The weather recovered after several days of incessant doldrums. When I went out of the house, I saw a magnificent rainbow. I blocked the sun's rays with my hand and stared at the rainbow for a while.
"This is Mr. Linos. It's been a while.
"Zhuang. It's been a long time. I'm glad to see you're doing well.
A few days ago, thanks to Roni of Posehay, we found out that the theory of the beastman pathogenesis claimed by the Crimiana Order is not perfect. Today we have asked Chiwan, a representative of the Posehay, to come here to discuss countermeasures. Naturally, Loni is behind him.
"Good luck, Rinos-sama."
"Let's cut the red tape. First of all, I'd like you to enter the house.
I would have come to Agartha if not for the palace in the capital.
No, you can't have lunch in Agartha.
"Oh, I see."
Chihwan smiles bitterly. Behind him is Loni, looking very serious, but his ears are twitching.
"Are you eating fried golden bird again today?"
Roni makes a small bow.
Mei and Rico are already sitting in the dining room of the house, both of them soothing the crying children. Alyria calms down immediately, but Elyr continues to cry. I take Eryl from Rico and hold him in my arms. After a while Eryl falls asleep.
"You're very good at that."
"Well, yeah. I think she likes it in your strong arms."
I put Eril down in his crib and took a seat myself. Chiwan is already looking over the medical book that Klimiana gave him. Then he slowly puts the book on the desk.
"... It seems like Klimiana..." he says.
Chi-wan mutters to no one in particular.
"I wonder if what Klimiana is saying is wrong after all.
"I can't say it's a mistake. Perhaps the medical doctor who wrote this was not malicious at all. This is troublesome because there is no malice in it."
Chiwan sighs.
"The medical institute of the Church of Klimiana is a group of overwhelmingly brilliant minds. The best among the believers from all over the world are allowed to reside in the capital and engage in research. Therefore, they often have trivial things in common.
"Boring commonalities?"
"Adopt a way of thinking that suits your tastes, not your beliefs. They speak confidently, no matter how lame and inconsistent their statements may be. They see themselves as bystanders, categorizing and labeling the speaker, materializing, attributing attributes, and explaining. Such are the commonalities."
"This is the kind of talk you get from people who think they're so smart."
"However, from what I see here, I don't think this researcher is that bad.... But still, the way you wrote all of this.... I can't blame you for thinking so, Ms. May.
"Well, I didn't study hard enough, so when you say 'thesis', I get scared at the mere mention of it."
"Your modesty, sir. Now... to reverse this... You've already sent the messenger, haven't you?"
"Yes, a few days ago. As Roni told me, I gave Crimiana three conditions. If they agree to them, it's fine, but if they don't, there is a possibility of all-out war.
"No. No. I have no doubt that they will come on board. After all, since both Dr. Imani and Dr. Dalinar of the Crimiana Institute of Medical Research have given their approval, I think this is the perfect opportunity for the Church to show the world what we have achieved.
"I see."
"So, what happens after the Church accepts Rinos-sama's conditions..."
We'll talk about the future.
The sun was shining brightly in Aphrodite, the capital of the Church of Crimiana, as if to announce the arrival of summer. The Papal Palace, which is illuminated by the sunlight, is very bright, partly because the exterior walls are all white. The palace seems to be shining white because of the white exterior walls.
"Your Holiness, excuse me.
It was Bishop Koflesi who entered his office.
Oh, you are Koflesi. How can I help you?"
The Pope put the document he was looking at on his desk and gave Kofresi a kind look.
"From Agartha. I have a letter from the king of Agartha.
The Pope looks a little surprised and takes the letter.
"Thank you very much.
The Pope takes the letter, smiling softly as ever. Then he began to read it slowly.
"...Please call Imani and Dalinar immediately."
"Yes. Excuse me."
With a quick movement, Kofresi bowed his head and left the Pope's office. The tone is gentle, but the Pope immediately says the word. Normally, the Pope does not rush into anything. Because the orders and words of the Pope are always the first priority, no matter what. And yet, the Pope said the word "immediately". Koflesi interpreted that something terrible had happened.
Some time later, Imani and Dalinar came to the Pope's office.
I apologize for calling you both out of your busy schedule. Is everything all right with your research?"
No. His Holiness the Pope has summoned me. I must come to you no matter what. My research is going well.
Dalinar is the one who speaks up. Next to him, Imani is smiling warmly.
"I see. I am relieved to hear that. I have just received this letter from the king of Agartha.
The Pope takes the letter on his desk and presents it to him. Imani accepts it reverently.
"Let me see it."
Slowly, the letter from Linos is unfolded. Imani reads the letter without changing his expression.
"How do you like it?"
The Pope asks in a gentle tone.
"As far as I'm concerned, it's no problem at all. In fact, I think it is a good opportunity.
"What did King Agartha say to you, Director Imani?"
Dalinar interrupts.
"King Agartha is not convinced by our theory that the pathogenesis of Cirithrae, Geisscher, and Leroyans is the fluid of beastmen and that the cure for it is sheep-breeder's bile. We would like to request an explanation for this, but since it will take time to exchange letters, we are requesting that an open question session be held."
"Public questioning..."
The place is Aphrodite. The place is in Aphrodite, but we would like it to be open to the public, so all who wish to attend should be allowed to participate as much as possible.
In this capital?
"And that Agartha will host the exiled beasts until the end of this Question Session."
"Nah! Even the beastmen who are pathogens?
It seems so. Furthermore, they also refuse to transport sheep-beastmen to Aphrodite. It also says that, if possible, they would like to postpone the expulsion of the beastmen and the capture of the she-beastmen that they have requested from the nations until after the conclusion of the Question Session.
"Is this not... a challenge from Agartha to our Church!"
Dalinar is red-faced and angry.
"Deputy Dalinar."
Gently, a gentle voice is heard, as if speaking to a young child. Dalinar hangs his head in horror.
"It seems to me that Agartha is being cross with your research, and if you refuse, the King of Agartha will tell him that the research of the Church is not trustworthy. No, that is fine. Such a thing will not shake the foundation of the Church and the research results of the Church that we have built up so far. But Director Imani said that we can accept it. Is that so?"
The Pope turns his gaze to Imani.
"That's right, Your Holiness. This is a good opportunity to present our research to the world. We can use this opportunity to spread the word about how dangerous the beasts are to mankind. We can also show that the incurable diseases can be cured, stopped, or eradicated by using the bile of sheep and beastmen. We can give hope to those who suffer from incurable diseases. This is a good opportunity. Let's do it!
Imani looks confident. The Pope nodded broadly when he saw him.
"Your Holiness, this is also an opportunity to show that the results of the research presented by Ms. Gralina are the property of the Church of Crimea," said Imani. She is a researcher sent to our country from the Kingdom of Corislin. If we are not careful, the Kingdom of Corislin may say that the results of her research are theirs. The sooner we take action, the better.
"Okay. We will talk about it at another time. First, please write back to King Agartha. And as for the expulsion of the beastmen, let the nations take care of that. As for the convoy of sheep and beastmen, let us not send a ship from Klimiana. However, if countries voluntarily send their own convoys, please accept them.
"Yes, sir. I'll leave it to you.
"Koffresi, you asked for it."
Hearing the Pope's words, Kofresi again left his office with agile movements. Imani and Dalinar, who had watched him, bowed reverently to the Pope and left the office.
The Pope again read the document he had just read.
"King Agartha... Rinos.... I have heard reports that you are a very good warding master. If it were possible... I would like to welcome him to the Church. But I did not expect him to play political games with us. Well, he may not be aware of it. He may be powerful on the battlefield, but how about in this political arena? He can't use his warding power.... How will he struggle? I'm looking forward to it..."
The Pope is still smiling softly as he reads the documents over and over again. However, behind his eyes, a brain like an electronic calculator begins to analyze Linos.