Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 176

That night, the unprecedented terrorist attack in the Theocracy was dubbed the ‘Bloody Christmas’ by the world.

The terrorist attack resulted in over 200 civilian deaths, with several times more injured.

The casualties also included a significant number of high-ranking clergy, public officials, knights, mages, and regular soldiers of the Theocracy.

It was a tragedy unseen since the Great War.

People all over the world shuddered at the horrific news.

Amidst the chaos, the Theocracy proceeded with the Christmas Mass.

The Pope led a lengthy prayer throughout the vigil mass, commemorating the victims and comforting their bereaved families and acquaintances.

And then.

At the end of the memorial prayer, the Pope shared the story of a high-ranking clergyman who had been sacrificed by the terrorist group.

Bishop Horatio.

He was buried as a bishop, not as a traitor.

* * *

About a week had passed since the terrorist attack by Kabbalah and Behemoth and the Christmas Mass.

The people of the Theocracy were still dressed in black.

It was a sign of mourning for the victims of the terror.

Serena was no exception.

She was leading me somewhere, wearing a black two-piece suit.

She looked around at the recovering landscape of the Theocracy and said with a heavy heart.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Lee Cheol.”

“What do you have to be sorry for, Serena?”

“For dragging you into this… and also for the Theocracy’s shameful decision to announce it that way, even though you worked so hard to find the traitor… I’m just sorry.”

Bishop Horatio was not a traitor but a victim of a terrorist group.

Moreover, some of the clergy who had been turned over to Behemoth or the Puppeteer were treated as having been affected by ‘some kind of illusion.’

It was for complex political reasons and to prevent further weakening of the Theocracy’s power, which had been shaken by this incident.

Being attacked by terrorists was a big deal, but if it was caused by a traitor, it would be an irreversible blow.

Serena and I walked down the road in Vatican City, where restoration work was underway.

Our eyes caught sight of bloodstains on the road, belonging to someone unknown.

“…Would the result have been different if I had been a little more competent, like you, Mr. Lee Cheol?”

“It would have been the same.”

Serena’s eyes widened at my immediate answer.

“I was only able to move freely because I was an outsider. Besides, I had people like Lee Seohyun, Ron, and the Black Turtle Society to help me. I couldn’t have done anything alone.”

I said to Serena, who looked depressed.

It seemed that the whole story of this incident came as quite a shock to Serena, who was proud to be a knight of the Theocracy.

The betrayal of the bishop she trusted, the Pope’s observation, and her teacher’s reservation of judgment.

But that’s really a waste of thought.

“This incident is not something you should feel guilty about. The bad guys are the ones who committed this, not you, Serena.”

Serena’s eyes widened a little at my words.

Then, with a weak smile, she nodded.

“…Thank you. Mr. Lee Cheol.”

Serena looked at Lee Cheol’s profile.

Serena felt a strange sense of relief at his comforting words, which he said so casually.

She had heard similar words from Lee Seohyun and her knight order seniors, but somehow the feeling was different.

At first glance, he seemed like a cold and calculating person, but now she could see that wasn’t the case.

She even understood why Lee Seohyun, a cat-like friend, grumbled but followed Lee Cheol’s words well.

“We’ve arrived.”

I said to Serena, looking straight ahead.

“The apology should be heard not from Serena… but from the person you’re about to meet.”

The Papal State Headquarters was there.

And today, I would meet the Pope.

* * *

The Pope’s office was quite luxurious.

As befitting a clergyman, there were Christian symbols and paintings everywhere, and warm sunlight streamed into the office.

There, I faced the Pope.

I heard that the Pope had been incredibly busy since the terror attack, but he had canceled a significant number of schedules to meet me.

I was also looking forward to meeting him.

“It is an honor to meet His Holiness. I am Lee Cheol of the Soongmoo Lee family.”

“Nice to meet you, Young Master Lee Cheol.”

The Pope smiled gently and greeted me.

‘…How strange.’

I felt a strange emotion as I looked at the Pope.

I was a little nervous because he was the ruler of a country and called the Pope, but the Pope was very, extremely, ordinary enough that there was no need for that.

There was no sense of intimidation or force.

He was just an elderly clergyman with a slightly bent back and clear eyes.

“As Pope, I would like to express my deep gratitude for what Young Master Lee Cheol has done this time.”

The Pope said that and suddenly bowed deeply.

“And also, I would like to apologize for the various events in the Theocracy this time.”

I stared intently at the Pope.

“May I ask you just one thing?”

I learned the truth about everything that happened in the Theocracy this time.

But there was only one thing I was wondering about.

Why did the Pope, the real power behind the Theocracy, just stand still?

“Yes, please speak. I will answer anything.”

“Why did you just watch until things got to this point? There must have been many things Your Holiness could have done.”

The Pope’s eyes widened at those words.

But soon, with a self-deprecating smile, he slowly opened his mouth.

“Unlike what Young Master Lee Cheol thinks… I have done quite a lot.”

The Pope looked out the window.

The scenery of Vatican City is reflected.

The Pope captured the chaotic scenery of the city in his eyes, a city struggling to recover from the terror.

“The Theocracy is a special country in many ways. That’s why there are many problems. Even if I try to do something… there are things I can’t do as I please.”

“……”

“It may be an excuse. It could be called my incompetence. That’s why Bishop Horatio… no, Horatio and Bishop Francis came to think a little differently about the Theocracy.”

As the modern era transitioned from the old, and the age of peace arrived after the Great War, the world became safer, but conversely, it became more unstable.

Nations took care of each other’s interests in ways other than war, and more complex and difficult tactics and negotiations came and went.

In the meantime, the Theocracy was a country built on specific religious values.

As a result, the methods that could be taken were limited, and yet it was a country that could not let go of those values.

That value was the reason for the existence of the country.

‘That’s right.’

The Pope hadn’t done nothing.

He just couldn’t do everything he wanted.

And Bishop Horatio thoroughly colluded with outside forces to the point where he even deceived Bishop Francis, who had worked with him the most closely.

“Did that answer your question?”

The Pope said, looking at me.

I nodded.

“Yes.”

Anyway.

It wasn’t a story I would dig into any further.

“It is true that this matter was resolved well thanks to Young Master Lee Cheol’s many sacrifices and dedication. So I want to give you a reward worthy of that. It is not enough to pay the price only for what you requested before.”

The Pope said, his eyes shining.

“Tell me anything. If it does not deviate from the will of the Lord, the Theocracy will accept any request from Young Master Lee Cheol.”

“If so……”

The requirements had already been decided.

I opened my mouth confidently.

* * *

A young man was sitting in a black sedan, listening to a report.

Black hair, amber eyes.

The young man, whose characteristics of the Soongmoo Lee family were well known to the world, smiled meaningfully at the report he heard.

“So that’s what happened.”

“Yes, Kabbalah and Behemoth. It seems that neither of them completely achieved their goals in the end. How should we proceed with the work in the future?”

“We don’t need to do anything. Those two organizations failed. Hmm… but that’s right. Send condolences to the Theocracy and make the proposal I told you about in advance. Either way, I was planning to gain some kind of interest from the Theocracy, whether it failed or succeeded.”

The man said that and smiled.

‘Lee Cheol. He’s an interesting kid in many ways.’

The man receiving the report.

He was none other than the third young master of the Soongmoo Lee family, Lee Gunseong.

“What if the Theocracy refuses?”

“They won’t be able to refuse. There are many problems inside and outside, and even a terrorist attack. Moreover, the bishop in charge of external affairs has died. To regain stability, they will have to accept our help.”

“…You are amazing, Lord. Did you anticipate all of this and contact the two organizations?”

Lee Gunseong didn’t say anything.

Soon after, the car stopped smoothly.

Lee Gunseong slowly got out and took in the scene in front of him.

A huge gate.

Four letters were written on it.

Soongmoo Lee family.

“It’s been a while. This door too.”

The third of the Soongmoo Lee family, Lee Gunseong, who had been in Europe, returned to the Soongmoo Lee family.

* * *

The Pope told me to ask freely.

I asked the Theocracy for quite a lot, and of course, they didn’t refuse.

From the beginning, I had no intention of holding back, and it was entirely my credit for handling this matter.

I confidently demanded everything.

The Pope seemed a little embarrassed by my appearance, which demanded everything without hesitation, but it was accepted because it was not an excessive demand.

That’s how I came to live in the Theocracy for a while.

“You’re crazy after all.”

Lee Seohyun looked at me with a disgusted expression in the mansion where Ron and I were living.

“What is it?”

“No, usually, shouldn’t you say something like, ‘I just did it for justice’ or ‘I didn’t want anything in return’ and be humble or decline? You asked for all of that? Really?”

I snorted at Lee Seohyun’s words.

“I came here wanting something in return from the beginning, so why bother acting?”

“Ugh.”

Lee Seohyun shuddered.

Ron, who was next to me, laughed softly.

“Young Master Lee Cheol. We’re friends, right?”

“Why all of a sudden?”

“I was just thinking that I should never become an enemy with Young Master Lee Cheol, even when I get older. If I ever make a mistake, you have to forgive me, right?”

Ron smiled awkwardly.

To hear such a story from Ron, who is called the Sword Emperor [a title given to the most skilled swordsman], is something else.

I don’t know whether to be happy or sad about this.

“No, and I took care of you guys too, so why are you making a fuss?”

It wasn’t just me who contributed to this incident.

No, in the first place, my colleagues’ help in moving according to my plan was greater than what I did.

That’s why I made requests for them too.

“Well, thank you for that… but still…”

“You should have gone into business instead of swordsmanship. Really.”

Ron and Lee Seohyun said in turn.

I clicked my tongue and turned my body.

“Anyway, I’m going now. I’m supposed to go in today.”