Episode 216: Did you like the donation? (2)
The one who approached me with a big smile was Giselle.
Forisco quickly turned his head, avoiding eye contact for a moment.
‘What the hell is this crazy guy thinking?’
They suddenly turned a perfectly normal person into a saint. And he was a man, but he was a fake saint who received revelations from a goddess.
This will probably be the first recorded in history. I’m not kidding, this is really going to go down in history books.
I wanted to yell at him right then and there and scold him, but… … .
‘Look, there are too many eyes watching!’
I was in a difficult situation. I had to reveal the truth, but my mouth wouldn’t open.
The eyes of the poor and the temple knights looking at him were sparkling. It was as if honey was dripping down.
‘This, this is… … the power of a saint?’
I want to receive more of that awe-inspiring gaze. If I had never experienced it before, I wouldn’t know, but I’ve already tasted it.
I never wanted to experience that boring life again, where nothing was fulfilling.
‘But is this okay? Won’t this cause problems later? It seems like rumors about me have spread throughout the capital… … .’
Reason tells me it can’t be done, but greedy selfishness keeps insisting it’s okay.
Then suddenly an idea occurred to me.
I was so excited that I forgot about my situation for a moment, but when I looked back, I realized that this was a golden opportunity.
‘If I can just maintain this public opinion… … the Archbishop can’t do whatever he wants to me! It’s confirmed that I will be the next Archbishop!’
If the rumor of his sainthood spreads further, the archbishop will never be able to excommunicate him. He will not be able to touch him at all, let alone excommunicate him.
But since he didn’t know the exact circumstances of what had happened, it was dangerous to be optimistic. Porisco’s mind began to spin in a complicated way.
“Saint? Your complexion doesn’t look so good?”
As Giselle drew closer, the temple knights stood in front of Porisco.
Seeing that, Jiselle said with a slightly troubled look.
“Hmm, I was going to talk to you about future donations… … . Should we just go back?”
“Oh, no. The Baron did a great job ‘helping me’, so that can’t be happening. What are you doing! This is Baron Fenris. Bring him to the temple quickly!”
At Porisco’s words, the temple knights bowed their heads slightly to Giselle and stepped aside.
Soon the two were transported to the temple in a luxurious carriage drawn by six white horses.
Jiselle, who was riding in a carriage, asked back with a mischievous expression.
“How… … did you like the donation? We used up quite a bit of food.”
Porisco didn’t respond to Jiselle’s words right away. He needed to know the other person’s intentions so he wouldn’t be dragged around.
He liked to donate, but not in such a grand way. The kind of donation he wanted was a very humble bribe.
‘What are you thinking? I heard there’s plenty of food, but why are you spending so much in this situation? Just to spread a rumor like that? Why?’
He was a suspicious and greedy man by nature, and he rose to the position of bishop through all sorts of corruption and political maneuvering.
Although he is currently in a difficult situation due to his excessive greed and the archbishop’s restraint, it means that he is not a person who would be easily deceived.
There was no way that someone who had formed a faction within a large religious order with the aim of becoming the next archbishop would be easy.
Porisco looked at Giselle with a suspicious look and said nothing.
“There is no need to be so restrained. I was just trying to help you, Bishop.”
“You’re going to… help me?”
“Yes. Aren’t you in a pretty difficult situation these days? I heard you and the Archbishop aren’t on good terms.”
‘What? How does this little punk who only lives in the North know such things? Did a noble from the royalist faction tell him?’
It was only natural that the story would spread, since Porisco was also diligent in bribing the nobles.
He could not ignore the public opinion of the nobles, so he used bribes, but the Archbishop’s power was stronger, so it had no effect.
“Who… did you hear that from?”
“I just found out after staying in the capital for a few days.”
Jiselle knew about Porisco well, and not because of her past life experiences.
Knowing the importance of information, he placed many spies in the capital. And based on the information they obtained, he made a new plan.
Under Giselle’s direction, Spy Officer Lowell created the rumors and incited people to create the current situation.
Looking at him, who still had doubts, Giselle continued speaking.
“As time goes by, the rumors will die down. There are still many people who have not yet given up their suspicions. It would be a waste of time to miss this opportunity.”
At Giselle’s words, Porisco licked his lips.
This little bastard knows his weakness for sure now.
“Okay. You wouldn’t have just done something like this… … What do you want?”
“Well… … It’s something I told you before.”
“Are you talking about Priest Piote? I think you’ve written too much for such a low-level priest… … .”
Porisko still had his doubts. If he only wanted Piote, there was no need to do this.
If you had given me even half of that enormous amount of food, I would have gladly sent you away.
Indeed, Jiselle nodded obediently and agreed.
“That’s right. I want something else too.”
“Tell me what it is. I will listen and judge.”
Despite the difficult situation, Porisco tried not to give up the initiative. In such cases, once you get caught up, it is difficult to get out.
He was certainly a greedy priest who had been through all kinds of hardships.
Jiselle hesitated in silence.
“I don’t think this is something we should discuss in a carriage. Let’s go somewhere quiet and talk about it.”
‘This guy… … .’
Porisco gritted his teeth, trying not to show his true colors. It was obvious that he was trying to play with people, even though he was just a kid.
But now, I am the one who feels sorry. I have no choice but to calm down and keep my mouth shut until we reach the temple.
As soon as he arrived at the temple, Porisco looked around and said with a fake look of anger.
“Now tell me what you want! Why did you do such a thing!”
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“To make the bishop an archbishop.”
“What, what? Me… what did you say?”
“It is literally so that the bishop can overcome the current crisis and ascend to the position of archbishop.”
Forisco was momentarily taken aback by Giselle’s leisurely words.
The position of Archbishop was his life’s goal. Didn’t he constantly run towards it by accepting and offering bribes from those around him?
But the archbishop was trying to dismiss himself in favor of another successor.
‘If this little brat helps me, it’s possible. If I can completely control public opinion outside… … Even if I don’t receive the title of saint, I can easily trample on someone like an archbishop!’
If he could just release food in his name a few more times, public opinion would be solidified. And right now, the only one who could do that was the little girl in front of him.
Because he was called the food king of the North.
All you have to do is say that you prepared it in advance through ‘revelation’. No one will be able to verify it and no one will be able to refute it in the name of God.
But can you trust the guy in front of you?
‘It’s dangerous… … . It’s dangerous.’
Porisco had an ominous feeling. This was something that could backfire if done wrong. It was too dangerous to accept lightly.
If the kid in front of you makes a single mistake with his mouth, he’ll end up in an even more difficult situation than he is now.
“What good will it do you, Baron, to make me… … an archbishop?”
“It would be great. I think I will be able to receive a lot of help from the church in the future when I am in trouble. It’s like a sense of loyalty between us.”
‘This, this crazy guy… … .’
The quick-witted Porisco understood what Jiselle meant. She meant that she would put a leash on him and use him whenever necessary.
If it were normal, it would be a proposal that would make one furious and chase them out. If they were going to receive such a proposal, the religious order would have joined hands with the nobles long ago.
“Don’t make me laugh, Baron. Don’t you know that religion and politics are incompatible? Do you think you can sleep soundly while making me a puppet?”
“You’re going too far. I just meant that we should be friends whenever we need each other.”
“Don’t say such nonsense! How dare a mere baron enter the church… … .”
As Porisco threw away his manners and came out strongly, Jiselle also laughed and cut him off.
“So, are you saying you’re just going to die like this?”
“… … .”
“I guess I won’t be a martyr, but I’ll just die in disgrace as a greedy pig.”
They already know what each other needs. Jiselle reminded Porisco of her situation once again.
“I know the Archbishop has a pretty cruel personality… … . I wonder if he will be branded a heretic? That would be the worst death.”
“… … .”
“I think there is some misunderstanding… … . I am trying to save the bishop right now. And I will receive a fair price for it. Is there anything more valuable than life?”
“… … What are you going to do if I refuse?”
“If you don’t like it, there’s nothing we can do. We can get something like Fiote from the Archbishop. If we send food to him, it won’t be difficult. But… … the Bishop will definitely die.”
‘Oh, no.’
Then he is truly finished. What if, at the cost of his life, the Archbishop gets food and hears the sound of a saint?
Even if I die from stomach pain, I won’t be able to die in peace.
Porisco was sweating profusely as he pondered. If he accepted, he would become that dog, and if he refused, he would die.
But I didn’t want to die. I didn’t want to die, and I wanted to take the position of archbishop.
I wanted to keep hearing the voice of the saint there. That experience was truly the most thrilling experience of my life.
What if this experience continues? What if the rumor spreads further and further, reaching beyond the kingdom?
‘The Archbishop is not the problem. No one can touch me except the one in front of me. I can be treated as a saint!’
Jiselle laughed silently as she watched Porisco continue to roll his eyes.
‘He’s just so damn greedy. He wants everything, so he’d probably die. But he’s a suspicious guy, so he’s pretty careful. It won’t be easy to handle him.’
Originally, Jiselle had not intended to go this far. She had only intended to give a reasonable reward and obtain Fiote for now.
Although the power of the church is needed to prepare for the coming tribulation, the person he had in mind was another sinful priest.
However, after learning of Porisco’s circumstances, the plan was slightly revised and brought forward.
After watching Jiselle’s expression for a while and thinking about it, Porisco soon let out a deep sigh.
‘If you refuse, there is no way to resolve the current situation. Even if you save your life, excommunication is certain given the Archbishop’s personality. However, if you are caught in this guy’s weakness… … .’
As my mind was wandering like that, I heard a monk’s voice from outside.
“Bishop, the Earl of Norton has come to see you.”
“what?”
He was the eldest son of the Lord Chancellor of the Realm, Earl of Villere Norton, and the older brother of the Marquis of Branford. In other words, he was Rosaline’s maternal uncle and one of the key nobles of the royalist faction.
“Oh, come on, bring her inside.”
Even though he has guests, Billor is a nobleman whom even Porisco cannot treat lightly.
Not only was his family a family, but he was also the chief justice of the capital and the head of the royal bureaucracy, so his power was great.
After exchanging a few formal greetings, Billor looked at Giselle with a look of mock surprise.
“Oh, you are Baron Fenris? What brings you to the temple?”
“It’s been a long time, Count. I was discussing with the Bishop how to help those in need.”
“Wow, young man, you have such deep intentions. This is truly a blessing for the kingdom. I have come to see you, Bishop, on account of my royal affairs.”
When told that he had come on royal business, Porisco looked puzzled.
What on earth could he possibly be doing at the royal palace?
‘Really…? Because of that rumor? The royal family has already come to see me?’
If you are truly recognized as a saint, you will be promoted at the kingdom level. This is because where there is a saint, other kingdoms cannot act recklessly.
Indeed, Billor spoke directly about the benefits that Forisco would receive.
“… … Thus, if the bishop is recognized as a saint by the church, a reliquary to store the bishop’s body and blood will be made from the royal treasure, the dragon’s bone… … . A separate room for the bishop will be prepared in the palace… … . A grand temple named after the bishop will be built on a new site… … .”
Porisco was dumbfounded by the outrageous offer. All the bribes he had received so far seemed like small change.
He should have been treated like this a long time ago. He felt like he had wasted half his life.
I glanced at Giselle, and she smiled warmly and bowed her head.
“Congratulations. Now your name will spread throughout the kingdom. Then… … shall we continue with the donation according to the ‘Revelation’? Saint Porisco.”
‘Heh, heh heh heh, I was so busy that I forgot what a great opportunity this was.’
Even if you spend your whole life treating the poor with divine powers, the title of saint is something you may or may not receive.
Basically, it is because there is a perception that divine power should be used for the benefit of people.
And there was no priest who had the patience to live a hard life rolling around with the poor.
That is why the path of a saint is difficult and painful, and the title of saint is mostly given after death.
‘But is it possible to get the title of saint so quickly and easily? It’s no use receiving it after you’re dead. You should receive it while you’re alive and enjoy it!’
Even if he did not receive the title due to the checks of other bishops, it was okay. If he had just a reputation of being a saint, he could survive and become an archbishop.
‘I had too many thoughts because of my suspicions. If I can definitely ascend to the position of Archbishop and gain the support of the royal family and nobles… … I should be able to deal with that guy somehow.’
There was no need to hesitate foolishly. The most important thing was his own life. The first priority was to overcome the crisis that was at hand.
Porisco said to Giselle with a kind smile.
“Your donation is gratefully accepted, Baron Fenris.”
He decided to board the boat with Giselle for now.
