Chapter: 381
The moment I heard the word “Pope,” my already dizzy mind felt even more tangled.
It was inevitable that I would have to meet this opponent one day. As Phebi’s friend and an apostle of the god, I had to ensure that whatever the Pope was about to do wouldn’t succeed.
But it was still too soon. What I currently had was far too inadequate to face the Pope.
“Why is that senile old man coming here?”
“Bishop Johan said he’s here to give a direct warning to Lasha about the recent incident.”
That was nonsense. The Pope had already established some sort of contract with Lasha. They’ve long agreed not to meddle in each other’s affairs, so what warning was there to give?
Moreover, the Pope wasn’t the kind of person to be enraged over church members dying.
He might pretend to be angry for appearances, but inside, he would remain entirely cold. There was no way such a person would retract a contract he himself made.
Lasha was just the excuse. There had to be another reason for his arrival.
“Ma’am.”
“I’m in disguise right now.”
“You’re already soundproofed, so why are you throwing a fit? That’s why everyone avoids you.”
“Why are we talking about this now?”
“Forget it. While I’m stuck slogging through this pathetic dungeon, has there ever been a time when the pathetic god’s disgusting energy leaked out?”
“Um, didn’t you know? It’s been leaking out bit by bit since you went in.”
Damn. Pathetic god. Why does he keep flaunting his presence unnecessarily? It’s like moths flocking to your light.
I bit my lip and glanced over at my friends. Just moments ago, they were pointing fingers at each other’s mistakes, and now they were strategizing to tackle the next dungeon together.
The timing wasn’t great. In just a few days, I could solve everything on this archipelago.
Not even days; if I pushed myself, I could finish everything in just two more days and get out of here.
But I wasn’t sure what consequences that fixation would bring.
“Ma’am. Where’s the ridiculous bishop?”
“Waiting at the inn.”
*
At the inn, Bishop Johan had tossed aside his priestly garb and donned a simpler disguise.
Though he hadn’t transformed into someone entirely different like Karia or Alsetin, that wasn’t the problem.
No one would think the meticulous Johan would disguise himself to hide his identity.
“I don’t know where His Holiness is right now.”
Johan, seeming uncomfortable with his beard, responded to my question.
“He left as soon as the Saintess returned. He has personal matters to attend to.”
“Is it really okay for a Pope to be like that?”
Karia furrowed her brows as she listened, prompting Johan to chuckle.
“Normally, it shouldn’t be, but there’s no one in the current church who can stop him. If he wants to do something, he can do anything.”
“…I don’t think even the Tercha Empire has that much absolute power.”
“Haha. Well, getting back to the point. Since I can’t tell where he sent the letter from, it’s impossible to speculate where he might be now. He could be nearby already.”
Johan shrugged, but he likely knew. If the Pope had arrived, anyone with skill would’ve sensed his presence.
“Which means we need to get off this island as soon as possible, Young Lady.”
Even so, his exaggerated warnings aimed to alert me to danger.
He acknowledged the Pope’s usefulness but was convinced the church must take him down for the right path. He believed I wasn’t ready to meet the Pope yet.
“It’s not the right time yet.”
Just like me. Hearing his warning, I stared blankly into space.
More accurately, I looked at the quest window I had suspended in mid-air.
[Find the treasure of the archipelago!]
To be honest, I didn’t want to leave this island just yet.
At the very least, I wanted to memorize everything the pathetic god had laid out for me.
If I could investigate Lucy’s past, I believed I’d understand the anger that filled her when she endured her parents’ insults. I would finally comprehend why I felt giddy every time I saw Benedict. Most importantly, I’d find out why the pathetic god made such a nuisance of himself on this archipelago.
If I were alone, I’d inwardly accept the risk.
I might have even celebrated this as a speed run. If I were watching from a monitor, I would’ve cheered for a new event.
But I wasn’t alone, and there were more people than just me who would get tangled up if I got involved with the Pope.
Staring at the quest window, I decided to spend the rewards I had been saving.
Originally, I hadn’t planned to use them unless it was a real life-or-death situation, but still.
– Ding.
The cheerful notification sound broke my thoughts.
[Quest Suspended!]
[Try again later!]
As I checked the message inside the blue box several times, I couldn’t hold back a laugh.
So they want me to come back and complete the quest whenever? Their arrangements won’t disappear, and it’s fine to step back for a bit?
No matter what you actually want, showing me Lucy’s past must be vastly important.
While Johan and Karia gave me puzzled looks, I couldn’t stop giggling for a while, and I wiped the tears from my eyes before standing up.
“Well, this works out perfectly. I’ve been tired of this shabby little place for a long time.”
For now, I planned to step back, but it wouldn’t take too long to return.
The second-year students of the academy were entitled to tackle external dungeons, including a few they were required to complete.
“Fortunately, I’ll be able to leave before the nasty stench here spreads.”
When I return here, I will surely explore all of Lucy’s past. I will unravel what waits at the end.
“…That’s so unfair! I was sure I’d win the bet if I had just a little more time!”
“This time the idiot is right! Lucy Alrn! Are you fleeing because you think you’ll lose?”
“Prince?! Why are you suddenly attacking me too?!”
“Shut up! Is this really the time to care about such things?!”
When I mentioned I was going back to the kingdom, Joy and Arthur glared at me. They must think that just a bit more time would reveal a way for them to win the bet, so why should we be leaving?
From their perspective, I probably looked like I was fleeing because I thought I would lose the bet.
“Absolutely not. We’ve been done wrong too.”
But why was Frey acting like this? While the other two were wearing rabbit ears, whiskers, and now tails, Frey hadn’t had anything done to her.
When I glared at her in silence, Frey gradually closed her mouth. It seemed she had gotten carried away and said something silly.
“Anyway, I can’t go back! If I’m returning, I’ll be going alone!”
“Me too! I’ll hire another adventurer to conquer the dungeon right here!”
“Why just one?”
“Huh? Well, Lady Kent is joining us, right?”
“Why would I? I’m going back with Lucy.”
“What?!”
“Frey Kent! How could you betray us?!”
While I watched the three squabble, I couldn’t help but snicker and snapped my fingers. The knights of Alrn, who had been guarding us, circled around—two of them restricting Frey, who had been cooperative.
“Young Lady?”
“Lucy Alrn. What on earth are you doing?”
“Two idiotic fools. Do I look like someone who’ll pay attention to such foolish rhetoric?”
In any other situation, I would have considered their opinions, but not now. If the Pope landed with Lasha on this archipelago, who knows what would happen? And I wouldn’t leave the two people I’d come to cherish in that perilous place.
“How dare you! I am Arthur Soladin, the third prince of the Soladin Kingdom! Do you dare let the knights of the marquis lay hands on me?”
Sensing what I was trying to do, Arthur threw out his authority, but that was hardly a good idea. The order of Alrn would be loyal to the kingdom, but before that, they were people of Alrn.
“Prince. Give it up? You know how monstrous these folks are.”
“Joy! It’s your fault that you can’t fix that stupidity! You should be more desperate right now!”
“And you aren’t doing anything either, Prince!”
As I watched the prince and the young lady of the duke, discarding their statuses and turning bickering into childhood friends squabbling, I felt the gaze of Karl, who seemed to be asking what to do, and shrugged.
“It’s surprising how much the pitiful prince loves training. I see! I’ll pay extra special attention to it!”
“…What nonsense are you talking about, Lucy Alrn?”
“I’ll let you play among the dumb Alrn folk until the pathetic academy opens, just as you wished, Prince.”
Arthur’s expression hardened at my words. It seemed he found the training from the Alrn knights particularly enjoyable. Since he looked happy, I couldn’t help but be pleased too.
“Prince. Didn’t I say not to resist? You’re making a ruckus for no reason.”
“Idiot. Of course, you’re coming with me.”
“…Huh? What? No! I have things to do with the Partran family!”
“You’re truly stupid in everything except magic, huh? Did you forget what I said in my cute voice? I got permission from the fool duke to do it!”
“Wha—!”
Seeing Joy beside Arthur drowning in the same despair made me forget to maintain a straight face and I laughed genuinely. I couldn’t help it; it was just too funny.
*
Two days after Lucy’s party boarded the Artea family’s flagship, Lasha emerged from the water, spitting saltwater that had somehow found its way into her mouth.
Damn. I can’t believe not a single sailor took me aboard. Sure, I often cause ruckus, but it wasn’t like the commotion I caused on the archipelago would harm them.
“It’s been a while, Lasha.”
While grumbling and squeezing out water from her clothes, the old man’s voice floated into her ear. Lasha didn’t even turn her head, answering the childish voice of her enemy.
“Old man, what do you want?”
“I came to give you a warning about what you’ve done.”
“Seriously? Even if I hadn’t, you would’ve done it anyway.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
With the old man’s disingenuous tone, Lasha sighed. Why so serious when speaking at official functions, yet like this when we meet privately?
“So what is it?”
“I’d like you to help with some dungeon conquests.”
“Not happening. I feel like my lifespan reduces in real-time when you’re around.”
“It seems there’s a misunderstanding. You don’t have a choice.”
“…Damn. Seriously?”
With a burst of anger that seeped into her hands, Lasha’s carefully handled clothes ripped in half.
Dumbfounded, she threw the now tattered garment at the old man, who avoided it effortlessly.
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