"Hello, Hupatia. How are you doing?

　About a month after Cecilia's wedding.
　Hercule was visiting Hupatia on business in Arrecia.

　Hupatia was a warbeast woman with beautiful silver hair and a fox shape.
　She is a follower of classical polytheism, which is completely different from Messianism, and is the director of the Great Library of Aletheia.

　As a pagan by nature, she is a shady character in the Messianic world. ......
　However, she was allowed to have a huge mansion in the prime location of Aletheia City.

I'm not sure if this is a good idea, but it's a good idea.

　In a frightened tone, Hupatia said to Hercule.
　I'm not sure what to make of it.

　I'm not sure who's baby it is,......, but I'm sure it goes without saying.

As I told you before, the child will belong to the Messianic Orthodox Church. But I will leave it up to you to raise the child.
Ha, ha. ...... Oh, thank you.

　Hupatia patted her belly affectionately.
　I'm not sure if I'd be able to do that if I were you.

　But she hadn't lost her beauty, perhaps because she was a high-ranking species.

"By the way, Hupatia. About the report I received about a week ago: ......
I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I've been able to restore all of the books in the Great Library of Alexandria that were destroyed in the ...... fire.

　The Great Library of Alexandria.
　A great king who conquered the world once built a huge library containing all the books in the world.

　But due to an unfortunate accident, it was severely damaged.

　However, thanks to the efforts of Hupatia, her fellow scholars, and some Messianic monks, the restoration of all the books was finally completed.

　The fire occurred when Hercule and Hupatia met ......, which was when Hupatia was 20 years old.
　In other words, it took about twenty years.

"It's all thanks to ...... your support, .......
"Don't worry about it. "Don't worry about it. Books are the world's treasure.

　And so on.
　However, in reality, it is largely due to the work of Hercule that the collection of the Great Library of Alexandria was successfully restored and restored.

　Even during the war.
　Even in times of war. 　
　Even in times of famine.

　Even in times of war, disaster, or famine, Hercule continued to devote the minimum necessary funds to the reconstruction of the Library of Alexandria.
　No matter how much scholars and monks love books, they too have a life.
　By continuing to guarantee their income while they contributed to the restoration of the books, they were able to successfully restore the collection.

Let's continue to support them as we always have. We will continue our support as before. ...... Keeping books in one place is a risk. Next, you should work on manuscripts and translations.

　Some of the books stored in the Library of Alexandria are incompatible with Messianic doctrine.
　Nevertheless, there is a movement among the monks to incorporate such knowledge and refine the doctrine of Messiah.
　Cecilia is the first of them.

　Hercule intends to copy and translate the entire collection of the Great Library of Alexandria and preserve it for posterity in the monastery and the library he has built in Nova Lemuria.

"Thank you, ....... Your Majesty.
Don't worry about it.

　Hercule said, kissing Hypatia on the cheek.



　For almost six months.
　Hercule and Cecilia had been newlyweds in Nova Lemuria.

　However, Cecilia, who had already become the leader of the Western World and the Messianic World both in name and reality, could not leave Lemuria City, the capital of the world, for a long period of time.
　So, the day came when Cecilia returned to Lemuria City.

　I'm sure you'll be able to understand what I mean.

I'm sure you'll agree. ...... You want me to lend a hand in the reconstruction of Lemuria City, is that it?

　In Lemuria City.
　In Cecilia's mansion, Hercule again confirmed this to Cecilia.

Yes. Aside from politics, I and the monks and priests in my entourage are unfamiliar with this kind of internal politics.

　Cecilia had taken a page from Hercule, or more accurately, the Lemurian Empire, and had reorganized the Church into a sort of centralized bureaucracy.
　However, this organization would specialize in administering endowed manors and collecting a tenth of the taxes from congregations around the world.

　In other words, it was not very good at flood control, irrigation, or industrial development.
　In this respect, Hercule and his vassals were several steps ahead of him.

　I had already given my body to Hercule many times.
　I had no hesitation in asking him to teach me.

(Now, what should I do?)

　What Cecilia was looking for was probably not verbal advice.
　In the first place, she had already given Cecilia a lot of advice on domestic affairs and governance in pillow talk when they had spent the night together.

　Therefore, what Cecilia is looking for is ......
　Perhaps financial help.

　In the treaty signed by Hercule, Ludwig I, and Cecilia, it was stipulated that

The city of Lemuria belongs to the Lemurian Empire, the legitimate territory of the Lemurian Empire.
The right of control over the city of Lemuria and its surrounding areas, including the right of governance, administration, and tax collection, shall be donated to the Lemurian Patriarchate of the Messianic Church in the name of Hercule Julianos. Cecilia Peter and Ludwig Fraling confirm this.

　It has been decreed that

　At first glance, this seems to be a way to save face for Hercule by nominally giving control of Lemuria to the Lemurian Empire, but Cecilia probably came up with this condition in order to get financial support from Hercule.

　It's the territory of the Lemurian Empire, so give us money.
　But the right to rule, to administer, and to collect taxes is mine.

　That's what Cecilia is trying to say.

　You've become quite brazen, Hercule thought.


　Cecilia, on the other hand, had a white-faced look on her face, her cheeks flushed, and her clerical garments slightly pulled down to reveal her pure white skin to Hercule.

Of course ...... you will be paid.
You look like a whore.

　Hercule said sarcastically. ......
　In the past, Cecilia would have been furious, but she replied with an expression of comfort.

I'm not going to deny it.　...... It's a small price to pay if my body alone can guarantee the future development of the Church of Messiah.

　Cecilia is fond of Hercule, even if she is not.
　Therefore, from Cecilia's point of view, this kind of pillow fight would be practically beneficial.

　She is a kind of invincible person.
　What to do, Hercule pondered.

　In the event that you have any questions regarding where and how to use the site, please contact us at .......

From what I've seen of Lemuria, ...... it looks like the old infrastructure is still alive.

　One barbarian invasion after another.
　And abandonment due to lack of funds. 　
　And then there was the Edelna War.

　The city of Lemuria has certainly been devastated by repeated upheavals, but the aqueducts and sewers made of sturdy stone will not decay so easily.

　Therefore, two things are needed.

If we send money and engineers, we can lay the groundwork for reconstruction.
Is that true?　...... I don't have many construction engineers in my circle. Can you help me?

　Cecilia said, leaning into Hercule's chest.
　She deliberately pressed her chest against his chest and lightly traced his chest with her fingers.
　Then she pressed her lower body against Hercule's lower body.

"Well, what can I do?
"Please don't be mean. Master Hercule.

　Cecilia looked up at Hercule.
　Hercule held Cecilia tightly with one hand.

　Cecilia made a sweet sound.

"There are three conditions.
"......Three, huh?

　Cecilia slowly narrowed her eyes.
　Her expression and gestures were not so different from those of a prostitute, but the switch in her head had already been flipped from prostitute to politician,......, it seemed to Hercule.

One, first of all, you must promise to take a favorable position toward Lemuria in the event of a conflict between the Fullerling and Lemuria.
"...... I understand. First of all, King Fulling, or should I say Emperor, is trying to get out from under my control. I have no reason or interest to curry favor with him.

　Ludwig I's goal is to gain independence from the two "Lemuria".
　His goal is to eliminate interference from Hercule and Cecilia.

　Cecilia wants to increase her interference in the country ruled by Ludwig I. ......
　Unfortunately, I do not share the same interests as Ludwig I.

I'm afraid I don't share the same interests as King Ludwig I. "But I can't be hostile to King Ludwig I out in the open. Please keep that in mind.

　Cecilia clearly warned Hercule.
　Currently, Cecilia was the sole leader of the Church of Messiah because she held the dual positions of Princess Priestess and Pope.

　King Ludwig I can appoint a pope that suits him if he wants to.
　That is how much control he has over the Church in his kingdom and empire.

Of course he knows that. So ...... this is not such a strong request.
"I see. Okay, then.

　Cecilia readily agreed.
　Cecilia was already Hercule's wife.

　It is only natural for a wife to help her husband.
　...... Of course, it is also natural for a husband to help his wife.

　The relationship between the Church of Messiah and the Empire of Lemuria, and between the Church of Messiah and the Kingdom of Fulling (Empire), is one of contrast.
　The former is actively cozying up to the latter, while the latter is actively keeping its distance.
　History will prove which is true. ......

Two ...... will help our country in times of need.
"What does ...... that mean?
"Unlike the Fullerings, we are confronting a powerful infidels. Do you understand?

　One is, of course, the Kingdom of Fahls.
　The other is ...... the Kuro Thrust, which is currently friendly, but who knows how it will turn out.

　Both are enemies of paganism.

You want me to cover your back in case ...... that's what you're saying?
That's what it means.

　Cecilia nodded broadly.

Of course. You don't have to tell me, but I promise you. ...... I am a devout follower of the Messianic religion before I am the Supreme Leader of the Messianic Church. I have no intention of selling my soul to paganism.

　I will not join hands with the pagans for the benefit of the Church.
　As Messianics, we will cooperate to the fullest extent in the defense against pagan aggression.

　Cecilia promised.

　Hercule nodded, loudly.
　He hugged Cecilia even tighter.

　A breath escaped Cecilia's mouth.

"The third and final thing. For ...... the price, I'll take your body.


"...... Yes . Go ahead, have it your way.