Chapter 620: Untainted Truth (2)
Raphael now doubted as to whether I was really the disgusting human he thought I was.
Was the Honorary Cardinal really a demon trying to put the continent in his palms? That was most likely what he became suspicious of.
Even the smallest doubts were good enough for me.
What I needed most at that point were the little suspicions.
Small thoughts sprouted and bloomed.
Of course, I didn’t think I’d be able to change our gray warrior’s mind that fast, considering the fact that the demon contractors had brainwashed him.
The first step in my plan was the germination of small seeds.
It was more important to cultivate those little doubts than to openly spit out the truth.
‘I spent two months planting those seeds.’
I didn’t think I was progressing slowly. Rather, I wanted to smile.
That was because his face was now wrinkled after a reality check.
“Are you okay?”
It wasn’t a question for Raphael. It was a question for the patient in front of me.
“I’m… f-fine. I’m really fine now, Honorary Cardinal. I… don’t know how to… repay you.”
“I didn’t do this for you to thank me, so raise your head. You don’t have to humble yourself that much in front of me.”
‘Because everyone is equal in front of the Goddess. That’s the doctrine of the Benignore Church.’
“For people like us… really… really… thank you again.”
“Aren’t you, too, the beloved children of Benignore? If you continue to humble yourself, Benignore will be sad. The roles we play are different, but you and I are both her children. All I ask is that we all help each other a little more.”
“Honorary Cardinal…”
The patients were crying, and the Honorary Cardinal was the cause.
I didn’t check Raphael’s status again on purpose. It was pretty obvious as to what he was thinking.
It was too true to think that it was just acting, that it was just for show. After finishing all the treatments, I had a meal with the patients without hesitation.
‘The scene where I shook off the hands of the priests trying to stop me was also quite overwhelming.’
The priesthood might’ve thought about what they could do if the precious Honorary Cardinal caught the plague, but if there were a chance of getting it, I would’ve been the one who ran away first.
“It looks like it’s been roughly cleared up, Honorary Cardinal.”
“Sigh… That’s fortunate. I will take a break and move on to the next town.”
“Yes, then as usual…”
“Of course. It would be better to provide basic welfare support. Please schedule and manage the Holy See’s priesthood so that I can visit continuously. Also, I would appreciate it if you could provide a job for those in good condition.”
“I’ll take care of it.”
“Thank you, priest.”
“I just did what I had to do. Honorary Cardinal is the one who worked hard a lot today.”
“What work…? rather, you guys worked harder. Even though I suddenly contacted you, you came right over at a moment’s notice…”
“It is an infinite honor to be able to be with the Honorary Cardinal, so please don’t hesitate to call us anytime.”
The faces of the priests, which was full of respect, got me all proud. When I turned to the place where I felt someone moving, Raphael soon came into my sight.
He seemed somewhat hesitant. Normally, I would have thought, ‘What’s up with him?’
That was proof that he was getting confused.
Once again, when I put on the business smile, I soon noticed him approaching me.
“You worked hard today.”
“No, Kiyoung… I didn’t… do anything…”
“No. You were helpful enough. The gray warrior coming to see them in person alone will be a great help to them.”
“This… I mean…”
“I don’t know if I’m disturbing you… I know you’re busy training.”
“You’re not. Rather…”
“I wanted you to learn a little more and focus on your training…”
“…”
“But I wanted to show you this place at least once.”
As I stepped away, showing him to sit next to me, he followed my gesture carefully.
The view he had was the same.
It was a village full of misery, and it was a place where the poor lived. If it were a different place than before, a smile would already be blooming on their lips.
A little boy then ran towards us with good timing. Others were trying to stop him, but I nodded to show that it was okay.
Soon after, the little boy gave me candy with his wriggling hands.
‘Ah… this isn’t planned, isn’t it? I didn’t really see this coming…’
It was a scene that was likely to pop out of the public service advertising association, but I had to receive the sweets that the little guy offered. After accepting it with a bright smile, I put it in my mouth right away.
“Thank you.”
As I gently stroked his head, I watched him running away immediately after as if he was embarrassed.
When I looked beside me, I saw the young warrior smiling unknowingly.
‘It worked.’
I was a little nervous, but…
‘I guess you like this kind of thing.’
Since he was young, I thought that kind of sensibility worked. Since Raphael liked that, wouldn’t it be better to plant it next time?
“When you run toward one goal, there are always things you can’t see. Without even being aware of it, it’ll get farther away.”
“…”
“Looking at only the bright side surrounded by the good things, I became ignorant of the matters that were outside my realm… As I was always looking at the big forest, I couldn’t see the small trees, and you keep reminding me of it… In the end, it seems that you are getting used to the good environment that you’re living in. At least I did back then.”
“That’s…”
“Raphael will continue to strive for greater value for greater work. You will meet many people, face many threats, change your values, and have many thoughts in your head. I’m not criticizing it. It’s natural when you consider the responsibilities given to you.”
“…”
“The reason I asked you to come here with me is that I don’t want you to forget this scenery.”
“What…”
“This is what we’re fighting for and what values ??we need to hold on to.”
“I see.”
“There is a lot to protect. Here…”
The hall had become very solemn.
I couldn’t even imagine that it would become that melancholic. Raphael was looking at me without saying anything.
‘What is the truth?’
It would be worth thinking about.
How many times had he not met me in the last two months?
One could say it was a short time, but since he encountered the essence of the human named Lee Kiyoung, that kind of thought was something that he would’ve had to have. I was sending a heartwarming smile when he thought I had a vile grin. I was helping them with the hands that he thought were only used to trample on the underprivileged.
My only hobby was chess, I always prayed to Benignore, and I only lived for others.
‘I know well what you did when you were resting.’
Didn’t he binge-watch previous events and videos featuring the Honorary Cardinal?
It was also something that couldn’t be called a lie. In particular, he watched the video taken during the Laios Demon Summoning that got a 100% in the Lindel Tomato Index.
Park Deokgu’s desperate urgency that seemed to absorb the screen gave power to the video.
He might’ve wanted to find something strange, but he wouldn’t be able to find anything as strange as an ant’s nail.
Books, reputation, and articles were the same.
At least by my standards, I had never shown anything weird to the public. It wasn’t enough time to turn him over to our side, but it was enough time for different thoughts to sprout.
It seemed that it would take more time to erase the brainwashed memories, so I focused on laying the groundwork perfectly.
Shaky eyes, a troubled face, and even confused expressions were visible.
He seemed nervous, like a sick person, and kept brooding over something.
‘I guess this is enough.’
I thought it was just the right timing. It seemed like it wouldn’t matter if I had more time, but it was still better to try it once rather than keep delaying it.
“…”
“…”
“There is a place we have to go together.”
“Where…”
“I have something to show you.”
“…”
“I think you might be curious about why the current continent needs a chosen warrior, why the continent is in crisis, and whether the threat really exists. Of course, you were chosen by the Holy Sword, but I don’t think you’ve realized why. If you don’t actually feel it, it won’t touch you.”
“…”
“Benignore’s words are true.”
“…”
“As you know, the continent is fighting an invisible enemy. We are preparing to face demons even stronger than the demons of the 72nd Legion. Wearing angelic masks, they are demons from outside our realm… and they’ll be coming to the continent soon.”
“…”
“There will be many victims, and many will die. Adventurers will risk their lives to face the enemies, and all of the continent’s factions will join forces to fight them.”
“Wasn’t that…”
‘A downright lie?’
“Wasn’t that…”
‘A means to agitate the people?’
“I mean…”
‘Wasn’t this Chairman Kiyoung’s script to devour the continent?’
Yes, but no. The real demon bastards were indeed coming in.
From that point on, he would see it. All he had to do was open his eyes and look carefully.
No more words were needed. There was no better way to prove it than seeing it in person.
Raphael continued to remain silent as to whether he expected something big to come.
I also didn’t really try to keep talking.
He wouldn’t hear anything I had to say anyway.
Didn’t I confidently say that I had evidence to back up my claim?
He probably hoped for a miracle in which everything that he thought was agitation and fabrication became true. One blow from Yuno Kasugano was enough to destroy that hope.
Of course, the group of reactionaries had dug into the relationship between Yuno Kasugano and me a lot. However, I could guarantee that it would be difficult to get rid of the scenes that would take place in front of his eyes as if they were real.
That was especially the case, considering he was terribly shaken as of that moment.
“I was waiting.”
After taking a seat in front of Yuno Kasugano with a somewhat tense appearance, I pushed him in front of her without giving any explanation.
Some time had passed. Like Mikhail, I saw the guy vomiting violently.
“Blaaaaargh…”
“…”
“Sigh… Sigh… Blaaaargh. What… I… now…”
The way he looked at me as if he couldn’t believe it was the first thing that I noticed, but it only lasted for a moment.
I could see him heading outside, leaving the door open.
‘Did he just have a mental breakdown?’
I wasn’t sure, but it felt like he was now struggling to get away from the truth.
I had to admit that the brainwashing of the demon contractors was stronger than I thought.
‘That bastard. He really did have a mental breakdown.’
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