Chapter 282

*Sip.*

I took a sip of my coffee, moistening my throat.

But my eyes remained fixed on the Archbishop, studying her.

Her expression was unreadable.

She was a difficult person to deal with, as always.

*Clink.*

I placed my coffee cup back on the table, confirming that the Archbishop hadn’t moved her hands yet, and then I signed.

– I’m sincerely grateful for your help, regardless of your reasons.

– Haha, it was just a small gesture.

The Archbishop smiled.

If the conversation ended here, it would have been a pleasant meeting. But that wasn’t going to happen.

– Did you confirm the truth?

The Archbishop asked, her tone suddenly serious.

– What truth are you referring to?

– The truth from a thousand years ago, of course.

– I’m not sure if it’s the definite truth, but I’ve certainly confirmed it.

I replied vaguely, playing it safe.

I didn’t know her true intentions yet.

The truth we had uncovered in the forbidden underground was a sensitive topic for the Church, regardless of factions.

– It’s the definite truth. I can guarantee it.

The Archbishop didn’t try to downplay it. Instead, she affirmed it with confidence.

My mind raced.

Was she unconcerned about the truth being revealed?

Or was it because it was me?

That was a possibility, but something felt off.

She was guaranteeing the truth?

It didn’t sound like she was simply asserting her authority.

It was something more…

I looked away for a moment, gathering my thoughts, and then I looked back at her.

– Did the Church reach that conclusion, that it’s the definite truth?

– The truth is simply the truth.

The Archbishop smiled enigmatically.

– Do you want to know?

– Of course I do.

– I see. But you’re not qualified yet.

– Being an outstanding student and believer isn’t enough?

– No.

Her blunt answer made me pause, my hands still.

This ambiguous distance between us.

I could maintain it and back down, but that wasn’t what I wanted.

Because I knew the Archbishop was an important figure.

Perhaps even more important than I had imagined.

Considering the turbulent times ahead, I needed to strengthen my connection with her.

‘I have to join forces with the Church anyway.’

The impending rise of the Dark God Cult.

I had set a trap to counter their threat, a trap that would stain the world with blood.

I had even infiltrated the cult, pretending to be one of them.

It was a trap that could inflict significant damage on the cult.

But to utilize that trap, I needed the Church’s power.

So joining forces with them was inevitable.

The only difference was that my target had shifted from the Pope faction to the Archbishop faction.

‘Perhaps this is for the best.’

I had initially thought that the Pope was the more powerful figure, but I was wrong.

I had realized that now.

And the Pope was also less trustworthy.

Even though I didn’t know her true intentions, the Archbishop, who had actually helped us, was the more reliable choice.

Having made up my mind, I signed.

– I’ve learned the Church’s dark secret. But I intend to keep it to myself. Is that still not enough?

– That’s a commendable attitude.

The Archbishop praised me, her hands clasped together.

But she didn’t say anything more.

Her silence meant one thing.

It wasn’t enough.

So I decided to play a stronger hand.

To reveal one of my cards.

– Then I’ll add one more thing. What if I know about dangerous individuals who could bring bloodshed to the Church?

The Archbishop’s demeanor changed.

She was still smiling, but there was a hint of coldness in her eyes.

She sat up straighter.

– That’s an interesting story. I’m intrigued.

– You know how it works, right? There’s a price for everything.

I smiled faintly.

Our smiles met.

It might have looked like a heartwarming scene to an outsider, but it was anything but.

It was a tense negotiation, both of us trying to gain an advantage.

Having revealed my card, I wasn’t going to back down.

I was determined to get what I wanted.

– Indeed.

The Archbishop took a sip of her tea gracefully.

*Clink.*

She placed her teacup back on the table and then signed.

– Very well. Let’s join forces.

– I’m glad to hear that, but who are we joining forces against? Surely not the Pope faction? I’m not interested in getting involved in your internal conflicts.

I stated my position clearly and firmly.

It was only natural.

Being used as a pawn in their power struggle was a foolish move.

I would never allow that.

– Don’t you know?

The Archbishop’s eyes gleamed with a strange light.

– Know what?

– That there are those who seek to destroy this world.

Her words, spoken in a calm tone, sent a shiver down my spine.

I couldn’t hide my shock.

I instinctively leaned back in my chair.

My heart raced.

The destruction of the world.

And those who desired it.

I had thought it was a secret only I knew.

…But I was wrong.

There was someone else.

Right in front of me.

I narrowed my eyes, trying to calm my racing heart.

– Archbishop.

– Yes?

– That’s a dangerous statement.

I took a step back, testing the waters.

But,

– If you’re not serious, let’s end this conversation here.

Her tone was firm.

She wasn’t joking. She meant it.

‘I see.’

I changed my expression.

If she was going to be this assertive, I had to respond accordingly.

That was the only way.

– I apologize. I was just testing you.

– You’re very cautious.

The Archbishop smiled gently.

– I like you, Max.

– I like you too, Archbishop.

I returned the compliment.

– Oh my.

The Archbishop chuckled, her eyes fixed on me.

Her gaze was…

…The gaze of someone looking at a cute child.

I didn’t think the age gap was that big…

I chuckled awkwardly and changed the subject.

– Anyway, I’ve also been thinking about the same thing. That there are those who seek to destroy this world. But how did you know that I was thinking about that?

I asked, my tone accusatory.

I had to know.

– The Red Rain.

Her answer was unexpected.

My eyes widened.

The Red Rain.

They hadn’t revealed themselves to the world yet.

They were still operating in the shadows, their existence a secret.

But how did the Archbishop of the academy know about them…?

– You’ve probably encountered them several times, haven’t you, Max? That’s why you were able to make that deduction.

She even knew that?

The Church’s intelligence network was more extensive than I had imagined.

Or…

– Honestly, I’m surprised. How did you know that? Is the Church’s intelligence network that powerful?

I asked, trying to regain my composure.

I couldn’t just let this go.

– It has nothing to do with the Church. It was just a personal deduction based on the available information.

– What?

What was she talking about?

A personal deduction?

That was absurd.

– Archbishop, if you’re not serious, I’m going to end this…

– The hidden dungeon on Diotes Island, the underground dungeon in the Abandoned Land Castle.

– …

– Now you understand, right? What was sealed there.

– …

– You might not have known back then, but they knew, and they targeted those places. So you must have clashed with them… And I assumed that you would have understood the true meaning of those clashes after this incident. Am I right?

My eyes widened in shock.

I realized.

That she wasn’t just the Archbishop of the academy.

Even calling her the leader of the opposition faction didn’t fully capture her true nature.

She was hiding something else.

A secret that had never been revealed in any of my playthroughs.

I picked up my coffee cup and then put it back down.

My hand was shaking.

– …How did you even know about them in the first place?

– Ah, the Red Rain? I’ve known about them for a while. That’s why I was able to make that deduction.

– How…?

– The leader of the Red Rain, I believe he’s called Cheonju? I’ve known him for a long time.

“Cough! Cough?!”

I choked on my coffee, unable to even sign.

I was that shocked.

The Archbishop of the academy was close friends with the leader of the enemy organization…?

What kind of absurd development was this?!

No, wait a minute!

Had the academy and the Church been infiltrated by the ultimate double agent?!

I jumped to my feet and backed away.

I regretted having to leave my weapons with the guards.

“The enemy is within, they say. This is ridiculous. You’re revealing this so openly, which means you must have set a trap.”

I glared at the Archbishop, my eyes cold.

But I didn’t rush towards the door or the window.

Because I didn’t know what kind of trap she had set.

I decided to buy some time by talking, hoping to find an escape route.

“Hey, watch your tone.”

At that moment,

My body swayed, as if I had been struck.

I was in shock.

“Cough! Cough! Cough?!”

I coughed violently.

T-The Archbishop had spoken?!

The Archbishop who was supposed to be deaf?!

…Just how much had she been deceiving the world?!

“D-Damn it. You’re a cunning old fox.”

I said, my voice trembling with anger.

“No, seriously, watch your tone.”

The Archbishop blinked innocently.

My anger flared even more.

“Tsk, still mocking me…”

“It’s not mockery, I’m just old.”

The Archbishop smiled.

It looked fake to me.

“Don’t misunderstand. Sit down and let’s talk, Max.”

“…Stop playing games and tell me what you’re planning.”

“Haha, being too smart can be a problem. You’re overthinking things and jumping to conclusions.”

*Sip.*

The Archbishop took a leisurely sip of her tea.

I wanted to throw my remaining coffee at her, but I restrained myself.

Now wasn’t the time for rash actions.

My eyes darted around, scanning the room.

Strangely, I couldn’t sense anyone nearby.

But that itself could be a trap.

I decided to be cautious.

*Clink.*

The Archbishop placed her teacup back on the table.

“You’re a sweet child. Don’t misunderstand. It’s true that I have a deep connection with the leader of the Red Rain, but we’re definitely enemies now.”

Her tone had changed.

The atmosphere had also shifted.

I blinked rapidly, my eyes filled with confusion.

“How can I trust you?”

“I want to save the world. He wants the opposite. So of course we’re enemies.”

“But how can I trust…”

“There’s a simple way. You have the ability to appraise items, don’t you?”

A chill ran down my spine.

“What are you talking about…”

“That’s why you kept those items, even though you didn’t know their true nature. Because you couldn’t appraise them properly.”

My heart raced.

The Heart of ??.

The Eyeball of ??.

Items that couldn’t be appraised.

Only I knew about them.

But how…?

“You’re wrong. I just thought they must be valuable items, since the Red Rain was so desperate to get their hands on them.”

“Ah, of course. I was mistaken.”

The Archbishop readily admitted her mistake.

But then she did something strange.

She suddenly plucked a few strands of her hair and placed them on the table.

“Oh, what a waste of hair. I should have just pulled out one.”

“…”

I stared at her, dumbfounded.

What the hell was she doing?

“Come here and appraise it.”

“What are you talking about…”

“I’ll back down if I’m wrong. Come here and put your mind at ease.”

The Archbishop smiled and stepped back.

“…”

I hesitated, unsure of what to do.

A trap?

No, she wouldn’t set a trap so blatantly.

I frowned and then moved towards her.

Honestly, I was curious.

What was she up to?

“Hmm…”

I reached out and touched her hair.

At that moment,

– Hair of the legendary Saint.

– Beautiful.

– Soft.

– Scented with the Saint’s fragrance.

– Can be used as thread.

…W-What the hell?!

My eyes widened in shock.