episode_0181

Before the investigation, I first considered the possibility of Moriarty’s involvement.

However, Shinseong-guk was as sacred as its name implied.

Except for the puppets walking around, afflicted by the Pope’s [Divine Word], it was just a beautiful country outwardly worshipping the Goddess of Light.

Helping, rescuing, and bringing the needy to the temple to share blessings.

Of course, knowing that this was a ‘proselytizing’ activity, I couldn’t help but laugh.

But there’s no need to stir up trouble.

Even coding developers don’t bother to touch things if they work properly, so I judged that it wasn’t my business as an outsider.

Except for that hypocritical appearance, I couldn’t sense any artificial magic anywhere.

There was no trace of materials or human resources that Moriarty frequently uses, and most importantly, there was no reason for them to set foot in this place, the Pope’s perfect model garden.

Still, the investigation continued.

The Luminaus Grand Cathedral’s entry was perfectly controlled, so I couldn’t see that cunning Pope’s face again, but I searched the five dioceses thoroughly for traces.

The result was… nothing.

Since I was investigating secretly, I couldn’t use force, and doing more would only be like stirring a hornet’s nest, so I decided to stop.

Then, on the last day…

The Pope himself initiated a meeting.

That day, exhausted from an all-night investigation, I stayed in my room until late morning.

Bang- Crash—!!

Alex suddenly burst into the room.

His flustered movements were impossible to ignore, so I quickly covered my lower body, merged with Tier, with the blanket and slightly raised my body.

“What is it?”

“I sincerely apologize for intruding on a lady’s room…!! However…”

Haah- Haah-

Alex continued without a moment to catch his breath.

“His Holiness the Pope has summoned us all to the Grand Cathedral…!!”

“Hmm… I see. What time?”

“The sooner the better—!! I’ll inform the Saintess immediately—”

“Ah— that’s alright.”

I advised him to calm down, and told Tier to wait outside and get some fresh air while I relayed the message.

Creeeak— Bang-

“Ugh- Ughh—!!”

As soon as Alex left the room, Tier, fresh out of a cleaning… ahem… session, thrashed around under the covers.

“Sorry, I was breathless.”

“Phaaah— Kurgh, Kek—”

I had accidentally thrust myself… all the way… into her throat in my haste.

As I patted her back, helping her catch her breath, Tier, once composed, grabbed my shoulders and leaned in.

“What do we do, what do we do—?! Did we do something wrong—?!”

“It’s not that. If we did something wrong, they would have sent soldiers and shackles, not a messenger.”

“Then what’s going on…?”

“How would I know.”

I got up, throwing off the covers, and wiped myself with a towel.

I took a bath last night, so if the Pope raises the issue of my unwashed hair, I’ll retort, “You’re bald, you wouldn’t understand the hardships of those with hair.”

“Get dressed. Let’s get ready and go.”

“Okay…”

“Wait, and—”

From now on, it’s uncharted territory.

There’s no way to predict what will happen, and even though I have some idea, it’s too late to form a concrete plan.

So I need to do at least minimal preparation.

I shifted my gaze towards Tier’s luggage.

“You brought that, right?”

“What… which one?”

“The gift I gave you.”

Tier blushed silently before quietly nodding.

“Since it was only oral, you’re still lacking, aren’t you?”

“Is that important now…?! I don’t have time for that—”

“Why do you need time? We can do it simultaneously.”

It didn’t take her long to understand what I meant. After all, she’d already experienced it.

I carefully removed Tier’s panties again, and looked up slightly at her face.

“I’m putting a dildo inside you all day today.”

Her pouting, lips bitten, looked like she really didn’t want to.

But her ‘mouth’ was honest.

Chup—

“…Both?”

“As you wish.”

. . .

After getting ready, we joined Alex and the other priests.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes sir-!”

It wasn’t far from lunchtime, so everyone seemed to have fully recovered from their fatigue.

With Jay’s energetic voice, we went outside.

In front of the inn, Papal Knights were waiting.

They looked strangely listless, despite being on duty. Instead, an unpleasant ‘light’, someone else’s will, filled them.

‘The [Divine Word] again…’

It’s more difficult to find someone who hasn’t been brainwashed.

I don’t like to mention that name, but their actions are very similar to Moriarty’s.

“Are we going straight to the Grand Cathedral?”

……

The Knights stood quietly before us in a well-ordered formation. Their vacant expressions showed no intention of hiding their brainwashed state under the [Divine Word].

The priests were equally suspicious.

“If you’re picking us up, at least bring a carriage or something.”

“It seems like a bigger problem, Ms. Philbrogue.”

“The hospitality is terrible, terrible.”

Jay also agreed, raising his fist, but the Knights still didn’t react.

They simply encircled us in formation and walked endlessly towards the Grand Cathedral.

Thump- Thump-

We retraced our steps from the first day, and soon the outer walls of the Grand Cathedral came into view.

There were still guards making a clamorous sound of armor and paladins exuding a terrifying aura.

GulP—

I was trying to keep my breathing quiet when I heard Tier gulp beside me.

“Still nervous?”

“No, it’s— Uh—”

She was twisting her legs as if she needed to use the bathroom. I, on the other hand, didn’t seem to be nervous or anything.

Clang-!

After waiting for a while in front of the wall, a large iron gate opened, and the Knights who were escorting us parted to make way.

Standing upright, facing the center, they looked like suits of armor arranged in a father’s audience chamber.

Clank-

The guards were putting away their large spears, apparently suggesting we should go inside.

But Alex, who was leading the way, froze in place.

“D-Don’t worry… We will protect the Saintess and Ms. Philbrogue…!!”

“Y-Y-Yes sir-!! W-We will definitely—”

Their trembling, nervous appearance was pathetic yet heartwarming at the same time.

Pat-

I lightly patted their shoulders.

“Let’s go inside. Do you think we’re here to die?”

“H-Haha… Sorry…”

Alex slapped his cheeks twice before taking a step forward, his face red.

. . .

The walk inside was rather uncomfortable.

The neatly organized corridor, the elegant decorations, the clean air… everything was high-end, undeniably beautiful.

But soldiers lined up on either side of the path. Though their faces were hidden by their helmets, I could feel their unsettling gazes.

It felt like walking down a corridor with dozens of CCTV cameras. Even if I had done nothing wrong, I felt a chill down my spine.

Tier also followed behind me with an awkward gait, shivering at every glance.

Thump-

“The Saintess’s party has arrived.”

“Please proceed—”

Déjà vu.

An extremely ordinary room, at least one I had often experienced since childhood, a room belonging to someone at the top of power.

The department head’s office, the dean’s office, the tower master’s office, the guild master’s office and the largest one… King Naifrantz’s audience chamber. It looked no different.

But at the same time, a sense of unease.

Those in high positions see a lot, and always carry many responsibilities. They build many steps forward into the future, and fill their rooms with countless worries to look after many people.

However, in Pope Gregorio’s heart, in the Chapel Luminosa, there were no such ‘feelings’ to be found.

Only light.

Paintings, statues, sacred objects, gold coins, countless offerings dedicated to the Goddess of Light.

It was impossible to imagine this as the room of someone ruling a country based on religion.

“Ah, you’ve come.”

……

Thump- Thump-

Walking towards Pope Gregorio standing in the center, I stared directly into his face. My eyesight was far above average, and his face was clear to me from the moment the door opened.

And that face did not waver at all.

As if he was not at all ashamed of this sight he showed us, or didn’t even think of hiding it.

“What is all this…”

“Uh- O-over there… a sheep… alive…!!”

What caught Jay’s eye was a sheep burning alive on the altar, with its eyes wide open.

Kee- Keeing-

Was it tightly bound with iron chains? It didn’t even try to move, only writhing and groaning as its limbs were restrained.

“What is the meaning of this—!! Release it immediately—!!”

“Hehe… That’s impossible. Today is a truly auspicious day, so we should offer a worthy sacrifice to the Goddess.”

“Are you serious—!!”

Thwack-

I stopped Jay, who was about to rush forward.

“Wait.”

“But, Ms. Philbrogue…!!”

I pushed aside the shoulders of the priests and stepped forward.

Clang-

Tier’s hand grabbed me.

Her own hands were trembling violently, and her frenzied eyes showed no sign of calming down. Yet, she held me back, shaking her head.

“Don’t go…!”

Did she sense something bad? Tier looked on the verge of tears.

However, I’m probably the only one who can stay calm in this situation. Tired of playing the Academy cadet game, at least to find out the truth…

I had to stand before the Pope.

So, I simply smiled without answering.

“D-don’t…”

Slither-

Her weak hands released me.

Thanks to that, I could walk to the center of the temple without any interference.

Whoosh-

“The weather’s lovely today, isn’t it?”

“Hehe… You have good taste. I believe your name—”

“Narias Philbrogue, Your Holiness.”

Pope Gregorio adjusted his hat with the back of his hand, composing his expression.

“Excellent, Philbrogue. In fact, I had high hopes for you as well as the Saintess.”

“Me?”

“Hehe- Yes, you! Sadly, you didn’t receive the blessing of the , but I felt you share similar thoughts to us. Your guts, particularly.”

He got really excited.

It seemed that he didn’t even notice the expressions of my companions behind me. Just spattering his saliva and saying what he wanted to say, half-mad.

Then he suddenly extended his hand toward me.

“How about it? Won’t you join us?”

“Excuse me, Pope Gregorio. I’ve never heard of the glorious purpose of the Luminaus Church.”

The golden eyes behind his round glasses flickered.

Whether he disliked my refusal, my question, or even the fact that I considered them disagreeable…

It’s none of my business.

I just wanted to hear the purpose behind his shenanigans.

“Hehe- Well, that’s true—!! It’s shocking that I, myself, didn’t properly explain it to my colleague meant to enjoy the light with me… Very well, only—”

“Only?”

Thump- Thump-

Pope Gregorio stopped mid-sentence, passing me to the gathered priests.

He took off his glasses, throwing them to the ground, and spread his arms.

‘…That’s!!’

I knew what that posture meant.

And as I vaguely suspected, I realized that the Pope’s aim was no different from Akasto’s.

“Tier—!! Close your eyes and cover your ears—!!”

But it was too late.

The Pope’s target was the Saintess herself, and the light mana erupting explosively from him was a sign he was about to cast a unique spell.

「O children of Light, who possess fragments of Radiance, obey me this instant and offer everything to the Goddess—!!」

That was the [Divine Word].

A mental manipulation spell so strong that it surpassed even dark magic.

If the target was a believer of the same god, it would be absolutely foolproof and inescapable.

Truly, the worst kind of brainwashing magic.