Chapter 1687 – 169. A Tempting Offer.

Religion of the Sun

Although its popularity has decreased compared to its heyday due to the disappearance of the warrior and the collapse of the headquarters by the Demon King’s army, it is definitely one of the greatest religions on the continent, dividing the continent in two, along with the Church of Genesis.

Kwaaaaang

The headquarters of the newly established Sun God Church in the south

Office located in the deepest place

The desk shakes violently and a loud roar begins to echo.

“What do you mean? I haven’t found it yet!”

The source of that sound was none other than a woman.

A woman with a sacred aura, with hair resembling the light of the sun and somewhat stubborn eyes

One of the most powerful figures in the church, along with the warrior and the Pope

Saint of the Sun God Religion

Victorica Dior Solaris

Her angry iron fist hit the desk roughly.

“It’s already been a month since His Holiness disappeared! A month! And we still haven’t even been able to find out his whereabouts! Do you think that makes sense?”

There is only one reason for anger

The reason was that the whereabouts of Pope Benedict, who disappeared 10 days ago, have not yet been found.

Who is Pope Benedict

Isn’t he the head and most important figure of the Sun God Religion?

Since he disappeared

It’s already been 10 days and you haven’t even figured out the whereabouts yet?

Even if you are incompetent

How can you be so incompetent?

“I’m sorry.”

The person responsible for tracking down the Pope

Roman, the leader of the Knights of the Dawn of the Sun, lowered his head with a disapproving expression.

This was because I was at a loss for words due to the obvious incompetence that could not be denied.

“I don’t want to hear your apology! I want to ask you why! Why on earth haven’t you found it yet? Even though the famous Knights of the Dawn of the Sun came out in person!”

“…At some point, His Holiness’ traces were completely lost.”

“Are you saying it rose into the sky or burrowed into the ground?”

“…”

Roman was speechless.

It was just like it said.

The traces had completely disappeared, as if they had suddenly soared into the sky or dug into the ground.

“Even if something like that had happened, there would have been a reverberation of magic or spirit in the area, right?”

Victorica glares at him with her eyebrows furrowed.

It is not impossible for traces to disappear.

Panthesia was a place where the mysterious power of magic or elementalism lurked.

However, such mysterious forces were bound to leave a reverberation in the end.

Before the Knights of the Dawn of the Sun, there is nothing that cannot be traced.

“…Unfortunately, no traces were found.”

Roman shook his head with a somber expression.

To find even the smallest trace

We hired a high-ranking wizard to scan the area around where the traces disappeared several times.

They even searched nearby villages to see if there was anyone suspicious or if anything unusual had happened, but to no avail.

Despite such efforts, no clues could be found

“…Sigh…I’m really going crazy.”

At those words, Victorica let out a deep sigh.

However, due to the disappearance of the warrior and the collapse of the main group, the Sun God Church weakened in power and the atmosphere itself became somewhat chaotic.

In such a situation, even Pope Benedict went

‘Even if we all work together to regain our former strength, it will not be enough…’

Her head her ached and she couldn’t help but sigh.

“…What do you plan to do next?”

“…We plan to classify this disappearance case as a special case and expand the scope of the investigation in cooperation with the Golden Lion Knights…”

“If you do that, will you be able to find it?”

“…I don’t think I can give you a definite answer.”

Roman continued speaking with an expression of uncertainty.

To put it bluntly, she was not confident.

Because it was unlikely that missing clues would suddenly pop up by expanding the scope of the investigation

“You’re saying you’re not confident.”

“…That’s right.”

“You’re incompetent, you’re infinitely incompetent.”

“…”

It was a remark that belittled my pride, but I couldn’t refute it.

What she said was absolutely true

“I have no choice, I have no choice but to step forward myself.”

“Are you saying this yourself!?”

“Yes, when it comes to detecting the holy power that His Holiness possesses, I would be better than any paladin or priest.”

“But if you do that…”

“Is there any problem?”

“It’s too dangerous..”

Roman has a somber expression.

The truth about Pope Benedict’s disappearance was not yet fully understood.

Is it a simple outing?

It is unclear whether it was a kidnapping by an irreverent force.

In such a situation, it was extremely dangerous for Saint Victorica to step outside the church.

“But, if even the saintess goes missing…”

It was obvious that the Sun God Church would face an unprecedented crisis.

“It hurts my pride, that you looked at me like I was such an easy person.”

Victoria twitches her eyebrows as if her pride her her her her is hurt.

“That’s not it… I’m saying that since the warrior and the Pope are missing, we need to approach it as conservatively as possible…”

“Isn’t this situation the result of that conservative approach?”

“…”

I couldn’t refute it.

Because that wasn’t wrong at all

“If you want to change a situation, you have to pay a price. You can’t achieve any progress by trying to solve everything without sacrifice, Roman.”

Victoria’s unique sharp eyes sparkle.

“That’s why I have no intention of giving up my will. If I don’t step forward, nothing will change.”

“…”

“So, I hope you understand.”

“…I will follow your orders.”

In the end, Roman had no choice but to agree.

Because she knows from experience that it is impossible to break the stubbornness of this fierce saint.

“Okay, then please mobilize all the manpower except the minimum manpower. There are no exceptions for the Dawn of the Sun, the Golden Lion, the Flame of Purification, and the Crimson Eagle. And everyone below the level of bishop…”

At that time, the path of the Sun God religion had just been decided

“Saint! Saint Victorica!!!”

An urgent voice begins to echo outside the door.

It was the voice of Toris, a low-level priest in charge of errands.

“What’s going on? Toris”

Victorica frowns and opens her mouth.

I naturally frowned at the somewhat uncultured speech.

“I think you should come out right away.”

“So for what reason?”

Victorica held back her rising annoyance and opened her mouth.

“The body of His Holiness Pope Benedict has been returned to the church!”

“What!?”

For a moment, Victorica’s pupils her her her, filled with annoyance, widen infinitely and begin to turn into her astonishment her her her her.

I couldn’t help but be surprised by the completely unexpected words.

And she immediately gets up and runs away.

Roman follows him.

With a very urgent expression

*************

An old man with a gentle expression, sleeping with a peaceful expression, wearing a pure white shroud

The head and highest power of the Sun God Religion.

Pope Benedict VII

He was sleeping so peacefully.

In the sleep of death that can never be woken up

“…What the hell is this..”

Victorica, a saint of the Sun Goddess, looks embarrassed after checking the body.

This was because she could not believe that the Pope was dead, even though she was seeing it clearly with her own two eyes.

I don’t feel death at all.

It just feels like I’m asleep

How blankly did he stare at Benedict?

Boom boom

Soon she urgently shakes her head.

This is not the time to escape reality and panic.

We need to find out the truth.

“…How on earth did this happen?”

Victorica asks the low priest Thoris, who first discovered her.

What on earth happened in front of my eyes?

“So… I… Was just cleaning the Pope’s bedroom as usual… But at some point… Zines with unfamiliar patterns spread out on the floor…The body of His Holiness the Pope.. ..”

Toris stuttered and barely began to speak.

“…In His Holiness’s bedroom.”

At those words, Victorica narrows her eyes.

If the formation had unfolded, it would most likely be a phenomenon caused by magic.

The wizard moved the coordinates of Pope Benedict to his bedroom.

‘…That’s also a great sage level mage.’

His Holiness’ bedroom is a space where the protection and blessings of bishop-level priests are preserved.

Not only is it difficult to find out the coordinates with the skills of a high-ranking wizard, but even if they do, they cannot overcome the protection and blessings of bishop-level priests and manifest magic.

That means

The conclusion is that a wizard of at least a great sage level is involved in this incident.

‘..Agnes Leorde? No, why would she have an affair with the Sun Goddess? The owner of the Gray Magic Tower? No, isn’t that a reason, Furious Vegas? She is Seras in the bitter cold? … Or … Bahamut, the dragon of destruction? … Rasilus, the guardian dragon? ‘

I tried to think of various candidates, but I wasn’t sure if any of them were good.

Because there was no reason to blame all those beings

‘…Is she wearing a shroud…A mockery? Or is it a courtesy to the dead?’

I don’t even understand the intention

A situation where it is unclear whether the person who did this was an enemy or an ally

That’s why it was frustrating.

Who on earth did this and for what purpose?

At that time, when I was looking at Benedict’s body his his with such a headache

Sparkle

Something sparkling comes into view.

‘Pendant?’

I feel puzzled.

Among all previous popes, Benedict VII was known for being frugal.

It is impossible for him to have accessories like that.

‘..Someone put a pendant on?..Why..?’

His hand reaches out and grasps the pendant.

Wow

At that moment, brilliant light begins to surround Victorica.

[Oh my, it looks like we’re finally connected.]

And a soft voice begins to ring in my head.

[This is…Communication magic.]

[That’s right, it’s an artifact made specifically for the saint of the Sun Goddess.]

[For me? Did you want to be alone?]

[Yes, it is difficult in many ways if there are many ears to listen.]

[In that case, you could have come in person?]

[Because if I did that, I would be tortured and interrogated first instead of alone.]

[You think the Sun God religion is too outrageous.]

[Sorry if I was rude, but I hope you understand, being safe is like an instinct]

[Well, okay, I’ll overlook your rudeness, that’s not what’s important right now.]

[Oh, you are so merciful, you are truly a saint of the Sun Goddess Church.]

[Who are you? For what purpose was Pope Benedict’s body sent to the church? Is it a provocation or a mockery? Is that also a courtesy to the dead?]

[I am Leila, a saint of the Church of Goodwill. I serve the God of Goodwill, and there was absolutely no intention of provocation or ridicule in sending His Holiness Pope Benedict to the Church. I just sent it back to my bosom]

Seonwoo Bridge

It’s a name I’ve heard of.

It is the name of a new religion that has recently become the state religion of the Leord Empire.

[It was resolved by chance? You didn’t kill him?]

[You are saying scary things, killing people. Sunwoo Church is a peace-loving religion. There is no way we would even think of going to war with the Sun God Church, right?]

[You never know, it may have been someone’s investigation or an operation to expand power.]

[I have so little faith, I feel sad.]

[I am not so naive as to believe the words spoken by someone who has not even shown his face.]

[Then, if we meet face to face, will you believe me?]

[There’s nothing I can’t believe.]

[Well then, I have no choice. Let me see your face in person. To prove your innocence.]

[Okay, then tell me where you are staying, and I will send the escorts and carriage.]

Hehe, you seem to be mistaken…I’m not going, the saint is coming.]

[Arrogant army, the saint of Seonwoo Church]

[If this is the case, I think I’ve made a lot of concessions, right? In the first place, I don’t feel like going out in person when even my good intentions are being questioned.]

[They may be taken by force.]

[Hehe, do you think it’s possible? Forcibly arresting me in Helton.]

[Do you think you can’t do it?]

[Hehe, if that’s the case, you can try it. Saint Victoria]

[…

[…

The two were silent for a while.

A silent battle of wits

[Let’s look at it from a medium distance.]

In the end, it was Victorica who came up with a compromise.

In the end, it was because I recognized that it was this way that was disappointing.

[No, meeting face to face is limited to Helton, there is no such thing as compromise.]

But Leila’s firm words ring in my ears.

[More than my biggest amount.]

[Concessions can only be made between equal partners. Are our positions equal?]

Deuddeuk

Victorica grinds her teeth in silence.

[Besides, shouldn’t the Pope’s belongings be returned?]

[…A keepsake?..No way…A walking temple..]

[Then, I’ll see you at Helton.]

Pasasak

With those words, the pendant completely crumbles and scatters like dust.

They cut off contact.

“…Damn it!!!!”

Bang bean bang bang

At this, Victorica spews out fierce anger and tramples on the floor.

Anger wells up at this arrogant behavior.

‘I’ll see if you’ll show such arrogance right in front of me, Layla!’

Her eyes begin to glow.

********

Holy Empire

The greatest empire on the continent with the Genesis Church as its state religion

The deepest part of Changsegung Palace located in the center.

“Oh my, what can happen…”

A woman with silver hair and a sacred air continues her words in a languid voice.

“A traitor to the empire is coming to see me in person… Does this mean he is asking me to kill him? Can I take that as his meaning? Huh? Huh? Tell me, Agnes~”

And she stares straight ahead with infinitely sharp eyes.

A short-haired female knight with silver hair also stood firmly there.

Former leader of the Knights of the Holy Ten

Current leader of the Honorable Knights

Agnes

“I told you, I have a suggestion.”

She continues her words in a calm tone.

“It better be interesting or I’m going to rip your head off right now.”

A beautiful woman with silver hair

“You will not be disappointed, Lorelai.”

And Agnes takes out something in her arms.

“…That…No way…”

At that moment, the pupils of the woman called Lorelai began to dilate infinitely and become tinged with astonishment.

“It is a holy relic of the Sun God religion, a walking temple.”

Agnes opened her mouth in a calm tone.

As if to give confidence

At that moment, the eyes of Lorelei, the saint of the Church of Genesis, begin to sparkle with interest.

“I guess I’ll have to postpone cutting the neck until later, right? Hehe”

Soon, a childlike, innocent smile appeared on her lips.