Chapter 41 - The Pontiff
12 min read ·
Aiden glared up at the woman who continued to maintain her silence. The maid glanced around blankly before speaking in a vacant voice.
“Um, what do you mean? Have I done something wrong—”
Feeling the vein on his forehead bulge even further, Aiden drew a deep breath.
“Dame Stella.”
“... Yes?”
“Would you step back for a moment?”
“...?”
The moment she stepped back at his request, Aiden pulled a revolver from his coat. He always carried it, just in case.
“... Aiden? What—”
Before Stella could even ask her question, a vow swiftly formed on his lips.
“Law, I swear—”
First, Consecration. Second, Vow. Third, Mantra.
Three supernatural powers immediately imbued the weapon.
“... Aiden?”
Stella sounded utterly bewildered, but before answering her, the instant all three powers settled into the gun, Aiden fired straight ahead.
BOOOOM!
Tearing through everything around it, the shot blasted the maid’s entire torso to pieces.
“...”
Beside him, Stella stared at Aiden in disbelief. It had happened so suddenly that, rather than attempting any response, her brain seemed to have stopped processing the situation entirely.
“Aiden, what have you...!”
“No, it’s fine.”
Still frowning, the man responsible cut her off.
“She won’t die from something like this anyway.”
The attack was horrifyingly powerful, but even Katya had only been briefly incapacitated when it hit her.
And this woman stood even higher than that utterly abnormal human being.
“Hey.”
The maid’s shattered body floated into the air.
“That’s going too far. Seriously.”
Then, clicking her tongue as she spoke, she flicked her wrist through the air. It was a graceful gesture, as though she were merely stretching.
In time with the motion, the shattered pieces clung to her body like mud, instantly regenerating.
Just like Katya.
“... Huh?”
He heard that odd sound escape Stella beside him. As someone who wielded supernatural power, she would see it clearly.
While Katya’s immortality was innate, this woman was imitating it through her own ability alone.
‘... Unbelievable.’
It really was. Reproducing immortality through her own efforts.
Her control over divinity approached divine artistry. Even Katya, who could rank second only to the Pontiff in the current generation, could not hope to stand on equal footing with her.
‘This woman is a monster.’
As mentioned several times, neither Noel nor Katya was someone to be taken lightly, anywhere.
But thinking a little more carefully about that phrase meant that even a woman who could slice through buildings with a sword, or one who refused to die no matter how often she was killed, could hardly be called the strongest.
Of course, considering how far those two would ultimately grow as the scenario progressed, one could give them that title in advance. But for now, at least, it did not fit.
The woman before him was one reason why.
The strongest, worst, most fearsome divinity wielder in history.
Ruler of the Holy Kingdom of Craven. The reigning Pontiff, Abigail III.
All of those descriptions referred to the woman standing before him.
She snorted and removed her bonnet. At the same time, she snapped her fingers, scattering heatless flames in every direction.
The flames washed over the plain clothing befitting a maid, revealing pitch-black ecclesiastical robes of black satin beneath.
The attire denoted the highest ceremonial rank in the Holy Kingdom. The symbol of the Pontiff.
At the same moment, the being called Princess Laila until moments ago also scattered into flames and vanished.
“That was a pretty well-made stand-in. How did you figure it out?”
Aiden frowned at the Pontiff’s revealed appearance. It was not one he was used to, but her overall air was terribly familiar.
Looking closely, she was the spitting image of Katya. White hair. Golden eyes. Even their manner was similar.
Her clothes, however, felt like Katya’s complete opposite. Considering how the two were connected, it was rather fitting.
Katya’s biological mother. And...
‘The final boss of Act 2.’
She was the last opponent in the episode in which Katya starred. A wall Katya had to overcome.
“Still, who just attacks someone out of nowhere, husband of the Lionhearted? Hmm?”
The Pontiff leaned her head toward Aiden with a savage smile.
... Even that expression was exactly like Katya’s. Playful ferocity, intertwined with the aggression of a predator.
One look at that face made it immediately clear where Katya had inherited those tendencies.
But Aiden answered without so much as blinking.
“Didn’t you do the same without a second thought, Your Holiness?”
This was their first meeting, yet their exchange made it clear that neither had the slightest intention of standing on ceremony.
Given the gulf between their stations, the Pontiff’s attitude was only natural. Aiden’s, however, was unexpected.
“You won’t let a single word slide, will you? How mean.”
“Courtesy...”
Though her manner seemed to be pointing that out, Aiden stared calmly back at her and answered.
“...is something I return only to those who show it first.”
The attack she had launched in Princess Laila’s guise might not have killed him outright, but it had undoubtedly been powerful. Even if he survived, it would certainly have inflicted serious injuries.
And besides...
‘She beat up Katya without a second thought, too.’
There was no reason to greet someone who did such things unprovoked with a smile.
The Pontiff’s lips twisted at his response, as though to say, ‘Well, look at this one.’
Her first reaction was clearly interest.
“... Fair point.”
She chuckled in agreement.
“I wondered why Katya had settled in here so stubbornly. Turns out there was a born entertainer.”
“Your Holiness.”
Aiden cut her off with a sigh.
“You didn’t come here just to shoot the shit, did you?”
“...”
“I’m a busy man.”
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Stella, who still could not keep up, gaping beside him.
“... You’re a completely unhinged bastard, aren’t you?”
His attitude was admittedly extreme enough to draw that remark even from the Pontiff.
But...
‘So what?’
Aiden was already exercising considerable restraint. And given her disposition, there was no particular reason to hold back.
“Isn’t there something you ought to do before taking issue with my personality?”
“... What?”
Whichever way he looked at it, what he needed to do was clear.
She had first sent Katya to drag him off to the Holy Kingdom without warning, then tormented her before his very eyes, and kept testing him right up to the bitter end.
He had not one reason to be nice about it.
He would make absolutely sure to extract what he could.
“It’s only natural to pay for your wrongdoing.”
“Hmm?”
“Surely you weren’t planning to brush off all those nasty things you did without offering anything in return?”
“Hmm...?”
“Do me just two favors. Then I’ll let it slide.”
By now, even the Pontiff was laughing in near disbelief.
“Let’s hear it, then. Let what slide?”
“You have nothing to gain if I go around publicly discussing the games the Holy Kingdom has been playing with Katya and me, do you, Your Holiness?”
“...”
“More than a few of them could turn into scandals.”
The savage smile on her face deepened. With a soft “Ha,” she narrowed her eyes.
“Listen, Aiden.”
“Yes?”
“Do you enjoy breathing?”
“Generally.”
“Really?”
Then his vision tore apart.
Divinity burst forth, staining everything red and warping his senses.
He felt no heat. The Pontiff was not even properly deploying her supernatural power. This phenomenon came from her sheer presence and pressure alone.
Merely meeting her eyes felt like having his heart clenched in an invisible hand.
“Then let me ask you one more thing.”
Even her voice sounded distorted by static.
“If you enjoy breathing, you’d better choose your words carefully. Was that a threat?”
Just hearing her words felt as though it were frying his brain. That was how intense the pressure was.
His skin felt as if it were blistering. A sickening sensation, like someone had poured tar through every blood vessel, tingled through his entire nervous system.
“...”
Her power was monstrous.
And as it battered his entire body, only one thought occupied Aiden’s mind.
‘... What a catch.’
If he could copy someone like this woman’s skills, wouldn’t that be an absolute jackpot...!
“...”
Perhaps Meyer had beaten him to death too often lately. Even with a genuine threat to his life right before him, his mind seemed to run in strange directions.
Still, that thought was undeniably true. And his next move would be his trump card for achieving it.
A switch clicked in his mind. Aiden calmly raised his eyes to meet hers.
“Yes.”
“...”
“It is a threat.”
“...”
... At the edge of his vision, he caught Stella gaping once again. She had gone beyond failing to keep up and had now given up trying to understand altogether.
“If you refuse, I’ll pursue this to the bitter end.”
“...”
“I guarantee it. I may not be able to beat you, Your Holiness, but I can persistently create any number of problems that will make your life an absolute misery.”
At that, he could see Stella was practically on the verge of fainting.
But he had not lost his mind.
‘... This is the right approach with her.’
Given what he knew about the Pontiff, she preferred people who stood up to her over those who bowed.
What a rotten personality. Pushing people that hard while hoping they would keep defying her.
That was why she had consistently pressured Aiden from the start. Her desperate desire to see just how deep he ran was painfully clear.
Where were his limits? How far would she have to push before he bent?
‘And testing someone...’
She would never even start doing this if she had no expectations of them. That meant there was some standard she wanted him to meet.
Considering her intentions, confronting her outright was better than yielding here. It was the better way to win her favor.
Indeed, her smile deepened as she listened. Aiden was continuing to meet her expectations.
Before, she had seemed intrigued. Now, she genuinely seemed to like him.
To seal the deal...
“That said, I’m not entirely without a conscience. I’ll make things fair.”
“What?”
“I imagine there’s something you want my help with, Your Holiness.”
“...”
“Isn’t that why you keep pushing me this hard?”
He would seize the initiative by showing he had seen straight through her intentions.
And then go one step further.
Why did she keep putting him through these tests? What did she want to keep assessing his abilities for?
That required no calculation. He already knew the biggest headache the Pontiff was currently dealing with.
“It seems the succession issue is giving you a headache.”
The power struggle between the heirs vying to succeed her as the next Pontiff.
Scenario Chapter 2, Blasphemy, was itself a story about that.
“Help me, and I’ll be sure to lend you my strength later.”
At that addition, the Pontiff remained silent for a long time before dispersing her divinity with an incredulous chuckle.
The sensation crushing Aiden’s entire body vanished instantly with it.
“... You really are a strange one. I can’t tell whether you’re something special or just insane.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“Sure, you lunatic.”
“...”
Her tone was curt, but her response was certainly not negative.
-System Message
▶ Target ‘Abigail III’s interest increases.
▶ ‘Skill: Weaver of Fate’ activates!
▶ 1 skill copy has been added!
▶ Related details will be updated in the main scenario later!
The window appearing right before his eyes proved it.
As Aiden celebrated inwardly, the Pontiff crossed her legs with a sigh.
“... Let’s hear it, then. What favors did you want?”
If she was saying that much, she had effectively accepted his offer.
Aiden beamed.
‘What a fantastic deal.’
... The truth was, bound by the shackles of quests as he was, he had to do it anyway.
Whether or not the Pontiff asked for help, he was going to be dragged into that problem.
Normally, the mere thought would make him dizzy, but for now, it was fine. If he could at least take this much credit for it, that was good enough for the moment...!
Of course, that was a separate matter. His first request was obvious.
“As I said earlier...”
“... Hmm?”
“Apologize to Katya.”
“...”
“I cannot tolerate you treating my friend however you please, Your Holiness.”
“And if I don’t?”
“Then you’ll have made an enemy of me. Simple as that.”
The Pontiff silently regarded him for a moment. There was no emotion in his tone. If anything, it was a calm demand.
Yet the words that immediately came to mind were:
‘A dog that means to bite doesn’t bark.’
His composure only drove it home. If she did not apologize to Katya, he really intended to scrap the negotiations and everything else and come at her in earnest.
The head of the Holy Kingdom. One of the rulers of the continent’s superpowers.
‘He’s insane.’
But that was why she liked him.
The Pontiff snorted and answered.
“Fine. I’ll keep that promise. When I see her later, I’ll tell her plainly that I was wrong.”
“...”
“Don’t believe me? I could even swear to the god of purification on my true name.”
“... No. That’s enough.”
Hmm.
He had not expected her to admit it quite so readily. Given her nasty temper, he had been sure she would snap back, asking who he thought he was to order her around.
‘Well...’
With her conceding so readily, it was only natural for Aiden to take a step back as well.
He still had his second request, of course, but surely they could ease the tension first.
“Let me start over with a proper greeting. As a gesture of reconciliation.”
“A greeting?”
“I hope we can get along from now on.”
They had gotten off to a terrible start, but he wanted them to get along in the future. He meant it.
As he spoke with that intention, Abigail III, who had been listening with a sullen expression, tilted her head slightly. Then, after pondering his words for a while, she tilted it the other way.
“...”
What was she doing?
-System Message
▶ Target ‘Abigail III’s interest increases.
▶ ‘Skill: Weaver of Fate’ activates!
▶ 2 skill copies have been added!
What was this?
Why had it suddenly gone up again?
As he wondered, the Pontiff spoke from across from him, looking distinctly awkward.
“... Hey.”
“... Yes?”
“Are you hitting on me?”
“...”
What nonsense was this woman talking about?
What part of what he had just said gave her that impression...?
“... No.”
Aiden barely managed an answer, and the Pontiff continued curtly.
“I’ve been single my whole life, you know?”
“...”
“Speak clearly so I don’t get the wrong idea. A pretty face and a silver tongue...”
“...”
... That didn’t sound like his problem.
Aiden firmly swallowed those words.