I had heard the rumor about the Cathedral of Batian a few times. They said it was a building soaked in the blood and tears of countless saints, with a history and tradition spanning centuries.
It was painted white, but the yellowish stains and marks visible in every corner told me that they didn’t just live quietly, bowing their heads to God.
“I heard the royal palace plays quite a game of tact with them.”
I was totally ignorant of such political matters since I had only lived in the Forest of the Demon Realm, so I couldn’t pass any judgment.
Just honestly feeling it, it made me wonder why they had to engage in a power struggle under the guise of divine will and politics.
Everyone has different uses and traits, yet they fight over it.
Watching this scene reminded me of something I heard from Althric, a senior during my play back in the fourth year.
I heard that actors in plays and singers quietly compare themselves to each other, having a rivalry.
At the time, I thought, “What does that even mean? The differences between acting and singing are obvious.”
If you had to find something similar, both have an audience in front of them, but the impact points, roles, and overall atmosphere created are completely different.
Even so, Althric shrugged and answered that even though there are differences, actors and singers see each other as rivals on a larger scale.
“What’s different about this?”
Forget about rivalry, Frigia isn’t like any theocracy among the dragonkin; the politics and religion of the kingdom are entirely different matters, so why do they want to fight in the same ring?
Well, what would a Sherpa rummaging around the forest know about the thoughts of the high-ups?
Not thinking too hard, I openly shared my honest impression of the Cathedral I was seeing for the first time with Mikaela.
“What’s that?”
I thought it was a banner hanging over the Cathedral, but it was just a plain white cloth like a blank canvas with nothing drawn on it.
Mikaela shot a quick glance and smiled faintly as she explained.
“It’s called a screen, a new device introduced this time. The Saint Candidates will stay at Batian for a month on Voting Day and declare their realizations and feelings as a saint to the citizens.”
“Oh.”
“It used to be done with a huge platform in front of the Cathedral, but it took time for construction, and there were instances where believers of other gods acted violently, so it changed to this method.”
If they did it this way, the Saint Candidates could safely sit down and shout about how fitting they are as a saint.
“Aside from the Cathedral, about 17 buildings will have screens set up for the Saint Election so that citizens can see from anywhere.”
“Wow.”
I had no idea about this; it seemed like technology had advanced much more than I thought, even ten years ago. Here I was, impressed by ten-year-old technology while having just come from ten years into the future.
I felt a bit of existential dread.
“But is Diana okay?”
“Yes, there’s accommodation nearby, so there’s nothing to worry about.”
Mikaela kept glancing at the path where Diana had left, looking a bit anxious.
I ended up successfully sending the overly exhausted sister to the hotel where academy students were staying.
Just when I was fascinated by the screen and about to enter the Cathedral, noise that felt like scratching my ear erupted, and the screen lit up. I didn’t expect to see it working this quickly.
“Archbishop?”
The elderly man referred to as the most powerful in the Cathedral at present, absent of the saint.
He made the sign of the cross and spoke in a sorrowful voice.
“Dear citizens, I have something to announce regarding this Saint Election.”
“Um?”
As people began to crowd in, I was fortunate to be able to watch from the front row alongside Mikaela just as I entered the Cathedral.
“Unfortunately, of the seven Saint Candidates, I must inform you that two have withdrawn today.”
The citizens buzzed instantly. They shouted for clarification on what this meant and demanded to know which saints were affected.
‘Live updates, huh?’
Hearing the uproar outside, the Archbishop hurriedly tried to calm the crowd by revealing the two sisters.
“They serve the goddesses Demeter and Helios.”
Both gods are widely believed by many, and soon a wave of voices demanding to know the reason began to swell.
I couldn’t shake off the feeling that this was an extremely unnatural situation. The way the crowd behaved was as if they had rehearsed it.
“……”
Mikaela on the side, head down and murmuring something.
I was about to ask what she was doing, but the Archbishop continued his speech.
“I originally intended to wrap this up here, but as an Archbishop serving the gods, I believe I cannot remain silent regarding the justice of Batian.”
The kindly-looking Archbishop slammed the desk, shouting.
“Everyone! In reality, the sister serving the goddess Demeter has been murdered! By a beast masquerading as a human, who claimed to serve the Sun God!”
The uproar was louder than ever.
On the screen, it looked like someone was trying to stop the Archbishop from continuing, but he steadfastly persisted.
“Lucia Bright! The sister who claimed to serve Helios! The woman who had even risen to the position of a Saint Candidate! How could she commit such immoral and nonsensical acts! Was she so desperate for the position of a saint?!”
“Your grace!”
“She is currently on the run. Citizens, your help is needed! Catch that filthy murderer! The despicable witch who stained the saint’s seat with blood! Please ensure she is captured!”
With the Archbishop’s shout, the footage cut off. The plain white screen, which seemed like nothing had happened, now filled with the resounding voices against Lucia Bright.
“Strike down that wicked witch!”
“Death to the murderer who has insulted the Sun God!”
“The gods show no mercy to murderers!”
Amidst the citizens shouting abuse toward Lucia Bright, Mikaela slowly raised her head, as if she had just come to her senses.
“It’s truly news that brings nothing but tears.”
The transparent nun’s tears overlaying her light pink eyes evoked images of a muted ruby. They held such noble beauty that if you took her tears to a jeweler, you’d surely get a fortune for them.
I gently reached out and pinched her cheek between my thumb and forefinger. Her mouth opened naturally like a fish, gasping.
“Uh?”
I spoke in a tone devoid of any emotion to Mikaela, looking up at me with a face that seemed to never have imagined this situation.
“You just split, didn’t you?”
Head down, hands over her mouth.
I was watching her desperately trying to hold back the laughter bubbling out, and yet she was making a fuss like this?
“Did you think I would play with your tears from laughing so much?”
“I, I’ll stop!”
Mikaela struggled, trying to get me to let go, but no matter how much she squirmed, she couldn’t escape my grip.
The moment I tightened my hold a bit more, pink aura spilled from her imprint, and the surrounding citizens turned to us with expressions as if a knife fight had broken out.
“So you really incited the crowd with that imprint, huh?”
I watched closely as the crowd’s reactions grew more intense from the moment she mumbled with her head low.
I even suspected that the Archbishop’s excitement in the middle was a result of her manipulation.
“What are you doing to her!”
“Get off the sister!”
“Get it off! Quickly, get it off!”
Even if they thought she was brainwashed, they were not acting like puppets but were instead angrily confronting me, suggesting that it was more like a subtle push against their awareness, not total coercion.
Had I not witnessed the imprint seeping in, I might have believed it all too easily.
‘So this was how she became a saint in her past life.’
From what I saw of her actions, the many rumors about her virtue reaching even the Forest of the Demon Realm seemed utterly unfounded.
It was not impossible she could become a truly good human in a decade, but the kind of people who could control others this way would never break free from that power.
What reason would there be to consider other people’s feelings or go through the motions of good behavior when they could simply control them?
Old habits die hard. Once Mikaela became a saint, she would only use this power more intensively.
People rushed to me, trying desperately to pull her away, but I remained unmoved, glaring down at Mikaela.
What was she thinking now, or what was her objective?
“Hah.”
This time, I couldn’t help but acknowledge it.
Despite having her tail stepped on, Mikaela looked at me with eyes that seemed completely unaware of her wrongdoing, as if she wanted to tear me apart.
Of course, I wasn’t actually pressing her, but her sheer guts were commendable.
‘Saying anything about Mikaela’s ability here would just lead.’
The captivated crowd would merely cover their eyes and ears and throw the eggs and milk they intended for breakfast at me.
“Lucky you. If something like this happens again, you better be ready for your tongue to be pulled out.”
The moment I let go of her, Mikaela caressed her cheeks with her hands, hysterically shouting as if her instrument had gone out of tune.
“Foolish country bumpkin, I’ll make you suffer under the goddess Aphrodite’s feet for a thousand years!”
Ignoring the citizens who voiced their concerns for her, Mikaela just walked into the Cathedral.
As if splashed with cold water, the people who had just been ready to crucify her began to quiet down.
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