30 Years Have Passed Since the Prologue

There are four characteristics of the Church. The Great Atonement, meaning the laws passed down from ancient times.

Each of these four characteristics, known as Unity, Universality, Intelligence, and Apostolic Tradition, has one common point: those who do not fall under these criteria can be classified as heretics.

A council is an event held to define this Great Atonement and to provide guidance on the direction of faith. It was a highly authoritative ceremony, held only seven times throughout the long history of the Church.

When a council is convened, all church members, meaning secular rulers, stop their work and hold their breath.

“The last council was held 172 years ago.”

“Hmm.”

“At that time, there were 29 secular royal families.”

“…29?”

“Yes. This means that there were 21 secular royal families for 170 years until the Demon King’s rampage began. Do you understand this?”

The Saint continued in a gentle voice.

“I mentioned that the council establishes the direction of faith. This implies that there were societal trends against the direction of faith… and it results in a great excommunication decree being enacted against the eight secular royal families the day the council concludes.”

All royal families are typically baptized directly by a Pope or equivalent cardinals during their coronation. This event guarantees the longevity of secular royal families. While war can occur between the same faith, conquest becomes impossible.

It means that it is not possible to completely dismantle a royal family in any circumstance. Even if they win a war, expand borders, and impose unequal treaties, the royal family must endure.

It is a kind of mutual aid. The Papal Enclave can wield immense influence by mediating disputes among secular royal families without an army, while secular royal families are granted nearly absolute longevity within civil society.

Thus,

“When the great excommunication decree was enacted, the eight royal families deemed heretical had to immediately face the invasion of all neighboring countries. There was no surrender or negotiation. Making a pact with heretics is a sin that itself falls into hell.”

Even if they could devour freely, it’s a war that is evaluated as opposing heretics. Secular royal families indiscriminately preyed upon their neighbors to grow fat.

Therefore, at this point, the declaration of the Eighth Council can be seen as foretelling a bloodbath akin to that time. Since once the council is convened, someone must inevitably be declared heretical.

“Was the council convened due to the disappearance of divine power?”

“Of course, but wouldn’t it be better to shift the blame for the disappearance of divine power onto someone? We all lost the love of God due to the sins of some heretics. Isn’t that a very reasonable opinion?”

“But this is concerning Veolgrin….”

“Shh, brother. Always be aware of listening ears.”

The Saint lightly chided Ivan and closed the scripture. The train was passing through the mountainous area late at night.

“The agenda of the council varies each time, but the results are similar. Under the teachings of the reigning Pope, ‘correct faith’ has been cultivated. This was referred to as the infallible authority…. Are you not concentrating?”

“Should we just assassinate the Pope?”

“I finally understand what Sister Enrique says every day. Truly, it feels like I’m going crazy.”

The Saint continued to scold the half-asleep Ivan.

“Infallible authority, meaning there are no errors in the teachings. A priest is a teacher to all people, and the Pope is the teacher of all priests… Yes, let me cut to the chase. When His Holiness the Pope declares, ‘that one is a heretic,’ it means that kingdom will perish. Is that clear? It is an authority that cannot be used indiscriminately, but if sufficient grounds are provided, it is also an incredibly powerful authority.”

“Then is there really a need for us to go? Why not just receive the results?”

“I possess infallibility as well, brother. The Pope is the teacher of doctrine, and I am the teacher of faith.”

At this point, Ivan looked at the Saint with a very suspicious gaze. The image of the Saint he remembered was mostly of her burning demons on the battlefield or resurrecting the burnt corpses, not someone who preached any grand faith.

Seeing his gaze, the Saint sighed and said.

“In the days when divine power existed, I was the strongest.”

“Ah.”

“Yes. During that time, we could interpret the size of divine power as the size of faith. The great love of the Lord granted me my rights.”

“Which means now….”

“Yes, while doctrine hasn’t vanished, faith has. The position of a Saint can no longer hold significance.”

Ivan straightened his posture and asked in response to the Saint’s words.

“At the point where all divine power has vanished, wouldn’t that mean the authority of the Church itself is compromised?”

“That’s correct.”

“Then, even if a heretical declaration is made against secular royal families, its weight would be different from before.”

“Oh, my brother, you now understand the Church’s politics. Truly, that is the case.”

The Saint made a short sign of the cross and spoke.

“I have lost my divine power and have become no different from an ordinary priest, and His Holiness the Pope can no longer use excommunication to implement a great decree as he once did. So, do you now understand where the scales of the Church will tilt?”

“No.”

“I don’t know either!”

Is she joking? When Ivan looked at the Saint, she smiled slyly.

“No one knows. No one knows who to side with, who to support. Initially, are they even in opposition? If they are, who is right, who is wrong, and why are they opposing… The Church has fallen into unprecedented chaos.”

“Since divine power has vanished, it’s understandable.”

“Yes, therefore His Holiness must make it known that authority remains intact. He must regain authority within the Church and become a leader of faith once again.”

That is not because the Pope is power-oriented. The decline of the Pope’s authority means that the authority of all priests will also be on the ground, which implies that the faithful across all secular societies could be threatened.

The Church was not an organization that ruled through force.

“I heard the conversation you shared with Sister Enrique. That’s correct. The most certain and effective method the Pope could choose for the Church as a whole is…”

“To excommunicate the Saint.”

Those who cause trouble clumsily are not feared. However, no one dares to approach a madman who causes chaos beyond societal justice.

If the Pope excommunicates the Saint and begins to cut within the Church, the secular royal families will come to fear the current Pope.

Regardless of whether divine power exists or not. As long as doctrine hasn’t vanished, even without divine power, ‘the believers’ are still their subjects.

All nations of the United Kingdom believe in a single religion. Who would dare to hastily point a blade at the Pope, who spiritually rules over more subjects than any monarch, especially one who is filled with wrath?

Authority does not invoke fear. Fear itself is authority. It is the power that remains essential in a world where divine power has vanished.

“Then why participate in the council? Going there just to fill a seat will only lead to being accused as heretics and meeting death.”

“Because we need to take one step further. Haven’t I already mentioned it’s a situation where ‘no one knows who to side with’? Therefore, with my ‘infallibility,’ I plan to excommunicate His Holiness the Pope. Amidst the chaos, the Church will lose its momentum.”

Speaking in a tone as calm as choosing a breakfast menu, the Saint smiled.

“My preparations are already complete. The final revelation from the Lord, yes. The student you cherish so much, Eugene Novikov-Karamzin, has been declared a prophet.”

From the Lord, who withdrew love from the faithful out of disillusionment, this was nonetheless a revelation filled with his last affection.

Given that the one proclaiming it is the Saint, the impact, of course, would not be insignificant.

“Until a prophecy is fulfilled, it is merely a conspiracy theory.”

“Patricia.”

Ivan unconsciously gripped his axe. The prophecy Eugene spoke of was all related to the death of the Hero Party.

For his prophecy to come true means that at least one of the former Hero Party members must die to prove it.

Looking into Ivan’s eyes, the Saint concluded her statement.

“The first to fall will be Drovian.”

Though she bore no divine power, the Saint spoke in a deep voice as if pronouncing on behalf of God.

“Sister Enrique will be in great peril.”

“Patricia. Are you out of your mind?”

“No one will die. However, chaos was necessary.”

“For what?”

“Soft landing.”

Boom!

The train shook violently. Nevertheless, Ivan continued to gaze at the Saint without changing his posture.

“For a world where divine power is absent, where no one’s future is played with by numerous ‘gods.’ This is what Brother Veolgrin meant. I agree. If the Lord is indeed omnipotent, and He truly loves mankind, He must willingly let go of the world of Man.”

Crash!!

The vibrations of the train started to grow more intense. Ivan briefly glared at the dense, rugged forest outside the shaking window.

“Therefore, the chaos that will occur is inevitable. However, if it is inevitable and we know it, we can prepare. Brother, my calling now is singular. To stop the world from descending into greater chaos and turmoil before it starts, in the fastest and most decisive manner.”

“By declaring the Pope a heretic?”

“Yes. If His Holiness intends to declare me a heretic for a soft landing within the Church, my actions will be for the soft landing of the entire world.”

“The party….”

“They won’t die. Their existence is still our last bastion against the demons. We must still be alive until those dear children you teach grow sufficiently.”

Screech!

The noise of the train derailing through the tracks grew louder.

Without hesitation, Ivan embraced the Saint’s waist. Soon, Boom. The train began to tilt with a shock.

Even amidst the chaos, the Saint did not cease her words.

“There was one mistake in Brother Eugene’s ‘prophecy.’”

“…What is it?”

“The doctrinal war. The one identified as one of the many upcoming chaos. That was not something set to happen in the future.”

The Saint placed her hand on Ivan’s cheek and whispered.

“From the moment Brother Veolgrin’s plan succeeded, it has been ongoing.”

“I have one question.”

“If you have something you wish to know, please.”

“Do we still believe that we must protect ourselves and move forward?”

“Since that day until now, I have never doubted that even for a moment.”

Ivan took a deep breath and nodded.

“Was the train terror an act of our own or a suggestion from the Pope?”

“His Holiness may not have ordered it directly, but it was anticipated. That is why I asked you to accompany me.”

“Which means we must survive and reach the council.”

“It will be perilous. This is not the end.”

“I’m used to it.”

As the train tilted, Ivan carefully lifted the Saint while diffusing the impact as much as he could.

*

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