Chapter 165: The Church's Grace
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 165: The Church's Grace
“Sion. Are you awake?”
“Cough. Leah...? Where am I...?”
“You’re in the infirmary. It’s already been two days since we resurrected you.”
“Two days...?”
“Yes. You didn’t wake up during that time. In the meantime, recruitment for the 2nd Strategy Team has begun. The Labyrinth City Council has appointed you as the manager of the Underground City, and they’ve honored the Saintess as a hero of the city.”
“Ah, I see.”
The Saintess was still alive.
However, it seemed that during the two days I was asleep, they had already declared her deceased and hailed her as a hero.
Since things had turned out this way, the fact that the Saintess’s soul still remained here had to be kept a secret, known only to a very small number of people, including myself.
“I understand for now. Ugh...”
“I’ll help you up.”
“Yes... thank you.”
With Lady Leah’s support, I barely managed to stand.
“The news of the Demon King’s defeat will spread far and wide. Moira said the Labyrinth City’s period of stagnation will soon come to an end.”
“That would be good. Cough.”
“Here. Drink this first.”
“What is this?”
“It’s a tonic for recovering vitality that the Alchemist Guild Master left behind. He said you’ll feel better after drinking it.”
“My, how kind of him to give me something like this.”
The brownish liquid tasted incredibly bitter and disgusting, but after emptying the bottle, I felt vitality surging through my body.
It tasted awful, but the effect was certain—unlike Lafnel’s products, which tasted good but came with side effects.
“Ah, I need to bring out the remains of the fallen...”
“People have been waiting for that. You’re the one holding the remains of the Saintess and the other warriors.”
“That’s true. Let’s go right away.”
“Okay. I’ll go call Rosier. It’ll be faster if she carries you.”
“Yes. By the way, where is Yuria?”
“Yuria is at the Council right now. She’s likely reporting on the situation at the time.”
“Underground, then.”
I sat on a chair in the infirmary and waited for a moment until Rosier entered the room with Lady Leah.
“Sion! Are you alright?”
“Yes. I’m not exactly... perfect, but I’ve been resurrected properly for now.”
“Ah, what a relief. The Bishop said that in recognition of your contribution to this operation, the fee for the resurrection will be waived.”
“Really?”
“Yes. The two free resurrections you received during the last campaign against the heretics remain intact. He said this one is free to celebrate the successful pacification of the Underground City. Apparently, all the deceased from this raid team will receive similar treatment. He said, ‘All those who fought against the Demon King are heroes.’”
“Well, that’s news everyone will be happy to hear.”
“Indeed. Shall I carry you for now?”
“Yes, please.”
I was carried on Rosier’s back and transported to the Church.
“Hey! Are you that porter?”
“Are you the one who pacified the Underground City!?”
“Sion! Do you remember me? We entered the Labyrinth together before!”
On the way to the Church, people who recognized me flocked around and tried to talk to me. They couldn’t break through the ironclad defense of Rosier, the interrogator, but they all crowded in to get a closer look at me.
It felt like I had become a star.
“Everyone will probably recognize you now.”
Just as Lady Leah said, a massive crowd gathered to see me.
It seemed they regarded me as one of the heroes who brought a new wind to the Labyrinth City, which had been stagnant since the Great Cataclysm.
“Pacifying the Underground City is an unprecedented miracle in the Labyrinth City, so it’s only natural.”
“I didn’t do it alone.”
“Even so, it remains a fact that you are one of the individuals who made the greatest contribution. You will likely receive the greatest reward, along with the Saintess.”
Hearing about a reward made me feel a bit better.
I did go through hell, after all. I almost died once while summoning the Three Villainesses.
I also almost died when the Demon King appeared. I believe I improvised well as the situation changed rapidly.
Thanks to the Saintess laying down the Sanctuary, I was able to use the Spirit Summon Scroll, and that prevented a total wipeout.
“The hero has arrived!”
As we entered the Church, Raphael welcomed me with a bright smile.
“The hero is here! The warriors of the Underground City have returned!”
At Raphael’s shout, the priests of the Church began to move busily. It seemed they had become incredibly busy since they had to receive the remains and perform resurrections.
“We must resurrect nearly seventy deceased! Everyone, get ready!”
“That person is...”
“That is the Archbishop. He came to receive the Saintess’s remains.”
He looked like someone with considerable Divine Power at a glance. He also looked strangely young.
Perhaps he had slightly evaded the ravages of time thanks to the Goddess’s blessing.
“Nice to meet you, I am Silas. You must be Sion?”
“Yes. I am Sion.”
“Good. As a top priority, could you place the Saintess, the Tower Lord, and the Druid Club President here on the Altar of Resurrection?”
“Yes.”
Among the fallen, these three were the most important assets.
“Saintess...”
When I first took out the Saintess and placed her on the altar, the Archbishop looked at her with a sorrowful expression.
“Resurrection will be impossible. Raphael.”
“Yes, Archbishop.”
“Please place the Saintess’s remains in the preservation room. We must hold a funeral so she can enter her eternal rest.”
“Understood, Archbishop.”
Raphael placed the Saintess’s body on a transport tray and moved toward the basement.
“Next are the Tower Lord and the Druid Club President.”
“Very well. Everyone, we must resurrect these two first.”
Afterward, I took out the bodies of the dead adventurers from my inventory and handed them all over to the Church.
“Thank you. If it weren’t for you, Sion, we wouldn’t have been able to bring them all back.”
“It was nothing. This is my role, after all.”
“I am grateful. Because of this, the Pope himself wishes to personally bestow a reward. If you’re feeling up to it, would you like to go see the Pope now? Of course, you don’t have to go right this moment. The Pope told us to accommodate your convenience as much as possible. We will match your schedule. If you have urgent business, you may finish that first.”
I had been summoned by the Pope.
Normally, it would be standard to be called in immediately, but this time, it seemed the Pope had ordered them to be as accommodating as possible.
However, even if they were being accommodating, not going immediately would be a breach of etiquette. If the head of an organization calls for you and you say you have other things to do first, it would be a blow to their prestige.
“I’ll go right away.”
“Thank you. You there, Rosier.”
“Yes, Archbishop.”
“Could you and the adventurer next to you wait here for a moment? The Pope wishes for a private audience.”
“Understood. We shall do so.”
Rosier agreed immediately.
However, Lady Leah asked the Archbishop with a slightly anxious look.
“Um... is a private audience absolutely necessary?”
“There is no need to worry. The Pope didn’t call him to ask for something unreasonable.”
“Ah... okay.”
She was probably worried that something might happen to me while I was in poor condition.
Even if it was a Church that believed in a god and preached benevolence, it wasn’t as if they were entirely without their dark side.
“It’ll be fine, My Lady.”
“Okay. I’ll be waiting.”
“Then, let us go. You there, Raymond.”
“Yes! Archbishop!”
“Could you carry Sion?”
“Understood!”
I was carried on the back of a sturdy-looking combat priest into the Deepest Part of the Church where the Pope was. This was a place I had never entered before.
—I wonder what the Pope is up to.
‘Saintess, were you awake?’
—I’ve been awake since we entered the Church.
‘I see...’
—The Pope must be very troubled right now by my death. No matter how much he treated me as a tool, the Church’s strongest sword has been broken. He won’t be at peace.
‘Should I tell him that your soul is with me?’
—I’m not sure. It’s hard to guess how the Pope will react. His ultimate goal is, after all, the survival of the Church. He’s the type who wouldn’t care if the Labyrinth City fell as long as the Church remained intact. He might even try to claim ownership over me.
‘Even if that goes against the Goddess’s will?’
—Yes. Even if it goes against the Goddess’s will. Because the Pope’s duty is to take responsibility for the Church’s future. The Goddess’s spokesperson is the Saintess. Or a Saint. The Pope is not the Goddess’s spokesperson. His position is one that carries the burden of the Church’s future and takes responsibility for the revival of the Goddess Church.
‘I see...’
He wasn’t someone who moved according to the Goddess’s will.
Literally, as the head of the Church, the Pope was a figure who staked everything on the survival of the Goddess Church.
“Your Holiness. I have brought him.”
At Archbishop Silas’s words, the door to the Pope’s office soon opened.
“Come in. Over here.”
As expected, the Pope was a very old man.
He looked to be at least eighty years old. Also, his eyes were half-closed.
“Raymond and Silas, you may leave now.”
“Understood. We will be waiting nearby.”
“Yes, yes.”
At the Pope’s expulsion order, the Archbishop and the combat priest who had carried me left the office.
“This is the first time we’ve had a private audience.”
“Greetings, Your Holiness.”
“How is your body?”
“Thanks to the Goddess’s grace, I am perfectly fine.”
“Hehehe.”
At my answer, the Pope opened his half-closed eyes.
Unlike his outward appearance, the Pope’s eyes were sharp and intelligent.
It felt as if he were seeing through everything.
Was that an Ability? Or was it the Goddess’s blessing?
The important thing was that the Pope had read both me and the Saintess first.
“A long introduction won’t be necessary. I’ll get straight to the point. Thanks to the Goddess’s grace, I am aware that Saintess Freya has now become a Messenger of God. Is that correct?”
“....”
“Do not be surprised. I have merely read the revelation. First, is what I’ve read correct?”
“Yes... the Saintess is with me. And according to the Goddess’s will, I intend to put her into the body of an Ice Snow Bird.”
“I see. An Ice Snow Bird. What does Freya think? Does she agree?”
“Yes. Freya also agreed.”
“Good. That is enough. She has suffered quite a bit.”
The Pope gave a benevolent smile.
At the same time, he took a small wooden box from his robe and handed it to me.
“However. For an individual to possess a former Saintess and current Messenger of God... that is a bit problematic.”
“This is...”
“Open the box.”
“Yes...”
When I opened the box, there was a badge engraved with the Church’s emblem inside.
“I know that you, Sion, do not belong anywhere. But you won’t be able to do that anymore. As long as you have a Messenger of God with you, you must become a member of the Goddess Church. I believe you understand what I mean.”
It was too great a blessing for a single individual to possess.
So, it meant I shouldn’t refuse and should become part of the Church.
“Are there duties and responsibilities?”
“There are no heavy duties and responsibilities like those of the interrogators. Instead, from now on, you must let the public know that you are a believer in the Goddess Church and a faithful follower of the Church. Regardless of whether you actually worship the Goddess or not.”
“I understand what you mean.”
“I am grateful that you understand my intent so quickly. It seems you don’t have any other god you believe in?”
“Yes. I don’t have any particular religion.”
“That is a relief. I was worried about what kind of backlash there might be if you had to convert. It’s a good thing.”
If I really had been following another religion, there would have been quite a bit of friction. But since I was irreligious, it was fine.
“By the way, do I have to wear this badge all the time?”
“Not all the time, but it would be good to wear it during important events or when you’re seeing many people. And starting today, I will likely announce the fact that you have joined the Goddess Church. So, I would like you to act like a member of the faith.”
“I understand. I will do so.”
“Good. Here, this is the real reward. It is the greatest sincerity the Church can offer you. Take it.”
“This is...”
The second wooden box contained a seal.
“It is a seal with authority equal to, or perhaps slightly less than, that of an interrogator. You will be able to draft up to ten combat priests or healers from the Church. Also, all use of treatment facilities will become free. And once a month, you can use ten bottles of high-grade holy water at your discretion. Furthermore, you can designate one Bishop-level priest to take with you wherever you want. You will also have access to all Church facilities. There are many other benefits, so you can discover them in time.”
“....Is it alright to give me something like this?”
“Think of it as a kind of investment. By conquering the Underground City, you have proven your value. From the Church’s perspective, you are someone we must establish a connection with. It might be a very blunt expression, but it is the truth.”
“Thank you, Your Holiness.”
“It was nothing. I would like to give you more, but the Church’s situation is quite chaotic due to the loss of the Saintess. Will you understand?”
“Of course. Long live the Goddess Church!”
“Hahahaha. You are a more interesting person the more I see you. I hope we can maintain a close relationship in the future.”
“I look forward to it as well, Your Holiness.”
Since the Pope reached out his hand, I politely bowed and shook it.
This is a total jackpot. He’s giving me this much authority?
My mind is already spinning at the thought of picking out clergy members to use.
—You’re probably the first person to become friendly with the Pope this quickly.
I grinned at Freya’s words.
If you can help each other out in a business sense, you’re bound to get close quickly.
First, should I pick out a Bishop to take with me?
I need talent. Talent that will roll around in the Underground City with me!