165. The Sect’s Grace

“Shion. Are you awake?”

“Cough… Leah…? Where…?”

“This is the infirmary. It’s already been two days since you were resurrected.”

“Two days…?”

“Yeah. You didn’t wake up during that time. In the meantime, the recruitment for the second expedition team has begun. The Labyrinth City Council appointed you as the administrator of the underground city and declared the Saintess a hero of the city.”

“Ah, damn.”

The Saintess is still alive.

But in the two days I was unconscious, they’ve already classified her as a fallen warrior and praised her as a hero.

At this point, the fact that her soul is still here must remain a secret known only to a select few, including me.

“Understood. Cough…”

“Let me help you up.”

“Yes… Thank you.”

With Leah-nim’s support, I barely managed to sit up.

“The news of the Demon King’s defeat will spread far and wide. According to Moira-nim, the Labyrinth City’s stagnation will soon come to an end.”

“That’d be nice. Cough.”

“Here. Drink this first.”

“What is it?”

“A stamina recovery tonic left by the Alchemy Guild Leader. They said you’d feel better after drinking this.”

“Well, this is… I’m grateful they went out of their way to provide this.”

The brown liquid tasted horribly bitter and disgusting, but after downing the whole bottle, vitality surged through my body.

Not tasty, but undeniably effective. Unlike Rafnel’s concoctions, which were delicious but had side effects.

“Ah, I need to retrieve the remains of the fallen warriors…”

“People have been waiting for that. The Saintess’s remains and those of the other fallen warriors-you have them all, right?”

“That’s right. Let’s go right away.”

“Mm. I’ll call Rozie. It’ll be faster if she carries you.”

“Yes. But what about Yuria?”

“Yuria is at the council right now. She’s probably giving a report on the situation.”

“Understood.”

After sitting briefly on the infirmary chair and waiting, Rozie entered the room with Leah-nim.

“Shion! Are you alright?”

“Yes. Not perfectly… but at least I’ve been properly resurrected.”

“Ahh. That’s a relief. The Bishop acknowledged your contributions in this operation and waived the resurrection cost.”

“Really?”

“Yes. The two free resurrections you received during the heretic subjugation remain intact. This time, he said it’s free as a celebration of the underground city’s conquest. I think all the deceased members of the raid team will receive similar treatment. He said, ‘All who fought against the Demon King are heroes.'”

“That’s… great news for everyone.”

“Indeed. Shall I carry you now?”

“Yes, please.”

I was carried on Rozie’s back and transported to the Church.

“Hey! Are you that porter?”

“Are you the one who conquered the underground city?!”

“Shion! Do you remember me?! We went into the labyrinth together before!”

On the way to the Church, people who recognized me swarmed around, trying to talk to me. Though they couldn’t break through Rozie’s ironclad defense as an Inquisitor, they still crowded close to get a look at me.

It felt like I’d become a celebrity.

“Everyone will probably recognize you now.”

As Leah-nim said, crowds of people gathered just to see me.

It seemed I was being treated as one of the heroes who breathed new life into the Labyrinth City, which had been stagnant since the Cataclysm.

“Conquering the underground city is an unprecedented miracle for the Labyrinth City. It’s only natural.”

“It wasn’t something I did alone.”

“Even so, you remain one of the individuals who contributed the most. You’ll likely receive the greatest reward alongside the Saintess.”

Hearing about rewards lifted my mood a bit.

I went through hell. I almost died once while summoning the Three Witches.

And I nearly died again when the Demon King appeared. Given how rapidly things escalated, I think I adapted pretty well on the fly.

Thanks to the Saintess laying down a sanctuary, I could use Spirit Summoning, and thanks to Spirit Summoning, I prevented a total wipe.

“The hero has arrived!”

As we entered the Church, Raphael greeted me with a bright smile.

“Behold the hero’s arrival! The fallen warriors of the underground city have returned!”

At Raphael’s shout, the Church’s priests sprang into action. With remains to receive and resurrections to perform, they must’ve been swamped.

“We have nearly 70 deceased to resurrect! Everyone, prepare!”

“That person is…”

“The Grand Bishop. He came to receive the Saintess’s remains.”

He looked like someone with immense holy power. And oddly youthful.

Probably due to the Goddess’s blessing, allowing him to sidestep the ravages of time slightly.

“Pleasure to meet you. I’m Silas. You must be Shion?”

“Yes. I’m Shion.”

“Good. First, could you place the Saintess, the Tower Master, and the Druid Association President on the Altar of Resurrection here?”

“Yes.”

Among the fallen warriors, these three were the most crucial assets.

“The Saintess…”

As I placed the Saintess on the altar first, the Grand Bishop looked at her with a sorrowful expression.

“Resurrection is impossible. Raphael.”

“Yes, Grand Bishop.”

“Please enshrine the Saintess’s remains in the preservation chamber. We must hold a funeral so she may rest in peace.”

“Understood, Grand Bishop.”

Raphael placed the Saintess’s body on a transport tray and carried it to the basement.

“Next are the Tower Master and the Druid Association President.”

“Good. These two must be resurrected first.”

Afterward, I retrieved the dead adventurers’ remains from my inventory and handed them all over to the Church.

“Thank you. Without you, we wouldn’t have been able to bring them all back.”

“Don’t mention it. This was my role.”

“Much appreciated. The Pope wishes to personally bestow a reward for this. If you’re feeling well enough, would you like to meet His Holiness now? Of course, there’s no rush. The Pope instructed us to accommodate your schedule. If you have urgent matters, you can finish them first.”

So the Pope had summoned me.

Normally, I’d be expected to go immediately, but this time, the Pope had apparently ordered that my convenience be prioritized.

Still, even if they’re accommodating, refusing to go right away would be rude. When the leader of an organization calls, putting other matters first would damage my reputation.

“I’ll go right away.”

“Thank you. Ah, Rozie.”

“Yes, Grand Bishop.”

“Rozie and the adventurer here, could you wait here for a moment? His Holiness wishes to speak with him privately.”

“Understood. I’ll do so.”

Rozie agreed immediately.

But Leah-nim, looking slightly uneasy, asked the Grand Bishop:

“Um… does it have to be private?”

“No need to worry. His Holiness isn’t summoning him to make any unreasonable demands.”

“Ah… okay.”

She must be anxious that something might happen to me in my weakened state.

Even if they’re a Church that preaches benevolence, claiming they’re entirely clean would be naive.

“I’ll be fine, Miss.”

“Mm. I’ll wait for you.”

“Then let’s go. Ah, Raymond.”

“Yes! Grand Bishop!”

“Could you carry Shion for us?”

“Of course!”

I was carried on the back of a burly Battle Priest and taken to the deepest part of the Church, where the Pope resided. This was my first time entering this area.

–What do you think the Pope is scheming?

‘Saintess, are you awake?’

–I’ve been awake since we entered the Church.

‘Ah…’

–The Pope must be deeply troubled by my death. Even if he treated me as a tool, losing the Church’s strongest blade would unsettle anyone.

‘Should I tell him your soul is with me?’

–Hard to say. It’s difficult to predict how he’d react. His ultimate goal is the Church’s survival, after all. Even if the Labyrinth City falls, as long as the Church remains, he wouldn’t care. He might even try to claim ownership over me.

‘Even if it goes against the Goddess’s will?’

–Yes. Even then. The Pope’s duty is to secure the Church’s future. The Goddess’s spokespersons are the Saintess or a Saint-not the Pope. His role is to bear the Church’s future and ensure the Goddess’s faith thrives.

‘Ah…’

So he wasn’t someone who acted solely by the Goddess’s will.

The Pope was literally the Church’s leader, staking everything on the survival of the Goddess’s faith.

“Your Holiness. I’ve brought him.”

At Grand Bishop Silas’s words, the door to the Pope’s office opened.

“Welcome. This way.”

The Pope, as expected, was an elderly man.

He looked at least eighty years old, with half-lidded eyes.

“Raymond and Silas, you may leave now.”

“Understood. We’ll wait nearby.”

“Of course.”

At the Pope’s dismissal, the Grand Bishop and the Battle Priest who carried me left the office.

“This is my first private audience.”

“Greetings, Your Holiness.”

“How is your condition?”

“Thanks to the Goddess’s grace, I’m fine.”

“Chuckle.”

At my response, the Pope opened his half-closed eyes.

Contrary to his appearance, his gaze was sharp.

It felt like he could see through everything.

Was that an ability? Or the Goddess’s blessing?

The important thing was that the Pope had already read me-and the Saintess.

“No need for lengthy introductions. Let’s get to the point. By the Goddess’s grace, Saintess Fria has now become Her messenger. Am I correct?”

“……”

“Don’t be alarmed. I merely received a revelation. First, is what I discerned accurate?”

“Yes… The Saintess is with me. And per the Goddess’s will, I plan to place her in the body of an Ice Bird.”

“I see. An Ice Bird. What did Fria think of that? Did she agree?”

“Yes. Fria-nim agreed.”

“Good. That’s enough. She’s suffered enough.”

The Pope smiled kindly.

At the same time, he took out a small wooden box from his robes and handed it to me.

“But here’s the thing. A former Saintess-now a divine messenger-being privately retained by an individual… is somewhat problematic.”

“This is…”

“Open the box.”

“Yes…”

Inside the box was an insignia engraved with the Church’s emblem.

“I know you hold no hostility toward anyone. But that won’t be possible now. As long as you possess a divine messenger, you must belong to the Goddess’s Church. I trust you understand what I mean.”

A blessing too great for a mere individual to possess.

Thus, instead of refusing, I should join the Church.

“Are there obligations and responsibilities?”

“Nothing as burdensome as the Inquisitors’. However, you must publicly declare yourself a devout follower of the Goddess’s faith. Whether you actually worship Her or not is irrelevant.”

“I understand.”

“I appreciate your quick comprehension. I take it you have no other faith?”

“Correct. I have no religion.”

“What a relief. Had you needed to convert, I worried about potential resistance. This is fortunate.”

If I’d followed another religion, there would’ve been friction. But as an atheist, it was fine.

“By the way, do I have to wear this insignia at all times?”

“Not constantly, but it’d be good to wear it during important events or public appearances. And starting today, we’ll announce your induction into the Goddess’s faith. So please act accordingly.”

“Understood. I will.”

“Good. Now, this is your actual reward. The greatest gesture the Church can offer. Please accept it.”

“This is…”

The second box contained a seal.

“A seal with authority equal to-or slightly below-an Inquisitor’s. You may requisition up to 10 Battle Priests or healers from the Church. All medical facilities will be free for you. Additionally, you may use 10 bottles of the highest-grade Holy Water per month. You can also designate one Bishop-level priest to accompany you wherever you wish. You’ll have access to all Church facilities. There are other benefits, but you’ll learn those in time.”

“…Are you sure this is alright to give me?”

“Consider it an investment. By conquering the underground city, you’ve proven your worth. From the Church’s perspective, you’re someone we must maintain ties with. It might sound blunt, but that’s the truth.”

“Thank you, Your Holiness.”

“Not at all. I’d like to offer more, but with the Saintess’s loss, the Church’s situation is… complicated. I hope you understand.”

“Of course. Long live the Goddess’s Church!”

“Hahaha. You’re an amusing one. I look forward to a strong relationship moving forward.”

“The pleasure is mine, Your Holiness.”

As His Holiness extended his hand, I bowed respectfully and shook it.

This is a total jackpot! They’re giving me this much authority?

Just imagining the priests I could recruit made me dizzy.

–You’re probably the first person to grow this close to the Pope so quickly.

At Fria’s words, I grinned.

In business, mutual benefit fosters fast friendships.

First, who should I pick as my Bishop escort?

I need talent. People who’ll roll with me in the underground city!