For Sale. Fallen Lady. Never Used.

Chapter 208: Main Headquarters (2)

There are times in life when one’s values are shaken.

Am I a genius, or am I actually incompetent?

A chest should be bigger than the head, but Iris is too suggestive.

I can write about 5,000 characters in 10 hours easily… right?

A platypus has nothing to do with a duck or a raccoon…

And many other things. As you live, numerous self-doubts arise, leading you to skepticism.

For me, that time is now.

“Am I… oblivious?”

“Well, Master, you have your circumstances. Right, Elisha?”

“Yes. You simply lacked the opportunity to develop social skills. But now you have us, so it’ll be fine.”

“Ugh… Junior? Let’s hang in there together.”

Carla, Elisha, and Faye awkwardly smiled and comforted me.

This alone made my heart ache, and the longevity duo genuinely felt sorry for me.

“Master… how about learning one by one from now on? I may look like this, but I was the master of the Magic Tower. I’m quite confident in external activities.”

“Hey, hey. Starting from the second semester, how about taking some liberal arts classes along with magic classes? I can pull some strings with my professor privileges, so don’t worry too much.”

Don’t look at me with those eyes!!!

I get it. They probably see me as a boy who spent his life holed up in a dragon lair, learning only information and combat skills, and only came out into the world a few years ago.

That was the setting, after all.

But I did properly go through elementary, middle, and high school, and even attended university.

I wasn’t a newborn who had only been out in the world for three years!

…Oh? But how many friends did I have? I think I just went home and played games right after school.

“……”

Suddenly, a deep sense of skepticism overwhelmed me.

Without a word, I slipped my hand under Iris’s armpit and lifted her up.

“Master? Surely not…!”

I held the shocked Iris firmly and started shaking her up and down like a seesaw.

“Let me go! Doing this… doing this outside is not good!”

Iris flailed for a while, but as I continued to lift her like a plane, she eventually resigned and went limp as usual.

Shake, shake.

I watched Iris’s limbs dangle weakly for a moment of healing.

Once I felt more at ease, I finally looked around.

A vast path that made my jaw drop. Sacred paintings covering the walls and ceiling. And the dense divine power imbued everywhere.

Just walking here seemed enough to heal most wounds and fill one’s entire body with vitality.

Yes. This was the corridor leading to the audience chamber inside the main church.

We were now being guided by Gilbert and Helena to meet the Pope.

…Although Gilbert and Helena seemed more distracted by other matters than guiding us.

“Huaang! Uncle Gilbert! How am I supposed to live now?! I can’t lift my head… I’m so embarrassed…!”

“Well. Can’t there be some misunderstandings? Helena, you’re at an age where you understand everything, so it’s possible to mistake things like that.”

“Isn’t that right?! Brother Yandel is a great person, but his private life is a bit…!”

“A bit, you say….”

Gilbert glanced at me. I nodded slightly to signal it was okay, and only then did he relax and start comforting Helena.

“It might be a bit questionable, but it’s all within legal bounds. There wouldn’t have been anything to worry about from the start.”

“That’s right. Brother Yandel may be promiscuous, but he’s not a bad person. But if the promise made earlier was related to me, what do you think he plans to ask for in return for this medallion…?”

“Hmm? That is… oh!”

Gilbert’s eyes widened as he looked at the medallion Helena was holding.

A muscle-bound giant reacting like that was a bit scary.

While I flinched inwardly, Gilbert strode towards me and asked.

“Brother Yandel!”

“Uh, yes.”

“Do you have another sacred relic with you?”

“I don’t have another one. I just cleared a dungeon on the way here and got it as a reward.”

“On the way here… you cleared a dungeon…?”

Gilbert looked at me with a strange expression, as if he had heard someone claim to have found a gold bar on the street.

Well, dungeons weren’t something you could find just because you wanted to.

I shrugged, trying to brush it off.

“It just happened. I thought we had enough power, so we cleared it. The medallion looked like it belonged to the Righteous Radiance, so I gave it to Sister Helena. Of course, not for free—I asked her to grant a few favors later.”

“What do you plan to ask…?”

Gilbert cautiously inquired about my intentions. I understand now. He was worried about what I might do with the medallion as leverage.

He was probably concerned that I might do something inappropriate to Helena.

…Honestly, I was a bit tempted, but what I wanted from Helena was different.

Smiling wryly at Helena, who was subtly eavesdropping on our conversation, I spoke.

“It’s nothing much. I just… wanted to ask her to join our party.”

“Join your party?”

“Yes. To clear dungeons together and, depending on the situation, hunt cultists together.”

“Huh…”

Gilbert blinked in astonishment and tilted his head.

“It’s an honor, but isn’t it realistically difficult? Helena’s talents are outstanding, but I’ve heard things. She might not be able to keep up with Brother Yandel’s level.”

“Maybe not now. But if we clear dungeons together, she’ll soon be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with me. Moreover, the Righteous Radiance, having regained its strength, might cherish Helena a bit more.”

“Hmm.”

As soon as I finished speaking, Gilbert’s eyes sharpened.

The fact that Helena was a candidate for sainthood was a secret. Only high-ranking officials in the church, such as archbishops or cardinals, might know.

In other words, no one below that level knows.

But since I mentioned making Helena a saint, it was natural for him to be wary…

“Oh dear. Upon thinking it over, it makes sense that you would know. I almost misunderstood due to my short-sightedness.”

“Pardon?”

Gilbert suddenly bowed his head. Then, with a knowing smile, he nodded.

“Of course, someone as close to the sun as you would recognize Helena’s potential. Has the Radiant Lord chosen Helena?”

“Uh… not exactly, but I’m planning to ask for it. Recently, the movements of the cultists have been suspicious, haven’t they? We need to be prepared in advance. There’s no time to ponder over who might be the best.”

“…Is something happening?”

“I’ll explain in detail when we meet the Pope in the audience chamber. It’s that important.”

“Hmm… I understand. Let’s focus on guiding you then.”

With a slightly stiff expression, Gilbert resumed leading the way.

Helena, seemingly not grasping the situation yet, kept looking around, muttering, “Huh? Huh?”

My companions, although I hadn’t told them anything specific beforehand, seemed to have an inkling of what was going on and followed quietly.

Even Helena, who was embarrassed and fidgeting just a moment ago, became silent and observant.

We walked down the long corridor in silence until we finally arrived at a large door.

---

“Ah… I could feel the Lord’s light from afar. Welcome. I am Albaor, the first servant of the Radiant Lord.”

An old man came down from the seat of honor and introduced himself as soon as we arrived.

Albaor, unlike the robust Gilbert, who looked stronger than most young men, had a small and frail body.

But that did not mean he was weak.

Even though I wasn’t a believer, perhaps because I possessed an A+ rank blessing, I could feel something intensely shining within Albaor.

A sensation I’ve never felt from other priests. Was it because he was the Pope, or was it Albaor’s unique characteristic?

In the game, he was just a typical character who seemed weak but was actually the most dangerous old man.

Seeing him in person, I understand now. His appearance might seem weak, but the aura he exuded did not hide his true strength.

If needed, that brilliance could become a massive amount of divine power, performing miracles crafted by human hands.

Momentarily taken aback by the most combative appearance of the Pope of the Radiant Lord, I quickly responded with a smile.

“Thank you for the warm welcome. But it’s a bit overwhelming. Could you treat us a bit more comfortably?”

“Well, even if I am the Pope these days, it’s just a temporary position elected from among the cardinals. It’s different from the true Popes before the Great War. I’m more burdened by the courtesy from someone who is truly favored by the Lord. Could you speak a bit more comfortably…?”

“…Let’s keep it this way.”

Albaor laughed heartily and nodded.

Even so, speaking informally to an elderly man felt a bit uncomfortable.

Gilbert, perhaps because of his massive build, didn’t give off the same elderly vibe.

Anyway, after lightly greeting Faye and Iona, Albaor chatted with Gilbert and Helena as well.

Not intending to hold us for long, Albaor, with a gentle smile, soon prepared to let us go.

“I’m afraid I might be bothering you too much after your long journey. A guest room has been prepared, so please feel free to use it. We can discuss matters another time.”

“Thank you. But before that, I have something urgent to discuss and a request to make, if that’s alright?”

“Hmm? With this old man? It would be an honor. Please, have a seat.”

Instead of the seat of honor, Albaor took a place at the round table set in front of it.

I also took a suitable seat.

Then, I took the first step in a plan I had been contemplating for a long time—to protect the Church of Righteous Radiance.

“The cultists are targeting the Church of Righteous Radiance.”

“That’s always been the case.”

“More precisely, they are aiming for the downfall of the Radiant Lord.”

“…That’s something I can’t just ignore.”