Published: July 3, 2025
Chapter 4: The Mafalda Republic begins.
((Usually, when moving between towns like this, there should be a group of noble ladies attacked by thieves or monsters, and we would help them, creating good relationships with the local influential people... but nothing is happening.))
((Well, if such things happened frequently, it wouldn't be a proper country, right? The security would be completely in shambles...))
((Seriously... Abel has no understanding of the pathos of things.))
((What is this pathos of things...))
Abel interjects into Ryo's disappointed thoughts.
That is indeed a very common scene.
Inside the carriage heading towards the Mafalda Republic from the Holy Capital Marromar.
Of course, since the carriage is rented, Ryo is elegantly sipping coffee... and through the "echo of the soul," they are exchanging such unsettling conversations.
It's proof that one shouldn't be deceived by appearances.
That said, with ample funds, fragrant coffee, and a robed mage, they must be considered top-tier guests in the carriage!
((Is that really the case?))
The absent king, a swordsman, raises a question, but Ryo ignores it.
If the atmosphere is right, it seems that way from the outside.
Show a face that seems valuable, and then the world will attach value!
In the afternoon, Ryo finally crossed the border into the Mafalda Republic.
Having traversed two countries from the Holy Capital Marromar, the border security seems exceptionally strict compared to them.
((Abel, the border security is extremely strict.))
((Oh, I see. That republic is the only country that goes against the wishes of the Western Church, right?))
((Well, it's not so much going against their wishes... they practice complete separation of church and state, meaning they separate politics and religion.))
((Hmm... honestly, can a country really function like that?))
((What do you mean?))
((For governing the people, reason through laws, and emotion through religion...))
What Abel is saying is, in a sense, a fundamental principle of historical state governance.
Even on Earth, the separation of church and state is proclaimed, but in reality, such states have never really existed... well, strictly speaking, no such state exists.
The closest would be a communist country...
In a country that is the bastion of democracy, the president swears an oath with their hand on the Bible... so there is not even a millimeter of separation of church and state.
Religion is not inherently bad.
((The governance theory that Abel has learned is surprisingly realistic. Religion itself is never a bad thing. What you need to be careful about is if religious forces begin to interfere too much with politics; then various problems can arise. Please be cautious about that!))
((O-oh...))
Strict separation of church and state is impossible, and in reality, there are few nations that can be said to have succeeded in doing so...
That said, some degree of separation between politics and religion is thought to facilitate state governance.
Well, there are historical instances, like in the late Roman Empire, where the emperor tries to incorporate religion into the state...
By the way, considering how that affects the citizens... it becomes a rather complex conversation.
While Ryo is pondering such things, it was Ryo's turn at the border inspection.
The coachman dismounted and completed some formalities before knocking on the door.
"Please, come in."
"Excuse me."
When Ryo said that, the door opened, and a guard entered.
It was quite a large carriage.
"Due to formalities, may I ask if you have a border crossing permit or an identity proof issued by the republic?"
An extremely polite inquiry.
Ryo, who had imagined a haughty guard leading to a troublesome exchange and forcibly breaking through the border with great magic... was taken aback.
((No, if that happened, Ryo would be in trouble!))
Somewhere, a king is saying something like that.
By the way, Ryo, of course, doesn't have a border crossing permit issued by the republic.
What he has on hand is...
"Then, here it is."