CHAPTER 254: SCENARIO (1)

Ethan was first surprised by the Pope’s movement.

‘I didn’t notice him coming up behind me?’

Ethan had met the Pope for the first time today. Because of that, he only knew a few pieces of information he had heard through rumors, and didn’t know detailed information about the Pope.

Still, he thought that as a clergyman of the Holylight Order, he wouldn’t be that impressive in terms of strength.

But that wasn’t the case at all. As befitting the grand title of Pope, his abilities were also remarkable.

‘There’s an enormous difference in skill compared to the cardinals. Moreover, what on earth does he mean? Asking if he’s the real Ethan Whiskers?’

“What do you mean by that? I don’t understand your words.”

“I mean exactly what I said. Are you really Ethan Whiskers? Ethan is certainly a promising talent. I know many stories about you. But this situation is too sudden. How did you come here? And at such a coincidental timing.”

The Pope’s suspicion was justified.

Ethan took out the Emperor’s letter from his spatial pocket and handed it to the Pope.

“You can check the seal. His Majesty the Emperor personally stamped it with his seal.”

The Pope carefully examined the Emperor’s letter that Ethan handed over.

The letter clearly bore the Emperor’s seal.

The Emperor’s seal that no one would dare to imitate. The Pope, who had seen that seal for a long time, was able to quickly dispel his suspicion towards Ethan.

“His Majesty the Emperor sent you to me. That means you didn’t come here to help Watopia.”

Since Ethan hadn’t directly checked the letter, he couldn’t know the detailed contents. But judging from the Pope’s reaction, it seemed that the reason why Ethan needed to meet the Pope was written there.

“Yes, actually, I came to meet you in person after hearing that Your Holiness was here. On the way, I met some merfolk who told me a little about the calamity that occurred in Watopia, but my original purpose is to meet Your Holiness.”

At Ethan’s words, the Pope finally showed an expression of relief, as if his mind was somewhat at ease.

But that was only for a moment. The Pope looked Ethan up and down, then sighed.

“Huh… How did you endure with such a body? The level you’ve achieved now, Ethan, is a level that should absolutely be impossible to reach.”

The Pope took out a vial of holy water from his bosom and sprinkled it on Ethan.

Shaaaah-.

It was an incredible blessing, on a completely different level from the blessings he had received before.

Ethan had always felt an uncomfortable foreign sensation while living with Extinction. Perhaps due to the influence of this foreign sensation, he felt a subtle weight every time he moved his body.

After reaching a certain level, the burden had decreased, but it was clear that it still had a subtle negative effect on his movements.

It was a sensation that he just couldn’t get used to, but thinking he had to get used to it, he tried every day.

But the moment he received the Pope’s blessing, that foreign sensation completely disappeared.

“It will ease your suffering for a while.”

The Pope said that and then checked Ethan’s physical condition once again.

“Hmm, this… This isn’t an ordinary Extinction. It’s quite deep. So deep that it’s difficult to judge.”

The Pope also accurately grasped the Extinction inside Ethan’s body.

“Hmm…”

The Pope poked Ethan’s shoulder, the area around his solar plexus, and his waist area with his index finger, then closed his eyes.

“If it were possible to cure with my abilities, I would have tried to cure it somehow, but unfortunately, this isn’t an ordinary Extinction.”

The Pope also possessed powerful healing authority, though not as much as the Saintess.

After all, he was in the highest position in the Holylight Order. If the Saintess was the reincarnation of the Holylight Goddess, the Pope could be said to be the proxy of the Holylight Goddess.

Moreover, he was the one who heard and carried out her words from the closest place to the goddess.

Because of that, the Pope’s authority was also quite powerful.

“This… well, even I think it would be difficult to lay hands on it.”

The Pope said with a serious expression.

“Ethan, this Extinction inside you isn’t ordinary. Did you perhaps feel that?”

“Yes, I’ve already heard it from His Majesty the Emperor. He said the same thing as Your Holiness. The Extinction inside me isn’t ordinary, but the original source of all Extinction spread across the continent.”

“…That’s exactly the right expression. The original source of Extinction. That’s right, I think so too. The Extinction inside your body is the original, and there are elements that allow us to know this.”

At this point, Ethan was also curious. What made both the Emperor and the Pope think this was the original source of Extinction?

Is there something significantly different from ordinary Extinction?

“I can feel a deep, deep resentment. That aura emanating from Ethan’s body. There’s an endless malice engraved in it.”

Ethan nodded at the words “deep, deep resentment.”

‘Of course, since it was created by those who broke away from the Dawn Council to overturn the status quo.’

It was natural for powerful individuals to sense it, given that an endless malice was constantly emanating as an aura.

‘Powerful individuals are especially sensitive to such things.’

Ethan sighed with a “Hoo.”

With this, he had received the Pope’s confirmation as well.

In essence, it was fair to consider Ethan’s Extinction as the original source.

That’s why people who recognized Ethan’s Extinction couldn’t help but be surprised.

How did he reach this level while carrying such a huge penalty?

‘I’m surprised too.’

Although the power learned in the New World had a big influence, what had an absolute impact on his survival so far was Ethan’s caution.

Ethan had never played MePan this seriously before.

He had played as safely as possible, avoiding risks as much as possible and eliminating all risk factors if there was a possibility of death.

The current Ethan Whiskers was the result of carefully checking and cautiously reviewing every branch point that appeared before him.

‘I struggled too, you know. Using everything I had.’

So he felt very good about having his achievements recognized.

Moreover, it was the Emperor and the Pope, the pinnacles of the Holy Empire, who acknowledged this. Those two people were surprised at Ethan’s achievement, wondering how he came this far in this state.

‘It was worth the effort.’

He didn’t think the Pope would be able to cure this Extinction anyway.

He came to meet the Pope for a different reason.

“Is it impossible for even the Saintess to cure this?”

Ethan asked the most important question.

He needed to confirm the possibility, even indirectly.

If the Pope answered that it was impossible…

‘I’ll have to quickly switch to other methods.’

At this question, the Pope pondered for quite a long time with a troubled expression.

Finally, after much deliberation, the Pope opened his mouth.

“This is a problem that I can’t give a definitive answer about.”

The Pope answered carefully, as if choosing each word.

“If it were an ordinary Extinction, I could confidently say that it can be cured, but since Ethan’s Extinction isn’t ordinary, it’s difficult to give a hasty answer. But I also can’t say it’s impossible. The only one who can answer this would be the Saintess. As I understand it, the divine power of the goddess dwelling in the Saintess has no limits.”

Ethan’s question was quite embarrassing for the Pope.

The Saintess is the person who has received the greatest power from the Holylight Goddess.

Saying that even the Saintess couldn’t do it would be tantamount to admitting that the Holylight Goddess has limitations.

Of course, as the Pope, he couldn’t say that.

Ethan clicked his tongue inwardly.

‘It’ll be difficult to get a definite answer.’

In the end, he had no choice but to meet the Saintess directly.

“I can’t talk at length about the Saintess, but…”

Then the Pope said,

“I can answer definitively about myself. That Extinction is impossible for me to cure completely. But I can make it better than it is now.”

Ethan’s expression changed slightly at the Pope’s words.

He can make it better?

‘Does that mean he can cure it partially?’

At those words, Ethan’s eyes widened for a moment.

“I’ve also been considering numerous methods until now, but I haven’t been able to even touch it yet. That’s why I’ve forcibly raised my physical condition in various ways.”

The Pope nodded at those words.

“That’s right. That disease can’t be treated by ordinary methods.”

The Pope said that and showed his palm.

Shaaaah-.

A pale yellow sphere was created in that hand.

“We can use life conversion. This will slightly weaken Ethan’s Extinction. Even if we cut off the source of the disease, it will regenerate anyway, so we’ll weaken it to the extent that your body can handle.”

“…Life conversion?”

Ethan unconsciously frowned at the Pope’s words.

Life conversion was, as the name suggests, a technique that amplifies power by using life force as collateral.

Because it uses the powerful collateral of life, the amplified power is immense.

Especially if it’s the life force of a powerful person like the Pope, it would be much stronger than the life force of ordinary people, so the effect would be tremendous.

If they do as the Pope says, Ethan will be able to alleviate the symptoms of this Extinction, even if only slightly.

Instead, the Pope will permanently lose that much life force.

‘He’s going to use his lifespan to cure me.’

“Why would you…”

This can’t be considered a normal treatment method. After all, it requires sacrificing one’s lifespan.

To say he would cure him by sacrificing his lifespan.

Ethan was bewildered.

No, he was confused.

“Ethan, you believe in many gods. I can see their shadows behind you. It’s truly interesting. They are all supporting your back. They are lending you their power.”

Pope Frederick, who leads the believers of the Holylight Order, has the important mission of spreading the words of the Holylight Goddess widely.

At the same time, he must evangelize to make more people believe in the Holylight Goddess.

There’s no reason to sacrifice his lifespan for Ethan, who believes in other gods.

And it doesn’t seem like he’s trying to cure Ethan by risking his life while asking him to convert to the Holylight Goddess’s embrace.

‘I don’t understand.’

As Ethan looked at him with eyes mixed with bewilderment and puzzlement, the Pope showed a benevolent smile.

“You look like you don’t understand why I’m going this far.”

“…To be honest, that’s right.”

“The reason is very simple. I am the proxy of the goddess.”

The Pope said.

“The goddess would have done this, so I, her servant, am doing this as well.”

Pope Frederick is the proxy of the goddess. He aims to personally practice goodness and further spread goodness.

“And I’m doing it because I can do it.”

Ethan fell silent at the Pope’s words.

“But I know. There are those who feel burdened by unconditional goodness. Judging by your expression, you’re one of those people, Ethan. Then I’ll set a condition.”

The Pope patted Ethan’s shoulder as if to comfort him.

“Do good.”

Do good.

The Pope’s condition was simple.

“That’s the condition. Do good throughout your life. It doesn’t matter if it’s not done in the name of the goddess. How important is it what god you believe in when it comes to doing good?”

A strange light dwelled in Ethan’s eyes. He couldn’t help but look at the Pope differently.

“…I understand.”

Ethan and the Pope had met for the first time today.

Could Ethan do the same as him?

‘Is this what it means to be the head of a religion?’

It was completely different from the feeling when facing the Emperor.

“Then we’ll start right away. But before that.”

The Pope said.

“Let me tell you why I asked if you were the real Ethan. Ethan Whiskers, have you ever heard of perfect mimicry?”