CHAPTER 275

Clang.

The wooden wheels of the prison wagon, barred with iron instead of doors, clattered noisily over the cobblestone road. The carriage lurched, but the woman seated inside maintained her posture without the slightest disturbance. Her serene, closed-eyed expression drew the curious gazes of passersby at the eastern gate of the holy city.

“Doesn’t look like a prisoner, does she?”

“Don’t mind it. Those are Holy Knights.”

“Still, it’s unusual. And that light emanating from behind her, it’s oddly comforting. What could it be?”

“It’s just the morning sun, you fool.”

“Just looking at her makes me feel good.”

“Oh, come on. Stop paying attention.”

The murmuring crowd’s attention made the transport captain, Grant, snap in irritation.

“Move along!”

He swiftly approached the iron bars and growled in a low voice, “It won’t do you any good to be nosy. If you have a brain, use it to think. Understand?”

A sneer.

“If you have a brain, think from my perspective. What changes for me? You called me a heretic, didn’t you?”

Grant’s face turned to stone at those words. The so-called religious inquisition was just a formality. Once labeled a heretic from above, the sentence of being burned at the stake was inevitable. In his 20 years as a Holy Knight, he had never seen an exception. If someone destined to die tried to drag him along…

Just imagining it sent a cold sweat down his spine.

“What do you want? I’ll tell you now, I won’t partake in heretical acts even if I die.”

“Let me meet with Cardinal Austin first. Just relay the message that I’ve arrived.”

“…What?”

Grant’s tense face brightened at her words. Cardinal Austin Pruitt was known throughout the holy city as an incorruptible and diligent priest. He had risen to a high position without a single scandal, respected by all.

“Is that all?”

“Yes, that’s enough to keep me quiet.”

“…Alright.”

Whatever this heretic was planning, if it involved Cardinal Austin, nothing could go wrong. Grant nodded firmly. Watching him, Ilia sighed quietly to herself. According to Logan’s message through Viktor, they were to meet at the inquisition anyway.

‘Your Majesty Logan, I must see him first and judge for myself.’

The cardinals of the central temple, only heard of in distant rumors. Unfortunately, most of those rumors were unfavorable.

When one gets used to the cold seeping through the thin straw in a lightless underground prison, the guard cautiously spoke.

“Bishop Ilia, you have a visitor. Someone of high rank…”

The guard’s overly respectful tone was understandable given that Ilia, even in the dark dungeon, emitted a faint halo that made her appear extraordinary.

“Oh, it’s alright. Thank you.”

As she smiled and responded, the guard seemed reassured and went back upstairs. Soon, someone quietly descended into the basement.

“Sister Ilia. As expected… Just seeing you, I can tell. You bear the holy stigmata. I am Austin Pruitt, at your service, Saintess.”

A gentle smile adorned his pale, gaunt face. His neatly combed white hair was covered by an old priest’s hat, and his worn clerical robe’s red circle, the symbol of Anima, the god of fire and food, was so faded it was barely visible. This humble appearance endeared the old priest to Ilia.

“I received your message, but I wanted to see and confirm for myself. Now, I worry if it was too urgent, Your Eminence.”

“No, it’s alright. The Holy Father will learn of it soon enough. Don’t concern yourself.”

“Though I understand your intentions, you still address him as ‘Holy Father’?”

“Until all is confirmed, we must adhere to the rules. If I break the law to punish someone who did the same, it would be contradictory.”

From his first impression to his clear principles, Ilia had no further doubts about this old priest.

“I understand the matter you mentioned. I will follow the will of King Logan and Your Eminence.”

“Thank you, Saintess. My old heart feels reassured.”

As their warm gazes met, a sudden interruption came from above.

“Y-Your Holiness! How did you come to this humble place without notice?”

The guard’s voice from the top of the underground stairs made their faces stiffen.

Step, step.

“It’s rare to meet someone in such a dire place.”

Pope Julio Umberto I, like Austin, had neatly combed white hair and a clean appearance. His wrinkled face was similar, but the resemblance ended there. His pristine, silk robe was embroidered with the gods’ symbols in shining gold thread, and his high priest’s hat glowed softly, asserting his presence. His silver eyes, known for piercing through people’s hearts, were accompanied by a gentle halo, marking him as a chosen saint.

However, Ilia’s brows furrowed at the sight of him. As their gazes almost met, Austin quickly bowed his head towards the Pope.

“Greetings, Your Holiness.”

“Greetings, Your Holiness.”

Following Austin, Ilia quickly bowed her head. The Pope’s calm voice addressed them.

“Is there a reason for seeing the inquisition target so early, Austin?”

“I wanted to confirm if she was indeed the Saintess, Your Holiness. If I’ve breached protocol, please reprimand me.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t reprimand a cardinal for such a thing. It’s understandable. But be more cautious next time.”

“Yes, Your Holiness.”

Despite their gentle voices, their sharp eyes betrayed another layer of conversation. The Pope’s abrupt question cut to the heart of the matter.

“So, what do you think?”

“Sister Ilia is undoubtedly the Saintess.”

“Indeed. As a priest, you can’t mistake that halo.”

The Pope’s silver eyes gleamed strangely as he looked at Ilia.

“But for a Saintess to break the taboo, this is troublesome. The inquisition will be difficult.”

“The Saintess couldn’t have broken the taboo. If she had, she wouldn’t have the stigmata…”

“Enough. Cardinal Austin, the judgment is mine, as it will be in the inquisition.”

“Yes, Your Holiness.”

“But don’t be so tense. It’s been 30 years since I last saw someone with the stigmata besides myself.”

“The Saintess will be a symbol of the temple. Please…”

“Hmm, we’ll see…”

Ilia silently observed the old man clicking his tongue. No, more precisely, she watched the halo behind him.

‘No ordinary person, not even a high-ranking priest, would notice this. It’s very subtle.’

She knew because she had the stigmata herself. The Pope’s halo was a fake, originating from ‘something’ on his wrist.

Suddenly, she recalled a question.

There are rumors that Pope Julio’s halo is fake. If you can confirm this, please inform us, His Majesty requested.

‘How did King Logan know about this?’

She had never heard such a rumor. It was shocking that the holy Pope’s saintly status and halo could be fake.

Who, or how, could anyone imitate sacred power?

‘No magic can achieve this.’

Her confusion was evident, but the Pope smiled and spoke.

“Aren’t you happy to meet? I can feel the resonance of our stigmata clearly.”

His wrinkled face bore a kindly smile, but to Ilia, it seemed all the more hypocritical.

The reaction in her stigmata was not from the stigmata itself but from something on the Pope’s wrist.

‘Is it possible to fabricate holy power with magic? This is…’

Her increasing confusion was visible, but she quickly bowed her head.

“Yes, Your Holiness. The noble resonance of your stigmata is spreading through my soul.”

Though it was a rare lie for Ilia, fortunately, her voice didn’t tremble. She had practiced this line many times with Viktor.

Seeing the Pope’s broad smile at her words, Ilia was reassured that she had made the right choice.

“Indeed. It’s good to meet. With the stigmata, the inquisition is unnecessary.”

“Your Holiness, then…?”

Austin interjected with excitement.

“But we must follow protocol, so a trial will be held. But don’t worry. I will acknowledge and support you, so there will be no major issues.”

Ignoring Austin, the Pope gently patted Ilia’s shoulder with a soft smile.

‘There it is.’

Thanks to his touch, Ilia confirmed the presence of a white bracelet under the Pope’s wide sleeve. Despite the frustration, she concealed her emotions and looked at the Pope with a grateful expression.

“Yes, truly, thank you, Your Holiness.”

This, too, was part of the rehearsed act. Unaware of the pretense, Austin’s eyes widened in astonishment. Perhaps it was his reaction, or maybe the Pope simply enjoyed Ilia’s performance.

“Well then, see you tomorrow. Oh, and you too, Austin.”

With a deeper smile, the Pope turned away.

The next day, nearly all the priests of the central temple gathered in the grand hall, the largest within the central temple, to witness the heresy trial.

“What do you think will happen?”

“I heard she’s rumored to be a Saintess.”

“No way.”

The grand hall, filled with more than a thousand priests, buzzed with unprecedented excitement.

But soon, the Pope’s voice resonated through the hall, silencing the crowd in an instant.

“We will now commence the heresy trial of Bishop Ilia Gabon of the Maclain Diocese. Silence.”

Ilia, bound in chains, walked into the now quiet hall. The heavy clank of her shackles weighed on her steps, but her expression remained calm as she moved through the throng of priests. As the priests saw the halo behind her, their eyes widened.

“Is she really a Saintess?”

“Is it a trick?”

“No, it feels like genuine divine power.”

“Then the rumors must be true…”

The murmuring voices grew louder again.

“Silence! Silence!”

Bang, bang.

The Pope’s gavel rang clear, once more calming the noise.

Before the Pope could continue, one of the nine cardinals seated beside him stood up.

“Your Holiness, there are rumors that Sister Ilia overcame the plague and received the stigmata as a Saintess. Before proceeding with the doctrinal trial, we should verify those rumors.”

Cardinal Sam Freeman, known as the Pope’s right hand, spoke on behalf of the gathered priests. The Pope nodded immediately.

“Indeed. Bishop Ilia, can you prove your stigmata?”

Without hesitation, Ilia nodded.

“Though I am unworthy, I would like to reveal here that I have received the grace of Amunda.”

She tore the right shoulder of her worn clerical robe, revealing a clear blue circle on her white shoulder. The priests, sensing the stronger divine power, erupted in cheers.

“It’s true!”

“She’s really a Saintess!”

The grand hall buzzed with excitement again, but this time the Pope did not silence it.

After the commotion subsided, the Pope raised his gavel once more. With a calm face, he spoke.

“The heresy trial for Bishop Ilia originally concerned the means she used to overcome the plague. However, the stigmata legitimizes those means, rendering the doctrinal debate pointless.”

As all eyes focused on him, the Pope paused briefly before continuing.

“Therefore, I declare the heresy trial null and appoint Saintess Ilia as an honorary cardinal!”

Cheers filled the grand hall, transforming the heresy trial into a ceremony for appointing a new cardinal.

‘Ilia, you will become a symbol, cleansing the temple of its negative rumors and proving its sanctity,’ the Pope thought, smiling warmly at the cheering priests. He extended his hand toward Ilia.

“Come here, Sister Ilia. I will personally bestow upon you the cardinal’s hat and robe.”

With an unusual smile, the Pope beckoned Ilia. She approached him, amidst the thousand priests gathered in the hall. The pristine white robe and hat, seemingly prepared in advance, were placed in her hands, prompting another round of applause.

“Greetings to Your Eminence, the Cardinal!”

“Greetings to the Saintess!”

The thunderous voices of the priests echoed as Ilia smiled and waved. Despite the faded robes and disheveled hair from months of transport, her beauty shone through, enhanced by the divine halo.

“She truly is the Saintess. How beautiful…”

“She is the avatar of the divine…”

As the hall buzzed with praise and admiration, Austin Pruitt stood up, followed by a group of priests.

“On this joyous day, with most of the temple’s priests gathered, I propose a matter more important than the heresy trial.”

His tone and the atmosphere drew everyone’s attention.

“I, Cardinal Austin Pruitt, hereby propose an impeachment motion against Pope Julio Umberto I.”

His words threw the hall into chaos.

“What?”

“What is he saying?”

“Did I hear that right?”

The hall’s atmosphere shifted dramatically as the Pope’s cold anger became evident.

“Cardinal Austin, are you out of your mind?”

But the pale cardinal continued calmly.

“The reasons for impeachment include bribery, abuse of power, and involvement or instigation in 23 crimes inside and outside the temple. I will also submit evidence.”

The hall’s mood changed instantly.

“What’s this?”

“The Pope?”

“Is impeachment even possible?”

“Silence, Austin Pruitt! You are defaming the laws of the temple! The impeachment of the Pope requires the agreement of at least two cardinals!”

As the enraged Cardinal Tenor Rainey shouted, the hall fell silent again. Known as a staunch ally of the Pope, his statement was irrefutable.

“Oh, is that so?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Indeed, it is.”

The atmosphere shifted, suggesting that the impeachment motion itself was invalid.

However, Ilia, recently appointed as an honorary cardinal, raised her hand and spoke.

“I second the impeachment motion.”

Once more, the atmosphere of the hall turned upside down.