Chapter 89 – Church Part 2
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Translator: SFBaka
Editor: Thor’s Stone
“Welcome, Lord Corinth. Congratulations on receiving such an honor. And I also offer my most heartfelt congratulations for your appointment as this kingdom’s Lord Protector.”
“Thank you, Bishop Gertner.”
“Lord Corinth, I’d like to talk to you in private if you don’t mind……”
“But of course. I’m sorry, but please outside with everyone, you two.”
“Yes, My Lord.”
Selena and Sharon promptly headed outside the reception room. I wonder what the bishop wants to discuss with me in private. Oh, maybe it’s about that apostle thing huh?
“I was honestly quite surprised. I did not expect that you actually came to the royal capital in order to be conferred the title of baron, Lord Corinth.”
“I’m sorry for failing to inform you about it the last time.”
“No, no, I believe you also have your circumstances to think about. Did you come to the church today due to another dream about the Goddess’s apostle?”
“Oh, well, I suppose there’s that too, but I came today mainly because I have a favor to ask of you, Bishop.”
“Hou. Do tell.”
“To get straight to the point, I would like you to dispatch a priest to my new territory.”
“……By ‘new territory’, do you mean the Great Demon Forest, Lord Corinth? You really mean to develop in such a place?”
“That’s right. However, due to some of my goals, it’s become imperative that a church be built in my territory as soon as possible.”
“……I personally would like to offer my cooperation, but I’m afraid that I would not be able to fulfill such a request, unfortunately.”
“And what is the reason?”
“If it was just a piece of undeveloped land, it should have been possible to dispatch a priest or two after some negotiation, but if that land is actually the dreaded Great Demon Forest, then I would not be able to give an approval, nor would any other bishop in my position.”
The dispatch of a priest ended up being so troublesome. Maybe it’s because of the collegial system the church uses. I wonder if I can make it work somehow.
“If it’s donations, I am more than willing to hand over as much as the church requires……”
“No, heavens no, Lord Corinth. It’s not actually a problem about the dispatch of priests per se, but the problems that would be coupled with the establishment of the Great Demon Forest as a new parish. As a mere bishop, my hands are tied. The archbishop might be able to make a decision on the matter, but……”
“Is it possible for you to introduce me to the archbishop then, Bishop Gertner?”
“……Unfortunately, the archbishop is currently indisposed due to illness. Now, this is confidential mind you, but presently, no one is allowed for a visit.”
I’ve heard from Iris that the leader of this kingdom’s church officials is the archbishop, but I wasn’t aware that he’s actually fallen sick.
In the next moment, a transmission came from Iris.
(Captain, in fifteen days after the current archbishop has fallen sick, an election for the next archbishop to replace him would be held. Bishop Gertner seems to be an active candidate for the position, but it looks like his prospects aren’t looking too good.)
……I see. I get it. I knew what Iris was implying.
“There should be a meeting between bishops that would decide something of monumental importance that would be occurring fifteen days from now, correct?”
“……Where have you heard of such news?”
“The castle. I managed to witness another dream by the way. The great apostle will appear after the 11 o’clock bell has finished ringing.”
I continued the conversation while looking straight at the good bishop’s eyes. I do hope he’d notice what I was getting at……
Bishop Gertner also stared back at me without breaking eye contact.
“……Are you absolutely sure, Lord Corinth?”
“My dreams have never failed to come true until now, Bishop.”
“……Understood. Thank you for telling me. Allow me some time to think about the matter regarding the dispatch of a priest to your territory first. It is still quite unlikely, but I do believe there is still some hope.”
“Thank you. I’m sorry for imposing this matter upon you, Bishop Gertner. I do hope there would be some good news soon.”
If the meaning behind my words was successfully conveyed to him, then our dear bishop would probably be quite busy in the following days. It wouldn’t be long before the clock strikes eleven.
When I returned to the main chapel, I saw that Cleria and the others were still enthusiastically praying. Selena and Sharon sat on a pew and were looking a little bored.
“You’re done, Alan? How was your discussion with the bishop?”
“Mm, there seem to be some difficulties. It looks like I’ll have to take my time and keep negotiating with him patiently.”
“I see……”
After a few moments, several Sisters rushed inside the chapel in a hurry.
“Everyone! It seems like Bishop Gertner will be holding a special sermon today for the devout believers of our beloved Goddess!”
“”Ooh.””
“His Excellency will……”
“His Excellency will be conducting it in the public square outside of the church to allow as many believers to attend as possible. Everyone, please head outside to the square in an orderly fashion.”
It looks like he did catch on huh.
It seems a personal sermon by the bishop was quite a big deal, and the believers didn’t hesitate to go outside excitedly in droves.
We decided to go out along with the rest of the crowd as well.
It seems the Sisters thought the number of people attending was still insufficient, so they started calling out to the pedestrians walking on the streets surrounding the church.
When about a hundred and fifty people have gathered in front of the church square, Bishop Gertner finally appeared.
He walked up to the lectern that was set up for him earlier and started preaching to the people. The audience listened with bated breath.
(D-1, circle around the areas surrounding the church in low altitude. Turn off Stealth Mode at my signal.)
『Roger that, Captain.』
Hm? Well, that was a bit odd. Did D-1 just address me as ‘Captain’ (Taichou)[1]? If I remember correctly, the drones have always addressed me as ‘Captain’ (Kanchou)[2].
Oh, come to think of it, I’ve become the on-site commander of the imperial space marines just recently huh. Maybe the reason the drones behaved rather stiffly around me before was that I was still commanding them using my authority as a starship captain back then.
Anyway, to summarize our good bishop’s sermon, he basically opined that even though the world is rife with suffering, you will be alright as long as you believed in the grace of the Goddess. It was your typical religious sermon in which one says that wonderful things will be waiting for you in the afterlife even though you are enduring hardship in this life.
When the 11 o’clock bell began to ring, the bishop paused his sermon with a great dramatic flourish. Mm. He’s good.
“Oh, great and merciful Goddess! Have pity on your children and allow us to witness your divine grace!”
He then held his arms up into the sky with a fervent look on his face. The attendees followed suit and looked up as well.
(Now.)
“T-That is–!”
“”Ooooh!””
“It’s the Great Apostle!”
The people who attended the sermon all knelt down and prayed fervently. The bishop also knelt down to pray.
“That’s the Great Apostle of the Goddess?”
Cleria and the others hurriedly knelt down to pray as well. Oops. Guess I have to kneel down too huh.
(D-1, slowly raise your altitude. After 30 seconds, switch back to Stealth Mode.)
『Roger.』
After the ‘apostle of the Goddess’ disappeared beyond the heavens, the people looked toward the bishop in a daze.
“The Lord is always watching over us all.”
After capping up his sermon with those final words, the bishop nodded to the people, slowly stepped down from behind the lectern, and entered back into the church.
The audience saw his back off in stunned silence.
Damn, that guy really deserves an acting award or two. I didn’t expect he’d be able to go this far. Impressive.
Being able to somehow commune with the Goddess’ Apostle spiritually is a really big deal among the believers.
If a show like this is conducted a few more times, I’m a hundred percent sure that the bishop’s fame within the church will tremendously skyrocket. Actually, even this one incident should be more than enough.
Anyway, let’s continue to keep in touch with the good bishop from here on out.
TL Notes:
[1] Taichou (隊長) – Japanese word for Captain or Commander. It’s usually used to denote the captain of a squad or unit in the military.
[2] Kanchou (艦長) – Japanese word for Captain. It’s used to refer to the captain of a ship.
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