"Do you understand what you're saying right now?"
In the frozen silence, one of the bishops finally broke the stillness.
"The appointment of a cardinal is a privilege reserved solely for His Holiness. It's outrageous that you would even bring it up in his absence. This oversteps all bounds."
"His Holiness instructed us to find suitable candidates," Narce replied smoothly, continuing, "And yes, you're right. Ordination cannot proceed without your consent. But, as you said, appointing a cardinal is solely within His Holiness's authority."
"That's not what I meant…!"
"Your Excellency Aurelino, as His Holiness's representative, could you kindly relay our request to him?"
Narce gestured politely to the bishop addressed as the papal representative.
'...Couldn't Narce have just spoken directly to the Pope before arranging this whole scene?'
He had claimed this order came directly from the Pope. This all looked procedural, but really, there was no need for such a formal gathering.
Clearly, Narce wanted to achieve a particular effect.
At that point, the presiding cardinal raised a hand to calm everyone.
"Let's all take a moment. We'll recess for ten minutes before resuming."
***
Narce could have ended everything simply by speaking to the Pope himself, yet he went through the trouble of organizing this spectacle.
His intentions were clear, and there was no need for lengthy analysis.
'There's a good chance that the overall opinion here is strongly against my ordination.'
This was an unannounced session, yet several people here already knew I lacked a baptismal certificate. A mage who could freely wield Divine Power would have sparked discussion within the ranks, and it's likely that I was already rejected for lacking eligibility.
Proceeding with a cardinal appointment in this context would naturally provoke backlash.
Narce, therefore, was creating this setting to share the responsibility with the Pope and to prove firsthand that Nicolaus was not a heretic.
―"I didn't think you'd be considering all that already."
Narce approached, smiling. The bishops gathered at the far end of the cathedral, while I remained seated alone.
Judging by his tone, Narce likely thought we were beyond the range of any Divine Power interference.
―"Was this your plan from the start?"
―"Haha, what do you think?"
―"You must've planned it all the way."
―"You know me well~ Though honestly, if they'd stopped at making you a priest, I wouldn't have insisted on taking things this far. An honorary cardinal is quite a burden, after all."
―"Like, say, being the Undersecretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith?"
I said with a smile, causing Narce to show a rare moment of surprise.
―"…I didn't mean to deceive you. You know that, right?"
He probably didn't think it necessary to spell it out.
It was a little surprising, but not a big deal.
―"I know. Clever move."
―"I've just been around long enough for this to come naturally. So, how about the cardinal position?"
It was a perfect defensive tool, with no need to ask.
Just holding the position of a priest had benefits, and it made little difference whether I became a deacon or a priest. A cardinal, however, was a daunting prospect.
'But it's an opportunity, one way or another.'
It was unsettling to take on a role without true faith, but it would be foolish to pass up a chance like this just because it felt overwhelming.
The bishops were returning to their seats as it seemed our recess was over.
"Let's resume."
Then the papal representative stood up.
"I'll be direct. Your Eminence Farnese, I cannot contact His Holiness for someone without even the most basic qualifications. Even if His Holiness has the authority to appoint a cardinal, he cannot override canon law."
Narce, his expression surprised, stroked his chin thoughtfully before responding.
"Canon law, is it…? I'm sure you're aware that a layman can be appointed to the rank of deacon cardinal."
"But Sir Nicolaus Ernst isn't even a layman. It's no longer a matter of whether he's baptized or not. The issue is that he seeks this position solely for the sake of Divine Power."
The bishop's voice was stern and final.
'…Well.'
It was an argument that made sense.
Judging by his tone, he was an ordinary priest, and for them, the rush to grant someone baptism purely to access Divine Power would seem a point of pride.
"Of course, if you choose to bring this matter to His Holiness directly, there's nothing I can do to stop you, Your Eminence Farnese. However, you should know that there are those in the Vatican who share my opinion."
"...."
Narce maintained his smile, meeting the bishop's gaze.
It was likely that he would, as implied, go to the Pope directly.
'But if he stops here, Narce's objective will only be half-achieved.'
Narce had orchestrated this gathering to proclaim Nicolaus's purity and to solidify the legitimacy of the appointment. If we ended here, the latter would be left unfulfilled.
'How to proceed…'
If physical verification was the issue, the solution was to verify it indirectly.
'...There is a way.'
There was a method that only believers could engage in, and it was bound by secrecy, making it ideal for this situation.
I rose from my seat and spoke.
"I will offer confession to His Holiness."
***
The cathedral was now empty, save for me.
There had been objections, as confession could not be performed by a non-believer. However, Narce firmly reminded them that the decision lay with the Pope, and arrangements to contact him were soon underway.
'They're already reading deeply into this.'
Confession being limited to believers was a given, and I couldn't help but smirk at their interpretation.
I had assumed that mentioning confession would be taken as a declaration of my faith, but they took it otherwise.
This made me even less inclined to state things plainly.
'Let them interpret it as they will.'
The more possibilities they considered, the more it would work in my favor.
Just then, I heard a subtle movement from within the confessional.
―"It's our first time meeting like this, isn't it?"
It was an unfamiliar voice.
The confessional had no curtain, allowing me to see inside, though it appeared empty.
In a world of magic, it wasn't that surprising.
Following Narce's guidance, I knelt down and touched the frame of the confessional window.
―"It is an honor to meet you. Thank you for accommodating my request at such a late hour."
―"The confessional is always open."
I simply smiled at the Pope's words, which carried a hint of amusement.
―"After hearing today's report, I'd already decided that I'd need to meet with you someday, Sir Ernst. And now, Cardinal Farnese has thoughtfully arranged this opportunity for us."
―"I see. Next time, let's meet in a more formal setting."
―"That sounds good. Now, I understand we're short on time. There's only about an hour and thirty minutes left."
I nodded at the Pope's remark and began to speak.
―"In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, it has been six months since my last confession. My sins to confess today are…"
I paused briefly and then started with the most important admission.
―"Firstly, I cannot be certain of my faith."
―"...."
I had no intention of pretending to be something I wasn't in front of people who had devoted their lives to religion.
Furthermore, if someone were to develop a new method of testing faith, any lie I told here could be exposed, nullifying everything accomplished today. It was safer to confess the truth here and now, during this time meant for acknowledging any lack of purity.
―"Secondly, even as the Church struggles with a matter of great conscience, I cannot personally state that I am a confirmed believer."
Silence stretched between us.
As I looked into the stillness, the Pope finally spoke.
―"Extend your hand."
I reached my hand into the confessional window, where something took hold of my wrist. A cool Divine Power surged through me.
―"It's true," the Pope said after a moment.
―"I understand your concerns. You're likely questioning whether someone without faith should be permitted to hold a sacred office, aren't you?"
―"That is correct."
―"We face an unprecedented crisis. For the past ten years, Pleroma has been striving tirelessly to absorb the entire world under its church. Sir Ernst, you've shown today exactly what that outcome looks like."
I said nothing, and the Pope continued speaking.
―"I'm aware of those who sit in honorary positions without genuine faith. They think memorizing doctrine and performing ritualistic duties is enough. I know how off-putting that is. But if compromising means we can save lives and confront a greater evil, then we will do so until the darkness lifts."
'Well… I wonder if everyone would agree with that.'
Yet in these circumstances, it was the best thing he could say.
Honorary positions had long been the exclusive domain of the nobility. Compared to that history, his appeal to a greater cause felt far more convincing.
―"I believe the Papal State serves as a global reservoir of Divine Power that unites mages. Today, we were able to send hundreds of mages to the Empire at your request because of the Church's willingness to compromise."
With that, the Pope released my hand.
―"Thank you for your words."
―"May peace find your heart, Sir. As for penance… yes."
The Pope continued lightly,
―"Live faithfully in service to others."
***
"They're taking quite a while."
"He must have much to discuss."
The bishops, who had moved to a nearby chapel, glanced at the clock.
"There's less than an hour left until the portal closes. And with the portal being a forty-minute walk from here, shouldn't we end this soon?"
"His Holiness is surely aware of the time," Narce said, his gaze still on the crisp papers on the podium.
In the silence, only the occasional crackle of fire and the drip of melted wax could be heard.
One of the priests, biting his lip anxiously, leaned over to another honorary priest and whispered with Divine Power.
―"…Father Romani, do you think it will happen?"
―"Not a chance. It's impossible to grant an honorary office to someone who isn't even baptized."
―"That's what I thought. Not to mention, Sir Ernst is a noble from the continent, right? If he hasn't received baptism by now, he probably never intended to."
The priest nodded in agreement.
After all, in a world where even some of Pleroma's followers had been baptized, appointing someone who hadn't even fulfilled such a basic requirement was unthinkable.
'Besides…'
The office of cardinal was a lifetime position with a fixed number of seats.
If someone like Nicolaus took one, it would reduce the chances for those currently living to ascend to that position.
One of the priests clenched his forehead, his face lined with frustration.
―"…It's an outrage. A rolling stone taking the place of one firmly set."
Of course, one could resolve this by simply becoming stronger as a mage.
He knew that himself.
But replacing talent was impossible, and growing stronger was no easy feat.
Without raising his head, Narce cast a glance in their direction.
―"His Holiness must make a wise decision."
The priest beside him nodded.
Due to papal infallibility—the belief that the Pope cannot err in matters of faith or doctrine—none of them could object to his decision.
Ultimately, it was all in the Pope's hands.
"…!"
*Bang!*
Suddenly, Narce took a deep breath and shot to his feet.
The bishops turned to him.
"What's the matter?"
"…It's arrived."
"Pardon?"
*Whistle—*
Narce whistled sharply, and a pure white dove flew in through the open window.
He quickly rolled up a slip of paper and tied it to the bird's leg, sending it back out.
A bishop stared, bewildered, and asked,
"Your Eminence, that bird is…?"
"It's a carrier pigeon from the Secretariat of State. Surely you're familiar with it?"
The Secretariat of State handled the Papal State's political and diplomatic affairs.
One of the priests narrowed his eyes.
The use of a pigeon from the Secretariat of State in this situation…
"Don't tell me…!"
One of the priests, realizing the implications, leapt to his feet, his face pale.
Another elderly bishop, having caught on as well, raised his voice.
"What on earth…! Surely, Your Eminence, you'll explain what's happened?"
"I don't understand why you're getting so worked up over nothing important," Narce replied, smiling leisurely.
"This isn't anger; it's merely that the matter is of utmost importance…"
"Understood. I'll inform you now."
Despite the tone of the question being less than polite, Narce responded with an easy smile.
"Starting at midnight on the 11th, Nicolaus Ernst will be appointed as a cardinal. This is a decree from His Holiness the Pope."