PMEVBO 116

It was hard to make out the interior of the room because of my reflection in the terrace window. I cupped my eyes with my hands and peered inside. A luxurious bedroom was visible through the window.

…Fortunately, it looks like there’s no one in the bedroom.

In that case, there was no reason to hesitate.

I stepped into the bedroom. As befitted the lounge of a high-ranking clergyman, the bedroom was spacious. It was larger than the three rooms downstairs combined.

I looked around, checking my surroundings. Then I glanced at the wall and flinched for a second.

Ginseng liquor……?

There was a plump ginseng root inside a tall glass vase.

It didn’t take long for me to realize what it was. I quickly ran over and reached my hand into the vase. But the creature was faster; it went through the vase and the wa​Read on​ll one after the other before disappearing.

“Damn it…”

If this weren’t inside a building, I would’ve caught it already.

In terms of speed, the ginseng monster was no match for me. But inside the building, where the walls and ceiling restricted my movement, I was at a huge disadvantage. Unlike it, I couldn’t pass through walls.

After smacking the poor vase once, I headed straight for the door. I grabbed the doorknob, but I couldn’t bring myself to open it. I didn’t know who might be on the other side.

…If I let this chance slip by now, I don’t know when I’ll find it again.

I pressed my ear close to the door, but I didn’t sense any particular movement on the other side. I pulled the hood of my clerical robe over my head and took a deep breath. When I opened the door, a spacious reception room entered my sight.

The reception room was silent.

Is there no one here…?

But it was too early to jump to conclusions. It was more spacious than the bedroom, so I couldn’t take it all in at a glance. Without letting my guard down, I quickly searched the area.

Just then, something running across the edge of my vision caught my eye. It was the ginseng monster. I charged at it.

It let out a bloodcurdling scream and vanished through the wall again. Once more, I found myself standing in front of a door. I pressed my ear against it, but I still couldn’t detect any signs of life.

I carefully turned the doorknob and opened the door. The moment I caught the scent wafting out through the crack, I started in my tracks.

Certain scents symbolize certain people.

A smoky scent reminiscent of the lingering fragrance after incense has burned. It was the scent that always emanated from the Pope.

‘…The cardinal said so, you keep me by your side because you suspect I’m a demon. Is that really true? Did you raise me with the intention of watching me and killing me because you thought I might actually be a demon…?’

‘Yes, that’s right.’

‘Ha. ……If that’s the case, you should’ve just killed me the very day I was born. If you had,…… you wouldn’t have had to waste your time on someone like me.’

‘Lulu, you’ve lived for 16 years now. Is dedicating a mere 16 years really a waste? What’s 16 years? I could dedicate 100 years to you.’

‘……’

‘What does time even mean to me?’

Honestly, I didn’t understand it myself. I was the one who’d spent half a day wandering around outside because I didn’t want to go inside the castle. But now I could understand why. I didn’t want to run into the Pope.

The breath I hadn’t managed to exhale stabbed at my chest. I gritted my teeth.

Shit, just focus on the quest. …Don’t waste your time on useless thoughts.

The corridor-like structure blocked my view, so I couldn’t see inside. Even though the door had made a sound, there was no Read on sound coming from within. Perhaps the occupant had stepped out for a moment.

Holding onto a glimmer of hope, I walked down the short hallway. Of course, that hope was shattered in an instant.

The room, furnished like an office, contained a large desk. The Pope was sitting in front of it. His head was tilted to one side, and his eyes were closed.

I wasn’t unaware of his sleeping habits. The fact that he even had his arms crossed meant he was truly asleep.

I’m going to lose my mind. Why is that monster setting up camp right there…?

The ginseng monster was using the Pope as cover. It was hiding in the Pope’s arms, with only its head poking out. Because he had his arms crossed, the Pope looked as if he were hugging a bouquet.

I began to advance solemnly toward the Pope.

It feels like I’m going to pluck a hair from a sleeping lion’s nose.

But now that nose hair could pass through walls and even jump…

Fortunately, the Pope was a heavy sleeper. Once he fell asleep, he wouldn’t wake up easily.

But why isn’t that thing running away?

Up until now, the ginseng monster had always run away the moment our eyes met. So I thought it would start crying and running off somewhere else this time too… But even when I got close, it didn’t run away.

“Kyu, kieng. Kie, kyu. Kieng.”

……What the heck? Now it’s singing, too.

Even the flower forming its head looked bigger and more luscious than ever.

Well, that works out well for me.

Without hesitation, I reached out and grabbed the [unauthorized copy]flower head. At that moment, the ginseng monster vanished in a blinding white light.

Ding!

────【 Main Quest 】────

Hunt the Monsters!

(3/3)

D-1 (44h 58m 21s)

Success!

────────────────

……It’s over.

Now I just have to go back to my cell…… No, wait.

……It feels a bit off to go back to my cell right now.

Data being aligned: Physical Body

Alignment Duration: 5 hours 48 minutes 2 seconds

Enough time had already passed for Iser to return from the meeting.

Since I’m late, maybe I should wait until the alignment duration ends before going back……

……I should go outside the palace first and think it over.

But suddenly, the Pope’s desk caught my eye. The Pope was usually organized, but his desk was always a mess. It couldn’t be helped. The volume of paperwork was enormous.

The Pope was a figure in this empire who was practically a god. It was funny that such a great figure had fallen asleep from exhaustion while working, even during the banquet period when everyone else was out having fun.

…If you’re going to sleep, at least lie down properly. Why are you sleeping like this?

So annoying…….

I found myself sighing. I took the blanket from the sofa and draped it over him.

I never knew how to deal with this monster who looked just like my brother. But now, I was even more at a loss.

…If my guess is correct, the Pope must be my brother’s past life.

That one thing was enough to drive me crazy… Thanks to my memories being unlocked, I realized just how much my past self had hated the Pope. The love I received from my brother and the pain inflicted by the Pope were jumbled together, forming the person I am today.

It would have been better if I’d only remembered one of them.

To be honest, I couldn’t say that all I received from the Pope was pain. I knew he cared for me in his own way. But that made it even more miserable.

How is the affection I receive any different from the affection given to livestock?

Even livestock is cared for and pampered until it’s slaughtered.

…Enough. Don’t think about it anymore.

It was right when I was about to leave, someone grabbed my hand.

My heart began to race like a child caught doing something naughty behind their parents’ backs.

From behind me came a low, hoarse voice.

“Your hands are cold.”

Whether before or after the alignment, I tended to run a bit warm. But my hands, which had gone cold the moment I stepped into this room, still hadn’t returned to normal.

The Pope let go of my hand and asked,

“What brings you here?”

His voice was gentle. My lips twisted in a bitter smile.

When he was alone with me, he was like an emotionless machine. But when he was with others, he acted as if he were a completely different person. I knew that was just a facade. Perhaps he didn’t even feel it was worth putting on a show for me.

…Why didn’t you pretend with me, just like you’re doing now?

If you’d treated me with even half the affection you show others, if you had, then I too… would have been able to respect and revere you to my heart’s content, just like everyone else.

I pulled my hood down even further over my eyes. Then I slowly turned away.

“……I greet Your Holiness, warrior of the Creator God Debiamas, representative of Hail, immortal hero, Emperor of the Saints, and Lord of Punishment. May the blessings of Debiamas always be with Your Holiness.”

“May the blessings of Debiamas always be with you as well.”

……It was the first time I had exchanged such formal greetings with him.

The Pope tended to be forgiving of mistakes. I decided to take advantage of that.

“I had one too many and mistook the room. I apologize, Your Holiness.”

“I see.”

As expected, his reaction was mild. Just as I was about to sigh in relief and say I’d be on my way, the Pope spoke gently.

“Well then, to help you sober up, would you like to have a cup of tea before you go?”