Chapter 209
Chapter 209
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 209
Chapter Title: Taming the Pope's Brat
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First off, I get that this Pope guy is really protecting this irredeemable blockhead.
I know the Pope of the 72 Churches is pretty old...
There's that saying about how the youngest kid born in one's twilight years is so precious you wouldn't mind if they poked your eyes.
In other words, Helsta turning out this rude and spoiled is partly thanks to his environment.
If Helsta were just ten years younger, I might not have smashed his face in.
No. I probably still would have.
‘Anyway.’
Truth be told, I didn't even need to bring up the Iron-Blooded Duke...
I had countless ways to deal with this idiot, blood ties to the Pope aside.
I could've gotten help from Glen, an imperial prince, or brought it up during my upcoming audience with the Emperor to make it public.
Sure, it'd be a breach of etiquette, but this wasn't some minor issue, so I wouldn't face severe repercussions.
But that's not what I want.
I have no intention of involving Glen or the Emperor, or even telling the Iron-Blooded Duke.
Helsta might be grateful for that right now...
Who knows.
Maybe in the not-too-distant future, he'll wish otherwise.
That it would have been better if things had blown up back then.
“Fix your face first. Someone might think I beat you.”
“Ah, got it.”
Helsta channeled holy power once more to mend his mug.
Blood stopped flowing from his face, which had been swelling up and with a broken nose—it reverted to its original state like time rewinding.
It was a strangely gruesome sight on one hand...
And on the other, a power I shouldn't get involved with. Was this a warning from the evil instrument lurking inside me?
“Um...”
Just then, the waiter appeared, his face unmistakably on the verge of tears.
“Sorry, but if you damage the shop's property without permission...”
“My bad. I'll cover it all. He'll pay.”
“...!”
Helsta flinched and glanced at me, but dropped his gaze the moment our eyes met.
Only then did the waiter relax and retreat. I turned to Helsta.
“Sit.”
“Y-Yes...”
Helsta sat down, but kept sneaking peeks at me.
“Once we leave the restaurant, head straight to the academy and do what needs doing. Got it?”
“Ah, yes.”
He seemed out of it, so I asked,
“What exactly are you supposed to do?”
“Uh, well...”
Helsta racked his brain desperately before answering.
“...I heard Honor Cadet Karron was seriously injured. Deeply afflicted by the evil instrument, they say. I'll treat him perfectly.”
“That's a given. Skip to the point.”
“Huh?”
“You can't just handle one Honor Cadet and call it a day. Since you're gracing the academy with your presence, let's go all out with the service.”
“Service, you say...?”
“Examine everyone dragged into the back world. Honor Cadets, regular cadets, professors—no exceptions.”
“How many people is that...?”
“Won't even reach a thousand, I bet.”
Helsta's face went pale instantly.
Of course. Examining over a thousand people single-handedly is no small task.
Even if it wasn't full treatment for all.
“Don't want to?”
“I-It’s not that I don’t want to. But I'm just a bishop from the 72 Churches, and I'm kinda busy...”
“Then don't.”
“...?”
“I'll go around blabbing that the esteemed bishop of the 72 Churches showed up at the Abyss Auction.”
“N-No! I'll do it! I can do it!”
Helsta rolled his eyes, then looked at me with a stiff expression.
“But a thousand is too many. If it were around a hundred, I could do really thorough diagnostics. Can't we make it that?”
“How would you pick those hundred.”
“Well, unavoidably, we'd have to prioritize by status, family prestige, influence—from the top down...”
I just wagged my finger at Helsta.
“Come here.”
“Yes...?”
“Come here. Over here.”
“Ah, yes.”
I grabbed Helsta's head as he approached and smacked it.
“Argh!”
“Hey, you lunatic. Were my words going in one ear and out the other?”
“N-No. But diagnosing a thousand people in detail one by one would take more than a month—”
“If you're cutting numbers, cut them another way. Forget status and prestige, you fool. Do the gods you believe in perform miracles based on social rank?”
“Not exactly, but...”
Helsta mumbled before asking me,
“Then how should we cut it?”
“You figure it out. You're ten years older than me—don't make me spoon-feed you everything. Ugh, just hearing this pisses me—”
“Th-Then!”
Helsta rolled his eyes desperately again and stammered,
“...How about sorting by time spent in the back world? The longer in that realm, the higher the exposure to evil instruments, so prioritize the longest-stayers... And separately, take applications from those feeling off physically?”
I listened, then smacked his head again.
“Argh! Why...?”
“A guy who can think that fast... Tsk.”
“Urgh...”
Helsta clutched his crown and shut his mouth. I watched his pathetic state, then slowly nodded.
“Not bad, feels good.”
“Huh?”
“My network's been expanding lately. Who knew I'd get a connection in the 72 Churches.”
And it was true.
Fighting demons and cults, I'd inevitably get exposed to evil instruments...
I'd need someone who could spot the one inside me and treat it without fuss.
Even a low-level priest would've sufficed, but somehow I ended up connected to a bishop.
Of course, who knows how this guy—who knows my weakness—might act...
Doesn't matter.
I'll just drill some sense into him before then.
“Looking forward to working with you often, Bishop.”
Helsta gave a tearful smile.
* * *
“Impressive!”
Back at the academy, Professor Moland greeted me with applause.
“How'd you win over that arrogant Bishop Helsta? He never listened to a word anyone said...”
“Makes sense between spoiled brats.”
I gave a vague excuse.
Moland didn't seem suspicious. He just beamed.
“Not just Honor Cadets—he's personally checking every cadet who's spent time in the back world. Even prioritizing those with symptoms separately. Can we really monopolize such high-caliber help? Ha ha.”
“He insisted on doing it himself. So, how's Karron?”
“Ah. Marked improvement. The eyes were treated a bit late, so vision might be impaired... but no blindness is a miracle.”
“Hm.”
Moland brushed it off lightly...
But for a martial artist, vision loss is fatal. They say eyesight is half the battle in duels between masters.
Karron's a hunter, sometimes using bows and crossbows.
His role makes eyesight even more crucial.
This aftereffect will definitely leave a scar and be a trial for him.
But if he overcomes it, he'll step up as a martial artist.
I left Moland and visited other Honor Cadets.
First up: Mir.
“No issues at all. Bad bruises, but they healed fast before treatment. Guess even small, he's still a giant clansman.”
“Can I take a look?”
“Of course.”
The physician nodded readily—proof my status had changed.
The old delinquent Ruan never would've gotten permission.
“Hmm.”
As reported, Mir was out cold...
Visually, no anomalies. Just this drool-prone guy lying unusually still.
Come to think of it, the Martial God seemed interested in Mir. Should I fetch the Seven Sins Sword and ask?
‘Haven’t talked to the Martial God in a bit.’
Poking Mir's cheek experimentally—soft, but cold.
Like the chewy rice cakes from Spirit Mountain, but chilled.
Then.
“...Ugh, ungh?!”
The moment I poked, Mir's eyes snapped open.
“Ruan?”
“Yeah...”
“Ruan! It's you!”
Mir bolted upright in bed and stared at me.
“What the...”
“Slept great! Best morning ever! Feels like ages! Did I pull it off? Did I? What about the puppet? Memories fuzzy! Others okay?!”
“Wait, hold on. Calm down...”
I pinned Mir's jumping shoulders and glanced at the physician.
He looked three times more shocked than me.
My questioning look got a stammered reply.
“No... He was definitely unconscious the whole time...?”
“Hm...”
Seemed he knew nothing.
I patted Mir's shoulders.
“Settle down first. Body okay?”
“Body? Perfect! Never felt this refreshed! Lighter and stronger than before!”
“Really...?”
Just in case, I urged Mir to rest, and asked the physician for more detailed checks.
No telling if fine now means fine later.
Helsta would stop by soon; if he clears it too, we're good.
I left Mir and reunited with the other Honor Cadets.
“Ruan! You okay?”
“I'm fine. You, brother? Looking thinner.”
“Been summoned everywhere... No major pains.”
Short chat with Hector...
“Ah! Brother! Glad you're awake!”
“You too.”
Met Nabby Goodspring too.
Seren was still reportedly soaking in the baths.
Brief reunions with Karisna Pam, Sharl, Zerros...
“...”
Then it hit me.
Evan was missing.
* * *
Back in my room, I pulled out the Seven Sins Sword for the first time in ages.
This indestructible relic looked unchanged even after the Demon King battle...
Just as I gripped the hilt to call the Martial God inwardly.
A knock.
“Who.”
“Me. Got a sec?”
Unexpected voice.
Opened the door: an unexpected guest.
Glen Scarlett.
He gave an awkward smile.
“Heard you woke up. You good?”
“As you see, fine. You?”
“Me? Didn't fight directly.”
“Right. Anyway...”
I scanned Glen.
“Looking way better.”
“R-Really?”
Glen scratched his head sheepishly. No hat hiding his hair, no glasses over his eyes.
Way more appealing than our first meeting, to me.
Not just looks.
His slouched back and shoulders were straight now—confident, good to see.
Didn't seem scrawny anymore.
“So, what's up?”
“Came to keep a promise.”
“What promise.”
Glen looked at me.
“Nameless King's Tomb. I'm heading to the palace today anyway—wanna come?”