The long yet short meeting had ended.
The main topic was the plague, and there was no fool who dared to show resentment towards Zion.
Upon arriving at the temple, people dispersed one by one.
Upon returning to the main temple, Hills had already disappeared, and Cain moved Zion to another place, saying he had something to report.
The remaining people were Arundel and Lucas’s party.
Lucas, whether conscious of Zion or having a change of heart, did not approach Arundel, keeping a certain distance.
Arundel felt both relieved and secretly upset about his change.
‘Well, it’s better not to get involved.’
Feeling a contradiction in her emotions, Arundel left the place without regret. As she walked along the path, she saw the slightly hunch back of the Pope who had left earlier.
Arundel quickened her pace and stood next to the Pope. The Pope, who had been focused on other thoughts, was surprised to find Arundel standing next to him.
“Your Holiness!”
“You look like you’re full of worries.”
Arundel spoke in a deliberately light tone, but the Pope’s heavy mood showed no signs of improvement.
He let out a short sigh.
“Can we talk for a moment, Your Majesty the Empress.”
“Of course.”
The Pope took Arundel to a fountain nearby. Water spouted dynamically from the white fountain surrounded by little angels.
“Is it because of the plague?”
At Arundel’s question, the Pope’s eyes became gloomy again.
“Yes, it’s because of the plague. As the days go by, the scale of the plague is growing, and I’m increasingly worried as there is no solution in sight. We’re also desperately short of manpower among the clergy because of the demons…”
Arundel patted the Pope’s back as if to comfort him. He poured out the burdens he had been holding in his heart.
“The reason I and Chief Priest Lucas had a feud was also because of that. I didn’t want to call him in such a way, but there was no other way. The situation is urgent, and the only thing that can move him right now is money…”
When the topic she was curious about came up, Arundel asked cautiously, looking at the situation.
“Chief Priest Lucas…seems to be in need of money…?”
Arundel recalled the dinner time on the day she arrived. The argument that day was short, but it was not ordinary.
[It’s because of the money. That’s why I ran all the way here.]
[I understand that you might feel bad, Lucas. But we were in a hurry too.]
[If it weren’t for ‘that thing’ that was unilaterally notified by the main temple, I would have happily run all the way here.]
Although she couldn’t intervene because the atmosphere was serious, she was curious.
In fact, the Croyden Empire was generous in its support of the temple, so it was rare for the clergy to have financial difficulties.
The same would be true for Chief Priest Lucas. But he took the risk and came all the way here. Because of the money.
Arundel waited for this curiosity to be resolved. And soon, shocking words flowed from the Pope’s mouth.
“It’s because the Elbis Temple, where Chief Priest Lucas belongs, is about to ‘close.’”
“What… what?!”
Arundel’s eyes widened to their fullest. Her voice was drained of color.
The ‘thing’ that the Pope and Lucas had talked about referred to the closure of the Elbis Temple.
“Why… why?”
Arundel’s eyes grew as big as a rabbit’s. The Pope seemed a little surprised at her excessive reaction, but calmly explained the reason.
“It’s because the temple is losing its power. The divine trust is not coming down, and the divine power of the affiliated clergy is gradually weakening. The only exceptions are the three who visited the main temple.”
Arundel felt her throat choke up for a moment.
In the end, all of this happened because of me.
I didn’t think about the temple when I entered a human body, or maybe… maybe I was like that from the beginning…
There was no excuse. Honestly, I completely forgot about the Elbis Temple.
Caught in guilt, Arundel asked as if grasping at straws.
“…Didn’t you say that the clergy of the Elbis Temple were the most active in the demon subjugation?”
“They are skilled at handling spears. Just as each temple has its own characteristics, using spear skills is their special power. The light that shone in defeating the demon was not divine power, but spear skills.”
“So that alone was not enough for their existence…?”
The Pope slowly closed and opened his eyes.
“It takes a considerable amount of capital to maintain a temple. It’s a worldly talk, but it’s an important part. To put it bluntly, there is neither reason nor justification to maintain a fading temple.”
“Then they…”
“We tried to bring the clergy who had not lost their divine power to the main temple. But Chief Priest Lucas strongly resisted. He expressed his intention never to leave the Elbis Temple.”
Tears welled up in Arundel’s eyes. What am I for them to protect the temple so much?
“The reason we called him this time is not only for the treatment of the plague, but also to persuade him. If he stays in the Elbis Temple as it is, he will lose all his divine power.”
The Pope was genuinely worried about Lucas. As he spoke, his deep wrinkles deepened with worry.
“…It’s not something I should say to Your Majesty the Empress, but I’ve been feeling overwhelmed lately. The increasing number of demons, the expanding plague, and the problem of the Elbis Temple.”
The Pope looked tired. His shoulders were hunched. Despite his small body, he seemed frail.
Seeing him, Arundel thought.
‘…I must return soon.’
The world is becoming increasingly chaotic. I must return to heaven as soon as possible to restore the disrupted balance.
Arundel comforted the Pope, hiding her anxious heart.
“It’s a chaotic time. Your Holiness must be burdened. But remember, there are people who will share the burden with you. The Emperor and I will help as much as we can.”
She didn’t ask Zion’s opinion, but he probably thinks the same…no, she believes so.
The gloomy aura that had been enveloping the Pope lifted a little at Arundel’s comfort.
“Thank you. I really can’t tell you how grateful I am to His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress. I’m not just saying this.”
“Don’t mention it.”
At Arundel’s tender smile, the Pope opened his mouth with a rather solemn expression as if he was confessing.
“In fact, I was afraid of His Majesty the Emperor. He’s someone who scares people even though he smiles.”
Arundel deeply sympathized. She felt the same when she first met him.
“But lately, I’ve noticed that he’s become strangely softer. I realized it at Her Majesty the Empress’s coronation.”
“Is that so…?”
“Yes. And I also soon realized the power of Her Majesty the Empress.”
At the Pope’s words, Arundel’s eyes widened.
She had only met the Pope once at the coronation, and this was the second time. And they hadn’t talked much either.
“It may sound ridiculous, but when I first saw Her Majesty the Empress, I saw an aura. Even now, I think it’s strange, but I don’t think I saw it wrong.”
Arundel was taken aback. It wasn’t for nothing that he was the Pope. He was instinctively and sharply detecting divine power. Regardless of whether it was used or not.
‘Should I tell the Pope in advance that I can use divine power…?’
She hesitated for a moment, but she had already shown the clergy of the Elbis Temple that she could use divine power, and she decided it would be better to tell him some of her abilities rather than being awkwardly caught by the Pope later.
Arundel swallowed once and confessed.
“You may have heard from the clergy of the Elbis Temple…but I can use divine power.”
The Pope’s mouth fell open weakly.
“Ah…as expected.”
“It’s not a big deal. I can use it a little.”
Arundel calmed his surprised heart with a humble expression.
“Was the aura you saw then divine power…? In cases where one has clear divine power, the energy that bursts out can look like light.”
“I don’t know…I’m not quite sure.”
“It’s very rare for a non-clergyman to use divine power… Anyway, it’s amazing.”
“I didn’t want to start a strange rumor, so it hasn’t been made public.”
The Pope nodded with a sympathetic look.
“I understand what you’re saying.”
As if enchanted, he nodded his head and smiled a little excitedly. Seeing his brightened look, Arundel felt a little relieved and got up from her seat.
“Then, as it’s getting late, I’ll go in.”
“I’ve been holding you for too long. There should be a meal prepared in your room.”
After a brief exchange of greetings, Arundel returned to her room. As the Pope had said, a meal was prepared.
Arundel picked up a piece of dry bread. When she dipped it deeply into the sweet-smelling strawberry jam and ate it, her mouth was instantly filled with saliva.
Gulp.
While focusing on eating, Arundel recalled the conversation she had today.
Most of the content was about the plague. The situation was more serious than I thought. If not resolved quickly, it could become a national disaster.
Anxiety stimulated Arundel’s senses. The room temperature was warm, but her body felt chilly.
‘What should I do?’
The number of demons is not decreasing, there is a plague of unknown identity, and the Elbis Temple is on the verge of closing.
The reason to return to heaven as soon as possible is sufficient for this.
The somewhat positive news is that Zion’s confused mind has been greatly calmed.
If she gradually distances herself from him, the symptoms of her throbbing heart will also be alleviated.
Arundel put a little bit of remaining bread into her mouth, and also brushed off the small regret that was left in her heart.
It’s done.
Arundel picked up a small bell with a fairly refreshing mind.
The nameless clergyman asked her to use it when she called him. Right now, drinking a glass of milk would be absolutely perfect.
Ding-
When she shook the small bell, a clear sound echoed. Not long after, there was a knock on the door.
“Yes, come in.”
Soon the door opened and a tall shadow loomed.
“It’s dangerous to let people in without checking.”
A familiar voice came. Zion was standing at the door.
“What…what are you doing at this time?”
“I wanted to see you.”
At his straightforward words, Arundel blinked her eyes in surprise.
“But…”
His slightly raised eyebrows told her that he was not in a good mood.
“You know that 80% here are men.”
As he said, there were few female clergy in the main temple, and most were male. She knew what Zion was worried about, but she didn’t really sympathize.
How dare any big guy attack the empress. Even in the sacred main temple.
“Never open the door to anyone else without checking.”
His voice, holding back anger, was tinged with worry.
For some reason, Arundel felt like a child who had to get permission from him and made a rebellious expression.
But soon she had to realize. Terrifying words flowed from his mouth.
“If you don’t like it, we can sleep together.”
“…What? With whom…”
At Arundel’s words, Zion frowned and spoke.
“Of course, with me.”
