Chapter 2: -i was hit

A day in the life of a clergyman working at the Papal State is quite tiring.

Waking up early in the morning before the sun even rises, they prepare for morning prayers that begin around 6 AM.

After that, it’s an endlessly repetitive life of starting full-fledged work.

Enduring the battle with piles of documents that continues until evening prayer time, one can’t help but fall asleep from exhaustion.

For those who endure this harsh life, which starts at 6 AM and ends at 9 PM, there is no time for anything else.

Of course, that’s the story of other priests, not me.

Having the reputation of a saint, I had the power to skip morning prayers.

“Oh, Saint! Have a blessed day!”

“Thank you. May the Lord’s blessing be with you.”

After picking up freshly baked bread and fresh milk from a bakery on my way to work, I took a bite of the bread.

‘Mmm, it’s delicious as always.’

The crispy bread, rich with butter aroma, was honestly delicious.

The bread provided by the Papal State is tasteless.

Honestly, bread with various additives removed, supposedly for a frugal life, isn’t to my taste.

Just as my throat started to feel a little dry.

I quenched my thirst with cold milk and finished my meal right there.

After enjoying my leisure to the fullest, I pulled out an old pocket watch from my pocket and checked it.

It was already approaching 9 AM.

“Shall I head to work now?”

My destination was the Department of Liturgy inside the Papal State.

Among them, the administration office that manages holy relics is where I work.

****

However, what greeted me when I arrived at the cathedral feeling refreshed was a terrible statement.

“As of today, Sir Theo has been appointed as the new Cardinal of the Order.”

“What…? What do you mean…?”

At the bishop’s words, which were more formal than usual, I momentarily doubted my ears.

‘…Cardinal?’

‘Did I hear that wrong?’

With a momentarily blank expression, I repeated the words I had just heard.

What exactly is a cardinal?

Isn’t it a term referring to the highest authorities of the Order, positioned directly beneath the Pope, who is the only one on the continent?

The position of Cardinal was clearly a sacred office that would never be given to an ordinary person like me, especially a young priest who had just entered his twenties.

It’s no exaggeration to say that only great people who have dedicated their entire lives to the Order can become cardinals.

At least 50 years, and up to 70 years.

It is truly the highest title bestowed upon those who have lived their lives as priests from birth until death.

But I, a cardinal?

What kind of nonsense is this?

‘…Ah! So that’s what it was.’

After a brief thought, understanding the entire situation, I nodded.

To play such an obvious prank first thing in the morning.

The Bishop is quite mischievous, isn’t he?

Recalling the Bishop, who usually tells uninteresting jokes, I asked him back with a laugh.

“Oh, come on, I won’t fall for it, Bishop. What kind of joke are you telling first thing in the morning? Haha.”

Did he think I’d fall for such a simple prank?

Even so, pretending to fall for it would be a bit awkward.

Someone like me, a cardinal?

He should play a prank that makes sense.

But the Bishop didn’t smile at all.

Instead, he carefully unrolled a scroll placed on the desk and spoke.

“Please see for yourself. Here, this is an official document sent from the Papal State this morning.”

I reluctantly accepted the document the Bishop handed me.

My face crumpled miserably as I saw the golden border, the blue stigmata, symbol of the Elserada Order, engraved on the cover, and the Papal State’s seal, sealed with wax.

‘…What, this is real?’

The scroll, unmistakably bearing the clear symbol of the Papal State.

My head spun for a moment from the feast of characters filled with various obscure rhetorical phrases.

But at the very bottom of the scroll, a single sentence was written that made me forget all of it.

[…Therefore, in the name of Pope Pchellan XVI, I declare Theo Esteron appointed to the position of Cardinal.]

My fingertips tingled.

Could it be that everything the Bishop had said until now was true?

Only then, realizing that none of this was a prank, I hastily asked the Bishop.

“Wait…! When was this decided?”

“It was an agenda item decided at an emergency meeting held last night. They said it passed unanimously.”

‘An emergency meeting last night…?’

‘That’s the meeting I participated in.’

My thoughts quickly organized themselves.

After standing there thinking for a long time, I finally reached a terrible conclusion.

‘These crazy old geezers…!’

The sight of them pushing off the interim Pope position, each not wanting it.

How fiercely they argued.

I shuddered at the sight, feeling my energy drained just by watching them, and I ran away.

But to think that secretly escaping the noisy voices resulted in this.

This is a conspiracy.

It’s clearly a deliberate plot by the cardinals to screw me over.

“This is absurd! There must be a mistake…!”

“It’s not a mistake. Your name, Sir Theo, is clearly written here, isn’t it? From now on, you are a Cardinal.”

“And the youngest Cardinal at that.”

The honorifics were strange from the start.

Since when did he start using honorifics with me?

My face quickly stiffened at the Bishop’s attitude, which suddenly felt distant now.

“Ah, right. Speaking of which, a meeting of the presidium will soon be held at the Papal State. And…”

“…And?”

‘What else?’

“It seems there’s also a suggestion to recommend Sir Theo as a candidate for interim Pope.”

‘Oh, seriously, stop messing with me.’

****

Rushing out of the administration office, I quickly rode a horse and, as soon as I arrived at the Central Palace, kicked open the door and entered.

“What in the world is this?!”

Simultaneously, everyone in the conference room turned their gaze towards me.

The old men in their majestic blue robes looked at me with calm gazes.

Without surprise or embarrassment.

Just as my head was about to heat up again at their expressions, which seemed to anticipate this very moment.

“Haha, I don’t quite understand what you mean. Why the sudden commotion, Sir Theo?”

In the center of the altar, beneath a colossal silver holy cross.

Cardinal Bartolomeo slowly rose.

Beneath his white beard, a seemingly benevolent smile held an undeniable mercifulness.

“Don’t pretend you don’t know. What does it mean that I’ve become a Cardinal?”

I held up the scroll high.

The Cardinal appointment letter bearing the Pope’s signature.

This damned single sheet of paper was trying to ruin my life entirely.

“Ah! So that’s what this is about. It’s exactly as you know. As of yesterday, you have taken on the glorious position of Cardinal.”

Although my head was hot with anger, I remembered one thing: I shouldn’t provoke these people in front of me.

With no Pope at present.

No one could stop the cardinals, who were the highest authorities in the Papal State.

Suppressing my emotions as much as possible, I looked at Bartolomeo with burning eyes, and he gave a sly smile.

“Who on earth approved this? When did I ever ask for a promotion? Who told you to make such a decision?”

“The Lord has allowed it.”

‘What does that…!’

At his words, faint laughter erupted from various parts of the room.

Beneath the heavy curtain of authority that settled over them.

The cardinals proudly nodded.

“You have summoned light, cured curses, and manifested the Lord’s will upon the earth.

If you, who performed such miracles, do not take the position of Cardinal, then who on earth can become a Cardinal?”

“That was just a simple medical treatment using herbs! Haven’t I told you many times that it wasn’t a miracle?!”

“Haha, isn’t it said that too much humility becomes arrogance?”

Bartolomeo laughed as if amused, then leaned back and sat down.

Between his fingers, a golden ring, symbolizing a cardinal, gleamed.

“It has already been unanimously approved. It means Elserada’s will is being realized through you.

So, give up and accept it quietly.”

The gazes of the cardinals in the hallway all fixed on me.

An unpleasantly warm gaze.

It was full of the meaning, ‘Welcome to the same hell as us.’

‘…Damn it.’

I couldn’t refuse.

The moment I refused the Lord’s will, I would have to live my entire life branded as a heretic.

The feeling of being trapped in a sticky honey jar permeated my entire body.

I was caught in a cunningly woven net with no escape.

Could it be that they had left me alone until now just to do this from the start?

Everything was suspicious.

I stared straight ahead without a word.

“Haha, to see you so pleased. This old man is very happy.”

Anger welled up deep within my chest at his brazen demeanor, showing no intention of even listening to me.

But now, at this moment, all I could do was accept the harsh reality.

“Welcome to being a Cardinal, Sir Theo.”

‘Uwaaaah!! Please tell me it’s a lie!’

While screaming a silent scream that no one could hear.