Episode 200 To Celia Kingdom
When Ray arrived at the Holy Land, it was after all the preparations for the pilgrimage had been completed.
From the gates of Selonia Castle, a long procession of wagons stood out.
The paladins in charge of escorting the wagon abruptly folded their knees when they spotted a human figure walking with her robe tied around her waist from afar.
“Huh! Meet the Holy Son!”
“Meet the Holy Son! But… how can I do it alone…?”
The question was, why did you come back alone?
To that, Ray answered without thinking for a long time.
“Iriel kept urging me, so I came alone.”
Selling out Iriel works very well when something is not going well.
In particular, since this was a holy country, the effect was doubled.
The Paladins still seemed to be unresolved, but they agreed without further questioning.
“Um… I see. Please get in the carriage here by an hour.”
After that, he bowed politely and immersed himself in inspecting the wagon again.
Although the distance from the Holy Kingdom to the Kingdom of Celia was not long, it was a pilgrimage for two adults.
As a result, preparations were made more thoroughly and risk factors were excluded as much as possible.
Even now, aren’t the normal coachman and paladins attached to the inspection of the wagon?
It must be proof that the Holy Kingdom is putting a lot of effort into it.
Ray entered the gates, escorted by a handful of guards.
The things he had to pack anyway had already been taken while leaving for the Lessian Empire.
If I had to say what was left, it would be about the books I haven’t read all of them.
He entered Selonia Castle and headed for the saint’s office.
As the guards bowed and withdrew, Ray called the receptionist from the office where he was left alone.
“Hongyoung.”
“Please tell me.”
In a dark place, a woman wearing a tight-fitting night gown knelt down on one knee.
Along with him, the other four receptionists also appeared.
“Report the current situation of the Holy Land, including the Academy.”
“Currently, the Seongguk is in financial trouble. In addition, the number of monsters living in the mountain range has increased rapidly, and each territory is suffering from problems caused by the subjugation of monsters.”
“monster? Is it because the climate has become that warm?”
“yes. Generally, there are frequent monster raids on the nearby territory along the Great Mountains of Gehel from Gehel. It is a situation where the local people are suffering because they have to recruit soldiers even though the finances are still insufficient.”
“You say the people of the territory are suffering from recruiting soldiers? No way…”
Ray frowned and said, and Hongyoung silently lowered her head.
she reported without a tone of voice.
“The lords do not try to save their territory by robbing their barns. As a result, the amount of tax that the territories had to pay increased. To put it simply, the people of the territory are paying most of the expenses needed to protect the territory.”
Hearing that absurd report, Ray was stunned.
How long has it been since he’s been away, and has he been going back like this?
Even if Eclay, who became the new pope, was as busy as many things were happening, what were the other nobles in charge of the upper administration doing?
He touched his forehead and said to Hongyoung.
“The investigation into the estate where the corruption took place must have already been completed, right?”
“All finished. Just give Eucliwood an order and she will take care of it.”
“As for Yeongji’s corruption, work with Eucliwood to deal with it. Because once the pilgrimage begins, I won’t be able to return for a while.”
“I take orders.”
“How about the academy?”
“There is nothing special about it. It’s just that the Academy of Medicine has grown in size beyond expectations.”
Ray nodded at the good news he hadn’t heard in a long time.
In order to establish a medical academy widely on the continent, its scale is important.
The rest can be met to some extent through an anti-coercive agreement (?) with the country of power and funds.
Well, that would depend on how much the country values medical academies.
Original value is relative.
Some people may appreciate the value of the academy, but not everyone thinks so.
It was his job to grow the scale enough that most countries can evaluate that ‘medicine’ is valuable.
Of course, for now, the work has been entrusted to Proxia’s Lord and Zeke, but it is still a state.
Looking at the steadily developing medical academy, it seems to be growing pretty well.
Hongyoung looked at Ray’s expression for a moment before opening his mouth.
“There is a bit of friction with the Magic Academy. It seems that the gloomy man entrusted with the work by the Holy Son is suppressing it by force, but it is unknown how long that will work.”
Despite her worrying words, Ray didn’t care.
“iced coffee. If that’s the case, don’t worry about it.”
Even if there is a backlash, if it is to that extent, it is possible to cover it up enough on your own line.
If anything, it would be okay to use this opportunity to build a new academy building.
Hongyoung slowly closed her eyes, perhaps realizing his intentions.
“…All right. Reporting is ideal.”
When her report was all over, Ray looked at them and waved his hand.
“Everyone did a good job. You may rest until the pilgrimage begins.”
They are not great people who can rest comfortably just because they are told to rest.
After talking with the security committee, he left the office and put a few more books in his backpack to read.
Since the journey is going to be long, shouldn’t there be something to see?
As Ray, who had roughly packed his things, crawled out toward the castle gate, Iriel, who had been hanging out around him, pretended to know.
“You came so quickly?”
“Since it is a pilgrimage ordered by God, it is the saint’s duty to hurry.”
He talked about the duties of a saint he had never seen before in his life.
Iriel narrowed his eyes.
“Isn’t it because you want to see that high elf?”
“You talk a lot. Let’s go.”
“Right? How have you been patient with missing that little elf until now? Come on!”
“I also wonder about that.”
After speaking casually, he climbed into the carriage.
As soon as she climbed into the carriage with a bewildered expression, a procession of luxurious carriages began to move.
Since the pilgrimage itself was ordered by God, the scale was quite huge.
A sufficient number of three knights were escorted by two paladins, with priests and priests on either side.
A tolerable group of monsters couldn’t help but be at a level where they couldn’t even come close to them.
Iriel rested her chin next to Ray, who was traveling safely and comfortably in it, looking out the window and said.
“As soon as we arrive in Celia Kingdom, the Royal Ball will be held. I have prepared the formal clothes, so please change when you arrive.”
“Thank you.”
How many hours did you go by carriage like that?
Before the village even came out, I suddenly encountered a shower.
The bristles were so strong that it took only an instant for the wagon road to become muddy.
Like an expensive wagon, the wheels didn’t break, but it was unavoidable that it couldn’t be moved any further.
The knight commander knocked on the carriage door with a troubled expression.
“It became difficult to move on. If it rains for a long time, I’d rather camp here. Is that okay?”
“does not matter. If there is a large area nearby, let’s hide there for a while.”
“All right. We will hurry up and prepare.”
* * *
Fortunately, there was a large site down the mountain.
With trees as support, a tent was built around it and a fire was lit, making it a great campground.
I was sitting on a bonfire to dry my clothes when Iriel came over and brushed off her wet hair.
“It’s pouring.”
“It must have been a hole in the sky.”
“With this much rain, even if it stops, I don’t think the wagon will be able to move straight away. It will be a little later than planned.”
“Then why are you laughing?”
“Whoop whoop. Isn’t it like a saintess always smiling?”
It’s not like a saint, but she herself is a saint.
Perhaps it was because she was warming up in the warm fire, she said playfully with a more relaxed expression.
“Are you so happy to be back?”
“What is it? For years I thought I would never go back.”
At his words, Iriel smiled sadly.
After a few years, the saint leaves forever.
Seeing that Goddess Gaia also doesn’t say anything, it seems that permission was given implicitly.
My heart ached at the thought of being left alone in the Holy Land again.
“okay.”
With a smile, he hid his heart inside.
Although she couldn’t even say what she wanted due to the restrictions of being a saint in the first place.
After drying her hair and clothes, she quietly got up from her seat.
Ray, who had been trying to ignore him, let out a small sigh when Iriel left.
“It’s hard to touch medicine… Phew…”
* * *
Feia, who was looking at Iriel from the side, sighed.
This time, she was to accompany her as the third generation of the saintess.
She had already noticed that Iriel had feelings for the saint, but as time passed, she only felt frustrated.
There is nothing to be gained by taking care of the saint’s affairs and thinking of him, trying hard enough to make Celia the first designated country for pilgrimage.
Every time I saw Iriel in agony without saying anything, it seemed like he was in pain.
Peia, who had been hiding behind a tree and peeping at him, quietly approached Iriel.
“Is the saintess okay as it is?”
“huh?”
“I mean the saint. Can I be taken away by someone else like that?”
At her direct words, Iriel thought of Aira for a moment and replied hesitantly.
“…huh.”
“…I beg your pardon?”
“Because I can’t say anything to the saint.”
That will be too.
Because if you try to spit out something, the existence itself disappears.
That’s the deal Iriel promised with God.
It is the result of exchanging her life with the tremendous divine power of status and honor.
However, Feia did not understand that.
“why! You can come and tell me right now!”
She smiled and shook her head as if to appease her little brother’s grumbling.
‘The mind is a matter of severity, Peia.’
At some point, the thought of him outstripped my faith.
Therefore, as soon as the word is brought out, it becomes a contradiction.
You are noticing it yourself.
It would be nice if it could happen even if you didn’t open your heart, but I don’t want that.
Isn’t it the first time you like someone who can reveal their emotions without hiding each other?
Feia also shook her head at her stubborn attitude.
“…If the saintess said that, I should have obeyed, but…”
“Thank you for understanding.”
“I didn’t understand…”
Iriel looked at the sky again, running through her rain-soaked hair.
The rain that I thought was a shower must have been a sweet rain that fell at the right time when it was needed.
