Even a Scoundrel Gets Tired

48 – The Pope

The Order’s color is pristine white.

An unadulterated white, untouched by other hues.

It embodies the devotees’ reverent faith and pure hearts, and they always wear a rosary on their chest so others can identify them as Order devotees.

They don’t actively proselytize, no.

The Divine prefers faith born of its own accord.

Even so, their influence within the Empire is not to be dismissed,

for they wield proof of the Divine’s very existence:

Divine Power.

The strength to conjure blessings and miracles through the grace of the gods.

They wander, healing the afflicted before one’s very eyes,

so why wouldn’t one believe in the Divine?

The church, swelling in power, has near monopolized the priestly orders,

leaving the Imperial family with little choice but to accommodate their needs.

Priests, after all, are invaluable resources.

And at the pinnacle of these priests stands one figure:

The Pontiff.

Bishop of the church, highest authority.

Foster father to the Saintess, so favored by the Divine.

Though seemingly a benevolent old man,

he is, without question, a leader of a powerful faction.

He possesses immense Divine Power,

and is known as the closest mortal to the Divine, save for the Saintess herself.

And now, I have come to the church to meet with such a person.

*

“Young Master! Where are you off to again! Every time you leave—”

“Forgive me, Ella. I shall return shortly.”

“Y-Young Master!”

Leaving Ella’s scolding behind, I hastened my visit to the Pontiff.

Accompanied, of course, by the Saintess.

How long did we walk, without exchanging a single word?

Before long, the church’s edifice began to appear.

“Halt. Who goes there?”

“Those not of the faith are forbidden from entering the church.”

“Entry is permitted only with prior notification.”

The church’s front facade resembled a temple,

every statue placed upon the steps, a perfect mirror image of its counterpart.

As I approached what appeared to be the main gate,

knights clad in silver armor crossed their spears in an X.

Crucifixes were inlaid upon their breastplates and pauldrons,

and even the spearheads bore the image of the cross, leaving no doubt as to their allegiance.

They exuded an air of gravity and solemnity, as if to convey that, come what may, they would not permit my passage;

however, that very atmosphere was soon turned on its head.

“I have come to meet with the Pontiff. Will you open the gates?”

“Hm..? Lady Saintess?!”

“I-I’ll open it for you right away!!”

The Saintess, who had been standing behind me from the start, subtly appeared and made her request. The door, which I thought would never open, swung inward with unbelievable ease. That alone was enough to gauge the Saintess’s position within the Order.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you coming?”

“…I am.”

Stepping inside, the interior was as magnificent as its exterior suggested. The circular dome, unseen from the front due to the length of the nave, brought Western architecture to mind. Spotlessly white pillars, dotted with gold in places, reflected the light streaming through the dome’s oculus, further brightening the atmosphere within.

A little further inside, if one disregarded the statues of the Goddess placed throughout, it could be said to be a truly wonderful place.

“…Um, if you keep reacting like you’re seeing it for the first time…”

“Because I *am* seeing it for the first time.”

“Huh? Weren’t you a noble?”

It was only natural for the Saintess to be surprised. Usually, nobles visit the Order at least once when they’re young. It’s not out of any deeply devout goal of fostering faith from an early age, but to receive the blessings bestowed by the Order’s priests.

Blessings that supposedly boost one’s natural healing abilities. They aren’t incredibly potent, but they’re beneficial to have nonetheless. Of course, it’s not strictly *necessary* to receive them, but solidifying ties with the Order wasn’t a bad idea either, and so this practice had become customary among the nobility.

The Order, of course, accepted money under the guise of donations, but they didn’t demand an amount that would concern the nobles. But I couldn’t come to the Order. Wasn’t it obvious?

“You’ve never been to the Order as a child—”

“I was a b*stard, you see. They must have thought it was a waste of money.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“There’s no reason for the Saintess to apologize.”

“…This could get me into trouble…”

I didn’t quite catch the last part, but I didn’t really care. For a while, an uncomfortable silence settled between us, and I couldn’t help but wish we’d just arrive already. But that silence didn’t last long, as members of the clergy recognized the Saintess from afar and approached.

“Ah, Lady Saintess!! Where are you headed?”

“Greetings, Sister. I’m here to see the Pope for a moment…”

A nun who seemed a bit older, but possessed a refined air, then

“Oh? If it isn’t the Saintess! Haha.”

“Good day, Sir William.”

“Haha. To think you’d remember a nobody like me! I’m flattered beyond words.”

A sturdy knight of the Order, bearing a silver sword on his back and clad in practical-looking armor.

“Saintess, it’s been too long.”

“Father Tom… perhaps the drinking could wait for later?”

“Ah, caught red-handed, am I? Haha…”

A middle-aged man whose red face was only further emphasized by the black priestly robes he wore.

More people than I expected addressed the Saintess so casually.

I had always assumed people would be intimidated by a Saintess, but it seemed she fit in perfectly.

Perhaps my surprise was written on my face, for the Saintess glanced at me and offered the words I longed to hear.

“I’ve grown up in the Order since I was a child.

Most people here have at least met me once.”

“I see.”

“Not to sing my own praises, but I’m rather… affable.

There aren’t many people within the Order who dislike me.”

As we chatted, we arrived before the council chamber.

We push open the massive, imposing doors, like the gates of a kingdom.

What strikes first is light.

Then the overwhelming divine power.

Finally, the statue of the Goddess, standing proudly at the far end of the room.

The light made me squint, but the sheer force of the divine energy banished any discomfort.

A lone man stood on the dais in the center.

To the average eye, he might be mistaken for a kindly old man, such was his gentle demeanor. But for me, the reality was vastly different.

After all, this was the one who held dominion over this incredible amount of divine power.

He stood alone on the dais, flanked on either side by figures who appeared to be Bishops.

The scene was reminiscent of a historical drama, and I was momentarily speechless. Unlike me, the Saintess stepped forward with practiced ease.

“Saintess Hildegard, I come before the Pope.”

“…”

I hurried after the Saintess, though I had no connection to the Order, not even a single thread.

Of course, he wouldn’t know the etiquette specific to the clergy.

Naturally, he failed to properly return the saintly greetings at the correct time.

Upon seeing me standing there awkwardly, a robustly built bishop rebuked me.

“Show some respect before the Pontiff!”

As the oily, unctuous pontiff chided me,

murmurs began to rise from every corner, seemingly in agreement.

“Someone who doesn’t even know basic manners is really him…”

“Certainly, he doesn’t seem to possess much refinement…”

“From what I hear, even at the academy…”

The once tranquil room quickly filled with hushed whispers,

and as if to press the advantage, the first bishop approached the Pontiff.

“Your Holiness, no matter how I think of it, for someone with such a lack of basic decorum to have gained

his favor—surely there is some problem—”

“Silence your tongue, Bishop Rignil.”

His tone, icily cold, clashed so sharply with his previous benevolent demeanor

that everyone startled and focused their attention on him.

“So, because he is unfamiliar with the customs of the order, you dare to question the judgment of

the One who chose him?”

“N-no…that is not my intent…”

“Or perhaps you now believe yourself capable of discerning the goddess’s choice?”

“N-never, Your Holiness!”

“Then hold your peace. Judgment can wait until after we have observed him.”

His single sentence extinguished the rising uproar in an instant,

and at the same moment, a solemn tone, distinct from the coldness, resonated from his lips once more.

“Forgive the breach of decorum, but I wish to proceed directly to the matter at hand.”

“..We would be grateful if you would.”

“Very well, then can you show us the marking?”

As soon as he finished speaking, I swept back my bangs, revealing my forehead,

and gasps of astonishment erupted from every side.

Even the Pontiff before me was unable to maintain his composure;

his eyes widened as he remained utterly still.

“..Verify it.”

“Y-yes, Your Holiness!!”

At the Pontiff’s command, several nuns at his side approached me,

scrutinizing and touching my forehead with meticulous care.

“I-it is correct…!”

“Without a doubt, it is the goddess’s mark and divine power!!”

The nuns’ voices rang out, echoing through the room,

and once more, the chamber became filled with the murmuring of the crowd.

“I-is it really?!”

“Yo…the Goddess-nim, that person…”

Just then, a hammer made of divine power slammed down upon the Pope’s dais,

and with a resounding CRASH, the dais splintered.

Though all eyes snapped to the Pope, he seemed unfazed,

his demeanor softening once more to its usual genial warmth.

“Everyone, please calm yourselves. It seems we have verified the marking is, at least, genuine.”

“…”

“Jennison-gun? Forgive me, but could you remain here for just the day?

We require a bit of preparation on our side, you see.”

“Preparation for what…?”

“Well, we simply have a few things to arrange. I trust you understand.

You may ask whatever you wish then, without restraint.”

“…Understood.”

“Then, we must arrange chambers.

Would the Saintess be so kind as to escort him?”

“As you wish.”

Before I could interject amidst their rapid-fire exchange,

the Saintess took my arm and pulled me from the room,

dragging me to a chamber so grand, it felt almost insulting to compare it to my old dormitory.

“I will come by this evening to explain everything in detail. Please, rest now.”

“Ah…wait, just a moment.”

With those words, the door shut.

Inside, only opulent furnishings remained.

Unable to adjust to this sudden turn of events,

I collapsed onto the bed, trying to collect my thoughts,

but the relentless pace of the day quickly overtook me, my body sinking into the plush mattress,

and my eyelids grew heavy, succumbing to sleep.

*

“Hmm…do you partake in spirits?”

“…Yes.”

“Pope-nim, we are minors!!”

Surely that was so…