Episode 276: Proposal of Impeachment against the Pope!

A clash between some high priests of the Central Temple and the Papal faction.

The Holy City was in chaos!

Just as rumors related to Nobience shook the world, a significant change occurred in a corner of the Maclaine Kingdom.

“It seems like it’s time for your return, Your Eminence the Cardinal.”

“Such nonsense! We will never retreat like this! Either release the prisoners of the forsaken or else……”

Eshell, with his face flushed with anger, yelled as he often did.

However, his expression solidified like stone at a single statement from the Sword Saint.

“It has come to my attention that voices advocating for the impeachment of His Holiness the Pope have arisen from within the Central Temple. Should someone of your stature, Your Eminence, be here at this time?”

“……What?”

“There has been an issue within the Temple. Wouldn’t it be prudent to see it for yourself?”

Realizing the gravity of the situation after the Sword Saint’s continued words, Eshell’s complexion turned ashen.

He hurriedly ran into the tent and before long, emerged rushing out again.

“The investigative team will return to the Temple with haste!!”

With that urgent cry, the course of the investigative team was set.

Du-Du-Du-Du.

Behind the madly dashing investigative team, similarly accelerating, the elite members of the 2nd Army let out grumbling complaints.

“Must we really send these madmen back just like that?”

Having heard Louis’ voice filled with dissatisfaction, the surrounding knights nodded unconsciously.

In their eyes, the heresy inquisitors appeared to be nothing more than fanatics crazed to the bone.

Those who would swing their maces to crack open heads or argue for burning at the stake over minor excuses for those who didn’t conform to their religious views.

Had the knights not intervened, one could not fathom the number of innocent lives that may have perished unjustly.

The Sword Saint also understood this rage but merely shook his head calmly.

“At the least, we cannot let them come to harm within our kingdom. That itself would give the Temple grounds to blame us.”

“Sigh. It’s unfortunate.”

“The scoundrels who rush back to the Temple overlooking its official stance, all to gain one more vote in the impeachment hearing. The rest are nothing more than brainwashed puppets. No need to take them to heart.”

Louis nodded at the measured voice but suddenly tilted his head in confusion at an emerging doubt.

“One vote?”

“All high priests of bishop rank and above come together to vote on the impeachment resolution. To them, even a cardinal is but a single vote.”

“Huh… To rush back so hastily for merely that… Ah, then the heresy inquisitors’ votes would also be counted. Didn’t you say those representatives hold the divine power of a bishop?”

“The Bishops responsible for each diocese, so those would not be included.”

“So it’s really just to cast one vote?”

“That man cares most about his own position. He must want to please the Pope.”

The logic behind the desperate movements of the madmen’s leader was so simple.

“Incredible. I’ve observed it for weeks, and still they remain as jarring as ever.”

Louis sneered coldly as he scoffed at Eshell.

Of course, unaware of their feelings, Eshell pressed on with urgency.

After a three-day gallop, having passed through the trading city of Kail, the Sword Saint reached the border and, with a relieved face, addressed Eshell.

“This is as far as we go. Please take care on your return trip, Your Eminence.”

“This kindness will not be forgotten.”

Eshell responded through clenched teeth to the Sword Saint who bore a slight smile.

It was only natural for Eshell to grind his teeth, having returned empty-handed without accomplishing anything the investigative team had set out to do due to the knights’ interference.

But there was no time left for complaints.

“Return with utmost haste!”

Heeiiiiing.

Watching the hurried retreat of the investigative team across the border, Louis quipped light-heartedly.

“Now all that’s left is to return to the capital. You must be feeling good to see Miss Stella after a long time.”

“No, there’s still important business left.”

A different expression from the joking Louis, his superior threw out an unexpected statement with a grave complexion.

“What?”

“Lead the knights back first.”

“Me… go?”

“His Majesty has given an order. Find someone with a similar build to me and set him on my steed at the forefront. Act as if it were me, both you and all the knights.”

Louis’s complexion hardened immediately at that statement.

“Don’t tell me……”

“Please.”

After patting his shoulder, the Sword Saint disappeared atop his horse with the agility of a ghostly shadow.

And Louis, who had observed and learned from his side over many years, recognized, albeit vaguely, that movement was directed west.

“Ei. Surely not…….”

Apprehension grew within him, but recalling the Sword Saint’s command, Louis drove his horse towards the capital without hesitation.

“More! Faster! We’re late! We’re falling behind!”

Du-du-du-du.

Since entering the Imperial border escorted by the knights of Maclaine’s 2nd Army, Eshell had been urging the heresy inquisitors to pick up pace, even pouring divine power into his horse, which struggled the most.

‘Impeachment? Such unbelievable nonsense.’

If the Pope were impeached, it would be the end for him too.

The Pope he knew would not die alone.

‘He’s the type to drag me down with him.’

Such conjecture agitated him.

There were degrees to being a corrupt priest. For mere bribery, the Temple might not strictly condemn one, but Eshell’s private tastes were taboo even among the most rotten of priests.

If discovered, excommunication was certain, and execution was a possibility.

That’s why the Pope was able to treat him dismissively, despite his independent authority as a cardinal.

He once more resented his past naïve self.

‘Why did I leave evidence?’

Of course, he did not believe the Pope would be quietly impeached.

Hence, all the more, he needed to return as quickly as possible to prove his loyalty.

That’s why he was rushing so hastily when a sudden call came from behind the galloping cavalry.

“Your Eminence, the Cardinal. There are obstacles ahead!”

Obstacles?

Atop the busy hillside, silhouetted against the setting sun, stood still figures looking like statues.

‘What are those?’

Choosing only the shortest path from the Imperial border to the Central Temple, the road could be rough.

Yet, having used the same path on his way here, impossible that he would miss such memorable obstacles.

Thud. Thud.

“What? They move, move!”

“What?”

“Golems!”

“Everyone, prepare for battle!”

Taken aback, Eshell was replaced by Robe, who shouted orders at the entire investigative team.

However, the horses, exhausted from the half-day run and the uphill struggle, were not swift in their movements.

Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.

Before the investigative team could be battle-ready, the statues rapidly closed in with increasing speed.

The statues had arrived upfront, towering well over 3 meters, resembling giants.

Moreover, clad in armor and each wielding a massive two-handed weapon like a two-handed sword or sledgehammer, the weapons appeared solid and could easily cleave through a typical creature’s skull with their sharp glint.

More than 50 armed statues charged forward.

Those present turned pale like stone at the sight.

Woowwng.

Simultaneously, an incomprehensible massive energy pressed down on their entire bodies.

“Magic! Everyone, deploy your divine power!”

Alongside Robe’s shout, the agents emitted a brilliant white light from their bodies.

The high-level sacred magic ‘Sanctum Declaration,’ a group divine spell that the high-ranking agents, those with mastery over Saint Aura and pure divine power, could perform if gathered in numbers.

The spell, true to its name, momentarily boosted the combat capabilities and morale of the heresy inquisitors.

“Woahh!”

Encouraged by his comrade’s cries, Robe reignited his fighting spirit.

He could bring down any enemy in one fell swoop.

They were agents of divine retribution, enacting God’s will on earth.

‘That Sword Saint is the abnormal one, we are the strongest!’

As Robe affirmed and raised his mace with all his strength, a sudden chilling sensation hit him.

‘Danger!’

The instinctive dread made him duck his head reflexively.

Screech.

Accompanied by a small noise, he saw an arm clutching a mace floating in the air—a somewhat familiar scene.

A sharp pain followed, strangely reminiscent as well.

Of course, such agony could never grow familiar.

“Aagh!”

“Tch. Two casualties already?”

Robe involuntarily screamed out, but a voice that had grown familiar over the past several weeks sounded right beside him.

Out of nowhere, one of his colleagues’ severed head rolled on the ground, yet that voice seemed more chilling.

“Sword Saint!”

Answering to that call, a masked figure appeared in front of Robe.

Despite the familiarity of its aura and voice, the masked one playfully asked with feigned ignorance.

“Hm? Who? I don’t know such a person.”

“Stop joking, you fiend! Are you not afraid of divine retribution!”

The reply to that shout came from a completely unexpected place.

“This is heavenly punishment!”

With a calm yet powerful voice, a golden aura exploded outwards from the center of the investigative team. In that moment, without even a chance to cry out, about a dozen heresy inquisitors around it were torn apart like paper dolls, losing their lives.

Then, with an enormous rumbling, the ground collapsed beneath them.

Rumbleeeeng.

The path upon which the investigative team had charged vanished in an instant, sinking the landscape nearly 7-8 meters down.

Heeeeeiiiiing!

“Aaah!”

“Be careful!”

“Grand magic!”

Certainly, the act couldn’t kill all of the 300 heresy inquisitors alone, but already staggered by wide-area gravity magic, their horses met with a horrendous end while uttering death cries.

In the midst of that dreadful sight, all eyes turned towards another masked figure who suddenly appeared. The investigative team was unable to recover from the shock caused by the magnitude of the catastrophic scene and its architect.

Yet several heretics not overwhelmed with panic, while retaining their combative spirit, noticed the rhythm of the central masked figure’s heavily heaving chest.

“That one, the enemy has overexerted!”

“Now! Kill it!”

“Receive divine punishment!”

But in an instant.

“Impossible!”

A streak of red aura swiftly shot out, piercing through the heresy inquisitors who were about to converge on the central masked figure.

“Sword Saint! You heretic! You will face divine judgment!”

Of the heresy inquisitors, Eshell, the sole cardinal, had avoided fatal injury from the fall, hobbled around cursing with a twisted ankle.

Yet the Sword Saint(?) did not bother to respond, continuing the massacre. Soon after, another cry of agony erupted from behind.

“Aaahh!”

“I’ll crush you all!”

A silver storm hit the side of a heretic inquisitor.

Suddenly, amidst the thin masked figures, a silver whirlwind surged through the heresy inquisitors.

Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa.

“Aaaahh!”

The silver wind, having breached into the heart of the battlefield, penetrated through the gaps in the armor, separating the bones and flesh of the heresy inquisitors. Even the senior inquisitors who managed to block the silver wind with their radiant light were hopelessly run through by the thin masked figure wielding a sharp, spear-like blade.

The silver tempest, now a crimson storm of blood, devastated the rear of the investigative team. Meanwhile, the 50 or so statues plunged beneath the collapsed landmass.

Ka-boooom!

With a meteoric crash, the golems, descending wielded their massive weapons without hesitation.

“This, this is outrageous!”

“Fight!”

“Defend!”

Under normal circumstances, the heresy inquisitors could have managed a single golem, but were effortlessly swept away without a chance to strike back properly.

Eventually, while rallying under the protection of his allies and catching their breath, the central masked figure began to emit a golden aura again, sealing the fate of the heresy investigative team.

“No runaways have been found, my…… cough. Lord.”

“Those agents, indeed they were enemies worth cutting. Pity for the brute that missed it; I’m sure he would be sorry. Tsk tsk.”

“Both of you have worked hard.”

The masked figures who had obliterated the temple’s elites gathered around one person.

The result produced by merely four individuals – a swordsman and a magician – seemed unbelievable. Yet, for those present, it was well within expectations, and hence they had planned for it.

“That can’t be. Lord, it was your strength that mattered most.”

“Your strike is always beyond comprehension.”

“It all came together thanks to the advice our master gave us.”

Logan, the leader of the masked ones, replied with a smile within his mask.

The 6th form of the Divine Sword Warfare, ‘Origin Cleaver,’ could theoretically pulverize all matter or life within its range, regardless of its strength. However, the power required for it was excessive to handle just a few individuals or targets.

Thus, the Sword Saint had once suggested adapting that form into a widespread attack by shattering the terrain or objects around it.

The modified form, ‘Total Collapse,’ had once again proved its worth, following its debut in a civil war.

“Lou…, not bringing that fellow made me uneasy, but it was unfounded worry.”

“Being a mindless brute was his fault. It’s impossible not to notice someone like him.”

The swordsmen thus mocked even the absent one in their midst with laughter, but the magician couldn’t afford to.

“However, Lord. Even though I can erase the land’s memory to tidy up completely, suspicions will point towards us. I worry about the undesired effect of drawing attention to our king, um, to us rather than the intended chaos in the Temple.”

“I understand your concerns. But you don’t have to worry.”

Logan confidently dismissed Clayton’s worries in an assured voice.