The following is a direct, precise English translation of the provided text, staying faithful to the original tone and intent while maintaining the accuracy of names and gender references.
The word Pope. The moment I heard it, my already dizzy mind grew even more complicated.
He’s someone I’ll have to face someday. Because I’m Fayvie’s friend, and as long as I’m the Apostle of the Lord, I have to stop whatever the Pope is planning.
But not yet. It’s too soon. I don’t have nearly enough to confront him now.
“Why is that senile old man coming here?”
“Bishop Johan said it’s to deliver a direct warning to Rasha about the recent incident.”
Nonsense. The Pope has already made some kind of pact with Rasha. It’s been a long time since they agreed to do their own work without interfering with each other. What warning could he possibly have to give?
More than that, the Pope isn’t the kind of person to feel anger over the deaths of the Church’s people.
He might put on a show of anger for appearances, but inside, he’s endlessly cold. Someone like that wouldn’t break his own contract.
Rasha is just an excuse. He has another reason for coming here.
“Auntie.”
“I’m in disguise right now.”
“You’ve already set up a soundproof barrier, so why the hysterics? No wonder everyone avoids you.”
“And why is that relevant now?”
“Never mind. While I was dealing with that trash dungeon, did you sense any of that lousy god’s creepy aura leaking out?”
“Oh. You didn’t notice? It’s been leaking out little by little ever since you went inside.”
...Damn it. That lousy god. Why does he keep pointlessly showing off his presence? That’s why moths keep flying to his flame.
Biting my lip, I glanced over at my friends. Until just a moment ago, they’d been pointing out each other’s mistakes, but now they were working together to strategize for the next dungeon.
The timing wasn’t good. If we had just a few more days, we could resolve everything on this archipelago.
No, not even a few days. If we moved quickly, we could finish everything in two days and leave.
But who could say what kind of consequences that lingering hope might bring?
“Auntie, what about that stubborn bishop?”
“He’s waiting at the lodging.”
At the lodging, Bishop Johan had not only shed his clerical robes but had also put on a simple disguise.
Unlike Karia or Alsatin, who transformed themselves into entirely different people, his disguise wasn’t drastic, but it didn’t matter.
No one would ever think that someone as strict as Johan would bother to disguise himself to hide his identity.
“I don’t know exactly where His Holiness is right now,” Johan said, stroking his beard in apparent discomfort.
“He left the moment Lady Fayvie returned, claiming he had personal matters to attend to.”
“Is someone as high-ranking as the Pope even allowed to do that?”
Karia frowned as she listened to the conversation. Johan chuckled.
“Technically, no. But there’s no one in the current Church of the Lord who can restrain His Holiness. If he wants to do something, he can do anything.”
“...Even the Tersha Empire doesn’t have that kind of absolute authority.”
“Haha. Well, back to the point. Since we don’t know where he’s sending his letters from, it’s impossible to guess his current location. He might already be nearby.”
Johan shrugged as he spoke, but he knew as well as I did.
The Pope hadn’t arrived here yet. Any cleric with a certain level of skill would be able to sense his presence.
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“That’s why we must leave this island as soon as possible, my lady.”
Even so, his exaggerated story was meant to warn me of the danger.
While Johan acknowledged the Pope’s utility, he was convinced that the Church needed to destroy him to move in the right direction. And he believed I wasn’t ready to face the Pope yet.
“Now isn’t the time.”
Just like I thought. Hearing his warning, I stared blankly at the air without responding.
More precisely, I looked at the quest window floating in the air.
[Find the Treasure of the Archipelago!]
To be honest, I didn’t want to leave this island yet.
If nothing else, I wanted to imprint everything that lousy god had arranged here into my mind.
If I uncovered all of Lucy’s past, I felt like I could understand the rage that had surged within me when I’d heard my parents insulted. I felt like I could understand the feelings that made my heart itch whenever I saw Benedict. Most of all, I wanted to figure out why that lousy god had gone to such trouble here.
If I were alone, I’d gladly take the risk.
I might even enjoy it, calling it a speedrun. If I were behind a monitor, I’d be cheering about a new event.
But I wasn’t alone, and I wasn’t the only one who’d be affected if I got tangled up with the Pope.
As I stared at the quest window, I finally decided to use the reward I’d been hoarding until now.
I hadn’t planned to use it unless I was in a truly life-threatening crisis, but still.
Ding!
The cheerful notification sound cut through my thoughts.
[Quest Postponed!]
[Please try again later!]
After confirming the message in the blue window several times, I couldn’t suppress the laughter that burst out of me.
Does that mean I can come back to complete the quest anytime? That your arrangements won’t disappear, so it’s fine if I step back for now?
I don’t know exactly what you’re after, but showing me Lucy’s past must be extremely important to you.
Noticing Johan and Karia’s puzzled expressions, I wiped away the tears that had gathered at the corners of my eyes and stood up.
“Well, isn’t this convenient? I’ve been sick of this rundown place for a while now.”
For now, I’d retreat, but it wouldn’t take long before I returned.
The second-year students at the academy are granted the right to explore external dungeons and are required to achieve results in several of them.
“Luckily, I can leave before the stench of this place clings to me.”
When I return to this place, I’ll make sure to uncover all of Lucy’s past. I’ll figure out what awaits at the end of it all.
“...That’s so unfair! I was about to win the bet if we stayed a little longer!”
“This time, the fool’s words are right! Lucy Allen! Are you fleeing because you think you’ll lose?”
“Prince?! Why are you suddenly siding against me too?!”
“Be quiet! Is this the time to be worried about such trivialities?”
When I announced that we were returning to the kingdom, Joy and Arthur scowled. They were probably upset about being forced to leave when they thought they had a chance to win the bet.
From their perspective, it might look like I was running away because I was about to lose.
“Absolutely not. We’ve been the victims this entire time.”
But what’s Frey’s deal? Unlike those two, she hasn’t been subjected to anything. Sure, Arthur and Joy had been forced to wear rabbit ears, fake mustaches, and now tails, so their frustration made sense, but Frey had escaped unscathed.
When I silently glared at her, Frey quietly closed her mouth. It seemed like she had just been throwing out random comments to go along with the mood.
“Anyway, I’m not going back! If you’re leaving, go alone!”
“Me too! I’ll hire another adventurer if I have to, but I’ll conquer the dungeons here no matter what!”
“Why only one?”
“Huh? Because Lady Kent will be coming with us too, of course.”
“Why would I? I’m going back with Lucy.”
“What?! Frey Kent! How could you betray us like this?”
As the three bickered noisily, I smirked and snapped my fingers. Immediately, the Allen knights who were guarding us moved in to surround them. More specifically, they targeted only Arthur and Joy, leaving the cooperative Frey alone.
“My lady?”
“Lucy Allen, what is the meaning of this?”
“You fools. Do I look like someone who would listen to other people’s silly nonsense?”
Normally, I might have entertained their opinions, but not this time. If Rasha ended up on the archipelago alongside the Pope, who knows what might happen? There’s no way I’m leaving these two, who have somehow become important to me, in such a dangerous place.
“How dare you! I am Arthur Soladin, third prince of the Soladin Kingdom! Do you think the knights of a mere border count would dare lay hands on me?”
Arthur, realizing what I was about to do, invoked his authority. But that wasn’t the best idea. The Allen knights were loyal to the kingdom, yes, but first and foremost, they were Allen people.
“Your Highness, let’s give up. You know how terrifying these knights are.”
“Joy! It’s because of comments like that you can’t overcome your cluelessness! You should be fighting harder right now!”
“And what are you doing, Your Highness, other than yelling?!”
Watching the prince and the young lady of a duke argue like childhood friends, I caught Karia’s questioning glance and shrugged.
“I didn’t know the pitiful prince enjoyed training so much. Well, now I know. I’ll make sure you get the attention you so desperately crave.”
“...What nonsense are you talking about, Lucy Allen?”
“When the trash academy opens, I’ll make sure you get to enjoy yourself among Allen’s idiots. Just as you wished, Your Highness.”
Arthur’s face stiffened at my words. It must have been such a joyful memory for him, the training he’d endured at the hands of the Allen knights. Seeing his reaction made me happy too.
“Your Highness, see? I told you we shouldn’t resist. Now look what happened.”
“Fool, you’re included too.”
“...Huh? What do you mean? I have responsibilities to my family, the Partan House!”
“Really, Joy? Are you that dense in everything except magic? Don’t you remember me saying, in my sweet voice, that I got approval from your father before we came?”
“Whhaaat?!”
Arthur wasn’t alone in his despair; Joy was equally distraught. Watching them wallow, I couldn’t hold back my genuine laughter.
Two days after Lucy’s group left on the Arthea family’s ship, Rasha emerged from the water and spat out the salty seawater that had made its way into her mouth.
Damn it. Who would have thought not a single sailor would give me a ride? Sure, I’ve caused my share of trouble, but what I did on the archipelago wouldn’t have directly affected them.
“It’s been a while, Rasha.”
As she muttered complaints and wrung out her drenched shirt, a gruff old voice reached her ears. Without even turning her head, Rasha answered with a voice full of hostility.
“What do you want, you decrepit old man?”
“I came to give you a warning about what you’ve done.”
“Don’t give me that crap. You would’ve done it even if I hadn’t.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Hearing the old man’s feigned innocence, Rasha let out a sigh. When he spoke in public, he acted so dignified and grave, but why did he become like this when they were alone?
“So, what do you want?”
“I’d like you to assist me in exploring a dungeon.”
“No. Just being near you feels like it’s shaving years off my life.”
“There seems to be a misunderstanding. You don’t have a choice in this matter.”
“...Damn it.”
Rip! Rasha’s anger must have reached her hands, as the shirt she’d been carefully handling tore in two.
She stared dumbfounded at the ruined cloth before throwing it at the old man, who, naturally, dodged it with ease.