Ch.69The Window is Also a Door

# 1.

Nahan.

From the moment he realized he was the leader of the ‘Black Wolf,’ he had always taken a few days off after preventing a bad ending.

The reasons were abundant.

Time to check and absorb the rewards earned, time to relieve the fatigue accumulated during the prevention of bad endings, and so on.

He believed that being rigid like steel would only lead to breaking eventually, so sometimes one needed to bend like a reed and let things flow.

In reality, that thought was correct.

Because, after preventing the 8th bad ending – <Death of the Hero> and until now, several days later…

“We wish to nominate you as the next Pope.”

“I must decline.”

“Don’t worry about those old folks at the Magic Tower. I can handle it.”

“That’s quite alright.”

“The Gardner supports you!!!”

“I appreciate the sentiment.”

Without missing a day, he had been pestered by <The Light> to the point of extreme exhaustion.

“Father! Having obtained such power, you must take responsibility…!”

“Yeah! Being Pope isn’t a big deal!”

“The Gardner supports you!!”

“Ahaha…”

Deliberately avoiding the burdensome gazes, he sought help from the silent Selena, but even she, with her ash-gray eyes sparkling, pleaded with Nahan.

“I felt it clearly that day while detecting. A third power of such magnitude… It is only right that you ascend to the papal seat.”

It was like being surrounded by statues that only said what they wanted to say; communication was impossible.

“…Haah.”

After days of being tormented in the middle of enemy territory, Nahan finally asked, half-resigned:

“May I ask why?”

Nahan knew.

A person with the third power qualifies to become Pope, but as he just mentioned, it’s merely a qualification.

“Aren’t there many other clergy who have awakened the third power besides me?”

His sharp question stopped the three women in their tracks.

“W-well, not as much as you, Father…”

Asha stuttered, avoiding eye contact.

“…Hmm. Suddenly craving something sweet…”

Marine awkwardly avoided the topic.

“Even with qualifications, how many can walk the righteous path? In that regard, Father, you…”

Selena recited excuses without changing her expression.

“?”

Watching the three women, Balkan scratched his cheek and bluntly said:

“They’re trying to bring you into The Light.”

“…Pardon?”

“There was once a Pope from the free clergy who was said to have been active in a hero’s party.”

…So what?

‘I have no intention of becoming Pope or joining a hero’s party, you know?’

Conveying this meaning through his gaze, Balkan looked around at the three women, then leaned his large frame toward Nahan and whispered:

“That Pope married one of the women from the hero’s party. Get it now? Does it make sense?”

“No?”

“All three of them want you as their partner, that’s what I’m saying.”

Then he straightened up, winked, and placed his hand on Nahan’s shoulder.

“But don’t forget. I was the first to Hesti—”

WHACK!!

“—Ack.”

Thud.

Balkan fainted with his thumb still up, without even a scream.

“I apologize. He drank too much yesterday and seems to be speaking nonsense.”

“No, the Hero just hit him.”

“Tsk. It’s hypoglycemic shock. He needs sugar. Needs sugar.”

“Wait, why are you covering the unconscious man’s mouth?”

As Nahan looked at the three in confusion, they exchanged glances and moved in unison to take care of the unconscious Balkan.

“This is the fastest way.”

“…Is it necessary to use detection for this?”

The three followed Selena out of the church, and before completely leaving:

“Father.”

“Yes, Hero?”

“I… No, we will never give up.”

Then, like third-rate villains in perfect sync, they turned around simultaneously and declared proudly:

“We’ll come back tomorrow to persuade you.”

Sparkling sky-blue eyes,

“Tomorrow with apples.”

Languid, wave-like blue eyes,

“…I’ll come early, Father.”

Quietly shining ash-gray eyes.

Feeling their inexplicably sticky gazes, Nahan smiled and extended his hand.

“I’ll be on vacation for a few days starting tomorrow.”

“…Pardon?”

“I have something to do.”

At the sudden vacation announcement, all three froze.

“H-how long… No, where are you going and for what reason?”

“…I’ll go pack my things.”

“I’m really good at finding my way. I mean, I can guide you well, Father!”

Nahan raised his hand firmly toward the women rushing toward him.

“It’s a divine revelation from the Goddess to move alone.”

“But…!”

“You may come to the church, but if you follow me beyond that… I’ll have no choice but to establish myself elsewhere.”

A firm rejection wrapped in a smile.

“…I’ll wait.”

“…Me too.”

“…Come back soon.”

Finally, the three heroes lowered their tails and stepped back, turning away dejectedly.

“…Gard…ner’s… faction… is… the strongest…”

Balkan mumbled as he was dragged away, on that warm noon.

# 2.

Freedom at last.

“…I’m dying of exhaustion, seriously.”

Previously, he would have taken a nap first before moving, but this time there was no time for that.

【Bad Ending 9 – <Death of the Emperor> is being set up on the main scenario.】

Because as soon as he prevented Bad Ending 8 – <Death of the Hero>, the next in sequence, <Death of the Emperor>, had begun.

So Nahan pondered:

‘What causes the Emperor’s death?’

The Babylonian Empire.

Among the numerous countries of the world, it stood as a hegemon alongside the Eastern Nation.

The ruler of this massive superpower was the current Emperor, Reina Babylonia.

‘Our first and last meeting was right after I realized I was the Black Wolf.’

Looking back at that battle now, just as Han-ryang hadn’t been fighting at full strength, neither had Reina.

‘At the very least, double S (SS) rank.’

The Emperor who had a superpower under her feet, inherently SS-rank or higher.

‘What on earth could kill her?’

After much contemplation, Nahan formed two hypotheses.

One was death by the <Black Wolf>.

Though Nahan was convinced there had been a misunderstanding, to the members, Reina Babylonia was a tyrant who had completely taken away their happiness.

‘It seems like they fell for Eclipse’s groundwork, but the members have no way of knowing that.’

If an impulsive member were to charge at her like during their first meeting, with their enhanced strength now…

‘Reina could die.’

But this wasn’t something to worry about.

-We’ve found a new enemy, so suspend all activities and stand by for now.

-Yes, Leader.

He had recently made it clear that they should never act without his orders.

Then it must be the second hypothesis,

‘…Eclipse?’

Nahan was never arrogant.

Rather, he was extremely cautious and skilled at objectively evaluating himself.

And after regaining most of the <Black Wolf’s> abilities, his assessment was:

‘Right now, I am the strongest.’

Even Lactea, whom he had feared since realizing he was the villain’s leader, and Asha, canonically the strongest in Babylonia’s original setting.

‘They were definitely weaker than the Black Wolf.’

Therefore, Nahan thought that the current strength of the <Black Wolf> could easily annihilate <Eclipse>.

However, when he unleashed his true power while preventing <Death of the Hero>, the 2nd Elder – Calamity of December said:

-…Could it be that person…?

The moment he, who had believed himself to be the world’s strongest, unleashed his true power, the elder mistook him for Eclipse’s leader without a shred of doubt.

Which meant:

‘Eclipse’s leader also possesses power similar to mine.’

Considering all these facts:

At this point, only <Black Wolf> and <Eclipse> had the power to kill the Emperor, and since his group wouldn’t act…

‘Eclipse.’

Like Bad Ending 8 – Death of the Hero, Bad Ending 9 – Death of the Emperor was also likely to unfold due to Eclipse.

This raised another question:

‘If Eclipse is indeed the culprit, why would they want to kill the Emperor?’

And,

‘If they want to kill her, what method would they use?’

The previous bad ending had limited information, but this one had even less.

Nahan pondered.

-Take it one step at a time, brother.

-…I got it.

To avoid mistakes.

-…Hey, Nahan. Don’t live like me.

-Fulfill my dreams for me, brother.

-Hana… your siblings…

To lose nothing more.

-Take it one step at a time, brother.

Yes,

Honestly, you were right.

‘Back then, I was full of anger and would act without thinking.’

But remember?

Thanks to you, I learned how to calm my anger and burn quietly like I do now.

Even that day, you told me to take things slowly, one step at a time, but,

-No. This time I’ll do it my way.

-Brother!

-Don’t worry. I’m not just using force blindly anymore; force is just one of the tools at my disposal now.

Having gained this insight, I immediately rushed out and crushed the source of your troubles.

You said then:

-…Now you’re better than me.

It’s the same this time.

I’m not just wielding power blindly,

‘Severely lacking information.’

‘A twisted future.’

‘But now possessing great strength.’

Using force seemed like the best option, so as always, I chose what appeared to be the best path.

.

.

.

And so, that night at the Imperial Palace.

The worst and strongest criminal organization, the Black Wolf’s leader, Black Wolf,

“Ha! True to your criminal nature, you crawl through the window when there’s a perfectly good door!”

“A window is also a door.”

Breaking into the Emperor’s chambers.