Chapter 190: Pope Antonius

Antonius Ortega, the pope of the Order of Balance.

The former pope.

After growing weary of a long life in the clergy, he voluntarily stepped down from the papacy and set off on a pilgrimage across the continent to reflect on himself.

That was the official story.

As players progressed through Elize’s story, they’ll eventually run into Antonius, who had returned to the Holy Kingdom. I figured I’d meet him eventually, but Elize went and brought him herself.

From the looks of it, Elize didn’t seem to know who Antonius really was, so why is she bringing him to me?

I played dumb and asked anyway.

“Sister? What brings you here so late at night? And who is this gentleman?”

“He’s an old man I found wandering the streets. He seemed to have nowhere else to go, so I brought him here.”

“There are shelters all over the Holy Kingdom. Why bring him here of all places…?”

Elize smiled sweetly.

“They were all full.”

I get it now.

That smile was the one she used when she was up to mischief.

I’d seen it enough to know.

She definitely brought that old man here just to mess with me.

“Heheh, I wonder if an old man like me is worthy of staying in such a fine room…”

“Of course, Sir. This man is the kindest soul you’ll ever meet. He’ll gladly let you stay, so please don’t worry.”

“Heheheh, what a fine young man. Then I’ll stay without shame…”

I didn’t even say a word, and yet they’ve got this whole act going—drums, cymbals, and all. Antonius plopped himself down like he’d gotten my permission.

“Hohoho, now this is fine wine. I shall enjoy it.”

Oh, come on.

This sly old man just popped open the wine and started drinking like this was his own living room.

“Now then, let’s see my pack…”

“You little bastard?”

Bastard? Seriously?

“I am a good guy, but that doesn’t include old men, sir. If you’re meeting God soon, then maybe ask Him to be reborn as a cute girl. Then, I’ll raise you myself.”

“Not the sanest lad, are you? Tsk, tsk. Poor thing.”

He said that, but he wouldn’t budge an inch. Looks like he was dead set on sticking around with this ‘poor thing.’

“I’ll leave Grandpa in your care. It’s getting late, so I’ll be off.”

Elize dumped the massive baggage that is the pope onto me and walked off, casting me a smug little smirk before she left.

“Are you really not leaving? Do I have to call the guards to get you out?”

“Try it, boy. If they find out you’ve enslaved a nun, then you won’t walk away unscathed either.”

So he figured that out, huh.

Anyway, whether it was that painter or the others, the old folks in this world were just a pain to deal with.

They were not people—they were monsters. I was sitting face-to-face with one that only looked like a frail old man.

Still, I couldn’t let him get the upper hand.

“Wouldn’t it be a problem for you too, Your Holiness, if your identity were exposed?”

“You knew and still treated me like some old beggar? You must not value your life. I could snuff it out with a flick of my finger, you brat.”

Antonius grumbled like any old man you’d find on the street.

“So it’s you. The so-called Slave Reaper. And that girl must be your slave.”

“That’s right. Paid a hefty sum of three thousand gold for her.”

“I don’t know what you were thinking when you bought that girl and kept her as a nun, but let me be clear. That child is pitiful. Let her go.”

Antonius stared at me with steady eyes.

The air shifted in an instant.

The wine in the glass trembled. Goosebumps rose all over my skin.

So this is what they call the presence emitted by monsters in human form.

Of course, backing down now isn’t an option.

“Let her go? Do you know how much I invested to acquire her? Will Your Eminence be reimbursing me?”

“If your life is worth less than three thousand gold, then you don’t have to.”

“Haha, I’m not a slave myself—how could I possibly measure my life in coins?”

“In that case…”

“Is this because Elize is the scapegoat of the church?”

At that, Antonius’s eyes flashed open.

“How do you know about that?”

“There are ways of knowing everything.”

I smiled gently.

No one should know Elize’s true identity.

Antonius probably didn’t know, either. He must have sensed the vampire aura from her when he saw her in person.

Revealing it outright was definitely a risk. I already seemed suspicious, so saying more might only confirm it.

As someone who knew the full story, it was better to stay in the shadows and pull the strings from behind.

But at the same time, the payoff was just as certain.

In a world crawling with monsters where I had no power to speak of, my only means of survival was my tongue. And for that, I needed the power to take control of the conversation.

A bold tone gave you control of the conversation.

“And if I do let Elize go—what then? You think she’ll just laugh and live freely ever after?”

Antonius stayed silent, as if waiting for me to continue.

“She’ll end up taking advantage of people again, just like she always has. She’s not ready to break out of her shell and face the world.”

“And you’re saying you’re the one preparing her for that?”

“That’s my role as her master.”

Antonius looked at me like I was completely untrustworthy, because Elize was someone even god had not saved.

“If that’s not it, then surely Your Eminence must have a suitable plan. You wouldn’t just demand I release her without one, right?”

“Ahem…”

I thought so.

I get it, though. From his point of view, I probably looked like some villain who bought Elize to torment her.

But there was no need to worry. I could confidently say no one in this world cared about her more than I did.

“So don’t worry about Elize and go on your way.”

“Hmm…”

Antonius let out a low hum, seemingly weighing his options. Then he nodded. With no better solution at hand, he had no choice but to accept it.

“Seems your thoughts are in order. Now, would you kindly be on your way?”

“……”

“Well? Why aren’t you leaving?”

Under my prodding, Antonius finally lifted his heavy ass. But instead of heading out, he flopped onto the bed and rested his head on the pillow.

“Must be my age… I can’t stay up late like I used to.”

Antonius shamelessly replied as he pulled the blanket up over himself.

Well, well.

So that’s how it’s going to be?

I opened the window.

“Excuse me, passing guard? I’m the guy who made a nun my slave, and in my room is His Holiness Antonius—”

Clack!

The window slammed shut like a sudden gust of wind had hit it.

Antonius had his hand outstretched in this direction.

“What are you doing? Will Your Holiness be paying for it if the window breaks?”

“You cheeky bastard. Got nothing better to do than sell out a helpless old man?”

“Weren’t you the one saying it didn’t matter if you were found out? What’s wrong now? Feeling nervous? Sweating buckets?”

“Hahaha… sweating buckets? I see now. I was mistaken. You’re not just crazy, you’re a total lunatic.”

“Thanks for the compliment. In a world this messed up, you’ve gotta be just as messed up to survive.”

You’re the ones that made me this way.

“So. What’s it going to be? Walk out on your own, or be dragged out by a dozen priests?”

Of course he wouldn’t be dragged out; he’d be treated with reverence, but from Antonius’s perspective, it would feel the same.

Antonius clicked his tongue repeatedly and stared at me with clear disdain.

“Let’s do this, then. Just once, and I’ll help you if you ever need it.”

“Can you really follow through on that?”

“So long as the favor doesn’t disrupt order. What do you think?”

That was a pretty generous offer.

He may be retired, but it would still be a huge help.

To think he’d use the pope’s authority just to secure food and lodging.

Well, he probably just wants to keep an eye on me.

Elize’s very existence was a glaring stain on the Holy Kingdom.

To Antonius, she must be the painful thorn in his side.

He simply couldn’t leave her alone.

“If Your Holiness is willing to concede that much, then it would be rude of me to refuse. I accept.”

“Pfft. It’s a bit late to start minding your manners, you rascal.”

An experimental project involving postulant nuns, known only to a select few high-ranking clergy.

Blinded by excessive piety and a misguided desire to create a perfectly balanced being, they abandoned compassion and turned innocent children into victims.

Antonius stepped down from his position as archbishop out of guilt and a sense of responsibility for failing to protect them as a leader of the faith.

The higher he rose, the further he drifted from the people. He reached for the stars, only to lose sight of what lay beneath his feet.

And so, Antonius set off on a journey to reflect once more on what true order and balance meant, traveling the continent and searching for the children who had fallen victim to the experiments.

Then one day, Antonius heard a rumor in Harlem that a nun was being trafficked. What kind of lunatic dared to buy and sell a woman under the protection of God?

Antonius rushed to Harlem, but he was already a step too late. The nun had already been bought by none other than the so-called Slave Reaper.

The irony was that a high priest was with him.

Upon learning they were heading to Kassilon, he returned to the Holy Kingdom.

The Holy Kingdom, which he returned to after years, appeared unchanged on the surface—but internally, its balance teetered on the verge of collapse.

It was purely by chance that Antonius found Elize.

A pitiful child bearing irreparable wounds from misguided faith. Perhaps it was a miracle she was even still alive.

And at that moment, he realized.

That this girl was the nun who’d been sold in Harlem.

That she had fallen into the hands of the wicked one known as the Slave Reaper.

Antonius tried to free Elize, but it wasn’t so easy. The Slave Reaper was a man even Antonius couldn’t figure out.

Despite being human, he had received the grace of the World Tree, the protector of the elves, and was protected by various mysterious beings.

He was not to be messed with.

So for now, he would stay close and observe.

It still wouldn’t be too late to act if things went south.

That was the plan, at least.

“Alright, old man. Hold this sign up. Thumb out like this.”

This lunatic was using a former pope to advertise his cult.