SIDE: Toad.
'I've done ...... I've done a terrible thing . No matter how impatient I was ......
　A night later, I was in my room with my head in my hands .
　Because even though I was the first to arrive to deepen our friendship, what I did yesterday was the exact opposite of what I did yesterday.
　I thought I'd nod if there was any profit to be made, so I was forceful, but I was refused without even negotiating ...... the price.
　It's not as if a man as good as Lord Leons is obsessed with such trivialities as love.
　It's probably better for the empire that the church has to go to war with the kingdom.

There's no point in regretting the past. Let's think about our next move.''
　I looked up at the old voice and saw Bruno, the chief of staff, come into the room .

'You say so, but ...... do you have any ideas?'

'Yes, you're right: ....... Shouldn't we wait and see here?　I'm sure Master Leons won't shake his head at anything he says now.

Wait?　What's the point in waiting?　Once those two get married, you can't make them saints, can you?

"I understand, sir. ....... But it would be the end of the world if we allowed relations with the Empire to deteriorate any further here. If we turn completely against Master Leons, our position in the faction could be in jeopardy.

'That's true, too, but it's hard for me to be Pope without ...... saints.'
　Shit. I don't know what to do.

Master Toad, you are in too much of a hurry. After the next war, the balance of power will be in the Empire's favor.

They don't care about the royalists. Our enemy is the Pope's neutrals, the Imperialists. We have the enemy of the Kingdoms to hold us together for now, but if the Kingdoms are weakened, we'll see a fight among ourselves. Can't we see our people fighting each other?
　The Pope is still going strong. He won't be deposed for ten years.
　Ten years, ten years, and you never know what you'll find.

That's right: ....... But if Master Rihanna doesn't return to the Church, then Master Lelia will be the best holy wizard in the Church anyway. In the end, don't you think we can settle on making Master Lelia a saint?

'No, it's not. Lelia isn't overwhelmingly different from the others. You never know when you'll be overtaken.
　The young ones will have passed us by in ten years.
　That's why all the noblemen are hiring so many great tutors now.

So why don't you ask Master Leons for help?

Ah, you're still a man of cards, aren't you? What do you want me to do for Lord Leons?
　Bruno is always like this. When I give him advice, he comes up with a few suggestions that are deliberately designed to test me first.
　If I wasn't good enough, I'd dismiss him immediately. ...... I don't know how many times Bruno has helped me in the past.

''During this period, no, why don't you leave Master Lelia with Master Leons for the next six months or so?
　Huh, I don't know what you're suggesting again.

What are we going to do with it?　Do you want me to color-match them?

You don't mean... You will be taught the secrets of magic.

"Magic Tips?

Yes. It seems to be a special technique that's only been passed down to the Forster family and the previous saints.

'I see. ...... Is that one of the reasons why the Forster family and the saints are renowned for being the strongest?'

Yes.

'But how do you convince the guys in the country?　Six months without a saint would not be acceptable, would it?
　The Fontaine family will be in hot water. I'm not to use the saints for personal gain.

"Missionary work in the Empire" would suffice.　If you call it missionary work, no nobleman would criticize it, even outwardly.
　I see... Our saints have also served as missionaries in other countries.
　Surely they wouldn't be considered saints for personal use?

Okay. I'll write a letter to the Church about that.

Yes. Yes, please.

So, do you think Leons can teach us the art of it?
　It will be harder to convince the country than it will be to convince Master Leons.
　After all, teaching Lelia the secrets of magic won't be of any benefit to Sir Leonce.
　In fact, it would be detrimental to the stability of our country and to Sir Leon's interests if I were to gain power.

''He will surely teach you.

Always?
　Where do you get that kind of confidence from?

''Yes, sir. First of all, by sending Master Lelia to the Empire, we won't have to worry about being attacked by the Church. I'm sure he's willing to do this much to help Master Rihanna. I'm sure Master Leons loves Master Rihanna that much.


　Love?

...... are you serious?

Yeah. I'm serious.

'There's no way ...... such a sweetheart could be this big.
　Even though I have been so ruthless in making the Fontaine family so big: .......

'Surely this laxity would be fatal to the everyman.

You're saying it's okay because he's not an ordinary man?

''Yes . He has the power to have trudged through dungeons, gained power by being betrothed to an imperial princess, and gained wealth by being betrothed to the richest man in the world. And most importantly, he has the brains to accomplish all this at a young age. It's hard to believe that he's an ordinary man.
　I think Bruno was right. Sir Leons is a genius. I'm an ordinary man. So I don't have a choice.

Huh. So now it's up to Lelia.
　Assuming Lord Leonce agrees, the only thing left to worry about is whether or not Lelia will be able to acquire the magic she needs to master.

"I'll trust Master Lelia.


　SIDE: Leons.
'You have a chief of staff who can. The only reason I didn't make this suggestion from the beginning is that it would have been better if I could have gotten my hands on Leena.

You're doing a good job of controlling your master. Gael-san may be good at it, but his chief of staff may be more of a factor. So, are you going to teach Lelia-san how to manipulate magic?
　I was watching the monitors with Elsie today.
　Sherry and Leena are having a tea party with Miss Lelia.

I'd be more than happy to accept that if it meant I didn't have to worry about kidnapping Leena or anything.
　You said I'm not very compassionate, but I don't want to grow up that big, so .

I know. But I'm glad to hear it's going to end peacefully.
　You're absolutely right .

I barely slept yesterday thinking about ...... if we have to go against the Church State as well.

So that's what happened . So you were making out with Mr. Bell all last night?

It's more of a flirting thing: ...... cuddling. Also, there was Leena.
　I couldn't sleep last night, so I invited Belle over and we were lying down and talking for a bit when Leena, who also couldn't sleep, came into the room ...... and the three of us went straight to bed together .
　It wasn't lovey-dovey. It wasn't lovey-dovey.

Oh, my God, Leena, too?　I didn't notice. I'm glad you've forgiven Miss Shelley.
　It was the middle of the night when Leena came to her room.
　I'm sure Elsie, who watches the bedroom, was asleep at that hour.

"Master Leons, Master Toad is here.
　Oh, there he is.

Copy that. Will Elsie be joining us?

If you want to just listen, you can go to ......
　With Elsie's approval, I showed Toad to his room.


"I'm very sorry. Please forgive me for my rudeness yesterday.
　As soon as I entered the room, Toad apologized to me as if he was going to get down on his knees.

''No. . I'm sure the Fontaine family is going through a lot, so I don't mind that much.
　Normally it would feel strange to forgive so easily, but if we don't forgive them here, we won't be able to move forward.
　Even if it's unnatural, let's just forgive quickly.

Oh, thank you. ......

So, what's the case today?

Let me withdraw my request to return Lena to the Faithful.

Really?
　You think that's deliberate?　No, after all those rejections yesterday, this is the best response I can give you.
　Acting is so difficult.

''In exchange, would you be willing to teach Lelia the art of magic?

What is the secret of magic: "What is ......?

Don't be silly. There are magical secrets that only the previous saints and the Forster family could have used.
　Come to think of it, is magic manipulation the ultimate goal?　It's more of a rudiment.
　Well, I don't really need to point that out.

Okay. That's fine. It's just that ...... Lelia is on the verge of adulthood. I'm not sure I'll be able to get it. And if we can't, can you promise you won't blame us?
　I think I can handle it in half a year, but they say the smaller the growth of magic, the better.
　We should take out an insurance policy just in case it doesn't work out .

''Huh?　Does your age have anything to do with it?



'In a manner of speaking . When I was with the Forster family, I was training in magic before I entered primary school, so...

'Right. ....... Okay. If you don't get it, we won't say anything. So please, I beg you. If you accept, I'll give you five boxes of gold.
　Five boxes means there are five boxes of a hundred gold coins. Since there are no white gold coins in your country, they are said to be exchanged in such a unit.
　By the way, 500 gold coins of the church is about 300 to 500 million yen. Since there is no white gold, the value of the church's gold coins is much higher.

I understand. I'll do my best to see what I can do.

Oh, thank you.

No, no. I look forward to working with you in the future.

Of course I do!
　Deal. I'm glad it went quickly.
　I had a feeling it was going to be a long one. Good thing our guy's a good agent.
　Good. Now all that's left is the Tri-nation Conference!