Chapter 76

Chapter 14 - Episode 2

A white exterior with a golden spire.

Three grand and ornate buildings, resembling palaces, are situated on the slopes of Mount Rolling.

The landscaping harmonizes with the forest. A small waterfall cascades behind each building. At the center stands the golden statue of Rebecca.

This place, where wealth and beauty converge, is the heart of the continent's foremost religion, the Rebecca Church, the Vatican.

"Isabel!"

Having returned to the Vatican, Damian first sought out Isabel to check on her health.

"..."

Isabel's condition had not improved at all. In fact, it had worsened.

She seemed to have completely lost her hearing and sight. She showed no response even when called from close by.

"Cough! Cough!"

She repeatedly coughed, spitting out blood. Her platinum hair, dry and brittle, fell out with the slightest touch, and her emaciated state was pitiful.

Isabel sat on the shabby bed like a soulless doll.

Seeing her, Damian felt his resolve crumble.

"Damn... Why is this room always so cold..."

"You're late."

A faint presence, a priest, approached. His emotionless eyes were unsettling, but despite his appearance, he was a trustworthy figure.

It was Cassius.

During Damian's absence, he had been taking care of Isabel.

"The mission to destroy the Yatan temple discovered in the western empire... I expected you to complete it and return within 40 days."

However, it took a week longer than expected.

Damian, the avatar of the goddess.

Perhaps his abilities did not meet everyone's expectations?

Cassius, concerned, listened as Damian explained.

"The mission was completed more than a month ago. I delayed because I stayed in the Etral Kingdom."

More than a month ago?

That means it took him only about half a month to destroy the Yatan temple?

Cassius shuddered.

"But how did you manage in the Etral Kingdom...?"

"I met Lord Grid."

"Lord Grid!"

The only person capable of sealing Raphaël's Spear.

He who saved the Rebecca Church by delivering divine punishment to the corrupt Pope Dravigo in the past.

"He is coming here now."

Just as he did in the past, he will save Isabel this time and restore her beautiful smile.

"While he's here, I will start competing with Pascal."

There are 42 days left until the election of the new pope.

Damian believed it was enough time.

Thanks to the class effect of being the avatar of the goddess, many believers trusted and followed him.

'If I use them as a base for my campaign, I can defeat Pascal and become the pope.'

Pascal, a former leader of the Juddar religion, is the top candidate.

He is politically strong and experienced, and he is a descendant of the 5th Pope Pascal.

Moreover, his father is a baron in the Saharan Empire, giving him a strong backing.

'But he is corrupt.'

He wants to use the Rebecca Church to enhance his personal reputation and the power of his family.

'If he becomes the pope, the Rebecca Church will follow a path even more terrible than during Dravigo's time.'

This is already known by many believers.

They will choose me for the future of the church.

The naive Damian believed this.

***

The Council of Elders.

An institution that acts on behalf of the vacant pope, consisting of 23 high-ranking clergy.

They summoned Damian and gave him an order.

"A report has come in that followers of Yatan were spotted in the central part of the Gauss Kingdom. Avatar of the goddess, Damian. You are to immediately head to the Gauss Kingdom and search for and destroy the Yatan temple."

"There are 42 days left until the election of the new pope, and I am a candidate. Are you asking me to leave again during this crucial campaign period?"

Damian is 30 years old this year.

Due to his past as a shut-in, he lacks social experience and is not accustomed to injustice.

The elders mocked his naive questioning.

"Are you saying you can't fulfill your duties because of the campaign? That's like admitting your own incompetence."

"Throwing a tantrum is something you should do while clinging to your mother's skirt... tsk, how pathetic."

"Registering as a candidate should not interfere with your duties. Perhaps you should consider withdrawing from the candidacy."

"Or stop acting on behalf of Isabel."

Ignorance, mockery, provocation, contempt.

The clear hostility of the Council of Elders pressured Damian.

'They have completely become Pascal's people. But even so, this is too much.'

Damian was genuinely shocked.

The behavior of the powerful, who openly restrained him without any regard for public opinion, was frightening.

'I thought it was too easy.'

Damian is acting on behalf of Isabel to save her.

In contrast, the Council of Elders' goal is to discard Isabel.

To find a new owner for Raphaël's Spear, they want Isabel to die.

'In this situation, if I...'

If I prioritize the campaign and neglect Isabel's mission?

Ultimately, Isabel will be forced to carry out the mission and die.

Putting the cart before the horse.

Damian wanted to become the pope for the sake of Rebecca's daughters.

He could not abandon Isabel for the election.

"...I understand. I will head to the Gauss Kingdom immediately."

It is hopeless.

This mission includes a search.

It is questionable whether he can find the Yatan temple before the election.

'There might not even be a Yatan temple there.'

It was an obvious provocation and a trap.

But he had no choice. To protect Isabel, he could not defy the Council of Elders' orders.

'Isabel must survive until Lord Grid arrives and seals Raphaël's Spear.'

Four days.

The distance from Raydan to the Vatican, if one rides without stopping.

Lord Grid sent a message yesterday saying he had left Raydan, so Isabel has only three more days to survive.

'Please.'

Step by step.

Damian left the Council of Elders' room with weak steps.

He pleaded and pleaded.

'Please save Isabel, Lord Grid.'

I hope her health improves by the time I return. I hope to see her smile again.

Creak.

The massive doors of the Council of Elders' room opened on their own.

It seemed to be urging the inconvenient Damian to leave.

As Damian, with his head bowed, stepped outside the door, a voice he had longed to hear came from outside.

"Don't go."

"......!"

Damian's gaze, which had been lowered, lifted.

"Isabel..."

She stood there, blocking the door, holding Raphaël's Spear.

She stood straight on her two legs, and her eyes were focused.

The power of the White Flower.

Transcendent divine power was restoring her damaged body to normal.

Of course, it was only a temporary phenomenon.

The moment she lets go of the spear, Isabel will suffer even greater pain, or even die.

"Why...! Why are you here!!"

Just three more days. If you had waited just three more days, you could have lived.

"But why...!"

Isabel smiled at the despairing and frustrated Damian.

"Thank you, Damian."

I heard your cries in my fading consciousness.

I know you have been struggling alone for us.

"You must become the pope."

You must.

If Pascal becomes the pope instead of Damian, more children will suffer like me.

"You know, right? Damian, you can't miss the chance to become the pope for my sake."

"..."

Damian knew.

If he wanted to prevent the birth of more Isabels, he had to become the pope.

Now is the time for Isabel to make a sacrifice.

'But I don't want you to die.'

Damian was confused.

Finally, he collapsed, and Isabel stroked his head.

"I will go to the Gauss Kingdom. During that time, you must become the pope. Take care of Rin, Luna, and my successor. Protect those children."

Her hand, like a feather, was truly emaciated.

But it was warm.

Tears welled up in Damian's eyes as he felt Isabel's touch.

Someone appeared to mock him.

"A pope candidate shedding tears in front of others?"

It was Pascal.

He sneered, stroking his thin mustache.

"What a truly unworthy pope candidate. A pope who cries like this would be a disgrace to the church. Don't you agree, elders?"

"Agreed."

"Damian is not up to the task."

"Pascal must become the pope."

The 23 elders began to side with Pascal, mocking and belittling Damian.

Isabel glared at them.

"How dare you disrespect the avatar of Rebecca, the goddess. Do you not realize this is a form of blasphemy?"

"Your attitude is poor. Isabel, your enemies are the followers of Yatan, not us."

Pascal, approaching Isabel, stroked the tip of Raphaël's Spear.

"Understand your place. Just because you can wield the holy artifact of our church, you think you are special? You are nothing but a tool. A war tool that burns its life for the goddess and the church."

Pascal's eyes, staring at Isabel, were as cold as ice. They did not look like the eyes of a human.

"You are to use this spear as a weapon and only kill. Do not think or speak. Do you understand?"

"Shut up!"

Damian was enraged. He wanted to punch Pascal right then and there.

But if he did, he would be immediately expelled from the church and ruin everything.

Clenching his fists, Damian seethed, and Pascal sneered.

"Your beloved avatar of Rebecca is being humiliated right in front of you, and you are controlling your anger? You are just a coward, making a lot of noise."

"Stop your cheap provocation."

"......!"

Damian, Isabel, Pascal, and the 23 elders all widened their eyes.

"Are you all so excited to gang up on one person and make them suffer?"

A height over 180 cm and a solid build.

Alluring black hair and sharp eyes.

Confident eyes and voice.

Grid, the descendant of Pagma.

He was walking down the corridor.

"Do you all want to gang up on one person and make them suffer? Huh?"

"Y-You, why are you here?"

The unexpected appearance of this person unsettled Pascal and the elders. Isabel was stunned.

"Lord Grid!!"

Damian smiled widely.

Moved by the perfect timing of Grid's appearance, he approached and patted his shoulder.

"You did well."

Thanks to the flying dragon Froy, Grid arrived at the Vatican much earlier than expected.

He declared to the stunned Pascal and the elders.

"From now on, I am Damian's backer."

"...Backer?"

Pascal and the elders did not understand Grid's expression.

Froy translated for them.

"From this moment on, I, Grid Raydan de Steim, Duke of the Etral Kingdom, am the guardian of the avatar of the goddess, Damian."

Froy's voice was charismatic, resonating powerfully throughout the large Council of Elders' room, making Pascal and the elders pale.

Grid continued his declaration.

"Don't mess with this guy. You'll get in trouble with me."

"If you mock the pope candidate Damian again, I will deliver appropriate punishment."

"Got a problem with that? Then come at me, you experience point blobs. I can take you all on because my situation is different from Damian's."

"..."

It was hard to put into words.

Even Froy was speechless, and the Council of Elders' room was filled with silence.