Thought It Was ‘The End’, Only to Return to a Changed Genre - Chapter 98

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 18. Each Person’s Truth (2)

The Pope had passed away two days ago.

The announcement was postponed since the Founding Festival was not yet over and the turmoil within the Church had not been fully resolved.

It was Edwin’s decision.

Normally, there would have been opposition claiming that the Imperial Court could not interfere in Church affairs, but most of the hardliners were implicated in the recent incident where the Saint was nearly assassinated, leaving no one to voice objections.

For Edwin, this was fortunate in many ways.

He was very wary of the situation where the Church, backed by the Saint, was gaining too much power.

Traditionally, Saints appeared when purification was desperately needed, so the Church that obtained a Saint would also grow stronger.

The current Saint was being ‘managed’ by the Imperial Court.

The Imperial Court maintained the position that the Saint was not a priest and was a citizen of the Greenwinsor Empire.

Strictly speaking, this was correct since the Saint was not a position created by the Church, nor did she belong to it.

However, traditionally, regardless of which country the Saint was from, the Church would naturally come to manage the Saint.

This was because the Saint’s very existence was the goddess’s blessing, and most nations could not compete with the Church that refused to give up the Saint, who was no different from a living holy relic.

However, the Imperial Court of the Greenwinsor Empire actively claimed rights over ‘Saint Genevieve,’ and since the current ‘Guardian’ was Duke Blancarde, the nobleman closest to the imperial bloodline, they could not be deprived of her.

During his lifetime, the Pope was extremely obsessed with the goal of the Church fully possessing the Saint.

He seemed to find it deeply humiliating that he could not have the ‘Saint’ that the Church had possessed until then during his own reign.

So he reportedly said several times before his death that he would have the Saint succeed him.

Thanks to this, a group emerged that thought they should threaten and intimidate the Saint while the Pope was still alive. Once it became an official testament, it could not be defied.

Regardless, Genevieve showed little interest in the Church.

What mattered to Genevieve was keeping Edelaine’s last wishes, so like Shane, she left everything else alone as it didn’t matter to her. Edwin had skillfully exploited that gap.

“During the investigation and judgment of the group that tried to kill me, movements arose within the Church to make me the next Pope. It’s probably Edwin’s handiwork.”

“He should be looking for his own bride instead…”

“Exactly.”

Genevieve clicked her tongue.

Even while gathering potential brides and getting rejected, his political maneuvering never stopped – what a busy person he was.

On top of that, he was continuing protests and negotiations with the Kingdom of Brubewinn, so who knows if he even had time to sleep.

“Thanks to that, without even asking my opinion, they started fighting over whether the ‘Saint’ was qualified to become the leader of the Church or not. This was even before Edelaine was subjected to the poisoning attempt.”

“That must have been busy…”

“It was busy. Until then, I really wanted to leave for the expedition as soon as possible.”

If the bracelet she gave Edelaine hadn’t broken, Genevieve would have somehow insisted on departing for the expedition.

Genevieve only needed to fulfill her duties as the ‘Saint.’

“I’m really not suited for power.”

Genevieve continued quietly.

“Edwin also said that although he had set everything up, I could refuse if I really didn’t want it. But then he would have placed a puppet and controlled them to his liking. I thought that would be more comfortable for me too…”

The argument about the Saint’s qualifications was forced. Originally, the Church was a group that gathered to believe in and follow the goddess, and the Pope was elected as the representative of the human most beloved by the goddess.

To say that the Saint, chosen by the goddess, was ‘unqualified’ just because she didn’t hold a position or status granted by the Church was absurd.

But she had no interest in such things.

Genevieve didn’t need their recognition or qualifications.

It was simply laughable that they were debating whether she was qualified or not.

Even Edwin had asked Genevieve’s opinion, but no one in the Church asked. They seemed to believe she would naturally consider it an honor.

Edelaine felt dizzy at the scale of the story she was hearing.

‘Have I been acting too carelessly without knowing how dangerous it was?’

It was when hearing such stories that she truly realized their status, which she had only understood intellectually.

“But after going through this incident, my thoughts changed a little.”

“…”

“Just leaving my life to others turned out to be no fun.”

Genevieve had a refreshed expression as if she had shed a layer.

The choice she was pushed into brought the worst results.

Genevieve thought she always made bad choices. So she considered a life of just following others’ choices wouldn’t be bad.

But everything she thought would be fine if left to flow naturally was not fine.

In fact, it was not fine.

“So I decided to live a little more actively.”

And she said with a very pretty smile.

“Edelaine told me I could be as happy as I wanted. That’s still true, right?”

“Of course.”

Edelaine answered in a daze.

Even if she wasn’t the protagonist, everyone had the right to be happy.

It was something that didn’t need to be questioned.

“Edelaine taught me that this was natural too. Good, then. It’s incredibly bothersome, but I’ll work hard and give it a try.”

Even after becoming the pinnacle of the continent’s most popular religion, her words sounded like she’d been pushed into becoming the leader of a social club – it was truly magnificent.

It was fortunate that it wasn’t a solemn vow or determination to accomplish it no matter what.

Edelaine said.

“If you can’t handle it, you can pass it to someone who wants to do it, so think of it comfortably.”

“There aren’t as many people who want to do it as you’d think.”

Probably because the person they’d have to complain to would be Edwin, so no one could speak up…

Edwin was quite a reliable protector, despite everything.

“Everyone seems to think you’ll do well.”

“…Edelaine, you only see me in a good light.”

“I do lack objectivity…”

Edelaine admitted with a gloomy expression. At times like this, she wanted to confidently shout, ‘I have a good eye for people! Trust me because I’m saying it!’ but her track record was too terrible.

Look at Shane.

Shane was proof that Edelaine had no eye for people.

Now Emma was added to the list too.

Edelaine, who had believed Emma was a fragile, tearful mother, had to admit once again that her eyes were like knotholes after learning her true nature.

What good were holes if she couldn’t see through them?

Genevieve burst into laughter and said.

“You can’t say that here! You should tell me to trust you.”

“Well, anyway, even if you quit because you can’t handle it, you’re still the Saint. If it doesn’t matter whether you do well or poorly, what’s most comfortable for you is best.”

“Do you think I won’t do well?”

“That’s not it – I’m saying it doesn’t matter if you do well or poorly. I’m on your side anyway.”

“…”

“If you do well as Pope, I’ll think, wow, that’s amazing…”

Edelaine imagined it for a moment and made a slightly overwhelmed expression.

Because it really seemed like she would do well.

Genevieve was someone who listened well to others but smiled while saying everything she needed to say. She was merciful but firm.

She was even physically strong.

When angry, she charged at people like a bull.

Having witnessed Harrison flying away like a paper doll, Edelaine had resolved never to mess with her for life.

Bull Genevieve winked charmingly and said.

“If I do well as Pope, will you be proud of me?”

“I’m already proud of you even without you doing anything well…”

If she became even more proud, that would be another problem in itself.

Genevieve smiled brightly as if she knew that would be the answer.

Thinking that she surely didn’t know that this one natural comment was what kept her alive.

“I will definitely become a power holder no less than Duke Blancarde or Edwin and steal you away.”

“Huh?”

Edelaine tilted her head, sensing something odd about the flow of the conversation.

However, Genevieve’s mouth, with her fist clenched determinedly, wouldn’t stop.

“Right now I’m still in a position where I’m being pushed around by those two, but just wait and see. Later, I will definitely!”

“Genevieve, no, don’t make up your mind! Whatever it is, it’s better not to do it!”

“I’ll make it so you can get divorced!”

Genevieve burned with dangerous enthusiasm.

“No, I’m not getting divorced…”

And please watch my back…

Edelaine muttered quietly. Shane’s smiling face as he came with Lloyd carrying soup was too frightening.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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