Chapter 337: White remains (1/2)
TLN: Hey guys, Reigokai here!
The mistake was haunting me, so I pushed myself a bit to translate this one! Sorry for the blunder >-<!
Enjoy :DDD!!
“Bishop…-sama.”
“You have regained the ability to speak on your own, huh. I am glad to see you are healthy.”
10 days after driving Chiback off, I received a report of a long line of people heading to our store, so I hurried there and waited for them, and it seems I pulled a bigger fish than I thought.
I wondered for a moment who it was, and it seems it was the Bishop-sama that’s the top of the Rotsgard church.
Even when going out, she keeps a veil on top of her face, huh.
No one from the people that came with her are hiding their faces, so I think it has nothing to do with their religion.
“It seems there was a silly misunderstanding the other day and we displeased you. We came here to apologize and once again ask for your favor.”
“The Bishop-sama herself?” (Makoto)
“It was the least we could do to show our sincerity. I actually wanted to come alone, but that wasn’t allowed -as expected- so I came here with a big group. I apologize for the inconvenience.”
…Chiback-san was going to the church and was acquainted with the Bishop, huh.
I was assuming he was connected with someone of a lower seat.
For example…that…who was it…Ah, right! Shinai-san.
“No, more importantly, by misunderstanding, is it okay for me to think that you are referring to Chiback-san who leads the famed Appraisal Team?” (Makoto)
“Yes. It seems he has been moving lately for a certain matter, but I heard that he acted impolitely towards the Kuzunoha Company.”
“A certain matter, huh. Rather than calling it impolite, it was more like a rule was broken, and the talk just wasn’t matching. That’s all it was. It is something that happens often between merchants, so don’t worry.” (Makoto)
Ah, Shinai-san is here as well.
There’s a lot of other people that I can recognize from that time when I went to the church once.
The variant incident didn’t deal too many casualties on the side of the church, it seems.
“A broken rule? I heard from him that the negotiation couldn’t even proceed properly because of your arrogant attitude. Can I hear your side?”
The Bishop-sama doesn’t show any anger, and simply seems to be confirming the facts.
Arrogant, huh.
Well, it is true that, when thinking about the positions, our attitude might be arrogant.
But there’s rules we can’t bend.
Especially when they are to protect our own family.
If it is a rule like letting people of the church lower than the Bishop-sama change the designs of their white clothes, those can be changed anytime.
We also are pretty flexible when it comes to the change of uniforms, and if there’s suggestions, we would consider them.
“Yeah, of course. We of the Kuzunoha Company are still newcomers who lack a lot compared to the other famous big companies.” (Makoto)
“I don’t know if to call you humble, but maybe I should listen more of what you have to say before that.”
The Bishop urges me to continue.
“Thanks. Therefore, we have a number of rules in order to protect our company. One of those is to make the transaction clear.” (Makoto)
“…”
“Chiback-san and I couldn’t reach an agreement in that part. He returned angry, but once I checked from another source, I discovered that the hidden information as well as the information he disclosed were all lies.” (Makoto)
“…”
“The Kuzunoha Company doesn’t allow lies or secrets in our transactions. Whether it be a ‘certain matter’, a ‘certain personage’, the Aion Kingdom, or the Gritonia Empire; there’s no exceptions. That’s all we have to say about this.” (Makoto)
“…I see. Who knows what kind of grudge you might cause later, or in what political strife you would be involved with. You won’t be able to relax unless all risks are disclosed and safety is secured.”
The Bishop shows a decent understanding of my point while her tone turned slightly more peaceful.
But it is a bit different.
The first half is one thing, but especially the latter half.
“I am happy that you understood. But let me add something. We simply want to have a complete grasp of the circumstances. We have no intention of seeking safety in the requests.” (Makoto)
“…Then, would there be any need to have a grasp of the situation?”
Why is that your conclusion?
Knowing the situation is absolutely necessary to decide our actions.
It is not as if the circumstances are of no importance if there’s no risks.
Hm? Now that I say it myself, I feel like I thought like that not too long ago.
My way of thinking might have changed little by little at some point in time.
“We don’t care about the risks. We just have to decide whether we want to shoulder it or not. Knowing the situation allows us to know what meaning our actions will hold, what kind of intention they expect our next move to have; we properly want to know about it. That’s all there is to it.” (Makoto)
Even so, I am sure there will be a case in the future where we will judge the risks are too heavy to accept.
…And at that same time, in the cases where we think that there’s a point in accepting that amount of risk, we will accept it.
That’s why, thinking that the risk is the only deciding factor could bring about misunderstandings.
I have to properly explain that to her.
“‘I have no intention of being conveniently used by any political powers’, it sounds like quite the obstinate opinion though.”
“In the sense of ‘conveniently used’, you are correct. Depending on the circumstances, you could even take it as ‘arrogant’ just as Chiback-san reported.” (Makoto)
I smile and tell her the truth upfront.
It would be a pain to have them beat around the bush on the circumstances any more than this and try to bargain for it.
“…”
“…”
A strange tension and silence pressure fills up the room.
By the way, I think I know the reason why this Bishop-san has a veil on.
She has a wound on her face.
It is not a special wound that can’t be erased by the church -it is a plain old regular wound.
And yet, she is keeping it there.
She must have her circumstances.
I’ve heard that being in the Rotsgard church means they are in the promotion course, but a female bishop that doesn’t erase a wound that can be erased even though she is a believer of that Goddess, isn’t that way too suspicious?
That Bishop-san sighs lightly.
Has she decided on her next move?
“You possess a strong conviction, Raidou-dono.”
‘-dono’, huh.
I think she didn’t use honorifics before.
Well, there’s nothing bad in being held with a decent amount of respect.
Also, she didn’t call me arrogant, but someone with strong conviction.
Looks like she will accept our reasoning to a certain degree.
“That’s around the few things we can take pride on after all.” (Makoto)
“That’s why you would even do things like disclosing the production method of your medicines, and devote yourselves for the town without caring for the profits?”
“…”
Our actions in the variant incident and after.
Especially in the after part, at a glance, we were acting with more compassion than even the church.
“I see. I do feel arrogance for a mere single company, but you could also say that the actions of Raidou-dono and the Kuzunoha Company are under a strong belief.”
“I am honored.” (Makoto)
“There’s parts that deviate from the teachings of the church, but your stance of assisting as many people in their livelihood as possible is truly sincere, and praiseworthy. And in reality, there’s no organization as revered as the Kuzunoha Company in Rotsgard.”
“…”
I had a bad feeling run down my back.
I have to be on guard when praised.
I am sure that the church as a whole doesn’t think positively of us after all.
I can’t read this Bishop-san at all, but lowering my guard is bad.
“However…”
“…”
Here it comes.
“At the same time, I think, as someone that’s not a God, that kind of selflessness and altruistic spirit like that of the Goddess, who holds only compassion, rarely exists. People may be kind at times, but are also creatures that would occasionally only see themselves.”
“…”
“The actions of the Kuzunoha Company are dazzling and divine. I personally am deeply moved by that. And yet, on the other hand, you drove away Chiback-san who held a torment. What could this mean—”
“Yeah, it is as you say. I am not a god. Our actions for the town are, in the end, to better our company’s image. We are not as compassionate as you think, Bishop-sama.” (Makoto)
I delineate this before she jumps into a weird direction.
It is not like I am throwing the company down to help out people.
‘Compassion is finite’, if I point this out, it will also serve as a deterrent for people who call out our feelings.
That’s what Shiki has taught me.
“…”
“…”
The Bishop-san falls silent.
She probably was going to move towards that direction.
…That’s a bad flow.
It reminds me a bit of that time when Zara-san cornered me.
It was also in Rotsgard.
Right now we are in the Kuzunoha Company’s reception room which calms me down a bit though.
“You have…”
“?”
“Gained a lot more experience since the time I first met you. You are hard to deal with, Raidou-dono.”
“…Thank you very much.” (Makoto)
“By the way…do you know why I am the only one speaking?”
“? No idea. Isn’t it because you are the one with the highest position here, Bishop-sama?” (Makoto)
“It is because they are utilizing a secret skill that the church prides itself on. They are concentrating, they are being careful, and they are putting their all.”
““?!””
“…Hooh.” (Makoto)
Everyone aside from the Bishop-san showed clear signs of agitation.