The Manufactured Saintess
"Um, excuse me... Your Holiness."
"What is it?"
The newly appointed bishop tasked with persuading Isolet approached the Pope with an anxious expression, glancing around nervously before speaking.
"Are we... heading to the church's underground now?"
"Yes, that's right."
"I-I see."
He was a fresh appointee who hadn't even held the position for a full month, so his tension was palpable. Even for bishops who weren't yet treated as full-fledged executives, rumors about the church's underground were an open secret among most insiders.
Descending to the underground he'd only heard about in whispers was, even for someone like him who had weathered countless trials to reach this post, something that required mental preparation.
"Ah, you're the new bishop, aren't you? So, you've never been down there before?"
"Y-Yes, that's correct."
He had been about to ask for just a moment to compose himself, but at the Pope's words, he hurriedly replied while furtively gauging the man's mood.
"B-But..."
"No need to worry so much! You don't have to shrink like that."
Noticing his behavior, the Pope clapped him reassuringly on the back with a hearty laugh.
"Every bishop has gone through this once."
He finished with a faintly chilling smile and resumed walking toward the underground.
"........."
Overwhelmed by the atmosphere, the bishop followed with legs trembling slightly.
"Here we are."
"Ah..."
When the Pope stopped before an old door, the bishop recoiled in terror.
"Th-This is..."
His divine power and instincts screamed that this door must not be opened.
"Why hesitate so?"
"W-Wait a moment!"
- Creak...
But before he could protest, the Pope flung the door open.
"...Huh?"
The bishop, who had squeezed his eyes shut, cautiously peeked and tilted his head in confusion.
"Wh-What's this?"
The underground chamber, which had exuded such an eerie aura, contained only glittering relics of the Sun God Church.
"What did you expect? Some monster lurking inside?"
"N-No, not at all."
"Then hurry inside. Time is of the essence."
The Pope shoved the head-scratching bishop into the chamber.
"B-But... why is the 'youngest holy knight' here...?"
- Zap...
"...?"
After closing the door, the Pope pulled out a scroll and began casting a spell on it.
"What are you doing?"
"Can't you see? Sealing the door."
"Why go to such lengths...?"
As the bewildered bishop stared, the Pope let out a slight sigh.
"Can't have you bolting out of here."
"...Pardon?"
With that, he pointed behind the bishop.
"What do you mean by—"
Muttering as he instinctively turned, the bishop froze.
"...H-Hik!"
His eyes widened round as saucers, locking onto the bloodshot eyeball that had suddenly materialized in the once pitch-black void.
"Wh-Wh-What's th-that?"
"A-Ah... Aaaah..."
In a situation that demanded frantic flight, the bishop couldn't budge an inch. Ever since his pupils met the roving gaze, his body had locked up inexplicably.
"Wh-What... is this... thing...?"
Drenched in cold sweat, eroded by terror, he finally mustered the strength to question the Pope at his side.
"Do you really not know?"
The Pope's face had turned icy.
"The true Sun, of course."
He replied with a cold smile.
- Slither...
And in that instant, the meaning of his words revealed itself.
"U-Uwaaah!!"
From the floating eyeball sprouted grotesque tentacles, lashing toward the bishop.
"S-Save me! Please...!"
The abomination spewing writhing tentacles from its central eye evoked the image of a black sun.
"The Sun has bestowed its light upon you."
"......Urk."
As the tentacles touched the bishop's neck and face, the Pope clasped his hands piously and closed his eyes.
"A blessing, indeed."
He whispered lowly, lips curling upward.
"...Welcome to our true fold."
With that, the Pope turned toward the wall.
- Graius.
"...!"
Startled by the eerie voice from behind, he halted, spun around, and knelt swiftly.
"I behold the true Sun."
"Grahk, grrrk..."
Ignoring the bishop's fate before him, the Pope spoke calmly.
"What brings you...?"
- It's been ages since those two brats invaded months ago.
"......"
As the abomination began, he broke into a cold sweat unbidden.
- The time has come for the 'manufactured child' to step forth.
"I-Is that so? But... stabilization hasn't—"
"...Ugh!"
Blood trickled from his ears and eyes mid-sentence. He slammed his forehead to the ground in desperate plea.
"This lowly one dares interrupt your truth! Forgive me...!"
- There will be no next time.
"Th-Thank you. My gratitude."
As the bleeding stopped, he sighed in relief. The entity regarded him coolly.
- We must counter the saintess.
"...Pardon?"
- The Star God, creator of this dimension, has intervened at last.
"What? How could he...?"
- An unknown variable has entered the world. Likely the saintess's trump card, prepared through her.
The Pope gaped as the entity turned its gaze to the shuddering bishop beside it.
- Disruptions to the plan are inevitable at this rate. We must introduce our own variable now.
- Release the 'manufactured child' into the world.
To confront that tiresome hero.
"......"
- It's only fitting to send a worthy foe against such a one.
"...Understood."
The Pope bowed deeply.
- Do not grow complacent. Remember, there is no second chance.
It concluded, eyes narrowing.
""...........""
As the entity vanished completely, silence flooded the underground.
"Phew..."
The Pope exhaled deeply, rose, and muttered as he approached the wall.
"Always feels like it's shaving years off my life..."
- Rumble...!
Tapping the wall three times at intervals, a sturdy partition split, revealing a hidden passage.
With that mutter, he slowly descended the endlessly spiraling stairs.
...Unaware of the intruder.
.
.
.
.
.
.
- Whirr...
The heavy iron door groaned open, unveiling a vast chamber.
- Step, step.
Emerging from the long staircase into the immense space, the Pope strode silently to its center.
"......."
Arriving at the room's heart, he halted and fell quiet.
"Rise."
Addressing the girl crouched in the center, he intoned gravely.
"The time has come to return to the world above."
"The world above... you mean?"
The girl lifted her head—her mysterious aura, gray long hair, and clear eyes evoking enigma.
"Yes, we've advanced the schedule. From today, you are the Sun God Church's youngest holy knight, as we've proclaimed."
She blinked blankly, then stood. The Pope watched impassively.
"Follow your training to the letter. The moment you leave here, you are no manufactured saintess—you are a bright, lively, pure, and cheerful holy knight."
"...Yes."
"Any deviation, and you know the price. We see all."
"...Yes."
Satisfied with her responses, he soon furrowed his brow.
"Ah, nearly forgot. Before you go, one task remains."
"Pardon?"
"Close your eyes tightly and pray to the Sun as you've been taught."
"Is today the day we begin in earnest?"
"Indeed. I grant permission myself."
Hearing this, she knelt, clasped her hands, shut her eyes tight, and began.
"Holy Sun, I offer my prayer this day as well... Your lowly lamb dares to beseech you earnestly..."
⟨ Prayer to the Sun ⟩
Divine power radiated from her as she prayed fervently.
"...You who turn your back to me."
From that moment, she began to freeze over slowly.
"Huh? Uwaa?"
Her face twisted into a bewildered expression, clashing with her mystical air.
"Hah, hah... Wh-What's happening...?"
After a long while, she ceased praying, gasping raggedly. The Pope questioned her.
"What did you see?"
"Visions flashed before me. But most were shrouded in darkness, hard to discern."
"Tch, the 'Demon God' must have interfered."
The Pope shook his head with a sigh.
"H-However... some scenes were vivid."
"Oh?"
She pressed on eagerly.
"Flesh clashing against flesh appeared frequently."
Silence fell briefly.
"One lump from the first vision recurred throughout—the world's greatest villain, Frey."
"Hm."
"And the other one..."
"Did you appear in any?"
Interrupting as she faltered, the Pope pressed. She hesitated, then replied with a nauseated grimace, hand over her mouth.
"I... think so."
"It was horrific. Thank goodness it won't happen..."
"It will happen."
"Pardon!?"
Her hand dropped as her eyes bulged at his words.
"Your gift is prophecy. What you saw will come to pass."
"B-But..."
"...What's wrong?"
As she gaped in disbelief, the Pope's gaze turned frigid.
"You doubt my word?"
"......"
"The word of the Sun's apostle?"
"...No."
Pale as death, she yielded.
"Then... must I whisper love to that man as I saw?"
Her voice quivered.
"I hate it. It's terrifying. Dreadful. To wear such an expression for that revolting creature—I can't..."
"If you hate it, change the future."
His tone warmed suddenly.
"You alone know what lies ahead. Your actions will shape it."
"I-Is that possible?"
"Indeed."
He declared solemnly.
"...So spare no means or methods. Kill Frey."
Tension gripped her face.
"It's the only way to save yourself, the Empire, and ultimately the world."
With that compelling close, he turned toward the stairs.
"...When ready, emerge."
He added curtly, ascending.
""...........""
Prolonged silence ensued.
"Frey."
Still reeling, hand clamped over her mouth in disgust, she muttered.
"Before I become that, I'll kill you and rewrite the future."
She took a step forward.
"Coo."
"...?"
A pigeon swooped before her.
- Whoosh...
Before she could react, it burrowed into her embrace.
"Ah..."
Her mystical visage filled with contempt and scorn, she briefly lost consciousness.
"........."
After a dazed interval, she murmured softly.
"The pervasive darkness... has lifted slightly."
Standing alone in the gloom, radiating brilliant light, a single tear traced her cheek.
"Why was I holding him..."
"...Crying with such a face?"
Meanwhile, a familiar-looking dim-witted pigeon emerged from her body.
"Coo~♪"
Chirping gleefully, it flew off into the distance.