The Villain’S Daughter-In-Law Is Inherently Powerful [EN]: Chapter 160

“Ah, but it’s not like I’m doing anything with people’s bodies. Nor am I using lifespans for the Art [a type of magic or power]. The Art constructs end up dying, but to be precise, it uses the malice within people’s hearts.”

“You’re saying you can use something without substance for the Art? Is that even possible?”

“There was someone who surprisingly made it possible.”

The story wasn’t good, which was probably why he hadn’t told me until now.

But hearing this story, thoughts began to intertwine in my head like fireworks exploding.

“A long time ago, Raheen turned the world into winter, right? Wasn’t the Pope the one who took the lead in sealing Raheen back then?”

“That’s right, Florin.”

Ian answered me as I was lost in thought. I quickly turned my head and urgently asked Ian.

“Ian, do you know who leads the fanatics in the Holy Empire, or anything about the forces behind them?”

“I’ll look into it.”

Ian seemed to immediately understand what I was saying.

Instead of thinking it’s impossible, if you keep all possibilities open from the start…

What if the Pope is a descendant of that sinner?

Raheen is full of malice in her heart.

She seems like the perfect material for the Art.

Is he trying to use Raheen for his revenge?

‘Let’s say he couldn’t summon my dad to this land before because he didn’t have any weaknesses. So, he sealed Raheen to wait?’

It’s a plausible story.

The Pope just had to wait.

For some meaningful change to happen over time.

For an opportunity to drag my dad down from his throne.

‘Then, because I showed up, Raheen finally became useful. So, he moved the fanatics to release Raheen from the seal.’

It might be a huge leap, but sometimes these things turn out to be the answer.

And there was only one way to confirm it.

Have Hwairan hang around the Pope and provoke him.

“Excuse me, Saintess!”

But that’s when it happened.

Sandy’s voice came from outside the door.

No wonder Ian and Hwairan had been quiet since earlier.

“Yes, what is it?”

I stood up and approached the door, turning back one last time before opening it.

But the room was already empty.

“His Holiness the Pope is calling for you!”

“The Pope?”

“Oh, come on! You should say ‘His Holiness.’ Hurry up! After your meeting, let’s have dinner together.”

A gentle breeze came in through the open window.

Sandy, who was peeking over my shoulder, tilted her head as if something was strange.

“Why did you leave the window open like that?”

“I felt stuffy.”

“I see. The carriage ride must have been tough. But there’s a party starting tomorrow! Oh, and the food here is so delicious. I’m going to fill my belly first thing tomorrow…”

I left Sandy, who was engrossed in her own words, and turned slightly to look at Retina.

‘Shh.’

It’s a secret. Got it?

Since Retina couldn’t speak and wasn’t the type to betray me, I wasn’t worried.

Leaving Retina behind, I followed Sandy.

‘From the moment they let us into the castle, His Majesty the Emperor must be watching.’

He must know the Pope is being watched.

Yet, I was curious what he was going to say to me.

* * *

The place the Pope suggested for the meeting was surprisingly the courtyard.

A courtyard is a small garden located in the middle of buildings, usually with three sides blocked by walls.

I glanced at the darkening sky and slowly moved my feet.

“Welcome, Florin.”

“Why did you call me?”

I grumbled, acting as if I was annoyed by the bother, and the Pope, who was already there, smiled.

“I called you because I thought you might be forgetting something.”

“……I didn’t forget.”

“Then that’s good.”

The Pope tapped my chest with his index finger. Before I could even register feeling bad about it, I gasped and knelt down.

Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.

My chest felt like it was being torn apart.

I bit my lip at the unfamiliar pain and clutched my chest with trembling hands.

“It hurts, doesn’t it? Poor you.”

The Pope looked down at me and patted my shoulder.

His emotionless eyes sent shivers down my spine.

“How painful would it be to die from your heart exploding? Right?”

“……Why, why are you doing this to me! Why are you doing this!”

“Well, you seem to be living a good life these days.”

The Pope raised the corner of his lips. But his eyes were so cold.

“I called you because you seemed to have forgotten as if it never happened, Florin. You always remember only the good things, don’t you?”

The Pope wouldn’t kill me now.

I knew that, but the fear of death crept in.

‘It hurts so, so much.’

Pale, I couldn’t get up even after the extreme pain subsided.

It felt like each rib was being forced outward.

‘Dad… Father. I miss you.’

The Pope didn’t help me up and walked past me.

I bit my lip and swallowed the curses inside.

‘Hwairan must have gained something.’

It had to be worth this pain.

* * *

On the way out after leaving the Saintess.

The Pope looked down at his hand and frowned.

‘A sense of unease. Yes, this is a sense of unease.’

He had called Florin to check if the Divine Power Bomb was properly implanted. It was also to push her to kill Raheen by giving her pain.

So far, everything had gone as he wanted.

But why did he feel so uneasy?

He kept feeling like he was missing something.

It was a sense of unease he had felt ever since he heard that Florin had picked up a dirty beggar child a while ago.

‘I don’t know why she seems like a different person.’

The Pope clicked his tongue and swept back his hair.

Of course, it didn’t matter how Florin was.

It didn’t matter if she had truly repented or was a completely different person.

His only concern now was Raheen, the Saintess of the Magic Empire.

She was the daughter of the hateful King of Arkhalik.

‘The time for revenge has finally come.’

The Pope, George, was the son of an Arkhalik who had fallen to this land a long time ago.

Most Arkhaliks considered falling to the ground a disgrace and ended their own lives, but his father was different.

His father carefully chose a woman, married her, and had children.

And he repeated this act several times.

Until a child was born who could use the Art like an Arkhalik.

George was the result of his father’s 17th attempt.

That’s how George learned the Art from his father. At the same time, he learned what kind of country Arkhalik was and about the old monster, the ‘King,’ who was entrenched there.

The King is conservative. He hates evolution. He tries to monopolize strong power only for himself.

That’s why his father was kicked out.

“George, remember. That great King only exerts strong power within Arkhalik. When he comes down to the lower realm, he can’t even use half of his original power.”

“Yes, Father.”

“So, look for an opportunity to drag him down to this land. I will die early because my dantian [energy center in the body] is destroyed, but you won’t. You will live a long life like an Arkhalik, so take revenge for me.”

George engraved his father’s words in his heart.

It was after he became an adult that he realized he also had Divine Power.

George decided to seize power in this land with Divine Power.

Of course, it was a meager power at first, so he had to start as a low-ranking priest.

George took care of the dirty work of the higher-ranking priests and learned about the corruption of the temple.

After some time, he would fake his death, put on a new mask, and re-enter the temple.

As time passed, George didn’t age, but the priests aged and died.

After about 100 years, no one knew more about the temple than George.

Around that time, George began to plan to make himself Pope.

He had the weaknesses of many people in his grasp, so it wasn’t difficult to make them do as he wanted.

How long had he lived as Pope?

Suddenly, a ‘Saintess’ descended into the world.