Chapter 89
Chapter 89
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: Audience with the Moon Pope
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Only after we were facing each other directly could I take in the Moon Pope's appearance at a glance.
Her lustrous silver-gray hair cascaded down her back so elegantly that it could have been called the moon itself. The ends nearly brushed the floor.
Her long bangs hung down between her eyes, almost reaching her lips. Violet eyes, so stunning they looked like jewels embedded straight into her sockets, sparkled amid the silver-gray strands.
Around her neck hung an ornament embedded with a violet gem matching her eyes. It resembled the one worn by the Sun Pope.
Her attire was no different.
Clothing so sheer it left her skin virtually exposed. It was harder to find parts that were covered than uncovered. In fact, it was essentially the same as the Sun Pope's outfit.
The only thing covering her vital areas was a single thin strip of fabric, with nothing else but a garter belt and stockings. There was zero margin for error in where to look.
The sleeves were marginally smaller in area—that was the sole difference, but it was utterly meaningless. Who could focus when her entire body was wrapped in see-through fabric tantamount to nudity?
*Click.*
The sharp sound of high heels striking the marble floor snapped me out of my reverie. The Moon Pope was descending the stairs, one step at a time. Moonlight streamed behind her abundant silver hair like a trailing cloak.
The situation resembled my visit to Floretta, but the atmosphere was worlds apart.
If the Sun Pope had approached to welcome me, the Moon Pope was closing in to interrogate me. Her expression was beyond stoic—it was downright menacing.
'……I should be tense right now.'
But I couldn't focus at all, thanks to those breasts of hers jiggling wildly with every step, asserting their presence and bounce. I let out a long sigh inwardly.
She was staring daggers at me with the utmost seriousness, yet her outfit and chest made it all seem like a gimmick. Any other reaction here would spell total disaster.
I clamped my mouth shut and desperately fought to maintain my composure. Seemingly interpreting my behavior differently, the Moon Pope unclasped her hands from in front of her lower abdomen.
"If you intend to keep your mouth shut to the end, then so be it. Our conversation ends here."
Her arm swung lightly. The door I'd entered through began emitting even fiercer moonlight. Even from this distance, it cast a shadow at my feet.
"I won't waste any more time. Whatever your purpose, it would be wise not to seek my aid."
"I know. I'm not here to ask for Your Holiness's help, after all."
At my words, Luna's eyebrow twitched faintly.
"Even the Sun Pope's favor has its limits, outsider. Crossing the line is unwise. I'll ask again. What brings you here?"
"I could say I'm here to seek teachings on the 'Lunar Eclipse'…… but you'd never allow it. I'm simply here because I have words for Your Holiness."
"Words…… How arrogant."
Her descending footsteps quickened ever so slightly. Naturally, the heaving of her breasts intensified along with them.
"You dared enter the Pope's chambers for a mere conversation?"
"It was worth it."
Stunned into silence by my brazen demeanor, the Moon Pope fell quiet. Seizing the opening, I drove in the wedge.
"The monster beneath the Holy Kingdom. It's about that."
The clicking of her high heels halted. At the same time, Luna's face drained of color.
Thanks to the moonlight pouring from behind her, her already pale skin had turned ashen, devoid of any trace of life even if you searched with a magnifying glass.
"……What did you just say?"
"I'm not here to fight Your Holiness or receive the Lunar Eclipse. My sole purpose is to inform you that I intend to slay the monster slumbering underground in the Holy Kingdom."
"One more word, and I'll deem it blasphemy. Such blatant lies—"
"But surely Your Holiness has already received a new revelation from the full moon?"
She flinched, her body jerking as she cut off her own words. Hit right on the mark.
Revelations weren't bestowed on just one Pope—they came to both simultaneously. Just as the sun and moon were inseparable, so were the Popes.
If the Sun Pope had received a revelation linking me to the future where I defeat that monster, then the Moon Pope had received the exact same one.
Floretta had vouched for it, so it was certain.
"……What are you trying to say? Do you think such words will sway me?"
"Of course not. Never."
There was no need to persuade the Moon Pope right now. No matter how I tried, she'd reject it outright in her closed-off state. It'd be like pouring water into a sieve.
This was the woman who'd lashed out at her own sister, who offered to save her, calling it a futile endeavor. Shattering that iron will required results, not promises.
'Having received the revelation, she hasn't completely abandoned hope, though.'
Luna herself must harbor a sliver of "could it be?" after the revelation. She was just curling inward to avoid the crushing despair when hope turned to ash.
"Your Holiness's resolve can't be broken by the likes of me. I know that full well."
My goal from the start wasn't to convince the Moon Pope. Receiving the Lunar Eclipse was never even on the table. How could I achieve persuasion when I hadn't come to persuade?
This was merely a preemptive measure to prevent her from resorting to force.
If she learned too late that the entrance to the underground had opened, she'd undoubtedly rush there, flying into a rage demanding to know what I was doing.
Coming out after beating the boss to find the Moon Pope rampaging outside would make cleanup a nightmare. Better to give her a heads-up now.
"But Your Holiness stands to lose nothing. I guarantee it. If I'm all talk and die trying to take down the monster, that's that—just reseal the entrance. Success means the best possible outcome."
"……"
"I get it. It sounds like nonsense. The Heresy Inquisitor, the Interrogator, and even the Sun Pope didn't believe me at first."
Selene in particular had insisted she couldn't believe it and tested my strength firsthand. Only after getting utterly demolished did she quietly accept it.
"I'm not asking you to believe me. I know better than anyone how absurd it sounds."
I continued evenly.
"But there's one thing I can promise."
Her violet eyes seemed to tremble, ever so slightly.
"That Your Holiness sacrificing herself will absolutely never happen."
"The Lunar Eclipse……"
As we exited the cathedral, Selene, waiting nearby, trailed off in question. I shook my head slightly side to side. Both of them instantly got the message and fell silent.
'Still, this went pretty smoothly.'
In the worst case, I'd braced for her to attack me. But against all odds, the Moon Pope let me go without incident.
She could have summoned the battle nuns and interrogators anytime, but Luna didn't. Perhaps deep down, even she harbored a desire to believe in me.
"The Lunar Eclipse would be nice, but it's not essential. Holy spells are plenty with just the Solar Eclipse."
"……I've noticed this before, but you ooze confidence, honored guest. As if you have some ironclad assurance."
I answered Stella's remark with a smile. Both of them must wonder what gave me such unshakable self-assurance.
The knight commanders knew it was thanks to that 'secret,' but I hadn't told Selene or Stella. No point volunteering it unprompted.
With the mood no longer conducive to chit-chat, I mentally reviewed the patterns of the Creature Abandoned by God. At my current level, a protracted battle was inevitable.
Brenac 4's DLCs were notorious for their bullshit difficulty overall, and as that DLC's final boss, it had absurd defense and insane health to match.
For defense and elemental resistance, think of it as phase 1 Lucia on steroids. And right now, my only way to exploit its elemental weakness was the Solar Eclipse.
A war of attrition was the unavoidable path.
"We've arrived."
The two leading the way stopped. The entrance wasn't far from the cathedral, so it hadn't taken long. Outwardly, it looked like an ordinary building.
The Papal Palace had been built over the monster's lair to suppress it with the Popes' holy power—or so they said—but it was sadly pointless.
The monster wasn't trapped inside; it was simply choosing not to leave.
If it wanted, it could shatter the holy barrier the Popes maintained and emerge anytime. The only reason it hadn't was that it hadn't fully recovered its strength.
Even at less than its peak, its power dwarfed both Popes combined. It wasn't called the Creature Abandoned by God for nothing.
Brenac 4's protagonist was the real lunatic, storming solo into what was basically the thing's house and beating it down.
"Use this key to open the door and enter. We'll wait here. Please return safely."
Selene handed me a weathered key. I took it and approached the wooden door. It looked like it would crumble if poked with a sword.
Of course, appearances were deceptive. Its true nature was a holy barrier erected by the Popes themselves. They had no choice but to disguise it to hide the monster's existence.
"May you emerge unscathed, honored guest. Our prayers are with you."
Hearing Stella's quiet encouragement, I inserted the key into the lock. *Click.* It unlocked, and the door cracked open. Gripping the handle, I flung it wide.
In that instant, a black shadow surged from within and engulfed me. I had no chance to resist as it swallowed me whole. Behind me, I heard Stella and Selene gasp.
My body was swept into the shadows and sucked inside in a flash.
The door shut.