Volume 7 Chapter 21: The Saint’s Declaration

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Author: 夜州 (Yashu)

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The few days passed by in an instant, and the day of the pope elections dawned.

Cain and Hinata had had a discussion lasting deep into the night beforehand about what they were going to do.

Cain could go to places he had been to once before with transfer magic without any problems, so he Transferred there when Hinata and the nuns weren’t there at the same time.

“Cain-sama, sleeping with me wouldn’t be a problem either. No-one’s going to come in until the morning.”

“……I’ll return to my room. I’m sharing rooms with the Bishop-sama.”

“The room next door, yes? Or don’t tell me, in the same bed…?”

“Absolutely not.”

Due to not having seen Cain in a long time, Hinata had been quite forward. Perhaps Lime had shared some wisdom with her again, since she had kept trying to tempt Cain here and there, making him grimace.

However, he couldn’t afford to be distracted at this important time. Letting reason take over, he had managed to evade.

Recalling the past few days, Cain waited for their turn.

◇◇◇

The main temple’s largest shrine was overflowing with excitement.

The bishops from the other countries as well as the priests from within the Holy Country of Marineford had all returned.

All in order to select the new pope––

Hundreds of members of the church all gathering in one hall only happened at pope elections. Even when Hinata had been announced as the Saint, only priests and above from within the country with no problems regarding their duties had gathered.

And as for Hinata, the pope at the time had instructed her to focus on the citizens and not the members of the church.

‘The Saint’ had become the easiest-to-recognize symbol among the citizens. While there were the various ranks such as cardinal or bishop or priest, for the more ignorant people, they would all just be ‘People from the church’.

However, the Saint alone was different. There was always only one Saint, and the citizens were always delighted by the Saint as a symbol.

Compared to that, the people were mostly excluded in the pope elections this time round. After all, only people from the church had the right to vote, and thus decide on the next pope.

Honestly, the people living in the Holy Country thought that it would be the same no matter who became pope. And since they wouldn’t ever get the chance to meet face-to-face, it was no wonder they weren’t interested. It would at most serve for small talk.

However, it was completely different for the people belonging to the church. If their faction leader became pope, their positions might rise. On the other hand, members of different factions could be forcefully retired, citing old age, or moved to remote churches near the border.

Thus, they were all desperate to collect votes, in order to secure their futures.

“Then, I declare the papal election open.”

The large temple erupted in cheers at the moderator’s words.

“First, if the four cardinals who are the candidates to become the next pope would please make their entrance.”

Simultaneously with those words, the four cardinals stepped onto the stage from the side.

Cardinals’ clothes were standardised, and they usually wore them whenever they were in the church.

The first one who stepped on was a plump man with a pompous attitude.

Next was a narrow-eyed man wearing glasses and with a scripture in one hand.

Then, smiling and waving futilely, Cardinal Denter.

The last one was a handsome young man, different from the other three.

High-pitched cheers came from the nuns.

“I shall introduce them once again. Starting on the left, we have Chief Cardinal Bangla, Cardinal Samtam, Cardinal Denter, and last but not least, Cardinal Etwar. A round of applause for them, everyone!”

Applause broke out at the moderator’s words.

“We will be beginning the voting shortly. Please write your favoured candidate’s name on the ballot you were given beforehand and then put it in the tally box. And now, some closing words from the candidates before the voting begins.”

Prompted by the moderator, the first one to step forward was the plump Cardinal Bangla.

“I’m Bangla, the chief cardinal. I intend on having the Holy Country of Marineford take a different approach to things than it has until now. The bishops and priests despatched to the other countries cannot just be ornaments. I will have them enter the centers of their countries and have a voice in their politics. Marineford should, unlike other countries, be the leading power!”

Wooooooo!! came the cheers. Cardinal Bangla raised his hand, seemingly satisfied with the size of the cheering, and stepped back.

The one who stepped forward next was the bespectacled, scripture-in-one-hand Cardinal Samtam.

“I am one of the candidates, Samtam. My ideal Marinefordism is the one the gods tell us of in the scriptures. All you have to do is pray. We will memorise the scriptures word for word and spread them on. Everyone in this world will surely be content once they have read the scriptures. If we do so, ––”

While they might have been his ideals, the boring words continued. Having spoken for the longest time yet, Samtam returned to where he had been standing, satisfied.

As for applause, it was only natural that it was scarce.

Cardinal Denter stepped forward next.

“I’m Denter. I want the church to lead in creating an environment where everyone in the world can have at least a minimum standard of living. What should children whose parents have passed on do? I believe that we shouldn’t leave them to themselves, but raise them and educate them so they may have their own futures. We servants of the gods have no need for luxury. If you have more than you need, share it with those that don’t. I’m sure it will help you in the future.”

Denter returned to where he had been, satisfied at having said what he wanted to say. As for cheers, there were around as many as there had been for Cardinal Samtam.

The one who stepped forward last was the youngest, Cardinal Etwar.

Squeals flew through the air just from him having stepped forward.

The first thing he did was brush away his bangs and flash a huge smile. A couple of sisters fainted just from that.

“I’m Etwar. I want to bring smiles to the whole world. I will head to each country to make that come true. While giving love to you kittens, I will make this whole world happy. All right? My honeys.”

Cain, who was listening behind the scenes, was taken aback.

“Somehow none of them are any good after all… I can’t even believe they managed to become cardinals. I feel like everything would be more organised with Bishop Harnam as the pope… It’s nearly my turn.”

Cain was wearing the robe he had been given by Grim, the God of Skill. He had also put on the mask he had received from Zenom, the Creator.

“Aa, aa, aa, my voice really has changed.”

Having gotten ready, Cain looked at the stage.

“That’s everyone introduced. Some words from the Saint Hinata-sama before the voting starts.”

Hinata slowly stood up and walked onto the middle of the stage at the moderator’s words.

Her figure was dignified, graceful, and somehow divine. The members of the church all gulped.

After having turned around and bowed to the statues of the gods, she looked out over the church personnel and opened her mouth.

“I’m Hinata. There’s something I have to tell you first. There will be no voting this time.”

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh!!

Hinata’s declaration made the great temple erupt in shouts.

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