I Became The Pope, Now What? Chapter 252 252. What Makes A Guardian

"You ran from the sickbay and kidnapped a kid? Why?" Sylvester asked as he worried for the man's safety.

Sir Dolorem chuckled wryly. "Well, I wasn't getting my eyes back by remaining there. So I reckoned it's better to train. But they refused to hand my sword, so I had no other way but to run."

"I presu there was soone who helped you in doing it? The kid?" Sylvester asked.

"Of course, you helped ."

"..."

There were questions written on Sylvester's face, so Sir Dolorem elaborated. "Well, you sent two little kids to the Holy Land a while back. Their nas were Diana and Max. When I found out about them, I got interested. So I decided to go and see them as they were being checked by the healers for their initial mandatory diagnosis before being sent to the orphanage.

"They are really sweet kids. That girl is a genius and strong-minded. But, after seeing them, I realised nobody was stopping ; nobody was watching . So I just walked out of the main door with the help of that little girl, Diana, and returned to the Inquisitor's camp. There I started training with other brothers of the Inquisition."

"..."

Sylvester never knew that his actions hundreds of kilotres away in another Duchy would cause sothing like this. 'The butterfly is truly amazing. You never know what causes what.'

"So, how did you get so much better at sensing your surroundings? I see you're easily avoiding the cracks in the ground." He inquired interestedly. "Did you truly learn Echo-location?"

Sir Dolorem explained. "Well, it's luck, or perhaps the hidden work of Lord Inquisitor. As you may know, the Second Guardian used to be the Inquisitor High Lord nearly two centuries ago. So, he sotis appears in the Inquisitor camp to help when Lord Inquisitor is out working.

"He saw and learned about my story from other Commanders. So he decided to help understand how to live a life of blindness. Although his way of sensing his surroundings has sothing to do with his blood magic, he was able to help to stay calm and use my other senses to the fullest, like the sll, touch and hearing. So now, I have started grasping the concept of Echo Location as well, as now I can create a simple textureless linear structure according to the noise that reacts with the environnt in my mind."

'Living in a colourless world, I can't imagine being him.' Sylvester sighed as he heard the story. Although it was very positive, he knew that these limited abilities would harm Sir Dolorem in one way or another.

"I am working to find a way to heal your eyes, Sir Dolorem. So I'm sure soon you will be able to see again." Sylvester replied, sounding firm in his promise.

But Sir Dolorem didn't imdiately reply.

So Sylvester elaborated. "I have a few people who are urgently looking for a way for the cure. I'm sure magic can do it. Nerve damage is extrely hard to fix, but if people like Lord Second can use blood magic to fix wounds, I'm sure there is healing magic for the eyes. Perhaps across the sea, maybe."

"I'm not sure if I want my eyes back." Sir Dolorem muttered. "Not having eyes has taught sothing new, sothing great. There is so much detail to the world that I could not see before. My vision was, in reality, dulling down so many things because they were so easy to ignore unless you were specifically looking for them. Now I sll, I hear, and I sense a great many things, which in reality can be amazing as a fighter."

"But you'll be against enemies who can use magic. So how will you counter them?" Sylvester argued.

Sir Dolorem sighed and shook his head. "I am physically limited in terms of power, Sylvester. I can never fight against soone many tis stronger than . So, believe , you don't have to worry too much. You need not rush. As long as I can have my vision back to see you take the holy throne on that inevitable day, I'll be the most satisfied person in the world."

'This fool, I can already sense the hints of doubt in his own words. So he doesn't wish to cause to worry?' Sylvester read the man like an open book.

But he didn't press on it and changed the topic. "How is mum? She was attacked."

"I went to see her and spoke to her. I couldn't see her physically, so I don't know about that. However, she did say she was fine and only slightly weak. She even handed this letter when I told her about returning to aid you. I just never knew it'd be so soon, thanks to Lord Second." Sir Dolorem handed Sylvester a piece of paper while carrying the armless Duke on his other shoulder like a sack of grains.

Sylvester had Lady Aurora's body on his back, piggybacking it, so he opened it in front of himself and read it. 'Dear Max, don't worry about mum. I am fine and eating very well. Raven is helping a lot, and soon I will be able to get back to work. The wounds have been completely healed, so please be at peace. Don't rush your work because you will find right here whenever you return. Love you and take care.'

Sylvester crumpled the paper and put it in a pocket. "She didn't write this. I know her handwriting. She likely dictated it, and… Raven wrote it."

Sir Dolorem sounded disappointed as well. "She likely does not wish to worry you, Sylvester."

'Aren't you doing the sa?' Sylvester thought in mind.

But he felt more worried for Xavia now as he didn't know her actual condition. "Her neck was stabbed, so I'm sure she also lost a lot of blood. Her entire body must be fragile right now. That bastard!"

"Was it King Riveria?" Sir Dolorem asked.

"Who else could it be? The man ca after ; it was acceptable. But he crossed a fine line this ti and will pay greatly. Let's rush a little. My work is not even half done as of now." Sylvester increased his pace.

"What are you planning, Sylvester?"

"I'll let my actions speak, Sir Dolorem."

…

Sylvester and Sir Dolorem soon arrived at the Inquisitor camp. A lot of dead bodies were placed on the ground in a few places. An extre majority of them belonged to the Duke's army, however. In contrast, the dead Inquisitors had been placed in a much better place with a white cloth on their bodies. Pyres were being set up for them.

Sylvester placed Lady Aurora on an empty makeshift bed and called the healer. "She's out of Solarium. Everything else is fine. Feed her so strengthening potions for nutrients. They should help her."

Then Sylvester walked to the most guarded makeshift tent and placed the Duke there with tal chains bounding the legs. The man was now officially a prisoner.

"Old man?! Woah! What are you doing here?" Just then, Felix's loud and excited voice ca from behind.

Thud!

And before anyone knew it, Felix had jumped in to hug Sir Dolorem like they were childhood buddies, which they were in a way, as Sylvester had known Felix since he was eight.

Sir Dolorem laughed heartily and patted Felix's back. "I hope you're doing well, Felix. I see you have beco heavier."

"Of course, I'm a big growing boy, after all. But how did you get here? And was that armless sack of human at the Duke? Who did that?"

Sylvester replied in the fewest words. "I chopped the Duke. Then Sir Maximus attacked, but he got his arms sliced and arrested by the Second Guardian of Light, Bloodrain."

"..."

"Where is Lord Second? I've never seen him before. Is he handso? How tall is he?" Felix excitedly asked.

Sylvester sighed, still feeling numb by how dark the Second Guardian's appearance was. "Imagine Inquisitor High Lord, but a foot shorter, thinner, with silver armour, the sa conical hat, detailed human face visor, a lot of blood—especially coming from the eyesockets."

Felix was speechless. "...Why are all these Guardians such weirdos? The only simple one I know is Lady Aurora."

'I ask that question myself ti and ti again.' Sylvester thought.

But Sir Dolorem answered them. "It's because of their uniqueness. Becoming a Grand Wizard in the clergy does not automatically make one a Guardian. To be eligible, it takes uniqueness and special abilities that are not easy to beat."

"That makes sense." Sylvester agreed. "So Guardians are more about talent and not just strength? So, even if they were to fight a Grand Wizard of the sa level, they'd still win?"

"Exactly."

Bam!

"Sir Dolorem?" Gabriel also appeared and jumped on the poor blind old man for a hug.

But Sir Dolorem just smiled, and he seed genuinely happy. After all, the man had seen them grow from kids.

But Sylvester decided to move on with the rest of the mission. "Everyone, enough talking. Now let's get ready. We still don't have the Witch in our hands. From what the Duke revealed, she's a vile woman. Felix and Gabriel, you two are coming. Call Bishop Lazark and Beastkin Elyon as well. Prepare two thousand n from the Inquisitors as well. We will need them to handle the crowd."

"I shall go with you, Sylvester." Sir Dolorem wished.

But Sylvester didn't know if he should take him. "How good are you with your abilities?"

"Defeating soone of my rank isn't an issue. But more than that, I have beco much better at sensing clues in the surrounding."

'So he degraded on one side but has beco a better detective on the other?'

"Alright, you can co too. Everyone, we leave in fifteen minutes, go and get ready!" He ordered and sent all away so he could speak with the Duke alone.

But before that, a certain good furry boy had woken up from his injured slumber. So Sylvester coddled the boy in his arms like a baby on his back. "How are you, Chonky?"

"ow ow is very good—but hungry." Miraj cutely patted his tummy while looking around with sleepy eyes.

Sylvester chuckled and handed him a banana from the side table. Then he patted Miraj's belly. "Boy, we have sothing important to do now. Rember the last ti in Duke's castle I told you we would have one more opportunity to fill this bank? That ti has co."

Miraj's eyes shot open, and his nostrils blew air. "Hehe… I beco Rich Chonky now?"

Sylvester agreed. "Extrely rich, my lord Chonky. In pay, you shall receive an extra banana every single day—with milk!"

Miraj was on cloud nine and relaxed his body, letting his paws fall on himself and head back. "Oh, my—So much food. Chonky will be a fat lord now!"

Sylvester chuckled and patted the tummy again. "Wasn't it just the fur?"

Miraj grabbed his furry head with his paws. "Oh nyo!"

[A/N: Make a guess how rich Sylvester will be by the end of this arc.]

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