Episode 77 – Appointment
by Afuhfuihgs
*
A platinum tower, shimmering under the brilliant sunlight, stood tall, its stained-glass windows, densely packed throughout, sparkling elegantly.
At the top of each tower, instead of mere gilding, a statue of the Goddess, carved from platinum by a master’s hand, was meticulously crafted, even down to her benevolent smile, emitting a subtle glow in the sunlight.
Not just one or two, but five such towers stood at regular intervals, forming a pentagon, surrounded by the same platinum walls. Inside, a magnificent building stood, filled with beautiful gardens and marble statues as if depicting paradise itself, inspiring awe and admiration in anyone who beheld it.
This place was none other than the ‘Deoro Papal State,’ the heart of the Goddess Order.
Edward, the Saintess’s son, walked across the beautiful garden, bathed in the light reflected by the Goddess statue.
The rank of the clergy could be distinguished by the color of their collar.
Usually, novice priests had collars that were the same color as the fabric of their robes, without any distinguishing color, which was also the case for Edward until yesterday.
But now, Edward’s collar was dyed blue.
This was the color of the divine power he had awakened, and proof that he had been recognized as a fully ordained priest.
Edward passed through the garden and entered the building.
It was for an audience with the Pope, which could be considered his first duty as an ordained priest.
Edward’s heart pounded with tension, and cold sweat poured down his face as he hurried his steps, not wanting to keep the Pope-nim waiting.
It was only natural to be nervous when going to meet the Pope, the leader who represented the entirety of the prestigious Goddess Order and was like a parent to all clergy, but Edward’s tension was for a slightly different reason.
The Papal State housed several mystical relics imbued with the Goddess’s power.
One of them was a massive box called the Ark of Deoro, a kind of mailbox connected to all the Goddess Order’s cathedrals on this continent.
The Papal State could receive news from all over the continent the fastest through that Ark.
In this world where carriages were the means of transportation, this relic, capable of instantly transmitting information, was an incredibly powerful tool.
There was even a rumor that the reason the Papal State was built far from the capitals and major cities of each country was because so many people wanted to use the relics, including the Ark, for war or personal gain.
And, after riding in a carriage with Dena for five days to reach the Papal State, Edward was shocked by the news that had arrived at the Papal State through the Ark even before he did.
It was the news that Aunt Jennifer had died in prison, torn to shreds, leaving behind a mark that seemed to be related to the Demon King.
Trembling with anxiety, Edward found himself standing in front of the large door of the room for the audience with the Pope.
To be promoted to an ordained priest and face the Pope-nim in a situation where his family was involved in heretical forbidden arts, harming countless people, and meeting a gruesome death himself.
Edward felt dizzy and as if he were about to faint.
“…Okay, pull yourself together, just answer the questions truthfully. Come on, get it together, Edward.”
Edward slapped his cheeks with his palms and shook his head, desperately trying to shake off the tension.
With a determined spirit, Edward slowly pushed open the massive door.
The heavy-looking door slid open quietly and smoothly, without even a creak.
“Edward Boldiras, Priest of the Blue Guardian, greets His Holiness the Pope, the teaching and law of the Goddess.”
The magnificent and mystical space, filled with colorful light from the arched ceiling filled with stained glass, was supported by pure white marble pillars.
A golden mat decorated with red lines stretched out, and at the end of it, a young girl wearing a crown with platinum lilies carved into it sat on a large chair made of fine wood, but of a rather simple and unadorned design.
The girl’s shoulder cape and cassock were made of white cloth decorated with gold thread, looking very luxurious, neat, and tidy.
Edward lowered his head to avoid making eye contact with the girl.
That girl was the center of the Goddess Order.
The benevolent ‘Pope Elise’ Seongha.
The girl opened her mouth with a graceful yet deep voice that belied her appearance.
“It is a pleasure to greet you under the light of the Goddess, Priest.”
“I greet you under the light of the Goddess, Seongha.”
“Yes, Edward. You have awakened to the divine power of the Blue Guardian.”
“Yes, that is correct.”
Pope Elise paused for a moment, then continued in a soft voice.
“…It must be a little disappointing since it’s not the blessing you wished for.”
Edward bowed even deeper.
He had made such a fuss about wanting healing divine power for his younger sister that there was hardly anyone in the Papal State who didn’t know about it, but he never imagined it would reach the Pope-nim’s ears.
He was a little embarrassed that he might seem like an older brother who was too fond of his younger sister.
He certainly felt a little disappointed that he hadn’t obtained healing divine power, but Edward was trying very hard to restrain such thoughts.
Edward spoke his honest feelings.
“How could I dare to question the will of the Goddess? Rather, if I had not received this blessing, I would not be among the living today.”
“Oh, is that related to the incident from Sioland…?”
“…Yes, that is correct.”
Edward squeezed his eyes shut and answered.
Edward couldn’t hide his anxiety, not knowing how much His Holiness the Pope knew about Aunt Jennifer’s case, and fearing that he might be dismissed for having a family member who was a heretic who committed such terrible acts.
But Elise still answered in a gentle voice.
“…I see. The Goddess seems to favor you.”
“…”
“What were you so anxious about? Did you think I would dismiss you?”
Edward was startled by those words and replied.
“I, in fact, was worried that might be the case.”
“Hehe, just as you were not appointed as a priest because you are the son of the Saintess, you will not be dismissed even if your family is an unpardonable heretic. Of course, there may be priests who do not look kindly upon you, Edward. But I believe you are more than capable of overcoming it.”
“Thank you.”
Edward breathed a sigh of relief at Pope Elise’s words.
Despite her youthful appearance, Elise, who had been in the position of Pope since Edward’s mother, Mella, was young, was the only one who supported Mella’s decision when everyone opposed her stepping down from the position of Saintess.
True to her title of ‘benevolent,’ she was the person who looked upon everyone with the warmest gaze, not only among the past Popes but among all of humanity.
Elise smiled slightly, then hardened her expression and said.
“But we cannot simply leave the heretics who have taken root in the capital of the Empire as they are. Heresy proves its evil not by its existence but by its influence, so we must stop them before they cause more suffering to the people.”
“Yes, I will testify to everything I know about Jennifer, without covering anything up just because she is family.”
“Yes, thank you. We will be dispatching priests to the capital soon, and Edward, I want you to go to the capital with them. It is your hometown, but it will also be the first place where you will help people as an ordained priest of the Goddess Order.”
“I will follow Your Holiness’s will.”
Elise adjusted her posture, which had been reverently seated, to a slightly more comfortable position and said.
“Edward. Please raise your head for a moment.”
Edward carefully raised his head and met Elise’s eyes.
Since the position of Pope required virtues and wisdom that were on a different level from ordinary humans, all the past Popes were exceptionally outstanding people.
There was nothing more regrettable than such figures passing away early, so all Popes received the blessing of longevity, gaining a body that neither aged nor fell ill, and it was said that they aged and died in an instant when they stepped down from the position of Pope.
As if proving that mysterious story, she, who had clearly been in the position of Pope for nearly 50 years, still looked like a child.
The only physical feature that proved Elise’s age, who looked only one or two years older than Dena, was her white hair that had turned completely gray.
Well, the previous Pope Seongha, who was male, was also unfortunately bald in his portrait.
What am I thinking right now?
Edward shook off the stray thoughts that came to mind and looked at Elise’s face.
Elise looked at Edward with a slightly sad expression and opened her mouth.
“Edward. I have some unfortunate news to share with you.”
“…Speak, hasoseo.”
“This morning, I heard that Head Priest Coppelius, who had been doing good and sacrificing himself for the soldiers on the battlefield, was embraced by the Goddess.”
“…Ah,”
Embraced by the Goddess.
That was a euphemistic way of saying that a priest had died.
And Head Priest Coppelius-nim was…
“That Head Priest-nim was…”
“Yes, he was the only remaining priest with healing divine power.”
“Ah…”
“I am truly sorry, Edward.”
“…Tess.”
Edward felt like his vision was darkening.
The reason he had only felt a little disappointed and not greatly despaired, even though he had awakened to the divine power of the Guardian, was not only because that power had saved his life.
Just as the Goddess’s will had saved him, he believed that Tess would also be healed someday.
However, at the moment when His Holiness the Pope delivered the news of the death of the last healing priest, Edward could not help but despair greatly.
It was understandable.
He had become a priest entirely to save Tess.
Elise knew that as well, so she did not hide her complicated expression and delivered the news while directly facing Edward.
Seeing the expression on Edward’s face, as if all hope had disappeared, Elise closed her eyes, clasped her hands together, and said.
“Do not lose hope, Edward.”
“Seongha…”
“We humans cannot know the will of the Goddess, nor can we know her plans at all, but still, we must believe that there is goodness in the world. We must believe that the world is moving towards what is right and just.”
“…”
“I believe that believing is the power and ability of people. You will surely be able to save your younger sister.”
“Thank… you…”
“Even if there seems to be no opportunity, surely someday…”
‘No, there is still a chance.’
At that moment, Edward recalled Baron Salvier and the suspicious doctor he had introduced.
Now, the only hope for saving Tess was those two.
Just a moment ago, Edward had been thinking of asking the Pope-nim about that doctor as well, but he changed his mind and decided to hide the story about him.
He didn’t know why, but that doctor was hostile to priests, so he didn’t want to create a situation where he might be displeased.
It was too impure a thought to dare to have in the presence of the Pope, but Edward didn’t care.
Lost in thought, Edward half-listened to Elise’s words, nodded, and opened his mouth.
“May the warm light of the Goddess guide Head Priest Coppelius-nim…”
Elise smiled with a sad face and said.
“You are a strong person, Edward.”
“…No, I’m not.”
“May the Goddess illuminate your path.”
“…Thank you.”
“Is that the girl who came with you, the younger sister you wanted to save?”
“Ah, no, Dena is… ah.”
“…?”
“That child is, uh, Jennifer’s daughter.”
Edward told the story of Dena’s circumstances and Daniel’s zombification. And about the laboratory of Jennifer that he saw.
Of course, he left out the story about Dena’s zombification and the doctor who had healed it with divine power.
Elise listened to the story and nodded.
“That child is also a child who has suffered from heresy and evil deeds. There are plenty of spaces for such a child in this Papal State. I will tell Sister Helmina the story, she is a person who is as good as ten parents at taking care of children, so you don’t have to worry about that child named Dena.”
“Thank you so much, Pope Seongha.”
“Hearing your story directly, it seems the situation is much worse than I expected. We need to hurry a little.”
“If you hurry…?”
“We will have a simple oath ceremony from now on. And as soon as that oath ceremony is over, we will start preparations and send you, including a group of priests, to the capital tomorrow morning.”
“I will follow Seongha’s words.”
“You must be very tired after riding in a carriage for several days, but please endure a little more. In the meantime, I promise that I will take responsibility for Dena and keep her safe.”
“Yes, thank you.”
Elise slowly stood up and raised her right arm towards the ceiling.
With a flash of light, a splendid platinum scepter appeared in the air and slowly descended onto Elise’s right hand.
Edward lowered his head again and knelt in front of Elise on one knee.
Elise raised the scepter and slowly brought it to Edward’s instep, beginning to recite a prayer.
At this moment.
Edward was appointed as a priest of the Goddess Order and an Inquisitor dispatched to Sioland.
.
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