episode_0048

In the distant past, the Hespanian Mountains were originally a hideout for the continent’s largest black magic force.

That is why, when they managed to summon the Demon King while avoiding the eyes of the Empire and the Solar Cult, the Hespanian Mountains were the first to be eroded by the demons… … .

Even though hundreds of years had passed since the Demon King was executed by the saints of the time, his influence still remained.

A representative example is the Demon King’s Mouth. Although it has lost its great power, ‘it’ is still pouring out legions of demons.

The role of the three apostles who protect the church is to block the forces of those monsters.

“I heard you called, Your Holiness.”

Israfil, who had finished the handover with the Second Apostle, was summoned to the headquarters without even having time to wipe the blood of the demons from his pure white robes.

The ‘Oracle Room’, where only a limited number of people can enter within the vast temple.

Entering what was now the office of the Ecumenical Patriarch Adam Mayfield, Israfil could not help but feel a sense of trepidation.

Continuing the story up to the point just before, many changes occurred in the mountain range after the Demon King’s death.

Especially environmentally… … for example, plants that have been eroded and deteriorated by magic.

Israfil glanced at the boy who had called him and was leisurely pouring tea.

White hair that reaches down to her waist, and golden eyes that sparkle softly.

His androgynous appearance made him appear both as a boy and a girl, depending on the viewer’s perspective, but what was important at this moment was not the Pope’s outward appearance.

“Your Majesty… … .”

Israfil sighed softly and touched her forehead. Her complex expression soon revealed concern about the Pope’s actions.

Her complicated gaze fell on Adam’s fingertips. More precisely, on the purple blade of grass he was holding in his hand.

“… … If I’m not mistaken, that grass definitely looks like ‘croist’.”

“Huh?”

And only then did Adam turn to Israfil. He smiled brightly, with a childlike expression that suited his appearance.

“You’re already here? Israfil. You didn’t have to rush here. It looks like you came straight here without even stopping by.”

“… … .”

“But you should have wiped off some of the blood. Tsk tsk, what would the goddess think of that appearance?”

Even when remarks that seemed to reprimand his behavior were made, Israfil simply gave an indifferent expression.

Even if I said that now, I knew you would say something like, “If you’re going to be late, go home early.”

“Are you thinking of boiling poison and eating it? I can’t really recommend it.”

Israfil simply listened with one ear and continued to speak. Her gaze was fixed persistently on the purple petals Adam was holding.

Poisonous Croist. A common plant that once grew in the Hespanian Mountains, but has become poisonous after being exposed to the power of the Demon King.

Even though it was a relic of the Demon King that even a priest with divine power could not benefit from long-term contact with it.

“Hey, tsk.”

Adam clicked his tongue and brushed it off as if he didn’t want to hear Israfil’s nagging.

Because it was something that had already been said over and over again by several cardinals.

Adam glared at Israfil with his halibut eyes and lost his temper.

“If you look closely, you tend to treat me like an old man in the back room. How could I not know what you know? I know everything, so don’t meddle in my every move.”

How pitiful of you all to not know the sharp taste of this Croist, Israfil decided to give up after Adam added that.

“Do whatever you want, then. Even if you drink it wrong and pass out, I don’t know about it.”

“Why don’t you curse so openly?”

Adam lifted his teacup with a weary expression, and Israfil shrugged his shoulders slyly.

Even though she said this, she also knew that the giant in front of her was too great a priest to be harmed by a mere Croist.

Even if he drinks a basin full of poisonous herbs or poisonous tea, he will not lose his appetite.

As for her, she was just nagging him from the apostle’s perspective, but she didn’t mean it.

“Let’s get to the point. Unlike Your Majesty, who has no time to spare, I am a very busy person.”

“Hmm.”

So Israfil murmured as he stirred the cold wind. Because of the recent events, it seemed that he would not be able to speak nicely to Adam for a while.

And Adam, who knew very well the reason, answered with the corners of his lips raised.

“Are you that upset that I separated you from that Evan guy for this evaluation?”

“… … .”

“I think you need to learn how to control your expression, Israfil. But I am the superior, so why should I be whining like that?”

“… … Sorry if I was rude.”

“Hey, now you come?”

Adam, whose eyes were exaggeratedly wide, soon began to giggle, and Israfil pouted his lips.

“You could have given me that much. You know how much I cherish that child, so why did you have to cut me off so abruptly?”

A few days ago, during the pre-conference for the third quarter evaluation exam, Israfil chose Evan as a matter of course during the process of selecting the supervisors to be dispatched to various parts of the continent along with the candidates for saints and saintesses.

Among the regions selected to evaluate the candidates’ abilities, there were several regions so dangerous that they had to move in conjunction with an apostle or high-ranking inquisitor.

The Duchy of Rayhem, which was assigned to ‘Saint Candidate Evan Lane’, was also one of those high-risk groups, so rather than leaving it to someone else, he wanted to take charge himself… … .

-Not allowed.

The Pope, who usually did not express his personal opinion much during meetings, directly rejected it.

So, even if Israfil tries not to be dissatisfied, he cannot help but feel dissatisfied.

She snapped at Adam, who was calmly sipping his teacup no matter what she said.

“Please be honest with me. Since you separated me from Evan, I’m guessing there must have been a reason for that.”

“Hmm… … .”

“You really didn’t think I would interfere with the evaluation test to favor Evan, did you?”

Israfil approached Adam with a rather menacing air, crossing his arms and glaring at him.

In fact, there was once a voice of concern raised in the conference room.

It was already a public fact that the First Apostle loved one of the candidates for sainthood. So wouldn’t it be logical to separate the two?

“I wouldn’t have done that.”

Adam snorted and put down his teacup. Israfil was struck by the sight of the purple, boiling liquid, already reduced by more than half.

How on earth can one drink that with one’s mouth? Could it be that the stomach of a snake that has lived for over two hundred years is different? Israfil was about to roll his eyes suspiciously as he thought about that.

“Even if you were Evan Lane… … and had sex with that kid, you’re not the type of person to get involved in public affairs, are you? Hahaha.”

“… … .”

A single word that came at a completely unexpected time made her stiffen.

It felt like he had been hit by the Archmage’s petrification spell. Israfil fluttered his eyelashes and looked at Adam. He was smiling wickedly.

“Oh, you didn’t think I didn’t know, did you?”

“… … how, how.”

“How could I not notice that the child who was already like a monster has finally reached a similar level to me? You are such a fool, Israfil.”

Ti, ttaebang? Israfil’s pupils trembled. She had never imagined that she would hear such words from anyone other than Evan.

As if he could see right through her, Adam continued speaking with a mocking smile.

“Your realm is like that, but so is Evan. I’ve seen him enter areas that only the Heresia family’s children can’t reach without a problem, and from then on, well. It’s elimination.”

The number of followers of the Sun Church exceeds tens of thousands. However, there are not many among them who can develop Evan’s divine nature to the next level.

“If not you, then next is Isabel… … .”

Israfil Ha’el, or Isabel Cedent. But the answer was pretty much set in stone.

Adam blurted out, mocking Israfil, who had already covered his face with both hands.

“Don’t you know? Even as an adult, that Isabel is not the type to attack Evan, whom I’ve known since he was a little kid.”

Unlike you, he is a noble child in that way. Israfil’s head felt like it was going to explode at Adam’s additional muttering.

“On the other hand, it’s not a possibility that Evan attacked her, considering that Evan is still able to walk around with his arms and legs intact.”

“… … .”

“So there’s no one else but you? Actually, I knew this would happen all along. You must have been so vicious in your eyes when you looked at your younger brother.”

“… … sigh.”

Adam’s every word pierced him like a sharp knife. Israfil clutched his heart, feeling like he wanted to vomit blood. He could not, could not find a word to refute him…

Adam watched her for a long time with amusement. After all, it was not easy to see the First Apostle ruined like this.

“… … Well, let’s stop joking.”

Adam drank the remaining purple liquid in his teacup and rested his chin on his hand, looking a little more serious than before.

“Israel Ha’el.”

And at those heavy words, Israfil also quickly straightened his posture.

Adam Mayfield is not a man who values authority, but when he does, he carries that weight.

Although he was usually quite playful and easy-going, he was a pope.

Because the name of a religious leader who oversees an entire continent could never be light.

“Please speak, Your Majesty.”

Israfil immediately straightened her posture and lowered her head. Her aquamarine hair flowed gracefully along the line of her neck.

Adam slowly sat up and his eyes turned golden.

“──The trust has been handed down.”

“… … !”

The words that followed were certainly not words that could be said lightly. In other words, they were words that could not be taken lightly.

Israfil swallowed dryly and slowly lowered his posture. He reverently knelt on one knee and bowed toward the golden light radiating from Adam.

From now on, what he said was not what he said as the leader of the Solar Church.

Now that the previous saints and saintesses have laid down their powers, the only being in the Hespanian Mountains who can hear the voice of the Goddess.

That is, a revelation conveyed as a representative of the Goddess.

Adam’s eyes were dimly gleaming.

“The King of Demons will rise again, and the danger will come in two forms.”

“One is the dukedom in the southern part of the empire, and the other is the swampland in the western part of the empire.”

“Prepare thoroughly so that the continent will not be covered in darkness again. It is God’s will.”

It was a voice that shook the space. Looking straight into the golden light that shone brightly as if the goddess herself had descended, Israfil bowed his head and answered without a moment of hesitation.

“First Apostle Israfil, I will obey your command.”

“Hmm.”

And Adam also nodded his head in satisfaction. Soon, the light that had filled the oracle room dispersed, and Adam placed his hand on his forehead with a pained expression.

“… … Phew.”

“Are you alright, Your Majesty?”

Israfil hastily got up and supported him. No one but her could not have been unaware of how much divine power it took to follow the will of the goddess.

Ten years ago, on that fateful day with Evan, it was the voice of the goddess that led her to the back alleys of that remote area.

Even if it looked fine on the outside, there was no way to know what kind of damage had occurred on the inside.

In fact, Adam’s complexion had noticeably worsened, and his demeanor had also become dangerously unstable.

“… … Excuse me.”

Israfil sighed softly and gave Adam some of his divine power.

It may only give you a little boost of energy, but it’s better than nothing.

Adam smiled faintly as he slowly regained his strength through the divine power of the sea blue.

“It’s done, Israfil. Why are you making such a fuss? I’m fine.”

“… …Your Majesty.”

“Huh? Just watch this guy open his eyes. Then I’ll really hit him, tsk.”

Adam pushed Israfil away, frowning, as if he found it annoying. He looked like a boy, but his words and actions were those of an old man.

Israfil couldn’t help but be worried, but Adam’s attitude was also stubborn. He simply controlled his breathing and continued his explanation.

“In my opinion, the swamp area is more problematic than the Duchy of Lehem. It is also the area where Orthos was summoned five years ago… … . Hmm, I have a bad feeling about this.”

“So you’re going to send me over there?”

“That’s right. Even if you put aside your personality, you are more trustworthy than Isabel in terms of ability.”

“… … .”

“Ugh, just kidding, just kidding. Don’t make that face.”

Adam waved his hand again, chuckling, and Israfil sighed and asked again.

“… … I can understand if it’s a question of risk. Then why don’t we just change Evan’s dispatch location to the swamp?”

It may be a bit embarrassing to say more now, but isn’t it better to lose than to gain?

If he really had to go to the swamp, he could just change Evan’s dispatch location. With that logic, Israfil expressed his intention to Adam.

“Not allowed.”

Adam shook his head firmly, as he had done during previous meetings, and dismissed the suggestion.

Israfil’s eyebrows furrowed.

“This part is just my intuition.”

But Adam had his reasons. After all, he wasn’t doing this just to tease Israfil for no reason.

His eyes became blurry again.

“I don’t think it would be good to send Evan to the swamp. No, to be precise, I don’t think it would be good to send a ‘man’.”

“… … Yes? That’s what I mean.”

Israfil frowned in embarrassment. It was a very meaningful warning and advice. However, it was not right to just ignore it.

“Tsk… …! Why do you keep asking? If that’s the case, then just know that! I’m the Pope, the Pope.”

“… … .”

Adam’s nervous scolding was a scolding, and Israfil was convinced because he was not unaware of the mystery of the ‘prophetic power’ that he possessed as the Pope.

If Adam was speaking so decisively, it meant that the situation was seriously serious.

“… … Okay… … .”

“… … Hey.”

She nodded slightly, and Adam didn’t scold her any further.

In any case, Israfil is the next most powerful figure in this Solar Church.

If the Demon King’s return occurs after hundreds of years as prophesied… … she would become a key figure in the fight to subdue the Demon King.

After all, she is still only a young woman of twenty-seven years old.

“Hoo.”

Adam let out a soft sigh. Every time this happened, he felt his own helplessness.

What is the strongest priest, and what is the hero of two hundred years ago? What is this half-old man who is chained to this insignificant mountain range?

“… … I will leave the work under the mountain to you, Israfil.”

Still, he was in a position where he had no choice but to say this.

Adam muttered weakly, and Israfil nodded calmly, guessing what he was thinking.

“I will do my best in my position, Your Majesty.”

Adam didn’t answer. He just patted Israfil on the back bitterly.

****

“Ah, so you will be accompanying the Heresia family’s child. I heard that you are not close, but you are acquainted with each other… … . Am I right?”

“… … Yes, yes? Hey, Youngae Heresia?”

“Yes. Lete Heresia.”

“Ah, uh, um.”

“Israfil?”

“… …Your Majesty.”

“Huh?”

“Actually, because of my, man problem… … . I had a bit of a rough relationship with that Heresia lady. I, I did something similar to declare war.”

“… … .”

“… … Would it be okay if I asked for a change in personnel? Why, if it were another candidate for the saintess… … .”

“Israfil.”

“Yes, yes.”

“Don’t be a jerk.”

“… … .”

“… … You’re older than me. I recommend that you approach her first like an adult.”

“Yeah… … .”