Chapter 82

"Are you saying that Bishop Paulo will cover for me?"

"Hehehe, there's no need to be so afraid. It's not as if I'm going to eat you or anything. The story is simple. You gave the Barka surname to the villagers through me. If we explain it that way, everything will be smoothed over."

"But I don't understand why Bishop Paulo would do that. Why would he cover for me?"

"The reason is simple. You are the cause of everything. The reason I was promoted from priest to bishop is because of the magic you provided. If you were to disappear, there's a risk that my rank could be lowered."

"…I see. So, ranks can be lowered too, huh?"

"Yes, there are cases where that happens. Moreover, I also have a reason to keep this incident as quiet as possible. Ars, who performed the naming ceremony in my jurisdiction, abused the secret rites to gain power. I would prefer to keep that scandal hidden."

"Oh, so it's a scandal."

"Of course, I would naturally want to maintain a good relationship with you in the future. A little inaccuracy in reports to the upper echelons is quite common, you know."

"The Church organization is scary… But if you can help me, I'll be grateful."

"But it can't be for free. Your actions were too conspicuous. At the very least, let's go through the motions of almsgiving, even if it's a bit out of order."

*More money talk.*

*But I guess it can't be helped.*

*Originally, when a noble appoints someone as a knight, they have to go through the Church and perform almsgiving before the naming ceremony.*

*So, if the number of knights increases, it means money goes to the Church.*

*This time, the number of people who can use magic has exploded in Barka Village.*

*If I report that I asked Bishop Paulo to name them and spread magic, it would be strange if there were no cost involved.*

*It seems I need to provide some money to make the false report credible.*

"Alright, I'll pay. How much?"

"Hmm, about this much should be fine, don't you think?"

"Wha!! Isn't that too much? All the money I've saved will be gone!"

"That means it's not an amount you can't pay, right? I'm honestly surprised. Normally, no one could afford such an amount. You really did something significant, didn't you?"

*Damn.*

*He says it so easily.*

*He's asking for all the money I've earned from selling serval beasts, magic mushrooms, and other things.*

*Is that really the official price?*

*I can't help but wonder if he knows my total assets.*

"Wait a moment. If it's to resolve this situation, I don't mind spending all my money. But if it's just to resolve the issue with the Church, it wouldn't make sense to spend all my wealth. Isn't Bishop Paulo going to propose a solution that includes the Fontana family?"

"Hehe, you're perceptive. I'll try to handle that issue as well."

"Can you really handle it, Bishop Paulo?"

"I believe it's possible. Let me explain. The reason I was away from this place recently was to determine the area I would oversee as a bishop after my promotion. I was given the responsibility to oversee the churches in the Fontana territory, including Barka Village."

"Fontana territory? So, you're in charge of all the churches in the Fontana family's territory?"

"Exactly."

"That's impressive, but… I don't understand how that will help in dealing with the Fontana family."

"Is that so? Then let me ask you a question. This time, you opposed the Fontana family. From their perspective, what do you think they are most concerned about in this incident?"

"The Fontana family's concern? Maybe they're worried about whether they can win next time after losing to me once?"

"That's not it. You're not seeing the core of the issue."

*What's this?*

*Again, I'm being told I don't understand the core of the issue…*

*When Madoc said that to me before, it was about a conflict with a woodcutter, wasn't it?*

*Back then, it was about disregarding the woodcutter's pride.*

"Is it about how the nobles will save face?"

"No, not at all. Listen, Ars. The most important thing for the Fontana family in this incident is where the magic used by the Barka forces came from."

"Where from? If I named them, wouldn't the nobles investigate that? Don't they already know?"

"No, that's not the case. Normally, there aren't many people who can use magic. Moreover, peasants don't grant magic to others. So, who would do that? Only nobles. However, the magic used by the Barka forces is not from the Fontana family. Therefore, the Fontana family suspects that another noble has granted magic to their peasants to incite a rebellion."

*I see.*

*Now that you mention it, it makes sense.*

*The starting point was the rapid development of the forest and the construction of a fortress-like wall.*

*They suspected there were troublemakers.*

*The moment they tried to seize the land, a soldier was killed, and the peasants, seemingly incited, started a riot and even attacked the noble army.*

*Thinking about it this way, it doesn't seem like a simple peasant uprising.*

*It would be more normal to think that there was some deliberate action involved.*

*The involvement of other nobles would be a natural assumption.*

"So, I'll talk to the Fontana family. I'll tell them that no other nobles were involved, and that the magic you used was granted by me to the peasants. There was no interference from other nobles; the residents simply rebelled when their land was about to be taken. Only I, who have known you since childhood, can say this."

"Isn't that dangerous for Bishop Paulo?"

"I'll do the groundwork in advance. Of course, it would be impossible without the almsgiving from you."

*Money is needed for persuasion and groundwork too.*

*As they say, even hell can be swayed with money.*

*Bishop Paulo is taking a risk, but my existence must be important.*

*If I were to die, his rank might be lost.*

*So, even if he says he's doing it for me, he's probably also doing it for himself.*

*Thus, I decided to pay Bishop Paulo to resolve the situation and negotiate with the Fontana family.*

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