Chapter 161: Cardinal’s Warning

"He’s absolutely right. I’ve heard that the Church has recently been aggressively trying to recruit new followers. I don’t know what reason they have for doing so, but people should be free to choose which god they believe in. Leave innocent citizens out of it. You’re causing nothing but trouble." Viktor whose unusually agreed with Warren added his own sharp criticism.

The bystanders who heard Viktor’s words began whispering among themselves.

"Come to think of it, my wife was complaining about how persistent the Church’s recruitment efforts have been lately."

"I’ve heard the same thing."

Their quiet murmurs spread through the guild.

Qiu Nuoya was fairly sure he had heard something similar from Goldmine of the Tamer’s Guild. The Church had been growing increasingly at odds with the royal family, and apparently they were actively recruiting believers in an effort to build up their own support base. That was what he remembered hearing, anyway.

"Those people around you have been making quite a racket. Am I to assume that what they have been saying reflects your own thoughts, boy?"

The intimidating man suddenly turned his gaze toward Qiu Nuoya and questioned him. His expression remained stern and completely devoid of warmth, but at least he was not simply lecturing Qiu Nuoya without giving him a chance to speak.

"I already told Saintess Sherria that I am not the Saint, and that I have no intention of becoming a Divine Child."

"I see..."

The man fell silent for a while before continuing.

"Then..."

"What do you intend to accomplish now that you have a dragon as your tamed monster?"

"Uh... What do you mean?"

"Are you going to set out on a journey to search for some legendary treasure? Or perhaps you intend to defeat the Demon King?"

"Um..."

"What will you use that immense power for? Depending on your answer, we may have no choice but to regard you as a threat to the world and have you put down."

What!? How did this conversation even get to that!? He was a carefree pacifist! Could they please stop calling him a threat to the world!?

"Is that a threat, Cardinal?" Viktor glared at the man.

Wait, Cardinal? What position was a cardinal again? Some kind of high-ranking clergyman, right? Considering he was accompanying the Saintess, he clearly wasn’t just some ordinary bodyguard.

"Handling someone who has obtained power beyond their station is difficult. That is what it means to command a dragon. And he is still only a child. With such a powerful force at his side, he could even bring the world under his control. There is no way we can simply leave such immense power unchecked."

"Um, my contract with my tamed dragon is only for one year, and the reason I entered into the contract in the first place was to protect the other dragons that are supposed to be out there. So I don’t think becoming a threat to the world is really..."

"One year contract? And you’re protecting dragons?" The Cardinal looked suspicious, but Qiu Nuoya was not lying. "If Long agrees, there might be a chance of renewing the contract, but he has a lot of pride, so I don’t think he’ll want to renew it. That’s why..."

"With the power of a dragon, you could conquer the world within a year."

Whaaaat...

Well, Qiu Nuoya could understand why they might think that after seeing Long’s destructive power. Long could literally alter the landscape just by getting a little carried away, so blowing away the royal capital would probably be easy for him. Perhaps it was only natural for them to regard him as a threat.

But he’s Long, you know? Sure, he talks like some arrogant ruler, but he’s actually an incredibly good kid. He argues with him, but he has never once actually defied him. He always listens to what he says. So when they call someone like that a threat, he just can’t really take it seriously.

"I have never even considered doing something like that, and I have no intention of making him do it either!"

"Anyone can say whatever they like."

Oh, come on! No matter what he says, this guy always has an answer! He’s such a pain!

"Then what would it take to convince you!?"

"Your allegiance to the Church. So that you may use that power for the proper purpose..."

"Rejected."

Viktor cut off the Cardinal’s words with a single, expressionless remark.

"If what you say is correct, then surely you understand that demanding his allegiance to the Church is nothing more than sophistry. What exactly do you intend to accomplish by using their power? A rebellion against the royal family?"

"....."

"If what you say is correct, then the proper choice would be for him to belong to no one and nowhere. If a powerful organization takes him in, he will inevitably be thrust into the center of political affairs, whether he wants it or not. And he has no desire for that."

"But excessive power invites conflict! Especially when the one possessing that power is still a child who has yet to understand proper judgment or even the difference between right and wrong..."

Ahh... Qiu Nuoya could understand where he was coming from. He still looked like he was around middle-school age, after all, and children around that age could certainly be reckless at times.

Unfortunately, though, there’s actually a fairly old man inside this body.

In terms of his actual age, Qiu Nuoya was probably not much younger than the Cardinal himself.

"Cardinal, from my perspective, even you are no different from a child who lacks proper judgment."

"What does an arrogant young upstart like you know!? Don’t speak as though you understand things you know nothing about!" At the Cardinal’s outburst, Viktor gave a quiet scoff. "Young upstart? You call me a young upstart? Are you human, Cardinal? Your perspective is remarkably narrow. If you believe everyone is exactly what they appear to be, then you are gravely mistaken. I have lived for several decades longer than you, at the very least. I will return your own words to you."

With that, Viktor brushed his hair back, deliberately exposing his long ears, one of the defining features of an elf, for the Cardinal to see.