The Church Complaints Office, handling the grievances of the 21st District’s parishioners, is always bustling to deal with the ever-mounting requests.
Government officials can clock out after the hours set aside by the legislative body, but the deacons, whose duties are part of the ‘promotion process,’ can’t afford to rest.
For them, home is just a few steps away from their workplace, and typically, they rise early for morning prayers, diving straight into work afterward, wrestling with piled-up tasks until well past the evening prayers before finally collapsing into bed.
Yet most deacons willingly embrace such work.
After all, the path of a priest is one that cannot be followed without faith. If one cannot carry out their duties with joy, they’re bound to fall by the wayside. In a world where a Goddess genuinely exists, the term ‘faith’ carries a depth that’s utterly different from what it meant in the secular society of 500 years ago.
Moreover, the complaints of the parishioners aren’t limited to social welfare or health-related issues; there are questions about doctrine as well.
Such questions often relate closely to daily life and serve as practical experience or achievements that would be beneficial later when they become priests and offer confessions or give sermons. While acting in the role of an agency responsible for social welfare, the church’s fundamental purpose remains to uphold and sustain the faith of its people.
Complaints that require constant contemplation and efforts toward progress are far more welcomed than simply responding according to the rules laid out.
In this context, when a petition penned by a saintess herself appeared before deacon Christine, she nearly fainted from joy.
[I want to know which path I should follow if there is a gap between my faith and reality. Therefore, I respectfully request a meeting with His Holiness, the Pope, who sits closest to the Gods as a representative of believers.
Thus, I ask for your assistance to become a model for many parishioners and lead them. As a servant of the Goddess, I beseech another servant.]
Christine’s hands trembled slightly while holding the application, not just from the thrill of seeing the words of a saintess, but because the heart behind those words was profoundly admirable.
Though the title of saintess felt too heavy for a girl barely fifteen, this young lady was already accepting that burden and eager to learn from those seasoned ahead of her who tread the path of faith.
Having performed miracles and received divine revelations, she could easily have been arrogant, yet instead, she sought the teachings of others.
A completely different attitude than that of someone who is above others.
Christine frowned.
By the proper procedures, this petition should advance to the cardinal. However, for some reason, the cardinal had disliked her since she was a nun. At one point, he had even sent her to the battlefield outright.
Of course, she had overcome that trial and was canonized. It was a thing to be grateful to the merciful Goddess for. Christine thought as she made the sign of the cross.
But the issue was, even after her canonization, the cardinal still appeared to harbor disdain for her.
In other words, if this petition reached the cardinal, there was a high chance it wouldn’t be able to go further up the chain.
“……”
Christine was in agony.
The saintess was, quite literally, a saintess. Chosen by the Goddess, the most fervent of believers, a being who was nothing short of a miracle.
And the Pope was unarguably the most respected priest of all.
What could there be to discuss between the saintess and the Pope? How would the faith of the world appear through the eyes of a saintess who had appeared after fifty years?
[I want to know which path I should follow if there is a gap between my faith and reality.]
What on earth does that gap between the faith of a ‘saintess’ and reality entail? What did she see in the world with those pure, innocent eyes that led to a gap between pure faith and reality?
“If I were to send this directly to the Vatican…”
It might greatly affect her achievements as a deacon.
However, she felt reluctant to let this request be blocked midway.
If the saintess had applied for a meeting with the Pope as a saintess, Christine wouldn’t even be reading this letter. At that point, the missive would have become a dialogue between high-ranking individuals.
But the saintess did not act that way.
“As a servant of the Goddess…”
As a servant of the Goddess, reaching out to another servant.
Not seeking advice from someone higher or lower, but just from a fellow person standing on the same level.
That was how Christine viewed the application.
Perhaps this application was not merely an application but an appeal that all parishioners are equal as parishioners.
It was undoubtedly something one would expect to emerge from the thoughts of a young one.
Reality is always far more complex and bizarrely entangled than imagined; it cannot simply run on ideals alone.
Yet, even so.
The duty Christine was already undertaking was never different from what the saintess was appealing for.
“Is that so?”
Christine smiled brightly and pulled out a sheet of paper. Grabbing a pen, she began to copy the saintess’s petition onto that paper.
“Then I shall act in accordance with what I believe.”
It’s not always feasible to follow one’s beliefs. In reality, it’s impossible for all parishioners to be treated equally, and authority or hierarchy can’t just disappear. The saintess’s appeal was overly idealistic and unrealistic in some respects.
However, even if that were the case.
There should never be a situation where rightful requests are disregarded for unjust reasons.
Thus, the saintess’s request was divided into two copies; the original was carefully packaged and sealed to be sent to the Vatican, while the duplicate made its way to the Cardinal’s office.
*
“……Indeed.”
The Pope, Shastan I—
No, the parishioner Yugh Hobehe carefully gazed down at the saintess’s appeal placed on a silver tray atop his desk.
Without a doubt, the saintess’s appeal was doctrinally sound.
No matter how high-ranking someone might be—Pope or cardinal—they are not superior to other parishioners. If serving the Gods, they are merely parishioners and the Pope is just a representative of those believers. Sitting on a lavishly decorated golden chair doesn’t make one more devout or powerful than any other parishioner.
Even apart from the church, there have been many who have called forth miracles and have been canonized, despite not being high-ranking like the cardinals or the Pope.
[I want to know what to do if there is a gap between my faith and reality…]
Looking back, the saintess was pale as could be during her canonization ceremony. Standing at a high place in front of the Pope, under the gaze of everyone, the expression on that young girl’s face revealed she didn’t know why she was standing there.
Some might think she was merely nervous.
But reading this appeal reveals it was perhaps more than just nerves.
The saintess is still living in the convent.
It’s true that her tasks have been minimized, considering her age. Until at least she graduates from the academy, she will likely be given as little work as possible.
Still, outside of that, she could demand many things.
From meals and facilities to accommodations and interior designs, she had every right to request what she wanted.
Yet, the saintess hasn’t requested anything.
She simply continued to live just as she had in the convent.
Yugh Hobehe had also experienced life in a convent during his childhood. He knew well how decrepit and shabby the facilities could be. The convent would be no different; after all, it was all merely affiliated with the cathedral.
Yet, the fact that she displayed no complaints about her living circumstances was likely rooted in the belief that others would endure it the same way.
Could it be that the reason she looked so pale during her canonization was not only due to the nerves of becoming a saintess but rather because she was witnessing something that starkly contrasted with everything she had believed?
The Pope raised his gaze and surveyed his office.
Beautiful murals adorned the ceiling. Images of the Goddess and countless saints following her. But could that image truly be the Goddess? He had never once seen the Goddess himself. The artist who painted it likely hadn’t either. If someone had truly seen the Goddess and laid eyes on that painting, would their face not blanch like the saintess’s?
A desk and shelves carved from fine wood. Bibles bound in leather. A simple silver tray used just for carrying documents. Silver candlesticks now unnecessary since electricity had been installed.
All of it was extravagance.
Of course, there was a reason for that extravagance.
The Pope, as the head of the church, required authority. The church has always been a force against demons and beasts. Without any chain of command, they would simply be swept away.
Also, to meet with the head of the government on an equal footing, even if not equal, one had to at least appear so.
Thus, such adornments were supposedly needed—
“The saintess might not see it that way.”
Hobehe stared at the papers on the silver tray for a bit before pulling out another sheet.
Then he grabbed a pen and began to write a letter to the saintess.
[I’ve heard you wish to meet with me. I look forward to it eagerly. Please do visit at your convenience.]
Then, he wrote his name—
“No, that’s not right.”
The Pope stopped and smiled softly. A serene smile that had not graced his face in a long time.
“Not as Pope, then.”
But rather, as a fellow parishioner.
[-Yugh Hobehe, servant of the Goddess.]
Thus, a meeting between the Pope and the Saintess, which would become the cornerstone for the 26th Central Ecumenical Council, was set to take place.
*
Looking back, this might not be such a bad story.
After all, if Kwon In-Soo were to reject my request, I was already preparing to directly submit a different type of complaint to the Vatican.
In that case, if the Pope directly reacted, the same situation would likely have occurred, and I’d be meeting him regardless.
Besides, no matter what, my submitted request was not a request for the Cardinal. It was a request for a meeting with the Pope.
Even if the aim was to meet with the Cardinal, the request itself had been properly delivered, allowing me to meet the Pope directly.
“Ah, oh dear…”
I buried my head in my hands.
I thought it wouldn’t reach the Pope! I’d intentionally written the request vaguely! But even so, am I out of my mind to argue with the Pope about how I dislike the Cardinal? I could’ve handled this at my level.
The long complaint I’d filled up with 5,700 characters all said ‘The Cardinal refused to meet me, boo hoo,’ not ‘Please talk to me, Your Holiness.’
It’s like submitting a request to meet the president at the district office and having it go up to the mayor, who unknowingly has the president read it and arrange to meet me! At least from the church’s perspective, that’s how it seemed.
Though, if the person submitting the complaint was a recipient of an honorary medal, maybe that would alter the treatment.
It’s all because someone orchestrated it from the shadows.
There’s definitely a spy planted directly from the Vatican within the 21st District.
Are they monitoring the letters I send? No, that might be too far. If that were the case, there would be no reason for the Pope to personally send me a letter. It would be a blatant move of declaring I’m being watched.
Rather, it might be an indication that “there’s no need for such precautions, you can meet directly.”
…Whatever the reason, I understand that the Vatican is keeping a close eye on me.
“Isn’t it fortunate that the request for a meeting has been conveyed? Since it reached His Holiness without being blocked halfway, you can have your desired meeting…”
Saintess’s aide, Aurora, remarked.
“Ah, well…”
That well, I found no words to add and started to panic.
Right? What should I say?
I could hardly tell Aurora and Linea that I deliberately ‘baited the Pope into meeting since I wanted to confront the Cardinal.’ I might be kind of flippant, but those two still fervently serve the Goddess deep down.
Whatever the reason, being able to submit a request for a meeting with the Pope and receiving permission is a grand privilege. It’s just that I didn’t foresee how well that method would work.
In fact, I could think of it if I tried hard enough. My events have always caused a stir wherever I go, and every time Andrea appears because the Inquisition is always around me. So, I should assume the line of communication runs even higher up.
The letter from the Pope was crafted as though it were simply a parishioner wanting to meet me, but in reality… is that truly the case?
The Pope had seemed like the warm-eyed grandfather-next-door during the canonization ceremony, but… the Pope had also previously been a cardinal. And with the cardinals receiving the most votes to become Pope, that means the Pope’s political acumen is higher than Kwon In-Soo’s, right?
My abdomen clenched.
But.
“Well, um, I guess I’m just a little nervous. Hahaha!”
In the end, I cannot reject this.
I was the one who first mentioned wanting to meet the Pope. If the Pope had been the one to request me first, it would have been courteous to decline, but once the Pope responded, declining now would be… Ugh, I don’t even want to think about it.
While there is an exceedingly objective proof of the holy power and miracles, there’s no way for me to step down from the status of saintess… This could make future life quite cumbersome.
It would be actions that earn me ill will from the entire church.
I racked my brains trying to find the best choice I could offer.
To be honest, the idea of a reformation of the entire church was out of the question.
I had only started learning about the church and religion for less than half a year. Reversing a framework that has been studied for centuries from the root is impossible.
The matters I was preparing, like the various themes surrounding the Elves’ sacrificial rites, would take ample time, and if I rushed, it would yield no good results. I planned to consider the time needed to address those matters in years. Sure, I intended to leave in five years, so I wanted to finish before then, but bringing it up during the meeting with the Pope was far too rushed.
Then again, I should set the stage to get rid of Kwon In-Soo.
I penned on the meeting request, “I don’t know what to do if my faith and reality are different.” This resonated with the inquiries I’d made of Kwon In-Soo, after all.
So, I could just push that same thought forward before the Pope.
It might not lead to a banishment, but dismissal could be possible.
Thinking so eased my mind a little.
Yes, the Pope is a busy man. Even if he meets with me, it’s clear that an extended conversation would be impossible.
Phew, let’s calm down.
Now that it’s come to this, the aim is to meet quickly and end it fast!
“It’s been quite a while since I’ve been to the Vatican since the canonization ceremony. Back then, I was a bit overwhelmed with things moving too quickly,” Linea commented, resting her chin on her hand.
That’s right.
If we keep skipping school, we could face repercussions, and from the church’s side too, all sorts of complex, unprecedented events were tangled up, so they hurriedly dealt with the things they could handle first.
Those two things tangled together meant that the day of the canonization was the only time I set foot in the central church, only to return to the academy the very next day.
It had been so chaotic with all the people around me trying to talk to me that I barely remembered that lavish building; my attention was split since I was incredibly nervous and wrestling with the embarrassment of donning the saintess robes.
Thus, I want to go there this time with a peaceful mind.
I originally enjoyed man-made architecture, so I’ll visit more like a tourist.
Plus, I had another reason to finish up quickly.
Once July passes, it’ll be vacation time. I’ve finally become a teenager and can enjoy summer break to the fullest; I can’t let anything religious ruin that!
“Indeed, let’s make it quick. His Holiness is a busy man too!” I responded.
With that, I eagerly penned a reply on the letter I had laid out on my desk.
[Thank you for your kind response. Please let me know a comfortable day for you, and I will visit.]
It didn’t matter whether it was a weekday or weekend. If the Pope called, the academy wouldn’t protest. After all, when receiving a church figure, missing school due to church affairs is something one has to anticipate in advance.
…And then the reply arrived by the next evening, which happened to be the same time I had received the Pope’s letter.
[Thank you for your consideration. Then please do visit this weekend. I will ensure that your journey is comfortable.]
It seemed I had just handed it over to the Cardinal that night.
…Does the Pope have a lighter workload than I imagined?
No, more importantly, do these guys never go home after work?
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