Episode 322
“In principle, the right to run for the position of Pope belongs to all cardinals.”
Austin ignored the tenor’s interested look and spoke in principle.
The tenor seemed to have lost interest in that and smiled brightly, but Ilya continued speaking in a humble tone.
“As expected, His Excellency Cardinal Austin is a person more suited to the position of Pope.”
“Would you like to be a saint who was directly chosen by God? This position is too much for me.”
Austin accepted those words and passed the ball to Ilya.
It was a heart-warming conversation, but to Tenor and other old papal cardinals, it only seemed like hypocrisy.
“If neither of you are greedy, how about Cardinal Tracy instead?”
Sam Freeman’s rough words pointed the arrow at Tracy.
Tracy, who was still smiling warmly, waved her hand.
“How could I step forward? The new Pope should be one of the two.”
At her words, the crowd’s attention turned to Austin and Ilia again.
One person is a person who has lived his entire life as a symbol of an honest and innocent priest. And one person is a saint chosen by God.
It is said that the two men worked together to uncover the corruption of the previous pope and open a new era. It would not be surprising if one of the two became Pope.
“His Majesty Austin…”
“No, the saint…”
The relationship between the two was not bad either, so there seemed to be no lies in the way they gave in to each other.
Of course, the former papal cardinals only frowned more at that heartwarming sight.
however.
“I think a pope born as a saint might feel a bit repulsed because of the record of the previous pope. Of course, everyone knows that Ilia’s stigmata are real.”
Tracy quietly added words of encouragement to Austin.
“I think so too.”
Ilya, who had a slightly surprised expression on her face, thought it was the right moment and quickly agreed, but Tenor intervened again.
“If we give up our right to be elected, then it is a two out of three vote vote. Now, will you please tell us how you will accept our proposal, Austin?”
Once again, the crowd’s attention was focused on Austin.
His answer will determine the future direction of the temple.
Both the Old Pope and Ilia looked at his mouth nervously, and Austin, who was silent for a moment, looked at the tenor with deep eyes.
“…For 100 days of penitential prayer and resigning from your position as a cardinal, please donate 90% of the wealth you have accumulated to the temple. It will be used for good purposes.”
“that…!”
Other cardinals, including Sam Freeman, were instantly upset by Austin’s excessive demands.
Isn’t this the same as telling me to let go of everything?
But Tenor raised his hand to block their opposition.
“You sure were more flexible than I thought, Austin. It would have been nice to know that sooner.”
An expression that is ambiguous as to whether it is a compliment or a curse.
Since he seemed to be the only one welcoming Austin’s proposal, even the cardinals who were in the same faction could not hide their discomfort.
However, when he whispered something into the ear of Sam Freeman, who could be considered the second tenor, his eyes instantly changed.
“Sure… hmm, I would agree as long as there is a guarantee that there will be no double punishment after we resign.”
The former papal cardinals who were also upset by those words all fell silent. I thought that if Tenor and Sam agreed, there must be a solid basis.
Their eyes turned to Austin again.
“I promise in the name of Asaron, my lord, the god of light and harmony.”
Austin Pluitt The man who will now be named the next pope nodded with a heavy expression.
* * *
“…Why did they accept such unreasonable conditions?”
The way out of the Hall of Glory.
Ilya tilted her head as if wondering.
Although everything went smoothly as expected, I couldn’t quite understand the process.
Seeing her like that, Tracy next to her covered her mouth and laughed.
“As expected, Ilya is great.”
“yes?”
A random remark.
Ilya’s bewildered gaze turned to the side, but Tracy smiled and continued speaking.
“I’m not ridiculing you. It means that you haven’t been tainted by the world. I truly think it’s great.”
“…What do you mean?”
“Austin, he made a generous offer. They would have no choice but to accept a resignation or a penitential prayer anyway…” “
But to donate 90% of his wealth…”
“Yes. That is generous. That’s right.”
“yes?”
“Austin, you said ‘donation’, not execution.”
“What does that mean?”
Looking at Ilia, who still had a puzzled expression, Tracy spoke calmly with her usual warm smile.
“Donations are neither forced nor monitored. Austin gave them room to take what they needed and then step back.”
“yes!?”
Only then did Ilya realize the true meaning of the words exchanged between the cardinals, and his face immediately turned red.
“You’re saying you’re looking after such criminals!? There are more than dozens of crimes that have been reported so far! They are criminals who have committed countless crimes such as embezzlement, breach of trust, harassment of women, rape, and bribery!”
But unlike Ilya, who was excited, Tracy just smiled vaguely.
“Yes, of course. But have you thought about the damage if they decide to die along with the leaders of the church?”
“…that.”
“If the religious organization is disbanded, no one can guarantee when the current system will be recreated. And the longer it lasts, the more the tradition of completely conveying the will of the gods will become blurred and pseudo-believers will become rampant. If that happens, eventually. It is only the innocent subjects who suffer.”
I hated to admit it, but Tracy’s words were persuasive.
However, he could not bear to say that the hands and feet of the previous pope, who was a fraud who deceived the world, should be forgiven as sinners who were no less inferior to the pope.
“But isn’t that a compromise with injustice?”
Tracy, seeing Ilya’s complicated expression, smiled bitterly and hugged her.
“Saint, please remain as you are. I and Pope Austin will take care of the worldly dirt.”
Tracy’s hand patting her was warm.
Like the touch of a mother who does not exist in her memories.
“…I want to rest.”
“Please.”
That’s why Ilya couldn’t argue further and just turned away without saying a word.
Tracy watched her until her back disappeared and muttered with her warm smile.
“It’s so simple. That’s why it’s a waste. If you weren’t stigmata, you would…”
Tracy, who was muttering something to herself with a warm smile, immediately turned around and went back the way she came.
Austin Fluitt was left alone there, looking at the sky with a confused expression.
“Are you convinced?”
“I think I understand that it is an inevitable choice. I think I need to give you a break for a while to sort out your mind.”
Austin sighed at those words and then turned around with a sigh.
“…It was an inevitable choice for the church. The saint will soon understand and return.”
“I believe so too, Your Holiness.”
Is it the magical power of the word ‘Pope’?
At that moment, a slight but clear smile appeared on Austin’s previously confused face.
Tracy, who clearly had that fleeting smile engraved in her eyes, smiled and got to the point.
“Anyway, it turned out as I said, Your Holiness.”
“Oh, that’s right. I really didn’t expect to convince them. Thank you for your hard work, Cardinal Tracy. But what did you do?”
Austin’s question was valid.
He was not a priest who lived in a remote area only reciting scriptures.
At a time when voices were flowing out from all over that the temple was corrupt, the priest who alone shone like a symbol of integrity and innocence in a church that was almost the center of corruption.
Even though he knew it was wrong, he did not do it, and he was able to have such a reputation because he protected Purum alone.
And because of that, it was hard to believe that the corrupt cardinals retreated so easily. Because I knew that no matter how many conditions were attached, it would not be enough to appease those who were already blinded by greed.
But Tracy’s answer to that was just a steady smile.
“I just showed my sincerity and persuaded them. They also had at least a conscience.”
“Hmm…”
I know that can’t be true.
However, as he went through the impeachment trial, Austin realized that he had to make an appropriate compromise with reality.
‘You can’t do anything by being clean alone.’
In fact, it was difficult to just bring the obvious injustice to the surface. If it weren’t for Saint Ilia, this entire process would have been impossible.
So Austin learned to compromise.
Without realizing that this was the starting point of the corruption of many of the priests he had watched throughout his life.
“Yes, I believe so. It’s reassuring to see that the ascetic priests have that much power.”
Priests who practice penance to obtain the will of God, represented by Tracy. I just smiled at the thought of being able to use them in the future.
“Yes. Then, Your Holiness, I am sorry, but what you promised was…”
“Ah… You meant Julio Umberto’s bracelet, right?”
“yes.”
Artifacts that imitate divine power cannot exist.
Because the power of God is the only thing that can never be imitated.
However, the bracelets of previous popes clearly imitated divine power.
A hideous object that shatters the theory that the temple has maintained for as long as it has existed.
Therefore, this item is stored deep in the Knights Templar’s confidential warehouse.
However, Tracy demanded that the bracelet be handed over, subject to the persuasion of former papal cardinals. I gave permission because I thought I would never be able to persuade them, but surprisingly, I was able to convince them.
Did you see Austin’s face harden slightly?
Tracy spoke quickly.
“We ascetic priests just want to research how such an object exists. We believe it is a shortcut to getting closer to God’s will.”
“…You will not be able to take the items out of the central temple. And when you use the items, temple knights will be with you at all times. Is that okay?”
“As I said, it’s for research. That’s enough.”
When Tracy accepted the unreasonable conditions with a smile, Austin’s expression finally relaxed.
“Good. Let’s start a new era together.”
I will create a new denomination and create a new era.
A light of ambition appeared in the eyes of the old priest who had lived an upright life for decades.
And looking at him like that, Tracy nodded with a wide smile.
* * *
– …With this, we announce to the world the enthronement of the new Pope, Austin Pluitt I!
“Wow!”
As Cardinal Tracy’s voice echoed through the artifact through the square, it was followed by shouts that seemed to make the saints leave.
“Now all the rotten priests will be cut out.”
“You can trust Cardinal Austin, or even Pope Austin.”
“Are mandatory donations going to disappear now?”
Murmur.
The faces of the Saints residents who filled the square and watched the new Pope’s coronation ceremony were full of smiles. Everyone was very excited with anticipation for the new Pope.
Soon, Pope Austin’s face appeared in the air through an illusionary artifact, and the noisy crowd all held their breath and began to concentrate.
In addition to being the leader of the temple, the Pope is also the ruler of Noviens, a saint here.
The residents of Chengdu raised their heads, eager to catch a glimpse of the new ruler’s face.
Soon after, Pope Austin Fluitt I, who was welcomed, began his coronation speech, which included a long public address, as had been the case with previous popes.
– I, Austin Fluit, follow the will of the 9th Minister…
“Hmm. Mom, I’m sleepy.”
“Shh, Inseok. But hold on.”
“Perhaps because he is a sincere priest, his words are very honest.”
“Hmm. You say so many right things that I’m getting sleepy.”
“Hey, this person….”
“It’s a joke, a joke.”
As the speech draws to a close in a quiet atmosphere, some dozing off and others giggling.
– I, Austin Fluitt, will further spread God’s will through cooperation with the Ares Empire, the greatest power of mankind.
“to?”
“what?”
“what do you mean?”
Everyone looked at each other in bewilderment at the strange declaration that could not be heard in a normal pope enthronement speech.
bang!
“What do you mean, Holy Father? Why are you suddenly creating an empire?”
“It’s just for more active missionary work, saint.”
“No, the temple does not join hands with worldly power! It is a tradition passed down from ancient times…”
“Old traditions must be changed, saint.”
Ilya’s excited voice was blocked by Pope and Tracy’s retorts and did not escape.
“No, what is that…”
“Calm down, saint. It’s all about spreading God’s will.”
Tracy’s voice still sounded warm, but Ilya shook her head and stubbornly denied it.
“But there is no need to go to the extent of breaking the rules! And without consulting the cardinals!”
“We have reached an agreement, saint.”
“yes?”
“Currently, the only cardinals are you, me, and Lord Tracy. Sir Tracy and I agreed, so there is no violation of procedure.”
“You didn’t even tell me? What do you mean!?”
Ilya protested in a helpless tone, but the Pope continued speaking in a firm voice.
“Stop. It’s already been decided. Or do you want me, the Pope, to immediately go back on what I said to the public?”
“If it’s wrong, it should be done that way!”
“No, you can’t do that. There’s nothing wrong with it.”
Ilya’s expression distorted at Austin’s assertion.
‘Why did you suddenly change like this?’
An extremely arrogant expression.
It didn’t seem like the Cardinal Austin I knew until recently.
No matter how much a place makes a person, is it possible for such a sudden change?
I’m so embarrassed that I can’t open my mouth easily.
“Go away, saint. A lot will change in the church in the future.”
Tracy stopped her with a warm smile.
“I will serve you, Your Majesty the Cardinal.”
“Please follow me.”
Soon, the temple knights standing on Tracy’s left and right blocked Ilia’s path, and Austin spoke to her in a calm voice as if making a declaration.
“Now that we have a new direction, we will begin reform as soon as other cardinals are elected. You know that, saint.”
“A wise choice, Your Holiness.”
The moment Tracy lowered her head and smiled, Ilya felt a strange wave originating from her wrist and heading towards Pope Austin.
A wave similar to the divine power I once felt, but with an uncomfortable feeling.
It wasn’t difficult to recall that memory.
The slight movement of power and its essence that one can feel because one has stigmata. The moment I realized that, I got goosebumps all over my body.
‘The former Pope’s bracelet!’
It was only then that I realized that the temple knights were blocking the space between Pope Austin and himself. Their pupils were slightly dilated and not moving at all.
‘So…’
Everything was wrong.
Her heart sank, but Ilya displayed superhuman patience and did not show it.
He just puts on a disappointed face and lowers his head helplessly.
“…I’ll just go back now.”
“I will not see you off, saint.”
The moment Tracy’s warm voice sounded ominous, only one thought came to her mind.
‘You need to ask for help.’
The person who immediately came to mind was the red-haired, red-eyed king with a confident smile.
The King of McLane would definitely be able to help me.
With that thought in mind, Illya turned her back on Austin and Tracy with a stern expression.
Without recognizing Tracy’s gaze, which was looking at her back with subtle eyes as she turned around.
