Chapter 18 Part 6

There was no time for formal pleasantries upon this first meeting with the Pope. Hyle approached him directly.

“Ugh…”

Even amidst all this, the weak moans occasionally escaping through Rosiel’s teeth were almost unbearably pitiful.

Seeing her, darkness crept into Hyle’s green pupils.

“Even with my holy power, her life continues to fade.”

As if urging the Pope who merely gazed at Rosiel, Hyle’s lips moved once more, unable to bear the wait.

Could the realization that one could do nothing more be this painful? A dark shadow fell across Hyle’s pale face.

“My Lady, can you hear me?”

With those calm words, the Pope’s unhurried hand touched Rosiel’s forehead.

Shortly after, her eyes—which had remained closed as if trapped in a nightmare—slowly began to open.

“…Am I dead again?”

Eventually, these bewildering words emerged. Rosiel’s dazed pink eyes stared directly at the Pope.

It made sense that she would think so, as this was a man she had only seen right before death, or perhaps immediately after.

“You are still very much alive, my Lady.”

“…W-wait.”

As she quietly observed the Pope, who answered with a gentle smile, Rosiel’s pupils suddenly widened as if realizing something.

“You… were the Pope?”

* * *

“Huh…”

My mind was already foggy, and the revelation that the masked man I’d been desperately searching for was actually the Pope made my thoughts even more chaotic.

To my question, the Pope said nothing, merely maintaining the same faint smile as before.

But I knew that enigmatic face would crack the moment I spoke his name.

Having read the original story, I was well aware of the Pope’s real name.

“Din Nas.”

In truth, once someone became the Pope—a servant of the Goddess—their original name lost all special meaning to them.

But right now, in this moment, it mattered.

Because the ‘real’ me—not Rosiel—knew him, and he knew me as well.

“…So you truly are the Holy Maiden. To think you would call me by a name long forgotten.”

“Rosiel, how did you…?”

Both the Pope, suddenly called by his birth name, and Hyle, surprised by my unexpected knowledge, stared at me with startled expressions, but I didn’t elaborate further.

Now I finally understood the cryptic remarks the Pope had made whenever he saw me.

Eternity never stays by your side.

Fleeting memories will become your life.

It’s not good to bear everything alone.

From a third-party, observer’s position, he had been offering me advice and warnings in his own way.

Since I hadn’t known his identity, I’d been suspicious, either misinterpreting or ignoring his words… but looking back now, I couldn’t entirely blame him.

His counsel had been perfectly suited for my past self—naively believing I could simply live longer by meeting Hyle and receiving his holy power, by breaking off my engagement with Abel.

Living only for a future version of myself, not for the present moment, and planning to survive alone at the end.

Every single word had been precious advice and gentle guidance.

But that was then. Now, the Pope…

“Hyle, this man can’t help me at all. We came to the wrong place.”

“What?”

Hyle’s brow furrowed instantly at my resolute statement. Simultaneously, the corners of the Pope’s lips curved upward.

“Marquis, have you heard Renesia’s final prophecy?”

“You mean, ‘Only the one with the purest holy power can complete the vessel’?”

“That is you. Only you can save the Lady.”

A brief sigh escaped through Hyle’s teeth at the Pope’s words.

This meant the Pope couldn’t offer any help whatsoever in saving me.

After coming all this way, to receive such an answer—I’d feel just as empty if I were in Hyle’s position.

God, this is maddening… I never imagined things would get this serious!

Of course, I didn’t expect defying a predetermined death would be easy, but I never thought it would become this complicated either.

Who could have guessed my heart wouldn’t be fully purified?

Well, I suppose it wasn’t entirely unexpected, given how often I’d been using black magic, but still.

“Hyle, I’m not dead yet, you know? And I’m not on the verge of dying like before, so stop making that face.”

Of all his expressions I’d seen so far, this one was the most frightening and severe.

Hyle’s hardened features suggested he was formulating his next plan.

When I gently squeezed his arm, his expression finally softened somewhat.

“Your Holiness, we’ll be taking our leave now.”

“There’s a rose garden behind the Grand Temple that the priests tend to. The Lady might enjoy it.”

As Hyle turned to leave with me in his arms, the Pope’s languid voice drifted subtly from behind us.

Hyle made no reply and headed straight outside.

When he opened the door leading to the back, a vast, well-maintained rose garden spread out before us, just as the Pope had said.

Despite Hyle’s objections, I freed myself from his embrace, took a deep breath, and slowly crossed through the center of the garden.

“Wow, it’s beautiful. Is this my grave?”

“You.”

…Ahem. I only meant it as a joke, seeing how grim his face was, but sadly, Hyle’s expression grew even colder.

“I’m kidding.”

“Your grave isn’t here.”

“Mmm…”

Quickly backing down at Hyle’s unyielding response, I gazed into the distance and nodded halfheartedly.

“Rosiel, stop for a moment. Let me try giving you more holy power.”

“Ah, that’s…”

With Hyle not yet awakened, injecting more holy power would be futile.

Just as I was about to stop him, the sky, which had been clear blue all day, suddenly turned pitch black.

It happened in an instant—a mere flash.

The red sun had been high in the sky, but in a split second, night fell.

A strange darkness swallowed the world.

Soon after, I belatedly noticed that the air around us was filled with ominous magical energy.

Wait, this magic…!

“Is it a demon?”

“…It’s Caligo.”

Sensing the foreboding atmosphere, Hyle quickly discerned the flow of energy and grabbed my hand as I stood beside him.

There had to be a reason why the demon, who never appeared despite my repeated calls, would show up so arbitrarily now.

And that reason… probably wouldn’t be welcome.

Not to me, and certainly not to Hyle.

“Rosiel, you didn’t summon him, did you?”

“Well, I did summon him. A very long time ago… but definitely not now.”

The wait wasn’t long.

Caligo appeared swiftly before us, sweeping his jet-black hair back, his golden eyes gleaming dangerously.

On his shoulder, a black snake flicked its red tongue, exuding aggressive breaths.

“Well, well, what a coincidence! Who would have thought we’d meet again in such a nice place? Certainly better than that basement!”

Despite his dramatic entrance, his words sounded remarkably friendly.

Looking around the spacious rose garden with a bright expression and flashing a smile, Caligo genuinely seemed pleased to see us.

“It’s an unfortunate coincidence.”

Hyle coldly corrected Caligo’s statement.

In response to Hyle’s complete lack of enthusiasm, Caligo’s golden eyes narrowed slightly.

“I knew you’d say that. Well… I’m not interested in you anyway. Rosiel, come here. You belong to me.”

Shrugging lightly as if it didn’t matter, Caligo then reached his hand out toward me.

“Since when do I belong to you?”