Civil Servant in a Romance Fantasy - Chapter 906



906 – There is no paradise in the place you run away to – 5

Since the (forced) meeting between Cardinal Lisiuko and the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, things have progressed rapidly.

The current pope’s will to retire is firm, and the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which was the strongest opponent, has secured a suitable candidate for the next pope. Moreover, the next candidate, Saint Tanian, is not supporting the pope’s retirement.

The de facto leader of the religious order, a big shot who could be called the Pope’s political enemy, and a symbolic figure have all joined forces. If things go this way, even those who sincerely want to dissuade the Pope from retiring will have no choice but to back down.

“Despite the character of His Holiness, many cardinals were tired of his actions. The previous pope was quite radical, so they elected the current pope, who could have guessed that he would be even worse than the previous pope?”

Even from the cardinals’ point of view, there were practical reasons to welcome the Pope’s retirement, separate from the justification.

The previous pope was a progressive and reformer who will be remembered in the history of the church. Thanks to this, the cardinals of the time, who were tired of the previous pope’s unconventional actions, came to the common opinion that ‘this pope should take a break’ and made the current pope, who was relatively old at the time, the pope.

But who would have known, as Tanian said, that the old cardinal would show energetic activity as if he had been rejuvenated as soon as he ascended to the papal throne? That the stepping stone pope chosen to rest would turn out to be a greater reformer than his predecessors.

“The cardinals probably felt betrayed at the time, but what can they do? They can’t overthrow the Pope they installed with their own hands.”

“Besides, there was no reason to bring it down, so it must have been even more frustrating.”

“That’s right. If His Majesty the King is being rude or greedy, wouldn’t you rather work harder for the reform and glory of the religious order?”

Then, I awkwardly smiled at Tanian, who burst into laughter.

Tanian, being young and unfamiliar with the actual work, would not know the feelings of the cardinals at that time. After suffering under competent and honest bosses for decades, he finally met a lazy boss, but now he is in despair when he meets an even more honest boss. That is why he can laugh like that.

Anyway, apart from the tranquility of Tanian and the despair of the cardinals of the time, the current pope has shown energetic steps. In fact, without looking at other steps, the holding of the council alone is an incredible achievement. It is not for nothing that the church regards the holding of the council as an event on the same level as a miracle.

And the Pope is not a leader who ‘only’ convened a council, but a leader who ‘also’ convened a council. It is impossible to even estimate how much political power he expended and how many cardinals and priests he replaced during the several decades he reigned as the Pope.

‘Because the empire is similar.’

It is said that during the period of the situation, countless nobles and civil servants were gathered to rebuild the empire that was on the verge of collapse. Even today, when the empire is back on track, the basic principle remains unchanged for some reason.

So I can fully understand the feelings of the cardinals. They must be so happy to have escaped from the endless hell of work. Everyone has been talking about the Pope’s retirement, but now that the outline of the next Pope candidate has been revealed, the corners of their mouths must be twitching.

‘It’s a world where everyone is happy.’

Before I knew it, the awkward smile had turned into a warm and natural smile.

The current pope has retired with honor, leaving a deep mark on the history of the church and the continent. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has found a suitable candidate who will give up his own ambitions but continue the cause of the church. Other cardinals and priests have succeeded in escaping from the reign of two consecutive workaholic popes. It is a beautiful ending that everyone can smile about.

Cardinal Lisioucco, who will suddenly become the next Pope? The Pope is no longer a human being, but a symbol and authority figure who is not treated as a human being. It is unfortunate, but that is the reality.

“Oh, by the way, have you heard about that?”

“What do you mean?”

While I was mourning the person who would change from Cardinal Lisiuko (human) to the Pope of the new era (totem), I tilted my head at Tanian’s words.

Since the change of the Pope is already imminent, all attention is focused on that. There will be no additional topics that will attract Tanian’s attention─

“It is said that the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith will also step down once the new Pope is enthroned.”

‘ah.’

It happened. It was a topic that stirred up not only Tanian but the entire religious community.

But it is not just a huge topic, but an unexpected one. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is a big shot, a political enemy of the Pope and the head of the conservative faction. If such a person continues to hold firm even after the new Pope is enthroned, it will be a considerable burden on the new Pope’s actions.

Moreover, Cardinal Lisiuko is expected to ascend to the throne with the support of the conservatives along with the empire. It is a tradition for each continental country to choose a cardinal who is even slightly friendly to them as the pope, but it is a bit strange for a liberal cardinal to receive the support of the conservatives.

That is why growth is hastening retirement. If the leader of the conservatives disappears, the conservatives will be in disarray for a while, and in the meantime, the new pope can solidify his position. Fortunately, the current conservatives have no solid number two, but there are many number threes, so there will be quite a long time to solidify his position.

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‘If you don’t establish your position during that time, it’s your fate.’

I feel a little bad saying this, but if you can’t even take advantage of the golden opportunity when the head of the opposing faction steps down, it’s better for the church to remain a puppet pope. You’ll become the ‘stepping stone pope who doesn’t do anything’ that the cardinals so desperately want.

“It’s truly a shame that two giants of the religious community are stepping down at the same time. It makes me feel the transience of time.”

Of course, it doesn’t matter to me whether Cardinal Lisioucco becomes a stepping stone pope or a third workaholic pope. I just have a little regret about the successive retirements of the pope and the growth.

“What is eternal under the sun? Still, the two of you can retire honorably while receiving applause from your juniors, so I’m sure the Lord in Heaven will be pleased.”

“And I hope you two can enjoy your old age in satisfaction.”

“Haha, I hope so.”

Tanian, who laughed again, turned his head to the side.

When I turned my head, Titi and Pietro, who were running around the room, came into view. Titi was wagging her tail very enthusiastically, and Pietro was babbling with sparkling eyes.

Hmm.

“Pietro will be very upset when I return home.”

“Actually, I’m worried about that. I wonder if Pietro, who has opened his eyes to new fun, will be satisfied with a doll.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at Tanian’s voice, which was full of worry.

‘What should I do?’

Following this, I, like Tanian, began to worry about Pietro’s future.

If it was something that was never there before, you wouldn’t know the lack, but if it was there and then disappeared, you wouldn’t feel the sense of loss. Could Pietro, who already had a playmate called Titi, be satisfied with a doll? Did I bring Titi to poison Tanian’s parenting method?

A sense of responsibility and regret came over me at the same time. Pietro was outside the border, so it was difficult for him to see Titi often.

“I feel like I’ve burdened you for nothing, brother.”

“No. If we just hold out for a few more years, a cute child who resembles Titi will come to us. She won’t be a burden.”

I’m saying this because it’s obvious that we’re going to have a hard time for the next few years.

The words rose to the tip of my tongue, but I couldn’t bring myself to say them. No matter what anyone says, I’m the one who brought Titi here.

The 172nd Pope of the Church of Dawn, 37-year-old Pope Baltsack, has officially retired.

Now, Baltsack 37 is no longer the head of the church but a former pope, and has regained his former papal name.

“His Holiness has left behind a legacy that is truly worthy of being an example for future generations. The world will forever remember Pope Baltsack 37 as a sincere and good Pope.”

“Our great senior. May the future of our senior, who is more honest and kind than anyone else, be blessed!”

Of course, getting it back and being able to use it are separate issues.

He has been called Pope Baltsak 37 for decades, and he has accomplished many things during that time. It is honestly difficult for such a person to regain his human name, not the name of the Pope. Perhaps Baltsak 37 himself has forgotten his old name.

‘The situation is similar.’

The situation where I was playing Dudukri Online in a corner of the palace was also memorable as Eimanka 16, as if no one remembered the name Corvus.

But this is an exception because no one dares to call the Emperor by his real name. If there is anyone who remembers the situation by his real name, that person is even more suspicious.

“The church has received much from the Holy One.”

While I was thinking about the common destiny of the Pope and the situation, the future retiree, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, approached me.

“If the Holy One had not helped, the sect would still be in disarray. Thanks to the Holy One, thanks to His Majesty the Emperor, we were able to quickly resolve the confusion. I will not forget this favor.”

“You are too complimentary. It is the grace of the Lord that there is a worthy person, and it is your merit that you have found such a person. How can you say that it is the virtue of me and Your Majesty?”

He shook his head slightly at the words of growth. It was Growth’s achievement to find the next Pope candidate, and the Empire simply played a supporting role. In such a situation, how could he boast, saying, ‘We did our best.’

However, I am concerned that someone who has grown up can talk about grace so lightly.

‘He speaks freely about his plans to retire.’

You can think of it as an empty promise since he will step down soon anyway. Whether the barbarian forgets the favor or not, it doesn’t have much of an impact on the church.

“Ah. The news of the saint’s canonization will be announced just before the conclave. It will happen within five days at the latest. In the meantime, enjoy your life as Karl, not as Saint Karl.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

I nodded solemnly at the subtle advice.

A life of the sword, not the holy sword. It is a phrase that makes me feel strongly that I have crossed a river from which I cannot return.

***

I smiled faintly as I looked at the holy man who nodded.

Now he will go to the Empire and live as a living saint. I can’t even imagine how much of a commotion this will cause in the Empire and the Archdiocese of Ausen.

And I still can’t believe that I’ve come to a place that’s been causing a lot of commotion for a while now.

‘Your Majesty, why are you doing this to me?’

The final secret order given by His Holiness, who has now officially retired.

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has issued a personnel transfer order appointing me as Archbishop of the Diocese of Auersen.

‘His Holiness…’

I wanted to retire like you, but why…