When the Saintess Arrives, No King Exist
Chapter 34: My Power as the Pope is Infinite

Chapter 34: Chapter 34: My Power as the Pope is Infinite

In the vast territories of the Divine El Empire, the command of politics always nominally lies with the king, while religious rites are governed by the pope.

Aside from the Falan Kingdom, which achieved centralization through war and established a preliminary civil service system, in the empire’s other two major kingdoms, the Leia Kingdom and the Norn Kingdom, priests serve the role of civil officials, and monks are akin to eunuchs.

The clergy is overseen by the Papal Court, the monks by the Monastic Orders, and the combination of the two is the Church.

The leader of the Church is the Archbishop of Holy Seat City.

The Archbishop of Holy Seat City originally was just one of the five Patriarchal districts, but because it was here that Miseria ascended and Saint Berel was martyred, the Archbishop attained a transcendent status.

Through centuries of struggle between the empire and the Church, the power and status of the pope gradually became established.

In essence, according to the Gospel and ancient church traditions, anyone who believes in the faith can become pope.

However, how could the lords truly allow commoners to wield such significant power? They are servants of God, not servants of the common folk.

So, after an evolution of systems, the selection of the pope moved from being elected by the believers to being elected by the cardinals, or curial members, from among the bishops.

As for the nominal status of the curials, they are the pope’s secretaries, and the pope, too, is chosen from among the cardinals.

So, from a certain perspective, the papal election law could also be called the Inviolable Secretary Succession Law.

From this angle, this Pope Horn was not in Holy Seat City, nor elected by the curials, and wasn’t even a bishop, fundamentally making him three times legally null.

Horn, trembling, turned his head to look at Tommy, who was currently prostrate on the ground, as if more devout and loyal than anyone else.

Then looking at the leaders there, Chervis, Grampwen...

Despite their lowered heads and docile appearance, Horn could see nothing but malice and disdain in their eyes.

You damn rebels, if I catch the chance, watch how I’ll have Jeanne strike you all with lightning!

Standing on the wall, Horn looked down at the crowd below.

On the vast green pasture, beneath the square stone walls, heads crowded together, surging like waves.

These were the local villagers; they had gathered at the Gulag Monastery just to survive.

Most of them were dressed in rags, wearing hooded cloaks, aprons, and many stood barefoot on the ground, their thin, bony ankles resembling dead branches.

These people were butchers, carpenters, miners, brewers, weavers, tanners, haulers, and predominantly, farmers.

When they looked up, in their murky eyes, Horn saw only ignorance, fanaticism, and deep confusion.

Horn sighed, closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, the earlier compassion had vanished.

Fine, don’t you all want to play with me? I’ll play along with you; if we die, we die together, and I’ll have you all buried with me.

"People, I am your new Pope Horn!" Although they did not understand why the new pope would speak so through gritted teeth, the villagers still silenced themselves to listen.

As for Tommy and the others behind, they found it strange why Horn suddenly complied.

"The sinner Horn, though by ancient law deemed pope, we cannot disregard rules and law. Without law, where would order come from?"

Horn heavily slammed the cane in his hand, with such force that the cross on the scepter’s tip bent.

"Therefore, to pursue law, I must be elected by the cardinals. I will exercise my power as pope, appointing Tommy, Chervis, Grampwen, and Madlan as the Red-robed Archbishops!"

"What!" Tommy, who had been prostrate, leaped up like a frog, almost falling into a brazier.

"In the name of the Holy Father, in the name of the pope, I appoint Tommy to remotely lead as the Metropolitan Bishop of the Thousand River Valley, Chervis to lead as the Metropolitan Bishop of Windmill Land, Grampwen of Golden Fleece Beach, and Madlan of White Sand Land!"

Horn’s previous expression of gritted teeth turned into a smile, while that expression transferred to the faces of these four.

"As for all of you present, you are blessed. Although you are not priests, I grant you all the same status as priests, though you are lay believers, your status equals that of priests!"

Thanks to that book, Rum’s Rose Legends, Horn’s geographical knowledge of the empire had improved greatly.

Even if he didn’t know where these places were, from the poems and interpretations in the book.

Windmill Land is the most developed agricultural and pastoral area; Golden Fleece Beach is the empire’s most thriving textile territory, while White Sand Land is famous for exquisite glass products.

These three places are undoubtedly political and economic bombs within the empire; as for the Thousand River Valley, it’s naturally well-understood that the local chief is more impactful than a distant official.

From Horn naming each place, the changing shade on the others’ faces showed it was likely correct.

Tommy’s beard was almost turning green with his complexion; they truly hadn’t expected Horn to have this trick.

Damn, had they known, they would have promoted him to Metropolitan Bishop. Why bother with making him pope?

Standing on the courtyard wall, Horn raised his scepter high: "Believers, rejoice, these cardinals are all Thousand River Valley people, I have dismissed the previous four bishops, these four before you are the true bishops..."

"Ahem ahem ahem!"

A fit of violent coughing interrupted Horn’s words, and he squinted over to see Tommy.

He was coughing while looking incredulously at Horn, weren’t you a member of the Secret Faction? We are in it together.

When this is over, you fake your death and pass the position to unlucky Madlan, wouldn’t you successfully shift the blame? The Secret Faction will cover you!

How could you, an old member of the Secret Faction, not know this? Are you trying to drag us all down?

Be aware, according to Horn’s words, the Metropolitan Bishop of Thousand River Valley, Constans, is not a legitimate bishop, while Tommy is the rightful bishop!

As a subordinate of Metropolitan Bishop Constans, the High Castle Archbishop would likely be eager to seize Tommy as a gift for Constans.

If the High Castle Bishop were here, it’s likely he’d be thrilled beyond belief.

Capturing a commoner claiming to be pope versus a cult conspiring to be the church, what a difference in merit!

Especially when it involves Juanuo, the High Castle Bishop would almost be eager to beg Horn for more involvement.

He had been in this poor High Castle for so long, this was the blessing he deserved.

Tommy bent his waist, stepped forward to support Horn’s arm, his smile exceptionally forced: "Your Holiness, this, this doesn’t seem right, those people did fine jobs, how can they just be dismissed?"

"That’s true enough."

Tommy immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

"Then just appoint them as local bishops instead, you all supporting me as pope, that’s what you deserve, and it’s what I ought to do."

"But, but..."

"But what?" Horn turned his head towards the villagers below, "Believers, my power as pope is limitless, isn’t that right?"

"Certainly!"

"We love you, Your Holiness!"

"Your Holiness is like the heavens!"

Gaining the status comparable to priests, largely, the uncultured crowd was overjoyed.

They were unaware of the church’s internal complexities, only knowing they were now akin to priests.

This was all thanks to the new pope, naturally, they had to support the new pope.

No wonder he’s a pope from the Thousand River Valley; as soon as he was in power, he brought benefits to his people.

Seeing Horn still edging towards the wall as if intending to speak further, Tommy was frightened. He signaled Grampwen, and together they supported Horn.

"Alright, alright, disperse, His Holiness is tired!"

Not waiting for a response from the villagers below, they hastily escorted Horn to the backyard.

If he continued speaking, what would become of it?

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