Chapter 156: Me? The Demon Lord! Chosen by Divine Decree to Become Pope?!

Translation by: Weebsread👹

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“The Holy See’s... Grand Commander Meilin?”

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Her name alone was enough to make the bravest soul quail—a legend whose fame and dread cut deeper than any blade.

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Now, she stood before him: cloaked in radiant thunder, eyes blazing like twin torches. Randy, already gravely wounded, felt terror seep into his bones—not from the overwhelming force she’d just unleashed, but from the sheer gravity of her presence.

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Since the fall of the Dawnstar Pope and much of the Holy See’s upper echelon at the front lines, Meilin had risen naturally to command the Judgement Knights. She had shed the old, stately style of judgment in favor of swift and ruthless terror, striking down evil and heresy wherever it lurked.

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And now—this living legend had descended upon a ruined border village, its people slaughtered, its homes in ashes.

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What, in the Goddess’s name, was the Holy See planning?

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Were they truly prepared to go to war with His Grace, the Duke?

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“It seems you have nothing to say for yourself.”

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Meilin’s voice sliced through the night—cold, commanding, absolute. Her sacred golden gaze swept past Randy and settled on the distant village. Even from afar, her transcendent sight took in every detail.

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The land was scorched and gutted. Survivors—bloodied, traumatized—huddled at the village entrance, peering out in fear. Corpses, unburied, were stacked beneath makeshift shelters. In the darkness, the villagers’ eyes were wide with terror, but the moment they sensed the holy presence, their hands rose instinctively in prayer.

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“Duke Ous—slaughtered this village for his own profit, hoarding wealth in defiance of law.”

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“Conspired with the Cult of the Evil God to attack Holy See supply lines. Attempted the murder of the Holy See’s Secretary.”

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With each charge, Meilin’s voice grew colder, more unyielding.

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If her original decision to investigate near the City-State of Brook had been a matter of duty as a Judgement Knight, now, with the evidence laid bare, Duke Ous was already condemned in her heart.

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The only question was—how had such evil escaped her notice until now? It was Selena who had tipped her off, which had led, indirectly, to Commander Alfron’s ambush. Even now, there was no word of his fate.

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“Were all these crimes committed on Duke Ous’s orders?” Meilin’s gaze was sharp as a blade, fixed on Randy—now utterly subdued, barely clinging to life. The holy power surging through his body had shredded his insides, leaving him with only the faintest spark of vitality. Even the regenerative powers of a Peak-Tier Champion were powerless under the sacred light. He was kept alive—for now—only to speak.

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“Yes, it was all on Duke Ous’s orders... That’s right, he ordered everything!” Randy gasped. “I confess! I’ll tell the Holy See everything—I can testify against Duke Ous! I’m still useful!”

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From the distance, more figures wreathed in holy light approached, encircling the area. As the Knights of the Holy See closed in, Randy finally grasped the full weight of his predicament. His survival instinct screamed.

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Duke Ous is finished. There’s no escape from this.

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The Holy See would never mobilize such force for a mere demonic incursion. For Meilin herself to appear—the message was clear: Duke Ous’s end had come.

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“It’s not that I, Randy, lack loyalty—it’s that the Holy See is determined to destroy Duke Ous. Better to save myself than die with him.”

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A Peak-Tier Champion like Randy made his decision in a heartbeat. He had clawed his way to this level; to die here, his name forgotten, was intolerable. If he survived, perhaps he could pay his respects to Duke Ous in secret. Forgive me, Your Grace.

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Suddenly, pain and holy thunder tore through him. Randy looked down in shock. Meilin hadn’t hesitated; the Holy Lance had already pierced his heart, radiant light erupting from the wound. His last thread of life unraveled, fading into oblivion.

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“Confession is sufficient. There’s no need for testimony,” Meilin said coldly. “My word is evidence enough.”

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“Grand Commander Meilin,” a Judgement Knight called, arriving with the others. None flinched at the execution; it was routine, expected.

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“The local Governor and Tax Collector are under our control. Judgement Knights are securing this village and two others attacked nearby. The clergy at the Border Wall have been notified—they’ll arrive within the hour.”

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Meilin nodded, her voice devoid of emotion. “Bring all remaining traitors for judgment. Execute those who warrant death on the spot. I’ll sign the Tribunal records upon my return.”

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“Yes, ma’am!” the lead knight saluted, then turned to his duties. Order began to settle over the chaos.

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With the business concluded, Meilin finally turned to Lin Wei.

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He hadn’t changed at all since she’d last seen him months ago—still exuding that lazy calm, utterly unafraid of the holy radiance. At his side stood Iresha, the red-haired mage from the Hero’s Party, whom Meilin vaguely recalled.

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“Lin Wei... it’s been a long time.”

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“It has, Grand Commander Meilin. Never thought we’d meet again under these circumstances.” Lin Wei nodded, glancing at Randy’s corpse. No wonder Veya had once said that only Meilin’s presence kept Duke Ous from openly threatening the Holy See. Seeing her now, he understood her reputation.

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“A Peak-Tier Champion like him might have been useful—like those guards disguised as demons. I thought the Holy See would drag them back for interrogation, not execute them on the spot.”

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Meilin’s tone was unflinching. “Evil of that sort has no value. Any so-called usefulness is just a bargaining chip for their lives. If I never intended to grant it, then it’s meaningless.”

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“He confessed that Duke Ous masterminded everything. The evidence is irrefutable; there’s no reason to let him live. When you apprehended Duke Ous, didn’t you act without proof?”

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She already knows what happened last night. Well, this is how a Judgement Knight should be—what you see is evidence; there’s no need for lengthy investigations or deals. If Veya were half as decisive, Duke Ous wouldn’t dare set foot in the Holy See.

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But it’s not too late. I’ll help her clean house, eventually.

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“Seems we’re of the same mind.”

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“Mm. With this, Duke Ous’s fate is sealed.” Meilin nodded, her golden gaze never leaving Lin Wei.

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After a moment, she asked, “I heard your Holy Radiance was bestowed by the Dawnstar Pope himself?”

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“May I see it?”

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“Huh? Sure... So Selena told you?” Lin Wei shrugged, conjuring a slender blade of Holy Radiance in his palm.

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The light he summoned was purer, more sacred than anything an ordinary cleric could manifest—imbued with a quality that felt as if the will of an entire world resided within. Justice. Protection. Order. Anyone who beheld it would feel an instinctive trust, even reverence—tinged with the divine.

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“It’s true. Only my teacher could have bestowed holy light of such purity,” Meilin murmured. “You truly were the last human he saw before he died.”

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“If only the Dawnstar Pope hadn’t been so gravely wounded, beset by demons... If we’d managed to get him out, perhaps he’d have survived.”

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Well, that’s pretty much true, Lin Wei thought. Even if the Dawnstar Pope came back to life, he’d have to admit: “Yes, that’s my handiwork. I blessed the Demon Lord with Holy Radiance. I even recommended him for the Holy See! Isn’t it absurd?”

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For a fleeting moment, Meilin’s icy mask cracked—a rare glimmer of relief softening her features. Seeing Lin Wei’s confusion, she explained quietly, “My teacher was already dying. He relinquished his divine power, returned the Goddess’s Legacy to the Holy See. The Demon Lord killed him soon after. Even if you’d tried to save him, it would have been meaningless. That you lived to join the Holy See... is the best outcome.”

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Her words were unexpectedly gentle, a stark contrast to her earlier ruthlessness.

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A shimmering veil of holy light fell, isolating them from Iresha, who blinked in surprise as her companions suddenly became strangers.

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“My teacher always longed for a true successor,” Meilin continued, her voice softer than Lin Wei had ever heard. “He said I could never be Pope. I’d make such a mess that the Empire would think we were planning a coup. I was better suited as Grand Commander, protecting the Holy See from the front lines.”

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She drew a steady breath. That was why she’d become a Judgement Knight—executing evil in the shadows, upholding the Holy See’s justice.

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“Selena... is even less suited for the papacy. She tries too hard to do right by the Holy See, worries over every mistake, and ends up creating chaos. She’s best as an assistant, with someone stronger behind her.”

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Meilin would never say these things to anyone else. But standing before Lin Wei, the last soul blessed by her teacher, she couldn’t help but treat him as kin.

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“So when Selena was chosen by Alicia’s divine decree, and the Holy See descended into chaos just as my teacher predicted... I sometimes wonder, if he’d found a true successor, what would the Holy See look like? Would they have grown into his strength, commanding the three great knightly orders and the Archbishop, leading us into a brighter future?”

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The old Pope truly saw people clearly, Lin Wei thought. Veya wasn’t weak—just terrified of being too forceful and damaging the Holy See. But what was this talk of successors, of commanding the three knightly orders? Why say all this to me, an ordinary man?

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A sense of foreboding crept over Lin Wei as Meilin’s gaze grew grave—unyielding, resolute.

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“Grand Commander Meilin, what are you planning?”

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I’m the Demon Lord! Nothing has ever made me nervous. But now, with the Grand Commander of Judgement Knights staring me down, I can’t help but feel... uneasy.

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“The Archbishop will soon recover and return. After we retake the Northern Fortress, the Grand Commander of Sacred Light will also return. Then... I will petition Goddess Alicia to launch a Great Inquisition and strip Selena of her papal title.”

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What?! If Veya loses the papacy, she’ll be just another cleric! Who would become the next Pope?

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Wait... there’s a third candidate. The Dawnstar Pope’s half-successor—me.

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“You’re not planning to nominate me as Pope, are you?” Lin Wei blurted, horrified.

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That was more shocking than if the Demon God’s Divinity had returned as a new Demon Lord. “You can’t be serious. You’d rather ask the former Demon Lord to lead the Holy See?”

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“Mm... I am serious.”

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There it was—the most terrifying answer of all.

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“It sounds mad, but I mean it,” Meilin said, utterly sincere. “Originally, I planned to nominate the Archbishop with the other Grand Commanders. It’s not ideal, but better than Selena, who’s leading us toward ruin. But now, seeing you, I realize you’re the best choice.”

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“I haven’t even joined the Holy See! I’m not clergy, I have no reputation!”

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“You can build it. The Holy See has records of everything you’ve accomplished since arriving in the Imperial Capital: resolving the goblin disaster, fulfilling supply orders, crushing the Cult of the Evil God at the Imperial Magic Academy, outmaneuvering Duke Ous, killing Shadowstream Assassin Fred and forcing him to name names, alerting me to the City-State of Brook... In just half a month, you’ve achieved more than most do in a lifetime. If the Holy See publicizes your deeds, your prestige will follow.”

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Lin Wei blinked. When you put it that way, I really have done a lot. And every one of those feats highlights the Holy See’s strength... Announcing them would certainly build credibility.

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“But that’s still not enough to make me Pope. Selena isn’t a bad Pope—just inexperienced and overwhelmed. Now that I’m here to help, she’ll improve. She just needs time, right?”

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That sounded suspiciously like something Veya herself would say. Am I becoming more like her without realizing it?

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“It’s enough. Once word spreads that you’re the Dawnstar Pope’s successor, everything will fall into place,” Meilin insisted. “If my teacher used his dying breath to awaken your Holy Radiance, he must have seen your potential. I trust his judgment above all. With Commander Alfron and two knightly orders behind you, plus Alicia’s divine decree, you’ll have all the support you need. Will you try?”

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But becoming Pope isn’t just about support—it requires Alicia’s divine decree. Using a Great Inquisition to depose a Pope has never happened before. But perhaps... the future will unfold just as the old Pope foresaw.

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“No way!” Lin Wei snapped, seeing Meilin’s resolve. “I have no interest in trying. I’ve already promised Selena I’ll join the Holy See and help her lead it to a better future. I refuse your proposal, completely.”

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“And if you and the other high priests attempt a Great Inquisition, I’ll do everything in my power to stop you.”

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He shattered the holy barrier with a wave of his hand.

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“I’ll pretend this conversation never happened, Grand Commander Meilin. I was about to ask about your progress at the City-State of Brook, but now it’s irrelevant.”

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Iresha, startled by the burst of light, barely had time to react before Lin Wei took her hand and lifted off—not at breakneck speed, but gently, so she could keep pace.

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“I’ll leave the aftermath and intelligence gathering to you, Grand Commander. I’m returning to the Holy See to deal with Duke Ous.”

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Besides, as the Demon Lord, I wouldn’t dare seek Alicia’s divine approval. And to overthrow Veya only to take her place? That’s pointless.

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“Well then, I’ll be off, Grand Commander Meilin. See you at the Holy See!”

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With that, Lin Wei shielded Iresha’s eyes and shot into the sky, vanishing in a flash of light.

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Meilin remained where she was, Holy Lance in hand, staring into the now tranquil night.

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“I... will not give up,” she murmured. “For the Holy See, and for my teacher’s chosen successor. No matter what, I will never give up.”