Trinitas Mundus

Tria Calendar 325, December 27, 1 p.m.

Ray had finished treating the injured and one was on his way to the West End.

Before I met Hamish and the others, I had asked Ashley to check the contract status of the Mercenary Corps of Markat first, to prepare Stella for departure after tomorrow, and to raise supplies, because I had thought about cleaning up the issue of phototheism.

(I don't know what Phototheistic is going to do after this, but at least we have to do something about the peasant militias in Fiscal Village. Bishop Gastaldi wants to take me to Lukes, but he's not going to do that to me, and now, what am I supposed to do...)

Without any particular thought, he arrived at the luxury inn used by the Light Divinity for his quarters.

Upon his arrival, he is immediately put through to the room of Bishop Maggioni Gastaldi, who is in charge.

Bishop Gastaldi welcomes Ray in his usual luxurious attire, as if there had been no such thing as yesterday's intense fighting.

Gastaldi grinned, "Dear Arklight. Welcome, come on," he says, recommending the chair.

Tea was ready immediately, and the entourage left the room. Ray makes sure it's just the two of us and bows his head big first.

"I am so sorry for the people of the village of Fiscal, for the Holy Knights, and for all the beasts"

Gastaldi rushed to "look up," but Ray began the conversation in the same position.

"The Holy Knights followed the instructions of youngsters like me and lost their lives. The people of the village of Fiskal also followed my measures and were given full assignment to the end on the fiercest battlefield. My lords Uno have spared their lives to protect me."

Gastaldi was in a good mood for the word, while

"We have all fulfilled our God-given mission and have only been summoned. However, if it helped Master Arklight, they would be proud to do the same."

Ray was angry at the words.

(Seems great that I was just in a safe city...... priests and above priests didn't continue to be treated last night either. It still is. Even though some healers treat you until you run out of magic like Mr. Hazel, this guy just sits here... but you shouldn't say that here. If I'm in a bad mood for this guy here, I'll be annoyed by the people in the village of Fiscal and Uno......)

"Is it possible to reward them with the help of the bishop? The Adventurer Guild Director, Warbeck, has also expressed his gratitude for this work. Could you please take special care to ensure that the people of the village of Fiscal will not be handicapped?"

As he bows his head deeper, Gastaldi hurries to kneel at his feet.

"Words without a body… I appeal in my name that the people of the village of Fiscal receive a special reward from the Order. Also, this time the work of the Holy Knights should be rewarded. Let's recommend a promotion in my name, too."

"Thank you. Some people in the village of Fiskal have lost their arms and legs. Besides, you must be exhausted from all that fighting. Please take that into account when you return… If it's difficult on a budget, it's minor, but use this."

That said, I took a leather bag with gold coins out of my pocket. It contained thirty pieces of white gold and thirty thousand C (krona) (= about thirty million yen) in his personal possessions.

Just as Gastaldi opened his mouth gently to Ray's actions beyond his expectations, he lost his word for a moment. But return to me immediately and make a sincere expression.

"Under my responsibility, I will arrange a carriage. We will do our utmost to comply with Lord Arklight's wishes. However, I cannot accept this. In the name of the Church, no, I swear on my honor, I will not let them be crippled. So..."

That's what I say, push the leather bag into Ray's hand.

Ray said, "Thank you. They are heroes who have prevented the demonic invasion. Anyway, thank you," I took Gastaldi's hand.

Gastaldi nodded heavily at the words, thinking about how he should take advantage of this situation.

(There is no doubt that this is the manifestation of the God of Light (Lucidus). With this youth we can lead that battle to victory and even show so much mercy. If this person were to enter Lukes, he would definitely be visited by the village of Fiscal. Then we have to make arrangements to make this one more satisfactory. Well, how are we going to get this guy later...)

Even though Gastaldi is sinking into his own thoughts, Ray goes on to say, "It's about the Unos."

"Those people risked their lives to protect me. I feel ungrateful."

"Those are in slavery. It is no exaggeration to say that you will live just for that. Let them hear what Master Arklight has to say more than I do. That should be enough for them."

Ray learns to be angry again, but tries to keep his chilling voice and bows his head wide again.

"Then I'm sorry about my temper. As a reward, can we ask them to free themselves from slavery?"

Gastaldi, though slightly cursory, said, "That's impossible. Besides, they won't want it either," he shook his neck to the side, "There are only things that can be done that way of life. Even if it is alleged to be free......" he gives a puzzling look.

"Really..." Ray mutters.

(It did take Stella more than six months. I don't know how old the Unos are, but they'll have trouble saying they're free......)

And he replied, "It may indeed be so".

Gastaldi hated the atmosphere and tried to change the subject.

"What are you going to do now? If you don't have any impending plans, will you join us in the triumph of the Holy King of Lukes?

Ray shook his head sideways small and refused to accompany him, "There's something I have to do.

(What the hell do I have to do... I have to get this guy to the Holy Capital at all costs...)

"If you don't mind, can you show me what you want," Gastaldi stuffed.

"We still have the Demons. They are fleeing east. I have to go after the remnants of that demon clan."

Ray used the remnant hunt as an excuse not to bring up Luna. Because I thought it would be hard to say no to the Light Divinity, which makes the Demons its enemies.

"Is it a remnant hunt...... I hear the enemy has almost been wiped out. Doesn't it have to be as good as Master Arklight?

Ray shook his head sideways and denied it.

"Even when I say remnants of the party, we have a substantial leader in this one, the Moon Demon Mage. If we let this person escape, we will lose our strength. Whatever you do, you have to catch it, or you have to kill it. In battles in the woods and mountains, the Demons, especially the Ghosts, are not insulted. If I don't go, there's a good chance I'll get away with it."

Gastaldi was worried about how to convince him, but hesitated to interfere with the mission of the Demonic Crusade.

(If I wish to accompany you even more forcefully here, I will feel ill. Because of this, he showed himself to be the manifestation of God. Here, you can't lose this one. Sure though the rest of the party, it would be insulting...... then should we give top priority to not losing this one)

"Now, please use Uno. There are still four of us left under our command."

"But doesn't that leave you with the bishop? Besides, if you go into the woods with me, you won't get your bishop's orders."

"Sure... we won't need escorts for those of us who are coming home. Then let the beasts be your direct reports."

Ray accidentally opened his eyes to the words.

Gastaldi, who puts preservation first, could not hide his surprise at letting go of his beastly slave, who could also be a trump card.

"But... are you sure? I have company. No escort required..."

Gastaldi shook his head loudly, took Ray's hand and strongly appealed, "In case anything happens to you, this world will be swallowed up by darkness".

Ray wandered over the strong words.

"But even if I say direct, how?

"The collars of those men belong to the Order. Right now, I, Gastaldi, have the right to give orders to them. And here in Periclitle, I will be the best. I mean, I could rewrite the collar information on them."

Gastaldi acknowledges and nurses that Ray is losing his word and calls Uno.

Where he had refrained, Uno immediately appears beside them, on one knee, and bows his head, "May I call you," he says.

Gastaldi nodded to Eagle Deep Fried,

"Beyond this, those men shall be the direct reports of Sir Arklight. Call the others here immediately."

Uno quietly thanked him and immediately left the place.

Ray couldn't keep up with the development and was somewhat confused.

(Do you mean Mr. Uno's right to order, or does collar information mean I'm the owner? No, that's crazy. But if you think about what's to come, you'd better have Uno and... what am I supposed to do...)

While Ray was troubled, Uno brought back four of his men.

Gastaldi began to explain to Ray how to transfer the power of order in front of the kneeling Unos.

"It's very easy to do. I will pass magic through this magic crystal stone, so continue with the magic, Master Arklight. And that's it."

Ray became afraid of the easy way to do it.

"Is it okay in such an easy way? If it's abused, it's a big deal."

Gastaldi agrees.

"This will be the most important confidentiality known only to authorized persons. If you try to abuse it, don't worry, it can be prevented in a certain way. But just in case, don't say anything else publicly."

When Ray nods, Gastaldi laughs nicely.

"Honestly, I don't know how to prevent it either."

To put it that way, Gastaldi sheds his magic on the collars of the Unos. When Ray is confused, Gastaldi has urged him to shed his magic.

"Now it's Lord Arklight's turn. If you only let the magic flow without thinking about it, you'll be fine."

Ray, as he is told, sheds his magic on the collars of the Unos. The moment the magic was shed, the black magic crystal stone gleamed, but nothing else happened, and the process was soon concluded.

"Now I only listen to Master Arklight's orders. Even, of course, under the authority of the Cardinal, the superior. The Archbishop does not accept orders except under his command and those in authority. Of course, it is possible for the Ordering Authority to delegate some of its powers. Master Arklight was directing them because he was using some of his authority..."

In Gastaldi's description, only the ordering authority gives them orders. The only exception was the archbishop general at the top of the denomination, the reason being to be able to reject the orders of the superiors when it seemed to reveal injustice within the denomination.

(premised on injustice... I knew you were corrupt, Phototheistic. But if I don't do this, a lot of people can't protect themselves... but what happens if I die?

When Ray asked Gastaldi about it, Gastaldi replied with a grin.

"In the unlikely event of the death of the Ordering Authority, the Beasts will be martyred by the Ordering Authority. Safeguarding the lives of those in authority is the highest order of these people. If you fail to protect your life, that is, if you fail in your mission, it is only natural that you will die…"

Ray is stunned by the fact.

(My life will be directly linked to the lives of the five Unos. Too heavy...... well, you just have to let it go)

"I haven't asked you how to free me..."

Gastaldi, for a moment, doesn't know what he's talking about, tilts his neck, but quickly laughs when he realizes it's about freeing the Unos.

"You can't liberate me. The collar of the Order's slaves is specially made, impossible even under the Archbishop..."

Gastaldi's explanation was that the Beastly Slaves could not be removed until death once they had been collared.

"If we think about these people being freed and being modest on the denomination, we have no choice."

Ray had a feeling the words would darken in front of him.

(Once they put a collar on me, I can't believe I can't take it off until I'm dead... I can't start over like Stella... what a terrible thing...)

Gastaldi bowed his head respectfully, unaware of Ray's wrath,

"I will return to the Holy City once. And I will report this to the Archbishop and ask for his instructions. And I'll be back again..."

Gastaldi returns with the beginning of the year to Paxlumen, the king's capital of Lukes, and tells him he will leave one priest here in Periclitle as a liaison officer.

And finally, kneel again, "You are our light. I beg you to love yourself," he said, bowing his head deeply.

Ray, bewildered, followed Uno and the others and left Gastaldi's room.

Gastaldi, who remained in the room, was thinking about his current conduct. He had a sense that he was a great departure from the authority of the bishop.

(The powers of transferring command of the Beastly Slaves can only be held above the Sixth Staircase and above the Archbishop. As a measure of emergency, it is possible to use that authority on the top of the land, but perhaps, if we return to the Holy Capital, it will be a major problem. How should I report to the Cardinal? Perhaps we should take care of it if we can get on a special mission. If Master Arklight comes to Lukes, there will be no more problems. Then let me prioritize my preservation here......)

He drew up a report stating that Uno and the other Beastman slaves had been put into the pursuit of the Demons.

Of course, he did not report any transfer of command.

(There is no doubt that Master Archrite is the manifestation of the God of Light (Lucidus). Then my actions will not be condemned. However, until Master Arklight gets into Luke, we have to hide any deviations from authority...)

As Ray left Gastaldi's room, outside awaited the captain of the Saint Knights, Langess Fortunato.

Fortunato kneels down against Ray and bows his head respectfully.

Ray panicked at the appearance and took his arm, "Sir Fortunato, please stand," but he did not attempt to break his posture as it was.

Ray had no choice but to crouch in and talk to Fortunato, "Actually, I need a favor," he said.

"I'm talking about the soldiers in the village of Fiskal. Many have died because of me. And if you get scratched... could you please ask about those people? Bishop Gastaldi has undertaken, but you are more trustworthy…"

Fortunato said, "I've only accepted. Don't worry," he answers. And slowly he looked up and started talking.

"I am ready to throw my life out for Your Excellency. Of course, I'm not willing to risk my life for no reason. I want to see what His Excellency has to accomplish. Call me anytime you want me in the corner of your head."

That's all he said, he got up slowly.

Then he bowed his head deep again and left under Ray.

Ray cannot measure the meaning of Fortunato's words and is puzzled.

(What should I do? Does Mr. Fortunato also think that I am the manifestation of the God of Light (Lucidus)? Hi Light God people are so thoughtful... well, the people of the village of Fiscal will be fine with this. Bishop anyway, because that guy should be able to be trusted...)

Ray called out to the Unos, "Shall we go?" and left the Light Divine quarters behind.