Gilbert’s journey to the Holy Empire was carried out immediately.

His departure had been delayed only because he hadn’t received official approval from his superior, the Imperial Princess. Once he had unofficial permission, there was no need to delay further.

Having received approval somewhat forcefully, Gilbert used the warp gate to travel to the Holy Empire with Veronica.

After flashes of light and several transfers, he finally arrived and took in the panoramic view of the Holy Empire’s sacred land, falling into contemplations that only he could experience.

This is no different from the game…

Gilbert compared the scenery of the Holy Empire he had visited during his Tactical Combat gaming days with what he now saw with his own eyes.

It was definitely different from the game, where everything remained fixed unless special events occurred.

The square bustled with newspaper vendors and people praying at statues shaped like the main deity.

As people emerged from the warp gate—typically used only by the wealthy or nobility—beggars who had been waiting nearby gathered to ask for alms.

Unlike the game, which only depicted the beautiful sacred land of the Holy Empire, this place had a vitality that confirmed people were truly living here.

“Welcome to the Holy Empire!”

Veronica, who had appointed herself as Gilbert’s guide, spread her arms wide in welcome.

She seemed somewhat excited at the thought of successfully completing her mission to bring the figure from the revelation to the Holy Empire.

“Should we go straight to the prayer room?”

“I’d like to, but there are procedures that make it difficult. The prayer room is open to everyone, but they limit the number of people allowed in to prevent too many devout believers from gathering at once. Even without that, if a revelation were to occur with the room full of believers, it could cause social chaos.”

Veronica answered while twirling her hair with her finger.

While it might seem good for many people to learn that their Father truly exists, she thought it would bring greater confusion.

People believe in God, but if they were to receive proof of His existence, they would become weak.

They would look for God in every trivial thing and become dependent.

Doomsayers would certainly use the revelation as an excuse to proclaim dystopian stories about the Demon King’s return and humanity’s destruction, so it was better to keep the revelation hidden.

At least until everything became certain, maintaining secrecy was the thinking of the Holy Empire’s leadership, which was why they hadn’t officially invited Gilbert.

Since Gilbert had been briefed on this situation beforehand, they decided to visit the prayer room during the early morning hours when it wasn’t open to ordinary believers.

“Since you’re here in the Holy Empire, let me guide you until we go to the prayer room!”

“Hmm…”

Though he knew this real world was different from the game, there were many similarities, so he didn’t really need a guide to the Holy Empire.

Many of the achievements he had completed required tasks in the Holy Empire, so he might even know more details than Veronica who had grown up here.

However, he couldn’t refuse her offer as she stood there with sparkling eyes and obvious excitement at returning to the Holy Empire.

It felt like taking candy from a child.

“Lady Saint, even though you’ve returned to the Holy Empire, you must be mindful of your safety.”

“It’s fine since Gilbert is here.”

“While I don’t doubt Sir Gilbert, protection is a different matter entirely.”

Johan glanced at Gilbert while insisting to Veronica about the necessity of protection and demanding she stop wandering around the sacred land recklessly.

As the guardian knight responsible for the Saint’s safety, his position was orthodox, leaving little room for argument.

Veronica knew this well, so she could only pout without arguing back.

Even when the revelation had determined their journey to the Infractus Empire, Johan had insisted on safety, so now that they had achieved their goal, he had no intention of indulging her whims.

“But I still want to guide our guest around the Holy Empire!”

“Very well. However, I cannot allow just the two of you to go alone.”

Though his words drew a firm line, Veronica was satisfied with that much.

“Shall we go then, Sir Gilbert?”

With a bright face devoid of ulterior motives, she took Gilbert’s hand and led him, looking more like a tomboy than a saint.

Johan flinched at the sight of Veronica holding Gilbert’s hand, then sighed deeply and shook his head.

Gilbert realized from Johan’s reaction that this was Saint Veronica’s true self. In the game, he had only seen her treating people with a benevolent smile, but clearly appearances weren’t everything.

The excited Veronica was as spirited as Camilla.

Strictly speaking, she was more reserved than the always-bouncy Camilla, but it was a complete 180 from the dignified Veronica he had known.

What kind of responsibility had been placed on her shoulders when she became a saint?

How had a young girl handled the situation where countless believers called her Saint and sought her mercy?

Gilbert couldn’t even imagine.

“Sir Gilbert? Your expression looks strange.”

“It’s nothing. By the way, did you say this fountain is famous?”

“Ah! Yes. This fountain is known as the most famous spot in the sacred land. I’ve heard that when lovers come here…”

Perhaps her bright demeanor came from meeting him, the figure from her revelation.

After receiving the revelation and becoming a true saint, she would have shouldered an even greater burden.

She must have endured silently, carrying a weight she couldn’t share or lean on anyone else with.

In the midst of that, returning with the presumed protagonist of the revelation would naturally make even someone as responsible as her relax.

She might have felt a sense of kinship in fulfilling the mission given by the Lord, allowing her to show her true personality.

Either way, he felt somewhat sorry for her.

“Sir Gilbert?”

“Informative. Please continue with the tour.”

Veronica, who had been chattering enthusiastically, looked strangely at Gilbert who suddenly stared at her without speaking, but he pretended not to notice.

There was no need to tell her that he had momentarily pitied her.

“I’m delighted to hear I’ve been helpful.”

“Do you have a hobby of guiding people?”

“Of course not. I simply find fulfillment in being of service to others.”

“It seems more like you’re enjoying yourself.”

“That’s also true. All of this is grace bestowed by the Lord.”

Veronica’s face, full of smiles, was radiant.

It was truly a divine blessing.

***

After receiving Veronica’s energetic guidance all day, Gilbert was finally able to enter the Papal Palace, the heart of the Holy Empire, by evening.

Of course, they didn’t immediately go to the prayer room as there were still many believers attending evening mass.

Instead, since they were staying at the Papal Palace, they had an audience with the Pope, the actual master of the place.

He had a warm appearance, but the clear eyes shining between his wrinkled eyelids revealed why he could sit in the Pope’s seat. His calm yet powerful gaze, deepened by years of experience, made his thoughts unreadable.

“Welcome, young hero of the Empire.”

“Thank you for such hospitality, Your Holiness.”

Gilbert, kneeling before the Pope, slowly rose at the Pope’s gesture and carefully observed him.

Despite being in his elderly years, his robust physique suggested he still maintained regular physical training.

Indeed, the Pope in Tactical Combat was quite different from those in other literary genres.

On the Lord’s right hand, they shall do good.

On the Lord’s left hand, they shall execute evil.

The Popes of the Holy Empire stood on the Lord’s right hand to do what was right, and sometimes stood on the Lord’s left hand as executioners to punish evil.

In other words, they were the Lord’s iron hammers, so everyone walking the path of clergy never stopped their self-discipline.

This was no different for the Pope, and players used a bit of wordplay to call the Pope of Tactical Combat:

The Combat Pope.

Among them, Peter, considered the greatest of all Popes, showed combat abilities superior to any holy knight despite being at an age when most humans would be in their twilight years.

“Perhaps you should set aside your competitive spirit?”

“I apologize. I unintentionally showed disrespect.”

Had his gaze become too obvious?

Gilbert bowed his head at the Pope’s admonishment.

He wouldn’t have been so crazy as to challenge the Pope to a duel, but it was still disrespectful.

If pressed, Gilbert had essentially done the same thing as staring intently at the Emperor of the Infractus Empire.

“It’s alright. It’s just an unfamiliar gaze I haven’t seen in a long time. More importantly, seeing you here, can I assume you believed the Saint’s revelation story?”

Peter, who had been smiling gently, raised the topic of the revelation while creating a barrier of holy power.

It was done out of concern that they might be eavesdropped upon, but it was important that talk of the revelation not leak out.

Veronica had also deployed a holy power barrier when she first brought up the subject for the same reason.

As they say, daytime words are heard by birds, and nighttime words by mice.

“I’ve merely kept the possibility open. I’m seeking the prayer room to clarify these uncertainties.”

More precisely, he wanted to find out why he had been reincarnated into this world and how to return, but he didn’t reveal this.

Instead, he spoke vaguely about his purpose so the Pope wouldn’t feel he was lying.

After all, he was genuinely curious about the revelation and intended to ask all his questions in the prayer room.

“I understand. I shall pray that the Lord guides you on the right path.”

“Thank you, Your Holiness.”

After meeting with the Pope, he had dinner with Veronica, who had been waiting outside.

Despite being in the Papal Palace, the meal wasn’t extravagant; rather, modest dishes were served for dinner.

After Veronica received her revelation and became a true living saint, she had thoroughly weeded out the corrupt clergy who had been gradually eating away at the Papal Palace.

It was a massive undertaking based on the idea that no one could harbor ill intentions when the Lord’s gaze had turned back to the Papal Palace, and on self-reflection about their own indolence and worldliness.

As a result, the Papal Palace of the Holy Empire, reborn with integrity and devotion as in its early days, now served such modest meals.

Even this was luxurious compared to the starving poor who couldn’t eat a single meal.

Thinking the meal sufficient, the two finished eating and decided to rest before going to the prayer room.

Gilbert lay in the room Veronica had shown him, eyes closed, lost in thought.

Finally, I’ll know why I came to this damn place.

Certainly, it wasn’t all bad being in a world based on Tactical Combat, the game he loved.

He had made many good connections here, so he had positive feelings too.

But he was too damaged to hold such normal emotions in his heart.

Every time he closed his eyes, he saw his comrades dying, and the acrid smell of gunpowder stung his nostrils.

He could almost hear distant artillery fire and the sound of fighter jets exploding as they tore through the air.

Once again, he gathered the unnecessary PTSD flooding in and shoved it deep into his mind. It had been a long time since he had graduated from recalling those times, sweating coldly, and losing his mind.

– Knock knock

“Sir Gilbert. It’s time to go to the prayer room.”

“Hmm, I’ll be right out.”

It didn’t feel like much time had passed, but apparently it had.

Before opening the door, he looked out the window and saw that night had fallen and stars had appeared.

Outside, he saw Veronica dressed in pure white saint’s robes.

For some reason, Johan, who was in charge of her protection, was nowhere to be seen.

“Let’s go then.”

The bright girl from the morning was gone.

Now only the true saint of this era, who had received the revelation, remained.

Since the prayer room was open to all, it was located in the cathedral outside the Papal Palace.

As they opened the cathedral doors, moonlight and starlight filtered through the stained glass windows, converging on a statue in the Lord’s image, creating a serene yet sacred atmosphere.

And then they reached the prayer room.

Here too, light poured in through stained glass windows.

Gilbert couldn’t help but gasp at the sight.

[You have visited the Prayer Room of the Papal Palace.]

[Using accumulated causality.]

“Welcome, User Kang Do-jun. We’ve been waiting for you.”

As the system notification appeared, Veronica faced him with half-opened eyes.

The Q&A session was about to begin in earnest.