Chapter: 638
In the midst of confusion, I tried to get up urgently but couldn’t withstand the rising dizziness and staggered. The Pope naturally reached out and caught me.
“Don’t move so hastily, Apostle of God. You almost died just a moment ago.”
“Disgusting… stalker guy… you know without me saying, right?♡”
“To make an excuse, I am not a stalker. I merely came because the time was right.”
As the Pope tried to snatch the fragment, I desperately blocked him, but the recoil from just moments ago was too great.
“Holy Lady. Please support the Apostle.”
Wrapped in Phoebe’s soft embrace, I looked around.
My friends were staring at the Pope with hostility-filled eyes, but they couldn’t move.
With a monster named Lasha being overwhelming, there was no way to deal with the strong ones directly under the Pope, either.
Frey seemed ready to jump in at any moment, but Arthur looked like he was desperately holding her back.
Right. Good job. If that idiot is left to move freely, things would get chaotic.
“Using Cardinal Johan to create a justification and deal with the confusion was good, but you should have known that everything happening in the Church would reach my ears. And with the authority I hold, one Cardinal Johan cannot stop me.”
“Damn…♡”
“And one more thing. I’m not particularly interested in my reputation. Once this is over, I won’t care about the Pope’s position or anything.”
Joy bubbled up in the Pope’s tone.
It’s hard to tell whether he was trying to hide his emotions or if it was a deliberate provocation with laughter, but one thing is certain: that smile is genuine.
The Evil God’s fragment is an incredibly important item for his plans.
“Now, it’s the last. While this may sound a bit blasphemous, I saved your life just moments ago, so please listen calmly. Apostle of God, will you come with me?”
This question was completely unexpected.
Have I lost my mind?
Is the position of the Apostle of God that important?
Could this guy also be a pervert like the Shoddy God?
A multitude of questions whirled through my head.
“I swear to Lord Jushin that I won’t give you even the slightest injury. Of course, I won’t mentally attack you, either. I only wish for you and your master to witness the end of my work.”
Hahaha. So that’s it. It’s all about self-sacrifice and wanting to be acknowledged by the being he believes in.
I organized my thoughts while looking at the Pope’s eye-smile.
Having sworn to the Shoddy God, the Pope truly wouldn’t attack me.
If there’s anyone who tries to harm me, not only would he cut off their head, but he would also try to capture their soul for eternal pain.
Because he had done that to those who harmed Phoebe in the game, after all.
Excluding my safety, this proposal isn’t too bad.
The method is somewhat close to a threat, which isn’t pleasant, but the very fact that I could witness the Pope’s plans is attractive. It means I can cause a ruckus whenever I want.
[Dangerous, isn’t it?]
‘Surprisingly safe. If I follow the Pope, there’s no way I could die by any means.’
Furthermore, even if I did create chaos, the Pope wouldn’t be angry.
As long as I don’t cross the line, he would only be sad, but it would stop there.
I don’t know if I can refrain from crossing the line, though.
‘More importantly, if I go along, I’ll know the location of the plans.’
[Don’t you even know that? ]
‘I have no way to know. It’s completely random.’
“Your Highness, Lucy Allen is from our kingdom.”
Just as I was about to nod, Arthur stepped forward.
“It would be troublesome if you intend to kidnap her.”
“Kidnap? Third Prince of Soladin, this is an elevation.”
“Even if the words change, the actions seem the same.”
“Lucy is the only young lady of Count Allen, a hero of the kingdom. Your Highness, at the very least, if this is difficult, I think we should seek permission from the Count.”
Joy stepped in front of me, following Arthur.
She wanted to scream at any moment but was holding back, trying to persuade the Pope.
However, I knew the Pope, who seemed to be listening to their words, was not focused at all.
“Both of you. I can declare a crusade against Soladin right now. Reviving the Evil God is an act of rebellion against Lord Jushin.”
“That was the act of a few individuals on their own.”
“The problem is that it was King of Soladin’s doing.”
The Pope’s words silenced Arthur as he patted his shoulder.
“If I declare a crusade, other leaders of nations would willingly fight for their beliefs. Do you understand? I am trying to do something I shouldn’t, out of admiration for the sacrifice shown by the Apostle.”
What the Pope is saying isn’t just a simple war. With a single word from him, Soladin would become a nation of demons attempting to revive the Evil God Agra.
Even if Phoebe sided with us, it wouldn’t change much. Even if a few Cardinals raised their voices for Phoebe’s side.
How could nobility feel that dignity is attractive in a leader?
“Stop talking nonsense! You people who didn’t even acknowledge Lucy’s existence!”
As the Pope nodded and was about to pass the two, Joy shouted and stood in front of the Pope.
“Lucy was afraid of the Highness! But now what!? You’re trying to sneakily take Lucy away from us!?”
“Holy Lady Partlan, I apologize for that. However, it’s fine now. I will correct it personally.”
“Your Highness! No, I don’t even want to call you that! You! I don’t trust you!”
While her neck was strained with veins, Joy’s hands hidden behind were shaking.
She was frightened by this situation. She understood she was in danger. Nonetheless, she didn’t step back.
“You speak as if you knew everything! But what have you done until now!? While Lucy! This little girl! Was risking her life fighting against the Evil God! What were you doing!?”
“Lady Partlan.”
“Nothing! You did nothing! And when Lucy was suffering because of the curse placed upon her, what did you do!? No! You didn’t even know Lucy existed at that time!”
Hearing Joy yell, Arthur shook his head and gripped the king’s sword. Frey seemed to ready her white sword with her aura like it was waiting for this moment.
“You said earlier!? That you know everything going on in the Church! Then every nightmare happening in the church is due to your negligence! Disgusting! There’s no trash like you in the social circle called the Cave!”
“Your words are excessive.”
The Pope’s personal holy knights, who had been silent until now, finally spoke, but Joy’s spirit did not wane.
“Excessive!? While you guys were holed up in the Holy Land twiddling your thumbs, Lucy risked her life countless times to save the world! And yet all you gave Lucy in the Holy Land was ridicule! Is that still excessive!? I, I think it’s excessive that you, trash, are trying to act tough here!”
With her noble disposition thrown aside, the foul language left everyone speechless, and Lasha behind took a breath of laughter.
“Just like Erginius’s disciple! This much is necessary to be a hero!”
With a quick turn of his head, the Pope silenced Lasha with a single glare and smiled at Phoebe.
“Holy Lady, could you please calm your friend down?”
“Phoebe!”
Phoebe, glancing between Joy and the Pope, hesitated for a moment but asked Joy to wait a little and walked over.
“Please! You know! Phoebe!”
“Thank you, Holy Lady.”
“No need to be grateful. Your Highness.”
She turned her head towards the Pope.
“What… does that mean?”
“It means, in very vulgar terms, eat shit!”
With her voice trembling, Phoebe unleashed a stream of vulgarity and glared at the Pope, who was at a loss for words.
“I know my past. I also know that Your Highness allowed that wrongdoing. Yet, I did not speak out. However, this time, that cannot happen.”
“Holy Lady. The great Apostle of God. If we do not elevate him, where else could we?”
“There’s no need for elevation. What right do we have to acknowledge the one chosen by the Lord Jushin? It’s truly blasphemous. I am disappointed. Your Highness.”
Both the Pope and Phoebe laughed, but their eyes suggested otherwise. They both kept their eyes wide open not to be pushed out.
Just as the argument was about to start up again, Lasha intervened between them.
“Geez. You’re so annoying. Just keep yammering on and on. Will a conclusion come out of that?”
“The discussion isn’t finished yet.”
“It’s over. Old man. It’s a simple story. Over there, they won’t hand over their friend, no matter what, and we are trying to take that cocky brat with us.”
“So, we’re negotiating.”
“You can’t do that. You’re crazy, right? Only a crazy person would be swayed by the words of another crazy person. And sadly, the other side looks sane.”
As Lasha stepped forward, the Pope’s momentarily frozen expression cracked open.
“So, what are you suggesting?”
“It’s simple too. That little brat is cocky but kind, right? When her friends are half dead, she’ll voluntarily follow along.”
Shouldering the burden of her words, Lasha suddenly swung her fist. That’s dangerous. If that attack hits!
“Wow. You’re strong, huh?”
Frey’s sword deflected Lasha’s punch. It seems she didn’t think her attack would be intercepted, as Lasha’s eyes widened.
“Even if you took it easy, you actually blocked it.”
“What an excuse?”
“Wahaha! Ah! This feels satisfying! For the first time, following that old man, I feel fulfilled!”
As Lasha pumped herself up, the holy knights of the church also raised their weapons.
Damn it. Now I can’t just harmlessly go along.
‘They’re really annoying, you know.’
[And good people too.]
I staggered slightly as I raised my shield. It felt better after getting some rest. I should be able to handle the so-called “righteous knight” types who think they’re holy.
[Because of what Agra did earlier, the balance has completely collapsed. If I stall for time, Erginius will come.]
‘Why is he always one beat behind? Was losing his girlfriend not enough?!’
[Tell him that yourself. He’ll love it.]
With a light chuckle, as I stepped forward, divine power poured into my body.
Not Phoebe’s, nor the Pope’s, but a warm divinity.
Phew! Hahaha!
What? Did they think I was just insulting that loser magician?
“Hey, you trash♡”
For now, I’ll say thank you this time.
“Are you ready to be the enemy of the Shoddy God?♡”
Armadi.
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