Chapter: 381
The moment I heard the word “Pope,” my already dizzy mind felt even more tangled up.
Eventually, I would have to face that opponent. As long as I’m friends with Phoebe and an Apostle of God, I need to stop whatever the Pope is planning.
But it’s still too soon. What I have right now is far too insufficient to confront the Pope.
“Why is that crazy old man coming here?”
“Bishop Johan says it’s to give Lasha a direct warning about the recent incident.”
That was nonsense. The Pope had already formed some kind of contract with Lasha. They had long agreed not to interfere with each other, so what warning?
Above all, the Pope is not the kind of man who would feel anger at the death of church members.
He might pretend to be angry due to the gaze around him, but deep down, he would be as cold as ice. Why would such a man retract a contract he personally initiated?
Lasha is just an excuse. There must be another reason for him to come here.
“Auntie.”
“I’m currently in disguise.”
“You’re already blocking sound and still being hysterical. That’s why everyone avoids you.”
“Why is that relevant right now?”
“Forget it. Has there ever been any shoddy God energy leaking out while I was strategizing in that shabby dungeon?”
“Uh, didn’t you know? It’s been leaking out little by little ever since you went inside.”
…Damn. Shoddy God. Why does he keep showing off his presence unnecessarily? That’s why moths are drawn to your light.
I bit my lip tightly and subtly shifted my gaze to my friends. Just moments ago, they had been pointing fingers at each other’s mistakes, but now they were cooperating to devise a strategy for the next dungeon.
The timing was not good. If only I could solve everything on this island in just a few more days.
Not even days. If I kept moving tightly, I could finish everything I wanted and retreat in just two more days.
But I wasn’t sure what results that stubbornness would bring.
“Auntie. What about that crazy bishop?”
“He’s waiting at the lodging.”
*
Bishop Johan, waiting at the lodging, had not only thrown off his clerical robes but had also disguised himself, albeit simply.
He hadn’t changed completely like Karia or Alsatine, but that was fine.
No one would expect a meticulous man like Johan to disguise himself to hide his identity.
“I also don’t know exactly where His Holiness the Pope is right now.”
Johan fidgeted with his uncomfortable beard as he answered my question.
“He left the moment the Saintess returned. Personally, he has several things to attend to.”
“Is a guy like the Pope allowed to do that?”
As Karia, who had been listening from the side, furrowed her brows, Johan chuckled.
“Normally, he shouldn’t, but there’s no one in the current Jushin Church who can stop him. If he wants to do something, he can do anything.”
“…I doubt even the Tercha Empire has that kind of absolute power.”
“Haha. Well, getting back to the main point, since I don’t know where the letter was sent from, it’s impossible to guess where he might be at the moment. He could already be nearby.”
Johan shrugged as he spoke, but he must have known himself.
The Pope hadn’t arrived here yet. Any cleric with a certain level of skill would definitely catch his presence.
“So we must leave this island as soon as possible, Young Lady.”
Even so, the reason for such exaggerated remarks was to warn me of the danger.
While recognizing the Pope’s usefulness, the clerics were convinced that to guide the church on the right path, they absolutely had to topple him, thinking that I was not yet ready to meet the Pope.
“It’s not the time yet.”
Just like me. After hearing his warning, I stared blankly into the void.
To be precise, I was looking at the quest window floating in the void.
[Find the treasure of the archipelago!]
Honestly, I didn’t want to leave this island yet.
At the very least, I wanted to engrave everything the shoddy God has arranged in my eyes.
If I could explore Lucy’s past, I might understand the anger that swelled up when I heard words of insult directed at her parents. I might also understand the feelings that tickled my heart every time I saw Benedict. Above all, I wanted to know why the shoddy God was making trouble in the archipelago.
If I were here alone, I would willingly risk it.
I might even have enjoyed it, calling it a speedrun. If it were through a monitor, I would have cheered at a new event.
But I’m not alone, and it’s not just me who would be in trouble if I got involved with the Pope.
While I contemplated the quest window, I decided to use the rewards I had been saving.
Originally, I hadn’t planned to use them unless I was truly on the brink of death, but still…
– Ding!
The moment I heard the cheerful notification sound, my thoughts were interrupted.
[Quest on hold!]
[Try again later!]
As I checked the message displayed in the blue window over and over, I couldn’t help but let out a laugh.
So you’re telling me to come back anytime and complete the quest? Your arrangements won’t disappear, so it’s okay to step back for a moment?
I don’t know exactly what you’re hoping for, but it’s very important for you to show me Lucy’s past.
While receiving confused glances from Johan and Karia, I chuckled for quite a while, wiping the tears that had formed in my eyes before getting up.
“Well, this is good timing. I’ve been sick of this old, broken village for a while.”
For now, I would retreat, but it wouldn’t take long to come back.
The second-year students at the academy have the right to tackle outside dungeons, and they must achieve results in several dungeons.
“Fortunately, I’ll be able to come back before this terrible stench spreads.”
When I return here, I will absolutely explore all of Lucy’s past. I will find out what awaits at the end of it.
“…That’s so unfair! I felt like I was going to win the bet soon!”
“This time, the fool is right! Lucy Allen! Are you running away because you think you’ll lose?”
“Your Highness?! Why are you suddenly attacking me too?!”
“Shut up! Is this really a time to be worried about that?!”
After saying I would return to the kingdom, Joy and Arthur gave me serious looks. They probably thought they were about to see a plan to win the bet in just a little longer, so why should I go back now?
From their perspective, it might look like I was running away because I felt I would lose the bet.
“I oppose that! We’ve only been treated as victims here.”
But why is Frey acting like this? Those two are wearing rabbit ears, mustaches, and now even tails, so it’s only natural to be angry, but Frey hasn’t been subjected to anything.
When I glared at her without saying anything, Frey quietly closed her mouth. It seems she was just babbling to go along with the atmosphere.
“Anyway, I won’t go back! If I’m going back, I’ll go alone!”
“Me too! I’ll even hire another adventurer and tackle the dungeons here!”
“Why would you do that?”
“Huh? Because Young Lady Kent is joining us too, right?”
“Why me? I’m going back with Lucy.”
“Huh?!”
“Frey Kent! How could you betray us?!”
As I watched the three bicker, I chuckled and snapped my fingers. Instantly, the knights of Allen surrounding us, precisely the two restricting my cooperating Frey, surrounded her.
“You don’t get it, Young Lady?”
“Lucy Allen. What are you doing?”
“Stupid shoddy idiots. Do I look like someone who will listen to the foolish nonsense of another?”
In a normal situation, I would consider their opinions, but not now. If Lasha falls into the archipelago with the Pope, who knows what will happen? Moreover, I had no intention of leaving the two precious companions I had come to cherish in such a dangerous place.
“Impertinent! I am Arthur Soladin, the Third Prince of the Soladin Kingdom! How dare the viscount’s knights lay a hand on me!”
Realizing what I was trying to do, Arthur brought up his authority, but that wasn’t a good idea. The Allen knights were surely loyal to the kingdom, but they were first and foremost Allen’s people.
“Your Highness, just give up. You know how monstrous they are, right?”
“Joy! That’s why you can’t fix that foolishness! You should be more desperate at a time like this!”
“You can’t do anything either, Your Highness!”
As I watched the two of them bickering like childhood friends stripped of their royal titles, I received a look from Karl asking what I should do and shrugged my shoulders.
“I didn’t know the pitiful prince liked training so much. Got it. I’ll be sure to keep a special eye on you.”
“…What nonsense are you spouting, Lucy Allen?”
“I’ll let you play with the shoddy idiots until the academy opens. Just as you wished, pitiful prince.”
Arthur’s face hardened at my words. It seemed he had truly enjoyed the training he received from the Allen knights. Seeing him happy made me happy too.
“Your Highness, I told you not to resist. You’re causing a mess for no reason.”
“You fool. Of course, you’re coming with us too.”
“…Huh? What does that mean? No! I have things to do in the Partlan family!”
“You really are clueless in areas other than magic, huh? Don’t you remember my cute little voice saying I got permission from the incompetent duke?”
“Don’t remind me!”
Seeing Joy next to Arthur, trapped in the same despair, I forgot to compose my expression and couldn’t help but let out a genuine laugh. I couldn’t help it; I had to.
*
Two days after Lucy’s party boarded the Arteia family’s ship and left. Lasha, having emerged from the water, spat out the saltwater that had entered her mouth.
Damn. I really didn’t expect even one sailor wouldn’t take me aboard. It’s true that I cause a lot of trouble, but even doing that in the archipelago shouldn’t affect those guys.
“It’s been a while. Lasha.”
As she was grumbling and trying to wring out the water from her clothes, an old man’s voice suddenly tickled her ear. Without even turning her head, Lasha replied with a childlike voice filled with hostility.
“Old coot whose time is running out, what do you want?”
“I’ve come to give you a warning about what you did.”
“Yeah, right. Even if I hadn’t, you would’ve done it.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Lasha sighed at the old man’s nonchalant tone. He always acted solemnly when speaking in official settings, but why was he like this when we met alone?
“So what is it?”
“I’d like you to help me tackle some dungeons.”
“No way. Being next to you feels like my lifespan is waning in real time.”
“You seem to misunderstand. You have no choice.”
“…Fuck. Seriously.”
BAM! Was it Lasha’s rage that caused her hands to tear the clothes she was trying to handle carefully?
Staring at him blankly, Lasha threw the now-ragged clothes at the old man. He dodged it, as if it were only natural.
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