Chapter 13: The unyielding Pope
“Do you believe in Anri Sama〜!?”
“OWAA!?”
After completing shopping for miscellaneous goods such as medicinal herbs, a voice was suddenly directed from the front towards Reiji’s group upon making their way to the shrine with the entrance of the dungeon. As it was abrupt and there was no indications beforehand too, Reiji instinctively let out a scream unintentionally.
The voice had been directed from a blond young man dressed in a regal priest clothes and holding a black staff. Although he has a well proportioned face, his long awaited appearance was ruined with a smile on the whole of his face while sidling up.
“Ah, Mr. Pope.”
“This is…Tena sama, it’s been a while.”
When Tena called out to the person and started a conversation cheerfully, that person bowed reverently back. By the way, the 2 person, Orlaine and Eligor are secretly keeping a distance away from that place due to a series of events.
Frankly speaking……. they ran away.
“Po, Pope?”
“Yes, I am called Harvin, serving as the Pope of this country.”
The blond hair youth introduced himself as the first generation pope of Holy Anri Thearchy to Reiji and gave a light bow.
“Ermm, when you say the Pope, it’s the top of this country right? Why is such a person here……..”
They were at the entrance of the sanctuary just directly beside it’s opened doors. Even as a joke, It’s no place for the head of state to be waiting. Of course, although there is no mystery and it isn’t strange for there to be a Pope in the sanctuary, the image of a head of state is typically more profound and upper cla.s.sed, and Reiji was of the same impression too.
“That is of course, to proselytize to the new visitors.”
“???”
Although the Pope declares it clearly with an expression full of confidence, Reiji who heard that was even more puzzled.
However, the Pope is not concerned about the state of such a Reiji and continues speaking
“For new visitors to the shrine, I present you this.”
“Eh? Oh, yes. Thank you……”
The Pope produce a black bound book from somewhere and presents it to Reiji.
Although Reiji did not know what it was, he tries to receive it while giving his thanks by reflex.
At that moment……
“That is no good!”
“Do not touch it!”
“Kaa-!”
Including Tena beside, Orlaine and Eligor who should be keeping their distance and the crow on Tena’s shoulder while you are at it, intervenes in a hurry.
“Ha? Eh?”
“Whoa, everyone. Could you not interfere with the missionary work……”
Due to the confusion caused by the threatening att.i.tude of the 3 person , Reiji stiffens in the posture with a hand held out to receive the book.
On the other hand, the Pope told of his complaint towards them in a dissatisfied voice.
“It should have been said by Anri sama to stop giving the sacred scripture to the visitors incessantly. Mr. Reiji, you will be cursed by touching the book! As the curse will not be lifted unless a copy is written and pa.s.sed over to someone else, absolutely do not touch it please.”
“WOAH!?”
Tena express a warning towards the Pope like that, and together a warning towards Reiji.
Reiji who heard that withdrew his hands that was held out in a panic and moved backwards.
The black scripture.
However, the misfortune that occurs are trivial things such as 10 yen balding, and it has given rise to various speculation in contradiction with the strength of the curse.
In order to lift the curse, it is necessary to make a ma.n.u.script of the scripture and hand it over to someone else, and because the curse is placed into the transcribe copy, it had scattered throughout the world causing damage to each country.
“No no, I’m sorry. That was just a habit……”
“To distribute it to such an extent that it becomes a habit……”
To the Pope who was apologizing without a timid appearance, Reiji was muttering in an amazed state while holding his head with his hands.
“Didn’t Anri sama already order you to put an end to it?”
“Please forgive that.”
The Pope bow deeply while putting away the sacred book to the reproving Tena with her hands on her hips.
“Kaa-”
Incidentally, there is no need to report as Anri overheard looking through her familiar on Tena’s shoulder, however there was no way for him to know.
“By the way, what kind of business does everyone have today?”
“Pretending the exchange up till just now didn’t exist…….”
Reiji broke into cold sweat to the Pope who changed his att.i.tude in the blink of an eye.
At the same time, he understood deeply why the moment this character approached, Orlaine and Eligor ran away in order to put a distance between them.
I wanted you to say it earlier if possible.
When the 2 person saw the look with that emotion put in, they diverted their eyes.
“After this I am planning to enter the underground dungeon.”
“I see, certainly. Then, this way please.”
Saying so, the Pope guided them and set foot into the depth of the sanctuary.
Although Tena and Orlaine and Eligor too knows the entrance of the dungeon so a guide is unnecessary, they arrived following his escort after a while.
“Still, it is strange to build the dungeon below the sanctuary.”
“Is it safe to have a dungeon at the bas.e.m.e.nt of the shrine? Monsters may come out from there……”
“Please be a.s.sured. The monsters in the dungeon are forbidden to go out by Anri sama. They never come out from the ground.”
The Pope answered pleasantly to Reiji who stated a question while walking.
It seems nice to him to even speak of Anri’s great achievements and his voice is light and springy too.
In the end, they finally arrived as intended at the deepest part of the shrine on ground floor in front of the stairs leading to the underground levels.
Reiji shuddered involuntarily as an ominous atmosphere was come through the large solemn looking door even though it was firmly with shut.
While she was heard saying that this is the safest dungeon in the world, it did not seem to be so from the atmosphere he experienced.
“Now, this is the entrance to the dungeon. Therefore……”
The Pope stood in front of the door and turned around to inform Reiji’s group.
“Please put 1 silver coin per person, a total of 4 pieces into the offering box.”
“M, Me too?”
“……Well, I knew it.”
Reiji and Tena were surprised by the Pope’s words, but Orlaine and Eligor muttered as they gave up.
An entrance fee has been established for the dungeon ‘Sanctuary of the Evil G.o.d’, and one silver coin is needed for each person. Of course, Orlaine and Eligor who challenged this dungeon as a challenger before had known about that.
Tena naturally also knows of it in the meaning of knowing it, but she did not thought that it applies to herself as a resident on the side of the dungeon.
“Although getting money from Tena smaa is painful for me, it’s the strict order of Anri sama that n.o.body should be an exception……”
“Kaa-”
Tena utters a resentful cry. As for Anri, she had not expected her to challenge the dungeon as a challenger, and although she would have withdrawn it if she was in this place, it’s hopeless since she isn’t.
Nothing can be done even if she grasp the situation through her familiar.
When Tena gives up, she took out 4 silver coins from the pouch and threw it into the offering box installed by the side.
“Thank you for your continued patronage.”
Behind the bowing Pope, the large door at the entrance of the dungeon opens by itself.
When it has opened fully, the Pope stepped to the side and cleared the path.
“Then, I’ll pray for your fortune of war.
So that you will have divine protection of Anri Sama.”
Pope who does as he pleases “Hmmm, that’s too bad. the proselytizing was a failure huh…Oh, a new believer prospect came.”
Although this work has been continuously updated everyday from the release date of the previous work ‘Evil G.o.d Average’, the story has been acc.u.mulating from when submission started up till now.However, as I continue to write after that, there will be daily update for a little while more.