Chapter 71: The Beginning of Change
The church's conference room is tense as it welcomes Ren. The tension is not only in Bishop Mikhail, who is confronting Ren, but also in everyone present.
The discussion with Ren. It was supposed to be a private discussion, but many people forcefully interrupted. Priest Ruminas was one of them.
What Bishop Mikhail does not understand is that even the people he suspects to be from the Anti-Hero Alliance, including Priest Ruminas, seem nervous.
Perhaps his own thoughts were a misunderstanding. Bishop Mikhail also has such thoughts when he sees them.
"...Um, what's the story?"
Ren called out to Bishop Mikhail who didn't start talking no matter how long it took, looking a little impatient.
"Ah, I'm sorry. Have you heard from Barbara-dono?"
"There are too many details. Bishop Mikhail told me to go to the church because you have something to talk about."
"I see."
Bishop Mikhail is not stupid enough to take those words as they are. Still, he decided to talk.
"Actually, I'm thinking of renovating the ruins of the monastery and building a relief center."
"Yes"
"Do you know what a training school is?"
"I sort of know."
What came back to the question he intended to ask casually was a vague answer. Bishop Mikhail thinks in his heart that if this is acting, it will be even more tricky.
"They also take care of orphans there. Well, it's an orphanage."
"It's a facility that was there originally."
"That's right. So, I thought it would be nice to put Ren-kun's children in that orphanage."
"...I see. Any child who wishes will do so."
Showing a gesture of thinking for a moment, Ren replied.
"A child who wishes it? Are you saying some children don't like it?"
"There are children who are on the verge of becoming independent as adventurers. Such children do not need to enter an orphanage."
"Did you register the children in the adventurer's guild?"
"Yes. If I want to prepare a way for them to be independent, the adventurer's guild is the best."
"...Isn't it dangerous?"
Young children working as adventurers. Bishop Mikhail feels uneasy about it.
"It is dangerous. But they don't have to risk much to make a minimum living. In the end, it is up to the children to decide how far they want to go."
"……I see."
It's as Ren says. If you don't want the luxury, you don't have to accept the dangerous request. Whether adventurer work is dangerous or not is up to the individual to decide.
"What else do you want to talk about?"
"That's……"
He has something to talk about. However, it is not something he can talk about in front of other people.
"Babaa told me to solve it because it seems that you're making a strange misunderstanding."
"……I see."
"What is the misunderstanding? I can't talk without asking that first."
Without caring about the people around him at all, Ren urged Bishop Mikhail to talk. Bishop Mikhail couldn't answer that straight.
"Ren-kun, what did you think about the church this time?"
He'll start with this roundabout question. Even this takes a lot of determination.
"I think it's a big thing, because so many people lost their lives."
"Yes. But is that all?"
"Whether this is an unfortunate event or not depends on the church going forward."
"...You mean it's possible that it won't be an unfortunate event?"
Bishop Mikhail is puzzled by Ren's unexpected answer. He could not grasp what Ren was trying to say.
"In the long run. As someone from another world, I don't really understand what the church is for."
"Does that mean it doesn't deserve to exist?"
"I'm not in a position to say that. I just don't know."
"...Please tell me specifically. What do you not understand?"
In Bishop Mikhail's mind, curiosity is becoming stronger than alertness.
"What does the church want? What are your thoughts, Bishop Mikhail?"
"It is to bring peace to the world."
"What is peace?"
"......An era without wars."
"So these are peaceful times, aren't they? The Church has served its purpose."
"Not starting another war"
The current peace is merely a preparatory period before a new war. Bishop Mikhail knows that this is so. It was the Church's objective to minimize it.
"It's impossible. Past history proves it."
Ren denies Bishop Mikhail's words. Wars do not disappear from the world. History proves it.
"But we must aim for it."
"Then are you aiming for it? Is the church acting to prevent war?"
"...I see what you mean."
Not aiming for it. The church accepts that wars will occur. Bishop Mikhail's words do not match the church's previous actions.
"I don't know what you are convinced of. I'm just asking if the Church is taking action to prevent war."
"...We haven't. The church is acting on the assumption that war will break out."
"Then let's go back to the question. What does the church want to do?"
"…………"
He couldn't answer the same question this time. The gap between what it wants to do and what it is actually doing. Bishop Mikhail was reminded of this.
"What is it that you think is so difficult?"
"But what the Church should do is the difficult question."
"No. What I am asking is not what it should do, but what it wants to do."
"What it wants?"
"Without that, nothing can begin. I do not seek an answer now. But I will repeat the question again."
"That's……"
Bishop Mikhail is overwhelmed by something Ren emited. Not unpleasant. It feels like his heart is trembling with euphoria.
"Bishop Mikhail is the next Pope. What do you want to do as the head of the Church, as the one who is in a position to lead many priests? That will be what the Church wants to do in your time."
"…………"
"You must make a decision."
"...But with just my thoughts."
"That's right. So you must make your thoughts clear and seek agreement with them. You must listen to those who have a different opinion, correct what is right, and learn from what is right."
"What about you, Ren-kun?"
If he took Ren's words as they are, the church will act on its own initiative. Bishop Mikhail could not read Ren's intentions.
"I said something cheeky. I've heard stories like this in another world."
Suddenly, something emanating from Ren's body disappeared, and he returned to the normal Ren. Bishop Mikhail already knows that this normal Ren is a fake.
"...Can I ask you one more thing?"
"What?"
"What do you think of the Anti-Hero Alliance, Ren-kun?"
"A group of madmen who have lost their sense of direction"
"What!?"
Ren's words caused a stir in the conference room. Many faces expressed their dissatisfaction, even if they didn't say it clearly.
"And that goes for the church as well."
"The church too?"
"The Anti-Hero Alliance tried to stop the war by killing the heroes, and the church tried to end the war early by using the heroes. The methods are different, but the purpose is the same."
"……I see."
"Neither of them realizes even such an obvious thing. If you could find a way to match it, you would go on the same path, but you didn't try to do that. You should both calmly think about this."
"That's……"
"Even in the Anti-Hero Alliance, there are those who chose to live and those who still wish to die. It is the former who have remained in the church. "
"...Yes, that's right. The purpose is the same."
Finally, Bishop Mikhail understood Ren's intentions. Ren isn't just talking to Bishop Mikhail. He's talking to everyone here.
"By the way, you don't need to worry about the latter. All you have to do is prepare a place to die for those who want to die. And the place to die is not prepared by the church."
"Ren-kun..."
Who will prepare it? Bishop Mikhail knows the answer. While he speaks good words to unite to stop the war, Ren also thinks bloody things.
"Well, have we cleared up the misunderstanding?"
"Yes. I was very wrong. In many ways."
"Then please correct it. People can correct even if they make mistakes. I hate humans, but this is one of the few things I appreciate about people."
"I agree. Ren-kun, I feel like I'm always learning from you."
"That's just your imagination. You think so because Bishop Mikhail has the capacity to accept the words of any person, no matter how many they are. That is why you deserve to be Pope."
"...Thank you. I will accept that compliment honestly."
Recognized by Ren. Even though Ren was much younger than he was and had no position in the church, Bishop Mikhail could see that he was more than just a tool.
"Now, if you'll excuse me."
"Yeah"
Ren stood up. Everyone in the conference room stood up at the same time. It was good until they stood up. Some of them even kneeled down and hung their heads.
"...There is no need for such a send-off to a low-rank necromancer. Isn't that something you do for His Eminence the Pope? It's the Pope that you support."
"Yes, I understand! We will engrave those words in our hearts!"
Priest Ruminas responded with an excited expression.
"No, it's not that... well, please do your best."
With a wry smile on his face, Ren returned words of encouragement.
"Yes. You too."
"Like I……"
Ren swallowed the words he was about to say and left the conference room. The exhilaration that was drifting in the conference room gradually subsides along with it.
"Who knew Ren-kun? The question has no meaning. It is just a curiosity."
Priest Ruminas was the only one who raised his hand in response to Bishop Mikhail's question.
"So everyone was nervous, even Ruminas, right?"
"…Because we can’t read him. He seems gentle and ruthless. He seems cold and compassionate. No matter how many times I talked to him, I could never understand him. People seem to feel fear of beings they don't understand."
"Yes. His existence is a mystery to me as well. I wonder if it's possible."
"Don't think about it"
"You're saying that?"
In Bishop Mikhail's head, there should be an existence that the Anti-Hero Alliance sought. Priest Ruminas who denied it was strange.
"If you think of relying on anything, you will make the same mistake. I have already been advised of that."
"……Other than that?"
Bishop Mikhail understood that Ren and Priest Ruminas had discussed many things in connection with this matter. He is eager to hear more, knowing that these are probably words from Ren's true heart, which he never usually reveals.
"We are on different paths. That's why I should be openly hostile."
"...That's scary."
"Yes. But I was told it was necessary."
"And why is that?"
"Those who move the times appear from time to time in various forms and with various ideas. Therefore, he said, we need something that will always exist with the same aspiration. That we need an entity that has the power to correct the times."
They may know the meaning of the words, but they do not know their intent. It is the same for all of them present here.
"......How far away does he see?"
"I can't even begin to imagine."
"Then we must decide on that ambition. Let's all think about it."
"Yes!"
From this day on, the church began to move toward reform in earnest. Without giving up the ideal, but without forgetting the reality.
◇◇◇
The change in the church has also affected the hero candidates. Although it was done in a way that was not visible, it certainly changed the mindset of the hero candidates.
One of the effects of this change became visible in the classrooms of the academy.
"Eh? Leave the party?"
Yuya, who was unexpectedly consulted in the classroom, was surprised.
"Yes. I'm sorry, but I've decided to do so."
The other person was Nagai Shu, a hero candidate in Class B,
"Why?"
"I'm not as good as Kisaragi, but I'm a hero candidate too. I have to use the power I've been given properly."
"That's only natural."
"I think there are other countries that need my power."
"Is that what you mean? But there is no other country that treats us as well as Luine does."
Yuya thought that the reason why he was thinking about leaving the party was that his feelings were shaken by invitations from other countries.
"I know. But do you need multiple heroes in such a large country? I think most things can be solved without us."
As Shu said, it is the small countries that are really in trouble. In small countries with meager armies, there are many other situations where the power of the hero can be utilized besides war, such as exterminating bandits and monsters.
"I don't think so."
"This is my opinion. I don't care what Kisaragi thinks."
Yuya could at least understand that these words were an expression of his refusal to be persuaded. Having lost the chance to persuade him, Yuya turns to Shizuru as usual.
“Shizuru should say something to him, too. I don't think it's a good idea to be rash."
"I agree. I think it is not a good idea to be rash. But if you have thought long and hard before making a decision, it might not be a bad idea."
"Eh?"
This is not what Yuya was looking for.
"Eh? Did I say something strange?"
"This is where you stop him, right?"
"But I don't have the courage to choose someone else's life."
"But I'm sure he'll regret it."
"That's his own responsibility. Am I wrong?"
"……That's right, but."
Shizuru's words are correct. Yuya couldn't deny it.
"It's exactly what Tojo-san said. I might regret it, but that's something I decided on my own. It is better than being influenced by others and regretting it."
With the unexpected support of Shizuru, Shu clearly expressed his thoughts to Yuya.
"You'll regret it for sure."
"Even so, if it's something I decided for myself, you can give up on it. I'm not going to follow Kisaragi. I've already made up my mind.."
"……Have it your way"
"Yeah, I will."
The end is like a quarrel farewell. With this, one person left Yuya's group. And things don't end there.
"Y-you see?"
Seiji Mitsui, also a member of Yuya's party, called out to him hesitantly.
"What?"
"I'm leaving too"
"Eh?"
"The reason is the same as Nagai-kun. I want to go to a country that needs me more."
"……What about you?"
Yuya's question was directed to another member, Takuma Yamaguchi.
"Actually, me too"
"...Then, do whatever you want. In return, I will never accept it even if you guys say you want to go back."
"Yeah, I know. Then I'm sorry."
"My bad"
The two of them awkwardly leave the place. The only ones left were Yuya and Shizuru, all the members that were gathered by cutting off the Class C hero candidates have all left the group.
"What are we going to do?"
"I don't have a problem without them. We only took them because Ryan and the others recommended them."
"Yeah"
"And there are plenty of other people who want to go to Luine. You just have to choose."
"That's right."
From now on, Yuya will come to realize that it was a naive idea. Yuya doesn't know the fact that various things are moving where he can't see.
And it's not just Yuya.
At the guild headquarters training ground, Jin and the others were training as usual.
"You're getting pretty good."
"Really? Well, I'm feeling it as well."
Akira looked satisfied after his one-on-one with Jin. He knew that Jin was holding back, but he still has the feeling that he is making Jin exert a lot more effort than he did in the beginning.
"If it's a Class B opponent, can't I fight more than evenly?"
"If you don't, it means you haven't grown since last time."
He had already fought evenly in the previous tournament. Akira's next goal is to be even better.
"That's right. Then Class A."
"...As expected, that would not be good."
Class A is the same class as Jin. As expected, Akira is not optimistic enough to think that he can fight evenly.
"There are differences in strength even within Class A. Not everyone has the same strength as Yuya."
"I know that. But..."
Let alone Yuya, He doesn't think he will be able to win against Jin, who is inferior to Yuya. He didn't say those words out of concern for Jin.
"Let's go to the academy once to check the ability of Class A. If you measure your own strength with that, you will gain confidence."
"I hope so."
"It’s okay. Well, since Kou is not here, I guess we'll call it a day."
"Kou is slacking off too much."
"It seems that he is busy with work. Kou’s main occupation is armor craftsman. I can't blame him."
"Well, that's true."
What Jin said made sense, but Akira still felt something that did not add up. The reason why Kou has not been coming to training for the past six months or so is that he has been so busy. Akira had not been told by Kou why he had suddenly become so busy.
"Come on, Riko and the others are here. Let's go back to the cafeteria."
"Riko and the others huh?"
"...Right?"
"Yes, yes"
Jin and Akira headed to the cafeteria after washing off their sweat in the water at the training grounds. Riko and Manami weren't the only ones waiting.
"Mei, it's been a while. Why are you here?"
Jin is surprised when Mei shows up for the first time in a while.
"I'm an adventurer, too."
"To receive a request?"
"I'm just kidding. Of course, I'm here because I want to talk to you, you know?"
"I guess. And what do you want to talk about?"
"I'll take Manami under my wing."
"Wha!?" "Eh!?"
Mei's words were spoken without hesitation. The other two were surprised.
"That's all I have to say."
"Don't be selfish! What are you talking about!?"
Jin expresses anger at Mei's words. But this anger would soon subside.
"I'm not selfish. I've talked it over with Manami and we've decided on it."
"……You're kidding, right?"
It's not selfish. After confirming Manami's intention, Mei came to talk to Jin. It is obvious if you think about it. Manami did not refute Mei's words at all.
"You should speak for yourself here."
Prompted by Mei, Manami opens her mouth.
"What Mei said is true. I decided to stay with Mei."
"Why? Can you tell me why?"
"There are various reasons, but the most important thing is that I'm not wanted?”
"Not wanted?"
"I know that the people of the Izrim Magic Kingdom are telling you to change the members you bring."
If he's going to take others with him anyway, They'd rather have a better companion than a Class C hero candidate. The Izrim Magic Kingdom has been asking Jin for this for a long time.
"I clearly refused that. I won't let the Izrim Magic Kingdom complain."
In fact, Jin has always refused to do so. But that is not the whole reason why Manami wants to go to Mei.
"Then why did Jin choose me?"
"That's because I wanted to work hard together with Manami."
"Why did you think so?"
"Eh?"
Jin couldn't immediately find an answer to the question.
"I hardly ever talked to Jin. So why did you choose me?"
"That's……"
"I know the answer. Jin didn't choose me. Because Riko mentioned your name. I came here without permission. I thought you were Kazuki's friend. That's why I was by your side."
"…………"
"That's right."
"…Are you saying that Mei is different?"
This means that he is affirming Manami's words. A smile with a hint of disappointment appears in Manami's mouth.
"Mei doesn't expect too much of me. She doesn't promise to treat me excessively. That means she sees and appreciates me properly."
"Is that good enough for you?"
"Better than one of anyone."
Manami casually uttered words containing poison. The phrase [Better than one of anyone] means that there are other members who are the same.
"I didn't mean it that way."
Jin denies Manami's words. But he doesn't seem to notice Manami's words.
"But you didn't even see it."
"I……"
"I've already decided. My feelings won't change."
"…Are you gathering allies?"
Knowing that no matter what he said to Manami, nothing would change, Jin turned his gaze to Mei.
"Well, it's better to have allies than not."
"Why did you choose Manami?"
"Because she's a mage."
"That's all?"
"Ara, Manami is also a hero candidate. Although she's a low-ranked mage, she has intermediate ability. Besides, I'm collecting the necessary human resources for myself. The country needs it. We're gathering people."
The Lemberg Empire is inferior to magic forces. In order to do something about it, Mei is trying to bring as many excellent mages as possible.
"Is it for the Lemberg Empire?"
"Exactly."
"I see."
"Now that we have that out of the way, We'll be on our way. The next time we meet... you know, right?"
"Yes"
Mei and Manami left their seats and went down the stairs together. Jin stares blankly at them.
"Jin, don’t worry about it. Manami has been dissatisfied for some time."
Riko offers words of comfort to Jin, who looks shocked.
"I didn't notice it"
"It's Manami's fault for not talking to you properly. Jin is not responsible for that. You can't read other people's minds."
"That's true, but..."
"Let's find someone good and ask them out again. It's all right."
"Certainly, we have to do that. It hurts to lose a mage."
"Then let's go to the academy tomorrow."
"Yeah, let's do that."
There is no need to bring a mage with him to go to the Izrim Magic Kingdom. Jin's focus remains on his own party, not on the country. Mei's advice, half sarcastic, didn't reach Jin. But that doesn't mean he will. It is not easy to find new people to invite.
◇◇◇
Bishop Mikhail, with renewed enthusiasm for reforming the Church, is not without trouble.
A request from Ren brought by Priest Ruminas. That's what worries Bishop Mikhail now. In this case, there was only one thing that Ren wanted. That's why he tried to accept it, but when he thought about the consequences it will bring, only anxiety grows.
"Is this really the right thing to do?"
Bishop Mikhail consulted Priest Ruminas about the anxiety in his heart.
"He would not do anything deceptive. He's a person who takes promises very seriously."
"I understand that too. But to induce the candidates to split is the opposite of what the Church has been trying to do."
Until now, the Church has tried to concentrate the candidates in the major powers. This would hasten the conquest of the continent by the major powers. Thinking that the war would end quickly.
"That person said this. The church overestimates the heroes. The heroes are indeed strong. But they cannot change the world with a small number of people. It is the champions, not the heroes, who can do it."
"I wondered where he got the doctrine of the Church, and I didn't realize he can come up with it on his own."
"The Church is what it is today because he has the brains to come up with it."
"So we have to believe that?"
"He also said that he would prove that the heroes are only at this level. If he can't do that, he said he would change direction again."
"That part of him is really sincere. And yet, what he asks is far from sincere."
"That's the kind of person he is."
"Well, if you say so, let's wait and see."
"Yes"
If anyone could influence the psychology of a hero candidate, it would be the church. The church was moving to divide the cohesive group of hero candidates in response to Ren's request. The group will be reorganized at once by the overlap of the thoughts of Mei and others there.
thanks for the chapter!
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