"This truly is His Majesty's handwriting..."
The bishop and several high priests standing guard at the Glory Hall examined the letter in Archbishop Adra's hands, their aging eyes filled with tears. Though the handwriting was rushed and uneven—likely written when the Pope was already at death's door—it was unmistakably his.
"His Majesty exhausted his entire lifespan summoning the Guardian Angel," Adra continued solemnly. "I had intended to call for assistance, but His Majesty said there was no time. After entrusting me with a few final instructions, he hurriedly left behind this letter and this ring before passing away."
He extended his hand, revealing a simple yet significant Ring of Kings worn on his ring finger.
"These are perilous times," Adra declared. "For now, His Majesty's passing must not be made public. My appointment as acting Pope is only a temporary measure to maintain stability. Once this crisis has passed, I will gather all the bishops so that we may properly elect a worthy successor. Until then, I ask for your cooperation."
Though his face still bore traces of grief, his voice was unwavering, and his presence radiated a quiet authority—one that subtly commanded from above. His reasoning was sound, leaving little room for objection.
The bishop hesitated only briefly before nodding. "I understand. If this is His Majesty's final command…"
"Is this truly His Holiness the Pope's decree?"
Lancelote shot a cold glance at Adra. After a brief pause, he strode toward the Glory Hall.
"I want to see His Holiness's body."
"His Majesty's body has already been completely consumed by the Holy Flame of Light," Adra replied calmly. "That was the inevitable consequence of forcefully summoning a Guardian Angel and casting Universal Salvation. Both his body and soul were taken by the Holy Flame, ascending directly to the heavens."
"This is the first time I've ever heard of such a thing," Lancelote said, turning back to face Adra. His eyes narrowed, sharp as blades. Thin threads of light shimmered in his gaze, casting faint streaks across the face of the newly proclaimed acting Pope.
Adra shook his head, his expression composed and unaffected. With a sigh, he continued, "That is because His Holiness was the first in history to use Universal Salvation twice while also summoning a Guardian Angel. In the past centuries of Celeste, only one Pope has ever successfully cast Universal Salvation, and even that required sacrificing his life to unleash the forbidden spell—let alone performing a miracle such as summoning a Guardian Angel. His Majesty's soul had already been acknowledged by the great Lord. Otherwise, how could he have wielded such power?"
Lancelote snorted coldly, remaining silent, though the sharpness in his eyes grew, as if he wanted to tear apart Adra's soft, beautiful face with his gaze.
Of course, Lancelote didn't believe in things like the Lord's soul, but those thoughts couldn't be voiced.
"Since this truly is His Holiness's final decree, Lord Lancelote need not worry," Inham said, his smile returning. "The situation is still unstable; now is not the time to focus on such matters, is it?"
This turn of events was something Inham had never anticipated. While he had suspected that the Pope's energy would be exhausted by the battle to the point of death, he hadn't expected Adra to get his hands on the will and claim the papacy.
People who were good at calculations usually despised surprises—especially those who prided themselves on precision. Inham was no different. But no one could feel disdain for an unexpected windfall like this. His smile grew wider, no longer the mask-like grin but a genuine one, filled with true delight. It had been a long time since he had felt this kind of joy.
Even though the position of Pope was supposed to be decided through an election among the bishops, the number of bishops remaining was dwindling. Now, with Adra's alliance, this temporary acting Pope no longer needed to be "temporary." The papacy would likely be solidified.
He no longer paid attention to Talice, who stood behind Lancelote, dazed while holding Ayime. Whether a paladin or a templar knight, they were all bound by the iron rule of obeying the Pope's authority. The ownership of that leaf was no longer a concern.
"Indeed, it's not yet the time to delve into these matters," another archbishop agreed with a nod.
Lancelote didn't back down. "I think now is exactly the time. To me, there doesn't seem to be anything more important than this." His eyes began to gleam with a hint of killing intent. Others might not understand, but he clearly understood the background of this acting Pope. Especially since the Pope's body was nowhere to be found, Lancelote had a good idea of what had actually transpired.
"Lancelote, the role of a paladin is simply to fight," Inham continued smiling. "The orcs are in that direction. You should figure that out, or perhaps…" He paused with a sly grin. "…Or perhaps you mean to rebel?"
"Rebel? Yes, someone is rebelling, but it's not me…" Lancelote replied coldly, drawing his sword from Talice's waist. The intense killing intent and sword energy erupted from him, filling the air.
"Not you? Then do you mean us?" Inham retorted, taking several steps back. However, it wasn't out of fear, but preparation. "The Pope's corpse is barely cold, and you dare to openly defy His Holiness's will?"
The archbishops and several high-ranking priests sensed the tense atmosphere and were at a loss. On one side stood the acting Pope, with the Pope's will and signet, though hastily put together, it was an acceptable move given the current crisis. On the other side was the paladin, whose reputation and prestige rivaled the Pope's. The two were on the brink of clashing, with a confrontation imminent.
"Enough, everyone stop arguing," Adra interjected, raising his hand. Despite the killing intent emanating from Lancelote, he didn't appear flustered. "Lancelote's faith and loyalty are beyond question. His Holiness told me before his passing that he was someone I could completely trust."
"His Holiness said you are not his subordinate, that he considered you a like-minded friend. That's why I trust you," Adra continued.
Both Inham and Lancelote were momentarily stunned. Adra's response and words were completely unexpected.
"His Holiness also had a final message for you..." Adra's next actions were even more surprising. He walked up to Lancelote and whispered a few words directly into his ear. The words were deliberately spoken softly, and Adra even used some air magic to ensure that no one but Lancelote could hear.
"What did you say?" Lancelote's composure had reached such a level that he could treat life and death with indifference. Yet, upon hearing these words, he visibly trembled. His expression became so strange that those around him might have doubted if it was truly the paladin standing before them.
It wasn't just Lancelote's strange reaction—Inham's expression also shifted. He couldn't hear what Adra had said, and the fact that he couldn't even guess made him even more curious.