The Enigmatic Pope and the Black Cross

Once the dust had settled, Anto Colmensin had firmly established himself in the world, or at least within the border kingdom of Draynes, under the guise of Sister Antolia.

Such profound success might well have been guided by an unseen divine hand, for his very existence was a legend in itself.

Few could have conceived that, on a continent where the Papacy’s influence had plummeted to its nadir, where countless faiths had crumbled, and the very fabric of society had been reshaped, the Papacy could so rapidly ascend from the brink of collapse and disunion to reunification.

This saga was replete with astonishing elements, with events that could only be described as miraculous.

Naturally, if one were to inquire among the local populace, or consult those directly involved, their unanimous declaration would be that all of it stemmed from divine guidance—a sentiment one could not help but find rather frustrating.

As an atheist, my attempts to trace and understand every facet of this legendary figure, delving into contemporary records, the Papacy’s own archives, and the documented actions of those present, only solidified my conviction that his own self-direction played a far more substantial role than any purported divine intervention.

To all who acquire this book, and to those whose eyes grace its pages, I extend my heartfelt gratitude and blessings.

Within these covers, readers will find many of my personal perspectives; some sections may even be purely speculative, and much of the narrative includes elements of artistic embellishment.

I implore you, do not take the contents as absolute truth or allow them to incite any rash actions.

Moreover, I have always believed that rather than framing Anto Colmensin’s impact on the continent as that of a fated hero, it is more compelling to approach it from a distinctly human perspective.

For a thirteen-year-old child to master the art of concealing their identity and rising as a Holy Maiden, one must question if there were other orchestrators behind the scenes.

Could Bishop Rhys Delvos, or even the shadowy influence of the Council, have been pulling strings?

Incidentally, I persist in the belief that ‘Saint Eric, the First Apostle,’ is one and the same as Eric, the renowned Transmigrator mage of that era.

While the Holy Church’s prevalent view maintains they are merely two distinct individuals coincidentally sharing identical names.

However, consider this: if Anto Colmensin was indeed adopted and tutored by a preeminent mage among the Otherworld Travelers, such a revelation would undoubtedly be the most sensational news of the century.

This would imply that the Council had, from its inception, already seized a significant portion of the Papacy’s power.

Pope Anto himself might well have been the Papacy’s greatest mole.

The mere contemplation of such a possibility borders on the absurd.

In sum, I am profoundly grateful for the chance to have composed this extensive biography of arguably the most celebrated figure of the last century.

My gratitude extends to many.

I thank the Divine Election Court for granting me access to the archives of the Papacy’s Bureau of Evangelism.

My appreciation goes to Mr. Octavius, the honorary curator of the Draynes Imperial Library, for his invaluable research.

And I extend my heartfelt thanks to all the diligent employees who braved tumultuous weather to accompany me on archaeological expeditions.

Indeed, these collective efforts were no mere fanciful journey; by retracing his steps, I have striven to reconstruct his authentic self—the man who, emerging from the mists of time crowned, began his journey from a humble border town, faced an undeniably arduous start, yet never retreated, instead advancing with unwavering rationality and profound strategic foresight.

— From the opening preface of ‘Secret History of the Pope: The Man Who Posed as a Holy Maiden for Thirty Years.’

Ps: That year, the book earned a place on numerous prestigious lists, including ‘Top 10 Most Popular Reads on the Continent’ and ‘Top 1 First History Book to Buy for Children.’

The author’s infamous experience of being doused with holy water by zealous church fanatics at a book signing, and subsequently being apprehended by the Tribunal, remains officially documented to this day.

****

In truth, the war had not ended; it had never truly ceased.

The ravages inflicted by the demon race continued to spread across the land, like wounds that refused to heal.

The undead advanced slowly across the snow-covered plains.

These creatures had once been human, residents of border villages, who had believed that their fortress’s formidable defenses, its integrated beacon system, and comprehensive guard protocols would ensure their survival against the threat of the undead.

Yet, the moment the first undead shuffled undetected into a procession of women and children, their fate was sealed.

“Another village has been annihilated.”

At that precise moment, as he watched the dark silhouettes moving across the icy expanse, a soldier on the watchtower gritted his teeth and slammed his fist against the cold stone wall.

“That direction leads to Rikas Village.”

“Damn it, Rikas… Should we summon Anke?”

“Don’t tell them. Let them get some proper rest. Keep this news from them.”

The guard exhaled slowly.

“Many of us here hail from Riska as well… I doubt we’ll need to inform them; when the Black Tide inevitably arrives, everyone will have to confront this grim reality.”

“Then at the very least, they deserve some psychological preparation.”

As the messenger descended, the guard spoke again.

“You’re from Riska too, aren’t you?”

“…Yes, sir.”

He responded with his back still turned.

“Which is precisely why I must ensure my brothers do not resort to any rash actions.”

The guard watched his retreating back, saying nothing.

There was never just one border watchtower; virtually every nation maintained its own for defense.

It was rumored that Draynes’s border outpost had been decimated during the previous Black Tide, yet Draynes’s military might was so formidable that their general had led a second counterattack, forcibly restoring the outpost to operational status.

“One can only conclude they are indeed true Draynesians; the people of that nation are nothing short of genuine warriors.”

At that moment, the old soldier remarked, his pipe held firmly in hand.

“Being neighbors with such a country, one is left to ponder whether it is a blessing of reliability or a cause for apprehension.”

“The Border Kingdoms Alliance now exists as little more than a flimsy pretense.”

“Without the Papacy’s unifying influence, this alliance was inherently precarious, and now it is effectively defunct.”

Such was the prevailing sentiment.

“The Council… what true purpose do these organizations of Otherworlders serve?

They overthrew the Papacy, only to abandon us to face such adversaries alone.

Indeed, compared to the Demon Lord’s army, they are the true formidable enemy.”

“That’s not entirely fair, though.”

“The Transmigrators of the Council certainly possess power, but they’ve struggled to harness it effectively.

Their factionalism, with each group acting independently, mirrors our own divisions; it’s truly a case of the pot calling the kettle black.”

The guard said, rising to his feet.

“Beyond this Black Tide lies Fort Pulika.

My hope is that they continue their advance in that direction, but should they even threaten our borders, we must retaliate fiercely and concede no ground.”

“Exactly, exactly.”

“Yet their numbers this time are truly overwhelming; we must light the beacons.”

As he spoke, one man approached the wall, only to recoil in terror at the scene unfolding before him.

“Heavens… what is that?”

“What’s wrong?”

The guard rushed forward.

Across the vast, pristine snowfield, a small contingent of riders was charging headlong into the Black Tide of the undead.

They numbered only a few dozen horses, yet they galloped fearlessly towards the living dead.

All were cloaked in black robes, and their banner… bore a black cross.

“The Black Church… have they arrived?”