Chapter 331: Guwon’s Counterattack
Chapter 331: Guwon’s Counterattack
“Ahaha. You’re here early, Sophia. Where’s Matilda?”
I started to pull away from Leia, but then I reconsidered. There was no real reason to hide this. So, I pulled Leia even tighter and asked my question.
“Cardinal Matilda is currently speaking with the Pope. I came to get you. How can they have a proper discussion without the person who can break the curse?”
Ah, right. I had planned on staying to talk with Leia, but on second thought, I guess this was a situation where I had to go.
I followed Sophia’s lead to where Matilda was.
The place she led me to had a magic circle installed, a mix of communication and teleportation magic. It had the same structure as the one I’d seen in the lord’s castle.
“So, you are Guwon.”
As I entered the room, Matilda shifted slightly to the side.
A crystal ball, previously hidden by her body, came into view, and a voice from beyond it spoke to me.
In the crystal ball, an old woman who had aged so gracefully you could be certain she was a beauty in her youth was smiling benevolently at me.
“Ah, yes. Hello.”
Well, that caught me off guard.
In a world like this, I’d naturally assumed the Pope would also be a stunning beauty. I couldn’t help but be a little flustered by her appearance.
I mean, that’s what you’d normally think, right?
This is a world where even the elder sisters at the Mage Association look like beauties in their late thirties.
Not that I know their exact ages, of course.
But for the person in the highest position of the church to be an old lady like this…
According to my theory, priests in this world basically have their Charm stat increase when their job level rises.
So there’s no way someone who’s the Pope would have low Charm.
Does that mean her appearance is proof of just how old she is?
“I have heard the story from Cardinal Matilda. I have sent people to check on the condition of those affected by the curse. While we wait for confirmation, would you be willing to speak with me for a moment?”
“Ah, yes.”
Her calm and benevolent tone was the very model of what a Pope should sound like, and I felt myself automatically becoming more polite as I answered.
Even though she said we’d talk, it wasn’t anything special.
We just exchanged some truly trivial small talk, from how old I was to what my favorite foods were.
Then, after a bit of idle chatter, the Pope finally began the real conversation.
“I was told you are the Goddess’s messenger.”
I flinched for a moment when those words came from the Pope, but on second thought, it was only natural.
After all, to explain how I could break the curse, they would have had to mention that.
“Honestly, it’s not something as grand as that. But it’s true the Goddess sent me here for some purpose.”
“Huhu. You are humble. That is precisely what it means to be the Goddess’s messenger. Is it because you don’t think it’s such a grand title that you refused to make it public?”
So they told her that part too.
Well, now that Leia herself has said she wants to think about marriage slowly, it doesn’t really matter if I’m announced as the Goddess’s messenger.
“I can’t say that wasn’t part of it.”
But it would be too obvious if I, who had just been so against going public, suddenly changed my tune the moment the marriage was off the table, right?
I decided to stick to my position of opposing the public announcement.
“But in that case, how should we explain things to the men who have been freed from the curse?”
The Pope said this with the same benevolent smile, showing no sign of deliberation.
“Ah, right. That’s true. In that case, you can just tell them.”
“Are you sure that’s alright?”
“Yes.”
“Why the sudden change of heart?”
I felt like the Pope’s eyes sharpened just a little as she asked that.
“Well… because the priests would have to lie to hide the truth about me. I’d feel bad making members of the clergy lie because of my selfishness.”
“I see. But if we do that, rumors will naturally spread. Will you be alright with that?”
“Hmm… well, it can’t be helped. The number of people who know will only grow as we continue to break Matilda’s curse anyway. On second thought, asking to keep it a secret was a bit too selfish of me.”
“…Huhu. Very well. We shall do as you say.”
When I answered, the Pope’s smile returned to its original warmth.
By the way, does the Pope actually believe I’m the Goddess’s messenger?
Judging by her words, she doesn’t seem to doubt it, but she also doesn’t seem like she wants to worship or exploit the Goddess’s messenger.
What a strange person.
“Ah, it seems the results have come in. Please wait a moment.”
The Pope said that and left her seat for a moment, reappearing in the crystal ball shortly after.
“It appears your prediction was accurate. We’ve received a report that 23 of the people affected by the curse have recovered.”
“Twenty-three people…”
“Ugh…”
At the Pope’s words, Leia and Matilda reacted before I did.
It’s a huge relief that the one next to me is my angel.
If it were Sara or Diana, they definitely would have been angry.
Though even my angel’s voice didn’t sound too pleased, so I was afraid to look over at her.
“I-I see. That’s great news.”
“Yes. Then, may I continue to leave Cardinal Matilda in your care?”
“Ah, yes. Of course.”
“Thank you. Then, Cardinal Matilda.”
“Ye-Yes!”
“I expect you to remain there and focus on breaking the curse for the time being.”
“Yes. Thank you, Your Holiness.”
“Well then, everyone. Farewell.”
And with that, the conversation with the Pope ended.
Thanks to her unique aura, I didn’t feel that nervous, and in the end, I feel like most things went the way I wanted.
The fact that rumors of me being the Goddess’s messenger might spread is a variable, but it’s hard to say whether that’s good or bad since it’ll have its pros and cons.
“She’s a strange one. The kind of person who puts you at ease just by looking at her.”
“Of course. She’s praised as one of the greatest Popes in history.”
Matilda said this with a proud look on her face, as if she were the one being praised, showing how much she truly respected the Pope.
“Shall we head back, then?”
Having finished our business without a hitch, we exchanged brief goodbyes with Sophia and left the temple.
“Anyway, my intuition is really something else. My prediction was spot on. I’m almost scared of myself.”
I boasted proudly on the carriage ride back to the mansion, feeling quite pleased with myself.
What would have happened if I’d given up after just one try, thinking the curse wasn’t breaking?
But this was something I shouldn’t have said.
“Huhu. You’re right. The Pope certainly did say that 23 people had recovered from the curse. Does that mean you did it with Matilda 23 times?”
Hearing Leia’s words, I felt my back grow damp with a cold sweat.
This topic is dangerous.
Even if she is my angel, I don’t think I should let this conversation continue.
“W-Was that it? Anyway, Matilda, you’re really something else. The curse was lifted from 23 people, but the mark on your body only faded by about two finger-joints. Just how many people have you fallen for?”
I faithfully followed the signal from my instincts and executed a masterful change of subject.
“N-Not really! I didn’t fall for that many!”
Thank god. Matilda took the bait properly.
I breathed an inward sigh of relief and pressed Matilda even harder.
“What are you talking about? It’s no use playing innocent. The mark of the curse spreading across your body is the most certain proof there is. Seriously. Do you just fall for anyone who talks to you?”
“Th-That’s not…”
Matilda’s voice trailed off, sounding a little dejected, as if she wasn’t even confident in her own words.
“Guwon. Don’t be so hard on Cardinal Matilda. It’s the effect of the curse, so she can’t help it.”
And when I pushed Matilda too hard, my kind angel finally couldn’t stand by and watch, coming to Matilda’s defense.
Perfect. The subject has been completely changed.
I feel a little bad for what I did to Matilda, but I can just whisper some sweet words to her later.
“Th-That’s right! It’s the curse’s effect!”
Well, it doesn’t seem like she’s that dejected anyway.
“Well, anyway, all you have to do now is only like me and not create any more victims.”
“Y-You…”
“What? You don’t like me?”
“I do like you…”
See? She cheers right up when I speak to her in a soft voice.
“Oh, Guwon…”
Leia hugged my arm, pressing her chest against me as if asking for my attention too.
Then she brought her lips to my ear and whispered.
“Because tomorrow night, I’m going to do it more than 23 times, too.”
I thought I’d succeeded in changing the subject, but I was completely wrong.
My angel was just letting it slide.
But a threat like this… As expected of my angel.
“Is that all you’ve got?”
“Honestly…”
Leia turned her face away as if embarrassed, but she kept a tight grip on my arm with both hands while smacking my thigh with her tail.
Anyway, we arrived safely back at the mansion, but our super-butler, Vanessa, who always came out to greet us, was nowhere to be seen.
Instead, Diana came trotting over to me.
“Mm. You’re back early. How did it go?”
“Yeah. My prediction was right, just as I thought. Have you already been to the Guild, Diana?”
“Mm. I just popped over to ask if any new giant Magic Stones had been discovered, that’s all.”
I see. She doesn’t show it, but she’s still as diligent with her research as ever.
Diana must have been itching to go to the Dungeon to find new Magic Stones right away. Did she wait without pestering me out of consideration?
In moments like this, you can really feel the composure that comes with her age.
“I see. Then let’s head to the Dungeon as soon as our gear is enhanced.”
“Mm. I appreciate you saying that. I hear Sara and Silvia have already gone to pick up the equipment.”
“Huh? Oh, so that’s why Vanessa wasn’t here. Then we should get ready for the Dungeon… ah.”
I hurriedly glanced at Leia beside me.
If we go to the Dungeon this time, we’ll be exploring the 3rd Floor.
We obviously won’t be able to explore from a home base like we did on the 2nd Floor, which means we won’t be able to have sex inside the Dungeon.
After all that talk about looking forward to tomorrow night, is it really okay to go to the Dungeon today?
“It’s alright.”
Leia seemed to understand exactly why I was looking at her, but she smiled and said it anyway.
“Hm? What’s wrong? Is there a problem?”
“Huhu. No. Nothing at all.”
And she’s even kind enough not to mention the fact that I did it with Matilda 23 times yesterday.
I’ll say it again. Leia really is an angel.
“Hmm. I smell something suspicious…”
But Diana hadn’t gotten old for nothing… no. She was just that experienced.
I quickly walked over to Diana, who was looking back and forth between me and Leia suspiciously, put my hands under her arms, and lifted her up.
“We need to get ready if we’re going to the Dungeon as soon as the others get back. Let’s go.”
“If you’re going to hold me, hold me properly.”
Diana gave me a dubious look, but it seemed she soon decided it was probably nothing.
“Is this better?”
I shifted my hold to support her back and thighs, and Diana nodded with a satisfied expression, wrapping her arms around my neck.
But if Vanessa isn’t here, who should I ask?
Usually, Vanessa efficiently prepares things like food supplies before we go to the Dungeon, which is really convenient.
Of course, there were times we all went out to buy things as a sort of date, but even then, we’d only buy extra supplies after the basic preparations were already done at the mansion.
Come to think of it, my dependence on Vanessa has skyrocketed since I started living at the mansion.
No. This isn’t my fault.
It’s Vanessa’s fault for being too convenient.
Besides, Vanessa is still exclusively assigned to me.
Except for unusual cases like today, I barely even have a chance to talk to the other maids. That says it all.