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~Chapter 143~
…Beth will be fine.
At least, I have to believe that!
Tap-tap-tap!
The further I moved forward, the more my skin prickled like it was being torn apart.
It was a sign—I was getting closer to the source of the monsters.
The Eyeball squinted at me, as if to ask if I was ready.
I narrowed my eyes back at it.
“Really? You’re asking me that now?”
The Eyeball blinked proudly, like it was smiling.
I answered flatly.
“Don’t act like your incompetence is just part of your charm. Don’t cover it up with fake smiles.”
…
“Yeah, don’t give me that pitiful look either.”
I ran and ran until—
“There!”
What came into view, pouring out intense demonic energy, wasn’t a slaughterhouse but the gate to the underground relic vault.
‘So that’s where they dragged him.’
Bang!
I kicked the door wide open without hesitation, musket ready—
“Ahhh!”
A cry stopped me mid-motion.
Then I saw it.
A huge crystal gate, arched high, with three suspicious slots carved into the top.
From the slightly open gap, monsters were forcing their way out.
I frowned.
‘So that’s the source.’
And then I saw the people standing by the gate.
“Go forth, my soldiers!”
The Pope swung his crystal-tipped staff, the same material as the gate.
The monsters obeyed his gesture.
By his side stood the Saintess.
And—unexpectedly—the Emperor.
And then—
“Karl!”
He was kneeling in front of the crystal gate, bound in glowing chains of light, straining against them so hard the veins in his neck bulged.
The Pope drew a dagger from his robes.
The moment I saw the bluish blade, I aimed.
Bang!
The shot knocked the dagger away.
In an instant, every eye turned to me.
The Emperor shrieked, “How dare you interrupt the ritual! This is treason—”
“Then I’ll just commit one more act of treason!”
I charged forward and smacked the Emperor on the back of the head.
Smack!
“Ugh!”
He collapsed, out cold. Lucky for me, there weren’t guards standing around to block me—
“Over there! Aim for her!”
Kiiiaaak!
—Or maybe not.
The monsters crawling through the gate rushed at me, following the Pope’s staff.
“Elaine!”
Karl snarled, breaking several chains of light with brute divine force. Blood poured from his torn arm.
“Don’t push yourself!”
Bang! Bang! Bang!
I fired rapidly, clearing monsters one by one.
As I shot the last one, a sudden flash caught my eye.
The Eyeball glowed brightly, pointing.
I followed its gaze.
The hollows above the gate.
Out of the three, two were already filled—
with a bone fragment and… a scale, still clinging with flesh.
‘Dragon relics?’
“You want me to target those?”
The Eyeball winked.
“Got it!”
I aimed my musket and pulled the trigger—
“Stop!”
“Ah!”
The Pope grabbed Mariana, pressing the sharp crystal of his staff against her neck.
“If you wish to save the Saintess, then stand down!”
“You cowardly bastard!”
“Elaine, careful!” Karl shouted.
The Pope smiled gently, holding a tearful Mariana, looking every bit the classic villain—kind on the outside, rotten within.
“This is the end.”
He pulled out a small glass vial and held it beneath Karl’s wounded arm.
Drip, drip, drip.
Blood dripped into the vial.
I clenched my jaw. At least it wasn’t a deeper wound… but that blood—what was he planning?
I snapped, “Calling the Demon King with a cliché blood ritual? How unoriginal can you get?”
The Pope chuckled, pretending to be magnanimous.
“No. My predecessors merely tamed demons to spread the temple’s will. But I am different.”
“What’s different about you?” Karl demanded.
The Pope turned to him, eyes shining.
“I’ll use you as the vessel.”
…What?
“Be grateful your body will be used for greatness. When He descends, He will bring new teachings to this world.”
Karl and I spoke in unison:
“Like hell that’ll work.”
“Try messing with my husband like that and you’ll lose your head.”
The Pope stroked his beard, smiling smugly.
“You should be pleased. You’ll have the highest being as your spouse.”
“Utter nonsense,” I spat.
“You’ll understand once you hear. Why I turned from God, why I found salvation in the Demon King. I—”
“No.”
His face froze.
“…Surely you’re curious.”
“Not really.”
“I started from nothing—”
“Don’t care.”
“I saw corruption in society, read the records of Saint Portu—”
“Blah, blah, blah.”
I shrugged.
“Basically, you wanted to overthrow the rotten world and decided the Demon King was justice. That about right?”
The Pope’s fake smile faltered.
I clicked my tongue.
“Excuses. It’s just greed, isn’t it?”
“Plenty of people suffer, but not everyone becomes a monster like you.”
Faces from Saint Portu flashed in my mind—
The pickpockets who resisted drug orders.
The kebab seller who gave what little he had.
Merchants who grabbed weapons with trembling hands when monsters attacked.
Villagers who carried torches and flags to guide others through fire.
“They’re the ones who change the world. Not hypocrites like you.”
The Pope’s beard trembled with rage.
I said coldly,
“The world changes because of those who stand firm even when unrecognized. Who step forward even when it’s frightening. Who help others instead of just themselves. Not greedy liars like you.”
A soft chuckle broke through.
I turned—Karl was smiling at me.
I glared. “And what are you smiling for?”
“Elaine, I—”
“Bleed in front of me again and we’re sleeping in separate rooms for three years.”
“…What?!”
His face crumpled like a scolded puppy.
I turned quickly before I gave in, focusing on Mariana.
“Mariana, you—”
But the Pope whispered something into her ear.
Then he stepped back, letting her go.
‘Now’s my chance!’
Or so I thought—
“…I’m truly sorry.”
Mariana reached toward me.
A dome of divine energy erupted, sealing me inside a barrier.
