Chapter: 640
The people surrounding the Pope furrowed their brows at his greeting.
They thought the Pope was joking even in such a situation. Erginius, too, would have thought the same if not for one thing.
He didn’t know the true nature of the power the Pope used to create his head again.
“How could this be? How can the Apostle of Evil God handle the Divine Grace of God?”
“Because the Lord Jushin is a merciful being.”
Only after facing Erginius’s shock did the people realize that the Pope’s words were not lies, and they gasped in astonishment.
However, strangely enough, the Holy Knights, who should have felt betrayed by his statement, and Rasha, who was with him, were not the least bit flustered.
“…Did you know?”
Phoebe, who was acquainted with the Holy Knights, asked timidly, and they nodded.
“No matter what happened in the past, the fact that His Majesty believes in Jushin hasn’t changed.”
Despite their serious tones, it was hard to believe they were sincere.
The idea that they stood beside the Apostle of Evil God because his intentions were noble felt less convincing than the argument that they had been brainwashed by him.
In truth, most people shot furious glances at the Pope. Despite the sharp stares from others, he remained relaxed, but when he met Lucy’s eyes, he lowered his gaze.
“I see you already know about me.”
“That you’re a disgusting piece of trash?♡”
“Ha. Hahaha! How can you be so noble! I could never dream of imitating someone who relies on the grace of the Lord like that!”
After laughing like a madman for a while, the Pope finally looked at Lucy with an expression so calm it almost seemed dead.
“You could probably kill me.”
The first to sense the sudden shift in atmosphere was Benedict.
Reacting to the madman’s gaze on his own daughter, he tightened his grip without hesitation.
Following his lead, other strong individuals also drew their weapons to eliminate the enemy.
However, the weapons that should have swung toward the enemy could not touch their target and fell to the ground.
Time had stopped for all the gathered champions trying to protect the Pope.
Except for two people: Lucy and Erginius.
“Is this Agra’s power?”
“It’s temporarily ended their time. As someone who has become the God of Darkness, you should understand. Power is extremely ambiguous.”
The Pope reached Lucy, waving his hand and knelt down, politely extending his hand.
“Please, join me. I need you.”
In response to that question, Erginius answered roughly instead of Lucy.
“Do you want to send me off!?”
“Of course, you could stop me if you wanted. But would it be okay? You would have to part ways again.”
As the Pope asked, looking at the motionless Fairy Queen, Erginius’s eyes turned bloodshot.
“Do you think I’d submit to your nonsense?”
“Oh, Great Wizard! I am Agra’s Apostle. I just acquired power by taking that fragment a moment ago. It wouldn’t be difficult to lead the Fairy Queen into darkness.”
“Then I guess it’s easy enough for me to tear you apart…”
“Stop acting like a loser!♡ Do you think the Chicken coop Queen likes men like you?♡”
Suddenly turning his head, Erginius tried to shout something but bit his lip when he met Lucy’s gaze.
“…I’m sorry.”
Hearing the weighted apology, Lucy lightly chuckled and slammed the Pope’s head against the floor.
As the armored Pope’s back of the head hit the ground, the Holy Knights screamed and rushed forward, but the Pope raised his hand to stop them.
“Stay still.”
“But Your Majesty!”
“It’s an order. Stay still.”
“Sure♡ Can’t you see the disgusting trash is enjoying this?♡ It’s only a matter of time before he starts squirming like he’s about to shit himself!♡ Don’t interrupt just because you’re jealous!♡ If you want to be trampled, line up!♡ You perverts!♡”
Most of the Holy Knights furrowed their brows at Lucy’s fierce smile, but they did not rush in. The Pope’s command was absolute for them.
“Apostle of God, I will tell you everything. So please accompany me. It won’t take long.”
“Okay♡”
“I shall tell you whatever you desire… Hm?”
“I’ll follow you♡ You disgusting old man♡ But promise me♡ Until I leave, you will all be my slaves♡ I want to treat you like the trash you are!♡ Aren’t you happy?♡”
“If it is a punishment from the Apostle, I will gladly accept.”
Lucy kicked the Pope’s face and stood before Rasha.
“Get down.”
“Kid, I think you’re mistaking something. I’m a colleague of that old man, not his subordinate.”
“Trash Grandpa♡ The slave isn’t listening!♡”
“Rasha.”
“Hey, old man. The reason I’m hanging around you is…”
“Rasha!”
“…Agh. Damn it.”
Cursing, Rasha dropped to the ground, and Lucy casually climbed on top of her.
“Just wait, kid. Later I’ll…”
Crack! A sharp sound echoed as Lucy slapped Rasha’s behind hard. She held Rasha’s hair and whispered in her ear.
“Don’t you dare say anything about it♡ What did you learn by this age?♡”
As Rasha struggled with shame, the Pope rose to his feet and pulled a scroll from his robes, tearing it apart.
Blue light bloomed around them, and the bodies of the Pope’s entourage faded away.
“Then I will see you again later, Lord Erginius.”
When the instant travel spell ended and Erginius was left alone, he threw his staff onto the ground.
*
After some time had passed, when the effects of the Evil God’s power wore off and everyone checked the surrounding scene, they all lowered their heads.
“It was inevitable.”
Breaking the long silence, Cardinal Johan spoke.
“Agra’s power stopped everything. It’s a miracle that no one died.”
“Our daughter sacrificed herself! A poor life saved by holding hands with the enemy! Does this look like a miracle in your eyes?”
Benedict shouted neurotically, spitting out words, only to chew on his lips at Johan’s troubled expression.
“I’m sorry, Cardinal Johan.”
“No, you have the right to say such things.”
“I don’t think so. I promised to protect my daughter. I swore. Yet, I couldn’t do anything. As a father, I did nothing.”
Benedict shook his head and lowered his face, while Phoebe approached him, gently comforting him.
“Lord Allen, everyone feels the same. We all cherished the Young Lady; she has only ever helped us and has now received help once more. It’s sad, yes, but also inevitable.”
“Saintess, there is no such thing as inevitability. I should have protected my daughter. I…!”
“Lord Allen.”
“Benedict Allen, your daughter made her choice herself.”
Benedict looked up at Erginius, who had been sitting in the corner.
“You’re saying my daughter chose it herself!? She had no choice but to! Otherwise, we would have been in danger!”
“Benedict.”
“What did you even do!? You hold the authority of God, yet you let this happen so easily!”
“Benedict Allen! You may strike me until your rage subsides! I will hear all your grievances! But first, just listen to me!”
As Benedict, who seemed about to explode, sagged to the ground, Erginius sighed deeply.
“There was not just one option. I could have freed you from the Evil God’s power, faced the enemy directly, or thought of pulling back entirely. Everything was possible because the balance was disturbed by the Pope’s actions.”
“Then why Lucy?”
“Lucy Allen knew this too. With Ruel by her side, she had to have known all the outcomes. Yet, instead of fighting, she chose to follow the enemy.”
Those who were carefully listening to Erginius realized something strange.
Lucy Allen was not someone who liked the word ‘give up.’
No matter how desperate the situation, she would readily reach out if there was a chance for hope. She was a hero who turned hope into reality.
The fact that she willingly followed the enemy instead of resisting surely implied that there was something she knew that they did not.
“Benedict Allen, is your daughter someone who could easily crumble?”
“…Impossible. Lucy is far better than this foolish father.”
“Then do your utmost and wait. The time will surely come.”
The despair-riddled individuals began to lift their bodies one by one. Lucy Allen did not sacrifice herself.
She had only moved forward to prepare for the future. If so, they could not crumble either.
As they clenched their fists with their respective resolve, light footsteps approached, revealing the First Queen.
As Benedict pointed his sword at her, the First Queen raised both hands.
“Lord Allen. I’ve come to talk.”
“Speak.”
“If Rene is indeed Rene, then it appears His Majesty has suffered defeat. She wouldn’t have died with Agra’s power, so she must be sealed somewhere. And from the remnants of energy remaining here, it seems the Pope has come and gone.”
“What do you want to say?”
“I propose a deal. I will tell you the Pope’s purpose along with everything I know and actively cooperate with you in the future. So please, return the Queen to us when it’s all over.”
The First Queen turned her head to Erginius as she faced the young gazes of the enemies one by one.
“You need not worry about me betraying you. I am Lord Erginius’s doll.”
*
In a quiet mansion whose location was unknown, Rasha knelt before Lucy.
“…Kid, I can tolerate you sitting on top of me. I can also accept you treating me the way I used to. But this, this is just wrong!”
“What’s wrong?♡ I’m a kid, so if you don’t explain clearly, I won’t understand♡”
Lucy teased, poking Rasha’s chin with her toes, making Rasha, who had clenched her fists, shout out, pointing at what Lucy was holding.
“I’m the Apostle of the Destruction God! I’m Rasha the Strong Person Hunter! Why should I wear a dog collar?”
“It suits a beast perfectly♡”
“This is a matter of pride!”
“Pfft!♡ Pride?♡ Did you ever have that as a pet who crawled around with its master on its back?♡”
“Kid, keep the limits.”
“Then explain♡ Why is this unacceptable?♡”
“That’s… that.”
“Aha~♡ You’re worried your hidden tastes might be exposed?♡”
“What nonsense!”
“Did someone riding you feel good?♡ Did you get a thrill from getting beaten like a horse?♡ Are you trying to find strong people to fight just because you want to be subjugated?♡”
“Shut up! Before I kill you!”
Despite Rasha standing up with murderous intent, Lucy simply mocked her, resting her chin on her hand.
“If that’s not it, then there shouldn’t be any problem♡ If you’re not a pervert enjoying being treated like a dog, then what’s the issue?♡ Right?♡”
Rasha, glaring at the collar swaying in front of her, swallowed her saliva and hesitated, grabbing it with trembling hands.
“Why are you hesitating?♡ Are you looking forward to what’s to come?♡”
“Can you just keep that mouth of yours shut for a moment!?”
“Why not?♡ Isn’t it fun to hear my cute voice?♡”
“Damn, seriously…”
As various struggles crossed Rasha’s eyes, Lucy silently thought to herself,
How she had done very, very, very well to follow the Pope.
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