The pope, waking early before dawn, a ti when everyone is supposed to be asleep, made his way to the church's confessional.
Those who know his actions would say that he cannot overlook even the smallest of sins, but the truth is a bit different. It is not that Cardinal Cesare doesn't repent.
He always considers himself a sinner and therefore offers his daily apologies to the heavens.
Though he knows his actions are wrong, he prays, asking that he be sent to hell for the things he must continue doing.
So, what is different?
What is different is what happens after he finishes his repentance.
Cardinal Cesare does not leave the confessional imdiately after his repentance.
Instead, he approaches the sacred statue, placing the necklace blessed by the great Lord against it.
He looks directly at his own sins, faces them, and prepares to fall into hell.
"I did not expect to see you like this, Cardinal Cesare."
As the man most aware of his own sins, Cesare could not help but freeze upon seeing the saint's face at the entrance, along with the necklace of the hero hanging from her neck.
The fact that soone with the Lord's divinity was visiting ant that all his sins had been exposed.
"...This is indeed unexpected. It’s the sa for , Saint."
There was no room for excuses, but that was fine. No problem. He had never planned to make excuses anyway.
"How could you, such a devout person, commit such a deed?"
"It pleases greatly that you call devout, Saint. So, I will answer, albeit imperfectly. It is because of my devotion."
If he had only had a shallow faith, he might never have thought of committing such sins.
If he had been as evil as those who died below, he would not have struggled with such thoughts.
It was because he was devout, because he had decided to dedicate everything to the Lord, that he chose sin.
"I must tell you in advance, I will not step back quietly."
Lately, the reputation of the saint had grown imnsely.
Even those who would not normally be allowed in the holy land were now being welcod.
Thus, if she were to step in and veto his actions, it would cause a great disturbance.
But this was sothing Cesare had foreseen. He knew that, as long as she carried the Lord's divinity, this problem was inevitable.
Even after being caught, he had prepared for it.
Even if she had now beco the true saint, that would not change her birth.
Foolishly, those clinging to the past would be abundant.
He could use that to drag out the ti as much as he wanted.
"Are you trying to rationalize it that way?"
When Cesare saw the knight erge from the shadows, he couldn’t help but fall silent. The knight, as white as a snowfield in the morning, was the embodint of Cesare’s sin.
"Ruel...?"
How could the puppet that had been destroyed by the pope still be intact? Was it the saint’s doing?
"What difference does it make if you keep repeating that it was sothing you had to do? Evil is still evil, wrong is still wrong, sin is still sin."
Even in an era of unparalleled chaos, the words of one who had maintained righteousness carried imnse weight.
Thus, Cesare could not easily counter.
What he believed to be right, what he had been certain would never waver, he could not bring himself to speak out about.
"Do you know why you hesitate to answer now?"
The silence was broken by Ruel’s puppet, no, by Ruel himself.
"Because that is not your true conviction."
"No, I am standing here entirely of my own will."
"Then tell . Tell that you are right. That your sin was inevitable! Speak it proudly!"
Cesare had not simply agreed with the pope’s words out of a light heart. It was not easy for soone who had always hoped to be cradled in the Lord's arms to choose hell for himself.
And yet, Cesare could not respond because the one confronting him was none other than Ruel.
Had it been another cardinal standing before him, Cesare would have likely argued with him, even if it was the saint whom he had recently co to acknowledge. He would not have been so taken aback, even if the pope had criticized him.
But the man before him was different. His words carried the weight of soone who had chosen to beco a holy knight in an age when the gods and humans were inseparable.
"How dare you speak of sin when you, who could not even be sure of your own conviction, relied on others' beliefs!"
The weight on his shoulders was so heavy that Cesare could not even lift his lips.
"Cesare."
It was then. A voice, warm as the sun, reached Cesare’s ear.
"I may not be perfect, but I am the one called the saint. If you truly wish to repent, I will listen to your story."
Upon hearing her gentle voice, Cesare unconsciously stepped back.
The weight he had felt earlier now seed to press upon him, and the light pouring from the saint clarified the darkness he had carried in his heart. His feelings of guilt, long buried, filled his heart.
"Ahhh..."
Cesare tried to resist the light, but in the end, he failed.
Grandpa and Garad were sitting on their knees, chatting nonchalantly while watching Cesare tearfully confess everything, but I couldn’t stand watching it.
At first, I had expected Grandpa, the old man, to whine like "Mama~," pull Feivy into his arms, and hug her, but this reality was far too biblical!
Feivy told Cesare that his sin was great, but the great Lord embraced even that sin. And He gave him the chance to confess his sins. Cesare, overwheld with guilt, wept as he confessed. I thought that’s what should happen!
So boring!
‘I already know that!’
Ah~ how embarrassing! You cry over sothing like this at your age? So pathetic~! Or, "Ah, you ca to escape from reality, huh? Pathetic~!" That’s the kind of thing they’d say in a confessional! Who would like that!
Forget it! Soone would like it! Originally, it would turn into a place where perverts gather instead of what was intended!
‘I’ll make you pay for this!’
Damn it! Normally, we couldn’t stand each other, but now, we’re on the sa page! Is this what being comrades ans!? Annoying!
While I was bickering with the two old n, Feivy finished convincing Cesare.
I couldn’t fully trust him, but at least he was no longer under the pope’s control.
"You really brought your friends here because of this place? I didn’t expect that."
Cesare, who now greeted us politely unlike when we first t, answered Feivy’s question respectfully, though there wasn’t much useful information.
"I’ve been in contact with His Majesty consistently, but I do not know his exact location."
"I know about His Majesty’s plans, but because of the vows binding , it’s difficult to speak about it."
"I apologize. Those under His Majesty are subordinate to him, and I cannot..."
Let correct myself.
There was no useful information.
Even though he was an insider, I knew more than he did.
The parts he couldn’t speak due to the vows? I probably knew more about them.
It was good to have a collaborator with the title of cardinal, but...
How do I put it? Honestly, this guy is useless!
When he was an enemy in the ga, he was far more difficult! Is this the rule of weakening allies!?
"I should resign from all positions imdiately, but it seems there are still things I can do for the saint. Once everything is over, I will humbly accept my punishnt."
In conclusion, this situation had worked out in many ways.
My divinity had been largely restored, I had gained a new ally in the church, and I also gave Feivy the necklace.
Although I was frustrated that the cardinal was useless, that was an unexpected bonus, so I couldn’t complain too much.
After parting with my friends, I moved to the Arln mansion, thinking about the next step.
Now, I would rest for a day, then visit the place where the hero’s puppet was kept, and after that, go straight to the island. That was my plan.
"Where the hell are you running off to?"
An unexpected guest arrived at the Arln mansion, causing a problem.
"Is it fun to wander around with your friends, sticking the word ‘fool’ to your nickna?"
Rene, whom I had parted ways with, seed indifferent despite Benedict glaring at from behind.
How bold can she be? If that troll is showing this much hostility, wouldn’t it be normal for her to be at least a little scared?
"That was a foolish question. You must have enjoyed it. You’re the type to forget the conversations we had, aren’t you? I must have been erased from your mind in a single day."
Wow. She says it with a blank face, but the emotions behind her words are so naked.
It’s not just damp—it’s the kind of dampness you get from a basent full of mold during the rainy season!
To put it simply, it’s uncomfortable!
"I’ve been thinking a lot since that day when I left in anger. It’s just that I can’t stand suffering alone. I’m the type who can’t bear to take a loss by myself."
"Blah, blah, you talk a lot. Do you want to apologize? Should I say 'Sorry~'?"
"I don’t need such an apology. I just want to make you uncomfortable."
Her laughter, as she spoke of her desire to make as angry as she was, gave chills like dark broth.
"Die!"
When I saw the fox’s kick hit Rene’s cheek, everything else beca insignificant.
"Hahaha! How’s that! You perverted bastard! This is the hamr of justice!"
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