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The council held once every five years was considered a very important event for the clergy serving the Church Order.

The teachings of the Great Saint could be interpreted differently by each person, and as churches took root in various regions, they inevitably intertwined with local beliefs and customs, leading to strong regional characteristics. Therefore, a forum to discuss various issues that had arisen over the past five years was deemed absolutely necessary, garnering widespread agreement.

Of course, the council wasn’t just a place for doctrinal debates. After all, it was a rare occasion for people from a massive organization, who seldom saw each other, to gather in one place. It would be a waste to only discuss doctrines and regulations and then call it a day.

Thus, the council also addressed various issues occurring across the continent. These included political, administrative, and judicial matters related to the Church Order, as well as topics concerning demons, witches, dungeons, prophecies, and revelations.

However, it was surprisingly rare for Paladin knights to attend such councils. This wasn’t because they were unqualified, but rather because their small numbers and constant travels across the continent left them with little time to spare.

For this reason, the Paladin representative attending the council was usually the First Seat Knight Commander, who also held the position of Cardinal and was stationed at the headquarters to handle reports from the Paladins.

However, upon receiving urgent news from Agnon, the current Paladin First Seat, Cardinal Andrea Bonaventura di Bertone, sensed that this situation couldn’t be discussed without the testimony and advice of those on the ground.

Immediately sending a formal request for Sophia and Hildegard to attend the council, he also visited the Church Order’s Ministry of Politics, which was overseeing the council, to inform them of the Paladins’ attendance.

The dignified, muscular, and towering old knight’s arrival caused the priests working in the Ministry of Politics to bow respectfully and make way. Although he had become more mild-mannered since becoming a Cardinal and residing at the Church headquarters, few priests could maintain their composure in front of this stern-eyed old knight.

After briefly explaining his business to a priest working in the Ministry, he quickly made his way to the third floor. There, the office of Cardinal Alessandro Borromeo, the Minister of Politics and also a Cardinal like Andrea, was located.

Arriving at the office door, Cardinal Andrea knocked lightly and announced his presence.

“It’s Andrea. Is Cardinal Alessandro in?”

After a moment of waiting, a light rustling sound came from inside, followed by a slow, drawn-out voice saying, “Come in.”

Hearing this, Cardinal Andrea carefully opened the door and stepped inside. There, seated in a chair, was a somewhat petite and gentle-looking priest, though his eyes shone brightly. On the desk in front of him were various documents neatly arranged, awaiting his decisions, approvals, and advice.

As Andrea entered, Cardinal Alessandro rose from his seat to greet him.

“Welcome. It’s been a while since you’ve come to see me. At our age, shouldn’t you visit more often?”

Leading Cardinal Andrea to a table on the right side of the office, Cardinal Alessandro spoke.

“I can let most things slide, but I can’t ignore that ‘our age’ comment. Do you realize there’s a good ten-year age difference between us?”

“Tsk, tsk. Getting hung up on such trivial matters won’t get you far. How can a man of your stature nitpick over such small details?”

Clicking his tongue, Cardinal Alessandro brought out a tea set and began boiling water.

As the water boiled, the two Cardinals exchanged casual banter. Once the water was ready, Cardinal Alessandro brewed the tea and poured it into cups for himself and Cardinal Andrea before asking,

“So, what brings you here?”

“Who said I need a reason to visit?”

“Isn’t that the truth? Your gruffness is well-known even within the Church headquarters.”

At Cardinal Alessandro’s sharp retort, Cardinal Andrea swallowed a sigh and finally revealed his purpose.

“You’re aware of the recent anomalous phenomenon, I assume?”

“Of course. Ignoring such a significant event would mean I’m unworthy of the title of Cardinal.”

“A report has come in from the field, and the contents are quite unusual. I’ve decided to have testimony given at the council.”

“Hmm? If a Paladin knight, who rarely attends councils, is stepping forward to testify, it must indeed be no ordinary matter.”

“Exactly. Take a look at this.”

Cardinal Andrea handed over a letter. Cardinal Alessandro, initially raising an eyebrow in curiosity, began reading. As he progressed, his brow furrowed deeper, forming a deep crease.

“…If this is true, it’s truly an extraordinary matter.”

The letter contained numerous unusual terms: the horizon of the abyss, the Great Demon, declarations of war, monstrous dragons, and spreading waves of malevolent energy.

“That’s not all. Since that anomalous phenomenon, strange incidents have been reported across the continent. Our knights have been busier than ever.”

“I’ve heard about that. It’s kept our Ministry of Politics quite busy as well.”

“Corpses are rising, and vengeful spirits are seeking revenge. In one place, a newborn baby strangled its midwife and mother before fleeing. In another, plants and animals underwent bizarre mutations, turning the area into a forbidden zone. And…”

“And people’s temperaments have changed.”

Recalling how crime rates had noticeably increased across the continent since the spread of the malevolent energy, Cardinal Alessandro covered his eyes with his hand.

From petty thefts and quarrels to heinous crimes like murder, arson, and robbery, the surge in incidents was undoubtedly linked, directly or indirectly, to the malevolent energy.

In such a situation, the Church should have actively intervened to conduct purification rituals, but political issues had hindered this.

Secular rulers, supported by the populace, didn’t want the Church meddling in secular politics. Allowing the Church to step in solely because of rising crime rates could set a precedent for spiritual authority to overshadow secular power.

“The critical issue is that this situation, like a cancer, might hinder humanity’s unity.”

What had been the driving force behind the Great Saint’s ability to expel the Demon Clan from the continent? Of course, it was due to the Great Saint’s exceptional abilities and powerful Light Power, but it was also significantly influenced by the curses, grudges, and karmic debts the demons had accumulated since their days as humans.

It was these karmic debts that allowed humanity to unite under the Great Saint’s leadership and ultimately expel the demons.

But what about now? Under the policy of the Church not intervening in secular affairs, secular rulers were each holding their territories and wielding power. In such a situation, if the Great Demon’s malevolent energy was hardening people’s hearts and twisting their fates…

Could humanity truly unite its strength to face a powerful enemy again?

Cardinal Alessandro couldn’t confidently answer “yes” to that question.

Suddenly, he recalled Cardinal Andrea’s earlier mention of Paladins attending the council to testify.

“So, who are these nuns, Sophia de Chazel and Hildegard Ritter von Wolfstein, attending this time?”

At Cardinal Alessandro’s question, a faint smile appeared on Cardinal Andrea’s lips. Noticing the usually stern Cardinal’s smile, Cardinal Alessandro’s eyes sparkled with interest.

“They are the most outstanding talents to lead the Church’s future. Especially Sophia de Chazel—she’s someone whose depths even I haven’t fully grasped.”

At Cardinal Andrea’s confident assertion, Cardinal Alessandro smiled with intrigue.

“Oh? That’s quite something. You’ve piqued this old man’s curiosity.”

“I guarantee it. When you see her, you’ll be amazed.”

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The Council (Ecumenical Council), held once every five years. This year, the council was taking place in the Toriento Bishopric of the Kingdom of Rotaringia.

The Toriento Bishopric, located not far from the Church headquarters in Ravenna, the central city of Rotaringia, was also conveniently situated near the trade routes of the Alp Mountains, making it easily accessible from Franquia and the Sacred Gryphon Empire. Perhaps due to these geographical advantages, the Toriento Bishopric had never been left off the list of potential host locations for the Ecumenical Council.

Sophia, Hildegard, and Conra hurried toward the Toriento Bishopric. The journey from Agnon, adjacent to the lowlands, to the Toriento Bishopric within the Kingdom of Rotaringia was by no means short, but the group didn’t rush.

To be precise, they couldn’t rush.

“We should have eradicated that malevolent energy more thoroughly back then.”

Sophia gritted her teeth, speaking as if chewing on her words. Hildegard also nodded in agreement, her expression filled with irritation.

“Damn it, it’s like compressing a year’s worth of incidents into a single month.”

“Ugh…”

Conra, completely drained, could only intermittently let out strange groans, his body and mind utterly exhausted.

As they traveled south toward Toriento, the group keenly felt the consequences of the incidents occurring everywhere they went. Demons, monsters, anomalies, bandits—it seemed there was no end to them.

Particularly, the incident involving a red-shrouded newborn strangling its midwife and mother left a foul aftertaste. For Conra, who wasn’t accustomed to such horrors, it was enough to keep him awake at night.

 

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