The knights must’ve been terrified at the idea of losing their jobs, but I surmised that the reason they weren’t running away was that they felt guilty about what they’d done. Being stripped of one’s job not only meant that their stats would drop drastically, but their skills would also be reset to zero. But what was even scarier was that they would lose their bonuses.
While my master and Lionel had their levels and skills reset to zero, they had kept their job bonuses, which made their rehabilitation process easier. Without those bonuses, the knights’ bodies would struggle to execute the moves they once knew, and there was a real risk they might forget the techniques entirely. In other words, it meant that all the effort they had invested since reaching adulthood would be erased.
Perhaps that was why the pope had chosen this punishment for them.
“I have hereby stripped all of the knights and paladins who were involved in Dongahar’s plan of their jobs,” the pope announced. “In the last moments before your memories are removed, I command you to reflect upon the turmoil you have wrought upon the Church. And remember, above all, to direct your ire toward me—the one who led you down this path.”
She surveyed the faces of each and every knight she’d stripped of their job before bowing her head deeply to them. They eyed her with stupefaction, most of them in tears.
The pope slowly raised her head, a look of determination on her face, and resumed, “I am to blame for this series of events. I have, on countless occasions, thought of stepping down from the papacy and entrusting the Church to the next generation.”
Everyone froze at her sudden, completely unexpected declaration, and I wasn’t any different. Her words threw me off-balance, and not just a little.
“But when the labyrinth appeared below our headquarters, I felt like it would be much too irresponsible to hand over the Church to someone else while it was in such turmoil. But my greatest crime was failing to consult with anyone on this matter. Therefore, I have decided to arrange individual discussions with each of you.”
There were around seven hundred people working at the Church’s HQ, yet she wanted to have personal interviews with every single one of us?
“I wish to hear all of your thoughts and opinions—your goals, your hopes, and your visions for what the Church should become,” the pope continued. “Though I may not be able to fulfill every suggestion, I still wish to hear your perspectives. My first objective is to help you all grow to love the Church. As such, I humbly request that you lend me your wisdom and power to aid me in this endeavor.”
I couldn’t tell you for sure if her plea truly resonated within everyone’s hearts. However, as soon as she was done, the knights sank to one knee, each placing a hand over their chest and bowing their head, while everyone else brought their hands together in prayer. And with that, the pope’s judgment was complete.
I was about to step in to deliver my speech and bring the proceedings to a close when Kefin approached me, carrying a stack of parchments. “Do you have a minute, sir?”
Oh, right. I’d sent him and Galba to investigate the Executive Division. If Galba had been there to take Catherine away when she’d begun arguing with the pope earlier, it only made sense that Kefin would be back as well.
“Yup. What are those?” I asked, glancing at the stack in his arms.
“Some of the documents we found in the Executive Division that seem relevant to the case. Well, most of them are just evidence of what we already know, so they’ve lost their usefulness. But...” He trailed off. It seemed that most of the documents they’d found would serve to confirm whether Dongahar had been telling the truth.
“Is something bothering you?” I asked in response to his sudden evasiveness.
Nothing could’ve prepared me for the words that left his mouth next. “It seems that Dongahar had been planning on dying all along. He wrote a farewell note,” Kefin said, showing me a piece of parchment.
“A farewell note?!” I accidentally exclaimed, though not too loudly, thank goodness. The people around us shot me curious glances, but it didn’t cause a scene.
Perhaps the letter contained the details of Dongahar’s plan and what had pushed him to rebel against the Church in the first place. I glanced at the pope. She was pretending to be fine, but I could tell she was pretty shaken by the day’s events, so I made the executive decision not to show her Dongahar’s farewell letter until she felt better. For now, I needed to put an end to the incident.
“Since you could tell it was a farewell letter, does that mean you read it?” I asked Kefin.
He nodded. “Yes. Mister Galba and I read it together. We also found documents and studies about demonization, a thorough account of the risks associated with summoning, and even a compilation of evidence regarding misconduct committed by some of the clinics, healers, and knights.”
It was obvious that Dongahar had been looking for a way to protect the Church in the event that I hadn’t managed to become a sage. Still, I couldn’t help but question whether starting a rebellion had truly been his only option. Surely, there must have been other, less extreme ways to secure the Church’s future. Then again, perhaps that was just my ego talking. After all, I barely knew Dongahar.
“Thanks for the report,” I told Kefin. “The pope has finished passing her judgment, but I’d like to investigate the documents you and Galba found before telling her about them. Can you take me to the Executive Division when we’re done here?”
“Of course, sir. Oh, and before I forget, Mister Galba and I also found a glowing necklace that neither of us could touch.”
A weird necklace, huh? I really didn’t like the sound of that, but I’d probably have to investigate it. I had so many questions for Dongahar. I would save him and have him pay for his crimes, mark my word.
“You’ll show it to me when we head to the Executive Division. Things have mostly settled down by now, but be careful, okay?”
“Yes, sir.”
With those words, Kefin handed me the parchments he’d been carrying and went to join Ketty, who had beckoned him over. I had a feeling that everything would fall into place once I’d read Dongahar’s farewell letter and the documents Kefin had found, but first, I needed to bring this gathering to a close.
Facing the crowd, I said, “Today’s incident was a tragedy born from the clash of your doubts and suspicions surrounding the Church. I suppose I must be partly to blame for what happened—I haven’t spent much time at HQ since becoming an S-rank healer, and I’ve never even spoken with some of you. It is a shame, but I assume that’s why you were so quick to believe the rumors.”
This seemed like a good occasion to open up a little to the HQ members I hadn’t interacted with before, so before wrapping up, I decided to talk about myself a bit.
“The reason I haven’t been around HQ lately is simply that I’ve been handling duties for the Church in other nations. To be completely honest, I haven’t had much time to think about all of you, as—despite being a healer—I seem to always end up in life-or-death situations.”
I began to recall my adventures to the crowd of knights and other members of the Church.
“First, I spent two whole years exploring the labyrinth beneath HQ and ended up getting trapped down there for six months. If Her Holiness hadn’t offered me a magic bag that allowed me to store food and other essentials, I most likely would have died back then,” I said nonchalantly as though it were no big deal. “Then, I went to Yenice to rebuild the Healer’s Guild, got attacked on my first day there, somehow ended up in a dungeon where I nearly died fighting a red dragon—only to get caught up in yet another attack over some political stuff.”
Kefin was staring into space, perplexed by my speech, while Ketty chuckled to herself. As for the knights, they seemed a tad bewildered by my words, but I paid them no mind.
“But despite how much I struggled against the red dragon, it was only the beginning. After that, I found myself fighting for my life against monsters and demons over and over again. And now, I’m suddenly the target of a ploy orchestrated by another nation, and for what? Just because I haven’t used my holy magic in a while?”
My words had clearly divided the crowd—half of them seemed uncomfortable, while the other half looked at me as though I were some kind of hero.
“In all honesty, it made me realize how much of a luxury an ordinary, peaceful life truly is,” I added with a broad smile, and everyone in the crowd looked down to avoid my gaze. “My point is this: even someone like me has managed to survive all of this. With enough effort, I’m sure you could all become even stronger than I am. Your passion will be the Church’s newfound strength. I’m certain of it. With that, I would like to bring the proceedings to an end. Supervisors of each department, please stay behind. The rest of you may return to your duties.”
“Luciel, report to me in my chamber once the investigation is over. I shall return to my room now,” the pope told me.
“Of course, Your Holiness. Also, may I ask that you let me handle Dongahar’s case?”
She nodded. “I am leaving him in your capable hands.”
“Thank you, Your Holiness.”
With that, the pope, accompanied by Rosa and Estia, made her way back to her chamber. I saw them off before heading to find Lumina. I needed her assistance with the knights who had conspired with Dongahar.
“Lumina, I’m sorry to bother you, but can you and the other Valkyries take Dongahar’s accomplices to the cells?”
“Sure. But can I have a minute of your time later, Luciel?” she asked, and I couldn’t help but notice she seemed much more nervous than usual.
“I’m going to inspect Dongahar’s room right now, but I have time after,” I replied.
“I’ll wait for you here in the big training field once we’re done putting the knights in jail. Come when you’ve finished.”
“Got it. Well then, I’m leaving them in your hands,” I said.