The Beginning of Ruin (3)
A petite woman with her hood pulled up arrived at the plaza that overlooked the Holy See.
Candler Eden.
Named after an ancient city, she was a Yora who practiced love.
Eden drew back her hood and stared up at the spire of the tower piercing the sky.
"Not there." Slowly lowering her gaze, she stepped past the Holy See's entrance and tuned into the ground beneath her feet.
"Underground."
The scent of evil was faint—so faint it could be missed without focus—but it was unmistakable.
"My sense was right. But why would such an aura lie dormant inside the Holy See?"
Ever since she had heard Havitz's inner voice through Nemesis, Eden had been tormented by nightmares.
Then, while chasing demons with Dante one day, she'd heard a strange rumor.
"The Satan Cult."
Its founder was Giyorgi, and alarmingly, he was a demon born of the emotions Yahweh had discarded.
After parting from Dante, Eden investigated the Satan Cult, and following that same malignant aura had led her here.
"The Holy See."
The Rami Church upheld the will of goodness.
The holy knights had distinguished themselves in the war against demons, and the priests had cared for the suffering.
Putting aside a thousand questions, Eden pulled her hood down.
"I'll see it with my own eyes."
She would destroy the Satan Cult—the psychological foundation of Satan himself—and break free from those dreadful dreams.
"God Yor, protect me."
She kissed the cross pendant set within its circular frame and headed for the Holy See.
"This is the place."
The archpriest who had guided Shirone's group to the papal chamber still looked uneasy.
What are they planning? The Rami Church, the Yor Church, and the Teraphos Church—the world's three great religions.
The Yor Church doesn't build an organization, and the Teraphos Church fell along with the Teraphos Papacy. A few extremists stir trouble, but they aren't a serious threat.
Only the Rami Church had stood firm through this chaotic age.
Isn't that proof Kria created the universe? But at some point the name Yahweh began circulating, and the rumor spread so fast we couldn't stop it.
It should have been cut off at the root. If the world leaders make a decision at this Crusade, the pope of the Rami Church will ratify it.
An opportunity to become the world's sole religion.
With that unprecedented achievement in sight, Yahweh had come to the Holy See.
"Again—behave reverently before the pope. If you speak carelessly just because you worship a different god, the Rami clergy will act according to their doctrine."
Nade bristled.
"Hmph! They'll just—"
"Nade."
Shirone stopped him.
"All right. It will be a short conversation. If we hear the answer we want, we'll leave quietly."
The archpriest grew more anxious.
What kind of answer do they expect?
Pacing at the papal chamber's door was not a pleasant sight, so he knocked politely.
"Pope, a guest has arrived."
"Bring them in."
A deep, resonant voice. The door opened, and the kindly-looking Constantine appeared.
Shirone strode in, flanked by the watchful Iruki and the nervous Nade.
"Hmm."
Constantine studied Shirone for a long moment, then smiled.
"So you're the 'Philanthropist of the Age'—Yahweh. I've heard the rumors, but you look much younger in person."
"I've heard of your renown as well. You were of great help in the Demon War. Thank you."
Constantine gestured to a seat.
"No need to thank me. Compared to what you've done, I'm ashamed. Sit."
Shirone sat and thought.
He didn't seem driven by vanity. Well… he never had been, even in his youth.
Through Omega, Shirone had seen Constantine's younger years.
Pope of Strength.
Indeed, Constantine's divine power ranked among the strongest in the Holy See.
Not someone who'd be shaken by the scent of evil. Then why…?
Was that the scent of Satan?
"Very well, Yahweh."
The pope spoke.
"You wanted to see me before the Crusade. So? Do I fall short of your standards?"
"I am not qualified to judge others. I only have a question."
"Is that so? A shame."
He looked almost hurt by Shirone's answer; Constantine believed he had lived without a single shameful act.
"Ask whatever you wish. As you know, we leave for the Crusade soon."
"What are you hiding?" Shirone asked bluntly. The pope fell silent, but his expression did not waver.
"Hmm. Hiding something? Me? What could I be hiding…?"
Pacing the room, the pope turned to Shirone.
"I once broke a childhood friend's toy. I didn't tell the truth about it. Oh, and in adolescence—I had a crush on the girl next door. Not befitting a servant of God, I know, but my thoughts once strayed. And…"
"It doesn't matter."
Shirone interrupted.
"Everyone is swayed by desire. What I want to ask is more fundamental."
"I'm not sure I follow. Explain."
"The Martyr Code."
The pope's eyebrows twitched.
"Martyr code. I've heard that Rami's holy knights are trained from a very young age."
Constantine's face tightened.
"Yahweh, I wanted to understand you. Why bring doctrine into this?"
"I'm not debating doctrine. I'm asking. Don't you think it's wrong? You clearly remember breaking a friend's toy, yet why refuse to speak of the other matters? Why remain silent there?"
"Because there's nothing wrong."
Constantine's voice was resolute.
"The Rami Church has opposed evil. Holy knights are the vanguard. Training them—what's wrong with that? You may be nitpicking, but as pope of the Rami Church, I have no doubts about our doctrine."
"Then I cannot accept the Rami Church."
The pope's features contorted further; the furniture trembled as if struck by an earthquake.
Incredible.
Even an aura meant to oppose evil wielded such overwhelming force it affected incorporeal things.
Most demons would be crushed beneath it.
"Creating a peaceful world—that was our shared mission, was it not? Why this? Must even our methods bow to you?"
"I know all history that predates my birth. The Rami Church is part of that history," Shirone said. "It doesn't matter which god one worships; religion exists for people. But holy knights are not merely religion. What the Rami Church has done to them…"
He said, "It's brainwashing."
Perhaps the pope himself was no exception.
"They undergo brutal training, arm their minds, and with the powerful divine power thus obtained, they defeat evil. Hasn't the Rami Church grown that way?"
"They saved countless people. They defended the world from evil. How is that wrong?"
"The greatest wrong is making them incapable of even recognizing their own wrongdoing. That is brainwashing."
"Humans are weak!"
The pope shouted.
"Evil runs rampant, and its temptations are sweet. To stand against it, don't we need an absolute weapon—some belief, some mind that can defeat evil? Without that, it's all over."
"That thinking—"
Shirone pointed to the floor.
"You have invited evil into this holy place."
"…What do you mean?"
Bewildered, the pope felt as if he had suffered the worst humiliation.
"Evil in the Holy See?"
"Humans are weak. They're easily swayed by desire. If you forcefully suppress them, they will fall to even greater temptations. You end up nurturing the evil instead."
"I see now."
Calm returned to the pope.
"Perhaps I misjudged you. Is this some ploy—airing another religion's flaws to gain recognition?"
"Don't go to the Crusade."
Shirone was firm.
"Stay here and confirm the evil the Rami Church has drawn in. That's the right thing to do."
"It's time."
Constantine closed himself off to Shirone's words and remained unresponsive.
He slid his pocket watch back into his pocket, and just before opening the door he turned his head.
"Your plan has failed. I will go to the Crusade and do what I believe is right for the world. If you join my cause, we can be good allies. But if you attempt to smear the Rami Church for your own gain, then I will defend my honor and beliefs against you."
The door slammed shut.
The three left alone in the papal chamber had no time to replay the conversation; they were tense and alert.
"…Intimidating."
The murderous intent outside the door was palpable.
"If we stall they'll break the door in. What do we do? Fight or run?"
"We can't leave now."
Shirone rose.
"We know the pope's stance. I must confirm it myself. I need to see what's happening within the Holy See."
"But is there really evil here? The pope didn't seem to sense anything," Nade asked.
"It's the Holy See. Detecting evil is like a law's seesaw. Someone who's been in the water long will adapt to the temperature, but a newcomer will notice it's hot or cold."
Iruki said, "An outsider is more sensitive."
"Right. And the stronger the evil, the fainter its aura becomes. It's clever. Havitz can't sense it at all."
A knock sounded at the door.
"Let's get out. The pope has gone to the Crusade; there's no reason to stay in the chamber."
Iruki opened Spirit Zone.
"Seven."
The magic limiter didn't trouble him—he'd even hacked Siok's hidden code.
"Don't make it too big. If a rumor spreads that Shirone caused a scene in another order, public opinion about the Crusade will sour."
Nade sparked blue electricity in his hand.
"We can't just take it lying down. As long as we don't kill them, right?"
"…For now."
Given the go-ahead, Nade lowered his center of gravity and readied to charge.
"Going? Really?" Iruki shrugged, and with no better option Shirone moved as if pushed.
"Now!"
With a crash the door splintered and six blades shot in from all directions.
I knew this would happen.
An electric surge coursed through Nade's body, and with superhuman reflexes he dodged the attack.
"Seize them!"
Among the holy knights on standby were patrol members Leon and Seina.
"Purge the heretics!" they cried. At their shout to annihilate heresy, even Nade—who had been holding back—could no longer restrain himself.
These bastards—
Krrrrrrrrr!
A bolt from the Thunder God's Rebirth erupted, smashed through the ceiling, and swept down the corridor.
"Ugh!"
The corridor shook under the lightning's force; the holy knights gripped their swords and trembled.
"Nade!"
Shirone shouted. Regaining his senses, Nade hastily reined in his power.
Oops.
The Thunder God's Rebirth was devastating but had the drawback of eroding the user's reason the longer it was sustained.
"Now! Go!"
While the holy knights were stunned, Shirone's group ran the other way.
"Damn it!"
Leon slammed his fist on the floor.
"Summon all paladins of the Oracle Administration Bureau. We cannot let them leave the Holy See."
"Heh heh heh, no need."
A sinister voice from behind made the seven holy knights whirl around.
"Hi hi hi ha. Hi hi hi hi."
A man with his lips split to his ears stood there, laughing vacantly and holding twin scythes.
Seina's face drained of color.
The Laughing One.
The Holy See's most secretive organization.
Heresy Division.