Chapter 278
"Are you sure about this information, saintess? Even though it has been announced..."
"I have seen it with my own eyes, Your Eminence. Even the Pope might not have foreseen this."
Illya no longer bothered to show respect to the Pope. Austin could sense her true feelings from her tone and expression.
"To deceive the stigmata is terrifying. Now, I fear that man," Austin remarked.
While in the dungeons, Austin had shown respect to the Pope, but he had now abandoned such formalities. Illya found this change welcoming, yet she couldn't manage a smile; the priest's face was filled with despair, not just because of the counterfeit stigmata issue.
"I have lived too comfortably in this world. I thought that even if things went slightly wrong, with hard work, everything would be resolved smoothly," Austin lamented.
Illya could only watch the old Cardinal in front of her in silence.
He had spent his life devoted to the doctrine, known by most of the Holy City's inhabitants. He had dedicated himself to doing good.
Did he never have desires? Did he never falter?
But mere purity could not resolve the current reality.
"I believed that with enough evidence for impeachment, the discerning priests would follow suit. But..."
His sigh was filled with disappointment.
"How could this happen? We are all servants of the same God. Is this not a betrayal of God's will, connected to the reality of power?"
His grievances referred to the initial impeachment plan. Despite receiving significant support from lower-ranking priests and novices, very few bishops, eligible to vote, responded to his plea.
"I am ashamed to have once spoken of hope when everyone claimed the church was corrupt, rotten to the core..."
The old priest's eyes flickered with intense anger. Illya, concerned that his deep despair might lead him astray, tried to comfort him.
"Hasn't the situation changed now? The bishops have been reaching out to me, changing their minds about the vile rumors, especially if the false stigmata is confirmed..."
But Austin, with a grim expression, shook his head.
"... That's not it, saintess. You need not worry about me anymore."
"What?"
"I may not be enough, but I refuse to be a fool who denies reality even in these circumstances."
"Your Eminence..."
Her voice was filled with sorrow, but Austin's tone grew more impassioned.
"It's not blasphemy against God that angers them. It's their pride, realizing they've been deceived. To them, worldly power is more important than God's will!"
His face burned with fury. Seeing how this could lead to dire consequences, Illya urgently raised her voice.
"Your Eminence! Please, calm yourself. We have the chance to eradicate the greatest root of corruption. An opportunity created by you, Eminence. We can change it. We must! All of us!"
Had her words made an impact? After a moment of contemplation, Austin took a deep breath to compose himself.
"... Yes, that's right. We must change it. This cannot continue. The Gods would be angry. No, perhaps they already are."
"Yes?"
"Perhaps the 'Forsaken' are already a sign of that."
"...Yes?"
Illya, surprised by the sudden change of topic, appeared visibly confused.
"Before the world is completely forsaken by the Gods, we must first purify the church."
Austin clenched his teeth as if making a vow to himself.
'To cleanse the church. Yes. Now is the...'
Though his reasoning was uncomfortable, she understood the direction he was heading.
"Yes. We must."
Illya nodded firmly, encouraging the old Cardinal.
Not long after, the day of the impeachment trial arrived.
The Colosseum, typically open only for grand occasions like the Pope's inauguration, now opened its gates under less fortunate circumstances. Nevertheless, its reputation had reached its peak. An event like impeaching a Pope was scarcely recorded in the church's millennia of history, drawing an even larger crowd than usual.
"What will happen?"
"I have no idea."
"But if those rumors are true..."
"No, that can't be."
"Today, one side will crumble completely, be it the Saintess and Cardinal or His Holiness the Pope..."
Amidst the chaos, the residents of the Holy City and the priests flocked to the Colosseum in large numbers. Even the 30 tiers of stadium seating could not accommodate everyone; some hung precariously from handrails and exits due to the overflow.
"Don't push!"
"I'm struggling too!"
"Move back!"
"Ouch! Who hit my head!?"
"Quiet down!"
"Maintain order!"
The Holy Knights managed to maintain a minimum level of order; otherwise, accidents could have occurred amidst the chaos. Near the Bishopric and Cardinals with voting rights in the tribunal area, it appeared as though a brawl was about to erupt.
"String up the fraud who deceived the world!"
"Kill those slandering His Holiness the Pope!"
"Fanatics, get out!"
"What, you heretical bunch!?"
As radical shouts began among the highly placed Holy Knights, a grand announcement resounded throughout the Colosseum.
- The accused for the tribunal! His Holiness Pope Julio Umberto the First, enter!
With the entrance of today's central figure, the response was immediate.
- Wow!
- Put an end to the deceiver!
- Long live His Holiness the Pope!
The noise generated by the crowd, exceeding 30,000, began to resonate far beyond the Colosseum.
- Silence! We commence the tribunal that shall determine the fate of the Holy City!
After another booming voice echoed, the chaos began to subside. The subtle authority in the voice pacified the frenzy of the crowd. Most spectators seated far from the tribunal were merely puzzled, but those with a better view recognized the one who had quelled the uproar.
A man with light blonde hair and brown eyes, unremarkable in appearance for the Holy City. Everyone recognized him.
The Shield of God, Haman Killerbrew—Commander of the Holy Knights, responsible for the city's security and official force. He also commanded the 500,000 soldiers of the church spread across the continent. Known as a superhuman among superhumans, reaching not only the bishopric level of sacred power but also mastering the aura.
To the citizens of the Holy City, he was considered the ultimate warrior, surpassing even the Imperial Continent's Greatest Sword, Tris Hornsby.
"That man's imposing presence seems quite real."
As everyone acknowledged him, a weary-looking Pope entered through the opening gates. Though not yet a prisoner and free from chains and cuffs, the Pope's worn white priestly attire, instead of his usual splendid robes, made his appearance pitiable.
"How terrible. Our leader in such a state..."
"Oh, these heartless people. It would be better to kill me instead!"
"Holy Father!"
A few fanatics shed tears at the sight, but most were captivated by a different detail. On the Pope's right wrist was a golden circle, a stigmata signifying he was chosen by Ageron, the god of gold and commerce. The subtle aura emanating from it was clearly visible to everyone.
"It's genuine!"
"The rumors were false!"
"The evidence of a saint!"
"Indeed. How could the Pope..."
As murmurs spread, the pro-Pope Cardinals' gazes turned unanimously towards a specific spot—Cardinal Austin and Illya, who stood slightly apart.
"What will you do now, Cardinal Austin!"
"Even as a young and inexperienced Saintess, how will you face the consequences of slandering His Holiness the Pope!"
"Speak if you have anything to say!"
The Cardinals of the Pope's faction hurled accusations with renewed vigor, and their voices quickly spread throughout the thousands in the Colosseum.
"The Saintess lied?"
"Did Cardinal Austin?"
"No, that can't be!"
"But the stigmata is real."
Amidst the growing uproar...
"That deceitful brat's dirty trick!"
"Impose impeachment!"
"What kind of Saintess? She must be a fraud!"
"Throw them out!"
With the cries of fanatics, the Colosseum turned into a chaotic marketplace of noise. In the midst of the tumult, the Pope, revealing his stigmata, raised his hands.
"Although I have endured such humiliation, I do not wish to blame Cardinal Austin and the Saintess! I choose to believe that they, too, merely sought to verify the atrocious rumors! So if anyone seeks blame, let them blame me for failing to guide the church correctly!"
As the Pope knelt, tears streaming down his face, Cardinal Tener Leiny, once known as the Pope's right-hand man, hurried over and covered the Pope with the discarded robes.
Then Leiny knelt before him.
"Your Holiness's mercy is witnessed by all. Please halt this spectacle. I, Tener, am deeply moved by your leadership today!"
Proclaiming loud enough for all to hear, eventually the Pope's left arm, Sam Freeman, and other panicked Cardinals followed suit, echoing the sentiment.
"Lead us once more!"
"The church needs Your Holiness's leadership!"
"Long live Julio Umberto the First!"
The scene was surreal, as if it were a tribunal for impeachment or a worship service. In the midst of the fanatical fervor, the old priest collapsed, covering his face with his hands.
"Without even commencing a real inquiry into his crimes. They have fallen for such tricks..."
Hearing his despondent voice, Illya stiffened her expression and stepped forward.
"Commander of the Holy Knights, as a Cardinal, I have a request."
At her proclamation, the gazes of Austin and the other Cardinals turned towards Illya.
"How dare you speak still!"
"Does your status as a Saintess absolve you of all wrongdoing!"
"Choose your words wisely!"
The Pope's faction's Cardinals bombarded her relentlessly; the Colosseum's crowds also joined in with their cries.
"Yeah! Silence!"
"Do you still have something to say!"
"Drag out the fake Saintess!"
However...
"I, too, stake my position and request, Commander Haman. Please consider the Saintess's appeal."
When Cardinal Austin supported Illya's appeal, the commotion momentarily subsided.
"If Cardinal Austin goes so far as to say that..."
"Still, he is..."
Illya might be an unfamiliar Saintess to the residents of the Holy City, but not to Austin—a revered old priest trusted more than even the divine stigmata.
This admiration towards Austin's life momentarily alleviated the tense atmosphere, which was on the brink of erupting into a riot. The crowd's attention was naturally drawn in one direction, but Commander Haman Killerbrew remained nonchalantly shaking his head amidst the thousands of gazes.
"The Holy Knights cannot interfere in the internal affairs of the church."
It was the type of response expected from someone reputed to be even more upright and rigid than Cardinal Austin. Yet Illya stood her ground.
"The Pope has a see-through bracelet on his right arm where the stigmata is. That is mimicking the stigmata. I request that you verify this with your sword, Commander. As a high-ranking temple official and a neutral party unrelated to this situation, only you can do this."
At those words, Haman's pupils couldn't help but waver. However, at that moment, the Pope's sighing voice rang out unusually clear.
"Ah, to have instilled such mistrust in the Saintess, truly my sins are great."
At his self-deprecating lament, the cardinals collectively shielded the Pope.
"How dare you speak such blasphemy!"
"How much more shame do you intend to bring to His Holiness!"
"We cannot allow this!"
Their expressions seemed almost insane. Haman furrowed his brow slightly at their excessive reaction.
"Commander, please..."
And just as Illya's words were about to continue—
Flash.
A divine beam of light emanated from Haman's body, swiftly covering the dozens of meters and deftly weaving through the cardinals to strike the Pope's right arm.
Neither the Pope, the cardinals who shielded him, nor even Illya, who made the request, expected Haman's action. If another aura user had been present, they would have been astonished by Haman's deft and extraordinary aura control. However, everyone gathered in the Colosseum was more focused on the outcome than Haman's skill.
Bang!
A sound as if something hard had struck, rather than a human arm. Instantly, the Pope's complexion changed, and the golden circle engraved on his right arm disappeared. In its place was a bracelet shining white, emitting a holy aura.
A vanished stigmata. A bracelet radiating divine power. When this shocking sight was revealed, a heavy silence descended over the Colosseum.
But only for a moment.
"I demand a retrial, adding charges of deceiving the Order, the priests, and the faithful for the crimes committed during the Pope's reign," Illya's clear voice shattered the silence.
"Deception, really?"
"The Pope deceived us!?"
"Unbelievable!"
"Then what is that bracelet!?"
Fanatics, unable to recover from the shock, sat blankly.
"Drag him out! Drag out that fraud!"
"Get rid of that fraud!"
"Yes! Kill him!"
Ordinary believers turned fanatical, causing a commotion. Amidst the chaos, Illya suddenly recalled Logan's words.
The Pope passed the saintly qualification test decades ago. That artifact or holy relic must have disguise abilities.
But that item cannot help but reveal its true form under external impact. Probably.
The word "probably" at the end was unsettling, but everything had fallen into place after all.
'How did Logan Majesty know that?'
That day, Pope Julio Umberto I was impeached, and all official external operations of the temple were paralyzed.