Not All Heroes From Earth Are Bad [EN]: Chapter 246

The continent was once again in turmoil.

A cardinal was assassinated in the middle of a city, inside a temple no less.

This was a different matter altogether compared to the death of a soldier or a noble.

If human lives had weight, the weight of a cardinal would undoubtedly be heavy enough to crush an entire nation.

With such a high-ranking member of the clergy dead, this was no ordinary event.

Every nation on the continent watched Gatrren closely.

How would Gatrren respond to this situation?

No one could have predicted what would happen next.

The death of Cardinal Maurizio was only the beginning.

“Kuhuk…!”

“What do you want! I’ll give you anything… Kuh-!”

“S, save meeee!”

Within a week, three more cardinals had died.

And after a month, most of the cardinals outside the Gatrren Holy Empire had met violent ends.

The number was over twenty.

“What on earth is Gatrren doing? Are they just standing by while the cardinals are being killed!?” “…Honestly, I hope it continues like this. The city has become more peaceful since the cardinals disappeared.” “Hey! Watch your mouth! You’ll get dragged away by fanatics and die without a trace!” “Let them kill me! Honestly, how much did those bastards torment us!?”

The prestige of the Gatrren Holy Empire and the Deusis Order plummeted.

People who had been afraid to speak out due to the power of the giant empire and the largest religion on the continent gradually began to raise their voices.

Everyone kept it quiet, but people weren’t fools.

They knew how hypocritical the Deusis Order was.

And how much blood they were sucking from behind the scenes.

Those who knew, knew.

The reality that no one had dared to touch for decades, even centuries, out of fear.

The veil covering the uncomfortable truth was being lifted.

The behind-the-scenes machinations of various kingdoms and the Drasen Empire, seizing the opportunity, also contributed greatly to this.

“It won’t be long before those guys come back into the empire.”

Pope Orban IV burst into a hollow laugh.

Just one month.

In just one month, the empire was faltering.

The empire he had dedicated his entire life to building.

Was shaking because he couldn’t catch just two hunting dogs.

It was so absurd that a burst of laughter escaped him.

“Is everyone asleep? If you have mouths, say something.”

At the Pope’s words, the cardinals all lowered their heads.

What could they say now?

Gatrren hadn’t been idle all this time.

They had already done everything they could.

They had strengthened the defenses of the cities where the cardinals were located, of course.

Sometimes, they even set traps to wait for the enemy.

They mobilized every tactic they could think of.

And they failed.

“This was a battle we couldn’t win from the start…”

In fact, failure was inevitable.

The enemies were two individuals with overwhelming power.

They roamed the continent, ravaging the empire as they pleased.

On the other hand, the empire had too much to protect.

What if they concentrated their forces to defend one city?

Choi Hyun-seok and Park Hyun-ah could simply go to another city.

No matter how much of an empire it was, it couldn’t defend every city in the best possible condition.

Whether there were traps or any preparations.

The enemies had plenty of time, leeway, and choices.

It was always the Gatrren Empire that was in a hurry and being chased.

“The level of the enemy is too high.” “That’s right. The situation is different from when Park Hyun-ah was running wild alone in the past.”

The cardinals cautiously threw in a word each.

They weren’t incompetent.

This was an unavoidable situation.

That was the opinion they were expressing.

And their words were true.

It was a different dimension from when Park Hyun-ah, who was just entering the realm of legend, was running wild alone in the past.

Park Hyun-ah had become twice as strong as then.

And there was even Choi Hyun-seok, who possessed similar power.

It wasn’t a level that could be stopped by conventional means.

“So… what you’re saying is that we’re in an unfavorable battlefield, and the enemy is too strong, so we can’t win. Is that what you’re trying to say?”

Pope Orban IV asked in a calm voice.

Several cardinals nodded.

“These… incompetent bastards…”

The Pope bit down hard and muttered as if spitting it out.

The cardinals were startled and looked at the Pope, and their hearts almost stopped.

“Incompetent… incompetent… you worthless pieces of shit…!”

The Pope’s face was grotesquely distorted.

The Pope, who never took off his smiling mask, no matter the situation.

Had shattered the mask he had worn for decades.

The wrinkled and hideously contorted face was so demonic that it could be believed to be that of a devil.

“Incompetent…! Too incompetent to bear…!”

The cardinals didn’t know how to accept this situation.

They simply lowered their heads, careful not to even breathe, and watched the Pope’s every move.

The meeting room was filled only with the Pope’s rough breathing.

“Hoo…”

How much time had passed?

After a deep sigh, the Pope’s calm voice was heard.

“Everyone. Raise your heads.”

The cardinals cautiously looked at the Pope.

He was wearing his usual gentle smile.

“I’m sorry. I showed you an unsightly side.” “Ah, no! Your Holiness!” “Please punish us for our incompetence!” “It is all our fault for not understanding Your Holiness’s feelings!”

The cardinals said in earnest voices.

That chilling face was still vivid in their minds.

The Pope with his eyes rolled back looked like he was really going to kill all the cardinals in this place.

But the Pope shook his head as if he was really okay.

“It is because my training is still insufficient. You are right. How could this situation be your fault?”

The Pope looked at the cardinals with the same benevolent smile as always.

“However, we cannot simply stand still because the situation is difficult. I will give you the power to protect yourselves.” “What kind of power are you talking about…?” “I will bestow grace.”

The cardinals stirred at the word “bestow grace.”

Because no one in this place had ever received grace [divine power].

In fact, only about ten cardinals had received the Pope’s grace.

All of them were those favored by the Pope and were actively working within the empire.

“Your Holiness. Didn’t you say before that only a limited number of people could receive grace?” “The reason I said that is because bestowing grace is very difficult and tiring. To transmit the power of God, I have to pour out all my strength as well.”

The Pope sighed softly as if he was already tired.

“However, everyone is in a difficult situation. If this old man can sacrifice himself to save you… I must do it.”

The cardinals’ faces brightened.

In fact, they were all trembling with fear.

When would their turn come?

Except for their immense divine power, they were all old and frail, and they had no power to protect themselves.

But if they received grace, it would be different.

They would transcend the limits of humans.

And instantly possess a legendary physique.

If everyone had such tremendous power, they would be safe from the enemy’s threat.

“Your Holiness… Your Holiness’s well-being is the most important thing to us. I wonder if you are overdoing it…” “That’s right. Please reconsider…”

Some cardinals said with earnest expressions.

Unlike the majority of the cardinals, their expressions were dark.

“If Your Holiness were to be harmed, who would be responsible for the future of our empire?”

On the surface, they seemed to be genuinely worried about the Pope, but the reality was different.

They were the ones who knew to some extent what the true nature of grace was.

And what kind of person the Pope actually was.

They also knew that the Pope’s grace was virtually a death sentence.

“There are no exceptions. You and I. We are all subjects of the empire. It is only natural to dedicate ourselves to the empire.” “As expected of Your Holiness!”

“We are deeply moved!”

The situation was already irreversible.

Saying that they would not receive grace here would only make the atmosphere strange.

“Grace is a difficult trial. It will take a long time, so everyone, purify yourselves and pray until your turn comes.”

“Yes. Your Holiness.”

The cardinals all left the meeting room.

From now on, they would each wait in their assigned spaces until their turn came.

In the empty meeting room, the Pope rubbed his tired face.

“There are those who seem suspicious. Watch them so they don’t do anything foolish.”

“Yes.”

The answer came from the air.

It was Quan Obriel, the leader of the Hounds [the Pope’s secret police].

Through various incidents, the Hounds had become relatively weaker in power and authority.

Therefore, they were still working in the shadows, taking on the Pope’s dirty work as before.

“And contact the Emperor of Drasen.” “Drasen, you say?”

Quan Obriel involuntarily asked back.

The only reason he could do that was to contact the Emperor of the Drasen Empire.

It was clear that either his ears were mistaken or the Pope’s head was wrong.

“Yes. We need to seek cooperation from Drasen to catch Choi Hyun-seok and Park Hyun-ah.” “Excuse me… but Drasen is probably supporting them from behind the scenes.” “I know.”

The Pope said nonchalantly.

At this point, it seemed like the Pope was really crazy, but Quan Obriel calmly continued his questions.

“Will they accept our request for cooperation?” “We have to make them accept it.”

The Pope smiled and continued.

“The Empire’s dedication.”

“That is…”

“Drasen probably doesn’t know the full extent of it yet. Leak the information. What we have.”

***

As usual, Choi Hyun-seok, who had arrived at an unknown hideout, immediately lay down on the dirt floor.

“I won’t do it! I can’t do it!”

“What’s with the tantrum?”

“Even slaves in the old days weren’t worked this hard! I’m a person too!” “Am I not a person?” “That’s why sis is about to die right now.” “…I’m a little tired.”

Park Hyun-ah also slumped against a rock, unlike her usual self.

That was proof of how difficult the last battle had been.

“It’s been a while since I’ve suffered like this… Let’s take it easy now. It’s going to get even harder in the future.”

“Should we…?”

The cardinal hunt that had lasted for a month.

At first, it wasn’t that difficult, but the difficulty increased as the days went by.

The enemy’s defenses became more and more thorough.

And they almost died after falling into a trap.

“Still, we managed to take out all the guys outside the empire.” “Are we going back into the Gatrren Empire again?”

“We have to.”

“We’re screwed…”

It was this hard to hunt cardinals outside of Gatrren.

How hard would it be to deal with cardinals protected inside Gatrren?

Just thinking about it made him sick.

“Hey. At least you leveled up a lot during the month.” “Sis leveled up too.” “No matter how much I level up, I won’t get as strong as you.”

“Ah, right.”

While hunting cardinals, Choi Hyun-seok leveled up a lot.

Because the Hero Quest had been repeating non-stop from a certain point.

“I leveled up 10 levels every time I caught a cardinal. It’s quite lucrative.” “This kind of thing didn’t happen before, it feels like they’re pushing you.” “I’m a legendary hero, so they might as well push me a little.”

Thanks to that, Choi Hyun-seok’s level had risen to the point where he was looking at 1,500.

Level 1,496.

If he cleared the Hero Quest just one more time, he would be able to surpass 1,500.

“But let’s rest for now. My level has risen too rapidly, so I need an adjustment period… I’m too mentally exhausted.” “Okay. Let’s rest for just a week.” “Excellent decision.”

He didn’t want to do anything like this.

He would lie down and not move for at least two days.

At that moment, as he was making that resolution.

Suddenly, the communicator rang.

Wooong…!

“What is it? Why the sudden call?”

When he checked the communicator, it was Olaven Grimier of the Drasen Empire.

Choi Hyun-seok stared at the communicator with narrowed eyes.

He had a feeling that if he answered this, something troublesome would happen.

“Haa, annoying. I want to rest…” “Answer it quickly. It’s annoying me because it keeps ringing.”

“Tch.”

Choi Hyun-seok, who received the communication, spoke with Olaven Grimier.