Chapter 586
“Then, from this moment, we will formally begin the official election to choose the Pope of the Pantheon—the Conclave!”
The voice rang out thunderously.
But that was not what mattered right now.
‘Conclave?’
He knew what a conclave was.
In Catholicism, a conclave referred to the election held by Cardinals to choose the Pope.
But that was an election to choose the Pope, so why me?
However, Su-ho soon understood why he had been invited here.
“Ah.”
Right.
I’m the Blood Cardinal, and if the next class after Cardinal exists, then the only thing left would be Pope.
So I was invited to the Conclave as a candidate for Pope.
Having understood everything, Su-ho let out a hollow laugh and looked at Quai. Quai grinned and said,
“You look as though you have understood quite a lot?”
“I’d be an idiot if I didn’t. But this thought just occurred to me...”
Su-ho looked straight at him and said,
“It’s you, isn’t it? The person who invited me here?”
The nameless Constellation, ■■.
At that question, Quai smiled once again.
“Well, I suppose you will come to learn that gradually later?”
“You’re not denying it?”
“Hehe, well. That is not particularly important. In any case, before we begin the proper election, why don’t the candidates introduce themselves to one another first?”
At Quai’s words, the other three candidates looked at Su-ho.
But the way they looked at him was not especially pleasant.
“Is it just me, or do all of you seem to be looking at me with displeasure?”
At that, the man in silver armor spoke.
“It is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Silen. I am the Silver Cardinal, and the only Paladin nominated in this election.”
“I’m An Su-ho, the Blood Cardinal and a Crusader.”
“To be precise, you were a Rage Crusader, were you not?”
“That’s right?”
“As expected.”
After finishing his introduction, Silen wore an expression that seemed to say he had known it, then soon furrowed his brow.
Then, as if making a vow—no, as if making a declaration of war—he said,
“I am sorry to say this to you, but we have absolutely no intention of allowing someone who was once a Rage Crusader to ascend to the seat of Pope.”
“Out of nowhere?”
“It is not out of nowhere. This is something we discussed long ago. We have been waiting for you for quite some time.”
“Why?”
“Because the Pope of the Pantheon must have four Cardinals of different classes nominated.”
“Four Cardinals of different classes...”
Su-ho’s gaze swept over the three people standing before him.
And he immediately understood what Silen meant.
“I see. If I’m a Crusader and you’re a Paladin, then those two must be a Cleric and a Monk?”
“That is correct.”
“But isn’t the Conclave an election? How are the three of you planning to stop me in an election that is supposed to be fair?”
“The Pantheon’s Conclave is not an ordinary election.”
“Then?”
“Only one candidate is formally put to the vote.”
“Only one? Aren’t all of us candidates?”
“For now, we are preliminary candidates.”
“Preliminary candidates?”
“Yes. We preliminary candidates compete among ourselves, and only one person can become the formal candidate. And that person will be able to officially become Pope through a vote of approval or disapproval from the Cardinals seated over there.”
Silen pointed at the Cardinals seated in the spectator stands.
“What the...”
It was absurd.
So they were supposed to have a dogfight in the first round to narrow down the candidates, then get acknowledged by the Cardinals in the second round before becoming Pope?
What kind of Conclave was that?
But Silen seemed used to it and continued speaking without paying that any mind.
“So, Cardinal An Su-ho. For the future of the Pantheon, please withdraw. Otherwise...”
“Otherwise?”
“At that point, there will be nothing we can do.”
At that unexpected choice of words, a hollow laugh burst out of him.
“Is that really something a Cardinal should say?”
“Then?”
“That’s a threat.”
“It is not a threat. I am asking you.”
“You’re saying you’ll kill me if I don’t do as you ask. How is that a request?”
“It depends on how you interpret it.”
“What bullshit...”
“What did you say?”
“I said, what ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) bullshit.”
The air turned cold in an instant.
After Su-ho and Silen locked eyes like lasers for a while, Su-ho let out a short breath and said,
“Then let me ask just one thing.”
“Ask.”
“After you stop me? Then will the three of you fight one another?”
“We have already decided whom we will nominate as Pope.”
“And who is that?”
At those words, Silen moved aside and indicated the person behind him.
“It is none other than Cardinal Antonio, the White Cardinal.”
Antonio.
When his name was mentioned, he looked at Su-ho with a kindly smile.
At his kindly-looking smile, Su-ho burst into laughter without meaning to.
“Wow, you really look like an outright fraud.”
“Watch your words.”
“Watch my words, my ass. You think polite words would come out if you were me? Hey, then let me ask one more thing while I’m at it. Why can’t it be me? What do you bastards even know about me?”
There was no reason to hold back anymore.
When harsh words burst from Su-ho’s mouth, all three of them furrowed their brows.
Then Silen answered on their behalf.
“Because you were a Rage Crusader blinded by revenge and blood.”
“What?”
“The Pope of the Pantheon must, by nature, know how to embrace and love all people with a heart as vast as the sea. But rather than loving everyone, you are someone who places personal revenge first, are you not?”
“Hmm.”
Su-ho stroked his chin.
Then he narrowed his eyes and said,
“That’s incredibly hypocritical.”
“Hypocritical?”
“You people are spouting talk about election fraud, yet you’re going on about love as vast as the sea... And on top of that, you threaten to kill me if I don’t listen, but my revenge is the problem?”
As he spoke, Su-ho summoned the Blood Sword and gripped it.
Then he looked at Quai and said,
“What do you think?”
You’re the one who invited me here.
And you’re the being who protects this place.
However, instead of answering, Quai simply smiled and shrugged.
‘What absolute bullshit...’
Fine. What power would you have?
There must be some system-related reason you’re acting like this.
Having guessed his circumstances on his own, Su-ho asked roughly,
“Forget it. I think that’s enough for introductions, so when does the Conclave begin?”
“Haha, we will begin immediately.”
At that moment, Quai snapped his fingers.
[ The Conclave begins now. ]
A system notification.
At the same time, the four people gathered there were flung out in all directions as if repelled.
The first election to choose the final candidate for Pope had begun.
But when he suddenly looked in the direction he had been flung, he realized that four paths extended out from the center where they had gathered.
More precisely, they were dividing lines that looked like paths.
The thing dividing the arena into four was not a simple boundary line.
What looked like an X was actually shaped like a cross, and it was not a plus sign, but the cross of the Pantheon.
‘They’re really doing every little thing.’
He had never believed in a god.
Long ago, he had once stood in line at a church because they were giving out spicy rice cakes, but he had never truly believed.
Why?
Not because gods were invisible like ghosts.
Because if gods truly existed, they would not simply stand by and watch such goddamn tragedies happen.
So to Su-ho, the seat of Pope was not something meant to serve a god, but merely a means to obtain system-based power.
At that moment, Silen, the Silver Cardinal and Paladin, and Wolfgang, the Blue Cardinal and Monk, ran toward Antonio, the White Cardinal and Cleric.
It was to care for Antonio as they had agreed beforehand.
It was absurd.
What was the point of separating their positions in the first place if they were going to openly team up like that?
‘Let’s just focus on the quest.’
He decided there was no need to waste mental energy getting angry for nothing.
Whether they were Players or NPCs did not matter.
What mattered was that he clear this quest, rise to the seat of Pope, and become stronger.
But as with everything, simply carrying out work alone was something only machines did.
I’m human.
Work was work, but pride was important too.
That was why he thought about it.
About how he could retire those bastards while giving them the greatest humiliation possible.
It was then.
[ White Zone is activated. ]
[ The only attributes permitted within the zone are holy-type attributes. ]
A system notification.
At the same time, a huge, sacred-looking white cross rose above the open Pantheon arena.
It was a skill Antonio had used.
But Antonio’s skills did not end there.
[ Sacred Zone is activated. ]
[ The use and appearance of things related to impure forces such as demonic energy, black magic, darkness, and curses are prohibited within the zone. ]
A yellow cross overlapped over the white cross.
Immediately afterward, the Blood Sword held in Su-ho’s hand disappeared.
More precisely, it was forcibly released, as if melting away.
Was it judged impure because it was a power achieved through bloodsucking?
That was the correct answer.
Otherwise, there was no reason for it to disappear like this.
With a distorted expression, Su-ho tried to summon it again several times.
[ You cannot use this. ]
But each time, the same notification repeated, and the Blood Sword was not summoned.
‘This is driving me insane.’
Su-ho looked at the Cardinal trio with his expression still twisted.
They were looking at him with solemn expressions.
That only made him even more furious.
Am I some kind of Demon King?
What exactly pisses you off so much that you’re trying to kill me?
After letting out a sigh, Su-ho thought for a moment, then called Jack.
“Jack.”
- I’m listening.
“Are you an impure existence too?”
- Who knows?
Jack answered and tried to reveal himself, but before long, a hollow laugh came back.
- Apparently so?
“Oh, nice. Then does that mean Umbra’s power has now officially become impure magic?”
- Nonsense. More precisely, it applies only within the Pantheon. And even then, only under the standard used when frauds like those bastards are ruling it.
“Then I’ll have to become Pope and deny that statement myself.”
- Obviously. But do you have a way?
“It’s just that I can’t use shadow magic. Wouldn’t a shadow sword still work?”
As he said that, he reached out his hand.
Because he had his faithful shadow sword, Guiyeong, which he had been able to use even in giant mode.
But.
[ You cannot use this. ]
A short notification.
You’re kidding, right?
[ You cannot use this. ]
[ You cannot use this. ]
[ You cannot use this. ]
......
It was not a joke.