Never Even Heard the Goddess's Voice
Never Even Heard the Goddess's Voice
For wounds to form and then heal.
Bishop-nim immediately knelt down on the spot and clasped his hands in front of me, with tears welling up in his eyes.
"Oh, Lord..."
He looked as if he was praying to God, and I was simply bewildered.
"P-Please, get up."
So, after quickly helping him up, I tried to return to the guest room, but even when I urged him to stand, he let out a half-sobbing voice and began to bow his head as if weeping.
"N-No one else possesses such power...! Yet, how dare I doubt you? Please forgive my sins..."
"I-I'm fine. Please get up."
After finally persuading the bishop to stand up, he seemed at a loss. The bishop, clad in white with a light green stole, looked around nervously then picked up a rosary from the spot and placed it firmly in my hand.
"This rosary was made from precious rosewood and earnestly prayed over to God. It holds power, so please accept it."
I, who had accepted it dazedly, stared blankly at the rosary and let out a groan.
More than that, the mention of it holding power... I wondered if it wasn't just the Saintess who could use some kind of power, so I cautiously opened my mouth.
"Um, excuse me, may I ask you something?"
"Yes, I will answer anything."
Despite his advanced age, the bishop's subservient attitude towards me, as if I were his superior and he his subordinate, was not entirely welcome.
Perhaps it was because I came from a country steeped in Confucian thought, but knowing he was an elder, the fact that I could instantly occupy a superior position simply because I had become the Saintess didn't quite resonate with me.
Still, I hadn't opened my mouth to discuss such things, so I set aside my discomfort and burden and decided to ask what I could hear.
"...What do you believe the power of prayer stems from?"
Rather than vaguely stating, "I can't gain any power through prayer," I continued speaking in the form of a question.
This was to avoid suspicion that I lacked faith, should I reveal that my prayers had no effect and held no power.
Anyway, when I posed the question, he hesitated, letting out an "Ah," then finally opened his mouth.
"I, Bishop Rochentio, believe that the power of prayer stems from faith. If I am mistaken in my thinking, please correct me."
"...No. There is nothing different at all."
While his exaggerated response was burdensome, I felt as if I was testing him, so I figured there was nothing I could do but give a vague answer, thinking it was unavoidable.
Leaving Bishop Rochentio reassured, I was able to solidify my thoughts.
First, I understood why my ordinary prayers had yielded no results.
After realizing that it was because my prayers lacked faith, only a sigh escaped my lips.
What exactly is a prayer full of faith? If it only arises from believing in God from the bottom of one's heart, then perhaps it's impossible for me?
Or, since I now know that God definitely exists, will I, who was an atheist, also come to believe in God enough to offer prayers?
Unable to understand, I let out a groan and lowered my head.
I, who had been incompetent, felt like I had made a little progress, which was a relief.
As I tried to think of the next question, Kylon, who was likely waiting outside, came to mind.
When I wondered, "What was he looking for again?" the next question immediately formed on my lips.
"Pope-nim, where is he?"
The bishop, upon hearing that question, paused, groaned, then shook his head.
"I don't know either. Other bishops followed him, but his whereabouts have been unknown since then, so I... However, if Pope-nim does not return as things stand, we plan to proceed with you, Saintess-nim, becoming the next Pope."
Huh?
The next Pope? What is he talking about?
I tried to clear my dazed mind by furrowing my glabellum several times, but the word sounded so unfamiliar to me that I could only stare at the bishop as he continued speaking.
"Originally, Saintess-nim is like a comet, appearing at an unknown time and place. To be loved by God means exactly that: to be a leader who will guide us to God."
"W-Wait a moment... Then, the current Pope-nim too?"
"Yes, that is correct. However, one day, after he left for a pilgrimage, having received a divine calling, he has not returned... And news of his whereabouts suddenly ceased, making it impossible to know."
So, either the Pope secretly met with someone, or he disappeared due to some incident during his pilgrimage.
Whether it was kidnapping or death, the truth remained completely unknown.
"H-How long has it been?"
"About, half a year..."
The Saintess, being originally favored by God, either immediately became the Pope, or, if the position was already filled, seemed to wait for her time as the next Pope.
So, with the Pope currently absent and all communication cut off, it seemed they were considering making me the next Pope.
Of course, if I became the next Pope, I would gain power.
But I didn't want to.
I had a goal of reaching the ending and returning home, and that would be achieved by helping Kylon.
It had been six months since the Pope disappeared. It was clear that Kylon wouldn't be able to get anything he wanted here.
If I couldn't voice my grievances by borrowing the Pope's power, I could become the Pope and strike down the King, but the moment a victim becomes a judge, it would be impossible to deliver an objective judgment. I also thought that if I acted that way, negative attention might gather behind me.
That would only hold Kylon back.
Even if I did something, I had to be mindful of how others perceived it.
Kylon was the Hero, and he needed to make it known to the world that what he did was not injustice but justice, and at the same time, win the hearts of the heroines with it.
"I see. Well then, I'll be going."
Anyway, realizing there was no more information to be gained here, I made to turn around.
But what stopped me was the bishop's voice.
"W-Wait a moment. There's something I wish to ask as well...!"
"What is it?"
"Why did Saintess-nim not reveal herself to us sooner...? Is it the Goddess's wish that we, who have lost the Pope, can no longer be trusted?"
His voice was so earnest, and the fear that they might now be abandoned was palpable beyond his words, which made my heart ache for no reason.
The sight of a man who had dedicated his entire life not to a woman, but to the Goddess, could be said to be incredibly beautiful, regardless of his appearance.
"Perhaps that is what a servant of God looks like," I thought, and then cautiously opened my mouth so as not to hurt his feelings.
"No. I've never even heard of such a wish."
In the first place, I had never even heard the Goddess's voice.
But even so, if they heard my voice, my words, as those of the Goddess's proxy, I could at least play the part.
"She merely sent a trial. So, please help me find him. Find out where Pope-nim is."
"Yes, yes...! I will do so! And please accept this as well."
What he offered was a piece of paper.
He was a person of high standing who would likely only possess neat books and papers, yet this one was crumpled.
Wondering what it was, I carefully unfolded the paper.
And I quickly realized it was a map.
"This is a map with the pilgrimage route drawn on it. The last red mark indicates where contact was lost. We will do our best on our end, but I hope this resolves Saintess-nim's questions."
"...Thank you."
After saying that, I left him behind and walked away, listening to the click-clack of my low heels.
When I burst the door open and came out, Kylon, who had been fidgeting nervously, sprang to his feet upon seeing me.
But knowing well where we were, he didn't immediately speak to me.
Knowing that his expression showed he had a lot to say, I merely let out a small laugh.
"...Let's go."
*
After leaving the mansion where the bishops resided, I checked that there were few people around, then glanced at Kylon, who had started pestering me with questions beside me.
"What did you do in there? You didn't tell them you weren't a v-virgin, did you? What on earth did you even talk about to make things like this? I haven't even asked what I wanted to ask yet."
Seeing Kylon, who seemed full of worries, my head began to throb.
Of course, I knew it would be hard for him to understand, since I had suddenly left the bishop's mansion without any explanation, but still, he was too noisy.
Eventually, at his incessant, rapid-fire questions, I had no choice but to speak.
Of course, I spoke about what he would be curious about, rather than the difficult-to-explain method of discerning a Saintess.
"...Pope-nim isn't here."
"W-Well, I could pretty much figure that out."
At my blunt words, he grunted and mumbled.
I glanced at him and continued speaking.
"He went on a pilgrimage, and it's already been six months since contact was lost."
"......"
Kylon immediately fell silent at my words, and leaned in to hear the story I had just shared with the bishop.