Chapter 458

After that, the investigation team led by Seilon began to thoroughly investigate the truth of the matter.

With an attitude of not missing even the smallest flaw.

However, no matter how much they investigated, there was no way such a thing would come out.

Among the things we did, the only problematic parts were sneaking into the city without permission and Hersh killing some of the poor, but only we knew about that.

We had already burned all the bodies of the poor, leaving only a few as evidence, and even held a memorial service.

Before we arrived, the Sacred Order members had detained the poor to provoke the kidnappers, but… they fed and cared for them well, and even silenced them, so there was no problem.

As for the arbitrary distribution of the Grimnir Church’s assets, unless we had embezzled some of it, it was impossible to hold us accountable since we had distributed everything to the city residents based on strict criteria.

If this act were defined as overstepping authority, the goods distributed to the citizens would also be considered products of overstepping authority and would have to be reclaimed…

Unless they went as far as the Grimnir Church, it wasn’t a choice a proper cleric could make.

Both morally and realistically.

Giving to the poor is a virtue that realizes the mercy of God.

Denying this and taking it back is an evil act that a religious person cannot choose.

At least, it’s impossible for a paladin serving the God of Justice.

Moreover, if they did that, the church orders to which the search team belonged would immediately face enormous criticism.

Even a pet would bare its teeth at its owner if food was given and then taken away, let alone people.

In the end, all the investigation team could do was purify the remnants of heresy.

The cathedral, which had been designated as a restricted area, and the divine artifacts of the Grimnir Church that were too ambiguous to dispose of.

After the investigation, High Judge Seilon declared that all of these were products of heresy that must be destroyed under his authority.

It was the moment the Grimnir Church was officially recognized as a heresy.

After the declaration, Seilon literally demolished the empty Grimnir Cathedral.

“O Astraea, who hates evil and protects good, establishing order and justice on earth. Here lies the product of evil deeds that must be judged, casting the shadow of sin. Show them the sternness of the scales.”

As Seilon recited the quiet prayer, a ring of light appeared above the cathedral, beginning to emit a golden divine light.

The miracle of the Light of Judgment, allowed only to the high judges of the Astraea Church.

From the ring of light spread across the sky, a cascade of divine light struck the cathedral’s roof.

– Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwang!

The pointed spires scattered in all directions, and the pierced roof collapsed inward.

The windows, unable to withstand the shock, shattered all at once, sparkling brilliantly.

It’s more powerful than I thought.

It wasn’t enough to demolish the entire cathedral in one strike, but it was still more destructive than most high-level magic.

The miracles of the Astraea Church vary in power depending on the depth of the sin committed by the target, so it seems they judged the building itself as a nest of sin.

I watched the cathedral collapse while smoking a cigarette next to Lacey.

—-

After leveling the cathedral with the investigation team, Seilon also destroyed all the divine artifacts of the Grimnir Church without leaving a trace.

The Mask of Wisdom, a divine artifact that teaches magic according to the wearer’s level.

The Sage’s Horn Cup, which grants flashes of inspiration when filled with alcohol.

Even the Robe of Deception, which absorbs magic and converts it into one’s own mana.

The effects were so useful that calling them divine artifacts was no exaggeration, but since only Grimnir’s followers could use them, it wasn’t much of a loss.

With this, Seilon, having completed all his duties, decided to return to the Holy City.

“The eradication of the heretical Grimnir Church has been carried out according to proper procedures. The remaining issue is the discussion of the management rights of Nasiriya… That is not within my jurisdiction, so you should consult with the Keres Church later. According to Holy Kingdom law, Nasiriya was originally a city jointly ruled by the Grimnir and Keres Churches, so I expect the Keres Church will soon request the city’s return. I hope you make a wise decision.”

It was shameless of the expelled to say it was originally their home and to leave, but what could we do since it was Holy Kingdom law?

“Thank you for your hard work, Sir Seilon. We are grateful for the fairness of the scales.”

Lacey simply smiled and offered light thanks to Seilon as he returned to the Holy City.

I thought he would nitpick every little detail and tear into us like a dog, but after confirming there were no issues with the evidence and investigation results, he surprisingly accepted it cleanly and stepped back.

“It’s nothing to be thanked for. As a servant of Astraea, it’s only natural to be fair in all matters. Then, until we meet again, may you be at peace.”

After a brief farewell, Seilon glanced at me one last time, then turned his head and left Nasiriya.

I chuckled and sent him off with cigarette smoke, feeling a premonition that I would face him in battle someday.

=======[ Alhebron ]=======

After the news of the Grimnir Church’s downfall spread, some cardinals were so shocked, terrified, anxious, and bewildered that they couldn’t sleep.

They had guessed that Lacey would cause some trouble when she suddenly left the Holy City on a pilgrimage, but… they never imagined she would cause such a huge incident.

They gathered in the conference room every day to discuss how to handle the situation and future countermeasures.

“That devilish woman must be expelled immediately!”

Cardinal Rosof of the Keres Church slammed the table and shouted.

Considering that the Keres Church would benefit the most from the Grimnir Church’s downfall, his attitude could be seen as ungrateful.

“Devil? That’s too disrespectful. Have you forgotten, Cardinal Rosof? Though she serves a different god, she is a saint candidate who has received the Holy Mark from Elpinel. You can’t call her a devil.”

Ernliter Zaisers of the Astraea Church pointed out Rosof’s remark.

Though they were cardinals of the same Holy Sun Alliance, given his personality that values order and law, such remarks were hard to tolerate.

“Look at what has happened since that woman returned to the Holy Kingdom! Five, five cardinals have disappeared from here. Can you really dismiss this as a coincidence?”

Rosof pointed to the half-empty seats.

His trembling fingers and desperate voice clearly showed his fear that he might be next.

“One committed suicide, two were expelled by you, and another was already seriously ill before being confined. Isn’t that right? I can’t help but think that blaming Elmain Staldorf for this is baseless slander.”

Raicher of the Imera Church laughed hollowly and defended Lacey.

He too hadn’t expected Lacey to cause such a huge incident by bringing down a church, but inwardly he was satisfied because it had elevated their status.

By bringing down a church with just six or seven people, she had proven that the Elpinel Church’s power was still intact.

Thanks to that, the Imera Church, which was on the same boat as the Elpinel Church, had also become more solid than before.

Enough to openly criticize a cardinal of the Holy Sun Alliance.

Unable to refute the valid criticism, Rosof clenched his mouth and panted.

Zaisers sighed deeply, looking at him with pity.

“…I won’t say Cardinal Rosof’s suspicions are unfounded, but I do agree with the expulsion itself. She is disrupting the order of the Holy Kingdom, causing unnecessary chaos, so if we can’t punish her, sending her away is the best option.”

“Cardinal Zaisers. Cardinal Rosof. You don’t have the authority to do that, and Elmain Staldorf’s acting authority is not obligated to follow your expulsion orders. You know that, right?”

Kraibel of the Ausrine Church frowned and countered.

To expel a key figure from another church order from the Holy Kingdom, at least a majority of the cardinals needed to agree.

In other words, it would require six cardinals to vote in favor after formally proposing the agenda.

So… all the remaining cardinals.

“There’s no need to issue an expulsion order.”

Cardinal Karnius of the Shaulite Church, who had been quietly listening to the meeting, opened his mouth with a smile.

“Have you all forgotten why Elmain Staldorf returned to the Holy Kingdom? It was to explain the establishment of the unauthorized Imperial Diocese and to gain recognition for its continued existence. So… if we withdraw the hearing and guarantee the diocese’s independence, she will return to the Empire on her own. We just need to restore order in the Holy Kingdom after she leaves.”

“That’s…!”

“…Indeed, a clever plan. If we recognize the diocese and promise to support the Empire, she will have no reason to stay in the Holy Kingdom.”

The cardinals who wanted Lacey to leave nodded in agreement with his opinion.

Though it was almost like a surrender, they judged it better than letting Lacey run rampant in the Holy Kingdom as she was now.

Raicher and Kraibel couldn’t offer any counterarguments.

It was a dead end.

Opposing the diocese’s existence would mean criticizing Lacey, who was on their side, but agreeing would mean losing their core strength.

“Does everyone agree? If there are no objections, this meeting is concluded-”

“Urgent news!”

Just as Cardinal Karnius was about to end the meeting with a satisfied smile, someone outside knocked fiercely on the conference room door and shouted urgently.

Karnius clicked his tongue but ordered the messenger outside to enter.

He didn’t know what it was about, but if it was serious enough to interrupt the cardinals’ meeting, it must be no small matter.

The messenger who entered the conference room with permission was a paladin of the Astraea Church, and judging by his pale face and sweaty forehead, he must have run here in a hurry.

“Speak. What is it that brought you here?”

The paladin knelt, bowed his head, and reported in a loud, almost desperate voice.

“A riot has broken out in Arad! Citizen rioters and the church’s paladins have clashed, and members of the Kranuus Church have joined the rioters, escalating the situation out of control!”

A fierce shock swept through the conference room.