Otherworld TRPG Game Master - Chapter 282



Chapter 282 – The Direction of the Divine

The holy city of Trumpet Hall.

From the tall spire of the grand palace, where the subjects could be seen at a glance, a richly dressed child and an adult were engaged in quiet conversation.

If there was a commonality between the two, it was that their garments, adorned with gold leaf, were ill-suited for them.

The child wore a papal robe that was oversized, with sleeves that hung loosely, and the jangling ornaments and large crown were more akin to ‘hanging’ than ‘wearing.’

The adult, too, was clad in a splendid warrior’s armor, but it was evident that he felt uncomfortable, making him appear quite awkward and stifled.

Though their circumstances differed, the two shared similar worries, sending their grievances away on a refreshing breeze.

“The more I learn, the heavier the weight of the crown feels. Part of me thinks I shouldn’t be the pope, while another part feels I must strive hard to become someone worthy of the title…”

“You are doing quite well. You’ve learned to read faster than I have, and now you speak better than I do. You are far better than an incompetent warrior.”

“But Finn, many people praise your name, don’t they? You are a great warrior.”

“That’s precisely what’s so wrong…”

They were none other than the little pope and the warrior Finn.

Despite having gained immense authority as one of the three pillars of the vast organization of the Goddess Church, Finn was filled with the mundane worries of a common citizen. When could he retire? Would his experience as a warrior count as experience?

No… If he submitted an application to the mercenary group he had his eye on, and wrote on that document, “Experience as a warrior,” it would only lead to unnecessary complications and troublesome situations.

Specifically, he feared it would lead to someone saying, “You were a warrior? Then you must be strong! Go capture that ogre!” and he would be burdened with excessive tasks.

Should he change his name? Something like Ping…

As Finn grumbled inwardly, he surprisingly found that his reputation as a warrior was not bad. In the midst of all the fallen warrior candidates being expelled, his ‘proof of purity’ had become a significant religious standing.

His humble conduct had also become a virtue admired by many.

Thus, the little pope thought. If he could emulate Finn, who managed so well in the heavy role of a warrior, perhaps he too could become someone worthy of the papal position.

Eager to grow up, the little pope gazed up at Finn and asked,

“How did you become a warrior? How can one fulfill their duty as a person?”

“…I didn’t want to become a warrior.”

“But you haven’t quit, have you? If it truly feels heavy and burdensome, you could pass the warrior title to someone else and step down. I think that aspect of you is truly admirable.”

No, that’s not it.

The pink-haired agent threatened you with, “If you don’t do it, you’ll be finished.”

It’s not that you couldn’t put it down; it’s that you couldn’t let it go.

But the pure-hearted boy was just a bit too inexperienced to grasp the intricate and mysterious circumstances surrounding Pin. Since he couldn’t see the cardinals pinching flesh beside Pin, he thought everything was solely a matter of his will.

The longing gaze sparkled.

“Enduring the weight and taking on responsibility, seeing Pin grumble yet hold his ground… that’s a tremendous, tremendous. He, huh?”

[Correction: Strength (noun) – something that aids or supports work or activity.]

“It’s a tremendous strength. I’m always grateful, Sir Pin. I want to gather my courage and become a wonderful pope, just like you!”

“……..”

Bright-eyed.

The hero Pin was sweating profusely under that gaze.

It was indeed better not to get entangled…

It was at a gathering where the most important figures of the Goddess Church were introduced that hero Pin first saw the little pope. He wished he could have just pretended not to notice, but he had ended up hearing the story from Saint Tara.

Being manipulated like a puppet by the old and ugly cardinals, his tender skin bore bruises, and he couldn’t even learn to speak properly.

Saint Tara and Saint Assistant Niore tried to look after the little pope, but both were generally busy. They were occupied with tracking down and eliminating the scattered cardinals of the heretical faction, improving the system, and rolling around with all sorts of tasks.

So, even though he bore the title of hero… Pin, who was essentially a face for the crowd and had plenty of time to spare, thought he should take it upon himself to care for the little pope.

He would drop by every day to share meals.

He would call in priests to study together.

Following the old adage that too much work would hinder a child’s proper growth, he would hand him branches to play tag or hide-and-seek.

As a result, it seemed they had become too close.

The little pope was a genius. Just a little conversation revealed his extraordinary nature, and it seemed he was now directly communicating with the goddess. On the other hand, what about himself? Just an ordinary person who had ended up in the hero’s seat due to sheer misfortune.

It didn’t fit. Just as nobles and commoners wouldn’t dine together, a pope and a mere mercenary shouldn’t sit at the same table. Yet, even while thinking that…

“Pin, what traditional ceremony are we studying today? Ah. If you’re busy and have work piling up like Tara, I’ll just read in the library.”

“I’m never busy. Today, we’ll learn about the wisdom of the ancient saints through a treasure hunt.”

“Oh, it’s the tale of Saint Virtuoso! I’m really looking forward to it!”

From noble mtl dot com

“…Yes, uh, whatever. That tale is correct. I’ve hidden paper cranes all around this palace on my way here, and you should find them quickly before the lady priests clean them up!”

“…………!!”

The little pope flitted around the entrance of the spire in a flurry. He thought he should hurry to find them, but it was dangerous for his still-growing body to climb the ladder.

Hero Pin, like a game character with tangled commands, scooped up the little pope, who was spinning around, and descended from the spire.

After all, where would he go, leaving behind a child who was bursting with the desire to play?

Just… a few more months like this. With Bennett, Tara, and Niore—those who hold real power—firmly establishing their foundation, the commotion in the Holy City will settle down, and when this little one grows a bit more.

Then, even if it’s not me, there will be plenty of people to take care of the Pope, and I can finally escape from being the Hero Pin and return to being Mercenary Pin.

But reality is a harsh mistress.

Soon enough, Hero Pin will receive the following proposal from the goddess.

[Proposal: Accept the position of Godfather and receive 35 free benefits.]

“W-wait… Hero Pin. The goddess is asking if you could become my godfather. But what is a godfather? A big axe?”

“…”

The Pope’s godfather. Just writing that would make it an incredibly burdensome position.

However, if it’s just to be a companion to a little child, then it shouldn’t be too much to handle, Pin thought, and he accepted the proposal. In that moment, his future of being recorded in history was sealed.

—

“Are you not Hero Pin? You’re quite punctual, haha… You’ve arrived just on time.”

The man with sky-blue hair scratched his messy head with a sheepish expression as he greeted Pin. At first glance, he seemed like a friendly uncle.

His name was Dakiten Julius. Former Cardinal, former military priest, and now…

“Hello, Cardinal Dakiten… Why have you summoned me today?”

“That will be explained by the Saintess.”

He was the man who had regained his position as Cardinal with the rise of the ‘Reformists.’

Pin cautiously took a seat in the empty chair, waiting for the main characters to arrive. Unlike him, who held a mere title of Hero, these three truly commanded the core of the Goddess Church.

Thud, thud. The sound of footsteps echoed, overlapping, as the door opened.

And they appeared, arm in arm, in the order of woman-man-woman. If they had been anyone else, Pin might have thought them distasteful, but he knew they were monsters. Afraid to meet their gaze, he lowered his head deeply.

‘Saintess’ Tara.

Though her status as a saintess had been revoked by the goddess, she continued to act as one by siphoning divine power from others (as told by the little Pope). She used to be famous for her revealing outfits, but now she had quieted down.

‘Saintess Assistant’ Niore Restman.

At first, she seemed like an ordinary, friendly woman, with some part of her body standing out, but she was the one who orchestrated the ‘Great Purge’ in the Holy City. With her keen insight, she swiftly identified and eliminated the remnants of the ousted Cardinals.

‘Sword of the Saintess’ Bennett Hilton.

A paladin who infiltrated the dark sorcerer faction as a double agent and achieved remarkable feats in thwarting their plans. Her combat prowess was beyond question, and recently, for reasons unknown, she had also opened trade routes with the elves.

Above all, she was the modern ‘Hero’ chosen by the Holy Sword.

[Note: He is a temporary administrator. (Message sent due to free benefits)]

“…I don’t understand what’s different. Oh Goddess.”

Pin was confused by the goddess’s interjecting voice.

The unfolding of events was as follows.

There was no way to restore the spaghetti code twisted by the wicked cardinals in one fell swoop. Yet, one could not simply sit idly by; to prevent someone from exploiting it and to elevate the status of the “Reformists,” it was imperative to somehow obtain the authority of the “Holy Sword.”

Thus, with the help of the little pope, a list of constraints was drawn up.

In the hero selection process, the hero must bend their left pinky toe, the total amount of divine power must meet a certain threshold, and they must be a master of the sword. Among countless conditions, one stood out.

The hero must be of a certain bloodline. This condition was the most malicious of all.

“The cardinals have been relentless in disposing of records, making it difficult to find, but… I eventually discovered it. The previous hero belonged to the Restman family.”

“Are you saying that Niore is of the hero lineage?! Then Niore could be the hero…?”

“But if you ask whether they are a master of the sword…”

Even if the bloodline was satisfied, the other conditions remained ambiguous.

Thus.

“O Goddess, I will marry Niore and raise a child. That child will possess both the bloodline and the environment, thus having a high probability of becoming a ‘Hero.’ In that case, wouldn’t I also be considered a hero by bloodline, at least temporarily?”

[Warning: A sandcastle built on fallacies is bound to collapse. Only procedures are correct. However, recognizing that there is an error in the system—here is a temporary procedure to accommodate that fallacy.]

The sincerity was commendable, meaning they would grant him a single chance.

But this plan had a hidden danger. Tara, who lit up at the news of the marriage.

“…Bennett, do you want to be stabbed in the side?”

“I wouldn’t leave you alone. Tara, how about we get married together?”

– So, does that mean there will be two brides at one wedding, Bennett? How greedy of you.

Thus, Bennett held a joint wedding with Tara and Niore, and his sister, Verda, who had awakened from a time long past, was left in a peculiar shock.

When she regained consciousness, she found herself with two new sisters-in-law…?

Then, after the little pope struggled to gradually change the system, the temporary administrator appointment process was successfully carried out.

[Declaration: Bennett Hilton is assigned as the “Temporary Hero.”]

And so.

With the marriage, Tara’s anxieties were completely dispelled, and she decided to reserve her wild and bold attire for the bed.

At last, the chaste saint (not a saint) of the Goddess Church has returned!

—

The reason the members of the “Reformists” gathered in one place was as follows.

“How shall we wield the power of the Goddess? We must decide this.”

“…Dakitten, how did your predecessor use it?”

“As you know, for personal gain.”

“I can’t even take that as a reference.”

This was precisely about determining the direction the Goddess Church would take.

What should we truly do with the power of the divine?

The fallen cardinals were only earnest in elevating their own power and extending their lifespans, so the various welfare policies and processes of good deeds that the old goddess cult once provided had all devolved into mere remnants, existing only as shadow institutions.

A complete zero base. Heading into the unknown.

Tara ground her teeth.

“… I want to kill the cardinal.”

“With all due respect, the current cardinal is me, Saint.”

“I want to kill all the former cardinals who were excommunicated. Is that acceptable?”

“Enough chit-chat. Let’s move on with the discussion.”

The power of the goddess is formidable but rigid. What they needed to do was to reshape the system of the goddess, to make the world a better place.

The little pope was the first to propose an idea.

“What if we ask the goddess to make everyone happy?”

It was a pure wish. The adults in the room smiled warmly, their hearts swelling with affection.

“How admirable!”

– We must have a child like that, Bennett.

“That ideal is certainly worthy of our pursuit. Thank you for your good suggestion, Pope. Would you like some candy?”

As Bennett offered a piece of candy, the little pope shook his head.

“Hehe… I can’t have candy; it’ll rot my teeth. I’ll just take your good intentions, Shadow Hero Bennett.”

“… Who gave you that title?”

“Hero Pin did.”

As Bennett turned his head toward Pin, Pin subtly turned his head in the opposite direction, muttering to himself. Shadow Hero? Isn’t that right? He’s taken all the real power while hiding the title of hero.

Bennett’s party took turns sharing their thoughts.

“To plunge someone into the abyss of evil is desperation. We must provide a way out for those cornered. The goddess cult must become a star for someone.”

“We need to wipe out the heretics, those who sow discord, those who have power but do not share it. Eventually, the cockroaches will boil over. The goddess cult needs periodic purification.”

– Hmm… I learned this from my roommate Selvier. For a person to grow and confront themselves, trials are necessary. What if we set up something like a trial tower at the academy…?

The little pope listened to their declarations with sparkling eyes, then fixed his gaze on Hero Pin.

“What about you, Pin?”

“Me? Uh, um…”

“What do you think, Pin? From what I hear, all three of your words seem important. It’s really troubling. What should the goddess cult prioritize?”

At the pope’s words, all eyes turned to Pin. He broke into a cold sweat, desperately racking his brain, and finally just… blurted out what he felt in life.

“Well, I think… it would be nice if we could get some food. Most people have unstable incomes, including mercenaries. Those who go hungry often end up becoming bandits or thugs…”

Finn glanced around after speaking, wary of the reactions.

What if they scolded him for offering an unnecessary opinion? His heart raced, but surprisingly, the response was not bad. In fact, it was quite positive.

“Food aid, huh? Sounds good.”

“Right, we could just raid the assets of those exploitative priests to get it started.”

– Yes, rather than grand gestures, we should focus on what we can do right now…

Ding ding ding!

The little pope’s gaze of respect was almost painful. No, I just said something obvious. Who in the world likes being hungry? It wasn’t anything grand or special.

And so, the initiative was pushed forward with radical speed.

The Renewal Goddess Church chose free food distribution as its first welfare policy, and Tara busily ran around to drain the resources of the sinful clergy.

Moreover, since the idea for this policy came from the hero Finn, his name was prominently displayed, leading him to seriously consider cosmetic surgery after retirement.

Time passed.

The accumulated history of corruption could not be erased in an instant, and goodwill was easily tainted by malice. Yet, it was clear that the massive entity of the Goddess Church was finally moving towards a brightly shining path.

The Goddess Church stabilized quickly, and while a few old cardinals still stirred up trouble from the outside, they would overcome it.

[Expression: ^_^]

Up in the sky, the goddess of machinery burst into laughter after a long time.

—

Later.

“Hero Finn?”

“Oh, yes. Saintess.”

“The organization is stable now… and we’re in a good situation, closely cooperating with the second prince. I’ll just go get my academy diploma. As a memento of our honeymoon. So, I’ll leave it to you, okay?”

“What? No, no, there’s work to do, wait a minute! How can you just take a break like this…!!”

Hero Finn was caught off guard.