Chapter 41

The Pontiff

Aiden glared at the other party with his eyes widened as silence continued.

The maid, her eyes blank, glanced around before she finally spoke in a dazed voice.

“-Um, what do you mean by that? Did I do something wrong—?”

Feeling the vein on his forehead bulge even more, Aiden took a deep breath.

“Sir Stella.”

“...Yes?”

“Would you mind stepping back for a moment?”

“...?”

As soon as Sir Stella stepped back at Aiden’s words, he immediately drew a revolver from inside his coat.

He always carried it around, just in case.

“...Aiden? What are you—”

Before Stella could even finish her question—

“By the Law, I swear—”

A vow instantly formed beneath his lips.

The First Consecration. The Second Vow. The Third Invocation.

Three supernatural abilities were imbued into the weapon all at once.

“...Aiden?”

Sir Stella asked in confusion, but before he could respond—

The moment all three abilities infused into the gun, Aiden immediately pulled the trigger.

---!!!!!!!!!!!

The strike tore through the surroundings and blasted the maid’s torso into pieces.

“...”

Next to him, Sir Stella stared at Aiden with a stunned expression.

The situation was so sudden that his brain hadn’t even started to process it, let alone respond.

“Aiden, what the...!”

“No, it’s fine.”

Aiden, the very one who’d done the deed, cut off Stella’s words with a frown still etched on his face.

“She wouldn’t die from something like this anyway.”

As terrifying as the attack’s power was, even Katya only ended up momentarily incapacitated after being hit by it.

And this person—

She was someone placed even above those who were already beyond common standards.

“—Hey.”

The maid’s shattered body floated up into the air.

“That was overkill, seriously.”

Eventually.

With a click of her tongue, the maid flicked her wrist once through the air.

To an onlooker, it might have looked like a gentle stretch.

And in response—

The fragmented body quickly reattached to itself like mud, regenerating.

Exactly like Katya.

“...Huh?”

Next to him, Stella let out a bewildered sound.

For someone who could wield supernatural powers, it would’ve been clear.

If Katya’s immortality was something innate, then this one was mimicking that purely through her own ability.

‘...Unbelievable.’

It truly was.

To replicate immortality through one's own power.

A divine-level skill in Holy Flame Operation.

Even Katya, second only to the current era’s standards after the Pontiff, wouldn’t be able to stand on equal footing with her.

‘This person’s a monster.’

It had been said before, but both Noel and Katya were people who wouldn’t be dismissed no matter where they went.

And when you thought a bit more deeply about the phrase that they wouldn’t be dismissed—

It meant that even a woman who could slice buildings with a sword or another who wouldn’t stay dead no matter how many times she died couldn’t easily be called the “strongest.”

Of course, if you asked how far those two would grow as the scenario progressed, then maybe such a title could be attached in advance. But at the very least, right now, that kind of statement was hard to justify.

The person standing before him was one of the reasons for that.

The strongest, worst, and most dreadful Holy Flame user in history.

The ruler of the Holy Crown Kingdom of Craven, the current Pontiff, Abigail III.

All of those titles referred to the person right in front of him.

And that person let out a snort before taking off the bonnet on her head.

As she snapped her fingers, a flame without heat scattered in all directions.

The modest attire befitting a maid was burned away by those flames, and beneath it emerged a robe made of jet-black ebony.

An outfit signifying the highest ceremonial rank within the Holy Crown Kingdom. The symbol of the Pontiff.

And at the same time, the being that had just been called Princess Laila dissipated into flames and vanished.

“It was a pretty well-made stand-in. How did you see through it?”

Seeing the Pontiff now revealed, Aiden furrowed his brow.

He wasn’t familiar with her, but the overall atmosphere felt oddly familiar.

Appearance-wise, she was practically the spitting image of Katya. White hair. Golden eyes. Even the aura around her was similar.

The outfit, though, stood in perfect contrast to Katya’s.

And considering what kind of connection she had with Katya, it was rather fitting.

Katya’s biological mother. And—

‘Act II Final Boss.’

She was the final opponent in the episode where she played the lead.

The wall Katya would have to overcome.

“Still, what kind of person starts with a sudden attack like that, husband of the Lionhearted, huh?”

The Pontiff spoke with a fierce grin, sticking her head closer to Aiden.

…Even that expression was a carbon copy of Katya.

Playful savagery, the wild temperament that hinted at a beast-like ferocity.

That woman’s personality clearly showed where it had come from.

But Aiden, facing all that, didn’t blink as he replied in kind.

“Your Holiness did not hesitate either, did you?”

It was their first time meeting, but neither seemed interested in observing formalities.

The Pontiff’s attitude could be expected given the difference in their status but Aiden’s was surprising.

“Not planning to lose a single word, huh? That’s harsh.”

“Courtesy is.”

The other party seemed to be pointing out his attitude, but Aiden calmly stared back as he responded.

“I only return what’s given.”

The strike this person had launched at him while disguised as Princess Laila hadn’t been fatal, but it had undoubtedly been powerful.

Even if it wouldn’t have killed him, it could’ve caused serious injuries.

On top of that—

‘She beat Katya without hesitation too.’

There was no reason to greet someone who did such things with a smile.

Seeing that, the Pontiff’s lips twisted.

As if to say, ‘Oh? Look at this guy?’

It was a clear sign that she was beginning to take an interest in him.

“...Fair enough.”

The Pontiff snickered and nodded.

“Katya was practically glued to your side, so I was curious. Turns out there’s a real clown from the heavens, huh.”

“Your Holiness.”

Aiden sighed and cut into her words.

“You didn’t come here just to shoot the breeze, did you?”

“...”

“I’m a busy man, you know.”

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Sir Stella—still not caught up with the situation—gaping with her mouth wide open.

“...You’re a full-blown lunatic, huh?”

Even the Pontiff said as much, which showed just how extreme Aiden’s attitude was.

But—

‘So what?’

Aiden was already holding back quite a bit.

Considering the nature of the person in front of him, there wasn’t much reason to restrain himself.

“There’s something Your Holiness ought to do before worrying about my temperament.”

“...What?”

One way or another.

There was a clear line of responsibility.

Sending Katya to drag him to the Holy Crown Kingdom without warning, tormenting her right in front of him, and continuing to test him till the very end—all of it had been her doing.

He had absolutely no reason to be polite.

If there was something to take, then he would make sure to take it.

“When you’ve done wrong, paying the price is the natural order of things.”

“Hmm?”

“Don’t tell me, after all that mischief, you planned to walk away with nothing but a smile?”

“Hmmm—?”

“Just grant me two favors. Then I’ll let it slide.”

At this point, even the Pontiff let out an almost incredulous laugh.

“Let me hear it. What are you letting slide?”

“If I go around loudly exposing the games you played with Katya and me in the Holy Crown Kingdom, I doubt it’ll do Your Holiness any good.”

“...”

“There must be more than a few scandals just waiting to spread.”

The fierce smile on the Pontiff’s face grew even darker.

With a light exhale—“Hah”—her eyes narrowed.

“Hey, Aiden.”

“Yes.”

“Do you like breathing?”

“Generally, yes.”

“That so?”

—Then.

His vision split open.

A divine flame dyed the surroundings red, twisting his senses.

There was no heat. The Pontiff wasn’t even deploying any actual supernatural power.

This was an effect produced purely by her presence and pressure.

Just locking eyes with her felt like an invisible hand was gripping his heart.

“Then, let me ask one more thing.”

Even her voice sounded distorted, like it carried static.

“If you like breathing, you’d better choose your words carefully. Is that a threat?”

Just hearing her speak felt like it fried his brain. That was the level of pressure.

His skin felt as if it were blistering. Like someone had poured tar into his veins, a sickening sensation pulsed through his entire nervous system.

“...”

An absolutely monstrous ability.

And even as he was being pummeled by it with his whole body—

Aiden had only one thought echoing through his mind.

‘...Jackpot.’

If he could copy this woman’s skill, wouldn’t that be the ultimate haul?

“...”

Maybe he’d died so often at Meyer’s hands lately that even when staring death in the face, his thoughts veered in a bizarre direction.

But the thought itself was absolutely on point.

And what followed was the exact move to make that happen.

Click—a mental switch flipped into place.

Aiden raised his gaze to the Pontiff with a calm look.

“Yes.”

“...”

“It was a threat.”

“...”

...In the corner of his vision—

Sir Stella, now far beyond merely being unable to keep up, had seemingly given up entirely on trying to understand the situation and was once again gaping in disbelief.

“If Your Holiness won’t grant my requests, I’ll latch on and never let go.”

“...”

“I promise. I won’t be able to beat you but I can make your life a living hell with an endless stream of annoyances.”

At that, he could even see Sir Stella practically on the verge of fainting.

But even so, this wasn’t Aiden losing control or acting recklessly.

‘...This is the right way to handle her.’

Considering what he knew about the Pontiff.

At the very least, she was the type who preferred those who stood up to her over those who bent the knee.

What a difficult personality. She cornered others relentlessly yet expected them to keep fighting back.

Her consistent pressure on Aiden from the very start had always come from that same mindset.

She desperately wanted to see the bottom of him—what his limits were. Just how far she had to push before he broke.

‘And the thing about testing someone is...’

This person never even started down that road unless she had expectations.

Which meant she saw something in him worth her time.

So if that was her intent, then being submissive here would be the wrong move. Being openly defiant was actually the smarter play—it was how he’d earn her approval.

And indeed, the smile on the Pontiff’s face deepened even more as she listened.

It meant Aiden was consistently meeting the standards she was hoping for.

If her earlier reaction had been one of curiosity, now it felt like genuine approval.

And what would drive that point home—

“Still, I’m not completely heartless. I’ll help maintain the balance.”

“What?”

“I believe there’s something you want my help with too, Your Holiness.”

“...”

“That’s why you’ve been pushing me this hard, isn’t it?”

He took the lead by making it obvious that he’d seen right through her intent.

And then he took one step further.

Why was she continuously testing him like this? Why was she so eager to assess his capabilities? If he thought about her motivations—

No complex calculations were necessary. He already knew what the Pontiff’s biggest current headache was.

“Seems like you’re having a rough time with the succession issue.”

The power struggle between the potential successors to become the next Pontiff.

Scenario Act II. The entire arc of “Blasphemy” was centered around that very conflict.

“If you help me, I’ll lend you my strength when the time comes.”

When Aiden added that final statement, the Pontiff, who had been silent for a while, let out a short laugh and scattered her divine power.

The oppressive sensation that had been crushing Aiden’s entire body disappeared instantly along with it.

“...You’re seriously a weirdo. Can’t tell if you’re brilliant or just nuts.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Sure, you crazy bastard.”

“...”

Her tone might have been brusque, but there was no mistaking that her response wasn’t negative.

-System Message

▶ Interest level of ‘Abigail III’ has increased.

▶ ‘Skill: Weaver of Fate’ has been activated!

▶ Skill copy count has increased by 1!

▶ Related details will be updated in the main scenario!

The system window floating before him confirmed it all.

As Aiden quietly celebrated inside, the Pontiff let out a sigh and crossed her legs.

“...Let’s hear it, then. What is it you want to ask?”

And by saying that much, she had effectively accepted his terms.

Aiden beamed with a wide smile.

‘Jackpot, seriously.’

...In truth.

He was someone already shackled to the quest—he was going to be involved in that matter whether the Pontiff asked for help or not.

It was a situation that would normally make him dizzy just thinking about it. But for now, it was fine.

If he could play it cool and throw his weight around like this, then that was enough—for now…!

Of course, that was that.

And what his first request would be was already perfectly clear.

“I did mention it earlier.”

“...Hmm?”

“Apologize to Katya.”

“...”

“I can’t accept Your Holiness treating my friend however you please.”

“What if I don’t?”

“If you don’t, then you’ll be making an enemy out of me.”

The Pontiff fell silent for a moment, staring at Aiden as he said it.

There wasn’t any emotion in his tone. If anything, he was calmly stating his demand.

But that very calmness only emphasized his seriousness.

‘The truly dangerous dogs don’t bark.’

It made things clearer.

If she didn’t apologize to Katya, this guy wasn’t just going to back out of negotiations—he’d come at her with full sincerity.

Against the head of the Holy Crown Kingdom. Against one of the ruling powers of the continent.

‘What a lunatic.’

But that’s exactly why she liked him.

The Pontiff let out a dry chuckle as she answered.

“Fine. I’ll make it right. Next time I see her, I’ll say it clearly—‘I was wrong.’”

“...”

“Don’t trust me? I can swear it by my true name in the name of the God of Purification.”

“...No. That’s enough.”

Huh.

He hadn’t expected her to admit it so cleanly.

Given her notoriously bad personality, he figured she’d snap back and ask who he thought he was to order her around.

‘Well…’

And since she was conceding this smoothly, Aiden figured it was only natural to take a step back as well.

He still had his second request, of course, but for now, this was a good time to ease the tension.

“–Let’s start with an introduction. As a gesture of reconciliation.”

“Introduction?”

“I hope we can get along going forward.”

Even though things had started off rough, he meant it when he said he wanted to get along.

Hearing that, Abigail III twisted her head slightly with a grumpy look on her face.

She seemed to mull over his words for a while, then turned her head the other way.

“...”

What was she even doing?

-System Message

▶ Interest level of ‘Abigail III’ has increased.

▶ ‘Skill: Weaver of Fate’ has been activated!

▶ Skill copy count has increased by 2!

What the heck?

Why was it going up again all of a sudden?

Just as he was wondering that, the Pontiff muttered awkwardly from across the way.

“...Hey.”

“...Yes?”

“Are you hitting on me?”

“...”

What nonsense was this woman spouting now?

Where in that sentence did she hear something like that?

“...No, I’m not.”

Aiden barely managed to answer as the Pontiff continued, sounding almost irritated.

“I’ve been single all my life, you know?”

“...”

“So choose your words carefully, so I don’t get the wrong idea. Good-looking guys like you with slick tongues…”

“...”

...This wasn’t his problem, was it?

Aiden swallowed that comment hard and kept it to himself.