🌹💘🌹
WE established Temporary Base C in a plot of land near the relatively undamaged castle town while setting up Temporary Base D within Marquess Podzern’s castle grounds. This latter one was to safeguard children and the wounded. Richard’s Flame Corps used the castle as their base of operations. They became ridiculously busy over the coming days, hunting monsters and protecting refugees.
Alongside all this, Richard continued to make his appeals to Kophe’s royal court while holding meetings with nearby lords who approved of our efforts.
“Prince Richard, I’m overjoyed to be making your acquaintance…”
“Your Imperial Highness, we of the House of Norman, pledge to follow your commands henceforth…”
The visiting lords all greeted us warmly and kindly. If an outsider saw their attitudes toward Richard, they might mistake the lords as his vassals already.
I often attended the discussions as well, at Richard’s behest. According to him, “You undertook a royal education during your engagement to Kophe’s crown prince. Furthermore, Miss Monica, you’re a holy woman from the Kingdom, so I would greatly appreciate your presence at these conferences.” How could I refuse after all that?
But I felt terribly out of place at the meetings. Because after exchanging the usual greetings, they ignored me like I was air.
“If you plan to build a recovery center, you should place a saint there as well, instead of merely distributing potions.”
“No, with a saint, everyone will demand the use of her powers and become overly reliant on her. Saints are a source of confusion in the field. They should only be assigned to key locations such as bases for carrying out monster hunts.”
“A single saint should be able to handle working both in the field and at the base.”
“Excuse me…may I comment?” When I spoke up, the lords all turned glaring eyes on me. Despite my discomfort, I pressed on with my thoughts. “There are currently twelve priestesses here. Not nearly enough to allocate to all the proposed recovery centers. In addition, their abilities range from Class Five to Class Two, so the difference in their supernatural capacities is plain to see. In order to effectively draw out their abilities, it’s necessary to form teams and stabilize the combat system.”
These Very Important People fell silent for a moment. Their displeasure at an annoying holy woman interjecting in their conversation created a uniquely unpleasant atmosphere for me.
In the Belktrius Empire, the fact that I was a priestess put me in an unusual position. That combined with Richard’s recommendation meant the powerful old men there actually listened to my opinions, albeit reluctantly.
However, here in my homeland, the existence of saints was taken for granted, so I felt a different kind of opposition from the lords. Both of these factors made it difficult to accomplish anything here.
But, in this room, I was the only one who could speak for us holy women. I straightened my spine and continued.
“It isn’t just the Empire’s Flame Corps on the frontlines here. The people of Kophe are fighting side by side with them as well. For the safety of everyone who dared to support His Highness for the sake of the Kingdom of Kophe, and to maintain morale, I believe it’s vital to have the appropriate protection and stable healing system afforded by a saint’s supernatural powers. Which is why I propose—”
“Haaa.” One of the lords exhaled in frustration and scowled at me. “Are you saying then that a saint doesn’t need to sympathize with the suffering of the people?”
I most certainly was not. Of course, I didn’t say that out loud. But I struggled with a retort. Because what could I even say to these people who were so fully convinced that priestesses could be used willy-nilly however they chose?
While I racked my brain, I heard Richard put his elbows on the table with a solid thump next to me. He steepled his fingers. Wearing his usual smile, he struck back at the lord.
“In the Belktrius Empire, we adopted her methods of command in the field to exterminate monsters, and they are still very much in use. Despite being a knight commander who isn’t even there at the moment to lead the troops, both the monster hunts and reconstruction efforts continue smoothly. In a country without saints, no less.”
Richard paused after emphasizing the last bit before he went on.
“If her wealth of knowledge is applied in Kophe, I’m sure the outcome will be well worth it.” He smiled. “But why waste time on words when we can let the results speak for themselves? And I promise you that Madam Monica is the type of person who can meet and exceed expectations.”
Then he pushed through his agenda and the meeting ended.