I Picked Up a Saintess from the Ruins

9 – 3. Heading South

The ill-fated relationship between the Pope and the Emperor had been known to everyone in the world for a long time.

The Papal Decree, located in the capital city of Remus.

The Pope, the leader of millions of Europa believers and numerous clergy, did not please the Emperor.

“How can one be so arrogant…!”

No, to be precise, he hated it.

The pitiful acolyte trembling beside him after the Pope’s roar shivered slightly.

The reason lay in the aversion felt as a ruler who shared the intersection of believers and the populace.

The original sin where the previous emperor, leveraging military might, used the Pope as a mere tool and replaced him as easily as changing an air filter.

But above all, what truly annoyed the Pope was something else.

“The Emperor… still exercises the right of appointment?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

It was precisely because of the authority known as the right of appointment, or the power to appoint officials.

Considering that the church was soon to become the state bureaucracy, translating it as the power to appoint civil servants, a more familiar term, would not capture its weight.

Originally, this authority was firmly held by the Emperor and the Empress.

But in the eyes of the Pope, something seemed… off. It was strange that people who were not even clergy had the power to appoint clergy.

They took advantage of their positions, even corrupting the sacred clergy, contributing to the corruption that turned the world upside down.

And every time the world turned upside down, there was something that followed like a needle following a thread.

“A place that only focuses on colluding with knights and extorting donations is not a church!”

“The church must awaken! Regain the faith and charity of the past!”

“We can no longer overlook the corruption of the clergy. If they won’t change, we will make them change!”

Coincidentally, a rebellion had recently erupted in a corner of the empire, sharpening the rebellion angle.

Thanks to that, the soldiers in the north were withdrawn and left vulnerable to attacks by barbarians. It turned out well for the freelance knights who were in need of work.

Anyway, seizing the opportunity amidst the chaos, the Pope took the microphone and spoke to the whole world.

“The fact that secular rulers possess the power to appoint clergy is absurd! It should return to the bosom of the church. Therefore, I will correct it here and now. That authority lies with the Pope and the Holy See!”

And on the other side of the continent.

Heinrich promptly summoned the bishops of the Empire under his control.

“…Even if he is the Emperor, shouldn’t we show a little respect for His Holiness, the Pope? After all, we and the Emperor are all followers of the same faith.”

“I have always thought so as well.”

“Exactly. As Your Majesty has been on the throne for a long time, there have been many interactions with His Holiness during that extended period—”

“His Majesty is entering!”

“—so, it is evident that His Holiness has imposed excessively harsh measures. This is something we cannot overlook!”

“I have always thought so as well.”

The gathered bishops had no choice but to withdraw their support for the Pope.

The Papacy was distant, and the Emperor was near. Even if a bishop were to protest, there was no escape.

Emperor Heinrich continued to merrily exercise his authority while demanding the Pope’s abdication, citing the loss of support from the bishops.

And finally, the Pope reached a tipping point.

“Worldly affairs are inherently worldly affairs. However, the Emperor’s actions, persistently interfering with the Church, do not seem to represent the proper image of a true Europa believer!”

“Therefore, excommunication! I excommunicate the Emperor!”

*****

At this point, let’s make a confession.

Truthfully, I had no interest in what kind of plots the Pope and the Emperor were weaving among themselves.

Whether the Papacy and the Empire were grappling with each other’s affairs for a day or two, it didn’t matter to me.

If I were to be constantly concerned about such things, I couldn’t live my everyday life. So, it’s possible not to know.

But choosing to continue not knowing what you already know is, in fact, the most shameful thing.

Listening to the traveling merchants, who serve as both living radios and talking newspapers of this era, I roughly grasped how things were unfolding.

“Now, Huu. Is this sufficient for you…?”

“Yes, it has been a great help.”

Thanks to this, my knowledge has expanded.

In exchange for tales, I bought some ornate items brought from the east by the merchant. There’s no one in particular to give them to, and they’re a bit odd for my taste. I wonder if Lycia would like them.

Anyway, if you ask anyone on the road to say just one phrase about the Soul Duo, nine times out of ten, the answer springs forth.

To understand why the Emperor and the Pope unexpectedly plunged into the preliminary stages of war, a bit of background knowledge is necessary.

The term ‘Excommunication’ signifies expulsion from the Europa Church community.

And the Church, in this era, serves as the administrative, welfare, educational, and medical center, as well as engaging in various public activities. To put it in simpler terms, excommunication is a severe punishment akin to being unable to obtain a resident registration certificate.

However, the Emperor’s position is one where he has no need to obtain a resident registration certificate.

Excommunication holds a different meaning for the nobles.

“You, as a believer of the Europa Church, neglected the duties you should have upheld, and there is no trace of respect for the ecclesiastical authority. Heinrich has deviated so seriously that he requires guidance. Therefore, I, Pope Gregorio, pronounce excommunication upon the Emperor!”

“Hah! Whether your words are right or wrong, prove it with strength. Solely through war.”

“Chancellor, gather the soldiers and send letters to the vassals.”

This declaration of excommunication can be translated into noble language as ‘Let’s settle this with a duel.’

Naturally, the stronger party’s words become the right ones.

This is why I think the Empire will soon be in flames.

Now then.

How did Lycia know about it again?

Ignoring the people who were clamoring about the imminent end of the Empire’s service, I sat down next to the girl again.

There was turmoil erupting wherever people gathered. The empire was running quite smoothly.

“Miss Knight?”

“Ah, Lycia. Did you know it would turn out like this?”

“Yes, of course.”

“How?”

“When you spend time in the church, you hear rumors from all over. From idle gossip the children speak to the instructions handed down from the Papal Office.”

It seems it wasn’t a coincidence. The kid is quite clever.

Predicting the hearts of reed-like people is no different from shooting targets.

Or perhaps, from Lycia’s perspective, it was a gamble. Maybe it could have been.

But now it didn’t really matter. The situation had already unfolded, and in the end, I had to head towards the Papal Office.

The girl looked at me with an expression that seemed to expect something.

Still, it bothered me a little. There was no guarantee that I could fully protect the girl, and it was evident that the journey would be delayed.

“I’m not just asking you to come along for free. You have to pay a fair price.”

“How? I probably don’t have any money right now.”

“Maybe after I graduate.”

Investing in potential and reaping the rewards later. In other words, sponsorship.

Lycia definitely had an abundance of potential. Didn’t she have Priest Philip’s certification mark?

If you asked if I was willing to tolerate the journey being delayed, since war didn’t seem imminent, it didn’t seem like a bad idea to invest in the girl.

Even if it fails, it won’t have a big impact on me, and I won’t have much money to spend on anything other than food and a place to sleep until I reach university.

“Well, a promise is a promise. I’ll drop you off at the university on the way.”

“Thank you!”

“It won’t help to change your mind after we’ve set off, so let me ask you one last time. Do you really want to go?”

It’s a journey of several months. If your heart wavers even a little, it’s best to stop now.

But the girl looked straight at me and spoke with conviction.

“Yes. I want to go.”

What could be pushing her like this? If it’s not an obsession-like academic fervor, there was nothing else that stood out.

Lycia seemed to have something more to say. As we stared at each other in silence, her mouth, which had been hesitating for a moment, slowly opened.

“…If I go there, can I learn a lot?”

“Well, it’s called a university for a reason. If there’s something you don’t know, you won’t know it no matter where you go. It’s where the brightest minds gather.”

“Then, could I find answers to the questions I have?”

“What are you curious about?”

“Even for me… can salvation come?”

Lycia’s voice trembled slightly, in contrast to her usual self.

If that’s the case, perhaps this strange obsession she has is related.

Suddenly, I recalled the ruins where the girl had been left alone. It was the opposite situation of salvation.

Did Lycia start to have doubts at that moment? But with my limited knowledge, it didn’t seem appropriate to answer.

“There’s said to be a Saint in the Empire’s university. You might find answers from her. The will of God is something the Saint would know best.”

“

“If that’s the case… Well, alright then.”

Still, I responded with a touch of arrogance, giving an answer that I deemed appropriate.

In a world devoid of things like children’s rights, I still believed that kids like these had the right to live a somewhat happier life.

It seemed prudent to end the heavy conversation here.

I decided to steer the topic elsewhere.

“Now that spring has arrived, there’s no reason to delay, and we should gradually prepare to set out. Oh, right. Have you spoken to Sister Pippin?”

“Yes, I told her I was going to college, and she wished me well. She said I could do well even in college. Oh, and she advised me to hold the knight’s hand so I wouldn’t get lost.”

“Yeah, that sounds like something Sister Pippin would say… I should pay her a visit too. I won’t be able to see her for a while.”

“Yes, please do.”

A round trip alone would take well over half a year.

And most of that time would be spent traveling the long road with the girl. I have no idea how to handle a child.

But fortunately, I knew as much as a specialist in this field.

“Why is that the case for me?”

“Sister Pippin raises children at the church, just like a real father. The kids follow her like she’s their own father.”

“Mmm….”

For a brief moment, it felt like I was experiencing the spicy, delayed adolescence in a medieval fantasy world that didn’t cultivate the Lavender taste.

Handling a small girl shouldn’t be too difficult.