Chapter 104
The costume fitting was finished, and at last, the day of the Saint Appointment Ceremony arrived.
Clael dressed in the outfit completed the day before and headed to the sanctuary inside the Grand Shrine.
"Hmm..."
A sanctuary so vast, it couldn't even be compared to the shrine in Eggbell.
Intricate designs adorned the floor, walls, and pillars, and stained glass was fitted into the windows.
At the far end of the sanctuary stood a statue of the goddess, flanked by statues of past Saints who had achieved great deeds, kneeling in reverence toward her.
Angels were painted on the ceiling, looking down upon Clael.
He had never visited such a place in his previous life... but perhaps the sanctuaries at European tourist spots were like this.
"That's the one..."
"Yeah, no doubt about it."
"Not quite on the level of the Saint, but still, a considerable amount of holy energy."
The sanctuary was filled with many people.
All of them were priests and sisters in clerical robes.
As Clael stepped into the Grand Sanctuary, they looked at him with appraising eyes.
(They're looking at me like I'm being tested... Every single one of them has a face I can't trust...)
The expressions of the clergy in the Grand Sanctuary fell into two categories.
One was filled with jealousy and hostility toward Clael.
Just like Bellamy Walls, who had confronted him the other day, they seemed displeased by Clael's early success.
The other was a favorable expression.
Faces that held respect or affection toward Clael.
These were the ones who welcomed the idea of Clael becoming a Saint.
(And... that must be the bishop who came from the Holy Nation of Shinecross.)
In front of the goddess statue stood three people.
One was Reina. She greeted Clael with a gentle smile as he entered the Grand Sanctuary.
The second was Cardinal Dilet Horst. He gave Clael a meaningful look.
And... the third was someone Clael had never met before. The one who had recommended Clael for sainthood. A bishop who had come from the Holy Nation.
Young, with a slender build. His seemingly gentle eyes were as thin as threads.
(He was an enemy character in the game... Carmine Imari. The wicked bishop who tried to abduct Reina to the Holy Nation.)
Clael had never met him before, but he knew who he was.
A mid-game enemy character. A villain who would use kidnapping, honey traps, and anything else to take Reina to the Holy Nation.
(So he's the one who pushed for me to be recognized as a Saint... Seriously, what could his intentions be?)
"Then... let us now commence the Saint Recognition Ceremony for Priest Clael Byrne!"
Seeing Clael step before them, Dilet made the declaration.
"The priest Clael here discovered Saint Reina Laurel, nurtured her, and guided her. Thanks to Reina becoming a Saint, the land of the Kingdom of Saintcl has been filled with power, and reports of bountiful harvests have come in from across the land. There have been no plagues or disasters recently either—surely, this too is due to the Saint's divine protection."
Dilet spoke as if to impress this upon everyone present.
Among the gathered clergy, there were many who were displeased with a rural priest being recognized as a Saint.
By loudly proclaiming Clael's achievements, he was likely trying to keep those hostile to Clael in check.
"Of course, the reason the kingdom is filled with light is thanks to Saint Reina's blessings. However, Priest Clael, who guided the Saint, also deserves recognition. Thus, he is to be acknowledged as the Saint who governs 'Education.'"
Each Saint governs a specific domain... and in Clael's case, it would be 'Education.'
(...Good thing it wasn't childcare or parenting. Well, I can't say I'm confident I've done enough to deserve even 'Education' either.)
"The Holy Nation also approves of Priest Clael's recognition as a Saint."
Following Dilet, Carmine stepped forward and spoke.
"From what I've heard... Saint Reina was not blessed with a good home environment and suffered abuse from her foster parents. Saving the Saint from such suffering and raising her into a fine clergyperson is truly a remarkable feat. Therefore, we recognize Priest Clael as a Saint."
The Holy Nation had many bad rumors surrounding it, but it was still considered the center of divine faith.
With both the cardinal of this country and a bishop of the Holy Nation publicly recognizing him, public opinion would surely shift.
"...I humbly accept the honor."
Clael knelt and bowed his head toward the statue of the goddess.
Honestly, he felt the recognition was excessive.
He did feel like it was too much for someone like him... but with everything prepared to this extent, it was hard to refuse.
"Then... the 'crown' for Priest Clael."
"Yes, excuse me."
Reina stepped forward before the kneeling Clael.
Wearing a smile befitting a Saint... she placed a laurel crown atop Clael's head.
"'May you be a Saint, the agent of God.'"
"'May the hand of God be with the people. We ask you to be part of that guidance.'"
She recited the ceremonial words.
With that, the Saint Recognition Ceremony concluded. The gathered clergy in the Grand Sanctuary began to clap softly.
"Huh...?"
But then, something unexpected happened.
Suddenly, countless particles of light began to fall from the ceiling of the Grand Sanctuary.
Light particles fell like snow. When Clael instinctively looked up, the religious painting on the ceiling was glowing, and countless Holy Spirits were flying within it.
"Oh, come on..."
"Oh... God is blessing him...!"
"The Holy Spirits, the angels have acknowledged him as a Saint...!"
As Clael stood dumbfounded, the clergy raised emotional voices around him.
A miraculous scene. As if God himself was celebrating Clael's ascension as a Saint.
"No one told me... anything about this..."
"Hehehe... Now everyone will acknowledge Lord Clael. Operation success."
Reina whispered with a soft smile, at a volume Clael couldn't hear in his daze.