Chapter 3. Faith and Status (8)
Chapter 3. Faith and Status (8)
"Eek!?"
While following the Cardinal, I let out that shriek before I knew it.
Ria, walking beside me, had poked me in the ribs again.
Sophie and several clergy walking ahead turned to look at me, so I quickly covered my mouth with both hands.
I shot Ria a resentful look, but she just giggled and pressed herself close to my side.
......Hm.
Even if we do share a room, having her stick this close to me is a little overwhelming.
It's not that I dislike it. I like pretty women too, and I like women with nice figures even more. Ria was a bit young for my tastes, but that didn't mean I disliked her. Age is just a matter of a few more years, isn't it?
A minor...... well, legally speaking, as of this year she is an adult, technically.
But even so, unfortunately for me, I had very little resistance to women. Neither in my Past Life nor in this one had I had much luck in that department.
"What's the matter?"
When I spoke quietly, Ria grinned and said,
"You know that talk about God earlier."
"The entire conversation earlier was about that being, so unless you point out exactly which part, I'm not sure I'll know."
"You know, the part about the kind of god and all that."
"Ah."
The part about whether the word "god" would be stripped away once the name of God was pushed aside.
"That—you came up with it because of what I said, right?"
"......."
"That spoon."
That when people call a spoon a spoon, it's a spoon.
So if God is called God, then God is God, and the kind doesn't really matter.
"......No."
Actually, she was right.
I'm a rational and logical person, so when I lose a debate, I go back over it and do repair work to reinforce my logic. Isn't that only natural? Atheists don't have scriptures, so there's no other way but to reinforce logic with the right materials suited to the time and situation.
Of course, it was infuriating, and I did grind my teeth building that logic with the determination never to lose again.
"......This country's religion is monotheistic, isn't it?"
That's right.
As evidenced by the existence of the term "Heresy Inquisition," in this country "heresy" is treated as a crime in its own way. Even if not to the medieval extent of hanging or burning people.
"So, strictly speaking, that spoon theory you mentioned is actually wrong. Because other gods must not be gods."
And besides, there's a fairly rational reason why they treat things as "heresy" that way.
Since this is a fantasy world with Holy Power, naturally there is an opposing power as well, and people who worship that power.
Of course, Magic is a power of tremendous help to humanity, so it isn't completely forbidden, but there are people in this world—and beyond the Gates—who are born with an innately immense amount of "Mana," the power used to wield that "Magic."
And people, when they have power, want to show it off.
Some people serve those who wield a power that brings immediate benefit before their eyes, rather than the distant power of Holy Power that they themselves cannot handle.
Look—even in a world with no fantastical phenomena whatsoever, there were people claiming to be "Living Gods" or "saviors," and weren't there people who actually believed in such figures and gave up their bodies, minds, and property?
There have been many times in history when it was on a national scale, with religion as the very foundation of a country.
So what happens when someone who truly possesses a mighty power—a very mysterious power, one barely proven by science—goes around proclaiming themselves a god?
And when such people suddenly spring up like mushrooms after rain?
The world needs a "standard." This, too, was something the people of this world had learned from the chaos of the past decade or so.
So strictly speaking, the assumption that "it's a god because it's called a god" has to be wrong. Because by that logic, this world would have far too many gods.
Damn it, why couldn't I think of that at the time?
And judging by her attitude now, Ria seems to have already thought that far back then.
"Good grief, you little dummy."
Seeing Ria place her palm on top of my veil as she said that, I felt extremely annoyed.
Even when I pushed her hand away, Ria just snickered.
"Ahem."
Perhaps because he finally heard us chattering, the Cardinal at the very front cleared his throat. Ria and I quickly shut our mouths.
*
"......I listened carefully to that discussion earlier. It gave me a great deal to think about as well."
"......Thank you."
I was a little puzzled by the Cardinal's words.
Well, it's true that I don't deny that being, and it's also true that I can use that Holy Power without reservation because of it. But that doesn't mean I affirm the word "God" as they think of it in the slightest.
Through my eyes as a non-religious person—and through the eyes of the many other Atheists besides me—that word "God" isn't all that important.
The theory of evolution could always turn out to be wrong. The placement of the many human subspecies within it had been revised repeatedly. When new facts were discovered, the theory could be rewritten, reconstructions could change, or outdated ideas could be discarded.
Sometimes believers say of that process, "See, it's wrong," but scientists usually look at such situations and say, "It can always become healthier."
But in religion, the meaning of that word "God" is different.
Especially in a monotheistic religion serving a single God, the meaning is especially different. Because if someone uses the word God, it means they are challenging that authority.
Even if they revised the scriptures to follow my words—though that would never happen in the first place—that single word "God" would still remain.
Because if they didn't keep it separate, people would think it was a position anyone could ascend to.
"I still do believe that God is watching over us, but—"
See, this is what I mean.
"—at the very least, I have come to understand that you, Sister, believe in Him from the depths of your heart."
Huh.
"No, it's not merely believing. You 'know,' don't you."
"......."
"To be frank, that alone may not be enough to become a Saintess. There won't be many who properly agree with your story, Sister. Even if they know your heart is sincere, there will be many who oppose it."
"Oh."
Oops.
I let that slip without thinking and covered my mouth.
So, in the end, isn't he saying I'm not qualified? Isn't he saying there's no reason for me to rise to the position of Saintess?
Isn't that how religion and politics always work?
Even when there's someone saying something ideal or something right, there are cases where the group's interests don't align enough to fully accept that person's words.
So I—
"Very well. For now, let us restore your rights as a Saintess Candidate."
Huh.
As I stared blankly with my mouth open, the Cardinal smiled slightly at me and said,
"Ah, that is not to say the verification is complete. There are still many stages remaining. You, Sister, have not even passed the first stage."
It's a process that takes years, after all.
I understand that, but.......
"So, I shall give you an opportunity to prove your thinking."
"......An opportunity."
"Yes. Sister Sophie."
"Yes, Your Eminence."
"What rights does a Saintess Candidate originally possess?"
"The right to move about outside relatively freely, Your Eminence. The right to go around helping people as much as she pleases, and to prove that she is someone worthy of being a Saintess."
"That is correct."
So, autonomous volunteer work, is it?
I felt my ears perk up.
Perhaps my expression brightened, because the Cardinal smiled wryly and said,
"However, as I said, that right is granted because you hold the position of Saintess Candidate. Until now, I considered that ideology somewhat dangerous...... Hm, perhaps I was mistaken. Though I absolutely cannot agree with that talk of scientific names and whatnot."
With those words, the Cardinal rose from his seat.
And then.
"Eek!?"
I was so startled by the Cardinal's next action that I shot up from my seat.
Judging by the icy looks people gave me, that apparently wasn't a very appropriate reaction.
The Cardinal bowed deeply to me.
In other words, he sincerely apologized.
This was by no means a private occasion. It was a very, very official occasion, with the Cardinal properly flanked by attendants and even the Devil’s Advocate standing alongside.
It would probably go on the record.
Apologies from high-ranking people are never easy. If it were done privately, that would be one thing, but this was the Church saying, "A mistake was made."
.......
No way.
Was that the reason they called me here in the first place?
The Cardinal straightened up and looked at me as he spoke.
"This is my apology. I simply hope that, during the time to come, the Saintess Candidate may do all the things she was unable to do before."
"......."
"I pray that my restriction of the Saintess Candidate was not something that brought harm upon this world."
"......Uh, no, that's......."
I floundered, having no idea how to accept that apology.
I glanced around here and there, and finally looked at the aide who could be called closest to me right now.
But Ria, standing at my side, was just wearing a mischievous smile.
In the end, unable to find anything to say, I chose to simply bow my head slightly to the Cardinal without a word.