Papal Election

The spy we sent in is the leading candidate for Pope? What the heck…?

I tilted the head of the little bird I was possessing.

[Why are you the leading candidate for Pope?]

"Yes. To obtain information, it's best to wedge oneself into as high a position as possible, right? With that in mind, I tried raising my standing a little."

… I mean, I get the logic.

You definitely get more intel than some low-ranking grunt.

Sure, but…

[You raised it a little and ended up the frontrunner?]

"Yes, I did. Just a moment ago, the priest who heads another major faction declared he would support me… Considering those votes, that puts me in first place."

[How did that happen?]

I tilted the bird's head even further.

"Let me confirm… Hm, hm. I see."

Narikin checked with Rokufa via telepathy.

"Understood. It seems they got sick of the factional struggle repeatedly resorting to suicide bombings."

[So they got fed up, huh.]

"Indeed. It's understandable, isn't it? If I didn't have a vital mission from you, Master, I wouldn't put up with factional infighting in a country like this either."

[Is that how it is?]

"These are people who chose to become clergy to begin with, so I imagine their consciences hurt. Meanwhile, to meet your expectations, Master, I've been proactive but refrained from flashy criminal acts like terrorism this time. From the outside, I must look like a clean, upstanding frontrunner."

All he's done is bribery and falsifying public records. Yeah, downright peaceful compared to suicide bombings.

On top of that, everyone else is such a negative that he ends up in the positives by default.

"There's also the whole 'I wish to pledge my loyalty to Rokufa' sentiment floating around."

[Right, she's an angel. Did you reveal Rokufa's true identity?]

"No, I merely painted her, you see. Wings make for a nice composition, so I had her display them… Ah, there is a possibility some spy saw that. That was careless of me."

So Narikin paints, huh. A hobby? Oh, really. Huh.

[No, that's about the right kind of leak. I chose that path intending to use the fact she's an angel at some point anyway. If it helps you become Pope, we can go ahead and reveal it.]

"As you command. Well, if it comes to it, I can always run again."

Back during the artificial-dungeon incident, he ran and changed his face. To look like me, even.

… Back then he was a terrorist, and now it's Pope, huh. Narikin's life sure is a roller coaster.

"Then with your leave, Master, I'll continue aiming for the papacy."

[Yeah. If there's anything I can do to help, say the word. Narikin becoming Pope won't hurt us any. Worst case, even if you botch the administration and crash the country, it's not our problem.]

"Understood."

We might get dragged into the surrounding turmoil, but it's less nerve-wracking than having assassins snuck at us, and security should be easier too.

"Then to get right to it, there is a thing called a papal trial."

[A trial? It's not just an election?]

"Correct. I don't know what trial will be imposed, but examples from the past include 'Build a bridge over a valley,' 'Obtain an alchemical treasure,' and 'Conquer a dungeon solo.'"

So, even after being elected, you only become Pope after overcoming a trial.

It's a system to keep someone without real ability from becoming Pope.

And how unreasonable you can make it is where a rival faction proves its mettle.

If the candidate fails to complete the trial, the one who proposed it must demonstrate the 'answer' by completing it themselves. If the proposer fails there, it doesn't count. The candidate can then attempt a different trial.

In other words, the game is to push right up against the limit of what you yourself can accomplish.

[I see.]

"Which is to say, now that I'm the frontrunner, some sort of trial is sure to be imposed. When that time comes, may I ask for your assistance?"

[What if it's something like 'solo a dungeon,' where I can't help?]

"If it doesn't get found out, it's fine."

If it doesn't get found out, he says.

"It's also a test of that sort of capability. Besides, against people from this country, we can use a variety of dungeon tricks without being detected."

[True. I mean, where do you even draw the line on 'assistance'? If you buy something at a shop, you could say the shopkeeper assisted you.]

"Indeed. That said, there are lie-detecting magic tools, so I would like your cooperation on that front."

[Got it. If they ban advice, I'll just stand nearby and talk to myself a whole bunch.]

"Hah hah hah, as expected of you, Master."

[Hah hah hah, that's basic stuff.]

Now then. Just what kind of unreasonable demand will they throw at Narikin?

 

＊ ＊ ＊

 

The next day, while Narikin was walking down a temple corridor, the green-haired Saintess Alka addressed him.

"Narikin-sama. Might I borrow a moment?"

"Hm? Saintess-dono. What is it?"

"Do you intend to become Pope?"

With a sweet smile, she tossed out a question concerning the nation's highest authority.

But this was not small talk. Nor merely a feeler.

It was a formal notice of trial by the Saintess. There's a legend in the Holy Kingdom that 'important matters appear suddenly,' and this procedure mimics that legend as one of the official rituals.

You could call it a kind of ceremony.

In other words, from this moment, a papal trial was being imposed upon Narikin.

Having been forewarned by NaanaToy that this was the format in which he'd be addressed, Narikin smiled and answered.

"… Yes, I do."

"Excellent. Then, this way, please."

"As you wish, Saintess-dono."

He was led to the sanctum deep within the temple.

There, before white walls and a gold-and-silver altar, three elders—high priests—were waiting.

They would present the trial.

An old woman with an old man on either side.

This old woman had apparently once been a candidate for Saintess. She opposes the Saintess faction who would make the Saintess Pope in the name of protecting what it means to be a Saintess, though she is officially considered neutral.

The bald old man to the right was of the Saintess faction itself, a scowl creasing his brow he couldn't quite hide.

The old man to the left, wearing a hat, had aligned himself with Narikin—an ally, so to speak—and wore a gentle expression.

The old woman spoke as their representative.

"Narikin. I shall convey to you the first trial to become Pope."

"Yes, ma'am."

Narikin dropped to one knee.

The old woman offered him a book. Leather-bound, adorned with jewels, it was a finely crafted, ancient volume on parchment—the Bible, a compilation of the Light God Church's legends.

"The first trial. He who leads must also be he who protects. Therefore, you shall protect this Bible without fail. Time limit: one month."

"… I accept."

It seemed simpler than he'd expected.

This first trial was probably from the allied old man. If so, he could just stow it in [Storage] or entrust it to his Master, Kehma, and it would be as good as done.

As Narikin was thinking that, the old woman added:

"However, you must carry it in such a way that it is always visible."

A small, troublesome condition had been appended.