Academy (2)
The first purpose of the so-called academies, educational institutions established in various parts of the empire, was actually started as part of a policy to keep the church in check by enlightening people even a little.
Of course, through many trials and errors over the years, it has had many positive functions of its own, such as a stable supply of human resources, a free academic ground, and a stepping stone for success, but anyway, the fundamentals were like that.
Therefore, many challenging policies have been implemented so far, but those related to religion have been strictly prohibited.
The fact that priests, including apprentice saints, were coming to such an academy was enough to shock beyond shock.
The first time that sound came out, everyone snorted and said, “Don’t talk nonsense.”
Among the so-called socialites, aristocrats and powerful people, when they did not deny the rumor, ‘Could it be…?’ An air current began to flow.
And finally, the imperial family officially reported that it was necessary to renew the relationship with the church.
When he announced that he would tentatively lift the ban on religion from the imperial academy and receive priests and apprentices from the headquarters, people seriously wondered if the emperor was crazy.
It was to the point where I had the impression that ‘this is real…’ even when I saw that one of the academy sites was demolished and the living quarters of the clergy, including the church, were built there.
Even after the emperor’s name was announced, there was endless talk about its rationality and effectiveness, but the academy, the party in question, accepted this situation relatively easily.
Robben Academy was a place where criticism of the imperial family was allowed only in very limited and sophisticated areas.
They were excited to talk about theology with the clergy and dig into the divine power, which was considered an unknown power, before thinking about the political judgment or danger this situation would bring.
And a lot of people’s ‘Really? Are you really coming?’ In the midst of doubts, the priests, including the saint, finally arrived at Robben Academy.
* * *
The road to the academy was not difficult.
In the first place, the distance wasn’t too far, but perhaps because it was a procession that included high-ranking clergymen, the luxury was mobilized as much as possible.
After all, in a fantasy world, wagons with shock-absorbing magic are a national rule.
“Welcome, Cardinal Monto. My name is Claire Lauris, Vice-Chancellor of Robben Academy.”
“May the blessings of Orion be with you. Thank you for your hospitality. Vice President Claire. My name is Monto Libert, who is serving Orion-sama even though I am incompetent.”
And when we finally arrived at the academy, we were welcomed by the academy management.
“Nice to meet Ronan Apprentice Saint.”
When the person with the title of vice dean greeted me, he smiled and bowed his head in response.
That probationary saint became my official title outside.
Since it was just a saint, a trainee cadet, it gave off the feeling that it was used roughly, but I decided to move on.
After leaving the main office, I was in a state of regaining my mental and physical stability to the extent that I tolerated this part.
It was impossible to escape only within the headquarters of the church, and there was a belief that if you got out this far, you could escape if you threw down your necklace and ran with all your might.
I had no intention of living in hiding for the rest of my life digging up the roots of trees, so I was pushed out of the priority list, but the fact that I had a last bastion, even if it was extreme, was really reassuring.
First of all, Vice Dean Claire guided us to the so-called ‘church building’ where we will live.
“wow…”
Contrary to my expectations that it would have been a shame, the size of the church building was beyond imagination, to the extent that one apprentice cadet admired it so much.
Eh…? Isn’t that the building that was built in the process of getting me out of the headquarters of the church?
Perhaps because they were all new buildings, the immaculate church-style buildings exuded a pious charm that seemed to evoke a sense of religiosity.
“Since the imperial family thinks of us this way, I will pray that their feelings reach Orion.”
Cardinal Monto seemed to like it, too, to the point where he said that.
However, saying that they will fight non-religious people with prayer seems to be worse than saying no.
I don’t know what the hell these people are going to do…
“Now, this is the space where you will live.
When we arrived at the living building, which was fully equipped with various convenience facilities, the vice president said so and divided us into two groups.
A group of leaders, including myself, the cardinal, and some prelates.
Apprentice cadets who will mainly live here from now on and focus on the academy rather than missionary work.
In the meantime, I couldn’t figure out which of the two to go to, so when I waved to Celia, it was pretty cute to see her running to me.
The apprentice cadets went away to find their rooms under the guidance of another professor, and the rest of us visited the church under the guidance of the vice dean.
“Wow…huh.”
The church was neatly decorated to the point where I could understand Celia’s feelings as she suddenly uttered exclamations and then shut her mouth.
A wide space and worship seats that filled the place, wondering if so many believers would come.
Stained glass from various religious paintings located on both sides of the window.
The pulpit located in the center was decorated with all kinds of jewels and silk, and the huge stone statue of Orion located behind it was decisive.
To be honest, it was so cool that it would be rude to compare it to the prayer room in the headquarters of the denomination.
No, how much money did you really spend?
Other clergymen also began to look around the inside of the church, losing their senses.
While everyone took their seats and looked around the church, I moved forward to the podium and saw the huge statue of Orion.
Wow, how the heck did you carve this? It’s a detail that will take years if you can’t do it. Did you bring something from somewhere else?
After admiring it for a moment, I put my hands together and took a pose with my eyes closed.
Originally, you have to do this before anyone else to appeal to your faith.
What would the people guiding us think when they saw the priest admiring the stained glass or the gems on the candlestick?
Celia, who was next to me, closed her eyes and began praying next to me as I prayed, and the other clerics, who seemed to have come to their senses at the sight of me, began to clear their throats and gather around me to pray.
Doesn’t that seem too deceitful?
how much time has passed
in your heart
Orion-sama, even though I fell into the middle of the church you didn’t care about, I survived well, so I won’t blame you anymore. Then there’s no such thing as feelings between us?
The cardinal, who was impatient with the bird and pretended to be praying, intervened.
“Keuheum. There are still many places to look around, so let’s do this.”
What kind of priest doesn’t even a few minutes pretend to pray?
While he was dusting off his clothes, hiding his absurdity, he felt a strange aura from the leaders, including Vice Dean Claire.
expectation? joy?
“Don’t worry. Now all we have to look around is the conference room and where you’ll be staying.”
The priests’ eyes filled with wonder.
“The site is so large, how could it be the only place left to look around?”
“The rest is not for you to use, but for other priests to use.”
“Another priest. Who else besides us here?”
“Oh, didn’t you hear?”
The vice-president paused as he said that. The feeble expectations and joy were already inflated like balloons.
It’s not just a favorable feeling… If you have to ask, the feeling right before you play a prank on someone?
“A letter was also sent to the different races in the name of the imperial family. It’s the same offer that the Orion Church received.”
“What, what?”
If I had to ask, it wasn’t really like that.
Was it something unexpected?
The cardinal’s eyes widened as if they would pop out.
“We’ve had positive responses from everyone and maybe they’ll all arrive within a few days? The other lot is for them.”
“You mean the imperial family brought in the heretics?”
“Heretics, Cardinal. You’re talking harshly. They’re all priests of the same race of gods.”
The cardinal, who couldn’t manage his expression, raised his voice with a hot expression, but the vice-president only responded calmly without changing his expression.
“The Empire respects freedom of all religions. There is no one in the world who truly deserves to be called a heretic other than a devil worshiper.”
“Why do humans need the teachings of a tribal god besides Orion!”
“Well, we opened it to study and break the old conventional wisdom about religion, and we don’t have any particular religion in mind. That doesn’t mean much.”
Even after that, the cardinal continued to protest, but Vice-Chancellor Clare easily responded as if he had already thoroughly prepared.
It wasn’t that I couldn’t understand Cardinal Monto’s feelings.
This world was polytheistic.
It’s not exactly a theory. It’s actually proved that multiple gods exist. Multiple gods did exist.
As the top-level deity, there were tribal gods of each race, and below them were material gods like the steel god or abstract gods like the sea god.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with believing in the lower gods.
They only believe in it because it is closely related to their life or livelihood, but in the end, the source of that faith is the god of each tribe.
To be precise, I should say that there is no problem with the authority of the priests.
However, the gods of other races were deities equal to Orion.
I didn’t quite understand that they all share the same religious worldview, but they are different religions because their deities are equal or different, but the logic here was anyway.
The problem is that the priests of the different races worship a god equal to Orion anyway.
They were beings who could legitimately attack the doctrines of the church.
In a word, in front of the priests of gods of other races, the invincible logic ‘Believe it is God’s will’ ‘Don’t you believe this? You heresy.’ The combo didn’t work.
‘According to our point of view, your interpretation seems wrong?’ It was self-evident that missionary activities would become difficult if we started to let go of the offense.
That’s why I usually keep the doctrine in order…
There were so many errors in the doctrines of the Orion Church that I was dizzy just by looking at them for a moment.
At a glance, in order to do things that suit their taste in each era, there were not one or two that were presented as doctrinal interpretations without proper verification.
From the Cardinal’s point of view, sh*t lines are inevitable.
Me? I have the ultimate cheat key and saint title that can justify my own pseudo-logic.
It was enough to eat popcorn next to me when I was squeezed.
“The Church will never admit this!”
“Then are you going back?”
Even the cardinal, who had been angry for a long time, became a dumb ass.
What are your expectations from the church?
But if you succeed, your position will rise, but what if you fail?
The cardinal’s face went pale.
The Cardinal never had the option of returning from here.
I know that feeling well.
“The church will not stand by and sit idly by.”
In the end, the cardinal, who took a step back, said it was best.
“For details, please ask the imperial family or the dean. I am also a petit citizen who follows orders?”
The person who wants to see it is not scary at all.
The deputy dean seemed to know that well enough.
Memo…To the Vice-Dean…Don’t mess around…
I thought that was enough, but I guess there was still a finishing blow left.
“You mean this is our accommodation?”
The cardinal asked in a shocked voice.
There was a nuance in it that seemed to be asking me to say no.
The lodging where me, Celia, and of course the Cardinal and the rest would be staying wasn’t as big as I thought.
Of course, it wasn’t small, and it was neat because it was a new building, but isn’t there something grand about a building that you encounter from the outside?
It was true that the accommodation, which had been reduced in size to match the small number of people staying, looked more shabby than the life of the apprentice cadets I had just encountered.
It’s very unlikely that the interior will be dramatically dazzling.
“Yes. How is it? It’s close to the church, and it’s also close to the conference room. Of course, the high-ranking dormitories of the god priests of other races are also nearby in this way.”
Only their faces were smiling, and they seemed to be saying, ‘Now, let’s kill each other.’
Does the imperial family have plans?
I thought he opened the academy at the risk of bleeding because of me, but seeing him step on the cardinal before the first day was over, I drank a glass of cider.
“How is Ronan apprentice saint?”
“It’s neat and nice. I’m just grateful.”
The arrowhead suddenly returned to me, but I felt like I could digest it just by looking at the faces of those gloomy cult bastards. There was no way I was in a bad mood.
Cardinals and clergymen looked at me with expressions that seemed like an ignorant saint laughing at us, not even knowing that we were being beaten.
Isn’t it? You know it all too well? You’re laughing because you’re being beaten?
With an even more pleasant smile, I once again thanked Vice President Claire.
Thanks for the nice viewing.
Deputy Dean Claire had a feeling of surprise to me, and then clapping her hands to refresh the atmosphere.
“Now that we have finished explaining the Eolchu facilities, shall we talk about the welcome ceremony that will be officially introduced at our academy?”
Why are you looking at me and saying that?
“Even within our academy, priests are the subject of interest right now.”
You’re interested in the priest, not me, right?
“In addition, we consider it an honor for us to have famous priests from all over the world gather at our academy.”
I understand enough, but why do you keep looking at me?
“So, when all the clergy arrived, we prepared a welcome ceremony at the undergraduate level… An impactful shot that can be worn out at the welcome ceremony! Is there anything like this?”
So why are you looking at me…
Ah, I already summoned an angelic illusion and almost died. PTSD comes.
