The next day, right after making my decision, I imdiately contacted my friends. I told them that I needed their help and asked for their cooperation.
Of course, this was a significantly softened version of what I really said. In truth, I was more like arrogantly offering them an opportunity to be of use, but my friends, now used to my tone, didn’t ask any questions and just asked when they should co.
“A doll resembling the old Ruel, huh?”
“Are you going to fight with the hero?”
Not long after, when they arrived at the estate, I told them about the enemy we were going to face, and Arthur and Freya’s eyes lit up.
One was a hero-worshiping otaku, and the other was a fool who didn’t care much about strong opponents.
Hmm. They really do make a good pair. Even though Arthur denied it last ti, I still wonder if there’s sothing between them. Maybe they have feelings they don’t even realize themselves.
“But... Lucy. Ruel, you’re in the weapon, right?”
I nodded at Joy’s question. Since Grandpa had ntioned that I was embedded inside, denying it would be pointless.
“Now, we’re going to et the fake created by the desperate virgin. The old man recreated his reckless youth in that doll.”
Even though it was fake, it wasn’t sothing we could defeat easily.
Especially now, when I’m nothing more than a burden.
However, with the friends I have now, we should be able to handle it. With a team like this, there’s no way we’re losing.
"By the way, the old man is still begging, 'Don’t go'!"
"...Why?"
"Ugh. Fool. Do you rember that dumb thing you did back then when you slapped the blanket off?"
"Wh... Why are you asking about that?"
Seeing the restless look in his eyes, I knew sothing had happened. After all, "Fool" sses up at least once a day. It would be strange if nothing happened.
“Imagine that fool showing up right in front of you.”
“I’ll just turn him into a remake.”
“That’s it.”
Right now, things were calr compared to last night. Since Garad had figured things out and started suppressing Grandpa, things had quieted down.
As a result, a battle between heroes was currently unfolding in my inner world. This wasn’t a sparring match to improve their skills; it was a real battle, with one aiming to kill the other.
Watching them fight had been quite helpful.
It was a pity there was no popcorn. It was like watching a movie, but better.
“Although you may think you're weak, I think others would find you quite remarkable. Ruel, you’re a legendary figure who’s treated like a saint at the church,” Feibi said, expressing her excitent, though the reality was likely to be different from her expectations. If it were really that impressive, Grandpa wouldn’t be resisting so desperately.
“Back to the topic. Lucy Alrn. Where are we going next? Another desert like last ti?”
“Your brain is lacking. There’s no way the virgin fool would leave a toy in the sa place.”
“Then where?”
“A place full of idiots who think they believe in gods.”
The holy land. A place I had been avoiding for a long ti. Originally, I planned to sneak in and out without anyone noticing.
However, since I decided to ask my friends for help, I now had to change my plan.
If it were just sneaking in, it could be brushed off as Lucy Alrn’s eccentric behavior, but if we all got caught, it would beco a national issue.
I didn’t want to give the First Queen any excuses.
"Normally, I'd be getting a headache from dealing with these hypocrites trying to act virtuous, but luckily, they’re all so fond of us that we’ve got soone here who doesn’t know what to do with them," I said.
Feibi was truly worthy of being called a saint.
In the past, she might have only been liked by people who didn’t understand the situation, but now, she had the favor of quite a few high-ranking individuals as well.
Even the cardinal who had been with us last ti seed to respect Joy in a subtle way, so this wasn’t just a delusion.
“It’s possible. The diocre saint?”
I thought Feibi would eagerly agree, but oddly, she didn’t respond.
What’s going on? Please don’t tell this is going to end with realizing I was mistaken? I haven’t asked Karia, so I don’t know exactly what’s happening!
“...Y-Your Ladyship?”
After a while, Feibi, who had been hesitating under our gaze, finally called out with a trembling voice.
“Are you going to the holy land, Your Ladyship!? The Apostle of the God is finally coming to the place she belongs!”
And then I realized. The reason Feibi had stayed silent for so long wasn’t hesitation—it was because she had been trying to suppress her excitent.
“If you had told earlier, I would have prepared to serve you, Your Ladyship! No, now that I know, it’s fine! I’ll contact Cardinal Johann and make sure we do the necessary preparations! And as for your clothes... Hyaaa?!”
Her usual composure completely abandoned, Feibi tried to rush forward like a character from a western movie, but I grabbed her by the cheeks and pulled them as if they were made of rubber.
“I don’t want to be treated like an old man by those perverts. It’d be troubleso if you think it’s your taste.”
“D-Do you an...?”
When I was about to scold her, I realized how visible my actions had been. It wasn’t the right ti to add any more complications.
With the Pope’s disappearance still a mystery, I didn’t want to attract more attention by making a scene, especially with everything already complicated with the First Queen and Rene.
“I know you’re excited about going to the holy land, but you need to calm down a little.”
After punishing Feibi until her cheeks puffed up, I sighed deeply and glared at her as she looked on with a pitiful face.
“Handle the old n yourself. I’m not planning on doing anything there.”
“I see. I misunderstood because the Pope is absent. I thought you might be going there to honor him, but now I understand. You’re cautious about the Pope’s presence."
"...What?"
Feibi’s words indicated that, after intervening in the fairy forest, the Pope had disappeared.
There were people who could take over his role, like his personal secretary and Feibi, so there hadn’t been much chaos, but the sudden disappearance of the Pope had caused whispers among the people.
“The situation isn’t good. While the thinning process was underway, the final decision-maker has disappeared. Karia says that many people believe this is their last chance.”
Feibi’s concerns made frown as I realized that this was all happening just as I decided to visit.
What a coincidence. I decided to visit the holy land, and now the Pope has disappeared?
There was no way the Pope, a powerful figure, would have any trouble dealing with Lasha, so this disappearance had to be intentional.
But why?
As I frowned, I realized I was too unaware of the situation I was in, especially since it wasn’t part of the ga. I clicked my tongue in frustration.
“The entry is not difficult. I’m a saint, after all. However, if we go through the formal route, there are so procedures we’ll have to follow.”
“Are you saying it will take ti?”
“No. Prince Arthur. I can ignore such minor things with my authority. What I’m talking about is the rules of the holy land. The regulations that have been strictly followed since its creation cannot be taken lightly.”
Cardinal Johann, who had been working tirelessly, sighed deeply, facing the ever-growing mountain of tasks.
Everything he did was for the church, so he had no intention of rejecting it, but it was a bit burdenso for him.
And yet, he was glad. It was like being told by the Almighty that he had value.
However, continuing like this would surely lead to mistakes, so he took a brief mont to rest.
As he waited for the temperature of the tea to rise, the crystal ball on the desk, which he had kept carefully, began to glow.
“Saint?”
"Cardinal Johann, I need to speak with you urgently."
"Go ahead."
"I’m planning to visit the holy land with my friends. Could you help us with the preparations?"
“Your friends, are they the ones I’m thinking of?”
"Yes."
Upon hearing Feibi’s confirmation, Johann felt his heart race.
After such a long ti, the Apostle of the Almighty was coming. The first chosen hero of the Almighty Church was finally coming to this place.
Realizing this, Johann imdiately rose from his seat, thinking about preparing the proper etiquette for such an important visit.
"Please wait a mont, Cardinal Johann. The one coming is my friend, Lucy Alrn, the noblewoman of House Alrn."
"...Oh. I see."
Of course, Lucy Alrn didn’t want her identity to be revealed.
She knew that the current church would not acknowledge the existence of the Apostle.
Sigh. Damn it. I know this shouldn’t be happening, but I can’t help but mutter in frustration.
If only you had co just one year later...
At least, if you had co after the thinning process was finished, I could have offered all the proper honors to the Apostle.
“When should I prepare everything?”
"The sooner, the better."
"Then we’ll et around lunchti tomorrow. I’ll have everything ready by then."
At least I was relieved that the Pope wasn’t here.
If that person whom Lucy was so wary of had been around, I would have had to stop Lucy from going for her sake.
"Cardinal Johann."
“What is it?”
"I have one more request."
“Sounds like it’s a personal request.”
"...It’s embarrassing, but yes.”
“Please, tell . If I think it’s reasonable, I will agree.”
"...Can I have my friends wear the church's attire?"
I had expected it to be sothing personal, but I didn’t think it would be this personal.
From the embarrassed look on Joy’s face, Johann quickly guessed what she was asking for. After a mont of thought, he nodded with a light smile.
“I understand. I’ll make sure to find an appropriate excuse.”
“Thank you!”
There’s no need to be bound by strict rules. Ultimately, what matters is the intention to do good, sothing the Apostle of the Almighty had taught well.
So, no one will complain if I do this for soone who feels like a granddaughter to .
I also wanted to see her in the church’s attire.
Feeling that he had changed a lot from a year ago, Johann took a sip of his tea and left his office.
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