The Holy Man of Another Century Gospel

Chapter 50 Whoever worships me must also worship him

Isn't this really women's clothing?
During the day, Eric found that the dress he was wearing looked completely different, especially the inexplicable lace and small decorations. Wasn't it a bit too much?

But he had no chance to take it off, and even his movements were involuntary. A group of nuns chanted hymns and surrounded him as he came to the Cathedral of Santa Sagitarius. Another group of nuns scattered flower petals on the road in front of him until the whole road was covered with flowers.

Eric also saw Sophie, who was a little too excited. Others threw petals into the air, but she grabbed handfuls and threw them at him. It seemed more like she was venting her anger than celebrating for him... Of course, it might also be because she was squeezed too far away.

The ceremony would take place in the same vaulted hall where the Saint had summoned him yesterday, though it had been refurbished, especially the altar, where several holy relics were displayed, including the scepter of the first Saint, Sagitari. The Saint would receive his kneeling worship at the altar and, through a series of rituals, formally establish him as her successor.

Many spectators had already arrived at the foot of the altar, all wearing red robes, except for the one in the middle, who was dressed in snow-white, with long hair and beard of the same color.

Eric had no impression of this face, but there was no need to guess the other person's identity.

The Pope actually came specially to watch the ceremony...

Eric bowed deeply, and His Holiness the Pope smiled and waved his hand, indicating that he didn't need to worry about him.

But who wouldn't care if His Holiness the Pope kept staring at them?
Eric guessed that the Pope already knew what he had said to deceive the saint, and he didn't know how he would view him, a man who claimed to be closer to God.

As I was distracted, the hymn that had been humming in my ears suddenly became louder. I saw the Saint walking into the church from the other side. Accompanying her, besides Sister Gabi, was Alena.

Unlike what he saw last night, the saint now looked energetic and seemed to be more than twenty years younger.

Eric thought that perhaps some high-level magic was used to temporarily boost his spirits. No one would want to reveal their weakness and old age in such an occasion, even if this ceremony was originally intended to establish an heir.

Even though she was the protagonist today, or one of the protagonists, the saint still had to salute when seeing His Holiness the Pope in person.

The Pope's reaction was the same, letting her do as she pleased, and even stepped aside with the cardinals.

As the saint ascended the altar, the pitch of the nuns' chanting suddenly rose, then gradually fell, and the sound gradually became lower and gradually faded away.

The ceremony is about to begin.

Seeing Gabi kneeling and paying homage to the saint at the foot of the altar, Eric understood that she was the host of today's ceremony.

It seems that the status of this elder sister is really high.

After the ceremony, Gabi stood up and bowed to the Pope, the College of Cardinals, and Eric who were watching. She then said, "I am commanded by the Saint to preside over today's ceremony to establish the inheritance of Saint Laceir's Monastery."

Upon hearing this, Eric knelt down on the petals, clasped his hands together, bowed his head in prayer, and welcomed the complicated ceremony that followed.

I don't know how Irene in her previous life managed to get through this in such a confused state...

Gabi stood at the foot of the altar and asked loudly, "Who are you—"

Eric answered with the same loud voice: "A follower of Yela, Eric of Dante, descendant of Kimino of the Highlands."

"Come forward—"

Eric stood up and slowly walked forward under the gaze of nearly a hundred nuns on both sides, and knelt down again in front of the altar.

Gabi bowed to the Saint, then walked up to Eric, holding the Holy Book in one hand and placing the other on his shoulder. She asked, "Eric, are you willing to give up worldly glory and devote yourself to the Saint's Monastery?"

"I am willing."

Eric replied in a deep voice, then swore an oath in the ancient language used when the church was first established. The ancient language was vastly different from the common language used today, and the most difficult part of the entire ceremony to remember was these few passages of the ancient oath.

Gabi then asked, "Eric, are you willing to devote your life to protecting the Saint's Monastery and spreading the Saint's love and authority to the world?"

"I am willing."

Eric answered, and swore again.

After three questions, three answers, and three oaths, we have reached the final stage.

"Eric, are you willing to inherit the will of Saint Sagitari, become the successor of Saint Morwenna Tullus, and lead the Saint Lasir Monastery in the future?"

"I am willing."

Eric answered, looking up at the Saint on the altar and taking his vows to her.

The saint stood up, walked up to him, and tapped his forehead, heart, and left and right shoulders with her index finger dipped in the snow water from the holy mountain. She then whispered something in ancient language, meaning to grant him the power of inheritance.

The nuns below spoke at the same time, repeating her words in short and uniform voices.

The saint took a white wreath from the side and placed it on Eric's head. "I inherit the will of Saint Sagitari and give you this wreath."

Eric prayed and gave thanks, then stood up under the guidance of the saint, took the scepter symbolizing the saint's authority with both hands, and raised it high to show it to the people below.

The nuns cheered, and at the church door, two rows of knights turned around at the same time and knelt on one knee towards the altar.

The saint took Eric's hand and led him to the altar, saying to the audience:

“You must call him His Highness, and whenever you worship me, you must also worship him.”

The nuns shouted "Your Highness" three times in unison.

The saint then took Eric down the altar and came before the Pope who was watching the ceremony, and bowed to him one after another.

"Ah, representative of Saint Raphael, now that I have found a successor, I still need you to bear witness!" - Usually the saint walks out of the church with the heir, salutes the towering Papal Tower in the distance, and then the Pope sends an envoy to announce the recognition of the legitimacy of their inheritance.

Now, the Pope himself is at the ceremony and the response is immediate.

"Ha ha……"

Looking at Eric, the old Pope smiled gently and raised his hand to touch his forehead.

"I hope you won't let Morwenna down."

Eric bowed deeply.

With the Pope's approval, the ceremony of the saint's succession was completed.

thump—

The long tolling of bells rang out in the monastery, one after another, gradually fading away.

In the afternoon, the convent will hold a banquet in the name of the future saint and allow some devout believers from outside the city to attend the banquet. Eric will also attend and receive the blessings of the believers.

Before that, he still had some free time, and the first thing he wanted to do was to change out of his heavy formal dress - the ceremony was over and he could change out.

"Your Highness, Your Highness... Your Highness Eric!"

It was not until a nun caught up with him and called him that Eric realized that the "Your Highness" she was calling was him.

"What's wrong?" Eric adapted quickly and stopped to ask.

"Are you going to change your clothes?" asked the nun.

"Ah."

"Your current residence is no longer there," the nun said, "and your old clothes have been taken to the other side."

Pretty quick, Eric thought, and followed the nun to her new quarters.

The side house is the residence of the quasi-saint, which is inside the Saint's Abbey where the saint rests. The Saint's Abbey is a separate building in the monastery. Eric came here once last night and came again during the day, only to find that this place is taller, wider, more sacred and magnificent than what he saw last night. It is completely a small palace.

What kind of abode is this...

Walking into the monastery, the side house where he lived was on the right. He saw that it had all the necessary places, including a living room, study, and bedroom. It was like having another suite in the palace, no, it was a super luxurious suite.

Anyway, it's much more luxurious than the room he had in his hometown, the City Lord's Mansion...

Eric changed out of his dress and put on his own clothes. When he came out, the saint's waiter told him that the saint wanted to see him.

They didn't walk far before arriving at the saint's residence, where the old man asked him how he felt.

But when he looked into his heart, Eric realized that he had been unusually calm since the end of the ceremony.

Maybe it’s because this is not his true pursuit in life?
"Through today's ceremony, I clearly realized that the future of the monastery rests on my shoulders. Although it is a heavy burden, it is also a proud honor..."

"Don't talk nonsense." The saint glared at him.

"Very happy," Eric said.

"Then cherish this feeling now," the Saint said, "because starting tomorrow, you will begin your studies as the Saint's successor, and it won't be easy. While I'm still here, you should seize the opportunity to learn more. You're still far from being a qualified quasi-Saint. Don't wait until I die and you've lost all my face."

"..."

Eric was stunned for a moment.

The Saint had never mentioned this before.

"No, that...study? I'm planning on leaving in two days."

The Saint looked over and asked, "Where do you want to go?"

"Go home... or something like that."

The old man's eyes changed, "You don't want to do this anymore?"

"No, it's not." Eric felt a certain sense of luck in his heart sinking rapidly, "But I have other things to deal with."

"You just said that the future of the monastery is on your shoulders. For you, nothing is more important than accepting the training of the Saint's successor." The Saint flatly refused.

Eric was silent for a moment.

Things are getting complicated...

"Then how long do I need to study here?"

"Who knows?" The Saint yawned. "Maybe the day I return to the Kingdom of God."

(End of this chapter)