Volume 6 Chapter 3 Because I Stuck My Hand Into Someone's Pocket...
The group that left Waldner teleported near the town on the outskirts of the royal capital as planned and joined up with [Dark Tide] that was pulling the carriage.
When Liz bowed and said "thank you" to the joined [Dark Tide], there was a moment of their surprise... The 4 of them were heading to the royal capital while having them serve as drivers.
Though it was a short journey of a few hours, the 4 were riding in the Church's carriage.
The reason is simple: to align their future plans.
Even though the northern winter is long, the snow will likely start to melt in about a month.
Still, with the continued low temperatures, the demand for kotatsu is not 0.
However, they don't think people will be eager for heating equipment that comes out at the end of winter.
"It's a shame that it was completed, but the reveal seems quite far off."
As Catherine said with her shoulders slumped, the competition is this winter.
What will be available in the market now is like a detonator for the coming winter.
For that reason, everything made at Waldner will be offered not for sale but for rental.
So that more people can get their hands on it.
"If we release it at this timing, won't other merchant guilds copy it by next winter?"
Leon tilted his head, and Randy shook his head, saying that it was not a problem.
"Miss Catherine's kotatsu will definitely be patentable."
"Patent?"
Leon, who doesn't quite understand, but Randy and Liz are indeed knowledgeable about patents.
In this world, patents are established for new inventions.
For example, Randy and the others were able to obtain a patent for the photosensitive paper used in cameras.
Immediately after, there were merchant guilds that produced similar photosensitive paper, but they were already eradicated by Lucian.
As a result, the camera market is currently dominated by Braubelg.
"The heat source of the kotatsu is from magic resistance, and even Sir Cedric said it's 'new.' There's no doubt that His Excellency Lucian and His Excellency Rolf have patents held in collaboration with the Church."
""Wow.""
Catherine and Leon both express surprise...
"You didn't know?"
...From Randy's perspective, it's a reaction that makes one want to sigh.
He never thought they wouldn't check the important rights while trying to create and sell something.
"But even if you have a patent, people can still copy it, right?"
Catherine, tilting her head, states that just because you have a patent doesn't mean others won't imitate it.
Typically, a problem only arises when the rights holder sues for patent infringement.
"You see... this idea is widely associated with 'Saint Catherine', right? Who would dare confront the rights of the Saint and the Church supporting it?"
Catherine nods in understanding to Randy's exasperated expression, saying, "I get it..."
In reality, the kingdom's government has already interfered with the Church's rights, but Randy, Liz, and even Catherine are unaware of this.
No, it's not that they don't know; it's that they do not *comprehend*.
The kingdom's interference in the Church's rights involves the estates taken from the Church by the country.
Of course, Randy and the others know that the state confiscated Church property.
But they do not grasp the true purpose behind the kingdom government's actions.
It's no wonder.
The special relationship between the Church and the state is a highly political matter.
Only Cedric among their group understands the purpose behind the confiscation of the estates.
The true intention of the kingdom's confiscation of the Church's estates during that incident is to take over the two businesses held by the Church.
Though it's called a business, neither of them generates profit.
However, both definitely hold value beyond immediate profit.
One of them is the orphanage, which is currently struggling financially.
Originally, there were 2 types of orphanages: those managed by various countries and those run by the Church as a charity.
Both had similar treatment, but the fact that the Church served as a spiritual refuge led to an increase in donations to the Church-run orphanages.
Countries and the Church.
The only difference was the sign, yet many, influenced by the presence of the goddess, donated land and property to the Church, gradually making the notion that orphanages were synonymous with the Church more prominent.
Before long, the Church had gained enough strength to independently operate most orphanages.
This was not favorable for the countries.
After all, a safety net was held by an organization separate from the state.
The state wanted to suppress that.
And one more thing, this is the project the state desires the most... primary education.
Now, Church-sponsored primary education is commonplace, but its origins trace back to the Church's charitable activities.
It all started in a small village, where a pastor taught reading and writing to local children during his free time.
At first, the adults were concerned about "workers...", but the education continued within reasonable limits and began to expand rapidly.
Countries took notice of this, but it was already too late....
The high compatibility between orphanage management and primary education, along with significant donations to charitable activities, left no openings for the state to intervene.
Thus, the Church, which also began to engage in education, utilized its chapels and spread free primary education throughout the continent.
The rise in literacy rates contributed to economic growth, and grateful residents continued to donate to the Church.
This cycle is the strength of the Church and the reason it has survived even after such a major incident.
For the residents, it is an inseparable presence.
That is the Church.
However, the extent to which this presence was a threat to the countries goes without saying.
An institution that supports the populace with a safety net and takes charge of children's education.
If they were to offend it, there was a fear of being taught an education that could oppose the kingdom.
The Pope, who misunderstood the power gained from protecting children, wielded strong authority, intervening in children's fights and forcing them to admit to crimes akin to death sentences... As a result, he lost his power, so perhaps the world operates on cause and effect.
But for the kingdom, now is the chance.
With the Church's authority waning, the kingdom is trying to get ahead of other nations and engage with the very foundation of the Church.
Supporting the safety net and taking on primary education, the Church's core.
The result leads to the kingdom government intervening in the upper echelons of the Church.
Even if it doesn't reach the level of personnel authority in the upper echelons, they are trying to gain some influence as the largest investor in the Church's 2 major enterprises.
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