"Malbus!　Heal the wounded.

　Malvus, the Great Spirit of Healing and Craft.

　He is the spirit with whom Lucanos has made a contract.

　His ability is healing, or curing.

　Malvus' abilities healed the burns, the injuries from the brawl, and the wounds of Patriarch Alektia who had been kicked in the face by Hercule.

　You don't have to heal the last one.
　"That's not how it works, sir.

　Lucanos smiled bitterly.

　Hercule kicked Patriarch Alektia out of the way and ordered his soldiers to "throw this trash in jail.

　Erkül kicked the healed Patriarch Aletheia and ordered the soldiers to throw him in jail.
　"Are you sure?　You're the Patriarch. ......
　You're dismissed. When I say "dismissed," you say "dismissed. This is my country, remember?

　Unfortunately, the Lemurian Empire is such a country.

　It's also known as the rule of man.

　Laws?
　The word of the emperor is law.

　I don't care about this garbage. More importantly, the library. Are the books safe?
　I checked, but the damage is minimal. About 20% burned down. ......
　Twenty percent burned?

　Twenty percent burned.
　This means that 20% of the books that Hercule was supposed to read were burned.

　"d*mn ......, you've got to be kidding me. ......

　Hercule glared at the former Patriarch of Alexandria as he was dragged away.
　If this man had not burned, none of this would have happened.

　"Oh, uh, .......
　Oh?
　Hiiii!

　The girl who spoke to Hercule cowered.

　What? I'm not in a good mood right now. ......
　I can do ......, okay?
　What?　
　It's a book. ...... I remember ...... what it says. ...... There's a ...... branch library. There's also a ...... manuscript hidden away. ...... Oh, ...... I can recover it. Maybe ......
　Really!
　Hiiii!　I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!

　Hercule grabs the girl by the shoulders and shakes her violently.
　The girl shakes her head several times, shaking uncontrollably.

　The girl shakes her head several times.

　Her body is small.
　Her face, on closer inspection, was quite pretty, and not unlike that of an elf.
　And the most impressive thing is the fox ears and silver hair on her head.

　She also has large breasts.
　Not as big as Scheherazade's, but D, maybe E. Excellent.

　"The Warbeast ...... is also a celestial fox.
　Yes, I'm ......, a celestial fox.
　What's your name?
　I'm a warbeast ...... and a celestial fox ....... - What's your name? - Hupatia ....... I'm the director of the Arrector's Library ...... and the principal of the school ....... I'm ...... twenty years old. ......　
　No, I didn't ask your age.

　I'm not asking your age, but Hupatia sounds like the kind of name that would get you killed by a shell shaving your flesh off.
　I'm not asking for your age," Hercule thought, but didn't say it.

　"Just out of curiosity, are you Messianic?
　Huh?　No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
　Well, it doesn't matter. Gather your fellow scholars and restore it. I'll give you all the money you need.

　Then Hupatia's ears perked up.

　Are you sure?
　Really, really. The emperor never lies.　
　Yes, yes, yes!　I understand!

　Hupatia ran away at once.
　Hercule saw her off and went to ......

　"Let's make a bunch of codices and take them to Nova Lemuria. We only have one book to begin with, so we'll be in trouble if it burns.
　Hmm, I think I just heard a word that the Patriarch of Nova Lemuria cannot overlook: ......
　Pretend you didn't hear that.
　Yes, I understand. Your Majesty.

　Loukanos smiled bitterly.



　"So, Your Majesty. How do you judge that thing?
　"What? ...... Oh, the former Patriarch of Aletheia. Well, the charges are already laid. The problem is the next Patriarch of Alexandria.
　How would you feel about me taking over?
　For a while, but I'm not going to give you that much power, am I?
　I'm kidding. Your Majesty.

　Lucanos laughed in amusement.
　He's very happy that his political rival is dead. This man.

　...... There are many problems with Messianism, aren't there?
　Well, there are all kinds of Messianics. ......

　Scheherazade and Carolina nodded their heads as they looked at the two bad guys.








　I'm not sure what to say.　Why, why must I be judged?
　Loukanos, tell them again.
　"Yes, I understand. Your Majesty.

　In the Patriarchate of Aletheia, the former Patriarch of Aletheia was being tried for causing this disturbance.
　The Emperor himself was judging the former Patriarch of Aletheia.

　To see such a rare sight, many people ...... from all walks of life, non-Messianic, Orthodox Messianic, and Alexian Messianic, crowded into the audience.

　Trials in the Lemurian Empire were basically open trials.
　The people could see and hear.

　"One!　Arson.

　Even if it's a demon building, a pagan building, or a heretical building, the fact is that you set it on fire.
　This is a crime of arson.

　This time, the fire was quickly put out, but it could have spread to the city and caused a huge fire. And there were many casualties.

　No matter what the reason, the fact is that the fire was set. There's no excuse.

　Arson is a capital offense.

　That's it. Do you understand?
　No, I don't agree!　I'm the devil. ......
　Let me put it to you this way. You set fire to the city where the emperor resides. If you're not careful, the fire could have spread to the governor's office and I could have been burned to death. What about that?　You're not saying that the fire you started is a clean fire that only burns pagans, are you?　Well, if that's the case, I'll burn you. It won't burn, will it?

　In the Lemurian Empire, arson is a crime worse than murder.
　In the Lemurian Empire, arson is a crime more serious than murder. If it goes wrong, it could lead to a fire that could destroy the country.

　Therefore, it cannot be tolerated.

　Patriarch Alexia could not say anything and kept silent.
　Patriarch Alektia is unable to say anything and remains silent.

　"Number two, illegal accumulation.

　A large amount of gold coins have been seized from the home of the former Patriarch of Alexandria. This is an unbelievable amount considering his income as Patriarch of Alexandria. It has been discovered that he had been accumulating the money through illegal trials. ...... Isn't that right?

　Yes, I do. Patriarch ...... No, the former Patriarch was indeed illegally accumulating money. It's all documented here by me.

　"Deacon ......, you .......

　The former Patriarch of Alexandria glared at the deacon on the witness stand, but the deacon was having none of it.
　I stopped him. It's your fault," he says.

　Number three, illegal private punishment.

　Many heretics and infidels are put to death by illegal trials. It is true that the Inquisition is an authority granted to the Patriarch. But the Patriarch is only allowed to decide whether or not someone is a heretic. Judicial power belongs to the Emperor. This is a violation of imperial authority.

　...... In fact, the scope of the Patriarch's jurisdiction is not clearly defined.
　Since it is still under dispute, it is not illegal for a former Patriarch of Alexandria to condemn a heretic to death, but it is not ......
　But it is not legal either.

　Lukács stated the charges without hesitation.
　Everything was decided beforehand with Hercule.

　And ......

　Therefore, you shall be blinded, your ears and nose shall be cut off, and you shall be beheaded.
　Wait, please!　Your Majesty, I am, I am ！！！！

　Die, you bastard!
　Suck it!
　Avenge your father!

　The non-Messianic people in the audience and the Messianic people of the 'Alexian School' throw stones at the screaming former Patriarch of Alexandria.



　It seems that he was quite resentful.

　He deserved what he got.




　Thus, the former Patriarch of Aletheia was beheaded.
　Now the case is closed. ......

　This was not to be.

　The Patriarch of Alexandria is one of the five main bishops, along with the Patriarch of Lemuria, the Patriarch of Nova Lemuria, the Patriarch of Hiesolia, and the Patriarch of Orontia.

　The Patriarch was beheaded.
　This is different from the beheading of a mere nobleman.

　This trial is ......
　This is the first scalpel by Hercule.

　A solution to the religious problems of the Lemurian Empire.

　Yes, Hercule wanted to use this opportunity to wipe out the religious problems of the Lemurian Empire.
　This was a provocation to that end.


　The Patriarchs of the five ...... head temples reacted to the incident in different ways.

　First, Patriarch Nova Lemuria expressed his support for Hercule because he is a Lukanos.
　The Lemurian Patriarch condemned Hercule for going too far, but showed understanding.
　The Patriarch of Hiesolia remained mute.

　And ......
　The Patriarch of Orontia pronounced Hercule excommunicated.

　When Hercule heard this, he smiled.

　He said that his prey was on the hook. ......







　"Your Majesty!　I heard you were excommunicated!　Are you okay?
　"Oh, that's been revoked.

　Hercule smiled at Karolina.
　Karolina's mind wandered. What do you mean?

　What do you mean?
　It's simple. I've decreed that the Patriarch of Orontia is to be 'disenfranchised'. The Patriarch of Orontia. Apparently, the Arethean Messianics of Orontia surrounded the Orontian Patriarchate.
　"......
　I hurriedly sent a messenger to apologize to them. Well, I forgave them with the emperor's generous and unilateral concession.

　In the first place, when the Patriarchs of Nova Lemuria and Lemuria, the two most powerful Messianic bishops, are in support of Hercule, the excommunication of the Patriarch of Orontia is as good as non-existent.

　Besides, ...... the Alectian Messianists are the overwhelming majority in Orontia.
　The Patriarch of Orontia was able to dominate there because he had the backing of the Emperor of Lemuria.
　If you fight against that backer, it is obvious that you will end up like this.

　So, the Patriarch of Aletheia and the Patriarch of Orontia have fallen into my hands. So the groundwork has been laid.
　"......, was this the plan all along?
　Aim?　No, the preparation. This is where the real work begins.

　Hercule denies Karolina's question.
　So far, so good, as Hercule had depicted.

　"By the way, why did the Patriarch of Lemuria come to your support?　It seems that the Patriarch of Lemuria, His Eminence the High Priestess Medium, and His Majesty the Prior Emperor did not get along very well. ......
　I don't know. I've already told the Patriarch of Lemuria that I'm repealing a certain law. That's why the Patriarch of Lemuria came to my support. Besides, the Patriarch of Lemuria and the Patriarch of Alexandria don't get along very well.

　Besides, Patriarch Aletheia's ill-gotten gains were clear.
　The Patriarch of Lemuria has no right to protect the Patriarch of Aletheia.

　Messianism is in trouble too, isn't it?
　Scheherazade, are you disillusioned?
　No, the Holy Fire religion has its share of political strife. I understand that it is part of religion. What's more important than ...... is to follow God's teachings to the letter, is that right?
　I'd like to give the Patriarchs a taste of their own medicine.

　Hercule agrees with Scheherazade.
　The monk should just pray to God.

　"By the way, I've been wondering if I could ask you a question about .......
　What is it?


　"Aren't holy images idols?



　The air froze.

　Hercule and Carolina looked at each other and approached Scheherazade.
　Then ......

　"Listen, Scheherazade. There are some things in this world you just can't touch.
　"There are three Messianic abominations: holy images, whether the Son of God is a god or a man, and the existence of a hierarchy of clergymen who are equal before God. These are not to be touched.

　These are the three taboos that, if you ask Messianics, will lead to killing each other.

　Messianism forbids 'idolatry'.
　What is an idol?　The answer is: ......
　In simple terms, a statue of Buddha is an idol.

　In other words, they are statues or pictures that imitate gods.
　The reason why they are forbidden is that they are not gods themselves.

　Worshipping a mere stone, tree, or picture is out of the question.


　In the first place, it is too impious for man, a creature, to make a statue or picture in the image of God, the Creator.

　This was the theory.
　......, but in reality, it was easier to understand and more convenient for propagation, so things that were not "holy images" were made.

　The question is whether this is against the teachings of God or not. ......
　This is the "Holy Image Problem".

　There is a difference of opinion even among Messianic Christians on the issue of "holy images". I'm sure you've heard of it, but I'm not sure if you've seen it.
　The Patriarch of Lemuria is a 'holy statue safe' kind of guy." "Oh, ......, is that so?

　The previous emperor, Hadrian, captured the hardships that befell the empire and its repeated defeats in war in this way.
　"Because they worshipped holy images and went against the teachings of God!
　The emperor Hadrian issued a law called the "Decree of the Destruction of the Holy Image", which threw the Lemurian Empire and the Messianic people into chaos.

　Currently, this law has become a skeleton after Hercule's accession to the throne. ......
　It has not yet been repealed.

　As for the question of whether the Son of God is a god or a man, there are four factions: the Orthodox, the Alexians, the Westerners, and the Easterners.

　"Is that so?

　Sheherazade tilted her head at Carolina's words.

　What's the difference?
　I honestly don't know, I can't explain it. I thought you would understand.
　"I'm not sure I can explain it well either. Ask Loukanos. Ask him, he'll tell you how 'orthodox' is right.

　By the way, a simple explanation of the "Is the Son of God a God or a Man" debate can be found at ......

　The Bible says that the Messiah, the prophet, is the "Son of God.
　And ...... is treated as God who came into the world.

　But the Bible says this.
　"There is only one God.

　It's all the fault of the Bible that it's a governor. ......　
　It is the convenience of messianic leaders and emperors that the Bible must be correct.

　Thus arose the controversy of whether the Son of God is God or man.

　The arguments of each side can be roughly summarized as follows: ......

　Orthodoxy: ...... The Son of God is both God and man. Together with the Holy Spirit, they form the Trinity. It's all the same!

　The Alexandrian School ...... The Son of God is God and Man, but more like God.

　Western School ...... Of course it's a person, JK.

　Eastern School...... half, right?

　This is how it is.

　This may not be clear to Japanese, but it is a serious matter concerning the rationality and theoretical nature of Messianic doctrine.
　How serious is it? It is serious enough to cause human death.

　Since the Western and Eastern factions have been exterminated from the Lemurian Empire, there are only two factions left, the Orthodox and the Alexian.
　These two factions had a population ratio of about three to one, and since there was no overwhelming minority, they were in great strife.

　"Speaking of which, Your Majesty. Your Majesty was aiming to unite the Orthodox faction and the Alexian faction, wasn't it?
　"Yes, the 'New Orthodoxy', a blend of Orthodox and Alectian views?

　Hercule nodded at Karolina's question.
　The New Orthodoxy is a new doctrine that combines the doctrines of the Orthodox and the Aretheans.

　Hadrian probably wanted to unite the Messianists of the empire.
　As a compromise, he created the "New Orthodoxy.

　However, the New Orthodoxy was so half-hearted that it ended up being hated by both the Orthodox and the Achaeans, causing even more confusion.

　"Your Majesty, we are ready.

　Lukanos tells Hercule.

　Karolina tilts her head.

　"Preparations for what?
　"The Council.
　"The Council of ......, the Council?

　Karolina exclaims in surprise.
　Hercule smirks.

　"The First Council of Alexandria," he declared.

　"The First Council of Alexandria is now in session. Bishops from the Lemurian Empire and around the world will be gathered here to reaffirm the ...... doctrine.