Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 167

Weapon-Eating Bastard – Episode 167

Two days after arriving in the Theocracy.

I was finally able to visit the Papal State’s headquarters.

Serena was in charge of guiding me.

“I will explain about the person you are meeting today.”

Serena still had a stiff expression.

“Bishop Horatio George became a Senior Cardinal three years ago. He previously served as the Prime Minister.”

“He’s the one who contacted me with this rosary.”

I fiddled with the cross hanging around my neck.

Serena nodded.

“He provides a lot of support to the Paladins. At least, Cardinal Horatio can be trusted.”

“……I understand.”

I nodded for now.

Serena continued.

“Next is Bishop Francis Palina. He is currently the Minister of National Defense. He oversees the work of maintaining the seal related to ‘that object’.”

Francis Palina.

A familiar name.

He was the former leader of the Paladins.

It is said that he is now no different from an ordinary person due to injuries sustained while on the front lines and old age, but in his prime, he possessed considerable power.

As I listened to the explanation, we arrived at the Papal State.

A magnificent and beautiful beige building typical of the Middle Ages.

A powerful aura was felt that made it hard to breathe. It must be the aura emanating from the numerous holy objects located throughout this building.

‘Finally.’

I had entered the main base of the Papal State, one of the most powerful forces in the world.

* * *

When entering the Papal State, I had to undergo a thorough search by the Holy Cross Knights guarding the area.

Of course, all my equipment was currently inside Eunhan.

Besides, Mujin was on my finger.

I easily passed the search and went inside.

“I’m sorry for the troublesome procedure despite the formal invitation. The security has been strengthened due to the recent case of Saint Christina.”

“You don’t have to apologize for everything. It’s a necessary task.”

Following Serena’s guidance, I headed to the inside of the Papal State’s main building.

To be exact, it was where the Senior Cardinal’s office was located.

And from the opposite side where Serena and I were walking, I spotted an old man leaning on a cane.

‘…….’

Clack!

The sound of the cane echoed through the silent hallway.

It was an old man in a plain priest’s robe.

As I continued walking, I made eye contact with him.

‘Quite a… strong person.’

Old age, many gaps in his posture, and an unsteady gait as if he were ill.

Nevertheless, the old man seemed strong.

It was because of the depth of his magic.

Perhaps he had not let go of magic even after retiring from the front lines, as there was a strong scent of magic.

And I recognized who it was as soon as I saw it.

Bishop Francis.

The old man who was the former leader of the Paladins.

“Bishop Francis.”

When Serena greeted him politely, Bishop Francis nodded indifferently and replied.

“Serena. You came quickly. Then this person is…….”

“Yes, that’s right. He is Lee Cheol, the young master of the Sungmoo Lee family.”

The old man stared at me intently.

Soon, a strange light flickered in his eyes.

But that look was never gentle.

“……I am Francis Palina. I am the Minister of National Defense, though I am lacking.”

“I am Lee Cheol of the Sungmoo Lee family.”

When we shook hands lightly, Bishop Francis leaned on his cane and looked straight at me.

“I didn’t expect it would take this long to meet you, Young Master Lee Cheol. I saw your performance in the Grand Melee.”

A blunt tone without a smile.

It was a remark that sounded almost sarcastic.

The moment I was about to open my mouth.

“Huh, I heard noises outside and wondered what it was, but you’ve all arrived. What are you doing here?”

Just in time, the door to the office opened.

The one who opened the door was a white man with a gentle impression and a soft smile.

He smiled and greeted me.

“Nice to meet you, Young Master Lee Cheol. I am Bishop Horatio George. Thank you for coming all this way.”

“I am Lee Cheol of the Sungmoo Lee family. Thank you for inviting me.”

“We requested it. Thank you just for coming.”

Bishop Horatio lightly hugged me and gave me a bise [a light kiss on the cheek] on each cheek.

“Haha! Come on in. I’m getting old, so it’s quite hard for me to stand. Bishop Francis and Serena, please come in too.”

I followed Bishop Horatio inside.

The office was ordinary itself.

A statue of the Virgin Mary was placed, and a painting of Jesus carrying the cross was drawn on one wall.

On the other walls were old bookshelves and decorations.

Overall, it was neat, but it was hard to see it as the office of Bishop Horatio, who could be called the second-in-command of the Theocracy.

“I only heard your voice through the rosary, so I wanted to meet you in person at least once, but I finally get to see you, Young Master Lee Cheol.”

A teacup was placed on the table, and Bishop Horatio opened his mouth in a friendly manner, not caring about the awkward atmosphere.

Bishop Horatio was just as he was known to the public, a simple and friendly person.

‘This is Bishop Horatio.’

I stared at him intently.

He was a type of person I had never seen before.

He had not learned martial arts or magic.

Even if he had learned it, it seemed to be only basic magic training for health.

Nevertheless, I felt a strange atmosphere that could not be touched.

Even if I were to become hostile to this man, I don’t think I could fight. A man who can earn respect from others without wielding a sword.

Perhaps the word holiness is attached to such a person.

The atmosphere was quite different from Bishop Francis, who seemed to still harbor the fighting spirit of a martial artist even in his old age.

Clatter!

In the midst of the conversation, Bishop Francis put down his teacup and said.

“Bishop Horatio. I think it would be good to get to the point soon.”

“Hmm, that’s right.”

Horatio nodded.

“Did you hear the story from Serena?”

I glanced at Serena.

Serena’s unchanging eyes moved slightly.

-The content about the traitor is only what Saint Christina told me. I would appreciate it if you would refrain from talking about it.

I recalled the story Serena had told me on the first day I came to the Theocracy.

What Bishop Horatio is talking about now is not the story about the traitor and Saint Christina, but the story about the ‘black object’ sealed in the Papal State and the saint’s prophecy.

“Yes, I have heard the general story and know about it.”

“That object has been in the Theocracy since a very long time ago. No, it is an object that has existed since long before the Theocracy was called the Theocracy. Countless saints have sealed it for a long time.”

Horatio stared down at the now-cold teacup, then raised his head.

When he raised his head, his aura had changed slightly.

From the feeling of a religious person who showed a sacred aura, to the appearance of a leader handling the work of an organization.

“From Pope to Pope, we had the mission to protect that object. That object is stored with the power of numerous holy objects. There have been no major problems for thousands of years. Even during the Great War. But…….”

Horatio took out a photo and put it on the table.

“Recently, the situation has changed. A strange power has begun to flow out of this object. A total of 6 holy objects have disappeared, 23 priests have suffered internal injuries, and an additional 55 divine magicians have had all their magic absorbed and have become disabled.”

There were people in priest’s robes lying there, and what appeared to be holy objects that were blackened and broken.

“……Please explain in more detail.”

“That object moves like a living creature and is encroaching on its surroundings.”

“What color is that object?”

“It’s jet black.”

Jet black.

My eyes lit up.

‘It’s related to the black energy and the smoke in my ancestor’s tomb. But…….’

Until now, it has not been visible to the eyes of others, not just my eyes.

Not even to the eyes of other mystical species, including goblins.

“Moreover, recently, unidentified groups targeting that object have also appeared. So, while looking for a way to deal with this object, the prophecy was given.”

At that time, Bishop Francis suddenly intervened and looked at me.

“If it weren’t for the prophecy, we wouldn’t have borrowed the power of an outsider.”

“Haha, Bishop Francis. Why are you so angry?”

“I am still opposed to bringing in outsiders for such a serious matter, let alone a boy who has not yet become an adult.”

Bishop Francis openly sniped at me in front of my eyes.

He looked straight at me.

“And also, I am not convinced that the prophecy is pointing to this boy.”

It was then.

I stared intently into his eyes.

A strange aura was lingering in those eyes.

‘This is…….’

The eyes of someone who has something to hide.

“So? Young Master Lee Cheol. Do you know anything about that object?”

Bishop Horatio said, looking at me.

I stopped thinking and answered calmly.

“First of all, I have to see it with my own eyes. That black object.”

* * *

The two bishops, Serena, and I left the office and headed to the basement of the main building.

We passed through secret passages that seemed impossible to exist in such a place, and headed deeper and deeper underground.

We passed through several security checkpoints and walked down a secret path where there were no guards at all.

‘There’s such a space in the basement of the Papal State’s main building.’

Many objects that seemed to have religious meaning were placed everywhere, and among them were equipment with particularly special auras.

The dark path was humid, and soon it led to an underground passage where we had to carry torches instead of lights.

Finally, at the end of the underground passage, an old wooden door with prayers written on it appeared.

“Be prepared.”

Bishop Horatio said quietly before opening the door.

Bishop Horatio began to recite Hebrew and began a prayer like a spell.

And soon.

Click!

The sound of the door opening was heard particularly loudly.

With the sound of wind being sucked in, the air sank heavily.

The next moment.

‘Black energy……!’

The black energy in my body was escaping out of my body at a terrifying rate.

And.

-Krrrr!-

Something like a monster’s cry was heard.

There was no time to stop it, and there was nothing that could be done.

And the next moment.

The world was plunged into a deep darkness.