Temptation (1)
“Why has Your Holiness come all the way here?”
“I was wondering the same about you, Cardinal Bella. Why remain in this place instead of returning?”
The Pope and the Cardinal—two people who might once have been on good terms—now exchanged unexpectedly hostile glances in this unlikely meeting place.
“There’s no way Your Holiness suddenly developed an interest in the Labyrinth. What change of heart brought you here? The man I know would never even set foot near the Labyrinth.”
“I have personal business. And I see no reason to disclose it to Cardinal Bella.”
Their encounter was no coincidence. Cardinal Bella, gifted at finding people, had sensed a familiar presence approaching the Labyrinth City and rushed over.
“I’m not the least bit curious about your personal business. The problem is that I suspect your purpose here is the same as mine.”
“You came to see him?”
Without naming names, they both knew exactly who they meant.
“Of course. You know how I am—I chase after that man.”
“You’ve missed out on many good opportunities because of him.”
“Thanks to him, I was able to rise to the rank of Cardinal. Just like Your Holiness.”
“……”
“……”
Even a brief exchange was enough to make it obvious.
‘Ah—they really don’t get along at all.’
“I arrived first, so please step aside. If he sees your face, he’ll be in such a foul mood that he won’t even talk to me properly.”
“My relationship with him runs deep. If Cardinal Bella were to demonstrate the virtue of yielding first, it would benefit us both.”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. Look at these grown adults acting like children.”
“Uncle!?”
“……”
What they hadn’t expected was that the very person they were arguing over had been watching the entire exchange.
“Both of you came to see me, so follow along.”
“Why does she have to come too?! Just ignore her!”
Cardinal Bella exploded in irritation at the suggestion that they both follow.
It had been so long since she’d seen him—why did someone else have to get in the way?
“You, her, and everyone else here are old connections of mine. Might as well sort it all out at once. Saves time.”
His indifferent words wounded someone, but unfortunately, no one cared enough to comfort them.
‘Even after all this time, they’re both still following me around like puppies.’
The sight of the Pope and the Cardinal trailing behind him was almost comical. It reminded him of the old days.
They say old people live on memories. Right now, he was the very picture of that saying. Any situation that even slightly resembled the past pulled those memories to the surface.
‘I really have gotten old. So old.’
When he lost his arm, the first thing he felt was that it was finally time to let go of any lingering attachments. At the same time, he was forced to confront his own age. If he had still been young, he could have reacted to that attack.
Unfortunately, a young heart didn’t mean a young body.
“Both of you, sit.”
He gestured for them to sit across from him, but Bella sat beside him instead, while the Pope obediently took the seat opposite.
“Why would I sit next to that person? This is my seat.”
With that, she naturally slipped her arm through his.
“Anyone watching would think that arm belongs to you. How natural.”
“Really? Hehe.”
“Didn’t I tell you not to laugh?”
“Because I like you?”
“…Right.”
“That’s why I’m laughing. I want you to like me even more. And after all this time, is that really all you have to say? Didn’t you miss me?”
If he had missed her, he wouldn’t have been avoiding her.
“Pay some attention to me as well.”
“We’re talking right now. Don’t interrupt.”
“I came here precisely to have a conversation. It’s rude to treat someone sitting right in front of you as if they don’t exist.”
“Why are you acting like a child? In front of the Pope, no less.”
That narrow-minded fool might try something underhanded because of this incident. He was unpleasant and irritating, but he was still the Pope. If Bella wanted to continue working as a Cardinal instead of retiring like him, making an enemy of the Pope would bring her nothing but trouble.
“Honestly, I didn’t expect you to come here. Why did you? I thought we’d said everything that needed saying last time.”
“That… No, Senior, that was a one-sided conversation on your part. That’s why I came to talk more. This isn’t the situation I was hoping for when I came. I’d like to reschedule our meeting.”
Having Bella nearby clearly bothered him.
“Just deal with it and talk here. You’re not going to ask for another meeting over something trivial, are you?”
“This isn’t the atmosphere for the conversation I want to have.”
“And what exactly do you mean by ‘this atmosphere’? You’ve been subtly criticizing me since earlier. Are you unaware that you’re the one intruding? I was here long before you!”
“Sigh. Didn’t I say not to fight? Why are you turning into a fighting cock?”
“…This is all because of you, Uncle. You made me like this, and now you’re going to pretend it’s not your fault?”
It was true that he had never shown her even the hem of his sleeve, let alone his face, despite her chasing after him. The accusation left him speechless.
“I wish to have a serious conversation.”
“I also need to have a very serious talk with you, Uncle. In a place without any intruders.”
“If that’s how it is, then one of you go wait over there. I don’t feel like making another appointment.”
In the end, one of them would have to leave first. If he left them alone, they would probably start fighting, so he decided to settle it himself.
“You go first.”
“I was here first!!”
“You said you needed a serious conversation with me. That’s going to take a while.”
What he meant was that he would finish talking with the Pope quickly and spend the rest of the time with her. Understanding his intent, she stopped pouting and stood up.
“Finish your talk and come quickly~”
With a bright smile, she waved and left.
“Haa…”
Once she was gone, the Pope let out a deep sigh, as if his head hurt.
“She really is uncontrollable. Anyway, why are you here? Don’t beat around the bush—get to the point.”
He had no idea what this guy could possibly have to say to him. All he could guess was that whatever it was, it was probably nonsense.
“I don’t like this. I didn’t come here to talk like this.”
“I’ve gotten old. My patience isn’t what it used to be. I don’t think I can stomach having a meal with you.”
“…Do you dislike me that much?”
“Why would I like you? Even a mad pervert wouldn’t do what you did.”
“Even if you disliked me until now, things could change from here on out.”
Change? Their relationship?
“Unless you can change the past, I don’t see that happening.”
“I can’t change the past, but I can change the future.”
Becoming Pope had made him bolder about saying whatever came to mind.
“And how exactly are you going to change my future?”
“Become a Cardinal. You’re more than qualified.”
“That much is obvious.”
Of course he was qualified. He had accomplished so much in his youth. But becoming a Cardinal was a different matter from his achievements.
“You’re not offering me an honorary position, are you?”
Honorary Cardinal. A position where one received only the title and treatment of a Cardinal without any actual duties. But the Pope’s goal wasn’t to honor him, so there was no way he would offer an honorary title. With the Labyrinth’s appearance and the emergence of demons, that cowardly bastard wouldn’t have failed to prepare.
“I didn’t expect you to come here spouting the same nonsense you did last time.”
The intention was so transparent that he had rejected it before.
“Does what I’m saying not sound reasonable to you?”
He was offering a Cardinal’s seat like some grand favor, only to work him like a dog afterward. What kind of madman would accept that? Only someone obsessed with power—and he had no such interest.
“I came to make the offer again. From the beginning, you were never meant to end your career as a mere Bishop. I wanted to give you a position worthy of you.”
“You little—pretending otherwise doesn’t make it true. If you’re going to keep saying that, just get out. I’ve already shown you enough courtesy by listening this far.”
Since it didn’t seem like this guy would leave first, he figured he should get up himself.
“Everyone currently sitting in Cardinal positions is nothing but corrupt bureaucrats.”
“…So? A man who claims to serve God sure has the nerve to say something so shameless. In the end, this is the situation you created yourself. Why are you asking me to clean up the mess you made? Do I still look like your senior to you? Like someone who has to deal with the consequences of your actions?”
“If you don’t return, the Holy Empire will collapse.”
“I’m not that important. The Empire will run fine without me. In fact, there haven’t been any problems since I retired.”
Back when he was full of youthful vigor, he had thrown himself into the work thinking he was the only one who could do it. Now he knew better.
“If you return, I’ll follow your wishes no matter what you decide to do. The people will listen to you as they listen to me.”
Well, well…
“Bullshit. Get out! Before I splash holy water on you.”
He had no intention of listening any further. As he stood to go find Bella, the man called out desperately from behind.
“Priest Arthur!”
“…What did you just say, you bastard?”
Was he trying to touch something he shouldn’t? The urge to kill him right there surged through him.
“Do you not know my temper? How dare you speak his name so carelessly? Are you prepared to deal with the consequences?”
“I am. I wasn’t trying to harm him—I was going to ask if you wanted to help Priest Arthur’s future! You’ve retired, so it doesn’t concern you, but Priest Arthur has been actively entering the Labyrinth. And not with the Holy Empire’s subjugation team, but with his own personal party. That way, he’ll never rise to a high position.”
It was a bitter truth, but the boy really did take after him—too honest to take advantage of opportunities and stubbornly straightforward.