Episode 246
About eight days after the end of the pilgrimage, we entered the border of the Holy Land.
After two more days inside, we were finally able to arrive at Selonia.
Those who had been tired of camping repeatedly until now burst into admiration again as they saw the magnificent Selonia Castle.
“great. Thinking of building a castle on top of a cliff…”
“This is a holy kingdom…”
As the majestic fortress placed on top of a rocky cliff reveals its dignity, Iriel’s shoulders are also stretched.
“Whoop whoop.”
I couldn’t understand why he was so proud of me.
After assigning more than 200 people to the annex, Ray and Iriel requested an audience with the Pope.
Ecclei obediently responded.
Entering Daejeon, the pious decorations and the statue of Goddess Gaia stand out as usual.
In the center was Ecclei, who was sitting on the throne of the Pope, and it was quite nice to see that his face was bright.
Ray gave her a slight nod.
“long time no see. How have you been?”
“Hohoho, thanks to you, I was able to get along well. It was quite difficult financially, but that was also solved by opening a trade route with the Lessian Empire.”
“thank god. Although the empire is far away, it is sure to make money.”
“I’m a little worried because the emperor has a strict side… but how was your first pilgrimage?”
Iriel sighed at her question.
“It was a series of twists and turns. In addition to the pilgrimage to the kingdom of Celia and the kingdom of Frias, we even went on an unexpected voyage.”
Eclay laughed happily.
“Ho-ho-ho-ho. I’m glad it didn’t happen anyway.”
She looks at Ray as she speaks.
“Originally, I was going to tell you the news about the academy, but it would be better for you to hear it yourself, right? A lot of people are waiting, so go ahead.”
“I have something to say about it.”
“…okay? It is unexpected that you have something to say.”
Waiting for an answer, I leaned back in my chair, and soon he spat out an unconventional word.
“I intend to leave the seongguk once the academy is stable.”
“yes!?”
At his sudden words, Ecclei was second to none, and even Iriel was shocked.
“What are you talking about?”
“Does that mean you will quit being a saint?”
Responds to Eclay’s question in a calm voice.
“yes.”
“Do you think that would be possible?”
It sounded like he was just asking a question, but there were many meanings in that one word.
It is impossible to quit adulthood by thinking common sense.
How can one give up the position of a saint chosen by God and held by the Seongguk with one person’s will?
Still, his eyes didn’t know how to bend.
No, rather, they look at each other with burning blue eyes.
“We will make it possible.”
A single word from him had the power to make her mouth shut.
As the pope closed his mouth, only the saintess was troubled.
“Suddenly…!”
“It’s something I’ve been thinking about before. You told me many times before you came to Seongguk in the first place.”
“But, where is the person who wants to leave like this!”
“Seongguk, which was in the midst of a period of spring poverty, faced a period of abundance like never before. Trade routes with other countries have been opened and trade has become active. I think now is the most appropriate time if you want to leave now that the domestic affairs have become stable after weeding out the aristocrats who committed corruption.”
Iriel’s trembling voice did not stop even with those words that were clearly reflected.
“It’s not like that! Why didn’t you discuss a word with me? I was always by your side!”
“…”
Things got pretty bad, so Eclay intervened.
“Calm down. Just as you have your own thoughts, Ray also has his own thoughts. But…”
She turned her gaze to Ray.
“This time, the method was not good. Do you know that too?”
“…yes.”
“Look at the two of you solving your problems together. However, you shouldn’t carry on with the problem of the castle.”
The two of them had to greet each other lightly before going to Daejeon.
* * *
Even after coming out of Daejeon, Iriel’s mood did not seem to be resolved.
Unlike usual, her lips, which were tightly closed, showed no sign of opening, and the area around her stubborn eyes turned red.
“I’ll go.”
She didn’t even make eye contact, she said with her back turned.
After leaving only one word, he enters the saintess’ mansion.
It seems that the feeling is firmly hurt.
With a sigh, he also headed for the mansion.
As I entered the old mansion with weary steps, Eucliwood and Mary greeted me.
“welcome. Thank you for your hard work on the first pilgrimage.”
“It’s been a while, Holy Son!”
“As soon as I get back, I’m sorry, but I have something to report.”
“Let’s listen as we go.”
“All right.”
Eucliwood lowers his head and leads me to the bedroom.
As I walked through the corridors, I saw faces I had never seen before, as if how many more quarrels had occurred in the large mansion.
‘Are there not enough workers?’
Recognizing Ray’s inner thoughts, she explained.
“As the chief lady-in-waiting, I have to nurture the next generation, so I brought in a few useful talents. Please feel free to call me if you need anything.”
“okay. More than that, what is the report about?”
“There are many things… but the first is about what you commanded.”
“Are they the aristocrats who committed corruption?”
“yes. As the Holy Son ordered, we cooperated with Hongyeong to eradicate the corrupt aristocrats. However, significant losses were incurred along the way.”
At Eucliwood’s words, Ray tilted his head.
“If it’s a loss, can’t we solve it by confiscating the private property of the nobles?”
“We have already completed confiscation measures for enlisted soldiers and territory, but the problem is that the loss is so great that it exceeds that.”
“Mmm.”
Certainly, if the ruler of the territory suddenly disappeared and the corps they operated were scattered, the damage would be great.
However, Eclay must have had a hard time waking up because it was impossible to immediately invest the nobles and grant the territory.
“So… I personally managed the property of the Belacroix family. Please pay for your sins.”
Eucliwood knelt down and bowed his head.
Considering the people, even being called a hero is not enough.
Even so, I apologized as if I had committed a mortal sin, and I laughed with pleasure.
“It is not a sin to save people by using personal property, but it should be a good deed. I don’t know if it’s a compliment, but I won’t forgive you.”
“It overflows in parts. I don’t know what to do.”
Eucliwood’s expressionless expression shakes a little at the unexpected praise.
Ray asked as he pulled out a chair and sat down.
“What is the second report?”
“…The second is about the academy. If it was before, even the Holy Son would know about it. The influx of students has started to increase…”
He nods as she pauses.
I left it with Richie and Zeke, but it seems that the two couldn’t afford to pay attention to the details.
Eucliwood, who returned with his characteristic expressionless expression, continued.
“It’s good that the influx of new students has increased, but the Medical Academy currently has the same building as the Magic Academy. It is a situation where students who exceed the limit cannot be accepted. For this reason, we formally requested the construction of the building to His Holiness the Pope, and it has been completed.”
“That is a good thing.”
“yes. But if we keep going like this, the building will be full of new students before it’s even finished. The Magic Academy doesn’t like it either.”
In other words, both sides are in trouble.
As a solution, there may be a way to not accept new students or reduce the number, but in that case, the sails of the ships with sails may be broken at best.
It would be crazy to reduce the number of new students now that they are starting to get attention.
Rather, it would be better to increase the academy’s land or purchase decent facilities and conduct classes.
“It’s an admiral’s group, but I bought the facilities of a nearby orphanage. Freshmen were handled there, and current students were treated as classes at the academy.”
“good job. If you do that, how much more can you get in the future?”
“It’s a guess, but maybe about one hundred and fifty people….”
“One hundred and fifty…”
Even the clan brought from the West Continent alone had over two hundred people.
It’s a much more embarrassing situation than I thought.
Ray thought for a moment and asked.
“How about buying another facility?”
At that question, Eucliwood shook his head.
“There is only a market nearby. That’s why I can’t buy an inn…”
Professors are not enough, but even places are not enough.
To make matters worse, the number of new students increases day by day.
He sat down in a chair and was deep in thought before opening his mouth.
“…What if we use the mansions of the fallen nobles?”
“It’s not a good way… but six hundred would be a good rule of thumb.”
“Then find the fallen noble near the academy and report back to me.”
said Eucliwood in amazement.
“If commoners study in a nobleman’s mansion, there will definitely be a backlash from the nobles.”
“If it is said that it was carried out under my orders, it will fade to some extent. Solve matters related to freshmen by working with Hongyoung again. If it is an aristocratic mansion in the academy, the receptionist will know everything about it.”
She was about to say something, but she shut her mouth.
“All right. Then, please ask the saintess for cooperation. If the two adults agree, the resistance from the nobles will be easily quelled.”
“…okay.”
Eucliwood left the bedroom only after completing a few more brief reports.
When she left, Ray was left alone in the large room.
He tried to take a nap on the tiring journey, but eventually woke up at the last expression of Iriel in front of his eyes.
‘Why didn’t you discuss a word with me? I was always by your side!’
As her voice filled with sadness echoed in his ears, he scratched the back of his head and let out a sigh.
* * *
When I visited Iriel’s mansion after a long time, the maids hurriedly opened their way.
“Meet the saint.”
“Can you call Iriel?”
“I apologize, but the saintess told me that she did not want to meet with anyone.”
“You’re picky.”
“However, he told me to take him to his room if he wanted to talk anyway.”
For a moment, a lady-in-waiting raised her hand politely, even though she was dumbfounded by the inconsistent story.
“Would you like to come in?”
“…guide me.”
