Vol 6: Chapter 6 (2)

(This convocation was arranged quite quickly.)

I looked back on the past a little.

After the meeting with Cardinal Thomason, he contacted the Pope shortly after.

Although the number is small, the church has a magic tool for long-distance communication. And it is possible to project the faces and voices of both parties, even though the fuel consumption is so bad that it is equivalent to metling one gold coin per second.

The Cardinal decided to hold a world conference after discussing with the Pope.

It is said that an agreement has been signed so that a conference can be held if the Church proposes the conference for an emergency.

I didn’t know if every country would respond to it, but it was good that King Geffert, who owns Valhalla, the capital of the largest nation, the Keith Gran Federation, responded to the convocation.

Every country announced its participation one after another, except for a few small countries.

——Why did King Geffert agree?

I wondered.

——Probably because they couldn’t obtain any more skill orbs at the Sixth Mine.

The Cardinal said nonchalantly.

The Cardinal’s convocation notice contained the subject of not only a decrease in the appearance rate of skill orbs, but also a hint that “the problem can be solved”.

As a result, many representatives have gathered.

Librarian, Gnome, Beast King Race, Dwarf – these 4 races attended as representatives of the Pledgers of the Covenant. Duke Grenjido of Kruvan Holy Kingdom attended as the representative of the Holy Blue Human. And Yuri-san, Asha’s older sister, attended as the representative of High Elves from Sylvis Kingdom.

The only unknown person was the representative of the “Continental Human”, but I had already discovered that person.

(That person.. which country is he from?)

He looked like a normal human and was seated as a representative of one of the 16 countries.

His long chestnut-colored hair was tied behind. He seemed to be in his early 30’s. His intelligent eyes blinked attentively to the explanation.

In other words, some of the “Pledgers” themselves attended as representatives.

(As expected, Asha really isn’t here.)

Although Asha is of the royal family, she is no longer considered as part of it. In spite of that, Asha headed to the Sylvis Kingdom, and I think that Yuri-san is here today because of her efforts.

『——Such is the sequence of events. This matter has been carefully considered by the Church for thousands of years, and accepts it to be extremely credible.』

When the explanation was over, the hall fell silent.

The representatives of each country, who were expected to be hard to deal with, seemed to be digesting the facts of “the danger of world collapse,” “the resulting depletion of skill orbs,” and “the solution is to unify the two worlds”.

『——May I?』

The representative of “Continental Human” raised his hand slightly.

There was a loudspeaker magic tool on the table. If you place your hand on it, even a whisper will reach every corner of the conference hall.

『I am Holiday, the representative of the Windle Republic of Keith Gran Federation. Can we take this convocation as a discussion about the agreement to unite the “two worlds” and how to handle the visitors from the “other world” that will appear?』

『That is correct.』

Cardinal Thomason replied as the representative of the Church.

『So, before we start the discussion, is it not the “Child of Disaster” standing behind Your Eminence?』

The moment Holiday uttered those words, the whole conference hall erupted noisily.

The nobles who were aware started to say “As expected!” or “Terrifying!”, whereas those who weren’t started to say “Why is he behind His Eminence” and “His Eminence is in danger”.

「........」

In response, Cardinal Thomason raised his hand slightly.

『Please remain quiet. Cardinal, please go ahead.』

The Cardinal then started to speak with his usual strict face.

『The story that black hair and black eyes cause disasters has been passed down since ancient times. However, it is a superstition, and the many years of research by the Church have shown that it has no causal link to calamities. This is clearly stated in the scriptures that are directed to the churches of each country.』

Is that so?

Does the Church know that there is no such thing as the “Child of Disaster”?

Actually, Cardinal Thomason asked me to return to my original hair color, to which I refused in the beginning because it unnecessarily provokes people.

But the Cardinal insisted and said that the Pope also knows–and I, too, was sick of using hair dyes to disguise myself, so I decided to accept it and re-dyed my black hair.

『I have never seen such a scripture.』

Holiday said.

『There seems to be a problem in Windle’s church. Here is a copy of it.』

As if having anticipated such a situation to arise, the Cardinal showed the copy prepared beforehand to the representatives.

Representative Holiday representative nodded after reading it, and said:

『Nevertheless, Your Eminence, even in the Keith Gran Federation there is a record that a black-haired, black-eyed person appeared 500 years ago and burned a country with power beyond human limits.』

Some of the other representatives nodded in response.

『..That is dependent on that individual’s power. For example, if my heart is gripped by evil, and I used the power of the Church to bring misfortune to the people, would you then say, “The Pope is a disaster”?』

『I see. Her Holiness the Pope will guarantee the identity of the black-haired, black-eyed boy over there.』

『Yes.』

The noise that erupted at this time was louder than ever.

The noise did not subside immediately, and Cardinal Thomason had to ring the bell many times to finally get the hall to quiet down.

(Eh? What? What does that mean?)

I, personally, did not really understand the significance of that statement.

Guarantee my identity?....Is it the same as that of the Lev Magic Empire?

..No, it seems to be different.

There is also a Lev representative here, but he was looking around helplessly.

I wish Abba, the deputy director of the Foreign Affairs Bureau, had come.

But what I know is that the Cardinal insisted that I return to my black hair in anticipation of this scenario.

At that moment, Her Holiness the Pope, the girl who was the lord of this castle, raised her hand.

『Everyone, there will be a statement from Her Holiness.』

After a moment of gasps, the hall calmed down.

Her Holiness gently placed her slender white fingers on the magic tool.

『Reiji, the hero of the “Redgate Campaign”, is hereby guaranteed and protected by the Church. Therefore, I urge every country to eliminate the unprovoked prejudice towards black hair and black eyes.』

Her Holiness stated in full clear voice.

『Ah....』

I see now.

I finally understand.

The Church intends to completely dispel the deep-rooted prejudice against the “Child of Disaster” at this occasion. By backing me up.

Cardinal Thomasson turned half his body towards me, and gave a wink that didn’t suit his strict face at all.

I stopped myself from bowing on the spot.

——This child, who wished to save the lives of strangers, and not just his friends.. is a child who carries a kind soul, unlike the previous “Child of Disaster”. So it is alright. You do not have to carry this burden on your back.

It reminded me of the Sage, who said so and stroked my head.

I am glad I continued to move forward.

I am really happy that I continued to walk on the path I believed to be right. Thanks in due part to the people around me.

I hope that the next black-haired, black-eyed child to be born – whether they may be a reincarnated person or not – will not suffer from prejudice or be persecuted.