episode_0381

Pope. The moment I heard those words, I felt my already dizzy mind become even more complicated.

This is someone I will have to meet someday. As long as I am Fabi’s friend, and as long as I am an apostle of the Lord. Because we must stop what the Pope is trying to do.

But it’s still too early. What I have right now is not enough to face the Pope.

“Why is that old man coming here?”

“Bishop John said that it was to give Rasha a direct warning about an incident not long ago.”

It was nonsense. The Pope has already signed a contract of sorts with Rasha. It’s been a long time since we decided to do our own thing without interfering with each other, so what kind of warning is that?

Above all, the Pope is not a person who would feel angry about people in the church dying.

Because of the attention of those around him, he may pretend to be angry, but inside he will be infinitely cold. Why would a person like that take back a contract he made himself?

Rasha is an excuse. There is another reason for him to come here.

“Ajumma.”

“I’m currently in disguise.”

“He was hysterical even though the sound was already blocked. So, everyone avoids you when they see you.”

“Why is that story now.”

“That’s it. While I was conquering a crappy dungeon, have you ever felt the disgusting energy of a crappy god come out?”

“Uh. Didn’t you know? Since you went inside, it has been continuously flowing out little by little.”

…shit. You gave me a poor job. Why do you keep showing off your presence needlessly? So the moth follows your light.

I bit my lip and slowly turned my gaze to look at my friends. Those who had been pointing out each other’s mistakes just a moment ago were now working together to devise a strategy to conquer the next dungeon.

The timing wasn’t good. Just a few more days and we can solve everything in this archipelago.

Not even a few days. Assuming you work hard, you’ll be able to finish everything you want to do and leave in just two more days.

However, it was difficult to be sure what result that lingering regret would bring.

“Ajumma. Who is the bastard bishop?”

“Waiting at the accommodation.”

*

Bishop John, who was waiting at the lodgings, had not only thrown off his priestly garb but was also wearing a simple disguise.

It didn’t turn into a completely different person like Kariana Alsatin’s disguise, but there was no problem.

No one would think that the strict-tempered John would disguise himself to hide his identity.

“I don’t know where His Holiness the Pope is right now.”

John answered my question by smoothing his beard as if he was uncomfortable.

“He left the place as soon as the saint returned. I heard you have a lot of personal work to do.”

“Is it okay for a person to be the Pope?”

When Caria, who was listening to the story next to him, frowned, Johan laughed.

“Originally, this shouldn’t have happened, but there is no one in the present church who can stop His Holiness. He can do anything if he wants to.”

“…I don’t think there is such absolute power even in the Tersha Empire.”

“Haha. what. Back to the main point. Since we do not know where the letter was sent from, it is impossible to guess where it is now. Maybe you’re already around here.”

John shrugged his shoulders, but he probably knew it himself.

The Pope has not arrived here yet. There is no way that a priest with a certain level of skill would not be able to notice his presence.

“So, we have to get out of this island as soon as possible. Youngae.”

Nevertheless, the reason he told such an exaggerated story was to warn me of the danger.

The priest, who acknowledged the usefulness of the Pope but was convinced that he must be overthrown for the Church to take the right path, thought that I was not yet ready to meet the Pope.

“It’s not time yet.”

Just like me. After hearing his warning, I didn’t respond and just stared blankly into space.

To be precise, I looked at the quest window floating in the air.

[Find the treasure of the archipelago!]

To be honest, I didn’t want to get off the island yet.

I don’t know anything else, but I wanted to engrave in my eyes everything that the Lord Heojeop had arranged.

I thought that if I looked into Lucy’s past, I would be able to understand the anger that welled up in her heart when she heard her parents’ insults. Because I felt like I could understand the tickling feeling I felt every time I saw Benedick. Above all, you will be able to find out why Heojeop Jusin did such a troublesome thing to the archipelago.

If I were alone here, I would have been willing to take the risk.

Instead, they might have enjoyed it because it was a speed run. If it had been beyond the monitor, I would have cheered as it was a new event.

But I am not alone, and I am not the only one who will be in trouble if I become entangled with the Pope in this matter.

As I was staring at the quest window, I decided to use the reward I had been saving up until now.

Originally, I wasn’t planning on using it unless I was in real danger of dying, but still.

– Tiring.

My thoughts were interrupted the moment I heard a cheerful notification sound.

[Quest on hold!]

[Try again later!]

As I checked the messages in the blue window several times, I couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Are you saying that I can come here and complete the quest at any time? Your arrangement won’t go away, so it doesn’t matter if you step away for a while, right?

I don’t know exactly what you want, but it’s very important for me to show you Lucy’s past.

I giggled for a while, even though Johan and Caria looked at me like I didn’t know what was going on, then I wiped away the tears from my eyes and stood up.

“It turned out well. It’s been a long time since I got tired of this worn-out village.”

I’ll step away for now, but it won’t take long to come back.

Second year students at the academy have the right to attack external dungeons and the obligation to achieve results in several dungeons.

“Luckily, I can go back before the disgusting smell from here transfers.”

When I come back here again, I will definitely look into all of Lucy’s past. You will find out what awaits you at the end.

“…Disgraceful! I thought I would win the bet just a little longer!”

“This time the idiot is right! Lucy Aln! Are you running away because you feel like you’re going to lose?”

“Prince?! Why are you suddenly attacking me too?!”

“Noisy! Is now the time to worry about such things?”

When I told them I was going back to the kingdom, Joey and Arthur made straight faces. I guess I can see a way to win the bet just a little longer, so why should I go back?

As someone who doesn’t know the details of the situation, it seems like they are running away because they feel like they are going to lose the bet.

“Against solidarity. We just suffered.”

But why is Frey like this? Those two people are wearing rabbit headbands, whiskers, and now tails, so it’s natural for them to be angry, but Frey hasn’t suffered anything.

I glared at her without saying anything, and Frey slowly closed his mouth. It seems like he was taking advantage of the atmosphere and saying whatever he wanted.

“Anyway, I can’t go back! If you’re going to go back, go alone!”

“Me too! I would even hire another adventurer to conquer this dungeon!”

“Why do it?”

“Yes? So, Lady Kent will be with us too, right?”

“Why me? I’m going back with Lucy.”

“Yes?!”

“Fray Kent! You betray us!”

As I watched the three people bickering, I laughed and snapped my fingers. Then there were three knights of Aln who were guarding us. To be precise, I was surrounded by two people who limited cooperative play.

“Lady?”

“Lucy Alln. What are you doing?”

“Two stupid idiots. Do I look like the type of person who would listen to other people’s stupid nonsense?”

In any given situation, I would listen to their opinions, but not now. What might happen if Rasha falls on the archipelago with the Pope? And I have no intention of leaving the two people who have become so precious to me in such a dangerous place.

“Ruthless! This body is Arthur Solladin, the 3rd prince of the Kingdom of Solladin! How dare the Margrave’s knights lay their hands on me!”

Arthur, realizing what I was trying to do, invoked his authority, but that wasn’t a good idea. The Knights of Aln are certainly loyal to the kingdom, but they were the people of Aln before that.

“Prince. Give up, right? You know how monstrous these people are, right?”

“Joy! That’s why you can’t fix that stupidity! In times like this, we need to be more desperate!”

“And even the prince can’t do anything!”

As I was watching the two people who had abandoned their status as a prince and a duke’s daughter and became childhood friends and bickering, I shrugged my shoulders when Karl looked at me asking me what to do.

“I didn’t know that the poor prince liked training so much. I understand. I will pay special attention.”

“…What kind of nonsense is this all of a sudden? Lucy Alln.”

“I’ll let you play among the idiots of Aln until the Rookie Academy opens. Just as the poor prince wished.”

Arthur’s face hardens after hearing my words. It looks like the training he received at the Arn Knights was very enjoyable. When he was happy, I was happy too.

“Prince. So I told you not to resist. Because I’m making a fuss for no reason.”

“You idiot. Of course you are together.”

“…Yes? What is that? no! that! I have work to do at the Patran family!”

“Are you really stupid in areas other than magic? Did you forget what I said in that cute voice? I guess you said you got permission from the sloppy duke for everything?”

“Oh no!”

Seeing Joey in the same despair next to Arthur, I forgot to control my expression and let out a hearty laugh. I couldn’t bear it otherwise, so I had no choice.

*

Two days later, Lucy and her party left on the Artea family’s sailboat. Rasha, who came out of the water, suddenly spit out the salt water that had entered her mouth.

shit. I never thought that not a single sailor would take me on board. It’s true that I play games often, but playing games in the archipelago won’t cause any harm to those guys.

“It’s been a while. Rasha.”

The moment Rasha took off her top while grumbling and was trying to squeeze out the water from her clothes, the old man’s voice reached her ears. Rasha did not even turn her head and let out a childish voice.

“The old man is running after everything. What’s going on?”

“I came to warn you about what you have done.”

“That’s terrible. Even if I didn’t do it, you would have done it.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Rasha sighs at the old man’s sly tone. He acts so solemn when speaking in public, but why is he like that when we meet in private?

“So what is it?”

“I would like you to conquer the dungeon together.”

“I don’t like it. It feels like my lifespan is being shortened in real time when you are next to me.”

“There seems to be a misunderstanding. You don’t have a choice.”

“…Fuck. Really.”

Boom! Is it because Rasha’s anger has spilled over to her hands? The clothes I tried to handle with care tore in half.

Rasha, who was looking at him blankly, threw the tattered clothes at the old man. The old man avoided him as if it was natural.