Volume 7, Chapter 32 – Discrimination

Waiting for us as we left Idris-kun’s house were Khalid-san and the escort soldiers, all wearing stunned expressions.

“I have a request for all of you. Idris-kun only acted because he was worried about his sick mother, so please make sure he is not punished.”

“Y-Yes…”

“Also, couldn’t you be a little kinder to the people here? This kind of treatment is just too cruel. There is no such thing as someone being born impure.”

“…”

However, neither Khalid-san nor the soldiers gave me an answer.

How could people living in the same country do such cruel things?

How can everyone in this country act as though nothing is wrong?

Maybe I’m the only one getting angry over this, but even so, it’s frustrating… and painful that I can’t do anything.

Was what I did for Idris-kun and his mother really the right thing?

Was there not something else I should have done?

And were the words I just spoke the right ones?

No matter how much I questioned myself, I could find no answer.

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“…Let us return.”

“Yes, Fiene-sama.”

As always, Chris-san gently escorted me, but… what kind of expression am I wearing right now?

I just hope it isn’t an awful one.

I pulled my hood deep over my eyes and hurried away from the scene.

◇ ◇ ◇

“Fiene-dono. Could I ask you for a Soundproof Barrier?”

When we returned to the hotel room, Shizuku-san brought this up, so I cast the Barrier.

“Fiene-dono. I believe that the actions you took toward the boy Idris were correct as a human being.”

“…Shizuku-san.”

“However, their situation may become even worse from here on.”

“Eh?”

I instinctively looked at Shizuku-san, but her expression was utterly serious.

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“Discrimination like this doesn’t disappear overnight. And if not only those at the top but even ordinary people think this way, then it will likely be impossible to change.”

I bit my lip at Shizuku-san’s words.

“Additionally, this situation is likely being created intentionally. They likely create a group for people to discriminate against, giving the general public somewhere to vent their frustrations. So they can think, ‘At least there are people below us.'”

“That’s just…!”

“Fiene-sama. Nothing in my country is this extreme, but such structures do exist. I have heard that in the Royal Capital, people who came from the slums where the Mummy Disease first broke out often face all sorts of disadvantages.”

“Even so, to do something that cruel…!”

I couldn’t help raising my voice.

“That is true, but…”

“Fiene-dono. Chris-dono isn’t saying their situation is acceptable. Moreover, as someone from a country without a Saint, I have come to understand to some extent the position and treatment of those called Saints in my own way.”

“Yes.”

“Because the words of a Saint are not something that can be ignored so easily, it would be difficult for them to ignore you. However, solving this problem would require changing them at their very core, so it is not something that can be accepted so easily. In the first place, they don’t even see the Luma as people worthy of being treated as equals.”

“But!”

“Furthermore, the current Fiene-dono is also a special envoy of the White Moon Kingdom. If Fiene-dono were to involve herself in another country’s political affairs, there is no way they would accept it. At worst, it could even lead to a clash between nations?”

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“…”

“That is precisely why the Emperor of the Red Sky Empire likely wanted someone to accompany Fiene-dono.”

“Eh?”

Not understanding the meaning, I instinctively asked back, but Chris-san answered from the side.

“As the Saint, every word and action of Fiene-sama carries immense weight. That is why the positions of Holy Knight or attendant—those who can speak casually by Fiene-sama’s side—are positions coveted by anyone hoping to make use of Fiene-sama.”

“Is… that so. But wouldn’t the Holy Sword reject such a person?”

“Yes. But looked at another way, they only need to be recognized by the Holy Sword—or by Fiene-sama herself. Just like Lumia.”

Ah, I see. So that’s how it is.

That’s true…

Yeah. It really isn’t a good idea to increase the number of people any further.

I’ll make sure to have a proper talk with the next Holy Sword I meet.

“Um, Saint-sama.”

“Yes?”

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Sara-san, who had been listening to our conversation, spoke up hesitantly.

“If we can liberate my homeland, I would like to accept those among the Luma who wish to do so as immigrants into my Black Rainbow Empire. Um, if that is alright with you.”

“Eh? Really? That’s a great idea! Let’s definitely consult with Hilar-san!”

That’s right. If Sara-san takes the country back from the evil ones, Sara-san will become the Emperor.

She should at least be able to do that.

Shizuku-san watched the two of us with a slightly exasperated look.

“Huh? What’s wrong? Don’t you think it’s a good idea?”

“No. I just thought that Fiene-dono truly is a Saint.”

“Eh?”

Shizuku-san didn’t answer any further and simply gave an ambiguous smile.

Beyond her, I could see Mashiro-chan narrowing its eyes in contentment as Lu-chan petted it in a patch of sunlight.