Chapter 96

I never expected such a mishap to occur while acting as the contractor’s stand-in.

‘Theo,’ who had kept his eyes closed the whole time, had to struggle to suppress a burst of laughter.

“I invited you like this because I wanted to meet with just the two of us. Was it a bit rude?”

“Just a bit rude?”

If the real Theo had been there, he would have undoubtedly had his head smashed in and died.

“If you’re going to invite me in the future, how about going through official channels?”

“You’re putting up your thorns.

I just invited you secretly because a suspect in the middle of a heresy trial meeting privately with the Pope would cause gossip.”

The way he smiles with his eyes is utterly repulsive. A sneer touched the corners of Theo’s lips.

“Get to the point.”

Even though he had been kidnapped in a way, his relaxed, even arrogant, attitude naturally brought to mind the saying, ‘like father, like son.’

Acting like that wouldn’t do him any good. Did he decide that not being ignored was the priority?

The Pope, who had been closely examining Theo’s face, still didn’t let go of his merciful smile.

“It’s not something the Church welcomes either, to put a young lord from a family that has contributed to the Empire on trial for heresy.”

That’s a lie. Theo silently savored the teacup offered as a courtesy.

There was no poison in the tea, nor was there any medicine. Then what was his ulterior motive for ‘inviting’ him like this?

‘Is it a relief that it’s me and not the real one?’

A flash of red crossed Theo’s golden eyes.

One is nothing but a mad dog of loyalty, and the other is a man mad for power.

A pretty good combination, since they’re both mad.

A man of power would need a subordinate who moves at his will, and a mad dog would need a human worthy of his loyalty.

“So?”

“Quite rude. Shouldn’t you at least show the minimum courtesy to the Pope?”

“So are you going to publicize what happened in this room?”

Theo snorted.

“Can you?”

Clatter. The sound of the teacup hitting the floor echoed in the quiet space.

As soon as Theo finished speaking, Benaya moved.

The tip of his sword touched his neck, and a red line appeared on his white throat.

“A dog trying to bite a person without its master’s permission?”

If that were to happen, it would be amusing in its own way.

The aftermath would be a bit complicated, and the contractor might go wild asking what I had done, but if Albedo just smooths things over, he’s the type to eventually solve it somehow.

“Benaya.”

“My apologies.”

Benaya, who had instantly withdrawn his sword, bowed his head to the Pope.

“Shouldn’t I be the one receiving the apology?”

A small amount of blood trickled from the neck where the sword had touched.

His contractor couldn’t control the power to heal his own body.

If they found out that the wound on his neck healed abnormally fast, he would never have been able to clear the heresy charges, so is it a relief that I was the one who was kidnapped?

Tap, tap. He tapped his fingers on the tea table, leaned back, and watched the Pope as if observing him.

“Can’t you even manage your dog properly?”

“I apologize.”

“I didn’t come here to find fault. So, the main point.”

Theo, who had straightened his posture again, directed his cold gaze at the Pope.

In the gaze that even exuded a sense of pressure, the Pope took a sip of his tea as if to draw out the moment.

“Kindly admit to the charge of heresy.”

“Huh?”

This was an offer I hadn’t expected in the slightest.

The corners of Theo’s mouth twitched. He was laughing, but a strange sound, a mixture of laughter and breath, came out.

“How is that any different from telling me to kindly become a dew on the execution ground?”

“It’s completely different. A power beyond cognition exists within you, and that must be the power of a heretic.”

Aha, so he did find something out.

The dog called Benaya, was it? A beast is a beast, I suppose. He has a keen sense of smell.

“A power beyond cognition?”

“Yes, a power that can even restore the sight that was offered to God.

You must have something like that, don’t you?”

Indeed, following the arrow of power was simpler than he thought.

“What if I really have something like that?”

“It’s nothing.

There’s no way I’d let someone with such power just disappear as a dew on the execution ground.

You just have to stay in the Church and grant my requests when I need you.

You won’t be framed as a heretic and disappear as a dew on the execution ground.”

He revealed his wish so easily that I wondered if it was even okay.

That Theo fellow had scolded demons for relying too much on their eyes, but this was the reality of humans.

Humans were beings who easily revealed their desires with just a little gentle prodding.

To think that such a human was the Pope leading the Church of Light, Lucius’s judgment was also so-so.

“So, you’re saying I have a power that transcends cognition, and you want me to use it to restore your youth? Then how will you explain that youth?”

“That is my business to handle. It is not something you, who will be staying comfortably in the Church, need to worry about.”

“It is my business to worry about. I don’t have such a power in the first place.”

“Don’t try to hide it—”

“How can a mere human restore the sight that was offered to God?

It’s impossible unless you’re a god yourself.”

Yes, such a miracle is surely impossible unless you are a god. But, he had done it.

He had even endured the annoyance of a contract because that part was interesting, but just as bees are drawn to flowers, annoying things buzzed around.

“Does a person in the position of Pope not even know that much?”

“Well, you can feign ignorance at first. But whenever you change your mind, call for Benaya.

You’ll be able to meet me right away.”

The Pope wasn’t shaken. He just smiled calmly and serenely.

Well, Lucius. You may not be good at other things, but you seem to have found someone who is good at acting.

“If you’re done talking, may I ask how I can return?”

“Of course. Benaya, escort him carefully.”

“Yes, Your Holiness.”

Judging by his demeanor, he didn’t seem like he was going to escort him carefully at all.

As he meekly entrusted his body to the hands that were slowly approaching him, Albedo considered the information he would give to Theo.

I don’t need to tell him that the Pope was pissed off because I acted like a dog, right?

* * *

“Achoo!”

I sneezed. For some reason, I have a feeling that something very crappy is happening without my knowledge.

“Be quiet.”

“I get my feelings hurt too.”

“So, what did you ask Lucian to do that he’s not even showing his face?”

“It’s as important as our work.”

“Is it as important as stealing?”

He kept saying stealing, stealing, and it was really starting to annoy me.

“Anyone who hears you would think I’m committing some huge crime.”

“Aren’t you?”

It is a huge crime, since I’m swiping a holy relic.

And since there’s a law that says those who steal holy relics get their wrists cut off, he’s not wrong.

“You’re not wrong. But my hands are slowing down, you know?”

“Nice try changing the subject.”

Zephyros grumbled and, unlike yesterday, started to search for the ring more seriously, even using the wind.

Where on earth did they hide this damn ring?

Then again, it’s a precious item, so maybe they hid it well, but the description that it was just left lying around, ‘the darkest place is under the candlestick,’ also weighs on my mind.

“I didn’t expect to find it within two days.”

Actually, I’m not even sure if I can find it within the time limit.

Anyway, once the week-long heresy trial is over, I have to go back to the Academy—

“X-bal, my final exams!!”

I tore at my hair and let out a scream.

At my sudden behavior, Zephyros looked at me with a startled expression, as if to say, ‘What’s with him?’

I somehow managed to get through the midterms with some tricks, but what about the finals?

Do I really have to cheat with my skills?

“You caused trouble when you were worried about your final exams?”

“Should I just destroy the world instead?”

I was tempted for a moment. If the world is destroyed, I won’t have to take the final exams.

“Just because of final exams?”

“Just?!!”

There’s no university I have to go to, and Lapis Academy is kind of treated as a university anyway!

Still, grades were much, much more important than you’d think.

“Tarnishing my father’s name… Ah, did I do that already?”

I’m out from the moment I was accused of heresy.

Am I an idiot for forgetting the most crucial part?

I collapsed in the warehouse and shed tears.

“I’m trash.”

“Why the sudden self-blame?”

“It’s just…”

I just felt empty for a moment. What on earth am I going through all this trouble for?

“And I f*cking hate that in the middle of all this, I’m worrying about what the plot will be like if I have my dark turn.”

“What on earth are you talking about?”

Zephyros’s contemptuous eyes were directed at me.

Should I shed some tears and say he’s being too harsh?

I let out an awkward laugh and got up again.

“I need to get a grip.”

If Ouroboros was one huge terror, Solomon was about numbers.

At least if a demon was hit by Lucian’s Holy Sword, it would be annihilated, but Lucian’s body is one, and the demons are 108.

And they appeared everywhere and caused havoc.

A question suddenly popped into my head.

“There are many people who can solve this damn situation besides me… am I too obsessed?”

Am I misunderstanding that only I, who knows the future, can save the world?

That’s what the system asked of me too.

To prepare for the terrible future to come and save the world.

But, I only needed a moment to get lost in thought.

Slap! I felt a stinging sensation as I slapped both my cheeks hard.

“You—”

“Okay, let’s just find the ring quickly and steal it!”

The conclusion was easily reached. It doesn’t change the fact that this situation itself is infuriating, but if Solomon really does appear, I’ll be the one in trouble.

“Are you okay?”

“Is there any reason I wouldn’t be?”

At Zephyros’s question, I smiled.

As I got up, I bumped into a box, and from the crack of the slightly open box, something rolled out.

“!!!”

A round golden ring! It was definitely a gold ring.

I hastily picked up the fallen gold ring, but it didn’t have the unique pattern described or anything like that.

“I should take it for now.”

“Huh?”

I don’t know which one is the real one, so I shouldn’t say irresponsibly that I’ll collect all the things that look like the Ring of Solomon, right?

“The fact that it’s just lying around in a box like this means it’s a treasure the Church has forgotten about in the first place.”

I gripped Zephyros’s shoulder tightly.

“While we’re stealing a holy relic, wouldn’t it be okay to swipe a few stolen goods?”

“Hey, no matter how—”

“This is the Pope’s treasure anyway, right?”

“Let’s do it now.”

I knew you’d say that.

Our eyes met, and we nodded at each other.

Money was always right, and if we could extort the Pope’s pockets, it was an occasion to be welcomed with open arms.

“Should we just take the ring?”

“No, let’s take a variety of things while we’re at it.”

If we get caught stealing just the ring, they might think we know about the Ring of Solomon.

It was much better to be caught stealing stolen goods than to be caught stealing a holy relic.

“Then shall we start cleaning this place out now?”

Then today, Lord Lucius, please allow me to be a righteous thief.

From now on, all the stolen goods are mine!

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