Episode 278
“This is really solid information, isn’t it, Saint? It’s already been announced, but…” “
I saw it with my own eyes, Your Majesty the Cardinal. Perhaps even the Pope didn’t expect that.”
Ilya was already not even showing respect to the Pope. Austin, who read the sincerity contained in that tone of voice and cold expression, could not help but let out a long sigh.
“It’s scary that he could fool Stigmata. Now I’m really scared of him.”
Austin, who had been polite to the Pope when he was in the dungeon, now withdrew that courtesy. As a comrade who agreed to share the same cause with him, Ilya couldn’t help but smile, even though such a change was definitely something she was happy about.
Because the desperate despair was evident on the old priest’s face.
And it wasn’t just because of the stigmata stomach problem.
“I think I have lived in this world too easily. Even though I may have gone astray for a moment, I thought that if I tried hard, everything would work out as it should…”
Ilya had no choice but to look at the cardinal in silence.
An old priest who has lived his entire life trying to practice goodness by faithfully believing and following the doctrine to the extent that most of his people know it.
Could it be that he had no desire?
Wouldn’t that have shaken him?
Who can say that the life of enduring everything and living faithfully for 70 years is easy?
However, the current reality could not be solved with that innocence alone.
“I thought that if I impeached with sufficient evidence, all sensible priests would follow. But…”
A sigh as thick as deep frustration followed.
“How can this happen when we are all servants of the same God? Isn’t that a betrayal of God’s will by being tied to the power of reality?”
The words pouring out as if complaining refer to the situation when impeachment was first filed.
Although he received a majority of support from trainee priests and ordinary priests, among priests above the bishop level who had the right to vote, there were far fewer people who responded favorably to him than expected.
“I am ashamed of myself for speaking of hope even when everyone was saying that the temple was corrupted. It was already rotten to the point of decay…”
Deep anger boiled in the blue eyes of the frustrated old priest.
Ilya comforted him as he was worried that his upright mind, which he had kept his entire life, would deteriorate in the face of deep frustration.
“Isn’t it different now? The bishops have been contacting me saying they have changed their minds due to a series of ugly rumors. Especially if the issue of fake stigmata is confirmed…”
But Austin shook his head with a stern expression.
“…I guess that’s not true, saintess. You don’t need to be considerate anymore.”
“yes?”
“I am definitely lacking, but I don’t want to be a fool who denies reality even in this situation.”
“Your Majesty the Cardinal…”
A sad voice came out, but Austin shouted in an even more angry tone.
“It’s not because they are blaspheming God. They are just angry that they were deceived. The power of royalties is more important than the will of God. They…!”
A face that looks like it’s about to explode.
Ilya, who looked at that and thought something big was going to happen, urgently raised her voice.
“Your Majesty! Calm down. But for now, hasn’t there been an opportunity to cut out the biggest source of corruption? It’s an opportunity created by the Cardinal himself. We can change it. We can change it! We can!”
Did those words have any effect?
Austin looked at her for a moment, then let out a long sigh and took a moment to catch his breath.
“…Ha. Yes, that’s right. It has to change. It has to change. It can’t go on like this. The gods will be angry. Or maybe they already are.”
“yes?”
“Those ‘outcasts’ may be a sign of that.”
“…yes?”
Ilya looked puzzled at the embarrassing topic.
“We must first cleanse the temple before the world is completely abandoned by the gods.”
Austin gritted his teeth and said as if he was promising himself.
‘Clean the temple. okay. ‘Now…’
Although the argument was uneasy, she also hopes for the direction.
“Yes. Absolutely.”
Ilya nodded vigorously and revived the old cardinal’s spirit.
Just a few days later, the morning of the impeachment trial dawned.
* * * The Colosseum, which was only open during major festivals such as the inauguration of the Pope, the head of the Holy Kingdom, opened its doors today with a not-so-good theme.
But of course the topicality was at an all-time high. More people than ever before flocked to the Colosseum over the impeachment of the Pope, an incident that had never been recorded in the thousands of years of history of the temple.
“What will happen?”
“Do you guys understand?”
“But if the rumor is true….”
“Oh, no way.”
“Anyway, today, whether it’s the saint and the cardinal or the Pope, one of them is completely…”
Buzz.
As a result of not only the priests but also the residents of the city, the huge Colosseum was literally crowded. Even though all 30 tiers of terraced seats were filled, there were so many people that people who could not sit down were clinging precariously to the seat railings or exits.
“Don’t push me!”
“I’m having a hard time too!”
“Go back!”
“Ah! Who are you? The guy who stabbed me in the back!?”
“Quiet there!”
“Keep order!”
It was a shame that the deployed paladins were maintaining the minimum order, otherwise the crowd would have been so excessive that several accidents would have already occurred.
In particular, the area close to the court where the bishops and cardinals with the right to vote for the impeachment trial were seated was not only noisy, but it seemed like a fight was taking place.
“Hang the fraudster who deceived the world!”
“Catch and kill those who are slandering His Holiness the Pope!”
“Go away, you fanatics!”
“What are you heretics!?”
The moment when extreme verbal abuse began to run rampant in a place where an unusually large number of Paladins were deployed.
– Subject to judgment! Julius Umberto I! Entrance!
Today’s hero appeared with a shout that shook the Colosseum.
At the same time.
– Wow!
– Punish the cheater!
– Long live the Pope!
The noise created by the population, which at a rough estimate was estimated to be over 30,000, began to echo beyond the Colosseum and throughout the city.
– Everyone be quiet! It is the day when the judgment that determines the fate of the saints begins!
Only after the strong voice broke out again did the commotion in the Colosseum begin to subside. The subtle energy in the voice suppressed the madness of the crowd.
Most of the people sitting in seats a little further away from the court were just confused, but those sitting in the front had their eyes shining as they saw the person who had silenced the commotion.
A rather ordinary-looking middle-aged man with light blonde hair and brown eyes was radiating energy on the courtroom. However, the middle-aged man with an ordinary appearance was also a famous person in Chengdu.
God’s Shield Harman Killerbrew.
He is the head of the Knights Templar in charge of the Saints’ security and official military, and the commander of the 500,000 temple troops scattered across the continent.
He was a superhuman among superhumans, not only possessing bishop-level divine powers, but also mastering Aurors.
At least the residents of Chengdu thought that he was the strongest person on the continent, surpassing Tris Hornsby, the Empire’s greatest continental sword.
– That person is capable of such prestige.
Everyone who recognized him nodded.
The iron bars inside the Colosseum opened and the Pope with a haggard complexion walked in.
Since he was not yet a prisoner, he was not shackled or handcuffed, but instead of wearing the fancy robes he always wore, he wore a shabby white priest’s robe that a priest-in-training would wear. The Pope looked quite haggard.
“Maybe it’s good. Our Holiness is like that…”
“Oh, you ruthless bastards. Kill me instead!”
“His Holiness the Pope!”
A few fanatics had tears in their eyes at the sight, but most just cast curious glances.
It was true that the loyalty of the people of Chengdu to the temple was higher than that of other parts of the continent, but that did not mean that all of them were fanatics as was perceived in other regions.
For most people gathered here today, the sight of the Pope was nothing more than a rare spectacle.
It is also a sight that will never come again in one’s life.
And their curiosity was quickly satisfied.
“The impeachment trial of Pope Julius Umberto I begins!”
Tenor Rainey, who was called the Pope’s right hand man, clearly did not look good. Whether it was because the head of the faction he was a member of was put in this situation or for some other reason was immediately revealed in the words that followed.
“In the original case, it would have been right to first consider the explanation of the crime submitted by Cardinal Austin and the validity of the evidence, but since then, more serious accusations have followed. And the referees, including Cardinal Bonn, believe that this will have a great influence on today’s judgment. “I have decided that this is the case. I will first check the facts about it.”
At those words, everyone gathered in the Colosseum began to hold their breath and concentrate.
“Priest Julius Umberto, who was canonized as a saint before the Pope. Show your stigmata and prove God’s grace once again!”
As the tenor finished speaking, the Pope looked at him with haggard and sad eyes.
The moment he instinctively flinched, the Pope’s head passed past the place where he and other cardinals were gathered and turned to the tens of thousands of spectators gathered in the Colosseum.
Those who were close enough to see his face could clearly feel the sadness on the Pope’s face.
Even those who could not see his expression could feel that his voice contained deep sadness.
“I know that absurd rumors about me are becoming a hot topic. I devoted most of my nearly seventy years of life to the church! It is truly sad and pitiful. But…!”
The Pope’s aged voice with his fists clenched strangely penetrated all corners of the Colosseum.
The moment when the lingering sound of that voice disappeared.
“I will now reveal in front of all the saints gathered here that I have risked my life and my name and lived a life that I am never ashamed of!”
The Pope shouted and threw off the tattered robes he was wearing.
Even the shabby underwear that was inside.
And the repercussions were very big.
It wasn’t just because the Pope’s naked performance was amazing.
“His Holiness!”
“How could it be like that!”
“Oh my! It’s because of these heretics that our Holiness has died!”
Although the weeping voices of some fanatics made the hall noisy, most people paid attention to other facts.
On the Pope’s right wrist was a golden circle, a stigmata proving that he had been chosen by Ageron, the god of gold and commerce.
And from there, the presence of a halo spreading softly was clearly visible to everyone.
“It’s real!”
“The rumor was false!”
“Proof of a saint!”
“That’s right. How could the Pope…”
The moment the murmur began to spread, the eyes of the papal cardinals all turned to one place.
To Cardinal Austin and Ilia, who were sitting somewhat distant from them.
“How will you pay for this, Cardinal Austin?”
“No matter how much she is a saint, she still lacks years of experience. How will I pay for insulting the Holy Father?”
“If you have something to say, say it!”
The papal cardinals, including Tenor Rainey, shot arrows of criticism toward the two with faces that were noticeably brighter.
Those voices of criticism It soon spread to the tens of thousands of people gathered at the Colosseum.
“The saint lied?”
“Cardinal Austin?”
“Oh, no way!”
“But they say the stigmata are real.”
Murmurs murmured.
“As expected, that bastard is a fraud.” !”
“Impeach those bastards!”
“What kind of saint is she? That bitch must be a fake!”
“Bring her out!!”
With the fanatics’ verbal abuse, the Colosseum gradually turned into a marketplace.
And at the center of the commotion, the Pope, with his halo still visible, raised his hand.
“Even though I had to go through this shameful situation . But I don’t want to blame Cardinal Austin and the saint! I believe they also just wanted to confirm false rumors! So if you want to criticize them, blame me for not leading the denomination properly!” As
the Pope knelt down in tears, Cardinal Tenor Rainey, who was at the highest point of the court, rushed over and covered him with the robes that the Pope had taken off.
He then knelt down in front of him. He knelt down and said,
“Everyone has seen His Holiness’ mercy. Stop now. This tenor has never been more thrilled to follow His Holiness than today!”
He shouted loudly as if everyone could hear him. Soon,
Sam Freeman, the Pope’s left hand man, also bowed down in front of him, and the other cardinals, who were appalled, rushed out all at once and followed their actions. “ Please
lead us again!”
“The church needs your leadership!”
“Long live Julius Umberto I!”
It was such a scene that it was hard to tell whether this was a place to judge the Pope’s impeachment or a place to praise him.
In a corner where the heat of fanaticism was burning brightly, the old priest collapsed and held his face.
“The interrogation of the true crime has not even begun yet. “With such a trick…”
Hearing that despairing voice, Ilya took a step forward with a stern expression.
“I have a request to make to the Commander of the Knights Templar, with the authority of a cardinal.”
At those words, the eyes of the cardinals, including Austin, turned. Everyone turned to Ilia.
“You still dare!”
“Do you think the status of a saint will cover up all your mistakes?”
“You be careful what you say!”
The papal cardinals all poured out their voices of criticism.
“That’s right! Shut up!”
“You have something to say now!”
“Bring out the fake saint!”
Voices of criticism erupted from all over the Colosseum.
However,
“I too will put my position on the line to request this, Director Harman. Please grant the saint’s request.”
As Cardinal Austin supported Ilia’s claim, the commotion died down for a while.
“For Cardinal Austin to say something like that…”
“But that person…”
Ilia said. Although the saint’s residents did not know her face, Austin’s case was different.
Respect for the life lived by an old priest named Austin, rather than the stigmata given by God, temporarily calmed the atmosphere that threatened to cause a riot at any moment.
Then, naturally, attention was drawn in one direction. .
But Harmon Killerbrew calmly shook his head despite tens of thousands of gazes.
“The Knights Templar cannot be involved in the events inside the temple.”
It was his typical answer, known to be more upright and upright than Cardinal Austin.
But Illya did not back down. “The Pope wears a transparent bracelet on his stigmata-marked right arm .
Since it is imitating stigmata, I ask you to confirm this with your sword. “Only a high-ranking official in the temple and a neutral leader who has nothing to do with this situation can do this.”
Harman’s eyes couldn’t help but shake at those words.
But at that moment, the Pope’s lamenting voice rang out strangely clearly. .
“iced coffee. My sin is truly great, having instilled such distrust in a saint.”
In response to this self-deprecating lament, the cardinals all blocked the Pope’s way.
“Where can you say such blasphemy!”
“How much more shame will you bring to the Holy Father? Is that right?”
“We cannot allow that!”
An expression that at first glance looks like madness.
Harmon’s eyebrows narrowed slightly at that excessive reaction.
“Captain. “I hope…”
And just as Ilia was about to continue his words, a
flash of light flashed.
The auspicious beam of light originating from Harman’s body struck a distance of several tens of meters, cleverly slipped between the cardinals, and hit the Pope’s right arm.
The Pope also It was Harman’s move that was unexpected not only by the cardinals who blocked his path, but also by Ilya, the person who requested it.
If there were other Auror users present, they would have been shocked by the clever and excellent Auror control, but everyone gathered in the Colosseum was concerned about the result rather than Harman’s talent. I concentrated even more on it.
Taaaaang!
A sound as if it had collided with something solid, not a human arm.
Soon, the Pope’s complexion suddenly changed and the golden circle engraved on his right arm disappeared.
In the place where the stigmata disappeared, a holy energy radiated. There was a bracelet shining bright white.
The missing stigmata.
A bracelet that exuded divine power.
The moment the shocking scene was revealed, a heavy silence fell on the Colosseum.
But that was only for a moment.
I demand that the trial be held again with the charge of fraud.”
Ilya’s sonorous voice broke the silence.
“Is he really a fraud?”
“The Pope deceived us!?”
“That’s ridiculous!”
“Then that bracelet. What is this!?”
The fanatics sat down in a daze, unable to recover from their shock.
“Take them out! Bring out that swindler!”
“Get rid of that swindler!”
“That’s right! Kill him!”
Instead, ordinary believers turned into fanatics and began to cause an uproar.
In the midst of the uproar, Ilya suddenly remembered Logan’s words:
– The Pope had already passed the certification of sainthood decades ago. If so, the artifact or It is clear that the holy relic has the ability to camouflage
– but even that object will have no choice but to reveal itself to external attacks. Perhaps.
The word ‘probably’ at the end was uneasy, but in the end, it all fit together.
‘What the heck ? How did His Majesty Logan know that?’
On that day,
Pope Julius Umberto I was impeached and all official external affairs of the temple were paralyzed.
