Ch.233Sacred War Declaration

That was truly Elpinel’s will? Or was it merely a coincidence?

The truth was something no one but Elpinel himself could know.

However, for those gathered at that time and place, it was an unmistakable sign.

Evidence that Elpinel loved his daughter and had graced this occasion for her sake.

“Oh Elpinel…!”

Witnessing the miracle unfolding before their eyes, even those with the weakest faith crossed themselves and offered prayers.

—-

Afterward, Lacy completely took control of Elpinel Church’s imperial diocese.

The damage to the cathedral and the persecution of the archbishop were dismissed without any questioning, while the heretic Robert and his associates were sent to the stake within an hour.

No one opposed it. No, no one could dare oppose it.

A woman chosen by Elpinel had captured the heretic alongside a descendant of the Great’s Twelve Knights, and divine punishment had fallen upon the sinner in front of those foolish enough to persecute her.

No one could deny her sanctity.

Throughout the empire’s history, the will of God had rarely been manifested so clearly.

With Leopold, Lord Wien, and even the Duke of Faelrun absent from the island, there was no one among those remaining who could surpass Lacy’s authority.

They say humans make plans, but success depends on heaven.

A single falling crucifix had resolved all their problems.

—-

After setting Robert ablaze and restoring order, Lacy immediately summoned all the archbishops from each church.

Regardless of which deity they served, no clergy within the island could refuse her invitation at this point.

All archbishops with dioceses on the island gathered.

The five archbishops from the Churches of Ceres, Astraea, Imela, Kranus, and Ausrine.

And Rainfeld, the last remaining Prince-Elector of the Church and Archbishop of Saulite.

The Church of Volberg had long since voluntarily joined the civil war, declaring that the era of warriors had arrived.

If their archbishop personally went to the battlefield… they must really be warmongers.

The Church of Menes was defending the north alongside the imperial army, and the Archbishop of the Church of Vimos hardly ever showed his face at official events.

They seemed to be living as they pleased somewhere along the southern coast.

The Archbishop of the Church of Grimnir had gone to investigate the strange spread of dark mana months ago?

As worshippers of the god of magic, they seemed sensitive to things like mana and dark mana.

So, six archbishops had assembled at the Extrashafel Cathedral.

Seven if you counted Robert, who was currently illuminating the cathedral entrance as a human torch.

Archbishop Rainfeld clicked his tongue at the sight of the burning Robert, but there were no other particular objections.

They were merely exchanging casual conversation about the events that had occurred in the cathedral, their meaning, and their veracity.

Until Lacy stood before them and delivered a passionate speech.

—-

– BANG!

Lacy struck the round table forcefully.

The archbishops, who had been expressing reluctance at her insistence on joining Leopold’s forces, were startled by Lacy’s sudden aggression and turned to look at her.

“Due to a rebellion plotted by heretics, countless people are still bleeding and suffering! If the empire declines and kneels before the threats of heretics and non-humans, what will become of the innocent people’s lives? What will become of the future of the Holy State—no, of your faith? Once we kneel, we can never prosper as before! Humanity will become enslaved once again!”

Archbishop Rainfeld cleared his throat at the mention of rebellion, but he didn’t attempt to refute it.

With Robert, who had declared neutrality, now exposed as a heretic, Rainfeld’s position was equally precarious, as he had supported Ernst from the beginning and declared neutrality in agreement with Robert.

One wrong move, and he too could be branded a heretic and placed alongside Robert.

While the Elpinel Church intervening in the affairs of the Saulite Church was clearly overstepping its authority… at this point in the island, there was no one who could stop Lacy’s advance.

“Though we may belong to different countries, though we may serve different gods, we must stand shoulder to shoulder and share the empire’s fate. Is it not our mission, transcending the boundaries of nations and doctrines, to uphold justice and protect the people?”

The Archbishop of the Church of Astraea nodded.

The protection of justice—words that perfectly suited her taste.

“As a servant of Elpinel, the God of Grace, I wish to ask all the archbishops gathered here. If you can see innocent people bleeding before your eyes! If you can hear their screams! Based on your reverence for God and love for humanity, let us fight together against evil with passion and conviction!”

Lacy swung her arms passionately as she delivered her fervent speech.

Her eyes were filled with the conviction characteristic of those who believed unquestioningly in the righteousness of their cause.

The Archbishop of the Church of Imela stroked her chin.

She wasn’t looking at Lacy. Rather, she was staring at me, standing blankly beside Lacy.

Her brown eyes reflected deep favor.

What’s this…?

It was truly puzzling to me.

Why would a priestess who worships the goddess of love and children like me?

Considering my past actions… the god of war and orphans might make sense, but it seemed unlikely that a follower of Imela would welcome me.

[…I heard that my maternal family, House Median, was originally close to the Church of Imela. My mother’s name was also derived from the name of the goddess they worship.]

Ah, I see.

Imelia de Median and the goddess Imela. The names certainly seem related.

“This is a holy war! An offering to the gods watching from heaven, and a dedication to save the innocent from evil! As clergy, this is a war we must not hesitate to fight!”

“…You speak truly. However, what about the practical issues? Unlike you, Lady Elmaine, we are merely responsible for the dioceses on the island. It would be overstepping our authority to make such a momentous decision as intervening in the empire’s war on our own. Shouldn’t we first report to the cardinals in our home countries and follow their guidance…?”

The Archbishop of the Church of Kranus raised a cautious argument.

He wasn’t denying Lacy’s assertion, but he was trying to subtly back away by suggesting it was too difficult for them to decide on their own.

Archbishop Rainfeld also nodded in agreement, smiling with satisfaction.

…Does that man realize he’s first in line for purging?

Well, if he knew, he would have fled already.

“I appreciate your advice. Normally, I too would report to the Holy State and seek the wisdom of the cardinals. However, unfortunately, we are not in a position to do so now.”

“What do you mean…?”

Seated, Lacy elaborated on the details.

The charges against Empress Isabella, how she had reported this to the Holy State and requested the dispatch of the Secret Apostolic Council. How that information was leaked, resulting in an attack.

The archbishops’ expressions hardened.

Some let out heavy sighs. If Lacy’s words were true, this was far more serious than the apostasy of a single archbishop.

The presence of apostates among the eleven cardinals—the de facto leaders of each church—was a matter that could threaten the very existence of the churches.

“If we reveal this fact…”

Lacy shook her head.

“Without knowing who has betrayed us or how many have done so, we would only repeat mutual suspicions and eventually divide. In the worst case, another religious war might break out.”

“Hmm… You have a point…”

The archbishops seemed to agree with her prediction, exhaling deep sighs.

—-

After about thirty minutes of discussion,

the debating archbishops finally reached a decision.

Archbishop Rainfeld maintained a sullen expression until the end, but with all the other archbishops in agreement, he had no choice but to reluctantly nod.

Was it Lacy’s persuasion—’Which is more important, following secular authority or following God’s will?’—that drove the final nail into their hearts?

Or was it her proposal to establish a decision-making body centered around them here, rather than in the Holy State?

While I couldn’t read their true feelings, this meant that most of the churches within the empire had agreed with Lacy’s intentions.

After concluding their discussion, the archbishops greeted each other and returned to their respective churches.

They too would be busy from now on.

They needed to inform their church members of the truth and prepare for war.

—-

“That was easier than expected.”

I shrugged and looked at Lacy.

She was sitting in the archbishop’s office of Extrashafel Cathedral, relieving her fatigue with a cup of tea.

“Elpinel watches over everything. If we remember His words and act without going against His will, everything will flow smoothly like a river.”

Lacy smiled brightly.

She was no longer just a candidate for sainthood.

She was now the head of the Elpinel Church’s imperial diocese and the Imperial Archbishop General of the Eleven Major Deity Churches.

That was the new clerical position bestowed upon Lacy Elmaine Stardolf.

Imperial Archbishop General…

I suppose that’s quite a promotion.

In the history of the Eleven Major Deity Churches, the position of Archbishop General had never existed before.

The highest authority in the Holy State was the Saint, and the actual leaders of each church were the eleven cardinals.

Directly below the cardinals, archbishops governed their respective dioceses.

The creation of the position of Archbishop General, with authority to oversee all archbishops within the empire…

It was tantamount to declaring that the empire’s archbishops were breaking away from the Holy State’s hierarchy to follow their own independent path.

Better to be the head of a snake than the tail of a dragon, I suppose.

—-

The next day.

Each church publicly denounced Isabella and Robert’s evil deeds, declaring this not a succession dispute but a holy war to hunt down a witch.

Following this came the announcement of the establishment of an “Imperial General Diocese” to oversee all Eleven Major Deity Churches within the empire.

And the declaration that Lacy Elmaine Stardolf, Elpinel’s representative, would be elected as Archbishop General.

How the Holy State would receive this was yet unknown, but this unified public opinion within the empire.

Their announcement carried enough authority to be believed even without evidence.

Finally, Isabella came to be called a witch.

All of this happened in just two days.