Chapter 70 (2/2): The Pope Arrives

Pope Dillen…

Joey had seen her once before.

It was back when the Entia Kingdom and the Kingdom of Chunai were fighting their so-called Holy War, and he had seen her through a Crystal Ball from a distance.

Only… the Pope Dillen of the past seemed quite different from the slender woman currently standing before him.

At the very least — she had not been this young.

The previous Pope had worn a veil, her hair was ash-gray, and while her figure had not completely lost its shape, the crow’s feet at the corners of her eyes had been visible.

Joey could tell back then that the woman was at least sixty years old.

But the woman standing behind the guards now had long, jet-black hair, a lithe figure, and an incredibly enchanting face.

However, while her features were alluring, her expression was cold and arrogant.

And…

‘Wow. They’re huge…’

Joey glanced at her inadvertently, marveling in his heart.

He didn’t have any profane intentions.

He was simply wondering, ‘Aren’t they a bit too big…?’

Joey narrowed his eyes.

Although his Demon King rank had dropped to Level 1, he could still use his abilities to see the flow of others.

‘Ah… as I thought… this Pope is also very suspicious…’

The boy looked as if he had found something interesting, and a playful glint appeared in his eyes.

‘Eh? Wait… what am I happy about? I’m about to be handled by this woman…’

While Joey was grumbling to himself, Zilan began to introduce him.

“Pope Dillen, this is Joey.”

Zilan smiled gently from the side and pushed Joey toward Dillen.

“Joey, pay your respects to the Pope,” Zilan commanded.

‘Ah… I am a slave, after all.’

Joey curled his lip inwardly.

Following Zilan’s example, he bowed to Pope Dillen.

Pope Dillen arched an eyebrow as she looked at the little fellow.

“Is this the new candidate for the Saint Child?”

Dillen’s golden eyes glowed slightly as she began to scrutinize Joey from head to toe.

When those eyes landed on him, Joey felt as if he were being stripped naked and presented right in front of her.

It was a blunt and revolting gaze — at least, Joey found it revolting.

Because it was the Light Attribute Magic exclusive to the Church, and he was the Demon King, it felt as if something disgusting was shining all over his body.

Joey didn’t show his discomfort directly; he merely gave a slight shudder.

Dillen stared at Joey with those glowing gold eyes for a long time.

Her expression shifted into one of pleasant surprise, and she then waved at the guards, signaling for them to withdraw.

Only Joey, Zilan, and Dillen remained in the room.

Pope Dillen flashed a smile at Zilan.

“Archbishop Zilan, where on earth did you find such a treasure?”

“His Magic source is so overflowing… if this little guy becomes the Saint Child, he could probably preach to a whole battalion of warriors.”

As Dillen spoke, she reached out to place her hand on Joey’s cheek.

But just as she was about to touch him, a wave of revulsion rose in the boy’s heart, and he took two steps back.

‘Don’t touch me with those disgusting old hands…’

However, Dillen’s hands were not old as the boy had claimed; they were fair, tender, and smooth.

Seeing Joey resist, a flicker of displeasure crossed Dillen’s eyes.

That displeasure soon transformed into a smile as she looked at Zilan.

“He truly is a natural-born candidate for the Saint Child…”

Zilan nodded from the side.

“There shouldn’t be anyone in this world more suitable than Joey to be the Saint Child.”

Dillen turned her gaze back to Joey.

“Joey, where is your home?”

Zilan was just about to use the background she had prepared to answer Dillen, but Joey interrupted her.

Joey looked at Dillen with a smile and said, “Pope Dillen, I am the eldest son of a common Summoner family from the Kingdom of Chunai.”

“The Kingdom of Chunai.”

Dillen raised an eyebrow.

“Although the Entia Kingdom is open to education, I didn’t expect a student from the Kingdom of Chunai to come here to study.”

After all, they were former enemy nations, so his identity was naturally a bit sensitive.

Zilan breathed a sigh of relief.

She had thought the little guy was going to blow his top at a critical moment and offend the Pope.

‘He truly is a Demon King… even though he is usually arrogant and overbearing, he can still remain calm after losing his Magic and being humiliated by me for so long.’

Joey continued his exchange with Zilan.

He bowed slightly and looked at her respectfully.

“Although I am a citizen of the Kingdom of Chunai, my heart has always yearned for a highly developed country like the Entia Kingdom… not to mention the much purer religious culture here. I love this country. In my heart, I have long been a citizen of the Entia Kingdom.”

The lines Joey had just delivered were merely rare speeches he remembered from television dramas in his previous life.

As for why he was flattering the Pope… Joey naturally had his own reasons.

Hidden in the pocket of his Saint Son Uniform was that black Magic Sword…

He had thought it would be a nuisance, but at the critical moment, he would need to rely on it.

Joey already had his own plan.

A Demon King pretending to be a Saint Child… infiltrating the inner circle of the Entia Kingdom… a plot like this was enough to make him smirk a little.

As Joey was fantasizing, Pope Dillen walked up to him in her stiletto heels.

‘Ah… he’s actually a boy who harbors such goodwill and expectations for an enemy nation… He probably doesn’t know what he’s about to face, does he? I wonder what kind of despairing expression you’ll make when I perform the Body Inspection later…’

The anticipation in Dillen’s eyes grew even stronger.

“Well then, Master Joey.”

Dillen leaned down slightly, and the immense weight on her chest became even more exaggerated.

“Since you’re so interested in the Entia Kingdom… do you know what you’ll have to face as the Saint Child?”

Joey nodded obediently.

“I know. The Saint Child is the most dreamed-of profession for all boys in the Entia Kingdom. I will also have the chance, like Pope Dillen, to fight on the battlefield and die for the country! Those people with the mindset of the Kingdom of Chunai will never understand these things.”

The boy’s eyes seemed to sparkle.

He clenched his fists and spoke with an air of heroism.

Zilan was momentarily stunned by his attitude.

‘This Joey… what on earth is he planning now?’

Zilan suddenly became twice as guarded.

She narrowed her eyes at Joey, who was acting like an obedient boy.

However, the Pope didn’t see through the boy’s act.

Her expectations for this youth were growing higher and higher.

“Since you know what you have to do… then let’s begin the Body Inspection.”

The Pope’s expression remained arrogant.

She ruffled Joey’s soft hair and began to prepare for the inspection.

‘Here it comes…’

Joey watched the approaching Pope.

Through his Saint Son Uniform, he touched the Magic Sword pendant in his pocket.

It was still there.

‘Master… are you finally going to awaken me?’

The Magic Sword spoke to Joey through the cloth.

‘Shut up… don’t ruin things for me. You just stay on standby.’

Joey replied with his thoughts.

The Magic Sword’s voice was filled with excitement.

‘Master, that day has finally come…’

‘I told you, shut up…’

The boy ignored the Magic Sword and watched the Pope, who was about to inspect him, take off her outer coat.

Joey then turned to look at Zilan with a provocative gaze.

It was as if he were saying, ‘Even if that old hag gets to do it, you can only watch…’

This look made Zilan feel a bit unpleasant.

‘Why… why is there a sudden trace of reluctance in my heart?’

Zilan turned her head away.

‘It must be an illusion.’

However, the Pope, who had just removed her coat, looked at her own hand and frowned.

A hint of surprise appeared in Dillen’s eyes.

She remained silent for a moment, then hid her hand behind her back.

She turned to look at Zilan.

“Zilan, for this Body Inspection, I might need you to take my place.”