Chapter: 79
80. Praise the Black Saint! (6)
Dominic gathered everyone and revealed the truth.
What he had witnessed earlier.
The heinous acts committed by Cardinal Karon and the clergy associated with the temple.
However, most people struggled to believe his words.
When you think about it, it’s not surprising.
There’s a degree of evil one can understand, after all.
What Karon did was far beyond the realm of reasonable comprehension.
Plus, Cardinal Karon had quite the stellar reputation.
If Dominic had told yesterday’s version of himself about all this, he wouldn’t have been able to believe it either.
“Isn’t there some sort of misunderstanding? How could someone do something so horrific…?”
“Perhaps they were not afraid of divine punishment.”
Dominic responded to the archbishop’s words.
Surely, Cardinal Karon was not afraid of celestial wrath.
Or maybe he didn’t even believe in the existence of God.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have dared to commit such atrocities in God’s name.
“But… if that’s the case, what about the stigmata? God would never bestow such a powerful mark on someone who commits such acts.”
The white-haired, elderly cardinal asked.
That was certainly a valid point.
If what Dominic said was true, then it was odd that Karon had received a mark symbolizing God’s favor.
But Dominic felt he was beginning to understand.
The identity of that mark.
Why someone who didn’t worship God could grasp such powerful miracles.
“That’s… probably something grafted from another.”
“What are you talking about? That can’t possibly be….”
“Yes, of course, grafting a stigmatic mark is practically impossible. You can move it, but most of the power would be lost.”
There was an unexpected acknowledgment.
The old man furrowed his brow in confusion… then his face went pale.
The reason was quite simple.
The one who oversaw the activities in the republic.
If such a capable person didn’t pick up on the hidden meaning in Dominic’s words, it would have been weirder.
“There must have been countless sacrifices.”
Forcibly grafting a stigmatic mark means most of its power would be lost.
In fact, since the mark is often integrated with the magic circuits of the body, forcibly tearing it out would most likely result in death.
The Holy Church didn’t deem grafting a stigmatic mark impossible for nothing.
However… that horrible human thought otherwise.
He thought it would be a non-issue.
Wasn’t it just a matter of making up for lost quantities?
Even if only one-hundredth.
No, even one-thousandth was transferred.
He could just ‘use’ that many humans, and it would all be solved.
Everyone’s faces turned pale with horror.
They all had a vague understanding.
That what Dominic was saying was not a lie.
Or perhaps they had all suspected it from the beginning.
In truth, everyone wanted to deny it.
That such horrific things were being done at the hands of those who swore to follow God.
Dominic understood that sentiment too.
But that didn’t mean he could help them escape reality.
Because the Black Saint had spoken.
Face your sins.
Surely that was a message left for this moment.
Dominic led them to the “Special Education Room” to show them.
What had transpired here.
The horrendous truth.
Some couldn’t hold back and began to vomit at the disgusting sight, while others simply wept silently.
There were even voices raised in outrage denouncing such ugly behavior.
However, that was just the beginning.
As they explored the facilities below, the more they confirmed what had happened there.
Their expressions grew increasingly dark. It was understandable.
They had gathered innocent children.
Torturing them in every possible way while forcing them to praise God to extract divine power.
Power that should be used to heal and vanquish evil, crafted into the Holy Grail by the Emperor’s might.
The impurities that occurred during that process.
The cursed souls of children filled with curses directed at the Holy Church.
Karon labeled it as waste and trapped them so they could never leave this world.
After killing them painfully, he still wouldn’t release the children, even in death.
According to the journal, there were even plans to use them beneficially through experiments later.
Acts so gruesome that it’s impossible to think they were committed by fellow humans.
In addition to that, research materials on demonification and various experiments carried out on innocent civilians.
The deeper they dug, the more horrific things emerged.
It was no wonder God was so enraged.
How could He remain silent upon witnessing such atrocious acts done in His name?
Now, Dominic felt he could somewhat understand the words spoken by the Saint.
– You do not recognize the most profane sin you’ve committed.
Thus, punishment was also a possibility.
Certainly, this was what He was referring to.
“…….”
In the depths beneath the temple.
After confronting the waiting truth, a cold silence swept through them.
There was nothing they could say. There was no room for excuses.
Not knowing doesn’t absolve sin.
They knew the corruption within the Holy Church was severe, but they didn’t realize such monstrous acts were being carried out.
That kind of ignorance could never become a reprieve.
If they truly followed the teachings of God.
If they had made an effort to root out all corruption.
They would have noticed such horrendous acts much sooner.
This was something they could have prevented.
Their inability to do so was solely their responsibility.
Their irreverence towards God’s teachings led to this outcome.
– First, face your sins. The punishment I will deliver will naturally become apparent when you confront them.
The Saint undoubtedly said something like that.
However, no matter how long they waited, He did not appear.
He did not stand before them to command them what to do for atonement.
He did not impose any punishment upon them.
The realization struck despair into everyone’s face.
God had spoken:
There is no ‘punishment’ I’ll deliver to you.
No punishment could wash away your sins.
That is the weight of the sins you’ve committed.
With no punishment, there can be no atonement.
I have no intentions of forgiving you, ever.
Dominic looked around.
Everyone’s face reflected dreadful guilt and despair.
They had been forsaken by God.
Because they committed sins that could never be undone, they felt abandoned by Him.
There could be nothing worse for a clergy member.
So, it wasn’t surprising that everyone sat on the ground, dazed.
Even Dominic himself felt as if he could break down helplessly.
His entire life.
In a moment where everything he had lived for felt invalidated, he was ready to lose his will to live.
But…
That couldn’t happen.
He must not let that happen.
He had to keep it together.
Thus, Dominic slapped his own cheeks hard.
He needed to clear his mind. He could not afford to give up in such a situation.
Dominic shouted at the crowd, his voice booming.
“What in the world are you doing!”
His sudden chastisement drew everyone’s eyes to him.
“I know. I know that God doesn’t want us anymore.”
No matter how much they regretted it, that fact wouldn’t change.
They could no longer call themselves clergy members.
Yet, Dominic continued.
“But that doesn’t give you the right to just sit here and mope.”
That was a given.
Even if they were no longer clergy, even if God didn’t want them.
“You must not ignore your sins.”
They couldn’t turn a blind eye to what they had done.
“As humans, we must bear responsibility. We must take responsibility for the sins we have committed.”
Even if they were no longer clergy, that remained the same.
This was something every human must do.
“… Do not run away from your sins.”
Dominic spoke this while looking at everyone.
And then…
The elderly cardinal with white hair stood up first.
He wanted to pretend he hadn’t heard, to ignore it.
Yet, he saw the truth in those words.
Though he had turned a blind eye until now.
That only meant he needed to strive for righteousness even more.
As he contemplated these things, everyone fell into deep thought.
They were all reflecting on their past, considering what choice to make.
In this very moment,
What decision they needed to make.
And… the answer had already been set.
It had to be that way.
They faced their sins. They felt the weight of them.
They understood how horrifying that experience was.
Thus, they could not repeat the same mistakes.
They could not turn their backs on what is right.
They rose.
Not as clergy, but as sinners.
Just as foolish humans.
The secret society that followed Black Fangs.
Thus, the moment ‘The Society of Fools’ was born.
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