Chapter 108
Chapter 108
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 108
Chapter Title: Saintess of the Skies
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"A saintess...?"
The moment I heard the word saintess, the image that flashed through my mind was Lady Araidel. I'd never met her in person—only seen her portrait—so it wasn't as if we had any personal connection.
Still, were they recruiting saintesses like this these days? I couldn't understand why the pope of one of the continent's five major faiths—one who served Aldehir, one of the five great gods—would say something like that to Roca.
A quick glance around showed the cardinal looking dumbfounded, and all the Aldehir priests were stunned.
"...? Can I eat it?"
It seemed like an unexpected offer to Roca as well. The child hesitated before finally opening her mouth, uttering something perfectly childlike. Still, I didn't think our Roca was unaware of what the word saintess meant. She was just flustered.
...Right?
"Pope Foem, allow me one question."
"Ah, Your Eminence. Please, ask away. What piques your curiosity?"
"Would it really be acceptable for a saintess—one from one of the continent's five great churches—to be selected through such a simple process?"
"What's not to accept? If the gods approve, even a child wandering the streets can become a saintess."
The cardinal looked so caught off guard that his confusion was plain on his face.
It wasn't just him, either.
"Is that how it works?"
"You're a cardinal of our faith, and you didn't know that? A saintess isn't some grand position to begin with. No, it is important—but not as monumental as people imagine."
The pope clicked his tongue and continued.
"Creating a saint or saintess does take a toll on the gods, so they can't appoint just anyone. That's why they try to choose someone they truly favor."
"And among them, those three gods are especially peculiar. They select children who show promise from a young age, raise them, and appoint them as saints or saintesses once they're grown enough."
The pope declared this to the still-bewildered cardinal and the surrounding priests.
"Think about it. Does our church have saint or saintess candidates? The Three Gods Church does. It's just the preference of those above. The Three Main Gods and our god are different, so their saintesses differ from ours. Same name, but no comparable status."
"But why hide this until now? Shouldn't I have known?"
"Would you share even a single extra word with someone who whines constantly and calls you an old fogey at every turn? Have you ever even asked?"
Besides, there'd been no need to tell until now.
The pope said this, then turned back to Roca with a gentle gaze. Roca fidgeted and shrank back under that warm look.
For the child, that grandfatherly kindness seemed even harder to handle than teasing pranks. Like someone used to cold, stale food who couldn't swallow hot stew, she could barely meet the pope's eyes.
Thinking about it, ever since we met, I was the only one who'd treated her warmly. Not because the world was full of bad people, but because we'd been constantly on the move.
If we'd stayed in Larphentia, or if Roca and I had gone down to Pumpkin Vine Village,
she might have made other friends by now. But traveling around, getting tangled in one mess after another and meeting all sorts of people, we hadn't had the chance.
Roca wouldn't approach others warmly first, so others had to come to her—and finding someone with that kind of affinity wasn't easy.
At best, His Majesty the Emperor or Miss Rowena might approach her, but even they weren't the types to dote on her with warmth...
So when Roca looked to me like a chick seeking its mother hen, I just smiled. My expression said I fully supported whatever she decided.
"If I become a saintess... do I have to serve the god you serve, Your Holiness?"
"That's the biggest difference between our Aldehir Church and the Three Gods Church."
The child mumbled hesitantly before asking.
His Holiness smiled kindly and explained point by point.
"In the Three Gods Church, a saintess is the goddess's daughter—a family member. Not just saintesses; all priests call their gods 'mother' and practice their faith that way. In our Aldehir Church, well, just look at that gruff man over there snapping at me. Our relationships aren't so hierarchical."
"...So I don't have to believe?"
"We're people drawn together by our love of the heavens, coming to study the stars. Faith is already part of that heart, so our god asks for no more. Whether you believe or not doesn't matter to Him."
Ahem. Clearing his throat, he turned to Roca.
"Child. What's your name?"
"Roca. It's Roca."
"Roca. Good. Whether you believe or not, it makes no difference. The Heavenly God doesn't seek your heart, nor does He wish you to kneel."
The pope smiled and continued.
"He simply wants to make a deal with you. You're a child born with the mysteries of sun and moon, which is why the Heavenly God makes this offer."
Was he saying it would benefit both Roca and the Heavenly God if she became a saintess?
When the child couldn't respond, he chuckled softly. The pope traced the Heavenly God's holy symbol once and patted Roca's shoulder.
"Child, you don't have to answer right away. Take your time to think it over. These decisions aren't made on the spot. Whenever you have an answer, tell me or that gruff fellow."
"Um, if I become a saintess... what do I get?"
"Aldehir will grant you great divine power. Not as immense as what the Three Gods Church saintesses receive—enough to elevate an ordinary priest near to demigod status. Don't expect too much, but it'll be more than you imagine."
Roca pondered deeply before asking again.
"Then what do I give the Heavenly God?"
"Nothing. If you become His nominal follower, that's enough for Him. I don't know why He thinks that way, but this old believer has served the Heavenly God for a long time. Shall I share my thoughts?"
Roca nodded. The child perked up her ears, eyes wide, ready to listen. Meanwhile, preparations continued steadily.
"In my view, the Heavenly God has high hopes for your future, Roca. If you become truly great someday, Aldehir might grow even greater through your renown. I'm just an old stargazer, but I've met plenty of people in my time."
Ah, so that's it? Three Gods Church saintesses receive massive divine power from their goddess and become great overnight. But the Heavenly God had no intention of granting Roca that level of strength.
That method burdens the gods too much. That's probably why there's only one saintess per era in the Three Gods Church.
"But those who reach such lofty heights at your young age? I've seen scarcely any. Geniuses differ from the sprout, even more in the stem, and vastly in the branches. Some trees grow into mighty giants, while others stay so small and narrow they can't shelter a single person."
"Child, I suspect the Heavenly God sees that potential in you. Of course, this is just an old man's guess. Perhaps He favors the sun-and-moon mysteries you hold. Who knows? It's hard enough to understand people, let alone one born of wishes."
For Roca, this offer held no downsides—perhaps only upsides. Not every deal has one side gaining and the other losing.
Some transactions let everyone smile.
After hesitating, Roca asked politely once more.
"Um, one more thing?"
"Of course. What is it?"
"If I become a saintess... do I have to go to the Aldehir Church with you, Your Holiness?"
"Silly child. We have no house, no temple. Just a few airships."
The pope simply laughed heartily.
"Have you heard of Aldehir Church temples? We need a base like anyone else, but we don't stay fixed in one place. The sun moves, the clouds drift—why shouldn't people flow with them? Where in the world can you escape the sky? Anywhere under the heavens is a shrine to the Heavenly God."
"So... I can stay by Master's side?"
"You could even go beyond the skies, and it'd be fine. He might even prefer it."
His Holiness placed a hand on Roca's head as if she were his own granddaughter and stroked it. Roca looked awkward but didn't pull away. She didn't seem displeased.
"Take your time thinking it over and give me your answer. You don't have to accept. And..."
Soon, his gaze drifted slowly toward me.
A flash gleamed in his eyes for a moment. Beyond his pupils, for an instant, another pair shone through. I was almost certain. The one I'd just locked eyes with was someone far higher.
"Saint of the Ancient Gods."
Before I could speak, surprise crossed his face.
"Perhaps... even beyond that. I've never seen the Heavenly God so startled since the hair on my head grew. You're no resident of this land or sky—just a transient visitor."
"I greet you, Your Holiness. I am Kyle, priest of Hope."
"How strange. Hope is merely a human emotion, yet why does the one behind you claim it as His own? Perhaps in times like these, He takes that name to aid us."
Tilting his head, he extended a hand.
"Nergal Foem. I humbly serve as pope of the Aldehir Church. I'd love to hand over this post and spend my days stargazing, but the Heavenly God won't let me."
"I hear this airship belongs to the Aldehir Church. You've helped me in so many ways—I'm at a loss for how to thank you."
"We'll decide who owes thanks once it's over. I never even threw punches in my youth, and now in old age? My vision's going dark just thinking about it."
...Did I hear that right?
"Wait, hold on. Old man. What did you just say?"
"My ears are still sharp—why's a young fellow going deaf already? I plan to throw down with that Phoenix beast or whatever it is. Why?"
"Have you lost your... No, you're the pope? Since when do popes charge to the front lines? Our church has no holy knights, so priests fight, sure, but..."
Tsk. He clicked his tongue and scolded.
"Omen. I'm no spring chicken. Even filled with the Heavenly God's divine power, I'm still human. Aging slows, but it comes inevitably. With death nearing and so much power in this body, am I to take it to the grave? No."
"You're going too, Your Holiness?"
Roca's eyes went wide. The child faltered, unable to continue.
"That's..."
"In times like these, we're all facing death's door. If an old man like me—who's lived his fill—turns tail in fear, won't everyone scatter like a ragtag mob and turn on each other? Child, clerics don't fear death. If they do, it's others' deaths, not their own."
The cardinal, unable to speak, let out a deep sigh.
"Very well. We'll all board the airship and go. We all die together, or we all survive. One or the other. Either way, our fates are tied to every citizen of the Republic."
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