“Oh, you’re thinking this right now, aren’t you? ‘What a pathetic girl, her head is full of flowers~’ or something like that.”
Serentia chuckled as she looked at the Pope’s expression.
The Pope let out a sigh.
“…I wasn’t thinking that far. Though I did think your head was full of flowers.”
“So you did think it. Well, I don’t particularly mind.”
Saying that, Serentia turned her back to the Pope again and began walking through the flower field.
Her delicate and beautiful figure looked truly mysterious.
As the Pope followed behind her, he spoke.
“That’s an overly idealistic statement. The conflict between the Goddess and the Demon God has lasted for far too long. A fairy-tale ending where everyone is happy simply cannot happen.”
“Maybe you’re right.”
“You say that even though you know? If this situation continues, humanity is more likely to be driven back. This is no longer just a war. It’s a struggle for survival. Serentia, you, me, and the children in that mansion… if we lose to the demons, we all might die.”
“That’s true. That would be a truly sad thing. Even now, just thinking about it makes my heart ache.”
“…What?”
Her words sounded as if she had experienced such a thing before.
The Pope, doubting her own ears, asked again, and Serentia smiled as if she had made a mistake.
“Oh, oops. Slip of the tongue. You’re right. If we lose, we might all die.”
“…”
“But Grandma… no, Your Holiness, you know this too, don’t you? The demons are no different.”
“That is…”
“They’re always called the evil spawn of the Demon God, but you’ve been on the front lines often enough to know, haven’t you? They bleed just like we do, they bear responsibilities just like we do. They pick up their weapons to protect their families, they face the fear of death, and in the end, they die in vain, leaving nothing behind.”
“…”
“It’s always been the same. Humans, demons… always the same.”
Serentia murmured meaninglessly for a moment before turning back to the Pope with a smile.
“Your Holiness, you seem to want me to see reality, but I’m not as ignorant and naive as you think. It’s just that looking at reality like a hamster on a wheel changes nothing. The world is always changed by those who dream of something greater. Just like the heroes in stories.”
“…This world is not a story. It is reality.”
“No, the world is also a story. Whether it becomes a romantic fairy tale or a tragic reality depends on the people in it.”
“And how can you be so sure?”
“Sure? I already told you, I simply believe. If anything, it’s closer to faith.”
“…”
“…Faith alone won’t change the world. Especially if you stay here doing nothing. If you want to change the world, you need to act.”
“Then tell me, what should I do?”
“…”
“What should I do to make my dream a reality?”
“Are you asking me that?”
“Well, I still haven’t found the answer. I never have.”
Serentia continued to wander through the flower field.
Watching her, the Pope recalled the first time they met.
***
She had been in this place back then, too.
A vast field of pure white flowers in full bloom.
Upon hearing news of an immense holy presence being detected, the Pope had arrived at the scene—only to find a field of flowers stretching endlessly before her.
“Huh… What in the world…”
The area had originally been barren land.
A wasteland where all life had withered away.
The sight of plants and flowers flourishing there had been utterly bewildering.
But that was not the only miracle.
“…Auu…”
“What is that sound?”
It was a noise like a baby cooing.
The Pope followed the sound to the center of the flower field.
“A baby?”
And sure enough, there was a baby.
Wrapped in the embrace of the flowers and grass, the baby was sleeping peacefully.
But it was no ordinary infant. Unlike typical chubby babies, this one was small and delicate, almost like a tiny fairy rather than a newborn.
A child who looked as if she had been born from the flowers themselves.
At that moment, the Pope instinctively knew—the miracle in this place had been caused by this child.
Wuuung…!
More than anything, the Pope’s divine power resonated with the baby, growing stronger in her presence.
Feeling the overflowing energy of life, she had shivered in awe.
It was a truly divine miracle.
“…Auu…”
Then, the baby’s eyes slowly opened.
Large, mysterious, snow-white eyes reflected the Pope’s image.
And soon, those eyes welled up with tears.
“…Waaah…!”
That cry—the very first sound the girl who always smiled so beautifully had ever made.
After that, the Pope had named the baby Serentia, inspired by the pure white flowers around her, which symbolized the Goddess of Flowers.
She had then taken the child in and raised her in secret.
To the Pope, the baby was like the reincarnation of the Goddess herself.
Knowing that there would be those who sought to take advantage of her, she kept Serentia hidden from the world.
Yet, deep inside, the Pope had always envisioned Serentia as the future saint, the sacred symbol of the Holy Kingdom, and even her own successor.
She believed that, like a divine miracle, Serentia would one day lead humanity to salvation.
But at some point…
Serentia began to long to leave the Holy Kingdom.
She strongly expressed her desire to live with the abandoned children in the place where she was born.
To the Pope, Serentia was like a daughter.
Ignoring her earnest wish had been impossible.
Thus, in the place of Serentia’s birth, where the miracle still lingered, the Pope had built a grand mansion and gathered orphans from all over the world.
And now, here they were.
***
“Serentia, I still don’t understand why you’re so stubborn.”
“…”
“Knowing everything… will you really just stay here, doing nothing, simply believing? Is that truly what you want?”
At those words, Serentia stood still for a moment, gazing up at the sky.
The dazzling sunlight made her lift a hand slightly to shield her vision.
“Your Holiness, have you ever believed in something?”
“…What do you mean all of a sudden?”
“It’s just a simple question. Whether it be heaven, whose existence is uncertain, The Goddess, who only grants us revelations and power, Or even a complete stranger… Have you ever believed in anything?”
“Or… have you ever been the one receiving someone’s faith?”
At Serentia’s question, the Pope fell silent, lost in thought for a moment.
‘Had she ever believed in something? She had spent her entire life believing in God. If not for that faith, she would not be standing here as the Pope.’
‘Had she ever been the recipient of faith? As the Pope, countless people in the Holy Kingdom relied on her.’
‘Many had placed their trust in her, and she had always lived under the weight of that responsibility.’
‘She answered as if it were obvious.’
“Of course. I am the Pope, Serentia.”
“Then… do you think all that faith is meaningless and in vain?”
The Pope fell silent at that question.
For some reason… she could not answer that one.
“Why was that?”
“It isn’t, is it? I think the same way.”
Serentia smiled softly.
“I believe that, in the end, the world loves people.”
“That’s…”
The Pope instinctively wanted to refute her words.
‘There were countless people abandoned by the world.’
‘Cruel nature frequently claimed innocent lives.’
‘The world was nothing but merciless.’
‘And yet, she believed the world loved people?’
Such thoughts were not befitting of a cleric devoted to faith, yet the Pope was a realist.
Even so…
As she recalled their conversation just moments ago, the Pope found herself unable to speak.
Serentia, still gazing up at the sky with her back to the Pope, continued.
“That’s why I’m waiting.”
“…Waiting for what?”
“Hmm…”
“For the person I believe in?”
She tilted her head playfully and smiled mischievously.
The Pope narrowed his eyes.
“…And who might that be?”
***
Meanwhile, in the castle of the Succubus Queen Serentia, Ain (Sung Yohan) made his escape.
Tap, tap!
“Man… the road ahead is long.”
–Grrr!
“Yeah, Kkamang. Without you, it would feel even longer. I really appreciate you.”
–Grrr!
“You don’t like the name Kkamang? Alright, we’ll find a proper naming place later. My naming sense is a bit… terrible.”
Currently, Ain was making his way through the forest, having packed his belongings and mounted a large black wolf—a magical beast.
Yes, a magical beast.
A creature born infused with mana.
The demons had far more advanced techniques for raising such creatures than humans did.
Magical beasts, naturally apex predators in their ecosystems, were not easily tamed.
However, demons had endured countless struggles—internal conflicts, wars, and hardships—before the Demon King’s rise.
Weaker demon species, in particular, had to develop various survival techniques.
One such method was magical beast taming, allowing them to borrow the power of these creatures rather than relying solely on their own strength.
Before Serentia’s ascension, succubi had been among the weaker demon species.
They had used their innate charm abilities to tame magical beasts, ensuring their own survival.
Thus, Serentia’s castle was home to many well-trained magical beasts.
Ain—well, since he was now in Ain’s body, he might as well just call himself Ain—had chosen the largest, healthiest, and most obedient magical beast among them.
And so, he had escaped with Kkamang (temporary name), a giant black wolf.
It was a necessary decision.
Serentia’s castle was deep in demon territory, far from human lands and even farther from the Holy Kingdom, where he had originally belonged.
Walking all that distance was out of the question.
He needed a mount.
And so…
–Grrr!
He now found himself speeding through the forest, riding atop a massive black wolf.
Of course, he had no prior experience in horseback riding—or wolf-riding, for that matter—so getting used to Kkamang had been a challenge at first.
[Mount Riding: Level 3]
“Guess being a player has its perks.”
Perhaps because he was now a player, the system had recognized his actions and created a skill for it, which began leveling up rapidly.
Thanks to that, he was now riding smoothly without issue.
Moreover, Kkamang had taken an unusual liking to Ain, making their journey much easier.
At first, he had simply picked the healthiest, sturdiest, and most obedient magical beast in the stables.
But now, Ain genuinely felt grateful toward Kkamang and even a bit of attachment.
“You’re better company than most people. Let’s stick together forever.”
–Grrr!
Kkamang growled in response.
It seemed to mean “I like that.”
Tap, tap, tap!
The wolf sprinted through the forest with incredible speed, its powerful body never tiring.
As a mount, it was perfect.
Its thick, fluffy fur made for a surprisingly comfortable seat, and Ain figured it would also be great to lean against when sleeping outdoors.
’Without Kkamang, I’d be living out The Revenant right now.’
His life’s genre would have suddenly turned into National Geographic.
‘If not for this wolf, he might’ve had to trudge across hundreds of kilometers for six weeks, just like Hugh Glass.’
‘Of course, unlike Hugh Glass—who went through hell, including getting mauled by a bear—Ain had absurdly overpowered abilities.’
’Still… I wonder if they’re chasing me. There’s no way Serentia didn’t send pursuers after me… Am I just too fast for them?’
As he rode through the forest, Ain considered the possibility.
His escape had indeed been exceptionally swift.
His time-stop ability had affected the entire castle and even the surrounding regions, lasting for nearly a full day.
During that time, he had gathered supplies, mounted Kkamang, and made his escape, far ahead of any pursuers.
Since he could selectively exclude targets from his time-stop, he had frequently paused time while riding, allowing himself and Kkamang to travel while everything else remained frozen.
With such an advantage, it was no surprise that the pursuit had not caught up to him yet.
“…At this rate, I should be able to reach the Holy Kingdom without any issues.”
Even if he encountered trouble, he wasn’t too worried.
His absurd abilities would take care of it.
As long as he didn’t cause unnecessary problems—
“Hey! Stop right there! Move, and you’ll be filled with holes! You and that beast!”
Ain sighed.
“…My mouth is the real problem. So much for a smooth journey.”
He really needed to watch what he said from now on.