Episode 65. Two hearts
Saint Joanna Arc disappeared.
As soon as this fact became known, the Pope’s Office was greatly overturned.
“We have to find it somehow!”
As soon as the Pope’s order was issued, all doors leading to the outside of the Papal Palace were sealed and control over outsiders was strengthened.
‘Who on earth did this?’
And the road to the basement of the Beopwangcheong is blocked by numerous guards and a high-level barrier.
There are only a few people capable of breaking through such an iron wall and taking her away.
And one of the people who might arouse their suspicion is me.
“I never did anything like that.”
Cynthia gave me a skeptical look.
“really?”
The four knights who followed her also did not let down their guard towards me.
“Yeah, there’s no reason for that.”
I leaned back in my chair and raised my teacup with a relaxed expression.
“And I’ve been here the whole time. “How do I know where she is?”
“… … .”
“You came here too, right? “I haven’t moved one step from here since then.”
“Really?”
“If you don’t believe me, ask the waiter.”
She didn’t ask the waiter.
If you were to do something like that right now where I can see you, it would be the same as breaking my trust as a party member.
“Let me believe it. “So you’re saying she’s not the party member you were saving?”
“yes.”
“Then who is it?”
“I can’t tell you yet. But I’m sure she’s not her.”
Although it was a reasonable suspicion from Cynthia’s point of view, I had no contact with Saint Joan of Arc either in my past life or in my current life, and it would have been unthinkable for me to have her in my party.
‘Because the meaning doesn’t match.’
I slowly drank the tea in my cup and nodded.
The conversation ended here.
Cynthia, who had been suspicious of me, left with the knights, and I smiled slightly as I watched them leave.
“good.”
So far, everything is going according to my plan. Now, as time goes by and the Pope, unable to find Joanna Arc, asks me for help.
My goal here is to end.
I whispered, lightly stroking the bug inside my sleeve.
“Rox, start.”
The ‘invincible wall’ that protects Beopwangcheong, which has never been breached by an enemy for a hundred years.
I will capture this place today and take my old comrade away.
* * *
The once noisy Beopwangcheong interior became quiet.
The Pope’s whereabouts remain unknown despite a search led by knights from the Papal Office.
I thought there was only one way to find her who disappeared without a trace.
‘Strange.’
Now the one who carries on their blood is here. I don’t know if that’s true or not, but this person is said to have great talent to the point where he can fight dragons.
“Please call Lord Verdin here.”
It was an inevitable choice for them.
I didn’t want to get help from outsiders because it was a job that had to be completed as quietly as possible, but since they couldn’t solve it on their own, it was the best option.
Besides, isn’t Strange an ally who is hostile to Glazer along with them?
He will definitely listen to our request. With such thoughts, he asked Verdin for help.
And the answer to that was very clear.
“Of course I have to help.”
Verdin readily accepted the Pope’s request.
“Thank you, Lord Verdin.”
“I just have one favor to ask of you.”
“Please?”
“Yes, if I can help you find the whereabouts of Joanna Arc.”
I continued, tapping the Strange family symbol engraved on the armor.
“I would like the Holy Knights of the Pope’s Office to carry out an operation with us.”
“Strange and… “Operation?”
“Yes, I am chasing a demon right now. “To catch that guy, I need a sacred spell that only the knights here can use.”
This is not because we really need the help of the Holy Knights. I’m just asking you to allow me to promote with Cynthia externally in the future.
The Pope also seemed to have sensed my intention as he looked at Cynthia standing next to me and answered.
“Let’s do it.”
“Then, shall we start by checking the spot where Joanna Arc disappeared?”
“Yes, Archbishop Jude will guide you on the way.”
Jude bowed his head with his hands together as if praying. I did the same and bowed down to greet him and asked vaguely.
“I want this matter to move quickly. “Can you please attach some knights to move with me?”
Archbishop Judas said as he brought the two knights behind him to my side.
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“They will help.”
“thank you.”
“Then shall we go right away?”
“Yes, the sooner you start the search, the better.”
Archbishop, Cynthia and two knights who will move with me.
With this, the prerequisites for the perfect ‘new companion escape plan’ were met.
The Pope lightly hit his head, chest, and both shoulders in that order.
“The name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
He spread his hands towards us and gave us a nice smile.
“amen.”
* * *
Guided by Archbishop Judas, we followed the stairs hidden behind the prayer room of the Papal Palace and entered deep underground.
Turf, plod, trudge.
At one point, the sound of footsteps echoing in a quiet space started to get louder.
“Save me, save me. “Please save me!”
“I am not guilty of anything…” . It’s true… . “You’re not really a pagan!”
“mom? Uncle, where is my mom? mom?!”
Desperate screams and cries mixed with moans were heard from beneath my feet.
“Lord Verdin, Miss Cynthia. It must be your first time here. “Please don’t be surprised when you see the people you meet in the future.”
Cynthia asked Judah with anxious eyes.
“What’s down there?”
“… “He is a pagan.”
“pagan?”
“Yes, I fell into Satan’s temptation and was not saved by God. “There is a gathering of very pitiful people.”
“Well, I see.”
“Even if you make eye contact with them, pretend not to notice them. “Those inside are no different from animals.”
“… … .”
Cynthia nodded slightly.
Guided by the archbishop, we arrived at the place where it was pitch-black and there were torches hanging on the wall at regular intervals.
And there were rows of dungeons indicated by slanted shadows in the pale light.
Kang!
Someone shouted from inside a prison lined with iron bars.
“Please save me! “I really don’t know anything!”
A man whose skin had swelled due to some kind of illness sobbed and prayed.
The archbishop covered his mouth and nose with his sleeve and waved his hand in the air. The knight who followed him kicked the iron bars and knocked them down.
Kaang!
“Shut up! How dare you talk to the archbishop about a heretic topic!”
The man who was crying fell down from shock.
dump.
The child behind him cautiously approached and looked at Cynthia.
“mom… . Where is mom… . Where is my mom… ?”
Cynthia’s eyes shook greatly. She could not say anything and just looked at her child’s face.
Jouda lightly grabbed her shoulder, pushed her forward with strength, and whispered softly.
“Go inside. You don’t have to pay attention to the whispers of those satanic people.”
Cynthia swallowed her saliva and then answered, avoiding the child’s gaze.
“yes.”
I shook my head as I looked at their actions. What on earth is God so afraid of that they imprison him in a place like this?
If pagans were truly evil beings in this world, they would definitely have been exterminated through the Holy Knights.
What is the reason for putting them in this prison and causing them pain?
Even in my past life, there was no one who could give me an answer to this. When you ask them why they are in prison, they just repeat that they are being punished for betraying God.
‘Who is God?’
No, what do you mean?
If the being who brought me back to life is the same God they talk about, I no longer want to do his will.
By visiting this place, the resolution of my past life was once again engraved in my mind.
“This is the place.”
The archbishop arrived at the end of the dungeon and tapped his finger on the open iron bars.
Inside, there were fifteen loose iron chains and five barriers drawn on the floor.
‘Judas, you’re even more amazing than I thought.’
Even though there were layers of barriers created with spells of 7th circle or higher, they were all destroyed and taken out.
Even I cannot easily break such a strong barrier. There are very few people who can do everything without being detected by the guards.
‘what.’
Although there is one person among my colleagues in my past life who could do something like that. There are no conditions to meet them yet, and there is an appropriate recruiting order.
“What time did Joanna Arc disappear?”
Instead of the archbishop, the platoon commander of the guard answered on his behalf.
“It was dawn, but I couldn’t figure out the exact time.”
“Then who came into the dungeon early yesterday morning?”
“There wasn’t a single one.”
“Was there no substitute?”
“Shiftee? “Are you talking about someone in our guard?”
“yes.”
The security platoon leader looked uncomfortable. Just by looking at his face, you can tell that he has an expression that asks why he is asking such a question.
When the archbishop saw his reaction, he struck the ground hard with his staff.
Pop!
“Platoon leader, why aren’t you answering?”
“Archbishop Judah, is it possible that there is a traitor in our unit?”
“stop! Platoon leader, don’t talk nonsense and answer the questions. Was there a shift or not, as Lord Verdin said?”
“… “There was.”
I nodded slightly as if everyone was watching and then asked the platoon leader.
“Then, could you please call here all the people who changed and those before their shift?”
“No, Lord Verdin. Isn’t that too much? Could it be that they would have released the prisoner Joanna Arc? “They are the ones who have guarded this dungeon until now!”
Of course not.
Individual guards don’t have the power to do such a thing, so even if they planned something like that, what would be the benefit?
‘but.’
By instilling doubt in them, I could buy myself time to get my old comrade out here.
“Archbishop Judah, I think I should just go back. It’s not difficult to just summon the soldiers, but if they can’t do it. How will you proceed?”
The archbishop glared at the platoon leader with an angry face.
“Have them come in now!”
Judah’s cries echoed throughout the dungeon. The platoon leader trembled all over as if he was frightened, then quickly saluted and walked away.
“Oh, I understand!”
As soon as he left, I dropped the bug he had hidden in his sleeve into the cell.
widely.
No one witnessed this. It was completely dark except for the area where the torch shined, and the insect that was killing everything crawled to a corner and hid itself without making a sound.
‘It is perfect.’
If everyone here gets out of prison like this. My plan ends perfectly.
“Archbishop.”
“yes?”
“First of all, I have verified all the information available here. “Let’s check the guards that the platoon leader mentioned earlier from outside.”
“Outside?”
“Yes, I guess it’s because I feel uncomfortable after being in the same space as heretics for a long time.”
“… ah! Okay, then let’s go outside.”
The archbishop smiled brightly and led us out of the dungeon. On the way out, people called heretics cried out for help, but we bowed our heads, pretended not to notice, and left.
‘wait.’
Light will come to you soon.
So I left the dungeon of the Pope’s Office and walked to the barracks where the guards were gathered at dawn.
fantasy,
