Chapter 94: The Final Weapon

#94

When discussing this matter, Hereis had said he would control his divine power to be strong enough to be noticeable to people, yet precise enough not to touch the corpse. It wasn’t that I didn’t trust his power, but I couldn’t help feeling nervous.

“It was fortunate that Hereis and I worked well in sync. If even one thing had gone wrong, everything would have been exposed.”

“This is a task Lord Jeha and I undertake together. I never doubted that it would go well.”

The two faced each other and smiled softly. It wasn’t just their feelings for each other; after completing a task in such harmony, there was a strange sense of unity. It felt like, ‘We really are a well-matched pair,’ or something like that.

“The rift between the nobles and the temple has definitely widened because of yesterday’s incident. I’ve heard that several high-ranking nobles have already written and sent letters to the emperor, reporting the temple’s atrocities. The emperor probably won’t be able to meddle in Marchioness Scarlet’s affairs any longer. Rather, he’ll be forced to step forward and protect her.”

“Since the temple is starting to become isolated, we need to step up the pace. We must have people spread rumors about the novel far and wide.”

As Jeha spoke, Hereis nodded and continued.

“The temple has already lost significant public favor for trying to frame a young widow as a witch and burn her at the stake. In that situation, if a novel vividly depicting the priests’ debauched and licentious acts becomes popular, the commoners, following the nobles, will begin to turn their backs on the temple.”

Having said that, Hereis stood up and brought a stack of papers from the desk. Jeha received what was handed to him and began to flip through them one by one. Most showed signs of having been folded and unfolded, indicating they were letters or reports.

“These are letters sent by priests we’ve suborned in each territory. The inquisitors have already committed quite a few atrocities. They’re colluding with local temples to frame innocent people as heretics and kill them, then busying themselves with filling their pockets with the victims’ property. And, of course, the bribes flowing back and forth are quite substantial.”

It was as Hereis said. Every letter contained accusations of the evil deeds committed by the inquisitors dispatched to the territories. The thick stack of letters made it clear that such atrocities were not limited to one or two places.

As Jeha turned the pages one by one, Hereis sat beside him, idly playing with his black hair and the nape of his neck. From his touch, Jeha could feel a desire that had not fully subsided. He had to work hard to suppress the flush rising to his cheeks. If this continued, they would end up rolling on the sofa again.

“I thought you were quietly staying in the temple every day… When did you manage to extend your reach across the entire continent?”

Having forced himself to examine all the letters, Jeha spoke with a surprised expression.

Come to think of it, he had once seen Hereis secretly meeting with a priest to discuss abolishing the inquisitor system. But he never imagined that Hereis had secretly suborned priests from various territories and was receiving reports from them.

“It’s all thanks to solidifying my position as archbishop. How could I drag the temple into the mud without doing at least this much?”

Hereis said with a faint smile.

“Preparations to denounce the evils of the inquisitor system are proceeding quietly and secretly. Priests across the continent are scurrying about gathering evidence in secret. We’ve already secured a great deal of evidence. The only question is when to detonate this bomb.”

“You’ve already secured evidence? That’s fast.”

Jeha quietly admired.

He knew that Hereis could be extremely extreme at times, and that beneath his calm exterior burned a hot flame. But the usual Hereis was always quiet and serene, so he hadn’t expected him to be working on something like this separately.

“Hereis, you’re truly remarkable.”

Jeha expressed his admiration without reservation. It seemed that, even without his help, Hereis would have been able to achieve his goal—it would just take a little more time.

“It’s all because Lord Jeha is by my side.”

Hereis gazed directly at Jeha with deep, loving eyes. Jeha felt a little embarrassed under that gaze.

“No, even without my help, someone like Hereis would have more than enough to achieve your goal.”

At Jeha’s words, Hereis shook his head.

“No. I’m glad you see me that way, but unfortunately, I don’t know how to stand alone. From childhood, I always leaned on God, and now I lean on you. The reason I can run toward my goal is all because I have you, a precious and sturdy pillar. Without you, I would have lost my way and given up everything. I might have become desolate and followed in my sister’s footsteps.”

Hereis lowered his eyes slightly. Dark circles were visible under them.

It seemed to be the first time he had spoken about his sister. The shadow cast over his dark expression revealed his pain.

“Hereis…”

Jeha called his name, unable to find words of comfort. Having composed himself, Hereis looked up and smiled faintly. But even that smile seemed painful.

“I have a request.”

“Just say it.”

“Please visit Marchioness Scarlet in secret and persuade her to formally accuse Inquisitor Casto of insulting a noble.”

At Hereis’s words, Jeha tilted his head.

“Even if we don’t persuade her, wouldn’t she accuse him on her own?”

“If the opponent were another noble or a commoner, she probably would have lodged a complaint right away. But Inquisitor Casto is a priest. Behind him stands the temple. Accusing Casto is practically the same as accusing the temple. And accusing the temple can be seen as raising a hand against divine authority. It will be hard for her to make up her mind easily.”

Jeha pondered Hereis’s words for a moment. Indeed… this wasn’t simply accusing an individual; it was tantamount to accusing the inquisitor system itself and the temple’s mistake in reviving that system. It wasn’t an easy thing to do.

“We have several weapons in our hands. First, Marchioness Scarlet. Second, public sentiment stirred by the novel. Third, Bishop Irellio’s heresy. Fourth, Bishop Peressio’s heresy. And finally…”

Pausing there, Hereis smiled faintly and revealed the last weapon.

“Finally, my own heresy.”

Jeha’s eyes widened slightly at Hereis’s words.

“You mean to use yourself as the final weapon to bring down the temple?”

“Yes.”

Hereis nodded calmly. Jeha frowned. He barely managed to stop himself from jumping up from his seat.

“Even just the heresy of the two bishops would be enough to condemn and shake the temple. There’s no need to bring you into it too. If that happens, you will…”

“I would be excommunicated and probably burned at the stake.”

“Hereis!”

Jeha could no longer hold back and stood up. Hereis rose and approached Jeha. Then he gently embraced him.

“When Bishop Peressio’s heresy is exposed following Bishop Irellio’s, the Pope will take a huge blow. He’ll likely be forced to step down from the papacy. Then who do you think will be elected as the next Pope? Probably I’ll be the strongest candidate. If not, I’ll make sure it happens.”

“Then just become Pope. As the highest authority in the temple, can’t you reform its evils?”

At Jeha’s words, Hereis laughed softly.

“I have already sworn. I swore to drag the names of God and the temple through the mud. Wasn’t it for that purpose that I summoned you and made a contract? I am not meant to ascend to the papal throne and shine brilliantly; I am meant to sink into the mud along with the temple and rot to the bottom.”

“But Hereis… even if that happens, religion won’t disappear.”

Jeha spoke in a small voice.

Hereis wanted to drag the names of God and the temple through the mud. And Jeha intended to help him as Hereis wished. But religion doesn’t disappear so easily. Even if many turn away from religion, there will always be those who keep their faith. As long as even one person believes, religion has the power to endure for hundreds or thousands of years.

“I know.”

Hereis answered calmly. He paused for a moment and then continued.

“But it won’t have the same power as before. The current temple wields absolute power, enough to sway even emperors and kings. But once it’s dragged through the mud, the imperial and royal families won’t miss the opportunity. They will probably draw a line to prevent the temple from interfering in politics any further. They, too, must have been displeased with the temple meddling in royal authority and politics at every turn.”

“…You’ve thought that far.”

“A temple that cannot interfere in politics will continue its existence as a pure religion devoted only to God. Of course, collusion with royalty and nobility won’t disappear entirely, but it won’t be able to exercise the same power as before. Religion remaining only as something to believe in and lean on—that is what I wish for.”

Jeha let out a deep sigh. When he was first summoned, he thought Hereis was just crazy. Then he thought he was truly extreme. But it wasn’t that. Hereis had thought it all through. Behind his extreme ideas lay a plan to leave a resting place for ordinary people left behind, where they could lean their hearts. Jeha understood why God had not withdrawn His love from Hereis.