Ch.57Burning Machine (1)
by fnovelpia
*
The Vatican was a mysterious structure filled with special architectural designs and magical devices.
The sound of footsteps and whispered voices in the vast space disappeared without echoing around, absorbed by the unique ceiling structures.
A sacred silence, heavy enough to make ordinary people feel uneasy, blanketed the corridors and lobby due to the mysterious magic laid upon the floors.
From the lobby, corridors extended in four directions—north, south, east, and west. Walking slowly down the widest of these corridors, one would eventually reach a large door at the end.
Between the ceiling and the door, marble sculptures of angels adorned the space. The wooden door, treated with preservatives and painted with elegant colors, was embedded with ornate golden branch-like decorations.
It was clearly one of the most magnificent entrances in the entire Vatican.
The nameplate beside the door was made of platinum, with the words “Grand Conference Room” engraved in the center, containing a golden mist of holy power that glowed softly.
A guard in white armor standing before the door blocked the visitor and asked:
“Who are you?”
“Alice Goldfield, from the Inquisition.”
Alice replied with a brief, curt answer.
The guard already knew her face anyway.
He would have been informed in advance that she would be coming today.
Stopping her was merely a formality.
The guard stepped aside and responded:
“Please enter. They are waiting for you inside.”
Alice nodded without replying and opened the door.
The large door opened smoothly without making any sound.
But unlike the door, Alice’s heart was turbulent and far from calm.
Five priests who had died during the mission she had assigned.
The reason for Alice’s visit to the Vatican today was to face punishment and deal with the aftermath of their deaths.
The first thing that caught her eye was the vibrant light created by the colorful stained glass.
Even before the large statue depicting the goddess and the beautiful circular table carved from a single massive piece of marble, those mesmerizing rays of light illuminating the room captured her attention first.
Turning her gaze slightly, she saw three men in purple garments seated at a large oval table.
And at the far end sat a woman in white attire wearing a tall crown.
The highest authority of the Goddess Church, Pope Elifa, along with three of the six heads of papal institutions, were waiting for Alice.
The men all turned their heads toward Alice at once.
Alice knelt on one knee before them and bowed her head.
“Senior Holy Knight Alice, in the presence of Your Holiness.”
One of the men in purple clothing, an elderly man with a white beard, cleared his throat and spoke:
“…Take a seat.”
The old man was the Chief Justice who led the Supreme Court, which functioned as the internal judiciary of the Vatican.
He was likely here to determine the punishment for Alice, who had caused the deaths of five priests.
Alice slowly rose and took a seat at the very end of the table, the farthest from yet directly facing the Pope.
The Chief Justice looked at Alice and slowly began to speak:
“Holy Knight Alice.”
“Yes.”
The old man’s voice carried a firmness and deep anger that seemed at odds with his age.
Not just him, but everyone except the Pope was glaring at Alice with piercing eyes.
It wasn’t strange.
Although her brilliant achievements and performances had garnered public support and allowed her to get away with much until now,
Few people within the Vatican looked favorably upon her radical actions of brutally punishing even members of her own order for alleged corruption.
Especially the Chief Justice, who was in charge of trials within the Vatican, had even less reason to view favorably someone who punished priests at her own discretion, ignoring his authority.
The old man strongly pressed Alice:
“Two days ago, you reported that the priests who went on an expedition to the Lying Tree Forest under your orders had died.”
“Yes.”
“They left only ten days ago. It’s not yet time for them to return. How did you know?”
“…”
“Don’t think of lying before the Pope.”
When Alice paused in her response, the Chief Justice sternly rebuked her.
Alice pulled her head back slightly.
She was steeling herself.
She spoke with a resolute voice:
“I had implanted my holy power in those five men.”
The men could be heard drawing in their breath.
Whether they were shocked by the impropriety or by Alice’s audacity in boldly admitting it, it was clear that her actions were beyond their comprehension.
“Are you saying you performed a consecration without the Pope’s approval?”
“I merely shared my holy power with them.”
“That is consecration. Don’t you know that transferring the holy power bestowed by the Goddess to others without permission is a serious violation?”
“…”
The Chief Justice was right.
Holy power, by its nature, could be transferred.
However, if not returned, one would permanently lose that amount of holy power, and mixing with another’s holy power could cause side effects. Therefore, it was something that should only be done with the Pope’s permission in very special cases.
Of course, besides that reason, there was also the religious principle that holy power bestowed by the Goddess should not be carelessly transferred to others.
The old man scrutinized Alice carefully and then spoke with a voice full of puzzlement:
“Yet, your holy power doesn’t seem to have diminished at all…”
“Enough.”
Someone interrupted the Chief Justice.
The old man turned his face toward the source of the voice.
“…Your Holiness?”
“We don’t have time. Move on, Chief Justice.”
“Ah… yes, understood.”
The Chief Justice bowed to the Pope and then turned back to Alice to continue:
“Alice. Did you know that forest is a dangerous place near the Demon King’s castle?”
“…Yes, I knew.”
“Then why did you send them? What was the mission?”
“…It was a search mission. I sent them to find people.”
“People?”
“…I had information that my fiancé and his younger sister had fled to that forest.”
A sigh of lamentation escaped from the Chief Justice’s lips.
His wrinkled face turned bright red with anger.
“…Let me confirm just once.”
“Yes.”
“You’re saying… you sent priests into that death trap… for a personal matter?”
“That’s correct.”
“You! Alice!”
The Chief Justice slammed his fist on the table and shouted.
The others seated opposite the old man rose from their seats to restrain him.
“Chief Justice! We are before the Pope!”
“Please calm yourself.”
“Alice Goldfield, no matter how much the Pope favors you, this matter cannot be overlooked!”
“…”
“Please calm down and take your seat, Chief Justice. We also have many questions for her.”
The Chief Justice glared at Alice with an intensity that seemed beyond what an old man should possess.
Alice silently accepted his angry gaze.
The Chief Justice clicked his tongue once, sat down, and slowly exhaled.
Then, a middle-aged man sitting across from him spoke up.
With red hair streaked with gray, wearing a monocle, and dressed in the most modest attire in the room, he was the chairman of the Financial Council that managed the Goddess Church’s funds.
Unlike the old man, his voice was calm and composed, but his attitude made it clear that he did not look favorably upon Alice either.
“The families of the deceased priests visited the Vatican this morning. The sorrowful cries of an old woman who lost her son echoed through the Vatican from early morning, which was truly heartbreaking.”
“…”
“Normally, the Vatican would provide compensation worthy of their martyrdom, but unfortunately, we have no funds to operate with right now. Do you know why, Holy Knight Alice?”
“Is it because of former Cardinal Elliard?”
Former Cardinal Elliard.
He was a priest who had been respected by many as the head of the largest cathedral in the capital and the diocese of the entire capital.
As he was in charge of the largest cathedral and the entire capital diocese, he was also an important figure who managed a significant portion of the Vatican’s economic affairs.
Recently, he had been appointed as a cardinal in recognition of his achievements, but immediately afterward, his vile acts of raping countless children, regardless of gender, were discovered, and he was executed by Alice.
The man who had defiled the bodies of many children under the guise of being a clergyman was now rotting his hideous body in excrement at Alice’s pig farm.
Although he had committed terrible acts, Alice, who had tortured him mercilessly without hesitation despite his respected status, became an object of fear among the priests.
“…That had some influence, but that’s not all.”
“Then…”
“It’s because you’ve been hunting corrupt nobles indiscriminately.”
When religion fails to respect secular power.
This fact alone caused many nobles to distance themselves from the Goddess Church.
Of course, no one openly blasphemed the Goddess to her face, but the number of nobles who donated funds or support, as well as the number of nobles visiting the cathedral, had significantly decreased.
Of course, the void was filled by citizens who praised Alice, and the cathedral was always crowded with people, but the offerings they collectively gathered were ridiculously small compared to the nobles’ support.
“Your activities… complaints about them are not limited to within the Goddess Church.”
“…”
“The border is at war now. Even after the Demon King’s death, the monsters haven’t stopped their offensive, and there are those who aim to take advantage of this chaotic period to target this kingdom.”
“I know that.”
“Hmph, yet you still did this? With your petty sense of justice, you’ve consecutively imprisoned nobles, reducing the number of nobles who could lead in the war. Thanks to that, the war is looking grim.”
“…”
“There are even rumors that you, no, our entire order is attacking this kingdom under the instigation of the neighboring country. Since we have many believers in the neighboring country as well, we cannot escape suspicious eyes.”
Alice glared slightly at the middle-aged man.
The expression “petty sense of justice” grated on her ears.
What was wrong with punishing nobles who were indifferent to the suffering of the people?
What was politics, what was power anyway?
Even the misfortune that befell her and the Steph family was no different from what was caused by the plots of nobles full of desire and the indifference of this country and the order.
“Remove that irreverent gaze immediately, Alice. We are also being very patient.”
“Are you telling me to leave alone people who are not cared for by the country, the lord, or the Goddess Church? Just to receive those scraps?”
“Alice!”
Alice looked straight at the men glaring at her and sneered.
“Fine, I don’t understand such things. I don’t understand politics or diplomacy. Shall I be even more honest?”
“You are before the Pope. Mind your words!”
“I don’t understand the teachings of the Goddess that you all are so devoted to.”
“How dare you, woman!”
“But, did the Goddess say that? To extract money from the blood of the poor and use it to receive support from nobles?”
As soon as Alice finished speaking, a man sitting inside the table slowly rose from his seat.
The man was wearing only thin purple clothing, but his large build made it seem as if he might be wearing thick armor underneath. He had a large scar running from his right jaw to the middle of his eyes.
With features as fierce as his large scar, and a shaved head, he had a threatening appearance that would intimidate ordinary people just by looking at him.
His name was Ovid, the head of the Inquisition.
He was effectively Alice’s direct superior.
Having been quiet until now, he slowly approached Alice and muttered in an unbelievably low voice:
“Quiet,”
“…”
“Show some respect.”
“…Director.”
“Do you not know before whom you stand?”
Ovid walked toward Alice with heavy steps, clenching his fist like a large rock.
The atmosphere was so hostile that it seemed he might strike her at any moment.
Despite being in front of the Pope, neither the Chief Justice nor the chairman of the Financial Council made any attempt to stop him.
That’s how much Alice’s recent statement was considered outrageous and in need of definite sanctions.
Alice remained seated, looking straight at him.
“Stop.”
At that moment, a woman’s voice echoed throughout the conference room.
Though it was clearly a soft voice, it resonated throughout the spacious conference room as if it were booming.
The Chief Justice looked at the Pope in protest.
The Pope sighed, rubbing her forehead.
But Ovid paid no heed and continued approaching Alice, speaking:
“Your Holiness. This time I cannot allow it.”
“Director. Please take your seat.”
“I know Your Holiness cherishes this impertinent child. But I can no longer overlook this disrespect.”
The Pope shook her head and said:
“…There are circumstances. Surely you’re not planning to use violence in my presence?”
“Your Holiness!”
The Chief Justice protested to the Pope, his beard fluttering.
“What are you doing? How can Your Holiness show favoritism to a mere church member? Especially one who mocks the teachings of the Goddess like that…!”
“…”
The chairman of the Financial Council also removed his monocle, putting it in his pocket, and said:
“I feel the same way. Your Holiness. The damage we must bear is too great to continue sheltering her like this.”
The Pope held her head and sighed.
By now, Ovid’s footsteps had reached right in front of Alice.
Just as something serious seemed about to happen,
The Pope bit her lip slightly, as if having made a decision, and said:
“Alice Goldfield.”
“…Yes.”
“Would you please remove your top?”
Everyone except Alice looked at the Pope in unison.
The words that came from her mouth at this moment seemed so out of place.
But Alice showed no particular reaction.
She just quietly looked at her, as if asking if she was serious.
In response to Alice’s gaze, the Pope slowly nodded.
“…Huff,”
Alice raised her right arm and undid the leather strap under her armpit.
After undoing the strap on the opposite arm as well, the breastplate covering Alice’s chest fell with a thud.
Alice slowly lifted the undergarment she was wearing beneath her armor.
“What on earth are you… Oh?”
“What is that…”
Alice’s upper body skin was perforated like unraveled threads.
Upon closer inspection, those holes were traces of skin that had melted like butter.
That tattered skin was continuously melting and healing again, repeating the process endlessly as if breathing.
The three men were speechless at the horrific sight.
Those numerous holes opening and closing on her skin.
Where her heart should have been, visible through the inner holes, an unidentifiable mechanical device was constantly moving.
White light continuously poured out from the center of the mechanical device.
Ovid, being the closest, could see it more clearly.
The white light emanating from her heart.
It was clearly a trace of holy power.
“Alice… what… what is this?”
Alice kept her mouth tightly shut.
Instead, the Pope slowly began to speak:
“It’s a mechanical device that artificially generates holy power.”
“Good heavens… blasphemous… this is sacrilege, Your Holiness.”
“Alice Goldfield. She is the only successful case and the only survivor of human experiments that our Goddess Church has been conducting in secret.”
“Secret…? We hold authority just below yours in the Goddess Church. How could there be a secret that we don’t know about!”
“Those who know about this are only the participants in the research, the volunteers who participated in the experiment, and myself. Now, it includes you three gentlemen.”
“To that extent… what was this experiment that was conducted so cautiously? What could it possibly be, to create such a hideous thing…”
In response to the Chief Justice’s question, the Pope remained silent for a moment.
She seemed to be contemplating, but since there was no turning back after revealing that sight, the Pope very slowly moved her lips:
“It was an experiment… to artificially create a hero.”
.
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