“Well, you really are that kind of person.”
Cubica, having heard our Goddess’s perspective, laid down her hostility towards me.
She accepted my words as truth without doubting their intent.
“Do you believe what I’m saying?”
“Why wouldn’t I? It would be foolish not to.”
Cubica smiled faintly and sat down on the floor.
“Since you healed all of us Returnees without expecting anything in return, I thought that both Pope Eluke and the Goddess were reliable.”
To our Goddess, free healing is not seen as a ‘good deed,’ but rather as something that must be done.
I felt the same way, so I wasn’t particularly happy about being praised.
However, I did feel a bit proud, and it was somewhat embarrassing, so I tried to look away.
“Please don’t think you owe me for that.”
“How could I? I was in a state where it wouldn’t be strange to die, and I barely survived.”
“Just think of it as receiving a donation of sacred power.”
“Are you saying I should be someone who receives donations and doesn’t feel grateful at all?”
“… That’s a bit much.”
“Right?”
Cubica chuckled and propped her chin on her knees, looking at me.
Despite the demonic symbol inscribed in her pupils, she didn’t appear wicked at all, perhaps due to the slightly gloomy atmosphere.
“Thank you once again, Pope Eluke. And I’m sorry.”
“What are you apologizing for?”
“As you saw earlier, I have some unpleasant memories related to ‘righteous religious organizations.’ I couldn’t shake my doubts and tested you until the end. How ungrateful of me.”
“…”
So she deliberately showed hostility to uncover my hidden feelings.
I hadn’t noticed at all. It was a flawless act.
If I had been a type of person whose insides were dirty and malicious, I would have blown up in anger and revealed my ugly true self in an instant.
Of course, I wasn’t that kind of person at all, so I easily passed Cubica’s test.
“It’s all right. Even I would have doubted until the end. It’s only natural.”
Hearing that made the shadow hanging over Cubica’s face lift just a little.
Perhaps she was tortured by guilt for doubting me after I healed her.
Seeing her apologize over something trivial showed she must have a pretty soft heart.
‘Can someone like her be into adult games…?’
I had a strange thought for a moment but quickly managed my expression and asked.
“According to Ji-yeon, you were quite strong. Did you train your power before you returned?”
“Yes. I worked hard to reach my current level. It was for revenge.”
“You must have succeeded then.”
“Thanks to Lady Lilith, who sincerely helped me. It was so hard and overwhelming that I almost gave up halfway, but she cheered and supported me until the end.”
It seemed she truly loved Cubica, not out of mere whim but from the heart. Just like our Goddess.
Indeed, the succubus Lilith was a rare breed of demon with remarkable character.
Her nature was so extraordinary that it would be considered abnormal in the Demon World.
“I have something I’m curious about.”
At that moment, the young dragon, Yao, suddenly interjected.
“Do you have, like, two personalities?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Cubica answered immediately, giving a weak smile.
“To be precise, Lady Lilith split my personality. The lewd brainwashing placed upon me by the ‘Light Protectors’ was really strong.”
So it wasn’t the succubus who debased Cubica, but that side had put the brainwashing in place. They were worse than I had imagined.
“Thanks to Lady Lilith’s consideration, the personality that retains some sanity was born. If we were to argue, I could call myself the younger sister and the other the older sister.”
From what I gathered, they had even given names to distinguish between them.
The older sister, the ‘lewd pope,’ was named Cubica.
The younger sister, with the inverted pupil, was named Psycheless.
It was quite similar to the reasoning behind why I used my surname ‘Eluke’ more often than my first name ‘Clitia.’
However, Cubica was unaware of Psycheless’s existence.
She didn’t even know that her personality was split. That was due to the intense psychic oppression from the brainwashing.
“Cubica will likely never return to her right mind. Lady Lilith is looking for a solution, but there is little hope. The brainwashing is too intricately structured to touch.”
I had nothing to say, so I just kept my mouth shut.
Even Yao, who was astute, and Yong-yong, who had almost no sense, watched the wounded Pope in silence.
“… It’s embarrassing being stared at so intently.”
“Psycheless Pope, I’ll also look for a way to lift the brainwashing.”
“Thank you. But to be honest, I’m not a true pope like Pope Eluke.”
Psycheless laughed awkwardly and continued.
“It’s hard to even call it a religion. I’m the only one who serves Lady Lilith. In the game, I become the pope of the Light Protectors, but the story has completely changed, and here I am.”
In that case, could she join our order?
I was curious, but the atmosphere made it difficult to ask, so I stayed quiet.
Then Psycheless brought up the topic of joining first.
“Cubica refused to serve Lady Lilith, but I want to join. If Lady Lilith would accept me.”
“Of course, I would accept you. Both I and our Goddess will not turn away a demon’s entrance.”
The doors to our Order were open to demons as well.
As long as one held a good heart, anyone was welcome.
“Thank you.”
Psycheless bowed her head to me and then cautiously said.
“But I’ll just hold faith as a regular layperson and not take on any important positions. I’ve already promised to become a government-affiliated Returnee.”
“With Agent Hainha, right?”
“Yes. Recently, Agent Hainha had a meeting with Cubica. Although Cubica kept talking dirty without focusing.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle at the image of Hainha struggling to keep up the conversation.
It must have been tough for her. Unlike Psycheless, her older sister wasn’t someone who communicated easily.
“The Agent must have been uncomfortable with Cubica’s lewd remarks. Yet, she treated her kindly the whole time. That was quite a rare favor.”
Contrary to her unfriendly first impression, she was quite caring and delicate.
A person who paid attention and quickly caught on to what others wanted.
Psycheless, perhaps impressed by that, wore a determined look.
“I don’t want to disappoint the Agent, who looked at Cubica with gentle eyes. I want to prove that the choice to persistently recruit was the right one.”
She had clearly made up her mind.
If so, then I definitely couldn’t interfere any further.
“Understood. I will always support the future of both Cubica and Psycheless.”
“Thank you.”
Psycheless, standing up and bowing politely, gave a brighter smile than before.
Finally.
It seemed that the burden of sorrow and gloom that had weighed her heart was starting to lift.
It was during times like these that I felt the value of life.
Healing the physical and mental wounds that people carry. That was the mission bestowed upon me.
“Ah, right.”
Just as I was about to get up to leave, Psycheless opened her eyes wide.
“What’s wrong?”
“Pope Eluke, may I and Lady Lilith join the Demon World expedition?”
Psycheless, okay, but a succubus too?
I was a bit thrown off by the sudden request, so I asked for a reason.
She smiled awkwardly.
“After I was severely injured by the Great Demon, Lady Lilith was really upset. So she’s been planning to take revenge against the demon.”
A demon attempting to find and kill the Great Demon for Psycheless, who believed in her and relied on her.
Despite the significant disparity in their strengths, the desire for vengeance was incredibly intense.
Only someone who had nearly lost a beloved one could possess such drive.
Was I trying to hunt down such a demon?
Had I not engaged in a deep conversation with Psycheless, I would have made a grave mistake. My preconceived notion that there could be no innocent demon had led to a misjudgment.
‘Oh Sun, I am still an inferior pope.’
I deeply reflected on my mistake and reached out to Cubica.
“Welcome. Let’s do our best.”
Then Psycheless grasped my hand in return.
“Thank you.”
Thus, the two pink-haired ladies resolved their misunderstandings and became pope and member.
This was the best outcome that could be drawn from an unplanned conversation.
*
Three days after the day I discovered Cubica’s truth, around noon.
An elderly president’s national address was being broadcast live on several channels.
– Dear respected citizens. It has been nearly eight years since it became known that Returnees and beings from another world exist.
I already knew what he would say in this address.
So, I didn’t bother watching and instead focused on nursing Rohan while watching Liam and my daughter play.
After a while of not thinking about anything, a cheerful notification chimed from my smartphone.
It was the sound from my personal mobile assistant.
“Witness, what’s the matter?”
– Pope! Would you like me to summarize the address’s main points for you?
“Please do.”
I was surprised that it could provide this service as well.
Having an AI assistant constantly attached to me was convenient in many ways.
Maybe someday I should ask a tech developer to create a device even more user-friendly than my smartphone.
Implanting it directly into my body and becoming a ‘cyberpunk pope’ might not be a bad choice.
Lost in such ridiculous thoughts, Witness spoke up while perched on an app.
– The main points of the national address are twofold. First, in addition to you, six other Returnees have been discovered. The reason we’re only finding out now is that the Great Demon was active, pushing all Returnees toward crisis.
Honestly, there was no choice but to lay all the truth bare.
No matter what excuses I made, I couldn’t escape the criticism of incompetence, so I had to face the facts.
– Additionally, it was emphasized that you, Pope, resolved the Great Demon situation.
“Ah, they’re trying to focus the energy on me.”
– It’s merely stating facts without exaggeration; however, it can also be interpreted as a sign of wanting to continue to depend on you in the future.
From my perspective, it felt like an unnecessary message. I had no intention of being hostile towards the government.
– Secondly, they officially announced the Demon World expedition to deal with the Great Demon two days from now, with only you confirmed as a member.
Of course, they couldn’t recklessly disclose the identities of the Returnees.
– Naturally, the media and online communities are reacting intensely to this information. Especially, there’s a heated interest in the new Returnee individuals.
At times like this, there was something perfect to do.
Live streaming on Tribe.
Once I turn on the broadcast today, people would flock in. The excitement would be insane, just like when it was revealed that I was a Returnee.
While I was wondering at what time to start, Witness spoke again.
– By the way, I received a message from Agent Hainha earlier, indicating that she seems to want to take a break, so I took it in her place.
“Good job. What did she say?”
– She requested to conduct an interview with other Returnees on her personal broadcast. It seems to be an attempt to ease the critical public opinions regarding what the Returnees were doing while being tormented by the Great Demon.
So that was what she meant by saying she had something to ask for my help last time.
It wasn’t a difficult request at all.
It was something I had wanted to do.
“I’m going to do it right away.”
After handing Rohan over to Liam, I exited the room, and Witness pulled up the list of Returnees on the screen.
Upon closer inspection, it was a brief document checking the approval for their appearance on the personal broadcast.
[Pope’s Broadcast Appearance Approval Status $-$]
– 1. Whispering Leaf [O]
– 2. Cubica Psycheless [X]
– 3. Reeve [X]
– 4. Kim Ji-yeon [OOO!!!]
– 5. Jo Ha-jin [X]
– 6. Han Hee-jun [O]
Only three people could appear.
After a brief moment of contemplation, I decided to bring just one person along.
“Witness, please call Wip to the Pope’s Chamber.”
-Ah, so you aim to draw more attention with the handsome Wip.
“Exactly.”
Wip was the kind of guest who could attract viewers just by sitting still.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.
