<h4>Chapter 93</h4>


    It was as if frost was falling in the room. Hans, Snoc, and Lube—of course, Weig and the Pope, who were both currently stronger than Zich—all froze for a moment. Weig’s hands instinctively reached towards the handle of his sword; that was how strong Zich’s bloodthirst was.


    “Hohoho! That was very scary. Even though I understand how furious you must be, I ask that you withdraw your bloodthirst. It’s putting a strain on an old man’s heart who might not see the light of tomorrow.”


    “Oops. My emotions got the better of me. I apologize.” Zich withdrew his bloodlust. Hans, Snoc, and Lube’s faces began to look relieved. But their expressions were not fully back to normal.


    The Pope continued, “I understand. I also lost my friends andrades to those Bellid bastards. It’s a sin for those guys to exist—that’s why we have to kill every single one of them.”


    Even though the Pope didn’t let out his bloodlust like Zich, his spirit was also fierce. Hans and Snoc gulped their saliva. The Pope, who had been friendly like a next-door grandpa, was now showing his force as the leader of arge and powerful organization.


    “I heard that your sworn enemy is Cardinal Cullun Trislowa.”


    “Yes, he is.”


    “He’s an extremely vicious person. I don’t even want to say he is human. However, he is strong. Not as strong as Sir Weig, but I predict that he possesses the same strength as Karuwiman’s highest level priest.”


    Weig made a groan, as he didn’t seem pleased to bepared to Cullun Trislowa. However, nobody, including the Pope, paid any attention to him, even the kind Lube. Weig felt a little disheartened. He suddenly missed the innocent Lube for a bit.


    “Mr. Zich, I know that you are very strong considering your age, but I don’t think you are stronger than him. Are you still nning to fight him?”


    “When all of you attack, I will start moving inside. I might not be a good diversion, but I won’t at least be a hindrance to all of you.”


    “…You are saying that you won’t change your mind.”


    Lube looked at Zich with concern, but she didn’t say anything because she respected his decision. The Pope spoke again, “We will be extremely secretive about this n. We can’t afford to let pests like Bellid realize this n and crawl away. We will be strictly controlling our information about this n in our external as well as internal factions. Even the military force that we are gathering right now don’t know they are gathering to fight against the Bellid.”


    “How would you deal with the surrounding countries? People would feel threatened by a Karuwiman army.”


    “We’ve already spread some information as bait. It’s notmon for us to move our military force, but it’s not like it never happens. When we finish our raid against Bellid, we will then tell the truth. Even though there might be countries that express their difort, raiding the Bellid is a right of the Karuwiman, recognized by all sovereign nations.”


    However, as the Pope mentioned, surrounding countries would definitely bring upints, especially countries that hadnd near or on the northern branch of Bellid. However, the Pope had no intentions to withdraw his ns. This was a military and a diplomatic war. Moreover, the Pope was a holy figure respected by all Karuwiman devotees, but he was also a leader of arge organization. He was familiar with the ‘trick or be tricked’ mentality and used ns that deceived others.


    Weig, a knight, and Lube, a devoted priestess, looked ufortable by the Pope’s words. They lightly drew a sign of the cross and begged for forgiveness to their god. Hans and Snoc were also shocked by the Pope’s words; even though they realized this was a necessity, the n definitely relied on tricking people. On the other hand, the Pope’splexion did not change at all.


    ‘A boss of a holy organization is a boss after all.’


    Just a kind old grandpa whoughed, ‘Hoho!’ was not enough to lead such arge organization. Moreover, that was how much the Pope hated the Bellid.


    ‘Well, it’s because I knew about their aversion for Bellid that I came to them.’


    Zich was satisfied.


    “So I expect the three of you to also be cautious about not letting this information leak out.”


    “Before we start our raid, why don’t we stay inside the temple? Won’t that also make you feel more secure?”


    “If you do that, I will be more than grateful.” The Pope also thought about suggesting this to Zich, so he immediately epted Zich’s offer. “We will treat you with the highest level of hospitality. None of you will feel ufortable in the slightest.”


    After that, a few more conversations passed between them. After they decided that they would make more specific ns after the Karuwiman formed a basic outline of their military raid, they decided to go their separate ways.


    “Ah, but would you be able to ept one request of mine?” Zich asked before he got up.


    The Pope readily replied, “Mr. Zich, since we owe you a great favor, I will try to ept your request as much as possible, even if it is difficult. What do you need?”


    “The title of Honorary Knight. Would you be able to give it to me?”


    It was an unexpected request.


    “From what I heard, when Sir Weig offered you the title of Honorary Knight, you refused.”


    “It’s because I didn’t really need it then.”


    “Then do you need it now?”


    “Yes.”


    “That’s fine. Honestly, there’s no reason for us to refuse your request. It’s also very beneficial for us to ept a person like you as Honorary Knight. You provided more than enough service for us. I will make sure that you receive the title right away.”


    “Thank you.”


    Lube and Weig’s faces brightened up. Since they both wanted Zich to be an Honorary Knight, they were happy at how the situation turned out.


    Then, the Pope asked, “But will it be all right if I ask why you suddenly need the title of Honorary Knight? Ah, no matter what type of reason you state, no matter how personal it is, I will never say it out loud to anyone. I’m just asking because I’m curious. If it’s hard for you to say, you also don’t have to tell me.”


    Zichughed. Even though it was not to the extent that Weig had to instinctively reach out for his sword again, Zich’sugh right now didn’t look too great either. Hisugh was sinister and conniving.


    “After that boy died, a thought urred to me. How can I make that Trislowa bastard even more furious? How can I make him go crazy with anger? While I tried to make my ns ordingly, I judged that it would be better for me to have the title of Honorary Knight. There’s all there is to it.”


    Everyone, including the Pope, was left speechless.


    * * *


    After Zich, Hans, and Snoc left, only the Pope, Lube, and Weig were left in the room.


    “He is even more unique than I imagined.” The Pope made a heartyugh.


    “Although his personality might be like that, his actions speak differently. They are proper, and it’s actually very praiseworthy that he tries hard to do good deeds even with that kind of personality. Even if bes a Holy Knight of Karuwiman, he won’t fall…”


    The Pope’sughter grew so loud that it could shake the whole room, and Weig closed his mouth.


    “Ah, I’m sorry. Sorry. I didn’t mean tough at you. It’s because it’s my first time seeing you defend someone besides Lube so desperately.”


    “…Was it that noticeable?” Weig felt a bit embarrassed and nudged the table’s legs with his feet pointlessly.


    “What do you think, Lube? Do you think the same as Weig?”


    “Yes, I do. Mr. Zich’s personality is indeed awful, but I believe that he is someone we can trust.”


    The Popeughed again in response. “Pffft! Even Lube says that his ‘personality is awful’ in front of me. If it were you from before, I don’t think you would have even thought of such harsh words.”


    Lube thought that she might have talked too rashly and hung her head in embarrassment.


    “But that’s right. He’s someone who has given us a lot of help.”


    Zich had fought the Bellids, helped Lube develop her character, and told them the solution to a vicious ritual; and now, he gave them the location of one of the Bellids’ important bases.


    “Still, both of you have to admit that he is a very mysterious figure.”


    Lube and Weig nodded. They trusted Zich because of the enormous help they received from him, but Lube and Weig also had to admit that Zich was suspicious in many ways.


    “Don’t worry. I don’t n on harming him just because he is suspicious. You both can continue to believe him. But I will continue to suspect him—it’s part of my responsibility as a leader of a congregation.” The Pope sighed deeply. He lookedpletely different from when he wasughing and looked much older than his age now. “Being a pope is difficult. I have to stand on a thin line between Karuna’s teachings and the ways of this world.”


    “I admire your holiness for that reason.”


    “I feel the same way!”


    Both Karuwiman’s greatest Holy Knight and a candidate certain to be the Saint assured him. Soon, color came back to the Pope’s worn-out face.


    “…Hoho! This old man whined a bit. Yes, I mean, what’s the problem when I have at least two people by my side?” The Pope met both of their eyes. “This war will be one of the most intense wars you might ever see. Even throughout our Karuwiman history, we have never attacked the Bellids at this scale. And you both must lead at the front. Are you confident that you can do that?”


    The Pope couldn’t hide the greatest Holy Knight and future Saint from battle just because they were too precious to him.


    “Of course. From the first ce, Sir Zich has brought this information to us. Besides, there is no greater final deed than this for Lady Lube to do right before she bes the Saint. And most of all, isn’t this a holy war? Just participating in it is a great honor itself.”


    “Besides the part about the final deed, I have the same opinions as Sir Weig.”


    “Then, that’s enough.” The Pope nodded his head in satisfaction. “With the Holy Knights and priests that are gathering here and you both, we will be able to vanquish the Bellid’s base.”


    Then, the Pope suddenly thought of something and licked his lips.


    “It would have been better if we were able to call Sir Zenard.”


    Lube asked, “Are you talking about the person who received the title of Honorary Holy Knight?”


    “Yes, his character is noble, and his skills are much greater than his age range. Now that I think about it, he is like Zich in some ways.”


    Both of them were young, skilled, and lived with the motto to do good deeds; but of course, they seemed to have opposite personality types.


    “It’s a pity that our message didn’t reach him. But what can we do? Honorary Holy Knights are not someone we can just call whenever we want.”


    “Are we still talking about Sir Zenard?”


    “Is there a problem?” the Pope asked in surprise when he saw that Lube seemed a bit displeased about the topic.


    “No, there’s no problem. It’s just that whenever I meet him, he always asks me if I am worried about something.”


    “Sir Zenard must have an interest in Lady Lube,” Weigughed. He was like a typical old person who enjoyed hearing the love lives of young people. Lube sighed. “As someone serving Karuna, I will not date or marry. Don’t you all know this?”


    “Ah, I can already hear the sound of men who yearn for you, bleeding tears and blood at those words.”


    “If you keep teasing me, I’m going to try my hardest to arrange a date for you.”


    “But I’m too old for that.”


    “Don’t you know that love in old age is more romantic?”


    Weig had tried to tease Lube a bit, but he suffered a total loss. Weig made a fake cough and turned his head—he was admitting his silent defeat.


    “Our conversation went off-topic. But Sir Zenard doesn’t seem to have feelings for me or anything like that. He had a gaze like he was searching for something.”


    “Hmm. He might have been trying to test you since you are going to be the next Saint. If you feel ufortable around him, I can say something to him. Even if his intentions are good, if the other party feels ufortable, we have to put an end to the matter.”


    “No, it’s fine. He hasn’t been doing it these days.”


    “Maybe his curiosity disappeared. But if there’s anything that causes you difort, please tell me or his Holiness. We will try to mediate the dispute. Your Holiness, you will also…” Weig’s sentence also trailed off.


    The Pope was staring at Lube. He seemed to be looking at her expectantly, but there was also mischief mixed into his gaze.


    “…What is it, Your Holiness?” Lube noticed the Pope’s gaze and asked him in surprise. Then, the Pope said in a clearly disappointed voice, “Aren’t you going to say that you will arrange a date for me too? I’m saddened that you only care for Sir Weig.”


    A short silence followed. Lube looked taken aback while Weig burst out inughter.