79
Chapter 79
Dominic gathered everyone and revealed the truth.
What he had witnessed earlier.
The atrocities committed by Cardinal Karon and the clergy belonging to the Great Temple.
However, most of the people showed signs of disbelief even after hearing the story.
Thinking about it, that was only natural.
Even evil deeds have a certain line that shouldn't be crossed.
What Karon had done was far beyond the realm of common understanding.
Moreover, Cardinal Karon's reputation had been quite good.
Even if Dominic had told his past self from yesterday this same story, he would never have believed it.
"Isn't there some kind of misunderstanding? No matter what, how could a person commit such a horrific act..."
"He must not have feared divine punishment."
Dominic replied thus to the Archbishop.
Cardinal Karon certainly wouldn't have feared something like divine retribution.
No, perhaps he didn't even believe in the existence of God in the first place.
Otherwise, he couldn't have committed such atrocities in God's name.
"But... then what about the Stigma? There's no way God would bestow such a mighty Stigma upon someone who committed such deeds."
A white-haired Cardinal of advanced age asked the question.
That was certainly a valid point.
If Cardinal Karon had truly committed such horrific acts as Dominic claimed, receiving a Stigma—a symbol of God's favor—would be strange indeed.
But Dominic thought he understood.
The true nature of that Stigma.
How someone who didn't even worship God could wield such powerful miracles.
"That... was probably transplanted from someone else."
"What on earth are you talking about? Something like that couldn't possibly..."
"Yes, of course transplanting a Stigma is realistically impossible. You can transfer it, but most of its power would be lost."
A sudden concession.
The white-haired old man looked puzzled for a moment... then was soon struck with horror.
The Cardinal's face went pale in an instant.
The reason was quite simple.
The person who had overseen operations in the Republic.
For someone that capable, it would have been stranger if they couldn't grasp the hidden meaning in Dominic's words.
"There were probably countless sacrifices."
If you forcefully transplant a Stigma, most of its power is lost.
Furthermore, since Stigmas often fuse with the body's Mana Circuits, attempting to forcibly extract them would cost the person's life nine times out of ten.
It wasn't for nothing that the Holy See had deemed Stigma transplantation impossible.
But... that horrific human being had thought it through.
That it wasn't a problem.
That it was just a matter of making up for it with sheer numbers.
Even if only one-hundredth of the power was transferred during transplantation.
No, even if only one-thousandth was transmitted.
The idea that you simply needed to "use" that many humans to solve the problem.
Everyone's faces were stained with horror.
They had all realized it to some extent.
That what Dominic was saying wasn't a lie.
Or perhaps, everyone had suspected it from the very beginning.
Because in truth, everyone would want to deny it.
That such horrific things were done by the hands of those who had sworn to follow God.
Dominic understood that feeling as well.
But even so, he couldn't help them escape from reality.
Because the Black Saint had spoken.
To face their sins.
Those words were surely left for this very moment.
Dominic brought them to the Special Education Room and showed them.
What had happened here.
The utterly horrific truth.
Some couldn't endure the nauseating sight and threw up, while others simply shed endless tears.
There were also those who condemned these vile acts with furious voices.
But that was merely the beginning.
The facilities underground.
The more they toured those places, the more they confirmed what had happened there.
Their expressions only grew darker and darker. It couldn't be helped.
Gathering innocent children who had committed no crime.
Torturing them in every possible way while forcing them to praise God, all to extract Divine Power.
Taking that Divine Power—which should have been used to heal people and vanquish evil—and processing it with the Emperor's power to create objects called Holy Grails.
The byproducts generated during that series of processes.
The souls of children, steeped in curses directed at the Holy See.
Karon called them waste, binding them together and imprisoning them so they couldn't leave this world.
Having killed them so painfully, he didn't release the children even in death.
According to the journal, he planned to eventually make use of even those through experiments.
Atrocities so horrific that it was hard to believe they were committed by a fellow human being.
On top of that, research data on Demonization, and various experiments perpetrated on innocent civilians.
The more they dug, the more horrific things kept coming to light.
It was only natural that God was so enraged.
How could He stay silent upon seeing such horrific acts carried out in His name.
Only now did Dominic feel he could somewhat understand the words He had spoken.
-You do not know the most blasphemous sin you have committed.
The words that punishment was therefore impossible.
That was surely what He had been talking about.
"......."
Beneath the Great Temple.
After facing all the truths that awaited them there.
A chilling silence hung among them.
There was nothing they could say. There was simply no room for excuses.
Were they innocent simply because they were unaware?
They knew the Holy See's corruption was severe, but they didn't know such horrific acts were being committed?
Something like that would never serve as an indulgence.
If they had truly followed God's teachings.
If they had strived to eradicate all injustice.
They would have realized such atrocities were happening much sooner.
This was something that could have been prevented.
Failing to do so was entirely their own responsibility.
Their blasphemy in ignoring God's teachings had brought about this outcome.
-First, face your sins. Once you confront them, you will naturally learn of the punishment I shall inflict upon you.
The Saint had certainly spoken those words.
But no matter how long they waited, He did not appear.
He did not stand before them to command what they must do for atonement.
He did not punish them.
Everyone's faces were dyed in despair as they realized the meaning behind this.
God had spoken.
That there was no 'punishment' to be inflicted upon them.
That no punishment could ever wash away their sins.
That this was the weight of the sins they had committed.
Without punishment, there could be no atonement.
That He would never forgive them, not for all eternity.
Dominic looked around.
The faces of the people all revealed horrific guilt and despair.
Abandoned by God.
They had committed an irreversible sin, and thus were forsaken by God.
For the clergy, there could be nothing more horrific than that.
So it was no wonder they all sat collapsed on the floor with vacant expressions.
Even Dominic himself felt like he was hopelessly falling apart.
His entire life up until now.
With his whole life being negated, he felt like he would lose his will to live at any moment.
But.......
He couldn't let that happen.
It simply wasn't an option.
Of that much, he was absolutely certain.
That was why Dominic fiercely slapped his own cheeks with both hands.
He had to gather his wits. He couldn't afford to give up in a situation like this.
Dominic shouted at the people with a loud voice.
"What are you all doing right now!"
A sudden scolding.
Naturally, everyone's gazes converged on him.
"I know it too. That God no longer wants us."
No matter how much they regretted it, that fact wouldn't change.
They could no longer even call themselves clergy.
Nevertheless, Dominic continued speaking.
"Still, that doesn't give us a reason to just sit here like this."
It was only natural.
Even if they were no longer clergy, even if God didn't want them.
"We must not turn a blind eye to our sins."
They couldn't just pretend they hadn't committed those sins.
"If you are a human being, at the very least, you must take responsibility. You must take responsibility for the sins you have committed."
It was the same even if they were no longer clergy.
This was a duty that any human being ought to fulfill.
"...Do not run away from your sins."
Dominic said those words and looked at everyone.
And.......
The white-haired elderly Cardinal was the first to rise from his seat.
Saying that he wanted to pretend he hadn't heard it, wanted to ignore it, but...
That those words were still right.
Even though they had turned a blind eye to what was right all along.
He said that was precisely why they had to strive to do what was right now.
Hearing those words, everyone fell into thought.
Everyone was thinking as they reflected on their own pasts. About what choice they should make.
At this very moment,
About what decision they had to make.
And... the answer was already set in stone.
It couldn't be helped.
They had faced their sins. They had experienced its weight.
They knew just how horrific of an experience it was.
Because of that, they couldn't repeat the same mistakes.
They couldn't turn a blind eye to the right thing to do.
They stood up.
Not as clergy, but as sinners.
Just as foolish human beings.
A secret society following Black Fang.
It was the moment the 'Fool's Society' was born.