The pope, waking from a short nap, turned his gaze to Lasha after noticing the bodies of several people lined up around him.
"Did you handle them already? These were once considered the elite of the church."
"These guys? Stop talking nonsense. These are the kind of people who'd get beaten by a brat like Arln. What do you mean 'elite'?"
"When addressing that person, show some respect. No matter who you are, there’s a line you cannot cross."
Lasha, who had been wondering if the pope was joking, became flustered when she saw his expressionless face and spread her hands in disbelief.
"Why?! You just laughed it off when I called them that before!"
"At that time, I hadn't yet formed an opinion about the Apostle of the Lord."
"So you’ve formed one now?"
"Ha. Hahaha! Yes, I have! That person is undoubtedly the one chosen by the Lord!"
The pope, recalling the scene from earlier, couldn't help but feel his lips twitch uncontrollably.
It had nothing to do with the beauty of the Goddess of Beauty and Art, who poured her affection into her appearance.
He paid no mind to the offensive language that might anger the evil gods.
The pope only saw the person's inner qualities. He wanted to confirm whether they were someone worthy of the Lord’s recognition.
And the result he found this time was immensely satisfying.
Lucy Arln was unquestionably someone worthy of being chosen as the Lord's apostle.
She was a hero and warrior in whom the Lord would stake His last hope!
"I should have realized from the moment the saint extended her hand to help become a true saint! Ah! How I regret doubting! How I despise my own doubts, questioning the will of the great Lord! I wish I could tear apart the foolish me who doubted the will of the Lord!"
Had I only resisted tearing apart the doll of Lord Ruel, I wouldn't have had to endure the pain in my heart!
Without bringing the Lord’s hatred upon myself, I could have prepared for great deeds!
How I despise myself, that foolish and lowly me. It feels like my eyes are bleeding with hatred.
"What exactly do you like about her?"
"Everything."
The way Sir Ruel and Sir Garad show respect.
The way he mourned for the fallen unbelievers.
The way he confidently cursed even the people he was uncomfortable with.
The arrogance of only wanting to embrace what he desired.
Most of all, his nobility in even accepting his own sins.
"Ha. This is ridiculous. I’m getting old, and now I’m taking an interest in someone other than the great Lord. Life really is unpredictable."
"Old man. You realize you sound crazy right now, right?"
"Don’t worry. I’ve always been crazy."
Originally, the pope had planned to pressure the heretics left on the outskirts of the continent, but now, it seems he would need to slightly alter his schedule. It seemed necessary to visit the capital for some reason.
"Lasha, do you know where the artworks created by the Art Church are sold?"
"...Are you planning to buy those?"
"Aren't they considered sacred objects?"
"I don’t know. I’m not the type to care about such things."
"That's true. You’re someone who is far from feminine."
Lasha clearly expressed her displeasure at the blunt comment, but the pope paid no attention to her expression.
At this point, I suppose I have to use the church’s network for information?
If I go through Cardinal Johan, it doesn’t seem like getting what I want would be difficult.
It’s a pity I can’t act officially.
If this had been months ago, I would’ve traded directly with the Apostle of the Art Church using my position as pope.
"By the way, do you think, if things go as planned, our little... the Apostle of the Lord will just watch quietly?"
"That won’t happen. He will certainly try to stop me. What I am planning is something the Lord would never wish for."
"Is that alright with you?"
"Foolish question! From the moment I decided to ensure that the great Lord would once again step foot upon this land, I was prepared to wander in hell forever! Do you think I would hesitate to oppose His will?"
"I meant, couldn’t it be that you fail because you’re stopped?"
"That could happen. After all, the apostle is receiving help from the great Lord. It wouldn't be surprising if my plans were shattered by him."
The pope nodded in agreement so easily that Lasha was taken aback.
"But that’s fine. The great Lord could regain His former glory without me."
The man who had risen to the position of pope had spent decades planning, using all his power and influence to build up his schemes.
If a little child, chosen as the Lord's apostle just under two years ago, managed to thwart all that, the pope would willingly laugh and go to hell.
It would mean that the Lord possesses powers and wisdom so lofty that even someone like me cannot reach.
"Now that I think about it, I might actually enjoy it more if the plan fails."
"Then would you give up on your plan right now?"
"Of course not. Even if it wasn't by choice, I was given the role of a trial. A true believer does their best, especially in times like these."
The pope hummed contentedly, as if his mood had lifted, and wished for the seed he had planted in the kingdom to sprout as soon as possible.
All the groundwork was done. Now, all he had to do was wait for the dominoes to fall, handling minor tasks in the meantime.
"Let’s move. I’m feeling full of energy today."
"After all this work, just make sure it’s not boring at the end."
"Ha!"
As the shock of divinity flowed into him, dragging him from his mental world into the real one, he faced five pairs of eyes staring directly at him. He flinched... Five pairs?
"This time, you’re up early, Lucy!"
"Didn’t the saint say that there were no issues with her body?"
"She said that, but out of everyone, Feivy was the most worried!"
"That's right. The saint was restless."
"I... I can’t rule out the possibility that I made a mistake."
As the voices of his friends babbled anxiously with relief, the familiar faces from his mental world became visible.
This appearance... this must be when Grandpa was still called a hero, right? The gaze directed at him felt heavy, and as he thought this, the doll slammed its head to the ground.
"My apologies! Apostle of the Lord! I have wronged you, a person of noble intent!"
...Huh? Me?
"If it weren't for you, how many more sins would I have committed?"
The doll, apologizing with its head to the ground, had an overwhelming presence.
What is going on here? I can’t keep up with the situation. When I turned my gaze to my friends, Feivy cleared her throat.
"After the young lady collapsed, the divinity that had been in her returned to this one. Thus, the doll, having recovered, immediately apologized to us."
"I have failed to fulfill the will left by Erginus, and have even insulted Lord Ruel, the original. How could I not thank those who stopped me!"
The doll bowed again, but its gaze towards Joy wasn’t as kind.
Was it because Joy used the powers of darkness?
I understand the bad memories, but still, it doesn’t sit well with me.
I suddenly sprang up and stomped on the doll's head.
"Is the way a doll apologizes different from a person’s?"
"...Apostle?"
"So, you don’t like it when things aren’t your way, huh? Is that what an apology looks like? Interesting."
"That’s..."
"But you know? Our dimwit is the disciple of the virgin who made you. So now you’ve insulted both the old man and the virgin. Wow~ how amazing! A knight insulting the creator! Who's next? Me? Are you going to attack me?"
As I stomped on the doll’s crumpled head, it apologized, and only then did I step back.
After the doll apologized with its face in ruins, Joy looked flustered and waved her hands.
She’s kinder than she looks.
As everyone’s attention shifted to Joy and the doll, I checked my condition.
With Grandpa’s divinity, I’ve recovered somewhat.
Not completely, but I’ve managed to get out of the sickly state I was in.
At this rate, I’ll be back to normal in a few days.
Though things got tangled, I was happy about achieving the results I wanted, and then I suddenly remembered the dungeon clear rewards and grabbed the doll by the neck.
"Vile doll. Don’t we have something you need to give us?"
"You mean the reward? I was planning to give it to you as soon as you woke up!"
The doll pulled out a necklace that Grandpa had once received a blessing from the lowly god.
This necklace’s effect is quite simple. It increases the amount of divinity, boosts recovery, and grants beneficial effects when using powers related to divinity.
The problem is that it’s weathered after so much time.
If I wore it now, the effect would be weak, and to restore it to its original state, I’d have to go through a lot of trouble. It’s an item that’s only useful when aiming for the highest performance, ignoring efficiency.
For me, right now, it has no meaning other than as a decoration, but it does have symbolic significance.
It’s a necklace filled with the Lord’s blessing, used by Sir Ruel. Don’t you think priests would go crazy over this? Count Artea, who’s obsessed with sacred objects, would be foaming at the mouth trying to get it!
"Lowly saint."
"Huh?"
"Here. Take it."
This necklace is more suited for Feivy to wear. She can make the best use of the symbolism it holds.
"Me...? Not the young lady?"
"Are you asking me to wear Grandpa’s necklace?"
"But young lady, it’s from Lord Ruel..."
"Ah, so you don’t want it, huh? How rude, lowly saint."
"That’s not it!"
"It’s not? Do you want it?"
"Yes! A lot!"
"Then, ask me for it."
Feivy, trembling at the word “ask,” took a deep breath and, like the doll, tried to bow her head.
"Apostle of the Lord, please grant this young lamb your blessing."
"Ha! Maybe it’s because you’re a lowly saint, but you’re so materialistic! Oh well!"
Not expecting this situation, I tried to ignore the disapproving gazes around me as I tried to hand the necklace to Feivy, but she didn’t take it with her hands. Instead, she tightly shut her eyes and pulled her body back.
...She wants me to put it on her?
I was surprised, but I couldn’t refuse her wish.
I had just told her to beg for it, and if I backed out now, I’d really be a scumbag!
And putting on the necklace isn’t hard at all! I can do that!
Confidently, I walked over to Feivy, but soon found myself in an awkward situation.
Ugh! The divinity pouch is too big! I can't help but touch it, even though I don’t want to!
No, calm down. I can't be like that lowly god! I can’t prove that what the pope said was right!
Thinking endlessly about how I can’t become like the lowly god, I kept my composure and managed to put the necklace on her.
When Feivy finally opened her eyes, she adjusted the necklace and then looked up with a smile like a child.
"Thank you so much, young lady."
Ha. Alright. If Feivy is happy, then that’s a good outcome.
"Lucy Arln. I’m sorry for interrupting, but I need to ask you something."
"What is it? Do you want to give the necklace back, Prince of Uselessness? Heheh, you sly one. A puberty brat..."
"It’s not that! Isn’t that necklace Lord Ruel’s? If so, won’t the other side know that the saint got involved with the underground matter?"
I guess there’s that problem. The symbolism of the necklace is troublesome in this case.
Three people participated in the underground matters, but the only one who matters is Cardinal Cesare.
The pope will praise Feivy, and the hunting dogs who were with the pope won’t move unless given his orders.
<As for that, I have a thought.>
‘What is it?’
<Let’s make use of that doll. I don’t want to admit it, but after all, it’s based on me.>
Hearing about Grandpa's plan, I unknowingly narrowed my eyes.
If it goes as planned, it might actually be fun.
The source of this c𝐨ntent is freeweɓnovēl.coɱ.