Chapter: 672
2 AM.
In the northwest city of Burge.
A dungeon appeared on the outskirts of the territory.
It was a quicker movement than the Apostle of God had foreseen, but since they were already prepared, they swiftly began to respond.
Then at 3 AM.
In the east, Kotor.
A dungeon appeared along the coastline.
People were surprised by the timing, which was not in line with the Apostle’s prophecy, but those who were already guarding the area stepped in to stabilize the situation.
And at 3:30 AM.
A dungeon erupted at the ruins of Trier.
Those who had not managed to evacuate suffered damages.
The chaos caused by the collapsing ruins continued for a while but finally calmed down.
Moreover, the sudden chaos that erupted in the night kept people bewildered until the sun rose.
It began with the embarrassment of the Apostle of God, who had never been wrong until now, making a mistake, along with the various damages arising from the lack of preparation for the dungeon strategy, the differences in opinions between the locals and the command center, and the sudden emergence of evil beings.
That night brought a sense of fear about the Age of Myth approaching.
People were starting to think that it wouldn’t be long before the Evil God resurrected, and the Information Department led by Karia, which connected various regions, also sensed that some variables had emerged.
No one could have imagined.
All that chaos was just a pointless hassle, and the actual goal of the one who created that chaos was to quietly infiltrate a certain city.
The Pope, who entered Allen’s territory, leisurely surveyed the city.
Despite the chaotic situation on the continent, there was a tranquility dwelling in Allen’s territory.
People enjoyed their daily lives without any particular worries, soldiers patrolling the streets focused more on maintaining peace than on being vigilant, and even when a merchant conveyed the chaotic situation outside, residents only gasped in admiration without seriously worrying about the future.
This was proof of the deep trust they had in their Lord.
In this regard, it wouldn’t be wrong to say it was a city where the Apostle of God was born.
“However, I don’t like how ordinary other aspects are. This is the place where the Apostle was born, what is this?”
“…Old man. What on earth do you want?”
“At least there should be statues honoring him all over the city. Moreover, there should be signs in every place he wandered, and murals on the walls…”
“This isn’t something someone who came here to turn this city into a mess should be saying.”
“Is that so?”
Despite Lasha’s words, the Pope still couldn’t shake off his dissatisfaction.
This city showed absolutely no respect for those who protected them.
They, who were partly responsible for the Apostle’s unfortunate past, bore not a shred of repentance.
“Should I create an even bigger disturbance than planned?”
“Other people aside, if Benedict and those knights come running, I won’t be able to handle it alone.”
“That part will be fine. That man is too mentally weak to be the father of the Apostle of God.”
“I don’t like that method. I want to face him properly.”
Though the two raised their voices openly, no one around seemed to notice them.
Because Agra’s authority had erased their presence altogether, people didn’t even realize they were there.
With no distractions, the Pope and Lasha arrived at a graveyard situated on the outskirts of Allen’s territory.
“Are you really going to do it?”
“Yes. That’s why I came.”
“It doesn’t seem to be something a believer of the Lord should do.”
“It’s a necessary trial. The Apostle needs a little more backstory. A tale that everyone would sympathize with.”
While he couldn’t deny that personal desires were somewhat included, it was also something that must be done.
For my purpose to be realized and the one and only world of God to arrive, that Apostle also needed to be endowed with such authority.
Ah, really. I don’t want to do this, but I have no choice.
With the corners of his mouth lifted, the Pope stepped into the graveyard, moving inward as if entranced.
Even when Lasha pointed out that something was strange, it was of no use.
The Pope, who recklessly went further in, finally stopped in front of Allen’s mausoleum.
“Ha.”
A smile crept onto his lips.
“Hahaha.”
An intense emotion flowed through him, enough to disrupt the power he wielded.
“Hahahahaha!”
The laughter that spilled out pierced through the entire graveyard.
“Old man! Are you crazy?!”
“A! But how could I not laugh at this sight!”
“What nonsense.”
“That’s enough. To those of you lurking around and aiming for my neck? You can come out now. There’s no reason to stay here anymore.”
With a chuckle, the Pope looked around, and one by one, the knights revealed themselves.
And at the center of them stood Benedict Allen, a monster wielding a greatsword only the strongest knight in the continent could lift.
“What are you doing here?”
“It seems you’re not really asking since you don’t know, but I’m in a good mood today, so I’ll answer. I was going to raise your wife. I was curious to see what expression the Apostle would make.”
Before his words ended, Benedict leaped towards him, but Lasha intervened.
Her trembling arm with bulging veins proved that Benedict’s sword was overwhelming, yet joy spread across Lasha’s face.
“But I had no idea about one thing. I never expected there would be nothing here.”
This was truly a wild goose chase from the start.
Almost all the trouble caused without any returns was now almost for nothing.
But now, there was something worth it.
“I’ve seen something interesting here.”
“Benedict Allen. How much do you know?”
Benedict didn’t respond and swung his sword again.
“Hey. Look at me. Me.”
That sword was also blocked by Lasha.
“The Apostle probably didn’t convey anything regardless of knowing or not. You’re too weak.”
Other knights rushed in following their lord, but even as they ran and ran, the distance didn’t close in.
An endless race could only continue eternally.
“Good. That’s great. I’m so glad to know it didn’t matter that I did nothing. Oh, but I also regret not trusting the Apostle of God. Someone like me shouldn’t have intervened; he is already perfect on his own.”
The cost of doubt was never light. He had wasted quite a bit of the Evil God’s powers by raising unnecessary commotion, and he felt he would spend strength unnecessarily here too.
The darkness suddenly draping over the world freed the knights from their restraints.
In other locations, swords that could have endlessly multiplied the graves flew toward the Pope.
And somewhere else, a gray fox.
From the earth, the roots of trees.
Above, the canines of wolves.
From afar, arrows aiming for his head.
After confirming all of that, the Pope let out a resigned laugh and seemingly died only to rise again.
“Okay, everyone. It seems you’ve been mulling over various ways to kill me, but it’ll probably be meaningless. I can’t die.”
Ending the concept of being mortal doesn’t simply mean achieving immortality. It’s a conceptual issue.
“Whatever you all might think, that would be how the past me or some archmage attempted to do it.”
The Pope felt that painfully in the past. If he hadn’t attained salvation, he would probably still be wandering like that.
“I will entertain you to make him aware of it. So please, enjoy yourselves.”
Bowing politely to those coming to kill him, the Pope engraved the mausoleum of Allen in his vision.
The stigmata engraved there.
*
The chaos that began suddenly stirred the continent, but the situation was resolved easily.
Whether it was due to the urgency in creating the dungeon, it was sloppier than what I knew.
I felt like changing the game’s difficulty to ‘baby mode’ would produce such results.
Thanks to that, it took less than half a day to resolve all issues.
That was all good, but…
Maybe it was because I resolved the situation so quickly, but my reputation increased even more.
To put it simply, the situation worsened.
“…So annoyingly persistent. That piss-poor looking old man.”
“I wonder if it’s appropriate to speak like that about the king of a country?”
“Calling a trash who clings to a girl like that is totally fine.”
After brushing off the king of some small nation who suggested having tea, I stretched and looked up at the sky.
Why did the Pope engage in such inefficient acts?
It was too exhausting just to confuse me.
Those disasters could have been used in much more threatening ways.
If he had pulled this right before they were completed, the damage would have been much greater.
…And there would have been many more sacrifices.
While mulling over those thoughts, I bit my lip and realized soon what the Pope’s true objective was.
About how obsessed he was with my existence.
“It looks like he ultimately missed out. He must have used all his prepared tricks but still didn’t die.”
Listening to Karia’s words, I let out a sigh of relief while also deciding to make that bastard pay.
No kidding.
Which crazy bastard tries to dig up someone else’s parent’s grave!?
In any culture, a child who does such a thing is called a son of a dog!
Is it even possible for someone who claims to believe in the Lord to do such a thing openly!?
“Still, since the expenditure was big, he shouldn’t be able to create variables for a while. So let’s do what we can in the meantime. There isn’t much left, right?”
The resurrection of the Evil God.
Seeing Karia’s smile, I returned her smile.
“Ha. I know even without you chattering on, auntie.”
“I’m glad you don’t seem down.”
“In the end, that perverted bastard did nothing and just ran away. It’s a fitting ending for a sloppy guy, so I can’t help but laugh.”
Ultimately, there were no problems at all. It was frustrating, but just to that extent?
“Haha. So like the Employer, I suppose.”
“…What do you mean, auntie?”
“I mean it literally.”
“Have I been treating you too well lately? Hm?”
“Oh, more than that, Employer. You should pay attention to the Saintess.”
“What’s that about?”
“Desperate people tend to trip easily.”
I felt a strange unease at Karia’s words that while important matters would be cut off properly, she couldn’t soothe a person’s heart.
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