the price for the military power borrowed by the Windle Republic last year.

The same country that asked to borrow “500 people” because there were not enough people who could use “Elemental Magic” in preparation for the “World Union”.

「However, that was also the case with you at first, right?」the close aide said.

「Hmm?」

「When you returned after the “World Union”, didn’t you repeatedly trouble us with how to amass the budget to build a temple?」

「Is that so?」Holiday cocked his head in puzzlement.「If I remember correctly, at that time a large number of monsters appeared in the grain-producing region.」

「We diverted your attention to that because it wasn’t the time to be building a temple.」

「Hey… Have you forgotten that I am the People’s Representative?」

「Of course not, Your Excellency. For that reason, I know you respect the thoughts of the people.」

Holiday smiled bitterly in response as his aide saluted.

「—The next meeting is in 15 minutes. Please excuse me.」

「Understood.」

When the aide left the room, Holiday stood up and looked out the window.

「How strange. The memories of those days are ambiguous.」

Thick clouds covered the sky. The lawn was dampened by the rain.

「I remember meeting the goddess, but I couldn’t look up… And I also remember that there was some kind of interaction at that time.」

Holiday tapped his temple with his finger, but he could not recall that moment.

「After that, battle with the monsters commenced and I took refuge. And as soon as the battle was over, I returned to the Republic. But I can’t remember what I was thinking at that time.」

Holiday has raised his aides so that they can take over smoothly even if he were to “die the next second”. As such, even if his memory was vague, Holiday’s aides must have made the best choice, which was to bring him back here.

Looking back, he can vividly remember saying, “Building a temple? Don’t joke around. I am busy right now.” But he could not recall the memories from before that time.

He didn’t even realize that until his aide brought it up a minute ago.

「Alteration of thoughts.」

As soon as he realized that possibility, Holiday felt chills run down his spine.

「Why couldn’t I even consider this? Since when? Recall it. –I remember everything until just before the “World Union”.」

He clearly remembered the countdown at the cathedral.

Holiday’s memory is outstandingly good, by nature.

「Goddess. Temple. What is that supposed to mean?」

Holiday returned to his desk and he picked up a stack of paper.

「Let’s see… the predecessor Holy King is pushing hard to build the temple. He was involved in the “World Union” like me. Which means he should have snapped out of it by now…」

Holiday flipped through the latest information on the Holy Kingdom, which states that Duke Grenjido is still striving to build a temple.

「It’s weird. The goddess tampered with our thoughts at that time… probably put a strong hypnosis on us. But mine is undone, and the predecessor Holy King’s hasn’t?」

Holiday looked through the other documents.

「Furthermore, even the leaders of neighboring countries began proposing the temple construction. It was after the “World Union”.」

He wrote down his hypothesis on a piece of paper.

——The first “Goddess Faith” temple was completed in Brunstalk.

A renovation of the existing cathedral.

——Kruvan Holy Kingdom, and each “Pledger” started building a temple. He could not get information on the Sylvis Kingdom, however.

——A movement to build a temple even from the countries around the Republic.

Suddenly, his hand stopped writing.

「Which country in the vicinity was the first to propose the construction of the temple…」

There was a knock on the door at that moment.

A different aide stepped in after receiving permission to enter.

「Representative Holiday, it’s time for the meeting.」

「Oh, you came in at just the right time. You come from the Zenmaru Kingdom, right?」

「…Yes, that’s right.」

Most of Holiday’s aides are from the Republic, but there are certain exceptions from other countries. Only individuals who are excellent enough.

Be that as it may, they will have to follow the customs of this country. And at the time of the aide’s inauguration, all their skill orbs will be eliminated with【Orb Destruction】.

This aide originally didn’t have any skill orbs. Even if he did,【Orb Destruction】couldn’t find any skills.

「Wasn’t it the Zenmaru Kingdom which first proposed building a temple?」Holiday asked.

「Yes, that’s right. Have you finally decided on building a temple as well, Representative?」

「No, no, no. No one here has the money at all to build a temple, yet you’re the only one who is proactive about it. Is it because your homeland is building a huge temple?」

「It’s not… Even as the newspapers say, the republic is the only country that hasn’t built a temple in this region. I just don’t think it’s a good idea to make unnecessary waves.」

「Valhalla hasn’t built a temple either.」

「They are insolent.」

「You don’t say…」

Holiday took notes again.

——The Zenmaru Kingdom was the first to build a temple among the neighboring countries.

The Zenmaru Kingdom is the closest to the cathedral. Is that a coincidence?

「Your Excellency… Is there a problem?」

「I’m going to decide if it’s a problem or not after this. About how to deal with this temple situation.」

Holiday put the note in the drawer of his desk and stood up.

He left the office together with his aide to the conference room. Sound of rain hitting the windows echoed in the corridor.

「It’s totally dark.」Holiday exclaimed.

「Indeed… When building the temple, it’s best to have something as big and bright as possible. One that wouldn’t lose in grandeur to the Zenmaru Kingdom.」

「I wonder about that.」

「Why do you hesitate so much? Many countries have already offered financial support, right? It wouldn’t hurt our country’s pockets and it would create jobs for the people. Isn’t it all good?」

「Hmm, but there is always a catch to too-good-to-be-true offers.」

「Are neighboring countries untrustworthy?」

「Not that.」

Lightning illuminated the side of Holiday’s face. Thunder followed.

「I feel that there is something wrong with this goddess temple. In the first place, don’t you think that it’s strange that all these countries are trying to build a grand temple even though the monster problem has not been cleared up.」

「Haa… So what is your line of thinking, Your Excellency?」

「Hmm… This is just my guess.」

Holiday walked ahead with his hand on his chin. Behind him, the aide gently inserted his hand into his pocket. Holiday failed to notice that he had pulled out a blade.

「Perhaps there is something in the goddess temple that sways people’s hearts? The budget for building the temple is an eye-popping amount. And you even need a large amount of magic stones. Even a magic airship does not require that many. Someone is pushing their will on others to build the temple–」

Lightning once again illuminated the corridor.

Two human shadows were projected.

A sharp object was held in the hand of the person behind. And it was about to be swung down.