“Finally, I believe that faith is something that exists for the living, not the dead. In order not to drag our sadness with us, to live through the pains of our daily lives, and to live our lives as good people, we should have faith. I pray that no person will be harmed by that faith.”
I pray that no person will be harmed by that faith.
This was the thing that Souma most wanted to say.
Ever since the Demon Lord’s Domain had appeared, the people had had no end of things to worry about. In times like this, religion became more active as the people’s hearts relied on it for support, and when religion grew more active, conflicts between different religions and sects arose. The people’s support would turn into something that hurt them.
There might not have been many people in the kingdom who fully understood that. However, his words would stick in their ears.
As if trying to change the mood, Souma clapped his hands. “Well, that’s enough serious talk. Now that every religion that registers will be becoming a state religion, we have a little event planned. Roroa will explain.”
“Righty-o! Just you leave it to me!” Roroa exclaimed.
When Souma stepped aside, an adorable girl with her hair tied back in two tails came to stand beside him.
“Howdy-do, I’m the former Princess of Amidonia and Souma’s third fiancée, Roroa. How’s everyone in the Kingdom of Friedonia doin’ out there?”
Witnessing her inexhaustible supply of cheer, the people of Elfrieden were dumbfounded, while the people of Amidonia smiled wryly and said, “That’s just like our princess.” The serious atmosphere that had been building up until that point vanished as if it had all been a lie, and it had never been there to begin with. Even King Souma was stunned.
“…That’s the tone you’re doing this in, Roroa?” Souma asked.
“It’s fine, darlin’,” Roroa said confidently. “Since I’m on Juna’s Together With Big Sis, the people already know what kind of character I am.”
“I thought that casting choice was pretty forced, though…”
Souma slumped his exhausted shoulders. He seemed less like her fiancé and more like a big brother being run ragged by his little sister; but the people of the kingdom felt at ease watching them.
Then Roroa turned toward the screen, put her hands on her hips, and said, “Now, we’re gonna be makin’ all of the religions that register with us into state religions, but I’ve got a li’l request for ya all when you’re registerin’. If any of you have interestin’ festivals for your gods, be sure to tell us, would ya? In Darlin’s world, I hear that some religious events have been turned into national festivals, and believers and non-believers alike enjoy ’em together. Why don’t we have ourselves a real good time doin’ that in this country, too?”
Roroa threw her arms up and the people cheered. It seemed that even if they didn’t understand what she was saying, they had reacted to the word “festival.” They were excited that something fun was going to happen.
Incidentally, right after that, Roroa whispered, “Besides, if we make a festival of it, that’ll get the money movin’, and that’d just tickle me pink,” but her voice was low enough that it only made Souma who was beside her smile wryly.
Roroa winked at the screen. “Well, since I’m sure just talkin’ about it isn’t givin’ ya all a good sense of what I mean, I probably oughta give ya a concrete example. So, Old Man Souji, come over here and explain for the people.”
“Oh, come on, Little Miss Roroa, calling me an old man is a bit much…” The one who appeared saying that was a human man, about forty years old, with a muscular body. He spoke with a wry tone, rubbing his smooth head which was as tanned as the rest of his body. “I’m still a Lunarian Orthodox bishop, you know.”
Now that he mentioned it, the man was wearing the uniform (?) of a Lunarian Orthodox priest. That (?) is there because he wore it loosely… Too loosely in fact, and it had been modified to an almost scandalous degree. The long sleeves were cut short, and his pants and ceremonial robe only went down to just below the knees. When this fit and tanned man wore the outfit, it looked like a samue, an outfit that Japanese Zen Buddhist monks wore while engaged in simple physical work.
Roroa voiced an objection. “An old man’s an old man. Besides, I think it’s a bit much for you to be callin’ the soon-to-be third primary queen ‘little miss.’”
Those were fighting words, and the man responded in kind. “Don’t add in the octopus part! Now listen here, little missie, you’re going to be a married woman soon, so you’d better develop at least one kind of overflowing sexiness.”
“Wh-What was that?! Just you watch…” Roroa suddenly struck a pose and tried to moan erotically, but the man just chuckled.
The fact that he had laughed at the best sexy pose (?) she could manage sent Roroa into angry mode, and Souma had to hurriedly pin her arms behind her back.
“Let go of me, darlin’!” she shouted. “I can’t boil that octopus like this!”
“Calm down, Roroa. I thought you were cute,” Souma said and patted her on the head.
Roroa’s head spun to look at him. “…Ya mean it?”
“Sure, you were real cute.”
“Hm… Well, I’ll forgive him, then.”
That’s all it took?! thought the people watching. These people weren’t familiar with husband and wife manzai comedy routines, so they didn’t know exactly what they were being shown, but they were relieved that everything had been resolved peaceably.
Souma smiled wryly and said to the man in the customized priest’s uniform, “Now then, Sir Souji, if you could handle the rest of the explanation.”
“Understood, King Souma.”
With that said, the man took one step forward.
“Greetings to you, people of Friedonia. I am the bishop who has been sent by the Orthodox Papal State of Lunaria to organize the faithful in this country: Souji Lester.”
Chapter 5: The Commandment-breaking Bishop, Souji Lester
Late in the 3rd month, 1,547th year, Continental Calendar — Holy Capital Yumuen
A member of the court of inquiry spoke up. “We’ve had enough of this, Bishop Lester.”
On this day, in Yumuen, the holy capital of the Orthodox Papal State, in the main church that was the center of the Orthodox faith, an inquiry was being held for a certain man.
The man who stood in the dark room surrounded by the members of the court of inquiry was Souji Lester. He was a bishop.
For those involved with Lunarian Orthodoxy, standing in front of the members of a court of inquiry was the same as being before a judge with the power to declare innocence or guilt. If he were excommunicated here, he would lose all of the protections and rights that this country provided to him. In this country, to cease being a member of the faith was to put yourself in a position where you could be killed and no one would complain.
However, despite being the one under judgment, Souji didn’t seem the least bit tense. In fact, he wore a bold smile, even seeming to enjoy his current situation. In response to his attitude, a member of the court of inquiry presented a complaint.
“Do you understand the graveness of your situation in being summoned here?” the member said in an intimidating tone.
However, Souji’s bold smile was unbroken. “Yes. This is a place to judge whether a member of the faith will be excommunicated or not. If they had done wrong, anyone would tremble in fear of this place. However, I have nothing to be ashamed of, and so I am at peace.” The man spoke politely, but his attitude seemed mocking.