Ernest heard what Rei wanted to say.
In the past he didn't really understand anything about factional competition in the Republic or anything like that. For him personally, worshiping the goddess and taking care of Miss Cindy are the things that are needed to be able to live life.
Politics and such, he didn't really care about that. Until he realized that the faction that the Austinus family had joined, the business faction, was the worst faction he had ever heard of.
All the crimes and sins that were forbidden by the scriptures had been committed by the Faction to the point where Ernest thought that the Austinus family had been lied to from the start.
That confidence then grew when he listened to what Rei said.
"A peaceful village close to the capital. They were mostly farmers who grew wheat, apples, grapes and some spices. It's a fertile land blessed by the goddess. Every year, the harvest is always abundant, selling some to the city and some to keeping for themselves, the village and the city meet their needs and harmony can be created. "
"I think the goddess is very kind to this country," Ernest said.
"Sure, Brother Ernest. Our country has been blessed with fertility by the goddess so that it makes children, adults and teenagers smile every day all over the country. Our worship has created these conditions."
"Praise the goddess. I don't really know much about it due to the limited knowledge I have, but I'm sure what you said is true. "
Ernest could believe Rei's words because he often went with the head of the Austinus family to various places. Every place that Ernest visited, in the village or in the city, was always filled with lush green fields with blooming flowers.
It felt like there was nothing there but people's happiness.
When Ernest recalled the experiences during his life, Rei then continued his words with a changed tone of voice.
"However, brother Ernest. Not all humans are satisfied with what they have. There are so many people who are lulled by wealth, making huge profits regardless of welfare, living only for money without thinking that when they sleep underground and close their eyes, all they can bring is a charity notebook to give to the goddess. . "
Rei then closed his eyes for a moment before telling the truth.
"A devout farmer from the village began to think about selling his crops cheaply to the city for good deeds, even when the farmer was actually in a pretty bad economic condition. The farmer then actually did it and the people in the town started to rejoice, but when it worked, a group of people did not like the farmer's good deed. The group asked the farmer to match the price they set."
"That sounds evil. How can there be someone like that? "
"Sigh, I already told you, brother Ernest that there are a lot of greedy people like that. The farmer of course refused, but the greedy group forced the farmer to do it. There is also another story about the same group but in a different place, this time the group forcibly snatched a house full of memories from poor villagers in order to build a factory. How despicable their actions are, enslaving poor people who are devout worshipers to become factory workers who have little time to go to church. "
"Who is that group? I didn't know there were so many criminals in this country. "
"People who like violence, People who like power, and People who like wealth by enslaving people. The world is full of people like that, brother Ernest. And what I told you just now came from the faction that previously supported the Austinus family. "
"Triase family faction? Is that the group of people you were talking about just now? "
Rei nodded slowly.
"This year, the presidential term will end, therefore the competition for parliamentary seats will be hot. The church faction thinks that if they let other factions who don't believe in the goddess gain power, it will definitely end badly for this country."
Ernest then put his hand on his chin.
Looking to the side, he could see Cindy was also paying attention to what Rei was saying.
There is no suspicion whatsoever from how the expression by Cindy to Ernest. However to confirm this information, he had to ask his master.
"Miss Violet. Do you know anything about the race for the presidency that's going to happen this year? "
Cindy answered him with a disappointed expression. The girl then turned her face away to try to attract attention.
"Ernest, we are not at church or at school. Stop calling me Violet, just call Cindy as usual. "
Ernest forgot that. So he bowed his head in apology as he walked down the hall. Maybe because he was absorbed in the story that was brought by Rei made Ernest's mind a little dull.
"Ah—Please forgive me Miss Cindy. I will not repeat it again. "
"That's okay. I forgive you. Regarding your question just now, I can say that if it's true that this year's presidential election will be held, my father may never have spoken to you about it but I know it. "
"That's fine, I don't understand anything about politics either."
Even though Ernest said that, He wasn't stupid enough to be oblivious to anything.
This is the presidential candidate we are talking about. If for example a supreme leader of a country does not believe in the god, then how can this country continue to be blessed by the goodness of the goddess? It was perfectly reasonable to explain why someone like Rei approached the Austinus family.
With a firm faith, uniting forces might bring some kind of advantage to the church faction.
Instead of giving the power of the state to those who are thirsty for power or those who are greedy, it is better if this country is led by someone who is obedient to the teachings of the goddess's religion.
Ernest has so many people he must protect, his classmates like Amelia, Zen and most importantly Miss Cindy, Ernest must protect with all his heart and strength.
But even so, he realized that it was too naive to be able to do it alone. There were so many limits for humans on how they could deal with danger, something like strength, experience, intelligence and the like couldn't be a guarantee for them to be able to protect everyone.
If it weren't for the goddess's intervention, Ernest was sure that he would never have been able to survive until now. However, in a country blessed by this goddess, it is now under threat because of the presidential election.
The person who will occupy the highest office like that, must not be a bad person or greedy.
Ernest thought about something like that for quite a while until he heard a fight right in front of a large bridge hanging over the ravine.
"Everyone, be prepared. It looks like there is a group fighting ahead."
Ernest drew his sword from its scabbard, but when he saw the group fighting monsters something unexpected happened.
"What are you doing!!" Ernest shouted.
The veins in his head throbbed and the grip in his hands tightened.
It was all because he saw his classmate starting to vomit blood. And if that wasn't bad enough, the hilt of the monster's sword stuck in the back made the man look like a flesh shield to someone.
"Zen!!! What are you guys doing to Zenn!! "
Instantly, after he shouted very loudly. Zen walked backwards without balance then fell down the abyss.
"ZEN!"