Chapter 684
How Did I Become Pope?
Whether it was the Pure White Saintess faking an attack, or the Cardinals “rescuing” her. And now their “questions” and “answers,” all of it was pre-arranged.
This was because it also served the interests of the Cardinals.
Some of them genuinely desired to become Pope. But the one who most wanted to be Pope was Cardinal Loki, who was now deceased.
The reason these Cardinals wanted to run for Pope was not out of greed for power. It was because the “old fossils” among them believed that a Saintess with petrification could not properly lead the Holy Kingdom.
In other words, she lacked the qualifications.
However, the Saintess had shown them that petrification now had the possibility of being healed and recovered… So, rather than let a rival Cardinal become Pope, it was better to let the Saintess continue.
If everyone couldn’t be satisfied, at least everyone could feel “it’s acceptable.”
But having the Saintess as Pope also carried an unavoidable risk: her petrification.
In the common understanding of the Holy Kingdom, if an Elf petrified, it often indicated psychological problems. But if a commoner petrified, it was understandable, who doesn’t have some psychological issues…
However, for the leader, the Pope, and the candidate for leadership, the Saintess, petrification was not permitted.
This was because it signified impure faith or defective morals—if even the Pope and the Saintess petrified, how could they lead the Holy Kingdom forward? Furthermore, it implied they had the “possibility of going mad” or the “possibility of dying at any moment.”
Even the “most modern Elves” were ultimately inclined towards conservatism. They could not accept such high risks.
Therefore, even if the Saintess successfully ran for Pope, as long as her petrification was not healed, there was still the possibility of it being discovered or intentionally leaked.
—Thus, the Holy Kingdom chose the Eagle Eye organization as a scapegoat.
If I petrified, it would be my moral failing, but if I were poisoned, I would be the victim.
…No, that’s not right.
Eiv cleared his head, gradually sobering up.
In the sudden shock, his thoughts became clearer—
According to the Holy Kingdom’s moral standards, it was unlikely they would intentionally frame someone as a scapegoat.
And looking at the panic of Miss Alice… she was probably aware that the Saintess would petrify. This meant she knew the effect of the Tears of Time and had already determined it would be used on the Saintess!
Then, the one who invited them here was self-evident—
It was the now deceased Cardinal Loki!
Although the Holy Kingdom had found the remaining part of the Tears of Time from Cardinal Loki’s “relics”… they could not ascertain where the rest of it had gone.
Because there had already been incidents of people “suddenly petrifying,” and some people had announced their “passive petrification” like the Saintess now, to legitimize their long-hidden petrification—this led to the total amount Loki had used back then being an irreconcilable and unclarifiable account.
Clearly, a portion of it was given to these assassins from Eagle Eye!
It was estimated that some Cardinal, while searching Cardinal Loki’s relics, discovered this matter. Then, after discussing it with Grey, they decided to stage this play.
Someone had to become Pope eventually, but besides the most neutral Saintess, choosing anyone else would displease someone.
The path of devotion was an extremely extreme path.
Because everyone was unwavering in their belief that they were walking on the most correct path… such lunatics were far more terrifying when they went mad than ordinary people.
Thinking of which, Eiv suddenly recalled a few days ago… when he saw so many Cardinals from Cardinal Cyril.
So many Cardinals solemnly gathered for a meeting, and the Saintess was not present. And Matilda, who was closest to the Saintess, was also absent.
Although they were discussing the matter of “warriors,” it was unlikely that such a matter would gather so many Cardinals two days before the Pope Election Day—they must have been considering another plan.
For example, pushing the conflict onto the “warriors” first, or some other plan…
But when Eiv appeared and declared himself a Cardinal, they all left.
Eiv had only slept for a few hours, and how could a meeting that gathered so many Cardinals solemnly conclude in just a few hours? These were long-lived beings who did not treat time as time.
It was obvious that the reason for gathering them had disappeared—because they had unanimously passed the motion to “temporarily appoint Eiv as Pope.”
—Rather than letting a Cardinal who always opposed them become Pope, why not choose a human!
Thinking this, their minds were suddenly enlightened.
And from this perspective…
The only one who knew Eiv would perform the Eclipse Ritual the night before to complete the Lord of Scales and Feathers’ mission was Cardinal Cyril. He was probably the convener of that meeting… it was to let the other Cardinals witness the birth of this “human Cardinal.”
With this thought clarified, Eiv no longer had any intention of resisting.
Becoming Pope—it wasn’t a bad thing. That was the most powerful person in this world… although only a figurehead, and only for half a year… but would anyone refuse such a good thing? Did he not have a brain?
—Just like Eiv, who had drunk too much earlier, he refused first without understanding.
Moreover, this was not an evil conspiracy that would bring chaos, but a great good deed for maintaining order and preventing the Holy Kingdom from splitting.
Eiv certainly did not object further. The alcohol was completely gone.
“But why didn’t they tell me… Oh, perhaps they were afraid my acting skills were poor.”
Completely sobered up, Eiv finally realized.
In the eyes of these Elves of the Holy Kingdom, Eiv should be a quite honest good person. Perhaps only a few Avalonians and Star Antimony people knew that Eiv was not so easily fooled.
—After all, Cardinal Siegfried seemed to be in the dark as well. That guy was clearly not very intelligent… so even among the Cardinals, not everyone knew the full picture of the plan.
Just like Cardinal Fafnir only knew that the wine might be poisoned, but was unsure if the assassin had already put poison in everyone’s wine.
That’s why she specifically came to remind someone… not to warn Eiv, but to worry that Cardinal Siegfried might accidentally be poisoned too…
The Saintess had not drunk any wine, so there was no possibility of adding more later. She only needed to be the first to arrive, and then, before everyone else arrived, pour her own wine and test it, ensuring her cup was absolutely safe…
As Eiv, who was gradually sobering up, meticulously replayed the events, the Pure White Saintess suddenly spoke, pulling Eiv back to reality: “If there are no other objections… we will proceed to the second round of voting.
“—Those who disagree, please raise your hands.”
Silence, no one raised their hand.
“—Those who agree, please raise your hands.”
As soon as she finished speaking, she pulled Eiv and raised his hand.
All the Cardinals raised their hands, agreeing to Eiv’s candidacy as the Pure White Saintess’s proxy for Pope.
At this moment, the nine o’clock bell was also rung.
A melodious and sacred bell sounded from outside the window.
The Pope Election Ritual officially began.
The Pure White Saintess opened her eyes without any concealment, openly revealing her petrified, single eye to everyone.
“As the presiding officer of the ritual, I submit three Pope candidate slots according to custom. These slots uphold the principles of fairness and objectivity, based on voluntary applications, and are selected by the previous Eternal Pope, confirmed by all Cardinals of the Papal Hall.
“—Eivass Moriarty. The delegate of the Lord of Scales and Feathers, a newly appointed Cardinal. The only short-lived Cardinal, the only human Cardinal… and a Fourth Tier devotee of only nineteen years of age.
“—Fafnir. The delegate of the Candlemaster, the only Dragon Cardinal, leader of the Home Faction. Administrator of the Third Ring.
“—Galatea. The delegate of the Twin Mirrors. The only Construct Cardinal, leader of the Ancient Relic Restoration Society, administrator of the Seventh Ring.”
Hearing this, Eiv subconsciously looked at Belisarius.
Belisarius slightly averted his gaze.
Fafnir and Galatea, one representing the pro-foreign faction and the other the conservative faction.
As the leader of the radical “Judgment Core” faction, Belisarius should have been in Eiv’s position.
—The radical faction couldn’t even secure a spot among the three choices!
This probably reflected the attitude of the entire Papal Hall towards the radical faction after Cardinal Loki’s death…
And whether out of irony or fairness… not a single one of the three candidates for the next Pope was an Elf, or even had Elf blood!
At this point, Eiv already knew the election result.
After all, the Pope election was a registered vote. No Cardinal would wish for the Holy Kingdom to split—because everyone was, in a sense, a good person “for others’ benefit.”
Under these circumstances, everyone’s actions could essentially be inferred. That is, everyone would harmoniously move towards the “best future”—as long as the path to the future was not cut off.
A group of philosopher-kings who genuinely sacrificed their lives for others and possessed the power to act on their convictions.
This was the true foundation of the Holy Kingdom’s strength.
—In this timeline where the Pure White Saintess’s reputation was not destroyed by petrification, Eiv would be elected unanimously.
That future was a foregone conclusion.
…I’m going to be Pope?
For a moment, Eiv felt that his nineteen years of life were like a dream, illusory and unreal.
Truly a dream, truly illusory!
Wasn’t I here to be an exchange student at the Holy Kingdom?
Why am I inexplicably being made to rule the Eternal Holy Kingdom?
(End of this chapter)
