Overgeared Chapter 265:
Chapter 265
A golden ceiling and white exterior walls . Three big and ornate buildings like palaces were situated on the hills of Rolling . They were in harmony with the forest and landscape . There was a small waterfall behind each building . A golden statue of Rebecca rose in the center .
It was the center of the Rebecca Church, the most important religion on the continent . This was the Vatican .
“Isabel-chan!”
Damian returned to the Vatican and sought out Isabel . It was to check her status .
“…”
Isabel’s health hadn’t improved . No, it was worse . She seemed to have completely lost her hearing and vision . There was no reaction when he called from right beside her .
“Cough! Cough!”
She coughed up blood . The crumbly platinum hair was pulled off with a single touch, and the skin was pulled tightly over her skull . Isabel sat on a shabby bed like a doll without a soul .
Damian’s eyes crumbled at the sight .
“Dammit… Why is this room always cold…?”
“You came . ”
A priest with a faint presence approached . His emotionless eyes gave off an ominous feeling but unlike his appearance, he could be trusted .
It was Cassus . He had been taking care of Isabel when Damian wasn’t present .
“The mission to destroy the Yatan Church found in the west of the empire… I thought you would finish it in 40 days and come back . ”
It was a week later than expected . Goddess’ Agent, Damian . Maybe his skills didn’t meet everyone’s expectations?
Damian explained to the concerned Cassus . “I accomplished my mission more than a month ago . I was delaying my stay in the Eternal Kingdom . ”
More than a month ago? He spent only a few days destroying one of the Yatan Church’s temples? Cassus felt thrilled .
“But why the Eternal Kingdom…?”
“I met Grid . ”
“Grid!”
The only person able to seal Lifael’s Spear . In the past, he saved the Rebecca Church by bringing down the corrupt Pope Drevigo .
“He’s coming here now . ” Just as he did in the past, he would save Isabel . She would regain her beautiful smile . “I will start competing with Pascal in that gap . ”
There was 42 days left until the pope election . Damian thought this was sufficient . Thanks to the class effect of Goddess’ Agent, many members of the church believed in and followed him .
‘I will base the campaign on them, defeat Pascal, and become the pope . ’
Pascal from the Judar church was the number one candidate . He was politically strong and experienced . He also had the honor of being 5th Pope Franz’s direct descendant . His father was even an earl of the Saharan Empire .
‘But he’s corrupt . ’ He wanted to use the Rebecca Church to strengthen his family’s power . ‘If he becomes the pope, the Rebecca Church will walk a worse path than when Drevigo was in charge . ’
Many members of the church already knew this truth . Those members would choose Damian for the future of the church .
An innocent Damian believed so .
***
The elders assembly .
They were the agency that acted on behalf of the empty vacant pope position . It consisted of 23 of the highest ranking elders .
They summoned Damian and ordered . “There’s a report that the Yatan followers are active in the Gauss Kingdom . Goddess’ Agent, Damian . Immediately go to the Gauss Kingdom, then search and destroy the Yatan Temple . ”
“There are 42 days left until the pope election . I am a pope candidate . You want me to leave during such an important period in the campaign?”
Damian was 30 years old . He lived his life in his own way so he lacked social experience . He wasn’t accustomed with such irrational practices .
The elders laughed at his naive self . “You can’t do your duties because of the election? You’re confessing your own incompetence . ”
“This is a task you should do as a dutiful son… Tsk, how pathetic . ”
“You shouldn’t cause trouble with your work just because you are registered as a pope candidate . Why don’t you just resign your candidacy?”
“Or Isabel will do the work . ”
Being ignored, mocked, provoked and looking at him with contempt . It was obvious that the elders assembly were hostile towards Damian .
‘They are fully with Pascal . But this is still too much . ’
Damian was honestly shocked . He was afraid since they opposed him so plainly .
‘I was thinking too easily . ’
Damian was doing Isabel’s missions to save her . On the other hand, the elders assembly were trying to get rid of Isabel . They wanted Isabel to die so they could find a new master for Lifael’s Spear .
‘In this situation…’
He needed to neglect the campaign for Isabel’s mission? If Isabel performed this task, then she would die . He couldn’t allow it .
Damian wanted to become a pope for Rebecca’s Daughters . He couldn’t throw Isabel away just because of the election .
“…I understand . I will go to the Gauss Kingdom immediately . ”
He was desperate . This mission included searching for the temple . It was doubtful if he could find the Yatan Church before the pope election day .
‘In the first place, this temple might not even exist . ’
It was an obvious trap . But he had no choice . It was impossible to disobey the command if he wanted to protect Isabel .
‘Isabel needs to survive until Grid arrives and seals Lifael’s Spear . ’
Four days . From Reidan to the Vatican, that was how long it took running nonstop . Grid had sent a whisper yesterday that he was leaving Reidan, so Isabel needed to survive three more days .
‘Please . ’
Step step .
Damian left the assembly room with powerless steps . He inwardly begged .
‘Please save Isabel-chan, Grid . ’
By the time he got back, Isabel’s health would be restored . He would be able to see her smile .
Creak .
The gigantic door of the room opened by itself . It seemed to be urging Damian to leave . The moment that Damian was about to walk out the door .
“Don’t go . ”
“…!”
A voice he wanted to hear was heard from outside the door . Damian’s gaze moved upwards from the floor .
“Isabel-chan…”
She held Lifael’s Spear in her hand and blocked the door . She was standing straight on her own . Her eyes were also clear .
This was the power of White Transformation . The transcendental divine power was restoring her broken body .
Of course, this was only temporary . Now that the spear was in her hand, Isabel would be in greater pain than before . No, she would die .
“Why…? Why? Why are you here?”
Three days . She could’ve lived if she waited three days .
“So why…?”
As Damian felt frustration and despair, Isabel smiled .
“Thank you again, Damian . ” She had dimly heard his cry . She knew that he struggled alone for them . “You must become the pope . ”
It must happen . If Pascal became the pope, there would be more miserable children like her .
“Don’t you know this? Damian, you can’t miss the opportunity to become pope because of me . ”
“…”
Damian was well aware of this . If he didn’t want the second or third Isabel to be born, he must become the pope . Now was the time for Isabel to sacrifice herself .
‘But I don’t want you to die . ’
Damian was confused .
Isabel stroked his head as he hesitated .
“I will go to the Gauss Kingdom . In the meantime, you should become the pope . Please succeed for Rin, Luna, and my successor . Be sure to protect those children . ”
She stroked his hair . It was a bony hand . But it was warm . Tears formed in Damian’s eyes as he felt Isabel’s hand .
Then a man laughed at him . “Someone who wants to become pope is shedding tears in front of others?”
It was Pascal . He touched his thin mustache and ridiculed Damian .
“You truly don’t have the dignity of a pope . It will be a disgrace to the church if this crybaby becomes the pope . Isn’t that right, Elders?”
“That’s right . ”
“Damian is a small bowl . ”
“The pope must be Pascal . ”
The 23 elders chimed in to support Pascal . They mocked Damian . Then Isabel glared at them .
“Daring to disparage the Goddess’ Agent, isn’t this no different from blasphemy?”
“Your attitude is bad . Isabel, the Yatan Church is your enemy, not us . ”
Pascal approached Isabel who was holding Lifael’s Spear .
“Know your subject . You have forgotten your position . You are Goddess Rebecca’s daughter only because you can handle the divine artifact of our church . You are only a tool . A weapon of war to fight for the goddess and our church . ”
Pascal’s eyes were as cold as ice as he faced Isabel . It didn’t seem like the eyes of a person .
“Just like this spear, you are a weapon of slaughter . Don’t think and don’t talk . Do you understand?”
“Shut up!”
Damian exclaimed . He wanted to beat up Pascal right away . But if he did that, he would be immediately kicked out of the church . It would ruin everything .
Damian clenched his fists as Pascal looked at him .
“Rebecca’s Daughter, who you love so much, is being abused in front of you . But you are swallowing your anger? You are just a coward who can only shout . ”
“Put away that cheap provocation . ”
“…!”
Damian, Isabel and Pascal . The eyes of everyone present widened .
“You are having a lot of fun after grabbing the weapon point . Is it fun to harass people?”
180 cm tall with a solid body . Black hair and sharp eyes . The eyes and voice that were filled with confidence .
Pagma’s Descendant, Grid . He was walking from the other end of the hall .
“Multiple people are bullying one person? Huh?”
“W-Why are you here?”
Pascal and the elders were disturbed by the emergence of an unexpected person . Isabel was stunned .
“Grid!”
Damian smiled widely . Grid’s appearance was exquisite timing and he patted Damian’s shoulders .
“You endured well . ”
Grid arrived at the Vatican much faster than expected thanks to Huroi’s drake . He declared to the frowning Pascal and elders .
“From now on, I am behind Damian . ”
“…Behind?”
Pascal couldn’t properly understand Grid’s words . Huroi translated it for him . “As of this time, I, Duke Grid of the Eternal Kingdom, am the guardian of Damian, the Goddess’ Agent . ”
Orator Huroi’s voice was filled with charisma . It pierced through the spacious building and made Pascal and the elders feel sick .
Grid declared, “Don’t bother him . Or you will be scolded by me . ”
“If you ridicule pope candidate Damian again, you will be punished accordingly . ”
“Do you have any complaints? Then bring it on, you masses of experience . I’m in a different position from Damian, so I can deal with you as I like . ”
“…”
It was hard to wrap their heads around it . Even Huroi was speechless as silence filled the room .
A golden ceiling and white exterior walls . Three big and ornate buildings like palaces were situated on the hills of Rolling . They were in harmony with the forest and landscape . There was a small waterfall behind each building . A golden statue of Rebecca rose in the center .
It was the center of the Rebecca Church, the most important religion on the continent . This was the Vatican .
“Isabel-chan!”
Damian returned to the Vatican and sought out Isabel . It was to check her status .
“…”
Isabel’s health hadn’t improved . No, it was worse . She seemed to have completely lost her hearing and vision . There was no reaction when he called from right beside her .
“Cough! Cough!”
She coughed up blood . The crumbly platinum hair was pulled off with a single touch, and the skin was pulled tightly over her skull . Isabel sat on a shabby bed like a doll without a soul .
Damian’s eyes crumbled at the sight .
“Dammit… Why is this room always cold…?”
“You came . ”
A priest with a faint presence approached . His emotionless eyes gave off an ominous feeling but unlike his appearance, he could be trusted .
It was Cassus . He had been taking care of Isabel when Damian wasn’t present .
“The mission to destroy the Yatan Church found in the west of the empire… I thought you would finish it in 40 days and come back . ”
It was a week later than expected . Goddess’ Agent, Damian . Maybe his skills didn’t meet everyone’s expectations?
Damian explained to the concerned Cassus . “I accomplished my mission more than a month ago . I was delaying my stay in the Eternal Kingdom . ”
More than a month ago? He spent only a few days destroying one of the Yatan Church’s temples? Cassus felt thrilled .
“But why the Eternal Kingdom…?”
“I met Grid . ”
“Grid!”
The only person able to seal Lifael’s Spear . In the past, he saved the Rebecca Church by bringing down the corrupt Pope Drevigo .
“He’s coming here now . ” Just as he did in the past, he would save Isabel . She would regain her beautiful smile . “I will start competing with Pascal in that gap . ”
There was 42 days left until the pope election . Damian thought this was sufficient . Thanks to the class effect of Goddess’ Agent, many members of the church believed in and followed him .
‘I will base the campaign on them, defeat Pascal, and become the pope . ’
Pascal from the Judar church was the number one candidate . He was politically strong and experienced . He also had the honor of being 5th Pope Franz’s direct descendant . His father was even an earl of the Saharan Empire .
‘But he’s corrupt . ’ He wanted to use the Rebecca Church to strengthen his family’s power . ‘If he becomes the pope, the Rebecca Church will walk a worse path than when Drevigo was in charge . ’
Many members of the church already knew this truth . Those members would choose Damian for the future of the church .
An innocent Damian believed so .
***
The elders assembly .
They were the agency that acted on behalf of the empty vacant pope position . It consisted of 23 of the highest ranking elders .
They summoned Damian and ordered . “There’s a report that the Yatan followers are active in the Gauss Kingdom . Goddess’ Agent, Damian . Immediately go to the Gauss Kingdom, then search and destroy the Yatan Temple . ”
“There are 42 days left until the pope election . I am a pope candidate . You want me to leave during such an important period in the campaign?”
Damian was 30 years old . He lived his life in his own way so he lacked social experience . He wasn’t accustomed with such irrational practices .
The elders laughed at his naive self . “You can’t do your duties because of the election? You’re confessing your own incompetence . ”
“This is a task you should do as a dutiful son… Tsk, how pathetic . ”
“You shouldn’t cause trouble with your work just because you are registered as a pope candidate . Why don’t you just resign your candidacy?”
“Or Isabel will do the work . ”
Being ignored, mocked, provoked and looking at him with contempt . It was obvious that the elders assembly were hostile towards Damian .
‘They are fully with Pascal . But this is still too much . ’
Damian was honestly shocked . He was afraid since they opposed him so plainly .
‘I was thinking too easily . ’
Damian was doing Isabel’s missions to save her . On the other hand, the elders assembly were trying to get rid of Isabel . They wanted Isabel to die so they could find a new master for Lifael’s Spear .
‘In this situation…’
He needed to neglect the campaign for Isabel’s mission? If Isabel performed this task, then she would die . He couldn’t allow it .
Damian wanted to become a pope for Rebecca’s Daughters . He couldn’t throw Isabel away just because of the election .
“…I understand . I will go to the Gauss Kingdom immediately . ”
He was desperate . This mission included searching for the temple . It was doubtful if he could find the Yatan Church before the pope election day .
‘In the first place, this temple might not even exist . ’
It was an obvious trap . But he had no choice . It was impossible to disobey the command if he wanted to protect Isabel .
‘Isabel needs to survive until Grid arrives and seals Lifael’s Spear . ’
Four days . From Reidan to the Vatican, that was how long it took running nonstop . Grid had sent a whisper yesterday that he was leaving Reidan, so Isabel needed to survive three more days .
‘Please . ’
Step step .
Damian left the assembly room with powerless steps . He inwardly begged .
‘Please save Isabel-chan, Grid . ’
By the time he got back, Isabel’s health would be restored . He would be able to see her smile .
Creak .
The gigantic door of the room opened by itself . It seemed to be urging Damian to leave . The moment that Damian was about to walk out the door .
“Don’t go . ”
“…!”
A voice he wanted to hear was heard from outside the door . Damian’s gaze moved upwards from the floor .
“Isabel-chan…”
She held Lifael’s Spear in her hand and blocked the door . She was standing straight on her own . Her eyes were also clear .
This was the power of White Transformation . The transcendental divine power was restoring her broken body .
Of course, this was only temporary . Now that the spear was in her hand, Isabel would be in greater pain than before . No, she would die .
“Why…? Why? Why are you here?”
Three days . She could’ve lived if she waited three days .
“So why…?”
As Damian felt frustration and despair, Isabel smiled .
“Thank you again, Damian . ” She had dimly heard his cry . She knew that he struggled alone for them . “You must become the pope . ”
It must happen . If Pascal became the pope, there would be more miserable children like her .
“Don’t you know this? Damian, you can’t miss the opportunity to become pope because of me . ”
“…”
Damian was well aware of this . If he didn’t want the second or third Isabel to be born, he must become the pope . Now was the time for Isabel to sacrifice herself .
‘But I don’t want you to die . ’
Damian was confused .
Isabel stroked his head as he hesitated .
“I will go to the Gauss Kingdom . In the meantime, you should become the pope . Please succeed for Rin, Luna, and my successor . Be sure to protect those children . ”
She stroked his hair . It was a bony hand . But it was warm . Tears formed in Damian’s eyes as he felt Isabel’s hand .
Then a man laughed at him . “Someone who wants to become pope is shedding tears in front of others?”
It was Pascal . He touched his thin mustache and ridiculed Damian .
“You truly don’t have the dignity of a pope . It will be a disgrace to the church if this crybaby becomes the pope . Isn’t that right, Elders?”
“That’s right . ”
“Damian is a small bowl . ”
“The pope must be Pascal . ”
The 23 elders chimed in to support Pascal . They mocked Damian . Then Isabel glared at them .
“Daring to disparage the Goddess’ Agent, isn’t this no different from blasphemy?”
“Your attitude is bad . Isabel, the Yatan Church is your enemy, not us . ”
Pascal approached Isabel who was holding Lifael’s Spear .
“Know your subject . You have forgotten your position . You are Goddess Rebecca’s daughter only because you can handle the divine artifact of our church . You are only a tool . A weapon of war to fight for the goddess and our church . ”
Pascal’s eyes were as cold as ice as he faced Isabel . It didn’t seem like the eyes of a person .
“Just like this spear, you are a weapon of slaughter . Don’t think and don’t talk . Do you understand?”
“Shut up!”
Damian exclaimed . He wanted to beat up Pascal right away . But if he did that, he would be immediately kicked out of the church . It would ruin everything .
Damian clenched his fists as Pascal looked at him .
“Rebecca’s Daughter, who you love so much, is being abused in front of you . But you are swallowing your anger? You are just a coward who can only shout . ”
“Put away that cheap provocation . ”
“…!”
Damian, Isabel and Pascal . The eyes of everyone present widened .
“You are having a lot of fun after grabbing the weapon point . Is it fun to harass people?”
180 cm tall with a solid body . Black hair and sharp eyes . The eyes and voice that were filled with confidence .
Pagma’s Descendant, Grid . He was walking from the other end of the hall .
“Multiple people are bullying one person? Huh?”
“W-Why are you here?”
Pascal and the elders were disturbed by the emergence of an unexpected person . Isabel was stunned .
“Grid!”
Damian smiled widely . Grid’s appearance was exquisite timing and he patted Damian’s shoulders .
“You endured well . ”
Grid arrived at the Vatican much faster than expected thanks to Huroi’s drake . He declared to the frowning Pascal and elders .
“From now on, I am behind Damian . ”
“…Behind?”
Pascal couldn’t properly understand Grid’s words . Huroi translated it for him . “As of this time, I, Duke Grid of the Eternal Kingdom, am the guardian of Damian, the Goddess’ Agent . ”
Orator Huroi’s voice was filled with charisma . It pierced through the spacious building and made Pascal and the elders feel sick .
Grid declared, “Don’t bother him . Or you will be scolded by me . ”
“If you ridicule pope candidate Damian again, you will be punished accordingly . ”
“Do you have any complaints? Then bring it on, you masses of experience . I’m in a different position from Damian, so I can deal with you as I like . ”
“…”
It was hard to wrap their heads around it . Even Huroi was speechless as silence filled the room .