Sophisia’s Suggestion

After learning that freeing an unconditional slave required the backing of an important person, I was eating lunch in the manor dining hall.

Besides me and Liricia, Saint Sophisia was there as well.

Rather, I had called out to her and asked her to join us.

Because Sophisia was an important person in the Church.

There was vegetable and sausage stew, along with bread with cheese sandwiched inside.

As I ate the simple meal, I asked Sophisia.

“Hey, since you became a saint, that makes you an important person in the Church, right?”

“Yes, well, that’s true.”

“Then could you speak on Liricia’s behalf so her unconditional slave status can be revoked?”

I told her what I had heard from the slave trader.

Then wrinkles formed on Sophisia’s cute face. The furrow between her brows was especially deep.

“This sainthood is more like an honorary position… so wouldn’t it be impossible unless it was the Archbishop?”

“Then couldn’t you ask the Archbishop for me?”

Sophisia wrinkled her nose and groaned.

“Hmm. There are various problems. To begin with, the authority to recognize heroes, saints, and sanctuaries belongs to the Luktia Holy Papal State. And yet here in Fortis, the King and the Archbishop have joined hands and are independently choosing heroes without consulting the Pope. It had been overlooked because there were heroic achievements and military power, but as for recognizing a saint and a sanctuary, it would be understandable if they thought the Pope was being disregarded.”

“So that means… speaking up for Liricia, who caused trouble for the Church, could become a weakness in relation to the Papal State?”

“That’s how it would be. —Well, the Papal State probably wouldn’t criticize it openly, but there’s a chance they’d make some kind of move behind the scenes.”

“What a pain.”

“That’s politics.”

I looked at Liricia sitting beside me, eating bread.

“I’m sorry, Liricia. I thought it would be settled if I just paid the money, but it looks like it’s going to take quite a lot of time…”

“It’s all right. I’m happy just being able to stay by your side, Master.”

Liricia smiled while biting into her bread. Just seeing that smile was enough to heal me.

That was why I wanted to hold her as an equal.

The current situation, where I could do nothing, was frustrating. I had no choice but to put it on hold for now.

Sophisia gave us a sidelong look and let out an enormous sigh.

“Haaah. Getting all lovey-dovey in broad daylight, are we…”

“Sorry.”

“I-I’m sorry too, Sophisia-san!”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. I’m just jealous.”

“And you’re supposed to be a saint.”

“Wholesome jealousy is nourishment for the heart!”

Sophisia puffed out her chest proudly, as though she had just delivered a profound saying.

Liricia and I exchanged glances and gave wry smiles.

After that, we ate the light lunch while chatting about trivial things.

All the while, I was thinking that in the afternoon, I’d have to press the White Boar about what exactly it was plotting.

The manor in the early afternoon.

After finishing our simple lunch, Liricia and I came out into the manor garden.

I wanted her to locate the White Boar.

“I want to talk to the White Boar. Find where it is.”

She spread white wings from her back, thrust her right hand forward with a serious expression, and spoke.

“Yes, Master—Dark Magic Detection (Aura Detect).”

Centered on Liricia, white feathers and waves spread outward like ripples.

She furrowed her well-shaped brows and groaned, “Mmm…,” but suddenly her violet eyes flew wide open.

“Master! The wolves and the boars are fighting!”

“What!? Guide me there!”

“Yes! This way!”

Liricia spread her white wings and glided as though flying.

I drew the black sword at my waist and chased after her at full speed.

Inside the forest where sunlight filtered through the leaves.

In a clearing made by fallen trees, a pack of wolves led by the silver-white Fenrir faced off against a herd of boars led by the White Boar.

There were about thirty wolves. And perhaps fifty boars. The white uribō were there too.

With my sword at the ready, I leaped in between the two groups.

“What are you all doing!”

Answering my words, Fenrir bared its sharp fangs and growled.

“Lord Alec… these creatures will not listen when told to stop trying to drive out the wolves.”

“What!? …White Boar, didn’t you admit that this forest belonged to me?”

I glared at the white boar, larger than a carriage.

Then the White Boar scraped at the ground with its foreleg and said hot-bloodedly,

“You, master of forest mansion. Me, master of forest. Me, strongest. You, weak.”

“…Are you an idiot? What are you thinking?”

“Me, smart. Make boar country.”

“Oh… I think that’s probably impossible.”

“Me saw human town. Weak. But lots of food. Attack town and make obey. Me become king.”

“What!? —You’re thinking of making the Royal Capital you saw in the parade your own!?”

“Me, strong. Strong rule. Natural.”

The White Boar snorted roughly. As if threatening me, it violently clawed at the ground with its foreleg.

For a moment, I lost the words to answer.

Because the things it was saying were just too stupid.

Liricia, standing beside me, was frozen in shock as well.

Clutching my head, I shouted.

“You idiot! If sacred beasts are thought to be dangerous, the sanctuary designation will be overturned! You’ll lose your safe home and get hunted down too!”

“Strong me rule. No problem.”

“If you were strong enough to beat humans, humans would’ve gone extinct long ago.”

I let out an exasperated sigh.

A uribō hiding behind the White Boar spoke in a trembling, tearful voice.

“I’m sorry… no matter how many times I tried to persuade him, he wouldn’t listen…”

“It can’t be helped. Stay back so you don’t get caught up in this… and in the worst case—please forgive me.”

“I understand, Alec-san.”

The uribō lowered its head sadly.

The White Boar shook its huge body and shouted.

“Me stronger than before, me strongest. No lose anymore!”

“Sorry, but I can’t let you do as you please. You’ll lose the sanctuary designation we worked so hard to obtain. Stop opposing humans now. If you do, I’ll spare you.”

“Shut up! —Gragaaa!”

The boar charged at me, letting out a grating roar.