Chapter 123: Hmph! So even a useless Pope like me is worth your polite words?

Translation by: Weebsread👹

​

Holy See City.

​

Sunlight streamed in through the arched windows, bathing the holy city in a brilliance so dazzling it bordered on otherworldly—an ethereal radiance gilding every white spire and golden dome until the city seemed to glow from within.

​

As always, Pope Selina sat at her desk—her private bastion of order and authority—immersed in the unending current of work that swept over her each day.

​

Reports and petitions from every corner of the realm had piled before her, but she sifted through them with calm efficiency. Outwardly, she betrayed neither doubt nor fatigue.

​

After all, she had been Pope for two years now.

​

Back when she rose as Saintess—admired by all and favored by the previous Pope—her future had felt certain. In some ways, Lady Selina had always carried the capability demanded by her rank.

​

It was only the trappings of office—these endless dealings with scheming nobles—that left her feeling out of her depth.

​

“Back then,” she mused inwardly, “the Saintess’s authority was enough. Nobles would yield, and if I overstepped, someone else would quietly fix my mistakes. But now I must weigh every word, guard the Holy See’s reputation at every turn… It’s exhausting.”

​

If only someone received a direct oracle from the Goddess Alicia, or could shield her from the mounting pressures beyond these walls—how much simpler things would be.

​

Confronted by another day’s stack of petitions, Lady Veya could only sigh to herself.

​

If only the Grand Commander—someone with the power and courage to rebuff visiting nobles—would stand by her side during these confrontations.

​

If only, as Pope, she could manage everything with effortless poise and strength.

​

Yet with Grand Commander Alfron offering little support, most burdens fell to her alone. And however much she hid it, the pressure never truly faded.

​

Come to think of it, how was his investigation into the Cult of the Evil God progressing?

​

Days had passed now without so much as a whisper from the front.

​

A rapid staccato of footsteps echoed from outside her door.

​

Lost in thought, Veya snapped to attention as her most reliable aide, Miss Rennie, entered with her usual brisk composure. She approached with respectful calm, extending a freshly delivered envelope.

​

“Adventurer Lin Wei has completed his mission successfully,” she reported.

​

Veya’s expression softened at the sight of her secretary—so tireless that she had arrived at dawn and worked without pause.

​

Rennie remained by her side, her voice soft, tinged with residual guilt from the night before. “About the mole…I overslept after a late night and only just made it to the scene. Because of that, we failed to catch the culprit. Your Holiness, I owe you a complete report—and take full responsibility.”

​

Too exhausted to make it in time, then?

​

Veya couldn’t fault her. It was hardly rare, given the recent strain.

​

“It’s all right,” Veya replied, nodding her forgiveness with gentle warmth. “You’ve been working yourself ragged lately.”

​

These days, Rennie’s workload nearly equaled her own.

​

As for rooting out a traitor hidden in their midst…such matters were never easily resolved, no matter how many sleepless nights were spent chasing shadows.

​

Perhaps it was time to find a sturdier assistant—someone who could help shoulder some of the pressure off Rennie.

​

After all…her rank was not especially high.

​

And physically, she was on the frail side.

​

“How’s Adventurer Lin Wei doing?”

​

Veya recalled how, just the night before, Lin Wei had played bait to draw out Duke Ous.

​

Though the enchanted ring she’d given him remained dormant, she couldn't help worrying—as his wife, her concern was almost instinctive.

​

Hastily, she shifted the subject from herself and inquired after him instead.

​

“All is well.”

​

“He actually seems to be in excellent condition.”

​

Rennie replied earnestly, recalling the scene from not long ago.

​

To volunteer as bait to complete a mission…truly remarkable.

​

Sure, part of her envied how he had won the attention of the Holy See’s Pope herself.

​

But everything he’d done had proved his worth.

​

So while she might envy his good fortune, she couldn’t help but respect him, too.

​

For Her Holiness, even at the risk of being left out, Rennie would still give her utmost support!

​

“That’s good to hear.”

​

Veya nodded slowly, reading through the letter Lin Wei had sent.

​

But as the careful script came into focus, her expression subtly shifted…

​

Her radiant golden eyes—usually so steady—at last betrayed a flicker of unease.

​

It was true: last night, Duke Ous really had sent assassins after Lin Wei.

​

The killer’s name—Fred—had once been legend among adventurers, a Shadowstream Assassin whispered about in the darkest corners. And it wasn’t just Fred; the entire old Shadowstream squad served Duke Ous now.

​

And more—according to the latest reports, the Duke commanded two other transcendent beings: transcendents who had achieved the apex of legacy.

​

“The Church always suspected Duke Ous harbored several high-tier transcendents…but until now, we never knew how many,” Veya thought, anxiety prickling at her chest.

​

Fred’s report included a list—the targets Duke Ous had marked for assassination.

​

“To think he’d deploy such heavy hitters…Was I too reckless after all?”

​

Apprehension gnawed at her—even knowing Lin Wei wielded powers of his own, enough to survive such an ambush.

​

Yet the unease remained. These weren’t common blades for hire, but inheritors of forbidden legacies. Their reputations alone could chill the blood.

​

And yet…not only had Lin Wei survived, he’d turned the tables—sending the bodies of his would-be assassins back to the Duke’s own doorstep.

​

Was he openly provoking Duke Ous? If so, Lin Wei had just painted a target on his own back.

​

Even Veya would dread being hunted by such a foe.

​

Just a single page filled with secrets was enough to make Veya momentarily forget all else.

​

The second page delved into Fred’s confession—evidence that linked Duke Ous directly to the Cult of the Evil Gods.

​

There could be no further doubt: the missing front-line supplies were indeed stolen by heretical cultists.

​

What’s more, the plundered goods—once laundered into gold—had been traced straight into those very banks’ vaults.

​

“As long as we hand this over to Meilin and have her relentlessly pursue every lead, that should suffice.”

​

“If those detestable nobles haven’t erased their tracks thoroughly, perhaps we can dig up the entire underworld chain feeding on these stolen profits.”

​

“It won’t just be Duke Ous—every corrupt parasite along the route could be exposed and purged…Is that Lin Wei’s goal?”

​

Turning to the back, she scanned the attached analysis and plan of action—unsurprisingly, it mirrored her own deductions perfectly.

​

Veya couldn’t help but allow herself a smug little tune. As expected of me—Lin Wei and I think precisely alike.

​

With this, the supply crisis at the front lines could finally be resolved.

​

All that remained was to smoke out the traitor leaking information from within. Right?

​

“Huh?”

​

Her eyes drifted to the third page—

​

But nothing was as she’d imagined. There was no intelligence, not even the faintest hint about the informant’s identity.

​

Instead, the entire page contained just a single, blunt line:

​

[Work concluded for now. I have a personal matter to attend to—Your Holiness, please grant Veya half a day’s leave so she can meet me at the Imperial Capital’s Magic Academy… Thank you.]

​

He was actually asking her to grant herself a day off?

​

What’s he scheming now? Weren’t those six hours the other day enough for him to wring every last drop from me?

​

Not that I’m truly running on fumes—I don’t need to squeeze out another Lin Wei molecule.

​

And since when did he start thanking this “useless Pope” so politely?

​

“Heh…Well, since you’re working so hard lately.”

​

“I suppose I’ll just have to force myself to go and see you then.”

​

With the supplies now ready, there was no excuse to delay their delivery to the front lines any further.

​

“By the way, Miss Rennie,”

​

Veya’s voice brightened as inspiration struck. “Could you please deliver this transport plan to Vice Captain Guga?”

​

She opened the drawer at her side, removing a folder—the meticulously detailed transport routes she’d arranged earlier.

​

No matter what, there could be no mistakes this time!