Chapter 111

I have increased the workers’ wages, but it is impossible for them to lead a normal life on this amount of money.

If a single worker receives 4 silver coins as salary, he must first pay 2 silver coins in taxes.

Then, he has to either pay 5 silver coins for a cheap lodging or 1 silver coin to stay in a dirty, cramped room.

If he is married, his wife contributes another silver coin, allowing the couple and their children to barely buy some cheap porridge or bread.

Of course, the serfs from other territories and the poor citizens of the city live in tents or mud huts that are in much worse condition than this, subsisting on mere grains of porridge.

Even if they are expelled from the countryside, living a life far more miserable compared to land-owning serfs…

The one who understands this situation will surely raise the banner of revolt and say,

“Workers of the world, unite! You have nothing to lose but your chains, and you have a world to gain—bread made of meat and wheat, and warm homes!”

However, if I were to start handing out money to directly support the workers’ lives, I could stake my life on it, but the NEETs receiving living allowances from the neighboring country of Japan would start coming out in droves.

Who would want to work if after laboring for 10 hours a day, the reward is only a single room and cheap bread or porridge?

They would certainly resort to idleness and inaction.

Thus, I have been constantly pondering this issue, and the result I have arrived at is…

“Captain Frost, prepare to go to the Great Cathedral of Nante. We will need their assistance.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

**

The luxurious cathedral is covered from floor to ceiling in premium marble, and the ceiling is decorated with canvases depicting the deeds of Deus.

From the entrance to the altar, there are several hundred chairs arranged in rows for dozens of people to sit.

Moreover, the altar features a staff resembling a cardinal’s symbol and the bishop’s coat of arms, indicating the archbishop’s desire to become a cardinal.

Additionally, the pipe organ that appears to be silver-plated and the statues of Deus and the Holy Virgin, adorned with gold and silver, are as splendid as the Great Cathedral of Elysium.

A short while later, perhaps having heard of my arrival, the archbishop, who had approached stiffly when we first met in Blueport, now rushed out on tiptoe.

And, ostensibly on equal standing with me, he even bowed his head first in a show of respect.

“I, a humble servant of the Lord, meet Count Croilet, Your Excellency.”

“Thank you for going this far to honor me, noble one.

“You are the one who has dedicated the most to our humble service, are you not? And you are the lord of the land where we conduct our ministry. Thus, I have no choice but to show you such respect. Please, come in; I have prepared some food and tea for you, however humble.”

After saying this, the archbishop behaved as if he were my subordinate and even had a deputy bishop guide me to his office.

While part of it is likely due to gratitude for my recent orders that assigned numerous wandering preachers under him and dispatched priests to the military…

He seems to have many expectations for me as well; that makes for easy conversation.

As I walked briefly to the archbishop’s office, a nun came in, placed tea and snacks on the table before the archbishop, and left.

The archbishop sat first, then gestured for me to take a seat.

“Thank you, Your Excellency Archbishop.”

“This tea uses exotic tea leaves imported through Medica. Please drink it while it’s still warm.”

“I will enjoy it.”

As the archbishop mentioned, the tea had a very rich flavor and aroma, as if it contained the finest tea leaves from Medica.

However, strangely enough, the combination of its aroma and bitterness calmed my heart.

I needed to spend the money I had accumulated anyway, and since Ella would likely appreciate it, should I stock up?

“This is a very fragrant and fine tea. It is an honor to be treated with such tea.”

“No, Your Excellency. I am sorry that I could only bring this for your hospitality.”

Though he said this, the archbishop’s expression was saying something else.

“I believe that since I have treated you in this way, you will soon bring me good news!!”

So, I decided to generously offer compliments to win over the archbishop.

“Your Excellency Archbishop, I have not even been able to drink such tea in the Northern palace. Thank you for treating me with tea that even the king cannot enjoy.”

“It is an honor, Your Excellency. By the way, what brings you here today?”

“Actually, I have a project I would like to ask you about, but… may I first ask a question?”

“Go ahead.”

“What is the current financial situation of the church, and how many clergy members do you have?”

Upon hearing this, the archbishop opened a drawer in his desk and began reading from a huge ledger.

“The church receives 13,000 gold coins annually from the donations collected at the Great Cathedral of Nante, along with 4,000 gold coins each from Blueport, Helzman, and Croilet Cathedral, with all the local churches combined contributing 10,000 gold coins each year. All told, the total annual income amounts to 35,000 gold coins.”

Hearing this income, Duke Maxburg, who is currently stuck in hellish circumstances because of me, would surely be wailing.

I never would have believed it, that a mere archbishop without church lands would have an income of 35,000 gold coins. Even if they can almost mandatorily impose tithes and various donations…

It simply defies belief. Though I cannot exactly comment, having an annual income of 300,000 gold coins myself.

“We have one archbishop, four bishops, ten deputy bishops, 1,300 priests and monks, and 2,000 nuns.”

The requirements for modern-day priests to have at least a master’s degree differ drastically from today; even though I intentionally accepted wandering priests, the numbers are astounding.

“Where did you get so many nuns?”

“Some of the wandering women have been accepted as nuns, which has led to this number increasing.”

“Then among the monks and nuns, how many can I direct to work in the way I desire in the monasteries or cathedrals?”

“About 500.”

With 500, we could educate the children in cities like Nante, Blueport, and Helzman, and using them as a basis, we should create kindergartens that would also include the women turned courtesans due to the recent factory incidents.

Moreover, I intend to provide various foodstuffs and essential living items to the children coming to the kindergartens and schools under the guise of child support and growth support.

While I will label the goods as food staples for child support and essential items for living, ensuring they are abundant will enable not only children but also adults to have a somewhat more substantial meal and lifestyle.

Additionally, by conditioning it upon the parent’s labor, it would prevent complete idiots from languishing and relying solely on this support.

At the same time, it would also prevent children from being neglected and either dying or growing up improperly, becoming delinquents.

“Very well. In that case, I will deploy those 500 to expand kindergartens, daycares, and orphanages to protect and educate young children. And the operating costs will be entirely covered by my finances and the Count’s domain. However, Your Excellency…”

“Traditionally, charity and relief are the church’s responsibilities. Naturally, I will participate; after all, it is also our duty to cultivate and protect the humble serfs and citizens, even if they are unworthy.”

“Furthermore, please employ the women who have been abandoned by the brothels during the recent factory incident in the kindergartens and daycares to help them continue living. And simultaneously…”

The archbishop interrupted my words, seeming excited as he spoke.

“Agreed, I will conduct confessions for those women. While selling one’s body, no matter the circumstances, remains an unforgivable crime, there is room to treat these cases similarly to rape. After all, they were not willfully engaging; they are poor souls who were cast aside by wicked guild leaders without any intentions of taking them as concubines, are they not?”

… What is that lunatic thinking? Why is he so easily agreeing to grant confessions to people who, despite being forced into this situation, are now courtesans?

Normally, even in cases where someone had to sell themselves due to compulsion rather than force, they would have brought up absurd excuses to deny confessions…

It’s incredibly disconcerting. However, if I were to abandon these women, my reputation would be damaged, so I have no choice…

I hear the sound of money breaking, but there’s little chance I will run out of finances anyway.

If necessary, I can just go collect the interest on the money I lent to Duke Elaline.

The archbishop, unfazed by my feelings about this, continued his discussion.

“Moreover, since they did not wish to sell their bodies, they are deserving of receiving the grace of Lord Deus. Thus, it is necessary to arrange for them to marry older men or those who need to remarry. We will take care of this as well.”

“Thank you, Your Excellency Archbishop.”

At this remark, the archbishop spoke to me with a wicked smile.

“Nonsense, how can we not repay the significant graces we have received from Count, Your Excellency? Thanks to you, I now have hope for a position I never even dreamed of becoming a cardinal.”

It seems that what the archbishop wanted to get from me was indeed a thirst for the position of cardinal…

Well, honestly, 70-80% of cardinals in this era are evaluated based on their political connections and the amounts they send to the Romanian papacy…

For the favors I provided in Nante, sending gold coins amounting to tens of thousands each year, it wouldn’t be strange to hear the question of whether he has thoughts of becoming a cardinal.

However, in order to become a true cardinal, immense support will be necessary… I wonder if this current archbishop before me is worthy of that support?

“To be frank, a few days ago, His Excellency the Chamberlain sent me a secret letter. Please take a look.”

With that, I received the letter and began reading it.

[To His Excellency Archbishop Andrea von Augustus of Count Croilet’s domain.

Currently, the Roman Church is very concerned about the diminishing prestige of the Church. Solutions have already been discussed among thirteen cardinals to overcome this issue, and as a result, it has been decided to construct a new cathedral to restore the prestige of Romania. The cathedral is to be built on Pillows Hill in Romania, and while the costs are exceedingly high, it has been judged essential to build something greater than the foolish Mausoleum’s Mausoleum. Accordingly, all heads of the church are urged to collect as much money as possible… (omission)

Due to the urgency of the situation, permission is granted for selling indulgences which carry the same effect as confession. 20% of the sales revenue from indulgences will go to the church, and the remainder will be sent directly to the Romanian headquarters.

– Chamberlain Vergius von Venia-]

“Considering that the Duchy of Maxburg in Romania is already on fire, a cathedral? Is this true, Your Excellency Archbishop?”

“Yes, indeed. I believe that other dioceses apart from ours are already selling indulgences to secure funds.”

Ah… This is why the archbishop has been acting so subservient today.

My heart immediately wishes to replace him with a new archbishop, but if someone else comes in, they would certainly use some nonsensical reason to undermine my legitimacy while imposing collections.

So I have no choice but to compromise with the person in front of me…

“I approve the sale of indulgences. However, the price of each must not exceed 1 silver. Furthermore, the sins that can be absolved by indulgences will be limited to the punishments decreed by Lord Deus.”

“Then….”

“Surely you do not wish to suggest that you can obtain absolution for serious crimes like murder or rape through indulgences under church law?”

“Would there be any doubts…”

Then the archbishop quickly realized our formerly equal relationship had shifted to one where I was now the superior, and he hastily adopted an excessively courteous demeanor.

“This letter does not precisely specify the authority or efficacy of the indulgences, so it should not cause any issues to proceed in this manner. And, Your Excellency Archbishop?”

“Yes, Count Your Excellency.”

At this point, it seems I will need a cardinal willing to act as a liaison to the papacy on my behalf.

If the archbishop before me can no longer sustain himself without my support, he will surely be able to cushion the storm coming from the papacy to some extent.

At the same time, I could prevent this individual from committing crimes like inter-religious conflicts and various witch trials…

I stood up and looked at the future cardinal with an arrogant voice, asking,

“Are you willing to give up everything to become a cardinal?”

In response to this question, instead of speaking, the archbishop showed his determination through his actions, kneeling before me just as my retainers do, lowering his gaze.

Though he knelt and bowed his head, an immense will for power was evident.

“If I become a duke or a king, I shall make you a cardinal. But serve me as my retainer.”

“I shall follow your command, Your Excellency.”

“Furthermore, I will adequately compensate for the tasks I have requested and the cost of being my retainer. I shall give you 20,000 gold coins; ensure that the full amount is sent to the Romanian papacy headquarters. You know how to handle this, don’t you?”

“I will silence those who are currently denouncing you as a heretic and promote your accomplishments as much as possible. By the time you leave…”

“I have no interest in what happens after my death. Simply do your best as a clergy member.”

Having said that, I left the office.

It will take a few years for the seeds I have sown to bear fruit, but if we do not act now, the madness born of religious war like that brought upon by the famine of the late medieval era will sweep through our territory.

Of course, it would be much less severe than that of the famine… but if I fail to rein it in, this will become a situation that’s not just limited to a couple of rebellions.

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