Inside the Temple of Light in Santa Fe City.
Sunlight streamed through the cathedral's stained-glass windows, scattering iridescent colors across the floor. A handsome man, with features as striking as a prince and flawless, gazed down at the sword in his hand, his long golden hair cascading over his pure white knight's attire.
A messenger from the Council of Elders was kneeling before him, his tone tinged with embarrassment.
"Sir Knight, what about the elders...?"
As if he had just heard the messenger's words, he slightly raised his eyes, his azure eyes as clear as a celestial pool.
“Barton would have preferred to be pope than I would, but there will be no new saints; she is the last.”
Harlan's voice echoed throughout the cathedral, creating a soft, lingering sound.
If Bai Xi were here, she would notice the change in Harun. He no longer wore his signature smile, his expression was much colder and even more indifferent than before, and even his tone of voice lacked its former gentleness.
He acted like a leader going through the motions, without a trace of personal emotion.
"The elders have no intention of choosing a new saintess; it's just that they would prefer you to take the position of pope rather than a priest."
The messenger felt a bitter taste in his mouth. Heaven knows what kind of upheaval had occurred in the temple after the death of the Holy Maiden. The usually gentle and easy-going Holy Knight Commander seemed to have become a different person.
Since the funeral of Saint Maggie, he has acted with even greater ruthlessness than the previous popes.
The temple was thoroughly cleaned from top to bottom, leaving no trace of filth.
As a result, any temple staff member who made even the slightest mistake was on edge, fearing that they might inadvertently offend the Knight Commander.
This was certainly a good thing in the eyes of the elders. A paladin who was decisive and efficient and excellent in all aspects was simply the best candidate for the pope.
The cleaner the temple is, the better it will be for future developments. In addition, because of Saintess Maggie, Gloria, who is also the leader of the Holy Mage Order, also tacitly approves of all the actions of the Knight Commander.
Since a year ago, the temple has undergone a major overhaul, becoming more just and disciplined than before.
Even the Knight Commander's power and strength were already enough to rival the Council of Elders. Just when everyone in the temple thought he would seize the opportunity to take power and obtain the position of Pope.
The Knight Commander, however, did not take any action.
However, every time the elders tried to choose the next Holy Maiden of Light, he would do everything he could to stop them, until now he has finally laid his cards on the table.
His meaning was clear to the entire temple: there could be no more new saintesses.
If one simply considers his past relationship with Saint Maggie, his actions can be roughly understood, but for the Elders, it was a complete challenge to their authority.
The situation remained deadlocked until today, when the elders finally gave in.
The Knight Commander has grown powerful enough that no one in the entire temple can suppress him, just like the former Pope, except that he has no interest in the position of Pope.
Tell them not to bother anymore.
Harlan remained calm, his gaze returning to his sword. He was simply announcing a decision, leaving no room for negotiation.
"Yes, Commander Knight."
The envoy was merely following orders and was not at all surprised to hear this answer, but he still sighed silently in his heart.
Although the short lives of the previous dozens of saintesses were caused by the previous pope, Saintess Maggie seems to have thwarted the previous pope's conspiracy and discovered the truth behind the short lives of the previous saintesses.
But... she still didn't live past eighteen.
In the end, the curse of the saintess's short life was not broken, and perhaps the knight commander's choice was the right one.
The messenger walked step by step toward the cathedral's doors, but stopped a second before stepping out. His question echoed through the empty cathedral.
"If Saint Maggie were still alive, you would support her as Pope, wouldn't you?"
This is what he wanted to ask, and it's also what the elders wanted to ask.
Although the church was bright and sacred, the air was heavy and heavy, as if it had been still for a long time.
After a long pause, Harlan gave a soft reply.
"right."
This is how he answered.
The messenger sighed inwardly once again. A man as wise and capable as the Knight Commander, once he has chosen a master, will never change his mind.
Even if the person he followed has died, he will still continue to follow the original path.
Therefore, it seems that he is no longer a suitable candidate to be the pope.
After he returned, he planned to persuade the Presbyterian Church to abandon Harlan and instead choose Father Barton, even though the priest was older and had less power, but was also relatively easier to control.
If they insist on making the Knight Commander the Pope, the situation will definitely become very tense, and he will not compromise.
The messenger lifted his leg, preparing to leave, but Harun's slightly hoarse voice came from behind him again.
"I'm still waiting for her."
The envoy was taken aback, and then heard Harun continue speaking.
“I don’t care who is in the position of Pope now, but as long as she comes back, she can only be the Pope.”
He seemed to be stating a fact, yet he made the messenger freeze.
This tone implies that no matter who they choose as pope, the knight commander can remove their chosen one by any means if he so desires.
This is absolutely against regulations in the temple, but for a fully-fledged knight commander... it is indeed possible.
However, upon further reflection, the messenger breathed a sigh of relief.
The death of Saint Maggie is a certainty. Many people witnessed the horrific nature of her death, and it cannot be faked. In any case, a dead person cannot be resurrected.
This worry is completely unnecessary.
“I will report these words to the elders truthfully.”
The messenger turned his head, nodded to Harun in agreement, and then stepped out of the cathedral.
As the footsteps subsided, Harlan was left alone in the church once more. He looked up at the statue of the God of Light above the altar for a long, long time.
Suddenly, a smile appeared on his lips, tender and affectionate to the extreme, but with an inexplicable eeriness.
"Soon, the Temple of Light will welcome back its saintess."
He seemed to be speaking calmly, but if someone listened carefully, they could hear the sickness beneath his calmness, like a terminally ill person grasping at the last straw.
His voice faded into the empty church, and at the same time, the statue of the God of Light in the Temple of Light square began to glow faintly, as if in response to his words.
God will respond to His believers and fulfill their wishes.
But at some point, the gods began to have their own beliefs.
He became infatuated with a false believer and was willing to fall into depravity for her.
They elevated her to a divine status.
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