Chapter 168
Chapter 168
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 168
Chapter Title: God's Absence
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BOOM!
The impenetrable walls of the Vaticarezro Papal Court, which had never fallen to any external attack throughout its thousand-year history, were breached.
The force that shattered the barrier created by sacred spells was neither sword, nor magic, nor monster.
"Grraaah!"
Giants, said to have gone extinct on the continent long ago, emerged. Four of them, covered in brown fur like monkeys, began smashing the walls from all sides.
Bang! Boom! KABOOM!
'Success.'
A place that could never be toppled by human strength—no, not even by the power of apostles—Vaticarezro had been conquered.
The ground shook as if an earthquake had struck, and the collapsing walls kicked up massive clouds of dust that obscured all vision.
Berddin and his knights seized the moment and charged into the Papal Court.
"Our target is Archbishop Juda. Find him, dead or alive. Not even God will stop us."
The Strange Family's knight units, who had been on standby, yanked their reins, and their horses neighed before breaking into a full gallop.
Clop clop clop!
Having successfully breached the Papal Court, they moved with perfect coordination.
They fired off colorful signal flares into the sky, exploiting the Holy Knights' moment of complacency.
As the smoke from the thrown canisters blinded everyone, they set fire to the village, completely diverting the enemy's attention.
'They can never stop the Strange Family.'
They hadn't anticipated our raid and had assumed the sacred barrier was unbreakable.
Everything inside the Papal Court unfolded exactly as Berddin had predicted.
The complacent Holy Knights not only failed to repel the surprise attack from outsiders but fell into chaos without even identifying the enemy.
And the chaos within the Papal Court grew even greater with the unexpected appearance of giants.
"Grraaah."
Giants revealed themselves from all directions—east, west, south, north—glaring down at the residents from cloud height.
Their overwhelming presence crushed wills before the battle even began.
One of the knights guarding the Papal Court, First Knight Commander Barkal, nearly dropped his weapon in terror.
Thud.
"Wh-what the hell is that...?"
He swallowed hard and ordered his soldiers to retreat.
"All units, fall back! Hide where the giants can't see you and observe their movements!"
His intent to assess the situation wasn't bad, but his command failed to read the battlefield and was utterly meaningless.
The area was already shrouded in colorful smoke, visibility zero—where exactly were they supposed to hide?
Whoosh—
A sound of slicing wind came from somewhere. By the time he pinpointed the direction and turned his head.
Splat!
A sharp blade flew into his abdomen, piercing straight through his armor and out his back.
"Damn it."
Thud.
As he collapsed, knights appeared from nowhere and grabbed him by the collar.
"Where is Archbishop Juda?"
The man before Knight Commander Barkal was a blond youth of unknown identity.
He scanned the youth's armor, then smirked faintly and replied.
"Berddin. You must be the new head of the Strange Family. Cough!"
Berddin met his gaze, then shook his head and answered.
"My question was where Juda is."
"...You think I'll tell you?"
"You don't have to. But if you don't, more will die."
"......"
"If you want everyone in the Papal Court dead, stay silent. But know this: I spare no one I deem an enemy—not even priests carrying out God's will."
Barkal squeezed his eyes shut, breathing raggedly in pain, then replied.
"He's not here."
"What?"
"Archbishop Juda isn't here right now. Cough! He... he left this morning to strengthen ties with the Empire."
"Ties with the Empire?"
"Cough! Yes... I don't know how you plan to find Archbishop Juda, but... if you've achieved your goal, stop killing the innocent..."
Berddin nodded curtly, then severed his head with a single stroke.
Slash!
"...Yes, as you said, I have no intention of killing the innocent."
However.
"Those who committed the atrocities I witnessed through the memories of Terezia, Cynthia, and Timeless—I will never forgive."
To ensure such things never happen again. He had to end it decisively this time.
Juda had vanished.
He must have fled to safety after hearing about me from Timeless.
'In that case.'
Timeless hadn't just foreseen my attack here; by evacuating Juda, it seemed she could read the future to some extent.
I headed straight for the Pope upon entering the Papal Court. Of course, many knights guarded the way, but none tried to oppose or actively block me.
'The overwhelming difference in power.'
Not only did it sap their will to fight, it even turned enemies into allies.
"I'll guide you to His Holiness the Pope."
Most of the Holy Knight commanders surrendered to us.
They already knew opposing me was impossible. The commander's wise decision to admit defeat quickly and minimize casualties was spot on.
Creeeak—
We entered the room he led us to and found a scene of chaos: the room, all white everywhere, filled with numerous bishops tangled with female devotees.
And at the center, a flabby old man—the Pope of Vaticarezro—sat dazed, puffing on a long pipe.
I wasn't particularly shocked, but the Holy Knight commander who guided us gaped in disbelief, unable to close his mouth.
"Y-Your Holiness."
As the commander cautiously spoke, the bishops and devotees jumped in fright and leaped to their feet.
The Pope turned his half-lidded eyes toward us.
"Billy, is that you?"
Even in those few words, he spoke haltingly, as if pondering each one.
"...Yes, Your Holiness."
"I didn't hear anyone knock. Whose permission did you have to enter, and when?"
"I'm sorry. Lord Berddin, head of the Strange Family, was in a hurry to see you, so I forgot to knock while guiding him."
The Pope stared blankly at me and Billy alternately, then slowly rose from his seat.
Swish.
As he moved, the silk robe draped over his shoulders slipped off, leaving him naked.
I grimaced momentarily at his grotesque form, but to those present, even this might be seen as sacred.
'I should show maximum respect.'
After all, this was one of the continent's major powers balancing the scales.
"The new head of the Strange Family—you mean Berddin?"
"Yes."
"I clearly said no outside visitors today. How did he get all the way here?"
"...I'm sorry."
I stepped forward before the conversation dragged on, addressing the Pope directly.
"I am Berddin, the new head of the Strange Family."
The Pope strained his eyes as if he couldn't see me well and took a step forward.
Step.
"Ber-ddin. I remember you. Can't recall when, but they said you helped Archbishop Juda."
That's right.
Back then, I didn't know he was Timeless's clone. I pretended to help him to rescue those in the underground prison.
"Yes."
"But why do you wish to see me, and how did you come here without permission?"
I signaled the female devotees to leave the room, then continued once they were gone.
"I came to hear God's will."
"...You came to me to hear God's will?"
"Yes. Your Holiness, do you know of a saint named Terezia?"
At the mention of Terezia, his ears perked up.
"Terezia. Yes, I do. A child with such pretty neck and legs."
"Pretty neck and legs?"
"Yes, yes. I liked her so much, I didn't want to show her to anyone."
"Then do you know a knight named Cynthia?"
"Cyn... Cynthia! Cynthia received God's blessing—such smooth skin, hair blue as the sky."
"Your Holiness."
"Terezia... Cynthia..."
"Your Holiness."
"If I get another chance, I'd love to see those two again. Good, beautiful girls who followed God's will without refusal."
The bishops listening to our exchange suddenly erupted.
"Lord Berddin, do you know where this is? Barging in without permission!"
"We clearly said no visitors to the Papal Court today."
"Leave now, and we'll pretend this didn't happen. Get out!"
I memorized their faces one by one. I can say with certainty: none of them will leave this place alive. My rage had already boiled over.
"Your Holiness, what is God's will?"
"God's... will?"
"Yes."
"...God's will is my word."
"Your word, Your Holiness?"
"Yes. I hear the words of God and relay them to you, so my words are God's will."
"Then you can converse with God?"
"Yes. I am the master of oracles, able to speak with the holy one."
"Then allow me to ask seriously."
Shing.
My blade sliced through the air.
It severed the neck of the nearest bishop and toppled the statue behind him.
Thud, crash.
"Did God tell you today you'd die by my hand?"
As the frontmost bishop's head hit the floor, the survivors screamed and jumped back.
"How dare you! This is blasphemy!"
"Drawing a sword on us? Eternal curse upon the Strange Family!"
Half of them threatened me.
"Please spare me! I am innocent!"
"O high one, I pray so earnestly—save me from evil!"
The other half begged for mercy, repenting or confessing to escape.
'However.'
The outcome was already decided.
I killed every bishop in the room in front of Cynthia and Terezia's memories and bound the Pope.
Not only that, I commanded the knights who had followed me to Vaticarezro.
"From this moment, kill every priest and knight in the Papal Court. Don't let a single one escape!"