Regressor Of The Fallen Family [EN]: Chapter 322

Austin spoke clearly, his voice echoing in the grand Hall of Glory. “The rules say any cardinal can be chosen to be Pope.”

He looked straight ahead, pretending not to notice Tenner’s eyes watching him closely.

Tenner laughed softly, a low sound in his throat. He leaned back in his chair, acting bored, but his eyes were sharp and watchful. Then, Ilia spoke, her voice gentle and respectful.

“Truly, Cardinal Austin, you are much better suited to be Pope.”

Austin quickly replied, “How can I compare to the Saintess? God Himself chose you! It is too great an honor for me to even think of it.”

They were being very polite to each other, each giving praise to the other. To Tenner and the old group of cardinals watching, it sounded like nothing but lies.

Sam Freeman, looking annoyed, spoke up, drawing everyone’s attention to Tracy. “If neither of you wants the job, what about Cardinal Tracy?”

Tracy, still smiling gently, waved her hand. “How could I possibly step forward? The new Pope must be one of you two.”

At her words, everyone looked back at Austin and Ilia.

One, a man who had lived his entire life in the Holy City and was known for being honest and pure. The other, a Saintess chosen by God.

Both were known for uncovering the old Pope’s corruption and starting a new era. It wouldn’t be surprising if either of them became the next Pope.

“Your Eminence Austin…”

“No, the Saintess…”

They seemed to have a good relationship, and they seemed to be giving way to each other honestly.

Of course, the cardinals who supported the old Pope frowned even more at this nice scene.

However.

Tracy spoke softly, adding weight to Austin’s chances. “Because of what the old Pope did, some people might not want a Saint to be Pope. Even though we all know Ilia’s stigmata are real.”

“I think so too,” Ilia quickly agreed, seeing an opportunity. But Tenner interrupted again.

“So, will you now give us your answer as to how you will accept our proposal, Austin?”

Again, everyone looked at Austin.

His answer would decide the future of the church. The old group of cardinals and Ilia watched him closely. After a moment of silence, Austin looked at Tenner with serious eyes.

“…100 days of prayer to show you are sorry, leaving your position as cardinal, and donating 90% of all your money to the church. I will make sure it is used for good.”

“That…!” Sam Freeman and the other cardinals suddenly got angry at Austin’s demands.

It was like telling them to give up everything.

But Tenner raised his hand, stopping them from protesting.

Tenner said, “Austin, you are more willing to compromise than I thought. It would have been good to know that earlier.”

It was hard to tell if Tenner was praising or insulting Austin.

He was the only one who welcomed Austin’s idea. Even the cardinals in his own group were uneasy.

Soon, Tenner whispered something to Sam Freeman, his second-in-command. Sam’s eyes changed instantly.

“Indeed… Hmm, I would also agree, but only if you promise we won’t be punished again after we leave.”

At those words, the cardinals who had been angry together became quiet. They thought if Tenner and Sam agreed, they must have a good reason.

They looked back at Austin.

“I swear in the name of my Lord, Asaron, the God of Light and Harmony,” Austin Flute said seriously. Everyone thought he would be the next Pope.

…Why did they agree to such unfair conditions?

Ilia looked confused as they left the Hall of Glory.

Everything had gone better than expected, but she didn’t understand how.

Seeing her face, Tracy, who was next to her, smiled.

“Ilia, you are wonderful.”

“Yes?” Ilia looked at her, surprised.

Tracy smiled and continued, “I’m not making fun of you. It just means you are still innocent and good. I really think you are wonderful.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Austin made a generous offer. They would have to resign or pray to show they are sorry anyway…”

“But he told them to donate 90% of their wealth…”

“Yes. That’s what’s generous.”

“Yes?”

“Austin said ‘donate,’ right? Not punish them severely.”

“What does that mean?” Ilia still looked confused. Tracy calmly smiled and said,

“Donations are given freely, and no one checks up on them. Austin gave them a way to take what they could and leave.”

“Yes!?” Ilia then realized what the cardinals meant. Her face turned red.

“Are you letting those criminals go free!? There are already dozens of crimes reported! Stealing, betraying trust, harassing women, rape, bribery, and many other crimes! They are criminals who have committed so many crimes!”

But Tracy just smiled, unlike the excited Ilia.

“Yes, that’s true. But if they say they will fight to keep their power in the church, have you thought about the trouble that will cause?”

“…That’s.”

“If the church system is broken apart, no one knows when it can be fixed. If it takes too long to fix the church, people will forget how to truly understand God’s will. And more false religions will become popular. In the end, only innocent people will suffer.”

She didn’t want to admit it, but Tracy’s words made sense.

But she couldn’t bring herself to say that she had to forgive the old Pope’s helpers, those criminals who were just as bad as the Pope himself.

“But isn’t that… agreeing to do something wrong?”

Seeing Ilia’s worried face, Tracy smiled sadly and hugged her.

“Please, Saintess, stay as you are. Pope Austin and I will take care of the things of this world.”

Tracy’s touch was warm, like the kind touch of a mother she never knew.

“…I want to rest.”

“Please do.”

So Ilia couldn’t argue anymore and turned away without a word.

Tracy watched her leave, then smiled gently and muttered, “How simple. That’s why it’s a pity. If it weren’t for the stigmata, I would have…”

Tracy muttered secret words with her usual gentle smile, then turned around and went back the way she had come.

Austin Flute was left alone, looking at the sky with a worried expression.

“Do you think she understood?”

“I think she understood that it was a choice they had to make. I think we should give her a break to sort out her feelings.”

Austin sighed and turned around.

“…It was the only choice for the church leaders. The Saintess will understand and come back soon.”

“I believe so too, Your Holiness.”

Was it just because he was called ‘Pope’ now?

At that moment, Austin smiled faintly. Tracy noticed that short smile and asked what was really important.

“Anyway, it happened just like I said, Your Holiness.”

“Ah, that’s right. I really didn’t think you would be able to convince them. Thank you for your hard work, Cardinal Tracy. But, how did you do it?”

Austin’s question made sense.

He wasn’t a priest who had lived in remote areas, saying prayers.

At a time when everyone was talking about how corrupt the church was, Austin was different. He was seen as honest and good in the Holy City. But the Holy City was really the center of all the corruption.

He knew about the corruption but did nothing to stop it. He became famous because he seemed to be the only honest one.

That’s why he couldn’t believe the corrupt cardinals had left so easily. No matter what conditions were set, he knew it wouldn’t be enough to make those greedy cardinals happy.

But Tracy just smiled.

“I just showed them my honest feelings and convinced them. They also had a little bit of goodness in them.”

“Hmm… I know that can’t be true.”

Austin believed in being completely honest and good. He thought that was the only way to be a true priest. But as he saw how things really worked in the temple, he started to change his mind.

‘Being clean and pure alone won’t get you anywhere.’

Even pointing out the obvious corruption was difficult. Without Saintess Ilia, none of this would have been possible.

Austin started to do things differently. He began to compromise. He thought it was just a small change, just to get things done. He didn’t understand then what he was really doing. This small compromise was the start of something bad. It was the same kind of corruption he had always hated in other priests. He just didn’t see it yet.

“Yes, I will believe so. It’s reassuring to know that the ascetic priests have that much power.”

Priests, represented by Tracy, who lived very simple lives and prayed a lot to gain the will of God. He smiled, thinking about how he could use them in the future.

“Yes. Then, Your Holiness, I am sorry to ask, but what about your promise…?”

“Ah… You mean Julio Umberto’s bracelet?”

“Yes.”

People believed that only God had real power. Things made by humans could not have God’s power.

But the bracelet of the former Pope clearly seemed to have divine power.

It was a strange object that broke the rules that the temple had followed since it began.

Therefore, it was kept deep in the secret vault of the Holy Knights.

However, Tracy asked for the bracelet, saying he needed it to persuade the cardinals who supported the former Pope. Austin agreed, thinking Tracy would never be able to persuade them. But surprisingly, Tracy succeeded.

Perhaps Tracy noticed Austin’s face stiffen slightly.

Tracy quickly added, “Our ascetic priests simply want to study how such a thing can exist. We believe it is a way to understand secrets about God’s power.”

“…You will not be able to take the item outside the Central Temple. And when using the item, the Holy Knights will always be with you. Is that still alright?”

“As I said, it is for research purposes. That is sufficient.”

When Tracy accepted the condition with a smile, Austin’s expression finally relaxed.

“Good. Let’s open a new era together.”

I will create a new order and a new era.

In the eyes of the old priest, who had lived upright for decades, a light of ambition flickered.

And watching him, Tracy nodded with a broad smile.

– …Thus, we announce to all the world the inauguration of the new Pope, Austin Fluit I!

“Waaah!”

As Cardinal Tracy’s voice echoed through the square, a roar that shook the square followed.

“Now all the rotten priests will be swept away.”

“We can trust Cardinal Austin, no, Pope Austin.”

“Will the forced donations disappear now?”

The faces of the people in the holy city, who filled the square and watched the new Pope’s inauguration, were full of smiles. Everyone was excited and looking forward to the new Pope.

Soon, as Pope Austin’s face appeared in the air through a hologram, the noisy crowd fell silent and began to watch closely.

The Pope was the leader of the temple, but also the ruler of Noviens, this holy city.

The people of the holy city craned their necks, eager to see the face of the new ruler.

Before long, Austin Fluit I in the hologram began his speech, which contained boring, official words, just like the Popes before him.

– I, Austin Fluit, following the will of the nine gods….

“Yawn. Mommy, I’m sleepy.”

“Shhh, Inseok. Just bear with it.”

“He’s such a sincere priest, so his words are so upright.”

“Hmm. He only says what’s right, so it’s making me sleepy.”

“Hey, you….”

“Just kidding, just kidding.”

As the speech was ending in a quiet atmosphere where some were dozing off and some were giggling.

– I, Austin Fluit, will spread the will of God more widely through cooperation with the Ares Empire, the largest power of mankind.

“Huh?”

“What?”

“What… does that mean?”

Everyone looked at each other, confused by the strange announcement that was not normal for a Pope’s inauguration.

Bang!

“No, what does that mean, Your Holiness! Why the Empire all of a sudden?”

“It is only for more active spreading of our religion, Saintess.”

“No, the temple does not join hands with worldly power! That is a tradition that has been going on since ancient times….”

“Old traditions must be changed, Saintess.”

Ilia’s excited voice was blocked by the Pope and Tracy’s words.

“No, what….”

“Calm down, Saintess. It is all for spreading the will of God widely.”

Tracy’s voice still sounded warm, but Ilia shook her head and firmly disagreed.

“But there is no need to do it even if it goes against our rules! Without even talking to the cardinals!”

“We have consulted, Saintess.”

“Yes?”

“Currently, there are only you, me, and Lord Tracy as cardinals. I and Lord Tracy have agreed, so we have followed the rules.”

“Without even telling me? What on earth are you talking about!?”

Ilia protested, but the Pope continued in a firm voice.

“Stop. It is already decided. Or do you want me, the Pope, to change what I said to the public?”

“If it is wrong, you should do so!”

“No, I can’t do that. There is nothing wrong.”

Ilia’s expression twisted at Austin’s words.

‘Why, why did you suddenly change like this?’

He seemed arrogant.

He didn’t seem like the Cardinal Austin she had known until recently.

Could a position really change a person so suddenly?

She was too shocked to speak.

“Please step down, Saintess. The order will change a lot in the future.”

Tracy stopped her with a gentle smile.

“I will escort you, Your Eminence.”

“Come with me.”

Soon, the Holy Knights standing on Tracy’s left and right blocked Ilia’s path, and Austin said to her in a calm voice.

“Now that we have set a new direction, we will begin reforms as other cardinals are elected. You know that, Saintess.”

“That is a wise choice, Your Holiness.”

The moment Tracy bowed her head and smiled, Ilia felt a strange wave starting from her wrist heading towards Pope Austin.

A wave that felt similar to divine power but uncomfortable, which she had felt sometime before.

It was not difficult to remember that feeling.

The subtle movement of power and its essence that only she, who had the stigmata, could feel. The moment she realized it, goosebumps spread all over her body.

‘The former Pope’s bracelet!’

The temple knights were blocking the space between Pope Austin and herself. It was only then that she realized that their eyes were slightly enlarged and they were not moving normally.

‘That’s….’

Everything was wrong.

Her heart sank, but Ilia remained calm and did not show it.

She just acted disappointed and lowered her head.

“…I will go back now.”

“I will not see you off, Saintess.”

The moment Tracy’s gentle voice sounded insincere, only one thought came to her mind.

‘I have to ask for help.’

The first person who came to mind was the red-haired, red-eyed king with a confident smile.

The King of McClean will surely be able to help me.

Thinking so, Ilia turned her back on Austin and Tracy with a firm expression, without noticing Tracy’s subtle gaze.