The masked ball held last night was a great success. However, Alicia and I were ushered to a separate room, where we engaged in a fierce debate with “Bess-chan,” Her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth of the Espana Imperial Kingdom, and other party members of the “Princess Harem,” concerning the political structure after the demise of Emperor Henry.
The discussion ultimately determined the future state of human nations, but several other important matters were also brought to the table.
The first of these concerned the Northern Nations, inhabited by demons. At this meeting, Swan Hilda and Edele revealed their origins to “Bess-chan.”
“Y-You mean Swan Hilda, my sister-in-law, is Princess Jumilande, Demon King Gandaro’s only daughter?! And Edele, my sister-in-law, is also Swan Hilda’s cousin, a former high-ranking demon?!”
“Bess-chan” clutched her head in despair upon realizing she had formed a “sisterly oath” with relatives of the Demon King, with whom they were currently at odds.
It is understandable that “Bess-chan” reacted this way, as humans and demons are considered irreconcilable enemies.
“Well, who cares about such trivial matters. We have nothing to do with demons currently.”
“Swan Hilda is now one of the God Clan’s Valkyries.”
“W-Why?! How can a demon princess become a Valkyrie?”
“It’s because my mother, Hilde, was a Valkyrie. My father, the Demon King, fought her and took her home. In the demon race, marriage by capture is common.”
Swan Hilda explained her secret origin nonchalantly, but “Bess-chan”‘s eyes had already become vacant.
“I have also undergone a race change to human…”
In the confusion, Edele also offered an explanation.
“So, what was the intention of telling ‘Bess-chan’ about this matter?”
“W-We wanted her to consider the liberation of the Northern Nations. Because—”
Edele’s report concerned the Demon King’s castle. Swan Hilda had recently infiltrated the Demon King’s castle to abduct demon maidens, and during that infiltration, she had also confirmed an emblem with a design that appeared to be a coat of arms, though she recalled it vaguely.
Following heraldic verification, it was discovered that the Demon King’s castle was the residence of Azarii Desmon, one of the ancient heroes, known as the shield hero, and it was the royal castle of the Desmonia Kingdom he had founded.
In other words, it had become highly probable that Swan Hilda and Edele, including Demon King Gandaro, were descendants of Azarii Desmon.
The fact that they could undergo a race change to human after expelling demonic energy also suggested the possibility that demons were originally human.
Regarding the cause of the transformation of humans and animals inhabiting the Northern Nations into demons, Swan Hilda’s theory was that it was due to the miasma, referred to as malevolent energy, that permeated the demon territories.
Much of this matter remained speculative, and further discussion could not delve deeper.
The second matter concerned my and Alicia’s treatment. If the current secret pact were to be established, Alicia and I would, by order of Empress Elizabeth, establish the Adventurer Party “Princess Harem” and secretly protect the former princesses and imperial princesses, forcing them to live as common adventurers. Therefore, upon the successful completion of the secret mission from “Bess-chan,” extraordinary rewards would be necessary to honor such immense achievements.
Currently, the plan is to elevate me from my current status as a First-Class Quasi-Noble to the rank of Marquis, not merely a title nobleman, but a territorial lord with vast holdings. Concurrently, Alicia is to be promoted from Viscountess to Countess, a rank that would allow her to become a Marchioness in the future.
The issue that arose here was the baptismal name. For commoners, most had only given names, while those with surnames like mine, Hal Raymond, were generally wealthy. Nobles typically had “von” in their names, a testament to their noble status. However, many who had lost their noble status, such as destitute nobles or those born as second sons, continued to use it.
The names of royals and nobles in Espana were governed by a law called the “Espana Imperial Kingdom Nobility Naming Law.” Alicia’s full name, Alicia Mia von Rendol, followed the order of: parent’s given name, baptismal name, noble title, and surname (family name). This order was the standard for full names of nobles in the Espana Imperial Kingdom.
A baptismal name was a name bestowed through a ritual called “true baptism,” granted by the Asgard Holy Church in exchange for a substantial donation. As my former self was Lester the Cleric, affiliated with the Asgard Holy Church, I was well-versed in the inner workings of the church. While blessings could occasionally be received through divination, the “grade” of the baptismal name usually depended on the amount of the donation.
Now, I will take this opportunity to reconfirm the religions in this world where we live. Our world is said to have four major civilization spheres: the Western Nations, the Southern Nations, the Northern Nations, and the Eastern Nations. The Eastern Nations, a civilization sphere flourishing far in the distance, boasts a unique culture, but its details are not generally known. Consequently, people from the Eastern Nations are called “rare beings.”
Despite their rarity, I am quite connected to many people from the East, such as my mother Shakura, Mai, Kirika’s deceased mother, and Park-li, who attempted to “consume” Tirna. Their nations practice their own unique religions. In the Eastern Nations, although the names for gods differ from other civilization spheres, their essence is considered the same as the gods we worship.
The Western Nations, Southern Nations, and Northern Nations, though separated by forested areas, are connected by roads and other thoroughfares. However, the Northern Nations are currently under demon control, making it impossible for humans to visit. Many countries in the Western and Southern Nations, like the former Kamiyar Holy Nation, had their own state religions. However, in most countries, the teachings of the Asgard Holy Church are followed.
The reason for the widespread adherence to the Asgard Holy Church is attributed to its role in the war against demons. Originally, the Asgard Holy Church was known as the “Asgard Faith,” a syncretic religion that combined a folk religion of ancestor worship with Shinto elements, and the “Holy Order,” a modern religion with a refined and self-proclaimed strict doctrine that venerates the Goddess of Light, Lucialurei, as the supreme deity, with other high-ranking gods as subordinate deities. Those who refer to the “Holy Order” as a modern religion belong to organizations that trace their lineage to it. My former self, Lester the Cleric, was part of an organization that originated from the “Asgard Faith.”
In essence, the “Asgard Faith” and the “Holy Order” were initially as different as fire and water. However, facing the threat of demons, a decision was made at a gathering of kings and emperors from various nations to merge them, thus forming the Asgard Holy Church. The Asgard Holy Church, initially established with strong authority under a wartime agreement, now enjoys immense popular support. In such politically unstable times, people seek solace in religion.
Next, let me explain the organizational structure of the Asgard Holy Church. The hierarchy includes: lower clergy or deacons -> secondary clergy or priests -> clergy or bishops -> upper clergy or archbishops -> head clergy or grand archbishops -> cardinals -> high priests or popes, forming a distinct dual structure. Nuns, incidentally, are considered general church members, ranking below lower clergy or deacons. The parallel ranks indicated are those inherited from the “Asgard Faith” and the “Holy Order,” respectively. My former self, Lester the Cleric, was equivalent to a bishop and was promoted three ranks to Cardinal Lester due to his meritorious service in defeating Demon King Gandaro. Saints and saintesses are individuals who embody “Healing Magic” and various miracles bestowed by the gods. They are honored outside the regular hierarchy, in positions akin to honorary roles, but their influence on others is immeasurable. In this world, the existence of gods is undeniable, and no one doubts divine miracles. Furthermore, the Asgard Holy Church maintains the Holy Knights to protect its members and employs Inquisitors to perform behind-the-scenes work. Cardinal Lester was in charge of the Inquisitions department, which was, in reality, considered a sinecure for the Cardinal overseeing it. This was partly because it was a position chosen out of envy, despite the immense achievements of Lester the Cleric, and it was a way to reward him. However, the twelve Cardinals were granted the authority to decide, through consensus, the election and hierarchical order of the two top figures of the church: the High Priest and the Pope. Currently, the head of the Asgard Holy Church is Pope Johannes, who stems from the “Holy Order” lineage, followed by High Priest Lowkin, who is from the “Asgard Faith” lineage.
The following day, we arrived at one of the temples of the Asgard Holy Church, adjacent to the noble district of the Imperial Capital Granza. I was once again in my formal attire. The purpose, of course, was to receive a baptismal name, though I was not particularly enthusiastic about it. This is because the religious ceremony of bestowing a baptismal name originated from the “Holy Order.”
“I’m quite nervous, Hal.”
“It’s just something that changes based on the amount of your donation, so it won’t be a big deal, Edele.”
“Yes, Hal.”
For my baptismal name ceremony, “Bess-chan” provided the donation. Edele, whose origins were also revealed, would also be receiving one. Present in the gallery behind us were Alicia, the party members of “Princess Harem,” and the former demon maidens who had recently undergone a race change. The former demon maidens were able to attend because St. Agnes Abbey was located within the same precinct. Shera, who also lacked a baptismal name, stated it was unnecessary, as she seemed to have converted to the religion of the Beastkin, in accordance with her appearance.
As Edele and I waited with solemn hearts before a lavishly decorated altar, Archbishop Lorenz, with his pure white beard, approached us. This elderly archbishop, who could hear the voice of God, was a famous individual who had been recognized as a saint. This in itself indicated the extraordinary amount of the donation “Bess-chan” had made.
“You, Edele, you are—”
Archbishop Lorenz began to lecture Edele, preaching faith in God. While it was for the purpose of legitimizing her baptismal name, it was a thankless task. If the Archbishop knew that the recipient of the baptismal name was a former high-ranking demon, he would surely be floored.
“—Your baptismal name is… Yung-Fern!”
“Ooh!!”
From behind, the voices of Swan Hilda, Miralca, Mercurynande, Esmeralda, and Beatrice, the former demon maidens, exclaimed in surprise.
“Yung-Fern… Edele seems to have received a good baptismal name.”
“Ly, is that true, Swan Hilda?”
“It’s true! Liliana. The proof is that the Archbishop who named her is also stunned—”
It seemed that “Yung-Fern,” bestowed upon Edele, held some divine implications. Perhaps they intended to present Edele as the liberator of the demon-ruled Northern Nations?
Thus, Edele’s full royal name was established: Edele Yung-Fern de Desmonia. Incidentally, “de” was a title traditionally given to royalty and nobility in the Northern Nations, and the surname (family name) Desmonia indicated that she was recognized as the legitimate heir to the Desmonia Kingdom.
“You, Hal Raymond, you are—”
Following Edele, my naming began. Again, Archbishop Lorenz started his sermon, and I, sensing the atmosphere (Numa), listened with a solemn expression.
“—Your baptismal name is… Harem…! Huh?! What did you say?! … ”
“……….. ”
Ufufu, Uhahaha, Ahahaha! Archbishop Lorenz, who had bestowed the name, wore a perplexed expression, and the audience fell into utter silence. Immediately after, a roar of laughter erupted from the audience.
Thus, my full name was decided as Hal Harem Von Raymond. Why my baptismal name became “Harem” is something I feel the urge to question someone about. Although my current status is First-Class Quasi-Noble, meaning I am not technically a noble, the title “von” was granted with a single word from “Bess-chan.”
“Hal, this time it was a message from Kroeneria, the God of Time. Also, I heard, ‘Your wish has been heard and granted!'”
Swan Hilda looked at me with a mixture of curiosity and bewilderment. It is true that, in my final moments in my previous life as Cardinal Lester, I had wished to be popular with the opposite sex. To have it incorporated into my baptismal name—grrr.
“Hal, this kind of situation is called ‘Kōmei’s Trap’ in a proverb from the Eastern Nations.”
Kirika then smugly told me an Eastern proverb. Apparently, in an ancient, prosperous Eastern nation, there was a prime minister or military advisor named “Kōmei.” This Kōmei was skilled in strategy and stratagem, and acted without the person realizing it, so the proverb is used when one realizes they’ve been cleverly trapped after the fact.
On the way back from the temple, I was relentlessly teased by the party members of “Princess Harem,” leaving me speechless. It turned out to be a rather underwhelming outcome of “it’s just a baptismal name, yet it’s such a baptismal name.”
At this point, I felt the urge to find some way to relieve my stress, and I remembered the invitation from Madame Delfina of the high-class brothel “Rose Drop” for “Rose Bud.” Perhaps it would be enjoyable to indulge with a high-class prostitute who wouldn’t cause any trouble.
Thank you for reading.
Episode 27-7, “The Rose Bud is a Young Prostitute (Rosenknospe),” is scheduled for release on December 15th at 0:00.
