The Pope's Surprise Offer and the Playful Ice Cream Trap
The... the hell?
Since transmigrating into this novel’s world, had there ever been a seat more uncomfortable than this? I wasn’t in the palace right now. I was in the Vatican.
Two days after the victory celebration ended, I’d received quite the good news from Estelle.
[They say the vault arrived. Do you remember the thing we left with you last time?]
Of course I did. The vault that former hero Ludwig had entrusted to the blacksmith—before I was off to clear a dungeon and got caught in a teleportation spell, leaving me unable to retrieve it.
That’s why the vault Estelle had arranged to receive through the Balua Temple had finally arrived in the Vatican. So here I was, alone in the Pope’s office after the meeting.
I’d come for the vault and suddenly got dragged into a private audience? I had no idea. Damn it...
At least the Pope had requested the audience. I was left alone with Estelle and Celine, stepping into his office.
“Hero-nim, I hope you have been well these days,” the Pope said with a gentle smile, yet his eyes felt sharp.
Why? I wondered for a moment—probably the rumors that had spread during the celebration.
After I escorted Estelle and Celine onto the balcony, I suddenly acquired a new string of nicknames.
Don Juan, the man who soiled the clergy, the hero with a harem… No, I hadn’t expected such a reaction. I should’ve listened to Celine’s warning instead.
Anyway, it seemed the Pope had heard them too. He couldn’t have missed them. The nobles who attended yesterday would have spread every word.
“…Yes, Your Holiness. I have been safe and sound… but the matter of the Holy Knights fills me with regret.”
“It’s all right. They must have been taken in by the Solaria. The reason I asked for this audience is not that.”
So it was because of me taking both Estelle and Celine…?
“The… the rumor is my fault. I apologize.”
“What rumor are you speaking of?”
…Had I misread the situation?
“Of course I heard the rumor. One must truly wonder whether I am a man of honor… or merely a little too naïve.”
“…I feel deeply apologetic.”
“Do not worry. Polygamy is practiced in your homeland and here in the Apollo Kingdom as well. I understand.”
Understand? Then why are those eyes laughing at me?!
…So that’s where Estelle learned such terrifying stares. The answer was right here.
“…Hehe.”
“Am I that amusing?”
“No. I’m sorry.”
Thud.
I slammed my forehead against the table and apologized.
I had nothing to say to Jangjo. But what could I do? Celine had come forward, and I couldn’t refuse her.
“That’s enough. Just don’t neglect Estelle.”
“…I will keep that in mind.”
“More importantly, the reason I requested this audience is not that. Do you remember the words I gave you last time?”
“Yes, I do.”
Was it about the time I tried to make Mother understand? Did the Pope learn something new about that?
“Back then I advised you to make contact with Mother and converse with her. Were you able to do so?”
“Yes.”
“I thought it might help you, so I prepared accordingly.”
The Pope placed a rolled scroll tied with a string on the desk and gestured for me to open it.
When I unrolled it according to his instruction, it looked like a world map. The striking detail was that every X-marked spot was of varying sizes—some large, some small.
“What is this?”
“A map showing the locations of all currently known nests. Larger X marks indicate bigger nests; smaller ones are smaller nests.”
“Oh?”
So that meant…
“While clearing the nests marked on this map, you must extract information from the Mother. Naturally, begin with the smaller ones. I know your recent achievements and that you are strong, Hero-nim. Still, any nest marked with a large X is not a place you should face alone.”
“I see. Understood.”
Then I could just start with the small X marks.
“Thank you for the useful information, Your Holiness.”
“You saved this country, so a little of this is only fair.”
“…Thank you.”
After politely thanking the Pope, I quietly left the office.
“Have you finished your conversation, Hero-nim?”
Celine was waiting just outside the door.
“What about Estelle?”
“She went to collect the vault. She told me where she was going, so let’s go together.”
“Ah, then let’s hurry.”
I hoped the vault would contain a hint.
“What did you talk about with the Pope?”
“Uh… this. A map marking the locations of all discovered Mothers and nests.”
“Eh? Why did you receive that?”
…Uh, how was I supposed to explain this?
“…To cut down any Mothers before they appear again.”
“Ah, I see. Makes sense. You’re strong enough now that it’s time to experience clearing a nest, Hero-nim.”
“Did the other heroes do this too?”
“Frequently. Especially since nests close to kingdoms are troublesome, they clear them before they grow too large. Looking at the map, all large nests are far from borders. North Queen was a bit special.”
Right, that was how it was. Most nests marked with large X’s were far from any kingdom’s border.
Well, my excuse seemed convincing enough. Celine didn’t look suspicious.
“Follow me. The Saint Estelle went this way.”
I trailed after Celine down the corridor. She turned right after a long stretch, then again left after another long stretch…
Eh? That was odd. Why was Estelle here in this secluded spot?
“Celine, where exactly are we going?”
“…Hero-nim.”
“!?”
I couldn’t help but gape. Celine turned around with an overwhelmingly seductive smile.
“Shall we enjoy a little bit of deviance?”
“…Huh?”
#
“Celine?”
When I returned with the vault, Celine had vanished. Had she gone to the restroom? Was Abel still in the office?
I asked the Holy Knight guarding the Pope’s office.
“Is… is Hero Abel still not out of the office?”
“No, Saint-nim. The Hero-nim went out just moments ago with the Saint of the Ludria Church.”
“…Ah.”
So he went? Then maybe we’d simply passed each other. I nodded as if I understood and turned back the way I came.
But when I retraced my steps to the warehouse where the vault had been delivered, neither Abel nor Celine was there.
…No way.
I asked the nuns I passed.
“Sister, have you seen Hero Abel?”
“The Hero-nim? He went that way. He seemed to be heading out with the Saint of the Ludria Church.”
“Ah… thank you.”
…That little thief cat.
How cleverly she’d slipped away. Asking the nuns, I followed her trail but ended up chasing it for quite a while.
Eventually I reached a back alley at the very edge of the Vatican grounds—somewhere I’d never been before. So even inside the Vatican walls there was such a place.
“Ah… mmm…”
“Churup.”
A slurping sound drifted from between the buildings. Was that a woman?!
“Abel!!”
“Wah?!”
“Oops.”
When I heard the strange noise, I rushed to the scene. Had she been fanning the wind while I fetched the vault?!
“What exactly…?”
“Ah! You’ve been caught, Hero-nim.”
“…Estelle, don’t misunderstand. There were only two, so we shared.”
Abel and Celine each held an ice cream on a stick—the one all the nuns raved about lately. What was its name again? Ice… something?
Looking back, right next to the alley was a sweets shop.
“…You came all the way out here just to eat that?”
“…Celine brought me.”
“Ha…”
…I’d worried for nothing.
I crouched in front of Abel.
“Tastes good, right? I saved you the one without the cherry.”
After a moment of hesitation, Abel nodded lightly. That silly expression made me smile on my own.
“You’re just going to say that. You really are a dummy, Abel.”
“N-no, I bought one for Estelle too and just tasted it first.”
“…Fufu, I see.”
How adorable. I’d suspected Celine was involved, but she didn’t look like she’d turned into a thief cat either.
“Then can I have one too?”
“Sure, of course.”
#
…Damn it. I had almost been caught.
Actually, it was true—I was eating something very similar to ice cream—but there was one key difference.
The ice cream I was holding had just entered Celine’s mouth, and the one she was holding had entered mine.
She’d smiled at me in that sudden, tempting way and made the suggestion.
[There’s a new ice cream that’s all the rage lately. Want to share?]
I couldn’t refuse such an expression. No way.
…If she weren’t a saint but a succubus, I would’ve believed it. We’d bought ice cream together, and she’d actually put it in my mouth.
Honestly, feeding each other like that made the atmosphere strangely charged. If we’d crossed that line, Estelle would have killed me.
Thankfully we hadn’t been caught. I bought the sweets for Estelle too—calling it ice cream for convenience.
Estelle licked it once, her amber eyes sparkling.
“Mmm, this is delicious.”
“Right?”
“You hid it from me… yet you shared? Why didn’t you just share with me?”
“Uh… I didn’t know either. Celine just brought it.”
When Estelle looked at Celine, she giggled.
“I just wanted to eat secretly.”
“…That’s too much.”
“Sorry. I wanted a little bit of deviance. If I’d jumped you, though, that would’ve been too much, right?”
“I wouldn’t have let you!”
…She really hadn’t crossed the line.
“Oh, Estelle. Open the vault soon.”
“Shall we?”
Estelle handed me a cloth pouch she’d been holding.
“…Whoa.”
It was surprisingly heavy. She’d been carrying it the whole time without showing any strain?
“Estelle, you’re strong.”
“Eh…? I’m… I’m weak.”
…What the—?
“…Just say so.”
“When you say that, I know you’re lying!”
“…Yes.”
I opened the vault. The lock was already broken, thanks to the blacksmith’s work.
“Shall I open it?”
“Yes.”
When the lid lifted, what lay inside was not a vault but a single notebook.
“A notebook.”
I handed it to Estelle. It was only right that the former hero’s acquaintance read it.
Estelle opened it, eyes widening in surprise.
“What’s this? What does it say?”
“It’s Ludwig-oppa’s diary… and there’s something in it.”
“Really?”
“It contains a hint about the Holy Sword’s awakening.”
Oh, for real?
“What is it?”
“…It says that after defeating a Mother, he transformed. But defeating just one Mother doesn’t seem to be the condition. The date on the diary is after he had already defeated the nest several times.”
…Eh? So the condition is defeating a Mother?
Perfect timing. The Pope had just given me a map of Mother locations. There was even the matter of contacting a Mother… everything lined up far too well.
When I showed Estelle the map, she looked slightly startled.
“It’s a good match. We can decide our destination by looking at the map Your Holiness gave us.”
“Then our next destination is decided?”
“Yes. We’re going to…”
Estelle pointed to a small X mark.
“Here. Between the eastern border of the Apollo Kingdom and the northern border of the Vesta Kingdom.”
“Eh? We’re going there?”
“…Hero-nim, it will be August soon.”
“August…? Ah.”
Elfride. Her birthday was approaching.