Civil Servant in a Romance Fantasy - Chapter 905



905 – There is no paradise in the place you run away to – 4

It happened about 10 years ago.

At that time, the empire had no clear successor, and the Asilon family, the emperor’s relatives, were abusing their power and shaking the empire. Even outside the border, a being called the “Rebel Emperor” gathered nomads and rose up, causing chaos both internally and externally.

Taking advantage of the chaos, the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Ausen was assassinated by the Twilight Cult. A catastrophe that occurred in the heart of the Empire, with the Cardinal of the Cult being assassinated by heretics.

It was only natural that the Empire was extremely angry at this event that shook the entire continent. Of course, our Dawn Cult could not help but sigh.

“I am worried about who to appoint as the next archbishop. I will have to start work without a proper handover, and the priests and parishioners will be quite unstable. It is hard to even imagine how much of a burden I will have to shoulder.”

But apart from the anger and sighs, those who remained had to worry about the aftermath.

The Archdiocese of Ausen is the most important diocese in the Empire. In fact, it governs the entire Empire, and its Archbishop must reign as the highest-ranking priest in the Empire. In terms of imperial protocol, the Archbishop of Ausen is ranked next to the Minister of the Imperial Household, the President of the Imperial Diet, and the Chief Justice of the Empire.

It was such a large and important parish that even the normal handover procedures were not enough, but the predecessor suddenly died due to assassination. He had to lead the huge parish without any handover, and console the priests and believers who were wavering. If there was a hell in the world, it would be that place.

“I will go.”

But I walked into the hell of human rights.

To restore order to the Archdiocese of Ausen, which was thrown into chaos by the death of its predecessor. To comfort the brothers and sisters who may have been gripped by fear and despair.

And, shamefully, to escape from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

‘If I had continued to be in the Doctrine of the Faith, I would have died before the heretics.’

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, formerly known as the Inquisition, is the church’s sword and shield, and the guard that protects the church’s purity.

That’s why, when paganism or heresy appeared, priests from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, along with the Knights Templar and the Order of the Priests, went out to suppress it. As a priest from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, I also went out to suppress it several times.

I wasn’t dissatisfied with that. I didn’t know that they would mobilize us while leaving the perfectly good Knights, but I was still so happy that they were dedicating themselves to the church.

For the first few years.

“If you kill one heretic, a hundred good believers will smile! If you eradicate one heretical sect, the sect will be at peace for ten years! So don’t hesitate and fight! You must punish the enemies of the sect!”

When I was first assigned to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the then Vice Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, His Eminence Cardinal Pedro Otbaja.

He practically led the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in place of the old growth, and he killed countless enemies of the church with his passionate activities. He crawled through the gutter as a cardinal, jumped from a five-story building, and hid in the pagans’ toilet for four days – such was his enormous devotion that I dare not even dare to emulate.

It would be a lie if I said I didn’t respect such subordinates. At the same time, it would be a lie if I said I didn’t fear them.

‘If the leader takes the lead, his subordinates will have to follow suit.’

This fear and horror grew even more after Cardinal Pedro was promoted to the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. I seriously wondered if living like this would allow me to see the Lord in heaven sooner.

That is why I volunteered to be the Archbishop of Ausen. Whether I am in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith or in the Archdiocese of Ausen, I am equally devoted to the Lord. So, shouldn’t I choose a path that would allow me to live a little longer and devote myself a little longer? At the time, I thought that was the right thing to do.

Fortunately, that decision was right. After receiving comfort and support from many brothers and sisters and the encouragement of His Eminence Cardinal Pedro, I headed to the Archdiocese of Ausen and was able to live a truly satisfying life.

The emperor of the time, who had now stepped down due to circumstances, knew that I had declared myself the archbishop and treated me kindly. The religious community also thought that I had volunteered to die and actively supported me.

‘The first few years were tough, but things got better after that.’

It was certainly difficult to manage the Archdiocese in disarray. However, thanks to the active support and dedication of my brothers and sisters, the chaos was quickly resolved, and I was able to live in peace as the head of the largest diocese in the empire.

Moreover, a few years ago, the Lord blessed a wedding ceremony that I was attending. It was truly an honor for me as a priest.

So, I decided to continue living like this and to live peacefully as the head of the Archdiocese of Ausen.

– How about becoming the Pope of a new era?

“yes?”

I felt my soul leave my body at the sudden contact and embarrassing words from the Emperor.

A new era pope? What does that mean?

In the meantime, I was sent to the Holy Land.

The word ‘transportation’ is rude to the knights who came to visit me with the utmost respect, but no matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t find a more appropriate expression than ‘transportation’.

“It’s been a long time, Your Eminence the Archbishop. How have you been?”

“Of course. I am very glad that Your Majesty is well.”

And after some time of being taken away, I met the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith before the Pope.

Now, although they are nominally equal in rank, it is the protocol of the church to treat the central growth higher than the archdiocese. Even the growth was a cardinal long before me. How can I treat him comfortably?

“Meet His Eminence the Cardinal.”

Even more so if there is an empire’s number two next to the growth subordinate.

I’m confused. Was there a friendship between Seong-gong Ye-ha and Count Tylglehen? I’ve never imagined them being alone like this.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Your Majesty. I never expected to see you in the kingdom of heaven.”

“Your Excellency the Archbishop, His Excellency the Count of Tailglehen is now a saint in name and substance.”

‘ah.’

I quickly came to terms with that.

Indeed. I heard that the church was discussing the canonization of Count Tylglehen while he was still alive, and while I was briefly distracted, the canonization was already underway. If that’s the case, then it’s only natural that Seong Jang-yeha, a senior member of the church, is with Tylglehen—no, the holy one.

As the leader of the conservative party, he would want to establish friendly relations with the living saint. This is not only to raise the conservative party, which is somewhat disadvantaged due to his Holiness being classified as a progressive, but also to produce the next pope from the conservative party, even if it is…

…

– How about becoming the Pope of a new era?

I started to break out in a cold sweat as I remembered what the Emperor had said.

The first person I met upon being sent to the Holy See was Seong Jang-yeha, a strong candidate for the next Pope, a living saint and the second-in-command of the Empire. No matter how much I tried to ignore this, the future was obvious.

Could it really be that I am going to become the Pope, someone who has never held a central position before?

No, of course, His Holiness the current Pope is someone who has built his career in the provinces, not the center, but even so, this is a bit much.

“I guess you’ve already heard some of it?”

But regardless of whether I was confused or not, His Majesty opened his mouth without mercy.

I heard it. It was so unbelievable that I tried to turn a deaf ear to it.

“That is,”

“If you haven’t heard, this old man will tell you himself.”

“I heard.”

“Good.”

I told the truth because it was tough to meet the growth subordinate one-on-one.

In the first place, this is not something I can avoid by refusing. My heart just can’t accept it, but my mind has given up.

It is truly a sad thing.

***

One week. Just one week. Just one week since the idea of ​​making Cardinal Lisiuko the next pope was first raised.

But Cardinal Lisiuko, who should have been scratching his stomach in the islands, flew to the diocese in just one week. And that too, not willingly, but against his will.

‘A tough person.’

I felt a sense of solemnity and looked at Cardinal Lisiuko with eyes full of sympathy.

A week is too short a time for a person’s fate to be decided, but it is enough time for information to be transmitted. It is enough time for the Emperor to contact Cardinal Lisiuko and express his support.

However, looking at Cardinal Lisiuko’s expression, it seems that he had been desperately denying reality despite the Emperor’s contact, but now that the situation has developed this way, it seems that he has finally accepted it.

“I wasn’t ready.”

No, you haven’t accepted it yet.

“I have many shortcomings. I am very grateful to be the Archbishop and Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Ausen, but that is where I will end up. I have never dared to dream of anything more than that.”

“Who in this world lives their lives as they expected? I never expected that this old man would rise to the level of a saint.”

“Well, there are many people more capable than me.”

“What the Pope needs is not competence, but firmness.”

“Then even more so, I am not. I have neither the strength nor the courage to be strong.”

“Hmm, is that so?”

As Growth showed signs of hesitation for a moment, Cardinal Lisiuko nodded with a suddenly brightened expression.

No. Don’t like it. This is a trap. People watching from the side would notice it right away, but why doesn’t the person involved know?

“Of course! As I just said, I’m not ready yet─”

“No one in this world is prepared. There are only those who can bear it.”

“yes?”

“And this old man has been watching over you since you were a priest at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. I know that you are a man who can carry the burden.”

“yes?”

As he spoke, the growth naturally dragged Cardinal Lisiuko into the room.

“Yes, Your Majesty! This can’t be happening! Your Majesty!”

Naturally, Cardinal Lisiuko resisted fiercely, but was unable to overcome the power of the growth.

‘If anyone saw this, they would think I was being dethroned.’

Desperate expression and voice. Who would have thought that he was a candidate for the next pope?

No matter how you look at it, he looks like someone who was about to be kicked out of his current position.