129 Episode 1 Cecilia's Counter-Offensive




 "You're lucky, ■■■■. The ■■■■ boys and women that you ■■■■■■ have ■■ed and sold off as ■■ have probably been through more than you are now. You will not be ■■ed by more than one ■■, and you will be ■■ed by ■■ for all time to come. You should be grateful for the mercy of ■■■■.

 --On a certain day, at a certain place, a man said to a woman.







 "d*mn, they're all so selfish .......

 Hercule was very annoyed.
 The first thing that irritated Hercule was the diplomatic blunder in the west.

 The two kingdoms of Edelna and Fulling were leaning towards anti-Lemuria, and even the kingdom of Tretum was beginning to turn left and right.
 Hercule's foreign policy toward the west was completely ruined.

 Another reason was the uncooperative attitude of the Church and the laity toward the coinage.

 Aside from the patriarchates under the direct control of Hercule, the attitude of the churches, large and small, in the provinces where Hercule's control is less effective, has not been satisfactory.
 And even among the monastic orders, the Congregation of the Holy See has expressed its opposition to Hercule head-on.

 They say that the gold content of gold coins is determined by God, and that it is sacred to degrade the grade of gold coins, and that it is not allowed, which makes Hercule want to say, "God doesn't give a d*mn about the gold content of gold coins, octopus.

 The total amount of gold coins and wealth stored by the Church and the Holy Order is considerable.
 If we don't get the Church and the Holy See to release and recast this wealth, the money reform will be insufficient and ineffective.

 "Lucanos, can't you do something?
 The Holy Monastery will not listen to me. The Holy Order will not listen to me.

 Lukanos smiled bitterly.
 If Lukanos tried to persuade them, it would only have the opposite effect.

 The Order is a real pain in the ass. They're really annoying, those rich monks. ...... But a lot of them have a really bad attitude.

 The Order of the Holy Priestesses was founded with the aim of increasing the authority and power of the priestesses (mediums).
 However, they are not necessarily on the side of the mediums.

 The congregation is currently divided into two factions, one pro-medium and the other pro-pope.
 Many of the congregations in the Lemurian Empire claim to be pro-Medium, but I am not sure if this is true.
 It is quite possible that they are secret papists.

 Should we use force to crush them?
 I think that would be too aggressive. ...... At least we should hold a council.
 If that's the case, we'll have to ask our medium, little Cecilia, to help us.

 Hercule smiled.
 Hercule already knew that Cecilia was in love with him.

 She's a serious girl, but she's still a woman.  
 As long as she is a woman, there is no reason why she cannot be controlled.

 As a puppet, you can use her well.

 Hercule stood up.

 "Better hurry up. Let's go to Cecilia.
 "Yes, I understand. I'll accompany you.

 Hercule and Loukanos went to the Nova Lemuria Cathedral.
 Cecilia was currently serving in this building, which also served as the Lemurian Patriarchate.

 However, she was not there today.

 "Where has the High Priestess, Medium, gone?

 Lucanos asked Cronus Clorius, the Patriarch of Lemuria, who was filling in for the absent Cecilia.
 Cronus replied.

 He is preaching in the city. I don't know where High Priestess Medium is going. I don't even know where the High Priestess Medium is. She really goes everywhere. ...... But Nia Lucarios might know where she is.

 So Hercule and Lucanos went to Lucarios' residence and asked Nia, who was studying, if she had any idea where Cecilia was.

 "Ceci, the whereabouts of High Priestess Medium? Well, I have a few ideas. I'll show you.

 Nia, who was bored with her studies, took the opportunity to show Hercule and Loukanos around.
 What Nia showed them was not a cathedral or even a church.
 To begin with, it was a small square without a roof.

 Not very well-dressed people were sitting on the steps in a well-behaved manner.
 Cecilia was in the middle of them.

 She was standing on a platform, gesticulating and preaching to the people.

 The Son of God spoke at this time. ......

 The people were listening attentively.
 Hercule couldn't help but mutter.

 You're doing great. But grassroots activism is so ...... Cecilia.

 Since it was not good to interrupt, the three of them stood there and listened to Cecilia's story.

 "It's surprisingly interesting. It's easy to understand. Well, monks talk too formal. I can listen to them, but they're boring and hard to understand for most people. Cecilia's stories, on the other hand, have concrete examples that are easy to understand.

 Hercule nodded admiringly.
 Lukanos nodded.

 Yes, it's very well thought out. There are many subtle deviations to make the story easier to understand, but I'm sure she knows that best herself. For the uneducated public, this is just about the right level of ......, isn't it? The fact that you can explain things to people according to their knowledge is proof that you are very good.

 Nia also agreed with her adoptive father.

 I don't know much about it, but I think it's one of the five easiest sermons I've ever heard. ...... or perhaps you have a sense of humor too, High Priestess Medium. Surprising.



 Cecilia would occasionally crack a joke.
 In response to Cecilia's jokes, the people would laugh happily.

 Some of the jokes made Hercule chuckle.

 (Maybe he can make his debut as a comedian even after he loses his job as a priest.

 Cecilia would be able to do both comedy and comedy.
 It's often said that you have to be smart to be a comedian, Hercule thought.

 That's all for today. Thank you for your attention.

 Cecilia bowed politely at the end.
 When the sermon was over, the people left, commenting on how interesting the day had been.
 Hercule and the others went to Cecilia's side against the crowd's movement.

 Cecilia, you have a great sense of humor. Would you like to make your debut with me?
 "This is Lord Hercule! And even Patriarch Nova Lemuria and Nia heard about ......? You should have told me.

 Cecilia brushed aside Hercule's best attempt at a joke.
 It seems that Hercule has no sense of jokes.
 You may have to be smart to be a comedian, but smart doesn't mean you can be a comedian.

 I hope I'm not interrupting anything. I'd like to talk to you soon, if that's okay.
 "Yes, of course. I don't have anything special to do this evening. Where would you like to do it?

 Hercule thought for a moment and then answered.

 "Why don't you come to my office? It's a bit political. It's not really something I like to be asked about.
 "Okay, ......, I'll see you tonight, okay?

 




 Excuse me, Mr. Hercule.
 Oh, thank you for coming. Cecilia.

 Hercule opened the door himself and invited Cecilia in.
 He then ordered his guards and servants to stand back.

 Hercule invited Cecilia to sit down on the sofa.
 He poured a glass of wine and placed a plate with simple snacks on it.

 Relax your shoulders. I know this is a political conversation, but it's between you and me. There's no need to be so formal about it, is there?
 "Hmm, yes.

 Hercule winked, and Cecilia smiled mischievously.
 Then she raises her glass.

 "So, cheers.
 "Cheers.

 They drink the wine.
 I would not be so foolish as to drink it all at once.

 But ...... you're a medium, shouldn't you be wearing something a little more luxurious?
 You can't do that, you know. ...... In my own way, I am sorry for this incident. This is all due to the arrogance of the Peter family, the previous mediums. I wanted to go back to the beginning.

 Cecilia is wearing a white dress made of flax and linen.
 It is not dyed or embroidered in any way.

 Since the formal attire of the medium is white, the lack of dyeing is not a problem. ......
 The fact that there is no embroidery at all is unusual.
 And the fact that the fabric is flax and linen is also unusual.

 The previous generation of mediums wore silk clothes, and Cecilia wore silk clothes when she was in Lemuria.

 Cecilia had sold them off and had them make her shabby, low-quality clothes to wrap herself in.

 It's still quite durable.
 "Well, if that's all right with you.

 Hercule was not troubled.
 Lucanos and the others were troubled.

 However, Lukanos and the others were troubled, because they couldn't wear luxurious clothes while the other mediums were wearing poor clothes.
 The Lucanos were also forced to reduce the quality of their clothes.

 "Well, I've come here today to ask you a favor. I need you to convince the Holy Monastery and the Church to reform the currency. What do you think?

 What do you think?" "First of all, Hercule, can you tell us more about the Emperor's purpose and intentions for the coinage? I'm not very knowledgeable in that area. I'm not too familiar with that field. ...... I can vaguely understand that it is to make up for the shortage of money.

 I understand.

 Hercule politely told Cecilia about the purpose of his policy.
 I'm not sure if you've seen this before.

 I understand. Yes, it is in my interest, and that of the Church as a whole, that the lives of the people be enriched and that the finances of the Empire be strengthened. I will not hesitate to cooperate with the Emperor.

 "Then you will do me a favor?

 When Hercule asked that, Cecilia nodded and said ......
 Cecilia nodded and said with a smile.









 I don't want to.