The Next Pope (2)
At the very moment Seong Hyun-jin was examining Clarice's sword, Serena and Ciela sat awkwardly in the dean's office, facing Pope Jerónimo VIII, who had unexpectedly paid a visit.
This was the Magic Kingdom, not the Holy Nation, but who wouldn't feel tense in the presence of a national leader?
"…Master."
Ciela spoke first, turning to Eleonora. "Forget why His Holiness is here—why did you call for us? This doesn't seem like a place for students to butt in."
It was a natural thought. With two of the Palstar Heroes and the Holy Nation's leader in the room, there was no room for mere academy students like Ciela and Serena.
But Eleonora acted as if that weren't the case at all. "Truth be told, Seong Hyun-jin and Yeonhui should have come too, but it's fine if I pass it on. Listen up."
"Huh? Hyunjin?"
Ciela wasn't surprised about Yeonhui, but hearing Seong Hyun-jin was supposed to come too caught her off guard. Eleonora's expression turned peculiar, as did Karin's, who had been listening quietly.
"Hyunjin?"
"Since when do you call your disciple by name?"
"Ah."
They were reacting to how affectionately Ciela referred to Seong Hyun-jin. Flushing slightly at their responses, Ciela answered honestly.
"…Hyunjin and I are dating now."
"Oh my?"
"Heh heh, young love indeed."
"…What did you say?"
Eleonora and Jerónimo VIII reacted with interest, but Karin alone responded gravely, her voice low and serious. Her reaction was so odd that everyone stared at her suspiciously.
Eleonora voiced her confusion directly. "Lady Karin, what's wrong?"
"Ah… well, I thought my disciple was already dating the Eldark girl."
Karin wasn't sure why she'd reacted so seriously herself, but she found a suitable excuse and went with it.
Serena nodded as if understanding. "I had no intention of yielding him, but some shady figure snuck up on Seong Hyun-jin behind my back."
"Ugh, shady? Junior!"
Eleonora and Jerónimo VIII seemed to grasp what had happened, showing varied reactions, while Karin did the same.
"Aha…."
"Love at that blossoming age burns hot, doesn't it."
Eleonora couldn't hide her giggling smile as she glanced at her own disciple, and the Pope simply remarked approvingly.
"……."
But Karin fell oddly silent. She didn't know why she felt this way, but something about the situation rubbed her the wrong way. Hearing that Seong Hyun-jin—not one, but two—women now? It soured her mood inexplicably.
…He's too indulgent with women.
Karin chalked it up to her disciple's womanizing ways and decided she'd have a talk with him later.
Embarrassed by the attention, Ciela shifted the topic back. "A-anyway, why did Hyunjin need to be here?"
"Your Holiness, if you would."
At Eleonora's prompting, Jerónimo nodded and addressed Ciela and Serena.
"My sudden visit today is regarding the next Pope."
"The next Pope?"
"You mean Senior Yeonhui, right?"
As Serena spoke, Ciela asked in slight surprise, "Has it already been decided? I thought she was just a candidate…."
"As you say, she's still officially a candidate—we haven't announced her yet. But who else could inherit this seat besides Yeonhui? She's the child who fully received her parents' grace."
Jerónimo spoke matter-of-factly, but it was clear he considered no other candidates. Shocked, Ciela blurted out,
"Does that mean Senior Yeonhui has to return to the Holy Nation as the next Pope?"
"Not at all. But didn't she leave Celestial Academy to transfer here? As her future role weighs on me, that decision naturally piqued my interest."
It was only natural. The one destined to lead the Holy Nation after him had suddenly transferred to an enemy nation's academy—how could it not trouble him? Especially since her guardian and the Divine Star Hero Shania had endorsed it, leaving the Pope with more questions than he could count.
Particularly since the biggest reason for Yeonhui's decision was none other than….
"I heard a certain male student was deeply involved in that choice. I wanted to meet him myself, so I asked the Divine Star and Demon Star to bring him quietly."
Serena and Ciela now understood why Seong Hyun-jin had been called alongside Yeonhui. They knew he'd bested Divine Star Shania in a wager, enabling Yeonhui's successful transfer to Terastial Academy.
Jerónimo simply wanted to see what kind of person had helped Yeonhui.
"Do you plan to demand something of Seong Hyun-jin?"
Serena asked warily, but Jerónimo chuckled and shook his head.
"No, no—just curious about him. And I hear he's the Sword Star's disciple. That only makes me more intrigued."
He smiled kindly as he continued. "Of course, if I meet him and find him exemplary, I might make a proposal."
"A proposal?"
"Naturally. The disciple of the Sword Star, with fine character to boot—a true talent. And if the future Pope favors him too… why not employ him as her personal Holy Knight down the line?"
"…!"
Serena and Ciela were stunned. Becoming a Holy Knight of the Holy Nation was far harder than a regular knight, and a Pope's personal one was on another level entirely. It was an exalted honor comparable to the Magic Kingdom's Archmage's bodyguard or the Empire Emperor's guard captain—not to mention the immense salary befitting the position.
It surpassed even the lavish offer from Ciela's Teraport family. Especially tempting for Seong Hyun-jin, who yearned to spread his name far and wide.
But the real issue was that the one he'd protect would be Yeonhui. If Seong Hyun-jin accepted and became her personal Holy Knight…
Yeonhui wouldn't leave him alone, that much was certain.
With that thought, Ciela shot to her feet. "N-no, that won't do…!"
"Won't do? What do you mean? It's not decided yet, and I haven't even asked him."
"Well, that's true, but…."
As Ciela faltered, unable to counter fully, Karin spoke up.
"Holy Knights must serve the faith, no? My disciple hates that sort of hassle—think it'll suit him?"
Surprisingly, Karin spoke casually even to the Pope, but Jerónimo replied as if it were nothing unusual.
"Even pretending outwardly would suffice. I want him as the Church's sword, not a devout believer."
"……."
"You dislike the idea of your disciple serving the Holy Nation?"
Jerónimo asked, and Karin shook her head slightly.
"That's for him to decide. Not my place to meddle."
"Unexpected. I figured you'd hate any affiliation for your disciple, Karin."
"His life is his to choose. I won't interfere."
Jerónimo nodded approvingly at Karin's unexpectedly positive stance. "That makes it easier to discuss, then."
"But… did you really come all this way just to meet two people? For a national leader, it seems awfully trivial…."
It truly was insufficient reason for the Holy Nation's Pope to move personally—especially sneaking into the rival Magic Kingdom at Eleonora's request. As Serena asked dubiously, Jerónimo replied,
"…There's one more reason. I planned to tell the parties involved when they arrived, but since it concerns you two as well, I'll say it now."
"Huh? Us?"
Serena and Ciela stared at him, wondering why they were included. Jerónimo explained,
"It's about Wise Star Abraham. You all stopped him from his taboo research and captured him safely, didn't you?"
"Ah… but we didn't really do much."
"Hyunjin and Senior Elena handled almost everything…."
"No matter the share, you were involved in resolving the incident. Especially you, Serena Eldark—you were there from the start."
Serena and Ciela nodded. Then Jerónimo dropped the bombshell that left their eyes wide.
"That Abraham died mysteriously. Last night."
"……What?"