Overlimit Skill Holder - Book 6: Chapter 15.1

Turmoil In The Holy City

** Holy City **

Kruvanyu, the capital of the Holy Kingdom, is surrounded by circular castle walls, like annual rings of trees. And the First Altar was once at the center of it. The phrase “once” may be strange. Because the altar is still there—just not producing the expected results.

The production of skill orbs had stopped from the moment the “World Union” was commenced. However, since the output was originally extremely low, the “depletion” did not create too much chaos.

The one at the summit of this country is still the “Holy King” or the “Holy Queen”. And the “Holy Royal Palace” still stands at the center of the walls, so the governing of the Holy Kingdom did not change much even after the “World Union”. Publicly, that is.

The monsters that appeared in the Holy City were quickly subdued by the Holy King’s Knights Order, the Holy King’s Army, and adventurers.

Rather, there were many citizens who voiced, “The government was making such a fuss about this “World Union” thing and this is all that happened?”. Because that is how carefully and thoroughly the Holy Kingdom have made their preparations.

Naturally, there seemed to be major changes in the plains and forest areas outside of the Holy City, but so far there has been no impact on the general public. So the general public is calm and carrying on with their day-to-day life as usual.

What has changed, however, is the core of the Holy City.

「——Are you serious?」

Duke Ebene, one of the dukes of the Holy Kingdom, exclaimed while concealing feelings of resentment behind his handsome face.

He was short, and his hair was braided intricately with jewels. He is a Halfling, and is a duke who has very strong influence in the medicine trade.

Originally known as the “Six Great Duke Houses”. But an incident occurred in which the skill orbs produced from the “First Altar” were circulated to the black market. The mastermind behind it was revealed to be House Riviere and they were stripped of their titles. Since then the shipping rights owned by House Riviere are temporarily held by the Holy Royal Family.

A discussion took place in the “Assembly Hall” between “Wall 1” and “Wall 2”, which is the closest to the Holy Royal Palace. Speaking of “Assembly Hall”, it is the place where the Holy Queen is present and only the heads of noble Houses have the right to speak.

A meeting room with seats up to the second floor and a round table in the center was set up. The Holy Queen was seated on a chair overlooking the round table.

There were 6 people at the round table—the head of the 5 Great Duke Houses and the predecessor Holy King Grenjido.

Civil officials and nobles sat behind the head of the Houses. Lower ranking nobles or their messengers who came just to watch this meeting were seated on the second floor.

「What are you trying to say?」Grenjido responded with a sullen, disinterested look.

「Unless you are joking, you just reviewed this year’s budget and allocated a tenth of it to “building a temple for the Goddess”.」Duke Ebene responded.

「I won’t joke in front of Her Majesty the Holy Queen.」

「Is that so? Then it’s even worse.」Duke Ebene sighed.

Duke Ebene has heard that after Duke Grenjido returned from the “World Union”, he was deeply gripped by the Goddess faith. But he didn’t expect it to be this bad. Duke Ebene glanced at the Holy Queen. She was resting her elbow on the armrest, supporting her forehead.

(It seems that Her Majesty did not know about this matter beforehand.)

Duke Ebene thought to himself. Even Earl Sillys, who was behind Duke Grenjido, frowned. He probably realizes that this proposal is “messed up”.

「Duke Grenjido, budget expenditure is not something which should be changed at a moment’s notice.」Duke Ebene said.

「I know that too well. That is why I’m consulting with the assembly.」

「It won’t even be a debate. In the first place, the budget was set aside to prepare for the “World Union” and so that we could immediately respond in the event of a great destruction. It was none other than you who said this.」

「The damage to the Holy City was minor. Which means the funds will be stored away without being put to good use.」

「What are you even saying? We still don’t have a full damage report on other areas. Even if there are no problems in urban areas, we do not know where else dangerous monsters could be lurking. In fact, the Mahato Kingdom’s capital in the west of the continent was attacked and is now in a half-destroyed state.」

As Duke Ebene relayed that information, a commotion stirred in the hall. This information was obtained by the Duke just yesterday, and many nobles still had not known it.

Duke Grenjido, however, of course knows about this–because Earl Sillys is by his side.

(Why is Earl Sillys allowing Duke Grenjido’s unreasonable proposals? Is he a blind follower trying to gain his superior’s favor, after all?)

There was friction between Duke Ebene and Earl Sillys in the past. Duke Ebene, who was informed that the Earl was hiding the “Child of Disaster”, urged the Earl to hand over the “Child of Disaster”. The boy repelled the troops the Duke had sent and escaped.

「Other countries’ problems don’t concern us. Duke Ebene, if the damage to our Holy Kingdom was minor, would you donate this budget to other countries who faced destruction?」Grenjido refuted.

「The reason I brought up Mahato Kingdom is to remind everyone that the situation is still unpredictable for the entirety of the Holy Kingdom. This “World Union” is a problem for the entire world, and there is no such thing as the Holy Kingdom alone surviving it — isn’t that exactly what you said in this very place, Duke Grenjido?」

「…………」

「In the first place, what kind of temple are you planning to build with such a budget? Are you planning to build something more splendorous than the cathedral of the Church on Lake Brunstalk?」

「Of course. We can’t afford to lose to another country.」

「Ridiculous.」

「……What?」

「It’s ridiculous. It’s ridiculous how our people may die at any time, but the head of the country wants to build a temple.」

In response, an indescribable aura of anger shot off from Grenjido’s body. He glared at Duke Ebene with murderous intent.

Duke Ebene’s spine froze up in response.

(What is this? Why did he become so emotional?)

Even if Grenjido had started worshiping the Goddess, this is clearly strange behavior.

「Then let’s take a vote.」Grenjido said with a beastly growling tone.

「Vote?」

「Yes. In the “assembly hall”, the nobles can vote to decide the proceedings.」

「That is only after the discussion hits a dead end.」

「By convention, yes, but in an emergency you can skip the discussion.」

Duke Ebene intuitively realized that it was bad. The fact that he didn’t talk to the Holy Queen beforehand, and bringing up a proposal that can’t even be discussed, was all a pretense.

Grenjido intended to push through this budget change proposal by “majority vote” from the beginning.

「Are you saying that it is an emergency now!? You just said that the damage to the Holy City was minor–」

「Duke Ebene, you said the future is uncertain. As such, it is an emergency now.」

「Even sophistry has a limit!」

「The discussion is over. Take a vote.」

「No!! Such despotism cannot pass through this “assembly”.」

Ignoring Duke Ebene, Grenjido stood up and declared.

「Nobles in favor of the budget changes I proposed, stand up.」