Regressor of the Fallen Family novel Chapter 251

Chapter 251

The king created a new cure.

He was accused of worshipping demons.

At first, facts and nonsense spread separately.

The king used the power of a demon to create a remedy.

However, not long after, the two stories merged, creating rumors that elicited only hollow laughter from those involved.

“Your Majesty. At the moment, it’s just a rumor among a few patients in this area, but if you let the priests continue as they are, it will soon spread as if it’s a confirmed fact.”

Even without the worried advice of his subordinates, the issue with the priesthood had to be resolved.

The priests’ protests (?) had been going on for three days, and because of this, there was a return to a sluggish pace in the treatment of the plague that had just found hope.

Eventually, Logan decided to have a talk with their representative.

“Bishop Ilia. Let’s talk.”

However, the conversation with Ilia was not easy from the start.

“I will listen here. Speak, Your Majesty.”

“…Is that okay? It will be about the blasphemy of the holy, as you mentioned. A sensitive matter….”

It was just an excuse to prevent other priests from interfering with the conversation, but it couldn’t be rejected.

As expected, Ilia raised an eyebrow and then nodded with a serious face, allowing Logan to meet with her privately in his tent.

“Why do you serve God?”

Ilia’s face crumpled at that question.

“…Your Majesty. Are you now openly committing blasphemy?”

“Ah, no. I’m just curious about why you became a priest.”

Faced with that complex question, Ilia quietly shook her head.

“…It seems off-topic for the discussion we were supposed to have, doesn’t it?”

“Hmm, was it rude of me? Well, fine. Let’s get to the point. Actually, I am disappointed in you, Bishop.”

Ilia’s elegant brows furrowed again.

“The Saint of the Slums. The only bishop whose name the people of the capital know. A bishop who cares for and loves her people. I believed such a bishop would understand what I am trying to do.”

“There’s no priest who would understand breaching the temple’s taboo, Your Majesty.”

“Bishop Ilia. Which do you hold more important: breaking the taboo of the temple or following the words of God?”

Was the meaning of his words too obvious?

Ilia’s face further hardened.

“…There’s a flaw in your words, Your Majesty. The taboos exist to follow the words of God.”

“But don’t you think the temple is defining the scope of the taboo too broadly?”

“As I said! The taboo is created to fully follow the commands of the divine!”

“Even if it prevents the following of God’s words to uphold a hollow taboo?!”

“That’s sophistry…!”

“It’s not sophistry; it’s reality! Bishop! Aren’t you doing just that right now!”

“Your Majesty. You are going too far!”

“Turning a blind eye to God’s word to save the people, you only obsess over the taboo while people are dying before our eyes!!”

Ilia flinched at the sudden outburst.

“Do you have the right to call it sophistry, Ilia? Are you truly a priest who follows the words of God?”

Logan saw Ilia’s expression waver, although she did not back down easily.

“If Your Majesty would only lift the taboo, then I and the priesthood would faithfully resume our activities in accordance with God’s words.”

“And that would save the dying people?”

“We will do our best…!”

“Can you truly save them by doing your best? Bishop Ilia! If you and the temple can give me that assurance, then I am willing to give it up immediately!” 𝘳ÄΝŐ𝐛ĘȘ

Logan’s shout rattled Ilia again.

“So, please swear with your conscience and faith. Doing your best is not enough. Can you suppress the plague with that!? If you say that you can stake everything on it, I will willingly withdraw.”

Bloodshot eyes pierced into Ilia’s blue irises like a drill.

‘If anyone is different, it’ll be this woman. The Saint of the Slums. A bishop unlike any other.’

As Logan expected, Ilia could not answer easily and her face became cloudier.

After much contemplation, she finally spoke.

“…I will stake my bishopric and request additional support from the temple. If the support is not satisfactory, then… I will reconsider.”

The answer was not entirely pleasing, but at least it was a step in the right direction.

“…Let us hope for the temple’s support.”

With Logan’s sarcastic response, the treatment using deer blood was temporarily halted.

“Bishop Ilia convinced His Majesty!”

“Indeed!”

“We must follow the word of the Lord.”

The priests, elated, resumed their healing efforts.

After three days,

“How could this happen…!”

Holding the same temple message as before, Ilia’s hands trembled.

‘I conveyed my intentions so desperately.’

The temple refused to support even the transmission infrastructure due to lack of budget, leaving her without a way to protest to the archbishop.

If she sent another message, another week would slip by. Moreover, it was doubtful whether another request for support would be heeded.

Above all, it was certain the king would not wait.

But, if the priests’ healing was stopped again, how would they deal with the suffering people?

“O God… what should your humble servant do?”

Tears flowed from her tightly closed eyes as involuntary prayers spilled from the kneeling woman’s lips.

“All-encompassing Lord…”

Under the unusually bright moonlight, reciting the prayer that had protected her heart for over twenty years, Ilia wrestled with endless doubts.

– People needing salvation are dying before our eyes while you obsess over the taboo!!

– Are you truly a priest who follows the words of God?

The king’s still vivid shouts in her ears.

The faces of people who died during the protest against the king.

– We cannot stand by this! It’s blasphemy, Bishop!

The faces of priests talking about the taboo.

Endlessly tormenting her.

After an uncertain amount of time had passed,

The tears dried, and faint traces of blood streaked from the corners of her reddened eyes.

‘[When our Lord came to the world, the silent sea encompassed everything, spewing all life into the world, transforming it. All life must return to the sea, returning to our Lord, for it is the natural order. Inclusion and change are one, and all are the will of our Lord.]’

The first verse of the scripture of Amunda, the god of the sea and change, suddenly enlightened her.

‘The taboo, in the end, needs to change if necessary. All things prioritize the will of the god who wishes to cherish the people.’

The bishop she was, using human-made taboos as an excuse to neglect the people.

“Truly, my sin is great…”

Despite the tears of blood, Ilia’s lips reflected a serene smile, and behind her spread a halo as bright as the moonlight above.

The next day,

Ilia sought out Logan.

“Greetings, Your Majesty.”

While she greeted, the tent where the king resided was already covered with deer blood.

It appeared that upon receiving the temple’s decision, the king had immediately resumed deer blood treatment.

The desperate expressions of the people who had to swallow the stinking blood bore into her eyes.

‘It’s all my fault…’

Misinterpreting Ilia’s hardened expression negatively, Logan opened his mouth with an even harder look.

“I’ve heard the temple’s decision. Whatever you say, I will resume the treatment with deer blood. In fact, I’ve already restarted it. There are already over a hundred deer in the village; feeding them is becoming an issue. I won’t ask you to respond. Just don’t interfere with allegations of devil worship or anything like that.”

“…How much?”

“Eh?”