Holy Kingdom – The Pope (1)

As I was led out of the room by Jade’s hand-

“Fufufu.”

Annie stood before us with a sinister smile.

Her arms crossed and eyes half-lidded.

Anyone could tell she was brimming with mischief.

“Annie? What’s with that sly expression?”

“You know exactly why. Rena’s voice echoing all night was so loud I couldn’t sleep.”

“Euk…”

“Ahem…”

Jade and I simultaneously let out embarrassed noises when she hit the nail on the head.

We did enjoy ourselves rather passionately. Soundproofing wasn’t exactly this small house’s strong suit.

Did Sir Antonio hear everything too?

That’s slightly embarrassing.

“Oh my? Looks like you came out holding hands too?”

“We’re lovers now. Right, Rena?”

Rather than being embarrassed by Annie’s teasing, Jade actually seemed more confident.

He looked more self-assured than when he first became the Hero.

Is this what a man who’s conquered a woman looks like?

I want to tease the always-innocent Jade, but…

Today being our first time having sex, I should humor him.

-Swoosh.

I pressed my body against Jade’s.

“That’s right. We planned to announce our relationship properly.”

“Ugh.”

Annie pretended to gag at our lovey-dovey display.

“This single lady’s sides are freezing from all this sweetness.”

“Fufu, Annie, you should find a boyfriend quickly too.”

“Where would I even find someone to date… I’ve already left the academy. I’m jealous of you two.”

Still, Annie’s eyes showed genuine happiness for us.

After all, she’d been rooting for Jade and me since way back.

“This won’t do.”

Annie suddenly grabbed my free hand.

“Why the sudden hand-holding?”

“Jade, I’m borrowing Rena for a bit. Don’t worry, I’m not stealing her. Okay?”

“…Huh? Uh, sure.”

Leaving the nodding Jade behind, Annie started dragging me away.

-Tap tap tap.

Only after putting some distance between us and Jade did Annie finally stop.

“What’s this about?”

“Need to ask a few things. So how was it? Judging by the sounds, it must’ve been wild.”

“T-that’s kind of embarrassing to talk about.”

“You know it’s important.”

“Important…?”

Ah.

Now I understood Annie’s intention.

Back in Growburn Village, I’d told her about my struggles with sexual frustration.

She must have worried that if things with Jade weren’t satisfying, it might cause problems again.

Well, my answer was already decided.

“…It was incredible. I think I passed out at the end.”

“Gasp. That intense?”

Annie covered her mouth in shock at my vivid description.

“Though seeing all those hickeys on your neck, I can believe it. Still, you should cover those. Unless you want temple rumors about what you did with Jade.”

“R-really? Didn’t think about that.”

I touched my neck at Annie’s words.

I could feel slightly swollen skin.

Last night Jade didn’t just leave marks – he tried to paint my whole body red. After all that pent-up frustration, it made sense.

He probably wants everyone to see me like this.

In that sense, Jade seems to be getting more devious too.

“Anyway, I never knew Jade had that side. Like a beast. It was exhausting… but felt amazing.”

Truthfully, sex with Jade was quite satisfying.

I especially wanted to applaud Jade’s genius idea of “Orphenis”.

Who would’ve thought to coat that with aura?

What if he made a mistake and hurt me?

But judging by Jade’s eyes back then, he’d lost all reason thinking about having sex with me.

Anyway, thicker aura coating means adjustable size, thickness, and shape – absolutely brilliant.

“Glad to hear it. At least Jade’s performing his manly duties well.”

“So Annie, no need to worry about me anymore.”

“Still, don’t overdo it. If he asks for weird things, refuse. Men always have strange fetishes.”

“Huh? What weird things?”

“Uh… w-well, you know…”

As expected, Annie turned bright red at even mild sexual teasing.

I wonder who Annie will have sex with someday…

If she brings home a shady guy, I’ll have to stop her.

‘How should I approach next time with Jade?’

I should try making Jade order me to use honorifics or serve him.

That would make getting dominated even more exciting.

**

Gathered around the large table in the living room, we began discussing future plans.

“Sir Antonio, when do you plan to visit His Holiness?”

Jade was the first to ask about the schedule.

“I was thinking tomorrow. We must strike before the Pope can prepare defenses.”

“What’s your plan once there? Even if we demand the Saint join the Hero’s party, I doubt they’ll comply easily.”

Even if the Hero requested it, they could just claim the Saint was ill, leaving us powerless.

By the way, I noticed Antonio kept calling the Pope “nim” instead of “Your Holiness” – must hold serious grudges.

“True. I suspect the Pope secretly profits from the Saint’s holy power. Her existence must be crucial to him. My plan is for you to rescue her.”

Antonio picked up a rolled parchment nearby.

-Rustle.

The unfolded paper revealed walls and rooms drawn with lines.

‘A map?’

Clearly an interior blueprint of some building.

“This shows the Grand Temple and Papal Court. The Saint must be somewhere here. Formal Hero appointments take time – we’ll search while everyone stays at the temple.”

“After rescuing her… do we just leave with the Saint?”

“Yes. I’ll handle the aftermath. Head to demon territory with the intel. Thanks to you, she’ll escape the Pope’s clutches.”

Antonio nodded at Jade’s question.

This plan felt too restrictive.

While we could leave with the Saint, the Holy Kingdom’s problems would remain – surely causing future issues.

“I think we should use this chance to overhaul the Holy Kingdom. Jade and Annie must feel uneasy leaving things as is. Right?”

“Rena’s correct. While the Saint matters, I’m more concerned about the kingdom’s issues. I’ve heard many stories of commoners suffering under corrupt priests.”

“I’d prefer that too… but doubt many would support us. Most already side with the Pope.”

“Don’t give up yet. We have our strongest card – Jade. Using the Hero’s name, we can rally people to expose the corrupt Church.”

My main motivation was guilt toward Antonio.

He shouldn’t end up a pitiful outcast after all his efforts.

-BANG BANG BANG!

Someone started pounding violently on the door.

“Huh? Did you invite someone else?”

“…No one else was summoned here today.”

Antonio’s grave expression answered my question.

Then these weren’t guests but intruders.

-Hum.

Releasing mana to sense our surroundings… at least a dozen armed individuals. Their holy energy marked them as Papal envoys.

“Let me check first.”

Grabbing his wall-leaning hammer, Antonio approached the door.

-Creeeak.

As Antonio cautiously opened it, armored men stood outside weapons drawn.

The most lavishly dressed man stepped forward.

His long mustache was particularly noticeable.

“Sir Antonio. A pleasure.”

“Hoho, Cardinal Cassios. What brings you here with so many Holy Knights? Planning a war?”

“Hahaha! Perish the thought. Merely ensuring my ‘safety’.”

Cassi…os? Was that right?

Since I didn’t recognize the name, he must’ve lucked into becoming Cardinal.

His arrogant demeanor screamed typical power-abusing noble.

No trace of a Cardinal’s dignity.

“…Then state your business. Bringing weapons is rather rude.”

When Antonio hardened his expression, the laughing Cardinal faltered and stepped back.

“Ugh… Calm yourself. You misunderstand. We simply came to escort the Hero.”

‘Oh?’

The Pope had made the first move before we could act. Sending this many meant they’d prepared for us.

Antonio must’ve known reporting Raspa would alert the Pope, but couldn’t ignore tracking a high-ranking demon.

‘What a headache.’

Understanding the situation made my head throb.

Not confident in political battles. Doubt Jade can handle intrigue either.

If all else fails, we might need force.

“Kehehe! The Hero? What nonsense.”

“We know everything. You left the Holy Kingdom days ago to retrieve him.”

“True. But found no Hero in Growburn. Must’ve missed each other. As stated in my dungeon report.”

-Swoosh.

Antonio subtly gestured behind his back.

Clearly telling us to hide.

Though Antonio blocked the entrance, discovery seemed inevitable.

I whispered to the nervous pair:

“They mustn’t find us. Especially you, Jade.”

“Then we should hide.”

Jade lowered his voice too.

“Wh-where? Under here?”

-Thud!

Panicked Annie scrambled under the table.

“How’s this? Hidden?”

Ugh… Her bright red hair was clearly visible.

“Better hide in the bedroom.”

“No good hiding spots here. If they storm in, we’re done for.”

The Cardinal’s voice cut through our panic:

“Hahaha! Is that so? From my view, there are people behind you.”

“Just an old man here. Has your eyesight worsened?”

“If you insist on bluffing… One man and two women in the parlor.”

“…”.

Well, we’re busted.

Antonio seemed momentarily speechless at the Cardinal’s accuracy.

“Annie, just come out. Too late now.”

“…Okay.”

Glum-faced Annie crawled out from under the table.

The timing couldn’t be worse.

They must’ve seen us immediately when the door opened.

“Grr… Fine. I won’t hide that the Hero is with me. But I’ll escort him. Leave.”

“By His Holiness’s order. We brought multiple carriages – please accompany us to the Grand Temple.”

“…What if I refuse?”

Antonio defiantly raised his hammer.

Shing, shing-

Knights immediately drew swords against Antonio.

“You know the answer. We’ll take him by force.”

“Hoho. Seriously? Against me?”

…Am I seeing this right?

“Sigh…”

An involuntary sigh escaped me.

Holy Kingdom knights pointing swords at Antonio? Unthinkable.

In my Hero days, I’d have slapped them already.

‘Was avoiding the Holy Kingdom a mistake?’

The world changed much in just a few years.

Seeing this absurdity, we must completely reform the Holy Kingdom.

Starting by replacing the Pope and Cardinals.

While I don’t think the Pope foolish – if he harmed the Saint, he’ll pay dearly.

If not?

I’ll just enjoy myself.