Proper Education
"Ah, is that so?"
Crunch!
"Gweeeek!"
"Huff! Th-that mad bastard! His Holiness the Pope is in danger!"
The paladins, who had been casually observing the situation since I'd acted reasonably gentlemanly, flipped out as things turned dire and charged in.
The Pope's nasal bone was collapsed, all his front teeth knocked out. Spewing blood like that, it was no wonder the paladins reacted this way.
About twenty paladins rushed me. I lightly unleashed a gust of wind to subdue them.
Whoooosh!Boom!
"Kwaaak!"
"Kwaaaak!"
"Th-that lunatic!"
Did I kill a few paladins? They were twitching like bloody rags, so they seemed alive enough.
The cardinals gaped in shock at this absurd turn of events, while I hurriedly continued educating the Pope.
Thwack! Thwack!
I couldn't just keep punching; the Pope might actually die. Even under the pretext of "education," killing the Pope would spell trouble.
Around this point, how were the gods reacting?
God of Destruction and Regeneration Mahadev has sponsored you 25,000 Karma.
Goddess of Love Venus has sponsored you 28,000 Karma.
Goddess of Wisdom Bibian has sponsored you 100,000 Karma.
Goddess of Music and Arts Savitri has sponsored you 120,000 Karma.
God of Blacksmithing Vulcanus has sponsored you 200,000 Karma.
Ah, refreshing! These new gods must be loaded—they're showering me with massive karma. That's why I pulled this insane stunt to rack up karma. No sane person would think of beating the Pope.
"Cough! St-stop!"
"Your Holiness, you opposed Lady Bibian's will and refuted my words. Do you not know what a grave sin that is?!"
"N-no way! Why would Lady Bibian side with heretics like..."
Smack!
"That's why you need education. Urgently."
"Gweeeek!"
The Pope's agonized screams echoed through the cathedral. The cardinals watched this mad scene with bewildered eyes.
In the Emperor's office, having devised countermeasures against Aron, the Emperor began his work. Past emperors had slacked off and indulged in luxury, but Kalbun at least wasn't like that. He was moderately incompetent but never completely neglected state affairs. He handled today's tasks cleanly—that was Kalbun's creed.
Afterward, he'd visit the harem, drink, or enjoy various pleasures. He had his limits, which kept the current regime stable.
Bang!
The office door flew open. Grand Marshal Duke McCain stormed in, face twisted in fury. So urgent he didn't even request an audience from the guards.
"Y-Your Majesty! Disaster!"
"What is it?!"
"R-right now, Viscount Aron is beating the Pope!"
"Wh-what?!"
The Emperor dropped his pen. The worst crisis since the founding had erupted. The old Aron had never touched the Church, but now he'd committed the outrage of assaulting the Pope himself.
"He's gone mad! Beating the Pope?!"
"The cathedral is half-destroyed, paladins turned to bloody pulp, and His Holiness..."
"The Pope?"
"All his teeth broken, face so mangled it's unrecognizable!"
"...Aron will handle his own downfall."
"Y-yes. Who'd expect him to go this far..."
"Should we send troops?"
"No. This doesn't concern us."
"Heh heh heh."
"In the end, it worked out well?"
"Hahaha!"
The Emperor and Grand Marshal exchanged laughs.
In the main cathedral, bloodied paladins lay collapsed, hundreds of Pope's troops swept away. Half-ruined building, Pope vomiting blood. Outside the torn-open cathedral, Pope's troops surrounded me but dared not approach. They knew rushing in meant ending up on the floor.
"Gurgle. Grrrk."
The Pope spat blood. Hitting him more might kill him, so maybe heal with karma?
"Recovery."
Immense holy power bursts from your hand, healing the Pope's body.
Effect:Miraculous recovery—like a miracle, the near-dead Pope regains his form.
"H-holy power?!"
"What sorcery is this?!"
The cardinals were utterly baffled. A lunatic like me wielding such potent holy power could only mean Bibian's blessing.
"Well then, shall we wrap up the education, Your Holiness?"
"Ugh!"
Slap!
"Kek!"
"Get a grip?"
"Sp-spare me!"
"I won't kill you. Instead, pray and ask Lady Bibian."
The Pope came to his senses after a while. Half-mad still, but coherent enough for talk.
Time for Bibian to help. If she ignores me...? Who knows. Then it'd be full chaos mode—war with the Empire and Bibian Church.
Trembling, the Pope knelt. I'd have just demanded his head, but begging to be spared in this mess? His future won't be smooth.
Thud! Forced into prayer, watched by all in the Church. If Bibian gave an oracle here, all my actions would be justified. No warrior rampages like me, so hopefully she'd help. If not? Oh well.
"Mother of the Earth, Goddess of Wisdom Bibian! Your servant beseeches you thus. Grant wisdom to this lowly human that he may know your will!"
"......"
Silence. Cardinals' faces twisted. My grip tightened on my sword. No response? Fine. Slaughter them all, storm the palace, kill the Emperor. Chaos would create openings. Flee abroad if needed. Better than a stale serialization.
As I pondered how to handle them, immense holy power flooded everywhere.
Whoooosh!
The paladins I'd hit were all healed, the Pope's caved-in face restored. Then a voice from the heavens.
"Hear me, my faithful servants."
"......!"
"Gasp! Lady Bibian's oracle!"
"Silence, all!"
Thud! I slammed my sword into the floor, eyes wide. They all dropped to one knee. Bibian herself issuing an oracle—an unprecedented event. I knelt too.
"Odin seeks to slay all gods of the heavens and become the sole god. As you know, Odin's power stems from northern warriors. I have commanded my faithful servant Aron to subjugate them."
"Follow the new religious leader Aron and fulfill the mission I have given. You are to obey."
"Mm!"
Swoooosh. Bibian's voice faded.
What did Bibian just say? New religious leader?
"Mm, did Lady Bibian just grant authority surpassing the Pope?"
"Ughhh."
Pope and paladins trembled. I hadn't expected this. With Odin getting aggressive, Bibian seemed ready to back me fully.
"Your Holiness."
"Y-yes!"
He bowed lower. Bibian named me religious leader herself, so I had at least saint-level authority. Male saint... saint-man?
I'm not one to rage much.
"Let's have a chat."
"O-of course!"
"Oh, and what's my title?"
"As per Lady Bibian's will, Leader."
"Heh heh heh. Nice."
The Pope followed like a lamb to slaughter. Cardinals, paladins, and troops wasted time grasping this fucked-up situation.
After a light "meeting" (?), I entered the palace by evening. Pre-notified, the Emperor and ministers gathered in his hall. I wore the gods' gifted armor, helmet off.
Step step.
The mood was icy. Rumors of me flipping the Church, no doubt.
Stepping on the red carpet, I paid respects to the distant Emperor. Someday I'd educate (or kill) him too, but for now, I posed as the Empire's vassal. Needed time to gather power.
"I pay respects to His Imperial Majesty, ruler of the Empire!"
"Mm, Viscount Aron. You've worked hard."
"Not at all. With Your Majesty's authority, I punished the foes—they all trembled in fear."
"Good up to exterminating the Geruz tribe in my reign... but there's a problem."
"Problem?"
I feigned utter confusion, like a child tilting head innocently.
Sighs rose everywhere.
"Viscount Aron! You've herded heretics under you and stormed the holy church, assaulting the Pope and paladins! Are you sane?!"
"Ah! So that's what."
"Y-you call that nothing?! Beating the Pope?!"
"Seems like a misunderstanding."
"Misunderstanding? How?! The Empire's state religion is the Bibian Church. Harboring heretics and rioting in church—what do you think that does politically?"
"Ah, well, there was a minor clash enforcing God's will, but Lady Bibian issued an oracle clearing it up."
"Insane! Can you prove that?!"
Murmurs erupted. Eyes bulging—what bullshit is this?
Then the chamberlain bellowed.
"His Holiness the Pope of the Bibian Church enters!"