Chapter 114

Night watch was a boring job. This was because incidents rarely happened at night.

That was why fatal incidents mostly occurred at night.

That night. What happened at the Ratio city gate was exactly that.

Under the cover of darkness, a group of riders approached the Ratio city gate.

Bang, bang, bang!

“Anyone there! Open the gate! It’s urgent!”

As a commotion erupted below, guards on the city wall poked their heads out. The guard, thoroughly annoyed at having his rest disturbed, shouted down below.

“Who is it!”

“I am Trevor of the Treno Family!”

“Gasp. My apologies. We did not recognize you, my lord.”

The guards’ attitude became abruptly polite.

Although the battle was a crushing defeat, there were some who had managed to escape safely.

The survivors returned to Ratio and reported the situation, and thanks to that, the rumor that the Treno Family had been defeated and Trevor had been captured had already spread throughout Ratio.

But no one had imagined that Trevor would escape and return.

“B-but, Sir Trevor? I heard you were captured by the Black Company!”

“Their security was lax, so I escaped. These are my men who escaped with me.”

“I see. But, uh, may I confirm your face?”

“Is that important right now?”

“B-but.”

“Tsk! Enough with the chatter, just open the gate. It’s urgent!”

“But according to regulations, we cannot open the gate carelessly—.”

“Shut up! I said open the gate! How do you think I escaped! Do you want to see me get captured by them again and die?”

Trevor harangued the guards, and the guards didn’t know what to do.

It was then. A subordinate of Trevor pointed behind them and shouted.

“Sir Trevor! The enemy is in pursuit!”

Far away in the field, flames that lit up the night shot up. A group of torches. It was clearly the Black Company’s pursuers.

Both Trevor and the guards saw the light. Trevor acted like a bull whipped on its rear.

“Do you bastards intend to let me die here? If I die, do you think the Treno Family will just stand by? Do you think they’ll spare you and your families?”

To a guard, a noble’s threat was menacing. Although the city law had no provisions for special treatment based on status, everyone knew that the law and reality were different.

If Trevor was really captured right in front of them, the Treno Family might retaliate against the night shift guards.

“W-what should we do?”

“Judging by the voice, it’s definitely Sir Trevor. We’ve heard it often, so we know.”

“Where did Sir Graham go?”

“He’s obviously not here, why would he be?”

The guards looked for someone to make the decision, but the person in charge happened to be away.

But if they went to find the person in charge, Sir Trevor might be captured by the pursuers in the meantime.

So, they had no choice.

“Damn it. What a mess this late at night.”

“Let’s just ask Sir Trevor to take responsibility.”

“Shut up and just push!”

The guards, resenting the fact that they had to work at night, had no choice but to open the city gate. As several of them pushed the heavy gate with all their might, a gap barely formed.

Through that gap, Trevor and his men hastily squeezed in. They seemed to be in a real hurry. The guards shone their torches and confirmed it was Sir Trevor.

“I-it’s really Sir Trevor.”

“Really? Thank goodness.”

“Shut up and close the gate!”

The guards grunted and groaned as they closed the city gate again.

But their ordeal was not yet over.

“Which one of you talked back to me earlier?”

“T-that was me.”

“You son of a bitch! I almost died because of you.”

Smack!

The guard who was slapped by Trevor fell backward and landed on his butt.

It was unfair, but the slapped guard couldn't even talk back.

“I’ll forgive your insolence with this.”

“Yes.”

“Move aside. I need to go and report to my family that I have returned.”

Trevor and his men began to ride their horses towards the city.

The slapped guard watched with a puzzled expression. That direction wasn’t towards the Treno Family’s mansion. Wasn’t it rather towards the Holy See?

But the guard, fearing he would be hit again if he questioned it, just grumbled and kept his mouth shut.

Meanwhile, the riders led by Trevor galloped through the streets. Ceras, who was mixed in among them, whispered to the person next to her.

“Duke Gryph's plan is truly brilliant. To think we would cross the city walls so easily.”

The rider following behind lowered his mask, revealing Leon’s face.

“Not at all. It’s all thanks to Sir Trevor’s excellent acting.”

Leon gave the credit for infiltrating Ratio to Trevor. Trevor, who was riding at the head, let out an uncomfortable groan.

“Ugh. You must keep your promise.”

Leon replied with a smile.

“Of course. You won't be questioned about this incident later on. In fact, His Holiness will probably praise you.”

That was right. All of this had been a play.

The story of Trevor escaping was a lie. Being pursued was a lie. The subordinates who escaped with him were a lie. Everything was a lie.

Trevor had sold out the city in exchange for his family’s safety. It wasn't a very unfair trade since his life was on the line. But he had no other choice.

***

“What, Sir Trevor?! How did you get here?”

“Shh. Be quiet. I just escaped and returned. I’m on my way to report to my family.”

“But this direction isn’t towards the mansion…”

“That’s none of your business, is it?”

“My apologies!”

After a few more conversations like this, we finally reached the entrance of the Holy See.

The bronze main gate of the Holy See was firmly shut. Beyond it, a silent monastery, a nunnery, and a cloister and stone wall surrounding an old church stretched endlessly.

Normally, I would have been moved by the fact that I was visiting an important location from the game, but it was too dark to see properly now.

The medieval night, with no streetlights, was truly pitch black.

Still, it seemed that no fight had broken out across the stone wall. Although the pro-Elance troops were guarding the entrance, there were no signs of a clash.

“That’s a relief. It seems no bloodshed has occurred yet.”

“No matter what, he is the Pope. Even if they are the opposition, they would be reluctant to just charge in.”

As I looked, Trevor coughed awkwardly as if embarrassed.

“Actually, before I left, the Holy See had already figured out the situation and closed the main gate. Someone from our side probably told them about our movements.”

“You mean there’s a mole within the pro-Elance faction?”

“It's more likely due to the pressure. Unless they're truly prepared to die, even the pro-Elance faction can't just grab the Pope by the hair and drag him out. If things go wrong, an issue that could end with exile would become an issue where the entire family gets their necks slit. Of course, that’s not the only reason.”

As he said this, Trevor glared at me resentfully.

“That’s why I was just trying to buy time until the pro-Elance faction could negotiate with the Pope. I didn’t expect you guys to attack.”

“It’s your fault for coming to the battlefield without any preparations.”

“That’s true, so I have nothing to say. I was too complacent.”

I gathered some information from the conversation.

The pro-Elance faction in Ratio feared both the Pope’s retaliation and losing Elance’s backing.

Since there was no way in the world to satisfy both, they were bound to be in a stalemate.

They probably wished someone else would make the decision for them, but no one wanted to take responsibility if things went wrong.

Because they couldn't make a decision and acted indecisively, they brought disaster upon themselves.

I was just glad that my employer was safe because of it.

“What, Sir Trevor?! How did you get here?”

“Shh. It’s late, so be quiet. I just escaped and returned.”

“But why are you here?”

“I intend to speak with the Pope about that matter. So, could you please make way? Our safety depends on it.”

“Hmm, very well.”

When the living ID card, Trevor, stepped forward, the pro-Elance troops guarding the front of the Holy See readily stepped aside. It seemed to be true that the current situation was burdensome.

Ceras approached the bronze gate and knocked. As if waiting, a reply came immediately from beyond the gate.

“By order of Bishop Rosanka, entry to the Holy See is currently forbidden. Please leave.”

“I know who this is just by the voice. Brother Eogwin, open the gate quickly.”

“…This manner of speaking, is it Priestess Ceras?”

“It’s Bishop Ceras of Fasa now. Use the proper title. And open the gate immediately.”

“Please come this way.”

A small door next to the main gate was hastily opened.

Upon entering, a square paved with granite appeared. Armed priests greeted us from both sides. They looked ready to pounce at any moment, but fortunately, since Ceras proved our identities, no problems occurred.

The priests quickly closed the door as soon as our party had all passed through.

Eogwin, who had spoken through the door, saw Ceras and made the sign of the cross.

“It really is you, Priestess Ceras. How did you get in when all the gates are closed?”

“Our mage worked some magic.”

“A mage? I don't know what kind of absurd joke that is, but it’s good to see you again. But the timing is not good.”

Eogwin's gaze turned to our party.

“Who are these people?”

“They are His Holiness' guests.”

“At a time like this?”

“They are esteemed guests who have brought the means to solve this problem.”

As Eogwin looked on suspiciously, Trevor quickly hid his face with his mask. As someone from the pro-Elance faction, it was hard to receive good treatment inside the Holy See.

On the other hand, I was very upright. I was the one who had come to save the Pope.

“Where is His Holiness?”

“As always, he is in the Remolan Palace.”

“Alright. I know the way, so I will guide the guests. Could you watch the horses for a moment?”

“Of course.”

Ceras entrusted the horses to Eogwin and headed inside.

I followed her across the square, surveying the surroundings.

The inside of the Holy See reminded me of a quasi-wartime situation. Armed guards and priests were everywhere.

It seemed I had come at the right time.

If the situation had really escalated, the pro-Elance faction would have invaded the Holy See without thinking about the consequences.

But now that I was here, it was alright.

“Bishop Ceras of Fasa has come to see His Holiness.”

“Understood. Please enter.”

“Duke Gryph. This way.”

I followed Ceras' guidance and set foot in the old palace.

Beyond the endless cloister, a shadow flickered in a candlelit room.

***

Meeting Pope Astro was something I was looking forward to.

Usually, when one thinks of a Pope, one imagines a frail, white-haired old man, but Pope Astro was not like that.

Pope Astro was a spirited ambitious man and a tireless man of vigor. He was a person who did his best to regain the authority of the Pope without succumbing to the interference and difficulties around him.

In a way, he was the one who shouted the Warlord Saga version of ‘Make the Holy See Great Again!’

Such a tendency was not entirely bad.

Especially if one could seize opportunities from the surroundings, like me…

An attendant came and announced.

“His Holiness is entering!”

A moment later, the door to the waiting room opened, and a tall, muscular clergyman in a black cassock entered.

He looked exactly as I remembered.

Look at those powerful shoulders and triceps.

Who would ever think that man was a clergyman?

I could feel a spirit that seemed ready to beat heretics and demons to a pulp with his bare hands at any moment. He might even be able to win a bare-handed fight against Theo. That must be why he could fight on even in a disadvantageous situation.

I quickly knelt on one knee before the Pope and said.

“Leon Gryph, commander of the Black Company, greets His Holiness the Pope. It is an eternal honor to meet Your Holiness. I have come to Ratio in accordance with the contract made with Your Holiness, and I will do my best to fulfill the contract from now on. May you live ten thousand years!”

Now, the savior of the Holy See has arrived.

Be moved. Applaud.

But the Pope's reaction was strange.

The Pope just stared at me blankly.

“Huh?”

“Huh?”

“Ah?”

“Yes?”

Meaningless exclamations repeated like a da capo.

The muscular Pope still had a bewildered face.

What went wrong? This was not the reaction I was expecting at all.

Was there a problem with my etiquette? Or did he not understand me because I was a foreigner?

Just then, Ceras, who could not bear to watch any longer, resolved the mystery. Her face was red from holding back her laughter.

“Duke Gryph. That person is not His Holiness the Pope, but his executive secretary, Bishop Rosanka.”

“What?”

It couldn’t be.

That buff person wasn't Pope Astro?

Just then, a high-pitched woman's voice was heard from behind Bishop Rosanka.

“You’re in the way, Rosanka. Why are you blocking the way and not coming in?”

“My apologies, Your Holiness. I was momentarily taken aback by some unexpected words.”

“I heard them too. Do you want to be promoted to Pope already? Unfortunately, the papacy is an elected position, so I can’t pass it down.”

“Of course not.”

As Rosanka stepped aside, the person standing behind him became visible.

A small figure with hair like ebony.

Long ears peeking out from between the hair.

A young-looking woman in her nightclothes.

She wore no ornaments or attire to prove she was a priestess, but that rather made it possible to guess her identity.

How many people in the world used the Holy See as comfortably as their own home other than one?

I opened my mouth blankly.

“Oh.”

Pope Astro was a woman.