episode_0009

The sinister relationship between the Pope and the Emperor had been known to everyone for a long time.

The Papal See, located in the capital city of Lemus.

The Pope, the leader of the five million Europa believers and countless clergy members, did not like the Emperor.

“How can he be so arrogant…!”

No, to be precise, he despised him.

The pitiful acolyte trembling at his side after the Pope’s outburst had two reasons for his discomfort. One was his aversion as a ruler who shared the intersection of believers and subjects. The other was due to the Emperor’s attempt to make the Pope a mere puppet by using military force, brushing aside the Pope’s authority like changing an air conditioner filter.

But above all, what really irked the Pope was something else.

“The Emperor… still exercises the right of appointment?”

“Yes, Your Holiness.”

It was precisely because of the right of appointment, also known as the clergy appointment authority.

Considering that the church was essentially a government office, translating it as the authority to appoint civil servants made the weight of this power even more significant.

Originally, this authority was traditionally held tightly by the Emperor and his empresses.

However, in the Pope’s eyes, something seemed off. The fact that non-clergy members held the power to appoint clergy seemed absurd.

They were taking advantage of their positions, even making sacred clergy members the target of exploitation, leading to increased corruption and contributing to the world turning upside down.

And every time the world turned upside down, there was someone who appeared like a needle following a thread.

“Those who collude with knights to extort donations are not part of the church!”

“The church must awaken! Regain the faith and charity of the past!”

“We can no longer turn a blind eye to the corruption of the clergy. If they won’t change, we will make them change!”

With the rebellion brewing sharply, a rebellion had recently erupted in a corner of the empire.

Thanks to this, the soldiers in the north were distracted, leaving them vulnerable to attacks from barbarians. It was a fortunate turn of events for the freedom fighters who were short of work.

In any case, seizing the opportunity amidst the chaos, the Pope grabbed the microphone and shouted to the world.

“The fact that secular lords hold the clergy appointment authority is preposterous! It should return to the bosom of the church. Let us correct this here and now. This authority belongs to the Pope and the Papal See!”

And on the other side of the continent.

Emperor Heinrich, who was vigorously crushing the rebel forces, received a blow to his pride.

“There is no reason, and that argument is weak!”

“Isn’t the Pope just envious of the authority we possess? We will not accept such unilateral declarations, and the right of appointment will continue to be exercised.”

Unable to sit still in the face of such provocation, Heinrich immediately summoned the bishops under his control.

“…Even if he is the Emperor, shouldn’t we show some respect to His Holiness the Pope? After all, we are all believers of the same faith, whether it be us or the Emperor.”

“I have always thought so as well.”

“Yes. Your Majesty has been on the throne for a long time, and during that time, you have had many interactions with His Holiness-”

“His Majesty is entering!”

“-so it is clear that Your Majesty has been too harsh in your actions. This cannot be overlooked!”

“I have always thought so as well.”

The gathered bishops had no choice but to withdraw their support for the Pope on the spot.

The Papal See was far away, and the Emperor was close. With a sword hanging over their heads, the bishops had no other option.

While Emperor Heinrich continued to exercise the right of appointment vigorously, he demanded the Pope’s abdication based on the loss of support from the bishops.

And the Pope finally reached a turning point.

“The secular matters are just that, secular matters. However, the Emperor’s continuous interference in the affairs of the church made it difficult to see him as a true follower of the proper Europa faith!”

“Therefore, I excommunicate, I excommunicate the Emperor!”

*****

If I were to make a confession at this point.

Truth be told, I had no interest in what schemes the Pope and the Emperor were up to.

Whether the Papacy and the Empire were at each other’s throats for a day or two, it didn’t concern me.

Paying attention to such things would disrupt my daily life. So, I might not know.

But knowingly choosing to remain ignorant of what you already know is the most shameful thing.

Listening to the merchants, who were the living radios and newspapers of this era, I got a rough idea of how things were unfolding.

“Now, there. This should be enough…?”

“Yes, it was very helpful.”

Thanks to them, my knowledge expanded.

I bought some trinkets from the merchants in exchange for the stories I brought from the East.

I might not have a use for them and no one to give them to. Maybe Lycia would like them.

Anyway, to understand why the Emperor and the Pope were on the brink of war, a little background knowledge was necessary.

Excommunication refers to the expulsion from the Europa church community.

And the church was the administrative, welfare, education, and medical authority of this era, engaging in various public projects. To put it simply, excommunication was a terrifying punishment that prevented you from obtaining a birth certificate.

But the Emperor’s position was one where he didn’t need to bother with birth certificates.

Excommunication held a different meaning for the nobles.

“You have neglected the duties you must uphold as a follower of the Europa faith, and there is no sign of respecting the ecclesiastical authority. Heinrich has strayed so far that he needs guidance. Therefore, I, Pope Gregorio, pronounce excommunication upon the Emperor!”

“Hah! Whether your words are right or wrong, prove it with strength. Only through war.”

“Adjutant, summon the soldiers and send letters to the vassals.”

This declaration of excommunication could be translated in noble terms as ‘let’s have a showdown.’

Naturally, the one who speaks with more authority is considered right.

This was why I thought the Empire would soon be in flames.

Now then.

How did Lycia know about this?

I passed by people who were clamoring about the impending end of the Empire’s service and sat back down next to the girl.

There was chaos wherever people gathered. The Empire was running smoothly.

“Sir Knight?”

“Ah, Lycia. Did you know this would happen?”

“Yes, of course.”

“How?”

“When you spend time in the church, you hear rumors from all over. From idle gossip the children spread to directives from the Papacy.”

It seemed like no coincidence. The girl was indeed clever.

Predicting the hearts of people like reeds was almost the same as hitting the mark.

Or maybe it was a gamble from Lycia’s perspective. Perhaps that was the case.

But now, it didn’t matter much. The situation had already unfolded, and I would eventually have to head towards the Papacy.

The girl looked at me with an expression that seemed to expect something from me.

Still, it bothered me a little. There was no guarantee that I could fully protect the girl, and it was clear that the journey would be delayed.

“Of course, I’m not just asking you to come along for free. You’ll have to pay your dues.”

“How? I probably don’t have any money right now.”

“You might after you graduate.”

Investing in potential and receiving the reward later. In other words, sponsorship.

Risha definitely had potential. Isn’t it because she doesn’t have Priest Piphin’s certification mark?

If you ask if it’s worth delaying the journey a bit, since war didn’t seem imminent, investing in the girl didn’t seem like a bad idea.

Even if I fail, it won’t affect me much, and I won’t have much money to spend on anything other than food and a place to sleep once I get to university.

I let out a small sigh and replied, “Well, a promise is a promise. I’ll drop you off at the university on the way.”

“Thank you!”

“It’s no use changing your mind after we’ve set off, so one last question. Do you really want to go?”

It’s a journey of several months. If there’s even a slight doubt in her mind, it’s best to stop now.

But the girl looked me straight in the eye and said confidently, “Yes, I want to go.”

What could be driving her like this? If it’s not an obsession with learning, there was nothing particularly standing out.

Risha seemed to have something else she wanted to say. As she stared silently, her mouth slowly opened after a moment of hesitation.

“…If I go there, can I learn a lot?”

“It’s called a university, so if you don’t know something there, you won’t know it anywhere else. It’s where the brightest minds gather.”

“Then, can I find answers to the questions I have?”

“What are you curious about?”

“Can… salvation come to me?”

Risha’s voice trembled slightly, unlike her usual self.

Could this be related to the strange obsession she had?

Suddenly, the image of the ruins where the girl was left alone came to mind. It was the opposite of salvation.

Was it at that moment that Risha began to question? But with my limited knowledge, it didn’t seem appropriate to answer.

“They say there’s a saint at the Imperial University. You might find answers from her. She probably knows the will of the gods best.”

“……”

“But if you’re willing to hear the opinion of a commoner, I think so too.”

“If that’s the case… yes, that would be nice.”

Still, I gave my own answer with a bit of presumption.

In a world without children’s rights, I still believed that these children had the right to live a happier life.

It seemed best to end the heavy conversation here.

I decided to change the subject.

“Since it’s spring and there’s no reason to delay, we should start preparing for the journey. Oh, right. Did you tell Priest Piphin?”

“Yes, I told him I was going to the university, and he wished me well. He said I would do well at the university. Oh, and he said to hold the knight’s hand so you don’t get lost.”

“Yes, Priest Piphin is like that… I should visit him too. I won’t see him for a while.”

“Yes, please take care.”

It’s a journey that will take more than half a year round trip.

And most of that time will be spent traveling the long road with the girl. And I don’t know how to handle a child.

But fortunately, I knew as much as a specialist in this matter.

“Why is that my job?”

“Don’t priests raise children in the church? Children follow them like fathers.”

“Ugh……”

Wasn’t it the late bloomer who suffered in the harsh reality of the medieval fantasy world, not raising a Lavender in the spicy version?

Dealing with a little girl shouldn’t be too difficult.