“Your Holiness, the inquisitors report that they are unable to conduct a proper investigation due to local interference and are requesting support.”

The voice resonated calmly.

The recipient of the report furrowed his wrinkled brow beneath white eyebrows.

“…Pathetic.”

They complain when they can’t make a direct connection.

‘It certainly has been too peaceful lately. It’s as if oil has accumulated on the water.’

The Pope was keenly aware that he had turned Ecel Fabrun, a venomous serpent, into a pig.

“Not only are they unable to take charge of the fallen, but they can’t even carry out their investigation activities.”

“Does that man not even understand my words…?”

“Excuse me?”

A bitter smile crossed his face, but it was too late to replace the head of the investigation team, so the Pope spoke with a chilled face.

“Send another formal missive to the Kingdom of McLain, and tell Cardinal Ecel to embrace martyrdom if necessary. If the investigation team returns without issue, I will hold them accountable.”

“…Excuse me? Ah, yes. Understood.”

Seeing the bishop flustered, the Pope clicked his tongue and dismissed him with a gesture.

‘There’s not a single one who understands at first.’

Those raised in the stagnant culture of the temple showed one of two things: utter blockheadedness or absolute corruption.

From the perspective of one who gives orders, corrupt individuals felt more convenient than the stubborn, which confirmed to him that his decisions had been right.

‘Change is indeed necessary.’

Then, the face of a youth who had significantly influenced this decision came to mind.

– By simply doing the work the temple should do a tad early, you will gain the support of the next Emperor of the Empire.

Apart from the hefty donations, that single phrase had moved him.

‘Prince Baros. He is indeed a madman.’

Though he hadn’t stated it overtly, he seemed to know well what he wanted.

For him, there was no need to refuse an offer that pushed him onto a path he was eventually going to take.

As the pinnacle of the continent’s religion, he had already enjoyed all the riches and honors.

Yet, there was still greed left in him.

“It’s about time I carve my name into history.”

The wait had been too long. The myth that a poor commoner from Aserian had become the Pope was not enough to satisfy him.

What he wanted was for his name to be remembered forever.

Furthermore, he wanted the people of the continent to think of the Pope before even the Emperor of the Empire when speaking of the world’s sovereign.

The Pope, who had risen above the world, was a commoner without a name, now known as Pope Julio Umberto the First.

‘First, I’ll sort out the heresy in the eastern continent and amplify the temple’s influence. That’s the start.’

By subjugating the small countries on the frontier, he would build an absolute influence over the entire eastern continent.

A Pope who quelled heresy and expanded the church’s influence.

A Pope before whom even the Emperor of the Empire would bow.

Great deeds that would be recorded in the history of the church seemed attainable.

Of course, there were obstacles, but they were not insurmountable.

“How far has Bishop Ilia come?”

“He should arrive in about a week, according to reports.”

“I see.”

If the saint was in his hands, then some of the dissidents within the church would have to shut their mouths.

‘If she does not have the stigmata, then disposing of her will do.’

That would be a fine warning to the dissenters.

It would serve as an example that even a bishop could be subjected to a religious trial and burnt at the stake.

‘In any case, that’s when the real fun begins.’

Pope Julio Umberto the First smiled craftily and gazed out of the window.

The holy city Noviens, which was no less grand than the imperial capital of Aserian, was still peaceful despite his menacing ambitions.

* * *

[Cardinal Ecel has been persistently asking for guidance on those who the Holy Power does not affect—whom they refer to as ‘the fallen’. We’ve been refusing, of course, but the inquisitors are becoming more defiant, and we’ve even had to deploy the knights of the Third Legion to fully suppress them.]

“You’ve been working hard, Master. Please endure just a bit longer.”

[Wouldn’t the temple have also said something if it’s gotten this bad?]

“Indeed, another notice has come. They’re asking if this is the will of the royal family to oppose the temple’s ceremony.”

[The temple is more proactive than expected.]

“We plan to ignore it for a while. So please hold on a little longer. The time I mentioned isn’t far off.”

[Yes, I understand.]

‘Soon… I should start preparing myself.’

After ending the communication, Logan mused over the timing and double-checked if anything could go wrong.

While lost in thought on his way back to the main palace, an unexpected voice caught his attention.

“Oh!? Uncle…!”

“Stella! Address him proper—!”

“Hehe. Your Majesty!”

Patter patter.

Before he could even turn around, he heard small footsteps approaching fast.

Logan saw a lady and her knights looking awkwardly from a distance as the little lady jumped into his arms.

“Oh no!”

With an exaggerated reaction, Logan caught the child and a natural smile spread across his lips.

Below his embrace was a little head with short golden locks, and her big blue eyes sparkled up at him, taking up half her face.

Seeing her chubby cheeks form a full smile, Logan couldn’t help but pinch them gently and asked with a laugh, “Oh, my little lady. How did you come here? Did you miss your uncle?”

“Uhm. Uh. I came to find… Daddy…”

The child trailed off in response to the simple greeting, appearing flustered.

Logan playfully adopted a saddened tone and pretended to set her down, “Ah, is that so? You didn’t miss your uncle then.”

As he started to lower his arm pretending to be sad, the child rushed to respond.

“No, not that. I missed uncle too…!”

Stella’s already big eyes grew larger as she flailed her tiny arms, convincing Logan to pick her up again.

Her name had been chosen by him.

Though she was his master’s daughter, he had nothing specific to call her, so he had her call him uncle, and now she felt even closer than a niece.

“I know, hah. Uncle missed Stella a lot too.”

“Hehe.”

Rubbing her soft cheeks against his face felt like all the worries in the world were melting away.

Watching her play, Logan heard a slightly embarrassed voice next to them.

“I’m very sorry, Your Majesty. The child is quite resolute… We came on an outing to show her around the palace and ended up here…”

The Duchess, Rose Mayor, his master’s wife, looked uneasy. Logan immediately waved it off.

“Not at all. I’ve been feeling guilty about giving my Master so much trouble lately. Feel free to visit anytime. Am I not Stella’s godfather after all?”

“Godfather? Uncle, what’s a godfather?”

“Stella! You should use honorifics!”

“Pouting… Your, Your Majesty?”

Intimidated by her mother’s scolding, Stella quickly added her title.

Despite how endearing it was, Logan felt guilty for a moment.

“Ah, it’s fine. Stella is free from fussy titles with me.”

“Really? Uncle is the best!”

“But Your Majesty…”

“Haha, it’s fine. Just be careful when my Master is around, will you?”

“My child’s manners…”

“So it’s okay when he’s not there, right? It should be fine that way, don’t you think?”

“……Do as you please.”

Accepting Logan’s words, the Duchess sighed lightly and Stella gleefully climbed onto Logan’s back like a little monkey.

“Uncle! Over there!”

Forgetting her previous query, she pointed towards a corner of the palace, giggling and innocent.

Logan’s smile deepened naturally with the warmth of the child in his arms.

“Uncle! Here, here! Teehee.”

Even just watching Stella play seemed to melt the stress building within him.

“Where did Daddy go?”

Of course, there were moments of awkward questioning.

“Eh? Uh… He will be here soon.”

“Pouting. I miss Daddy…”

“Uncle will hold Daddy’s hand and come to see Stella soon. Just you wait, pinky promise.”

“Really?”

“Of course, I would never break a promise, would I?”

Head shaking.

“Never!”

“That’s right. So, we pinky promise. There.”

Pinky promise!

Their small fingers interlocked, bringing a bright smile back to Stella’s face. Remembering the story of the temple, Logan’s heart ached.

‘These children are called… forsaken?’

To label such endearing children in this manner?

Stella symbolized the change he had made by going back in time, proof that he had successfully altered the future.

Proof that he had done well so far and would continue to do well.

“…Huh?”

Suddenly, Logan was struck by an odd intuition.

Why hadn’t he thought of this before?

A future changed by him?

Children born into this new future?

Could it be that other children like Stella…

“No way…”

If his guess was correct, the implications could be overwhelming.

He would continue to alter the future, and the children born from that altered future would keep increasing.

Would it be limited just to McLain?

‘Of course not.’

What if 10 years, 20 years, or even longer pass?

The descendants of those children born there would spread across the world.

Eventually, that would mean…

‘Holy power, a world without Gods?’

His heart sank with that daunting realization.

As the horrible conclusion dawned on him, his face involuntarily twitched.

“It couldn’t be. Surely not…”

Even though he tried to dismiss his fears, a bad feeling about his suspicions being correct lingered.

Despite being a returner, Logan too had grown up under the faith in the nine gods on this continent.

The feeling of destroying that emotional foundation was overwhelming, and his complexion paled instantly.

“Uncle?”

Noticing his frozen expression, Stella tilted her head.

“Your Majesty. Are you feeling unwell?”

The Duchess and knights, who were a short distance away, approached with a worried look.

“No, it’s nothing.”

There must be another reason. Surely, there was.

Suddenly feeling urgency, he said,

“I need to communicate with the Master.”

“Now? So suddenly?”

“I must check what those investigators are trying to do to those children…”

“Yes? Oh, yes. If Your Majesty says so…”

The confusion in Logan’s face quickly spread to those around him.

He was aware of it, but his urgent desire to confirm his fears was growing stronger.

But then,

“Uncle…, why the long face?”

Stella’s anxious face held Logan back.

He had just realized that his pinky was still warmly connected with the child’s small hand.

“Stella…”

What must the adults’ uneasiness look like to this child?

Especially when the adult she was looking at suddenly acted this way?

“I’m sorry, my dear. Some urgent matters have come up, and I must go. Uncle will be back soon to play again.”

Hearing his words, tears quickly welled up in Stella’s big eyes.

Had he been that harsh? He reflected for a moment.

“You’re not pinky promising? Won’t I be able to see Daddy soon with you?”

Her words halted Logan’s hurried departure.

He composed his expression and returned a smile, wiped away her tears, and assured, “No, of course not. You’ll see him soon. Look, pinky promise. Don’t cry, look at Uncle. Here, we promise!”

“Ah… Thank goodness.”

As her little hand wiped away the tears and she smiled again, his reflection in those large eyes still seemed troubled.

What would that look like in the eyes of a child?

As he pondered, a certain defiance formed deep in his heart, pressing down on his faltering faith.

‘Holy power vanishing? So what?’

If these children, like Stella, continue to spread and the influence of the gods fades, what is the issue?

Do the corrupt priests and temple truly infuse necessity among the populace?

Above all,

When the counterbalance was such an endearing presence by his side?

“Yeah. Seeing our little lady smile is far more important than any deity.”

“Eh? Hehe. Am I important?”

“Absolutely. The most important in the world.”

“Hehe.”

With that adorable laugh, the lingering unease in Logan dissipated.

‘Right. What does it matter?’

If necessary, he was prepared to fight even the temple.

What does it matter if, decades or centuries from now, the temple and faith disappear?

‘That’s just practical. As long as it doesn’t become a real variable to consider.’

He could figure it out after his plans succeeded and he was free from the temple’s threat.

If necessary, he could test it later with Bishop Ilia or another clergy. There was no need to confirm the stories of the forsaken mentioned by Ecel now.

‘Faith is just a tool.’

If it does not assist in paving the way for the future, if it does not benefit his life, then all he has to do is discard it.

His momentarily unsettled heart solidified even more.

“Thank you, Stella.”

“Hm? Why?”

“Just because.”

Peck.

He gently pressed a kiss on the cheek of his newfound ‘hope’ and regained his smile.

Then he hugged the adorable child once again.

“Why is our little lady so cute?”

“Hehe. It’s, it’s ticklish.”

A few days after Logan’s heart grew firmer with realization, news he was waiting for finally arrived.

“Your Majesty! There’s a message for you!”