Chapter 150 - Chapter 149: Side Story: Theologian Warterelam
【Theologian Warterelam's Perspective】
A mountain range dividing the Gronoir Empire and the Kingdom of Ektrem.
In that mountain range, there is a place where ancient ruins are scattered.
Severe weathering has made their original form impossible to discern, yet around those ruins, there were numerous caves.
From those caves, many important items related to the ancient Church of Light have been unearthed, and recently, a new cave was discovered.
Warterelam immediately fled the Imperial Capital Karchi upon hearing the news of the cave discovery and rushed to the site.
The cave was discovered by the investigation team he had hired personally.
Theologian Warterelam.
A man in his mid-fifties with the appearance of a typical scholar.
Hair grown to an unkempt length, unshaven beard.
His threadbare shirt is so dirty it makes one want to ask when he last changed it.
His official title in formal settings is Cardinal.
He serves as a Cardinal in the Church of Light of the Gronoir Empire, a position originally meant for serving the gods within the church.
However, for him, the title of Cardinal is nothing more than a permit.
Research into the Church of Light is his life's mission.
He obtained the title of Cardinal solely to investigate materials that cannot be viewed unless one holds the rank of Cardinal.
Those who serve as Cardinals must all hold the rank of Bishop.
So, does one have to be a Bishop to be chosen as a Cardinal? Actually, no.
If one holds the rank of Priest, they can be appointed as a Cardinal by the Pope.
In such cases, they are given the rank of Bishop in name only before assuming the duties of a Cardinal.
Furthermore, the Pope does not even need to be a clergyman.
Any male believer of the Church of Light can be chosen as Pope.
However, the election of the Pope absolutely requires a unanimous vote from the Cardinals.
If the elected Pope does not hold the rank of Bishop, they are given the rank of Bishop in name only before assuming the papacy.
There have been no examples in the past seven hundred years of a Pope being elected from outside the clergy, specifically from outside the Cardinals.
However, it is a fact that until then, such Popes appeared occasionally.
The reasons for being chosen varied, but essentially, it was money or power.
It seems they often became Pope by using one or both.
There are even examples of those who were stripped of their Bishopric due to power struggles and excommunicated, only to be elected Pope later due to changes in the political situation.
Few know that the church, which preaches the teachings of the gods, actually has a history of such money and power struggles.
This is because the church has variously covered up and concealed such scandals.
Warterelam's mission also leads to exposing such hypocrisy within the church.
However, Warterelam has no intention of honestly telling people about this.
He is merely investigating at his own expense out of personal interest and to satisfy his curiosity.
Even if he made a new discovery that could topple the church, he did not wish to publish it and confront the church.
Warterelam was researching the history of Popes in a small hut built at a makeshift base near the ruins.
He had borrowed a few books from the Great Cathedral's library, which were originally forbidden to be taken out, and was examining them between excavation work.
"......As I thought, this does not match the list here. If that is the case, should we assume that Gyubraies, whose name disappeared from the Cardinals' list, was elected......?"
Comparing the results of previous investigations with newly brought-in books to confirm the discrepancies.
Warterelam leaned back against the chair backrest with a creaking sound, imagining the reason for the discrepancies in the documents.
What he is currently doing is compiling a list of Popes throughout history.
Such a list could be found immediately by going to any Great Cathedral and checking the library.
However, on that list, there are traces of names being deliberately erased.
Who would believe in a Pope who served for nearly a hundred years?
Even such sloppy concealment would go unnoticed by anyone without careful scrutiny.
This is because there are several instances where the years of appointment and resignation were deliberately made ambiguous.
Even so, by examining other documents, such as meeting minutes, the true name of the Pope at that time can sometimes be found.
Even if the name is not directly listed, if there is a topic related to "Pope Election," there is a possibility that a new Pope was elected during that period.
Because the Pope's name was erased for some reason, the previous Pope was thought to be a super-long-lived Pope with a "century-long tenure."
Probably, five Popes should have taken office during that century.
It would not be strange if more than ten had taken office.
To conceal all of that, anyone who did a little research would immediately notice the cracks.
However, the further back one goes in time, the fewer the documents become, and the fewer the clues remain.
Therefore, he predicted that someone whose name suddenly disappeared from the list of Cardinals at that time might have actually been elected Pope.
He plans to write in his schedule to verify this line of inquiry when he returns to the Imperial Capital next.
Of course, since there are examples of non-clergy being chosen as Pope, this might also end in vain.
"......Can one conduct research while hating useless trips?"
Warterelam muttered to himself.
Research is, fundamentally, a continuous series of useless trips and failures.
Nevertheless, by eliminating "errors," one will eventually reach the "correct answer."
Thinking of the joy of that moment, a thousand or ten thousand useless trips.......
"......But please, spare me ten thousand useless trips......."
He interrupted his own thoughts.
At that moment, he heard the sound of someone running toward the hut.
Zazazazaza-zaa! Bang!
The door to the hut was opened with great force.
"Master! We found it!"
A dark-skinned man in his early forties burst into the hut.
It was Sestendof, who was in charge of the investigation team.
"Oh, it came out!? What did you find!"
Warterelam stood up, making the chair clatter.
"Three pots!"
Sestendof seemed unable to contain his excitement, but then made a guilty-looking face.
"Ah......, but one of them is crushed......."
It seems some items were damaged by the long passage of time.
"Regrettable, but unavoidable. It is enough if even one item was safe."
Warterelam spoke to the dejected Sestendof.
Then, taking off the coat he was wearing, he headed immediately for the cave.
Going to the cave requires a bit of mountain climbing.
If one is dressed warmly, they will be drenched in sweat in no time.
"Which number was it?"
"Number 3."
As Warterelam climbed the mountain, he asked Sestendof where the pots were found.
The entrance to the cave had been buried in earth and debris for many years.
However, for some reason, that earth and debris had collapsed slightly, leaving a small hole.
The investigation team discovered that hole, dug it out, and found it to be a surprisingly large cave.
The cave branched into several sections inside, and Warterelam had numbered those branched caves.
"Phew...... phew......, indeed, it would be better to improve the path a bit more......."
To reach the cave, one must climb holding onto a rope hung down a steep slope and walk a rugged path trampling dry grass.
Warterelam's breath was gone in an instant.
"If you do that, the church will find out, Master."
While Warterelam was panting, though not quite drenched in sweat, Sestendof smiled wryly.
Permission from the church is required for investigations around some ruins.
Warterelam cleared this hurdle effortlessly with his permit.
To do so, he underwent the ordination of the rank of Priest, despite the trouble, and made a large personal donation to the Pope, thereby getting himself appointed as a Cardinal.
That was nearly twenty years ago, when the previous Pope had just taken office.
Since then, Warterelam has used his permit to snatch permission for various investigations, trying to recoup the costs incurred.
However, if anything is discovered during the investigation, it is supposed to be donated to the church free of charge.
By concluding such a contract, permission is granted.
Therefore, Warterelam reluctantly agrees to this.
However, it is not specified how many items must be donated.
Thus, if Warterelam thoroughly investigates himself and reports that "there are only worms or mice left here," it is not a breach of contract.
......That is the case, but if the church finds out, it cannot be done that way.
Therefore, it is necessary to keep it secret until the investigation is complete.
By the time he finally reached the cave entrance, Warterelam was desperate to sit down right there.
He drank watered fruit wine from a leather water bag as if pouring it over himself.
"Puhah......, I'm coming back to life."
"Master, please don't drink too much."
Sestendof also drank water from his own water bag and lightly adjusted his breathing.
"Get drunk from this? I am......."
"Yes, yes, I understand. Come on, let's go quickly."
Saying that, Sestendof lit a torch.
"Don't rush me. You'll understand when you pass fifty, but your physical strength compared to the past is......."
"It's not because you reduced fieldwork just because it's tough, is it?"
Sestendof cut off Warterelam's words and urged, "Let's go quickly."
Warterelam shook his head with a "Good grief......" expression.
Warterelam's family makes a living brewing fruit wine.
Perhaps being stubborn is in their bloodline; Warterelam's grandfather dedicated his life to fruit cultivation.
He poured his heart into breeding new varieties and grew several very excellent fruits.
Warterelam's father dedicated his life to brewing wine.
Using the excellent fruits made by his grandfather, he created wonderful fruit wine.
And the third generation, Warterelam, dedicated his life to researching the Church of Light.
It is an act that could be called a playboy son ruining the hard work of his grandfather and father, but his outward title is "Cardinal."
He is praised as a splendid person, but the three generations of father and son have just been doing whatever they pleased.
Warterelam left the many breweries made by his father to others and immersed himself in research.
Guided by Sestendof, they reached the depths of the cave.
Several men who were doing excavation work moved aside to make it easier for Warterelam to see the site.
Warterelam's body trembled at the sight.
Although more than half was still buried in the soil, pots were indeed embedded in the wall.
He carefully observed the pot that was in the process of being dug out.
"......There are traces of it being sealed, but it seems it didn't last after all."
Something like wax was attached to the lid of the pot.
However, due to deterioration from the long passage of time, it was falling apart.
Warterelam estimated the era from the shape of the pot and the patterns painted on it.
"How is it, Master? Is it older than anything we've found so far?"
Sestendof asked Warterelam, who was staring intently at the pot.
"......No, it is probably from three thousand to three thousand five hundred years ago. The shape of the pot shows characteristics often made around that time."
"Gooooooooh......."
Sestendof collapsed.
"......I thought it was a great discovery."
Warterelam smiled wryly at Sestendof's state.
"There is no difference in it being a great discovery, Sestendof. Documents from this period are extremely scarce. It is valuable data. Dig it out carefully."
"......Haa~....... Understood, Master......."
Warterelam tried to comfort him, but Sestendof remained dejected.
Warterelam patted Sestendof's shoulder.
He did not say that to comfort Sestendof.
As Warterelam said, data from over three thousand years ago was very scarce.
The teachings of the Church of Light at that time, how people accepted them, how they were integrated into daily life.
If he could find data that could tell him even a little about such things, it would be worth the private funds he spent to dispatch the investigation team.
"Show me the crushed one too. Where is it?"
Sestendof slowly stood up and guided Warterelam to a spot a little back in the cave.
Then, he pointed to a pile of earth set aside at the edge.
"It seems we were digging the earth without noticing at first. Then, many fragments that looked like pot shards came out......."
Yes, Sestendof said this with some difficulty.
"If it was originally crushed, it is understandable that you wouldn't notice. Including the surrounding soil, is this everything?"
When Warterelam asked, Sestendof nodded.
"Have several people collect the excavated items from this soil. The parchment is probably ruined, but recover everything that retains even a slight shape."
"Even the parchment?"
"Even the parchment."
Probably nothing remains that can be read, but they will collect everything.
If the hired workers on site were to throw them away at their own discretion, valuable items might be discarded by mistake.
Even if discarding, that judgment must be made by Warterelam.
"Do not throw away pot shards, metal pieces, paper scraps, or even a single stick. I am the one who makes that judgment."
"Understood."
Sestendof straightened his posture and answered Warterelam's instructions.
■■■■■■
Warterelam brought the excavated pots to his home in the Imperial Capital Karchi.
Spreading the excavated items at the makeshift base risked losing them.
He simply checked the contents briefly and brought them directly to his home.
Before returning to the Imperial Capital, he stopped by the Great Cathedral in Uup Saktu, the Holy Land of the Church of Light, to report that he had returned from the investigation.
He reported that he had not found anything for the time being, hiding the details of the cave and the pots.
After submitting a fabricated investigation report at the Holy Land, he departed for the Imperial Capital.
The distance between the Holy Land Uup Saktu and the Imperial Capital Karchi is about two days by shared carriage.
Warterelam has his own carriage, but even then, it takes a day and a half.
In the Imperial Capital, he first reported his return from the ruins investigation to the Great Cathedral of the Imperial Capital.
Then, he reported to the branch office, which is the workplace Warterelam is originally supposed to serve as a Cardinal.
Imperial Capital Branch of the Ministry of Sacred and Evil Inspection.
This is the workplace Warterelam is currently serving in.
The Ministry of Sacred and Evil Inspection is an organization headquartered in the Holy Land that oversees censorship and heresy investigations.
Just at the Imperial Capital Branch, Warterelam is not the only one; three Cardinals are registered there.
Or rather, originally, three Cardinals are registered there.
Warterelam is the extra one.
One of the major duties of the Ministry of Sacred and Evil Inspection is censorship.
Books circulating in the city are examined, and inappropriate ones are burned.
If too many items with terrible content are circulating, they are listed in the Index of Forbidden Books along with the reasons for prohibition, and several copies of the actual items are sent to the Holy Land to be sealed.
Why keep the actual items? Because there might be other copies.
Without something to compare, one cannot definitively conclude they are the same item.
Therefore, they are sealed securely, and if similar items appear, they are compared and investigated.
Of course, Warterelam would never seriously do such work.
However, his assignment to the Ministry of Sacred and Evil Inspection was his own wish.
Why did he wish to be assigned to the Ministry of Sacred and Evil Inspection?
It is because of this Index of Forbidden Books.
The Index of Forbidden Books also lists the reasons for prohibition.
Just looking at this is surprisingly enjoyable.
This is because the reasons for prohibiting books change quite a bit from era to era.
In severe cases, parts of a scripture from one era were designated as forbidden books in later eras.
To say "scripture" in one word, it is actually not a single book.
There is a primary original text, but various myths and other things have been repeatedly added or removed, and the result compiled into one book is the current scripture of the Church of Light.
The added myths touched on prohibited matters in later eras and were deleted from the scripture.
Since it is a scripture, it circulated too much to recover all of it, but possessing that scripture is now punishable by law.
Incidentally, Warterelam naturally keeps a hidden copy.
Teachings and such also change according to the era.
Among the saints of the current Church of Light, Hildinlander is the first to be mentioned.
The first Saint.
The first user of [God's Miracle].
However, if one goes back in time, Hildinlander was not even included among the saints.
Various achievements were discovered through later research, and he was listed as a saint, but until then, he was a buried existence.
Warterelam enjoys learning about such transitions of the Church of Light in relation to historical backgrounds.
Others might wonder what is interesting about that.
But that is fine.
Because this is Warterelam's hobby.
Yes.
Just a hobby.
Thanks to being born into a privileged family, Warterelam can immerse himself in this hobby.
He is not thinking of accomplishing anything great.
He wants to know.
Therefore, he investigates.
He is simply fulfilling that with the power of money.
Warterelam took out the parchment scraps from the pots he brought home one by one and arranged them.
For now, he did not worry about the order and laid them all out.
Gazing at them lined up on the table was a time of supreme bliss.
Then, he casually looked at the parchment scrap placed closest to him.
"......Habe......Lumen....... "Light-bearer《Habeo Lumen》"? It is about Hildinlander."
Since more than three thousand years have passed, there are many damaged and hard-to-read parts.
Nevertheless, he managed to read on.
"......Vocabulum....... "Word《Vocabulum》"."
"Word《Vocabulum》" is considered to be [God's Miracle].
Hildinlander and [God's Miracle].
It seems this parchment scrap is written about Hildinlander's [God's Miracle].
"......This is damaged beyond reading any further."
He shifted his gaze to the parchment scrap next to it.
"Miraculum......? Ah, "Miracle《Miraculum》"."
"Miracle《Miraculum》" is also a word often seen representing [God's Miracle].
He continued reading further.
"Miracle《Miraculum》...... Vocabulum...... Contra......? "Miracle《Miraculum》" and "Word《Vocabulum》"?"
This is quite rare.
Both "Miracle《Miraculum》" and "Word《Vocabulum》" are words representing [God's Miracle].
He had never seen or heard of a single parchment scrap with these two words side by side.
"So......, [God's Miracle] against [God's Miracle]......? No......."
Warterelam closed his eyes and organized his thoughts in his head.
In this case, probably.......
"[God's Miracle] against "Word《Vocabulum》"?"
The moment he muttered that, his body trembled.
[God's Miracle] and "Word《Vocabulum》" are different things?
That means......?
"......This is going to be terrible."
The two words he had previously thought represented the same thing.
If they are actually different things, the interpretation could be turned upside down.
Most importantly, all of Warterelam's research over the past thirty-plus years would be ruined.
Such a great discovery.
Warterelam's legs trembled violently.
"......If this were to become public......, the church could truly be toppled."
He gazed at the table.
There were still about twenty parchment scraps.
Furthermore, there was another pot containing parchment scraps.
What terrible content was written in those?
Warterelam read another parchment scrap.
"......Potestas....... Venem......? Adetus......?"
"Power《Potestas》" represents magic power. .......... I think.
However, given the previous example, it is hard to assert it definitively.
"I must have Sestendof help me and review this from scratch......."
He could not suppress the trembling in his voice.
Not only for this discovery, but if "Miracle《Miraculum》" and "Word《Vocabulum》" are treated as different things, he must re-examine all the past investigations regarding what meaning that would hold.
Warterelam carefully moved the parchment scraps one by one with his trembling hands into a wooden box lined with cotton.
And thus, he began to plan his future research from scratch.
Thank you for reading this far.
Chapter 3: Magic Academy Elementary School Arc is now concluded.
From the next chapter, Chapter 4: Magic Academy Middle School Arc will begin.
Recently, I have been truly grateful and happy to have so many people reading my work.
Although my writing is poor and I feel sorry, I hope you enjoyed it.
Please continue to support Chapter 4 as well.