Taking Shape

For a priest of unwavering faith, coming to a mage's territory as an envoy and having to humble himself to negotiate with their greatest enemy was a psychological ordeal difficult to imagine. Benjamin was quite curious whether these people would struggle and feel conflicted inside, whether they would grow dissatisfied with Grant.

Would their faith... truly never waver?

Yet the priest's expression changed, and he said without hesitation, "Claude Riser showed disrespect toward God. His Holiness the Pope painfully ordered his execution. That was the highest form of reverence for God."

"Then... didn't you know about the burning at the stake in the Royal Capital and that huge water sphere?" Benjamin did not give up, continuing, "Your current Pope nearly got tied up and burned because he was messing around with men, yet he found me to be his scapegoat instead. Can you accept a Pope like that?"

"It was all the devil's temptation. His Holiness the Pope was misled by treacherous men, which was why he committed a momentary mistake. But now, he has washed away his sins and received God's approval."

Benjamin shook his head speechlessly.

Fucking stubborn...

Looking at the priest's icy face, Benjamin found it difficult to guess what these people truly thought. But there was no doubt that their loyalty to Grant would be very difficult to break.

And those who were not loyal... had probably been purged along with the Fool Family half a month ago.

"Patricide, murdering his own teacher, committing forbidden crimes—your Pope really is something." Benjamin knew he could not possibly shake this priest, so he casually tossed out the sarcasm and waved him away.

He could keep humiliating the man, but what would that accomplish?

This fellow was impervious to persuasion, his faith difficult to shake, and Benjamin could not