The Third Trial

The next day. Those involved with the trials — Narikin and the rest — were gathered again, in a meeting room at the church.

Most of the spectators had been released, but those close to Narikin were still under house arrest. The treatment was courteous, and so were the watchful eyes.

"What a mess this turned into. Narikin, are you holding up?"

"No problem. By the way, in this situation, what happens with the trials?"

"… You can count mine as cleared, but we might need you to do one more. The final rite requires three High Priests who acknowledge the clear."

Magni glanced over at Lagil.

"Who was the fourth candidate again, Lagil?"

"Gone senile? Barakdo."

"That lapdog of yours? Good grief… would've preferred a Reformist if possible."

Magni shrugged, as if to say that meant one more trial had been added.

"Anyway, I'd like my people released as soon as possible."

"Sorry. Can't send them home yet. Especially not the terrorists the Saintess had asked us to look for in the first place."

"Ah. So you saw through that… Honestly, the timing couldn't be worse."

"What!? Terrorists!? Then they're the culprits, aren't they? To the rack, to the rack!"

"Lagil. They're guests who came at Narikin's — ultimately Saintess Alka's — request. We can't do that without any evidence."

A young priest came in carrying papers.

"High Priest Magni. We found a common factor among the dead. Here is the report."

"Ah. Thank you."

Magni took the documents and narrowed her eyes as she read.

"… What? They were all originally dead?"

"Yes, High Priest Magni. Looking into their histories, it turns out every one of them had been 'Resurrected' by the previous Pope."

The previous Pope — a monster who wielded the secret rite of Resurrection and, perhaps by resurrecting himself, held the papal seat across generations. Driven out by the Saintess, he fled and remains missing…

"So they died because the previous Pope's magic wore off — is that it?"

"That's what it amounts to. Also, among those present there, aside from the victims, there were no others who had been 'Resurrected'."

"I see. Thanks for the work. The picture's coming into focus."

If so, the previous Pope might have vanished at that very moment. Or perhaps whatever he left behind simply ran out.

The timing was exquisitely awful… but was it coincidence? Or was there someone present with a grudge against the previous Pope — no, by that logic, you couldn't say anyone in the Holy Kingdom was free of such ties. Especially the Saintess.

"Was Sir Ronesky also resurrected by the previous Pope?"

"Yeah. He actively delved into dungeons in his younger days. For that crowd, 'died at least once' was practically a badge of status — back when the previous Pope was around."

That meant they had the earnings to request a Resurrection, and the luck for it to succeed.

"Which is why they're keeping the seat open, waiting for His Holiness to return."

"What's this, Lagil. Weren't you with the Saintess faction?"

"Hmph! If she can't be used to buy time anymore, there's no point in supporting her!"

"Hrm."

Narikin didn't really get it, so he nodded vaguely.

"Alright, I've decided. Here's my trial to you — resurrect the late Ronesky!"

"Hey now, Lagil. You able to demonstrate that yourself?"

"I cannot. But one suited to be Pope should be able to perform Resurrection, no? I'm sure that's what people expect."

With the previous Pope gone, there is no Resurrection. Dungeon exploration is being kept on a short leash for safety. Indeed, with their last lifeline gone, adventurers must be disgruntled.

"After all, that's what the Popes have done for generations."

"… In reality it was just one person, but yes. It's also a role expected of the Pope."

"In that case, it's fine to set it as a trial. If he fails, we simply set the next trial."

In practice, even if Narikin failed at Resurrection, it would only amount to "the new Pope can't perform Resurrection". At worst, it would leave a mark that he'd failed one trial.

"… How, exactly, does one resurrect the dead?"

"You up for this, Narikin?"

"The late Sir Ronesky looked after me. I'd like to try whatever I can."

"Got it. Well, if that works, we won't need to redo the first trial either."

"Kukuku, that's the spirit. —Ah, the late Ronesky's body is being kept by the church's [Storage] holder, so you needn't worry about decay. Let us know when you're ready."

This world has the preservation magic [Storage], within which time stands still.

That means a corpse's freshness can be maintained… though the soul is another matter.

"I will, by design, set no time limit. Narikin. We'll wait as long as it takes — until you can do it, or until you say you cannot."

"… So that's your aim, Lagil."

"It's the least sincerity I can show, since I can't provide an example, Magni."

The two old men traded sparks with their eyes.

"… Now then, how will Master solve this one, I wonder?"

And Narikin was fully prepared to dump the problem onto his bossKehma.