第９７４堀：願いと祈りの受け渡し (Part2)
"Thank you for your courteous greeting. I am truly grateful that you have set aside your valuable time, despite your busy schedule, to accommodate my selfishness."
The elderly Beastman woman responded to my greeting with refined grace. Her demeanor was overflowing with elegance; one could tell at a glance that she was no ordinary person. Seeing the red-haired youth standing behind her in attendance, I surmised she must hold a position of considerable standing within the Haile Religion...
"I serve as the Archbishop of the Haile Religion. My name is Enor."
"...Excuse me? What was that just now?"
I felt as though I had heard a title of immense weight, but... Hah, no, that can't be. My body should still be in its prime, but could my hearing have finally started to fail me?
"My apologies. It seems I was difficult to hear. I serve as the representative of the Haile Religion, and I am Archbishop Enor, the caretaker of the Grand Cathedral at the religion's headquarters. I am truly honored to have been granted an audience with the Emperor of Yupia."
"I-I see. Archbishop Enor, is it?"
Wait. Wait just a moment. Isn't an Archbishop usually the absolute head of a religion? And someone like that is here? Ah, I see. Perhaps across the Great Mountain Range, the title of "Archbishop" corresponds to a lower rank, like a bishop here. And "representative" likely only means she is the representative for the mission to Zurable. ...Even so.
"Forgive me. I hate to expose my own ignorance, but could you explain the standing of an Archbishop within the Haile Religion? In my lands, I recognize that as the pinnacle of the faith. I find it hard to believe that the leader of a religion could travel to such a distant land so easily, with almost no escort."
I decided to ask my question honestly. It would be a disaster if I were to be rude later on.
"Ah, my apologies. It is true that my retinue is small, but there is no mistake—I do indeed serve as the head of the Haile Religion. Your understanding is correct."
"...So, the Archbishop herself has come all this way."
"Yes. As you may have heard, many believers were sacrificed during the birth of the Magic Gear due to our own failures. It is a cursed object, yet it is also a memento left behind by those who perished."
Archbishop Enor spoke with a pained expression, her words filled with sincerity.
"I have said something terribly rude. I truly apologize. Considering what you have brought with you, Archbishop Enor, your caution is only natural."
Yes, it is natural. If the Magic Gear is the final result of those people's lives, it could not be handed over so easily. In fact, if it were me, I would never hand it over, no matter what. If I were to compare it to my own situation, it would be the crystallization of the many people and comrades who have risked their lives alongside me. That is why a question arose in my mind.
"Archbishop Enor. May I ask why you decided to entrust such a precious thing to us?"
As one who stands at the top, I wanted to know how she reached the conclusion that she should hand over such a heavy burden to others. I felt I had to hear the process. Archbishop Enor bowed her head, closed her eyes for a moment, and seemed to be deep in thought. Then, she opened her eyes, looked me straight in the eye, and said...
"Someone told me... that it is a tragedy to let things end in such sorrow."
"Are you referring to the idea that if lives lost to tragedy can become a power to save the future and the people, then it should be used?"
"Yes. It is true that the fact that so many became sacrifices for the Magic Gear is a cursed and sorrowful thing. But is it truly right to simply keep it enshrined forever?"
"..."
That is a difficult question. Many would argue that because they were struck by tragedy, they should be allowed to sleep in peace after death.
"I wondered if they would truly be happy just being enshrined to be mourned. And, I wondered if it was right for us to ignore the fact that we have the power to help those who are living now."
"...And so, you accepted our request... You must have heard from Yuki-dono that we are called wicked rebels, correct?"
"Yes. But I also heard that you are a magnificent king who has decided to swallow both the clean and the dirty, to walk forward even if stained with blood, for the sake of your people."
Ha, she thinks highly of me. If that is the case, I have no choice but to accept it with resolve and wield that power.
"Archbishop Enor. Your feelings have reached me. I will ensure the Magic Gear is used to connect many lives to the future. I am truly happy that you have placed your faith in Yupia."
"No. I only apologize that this is the extent of the help I can offer."
Thus, the meeting with Archbishop Enor proceeded harmoniously, and my Zurable gained a powerful ally.
"...Good grief, I wonder how I should go about thanking Weed."
And so, Archbishop Enor hands over the Magic Gear to the Emperor of Yupia. What will happen as a result... is still unknown. But, you're thinking, "It'll work out somehow," aren't you? Someone is going to end up overworked in the process!