When the Pope Becomes Competent - Chapter 104



Only Noblemtl

◈104. Grandma, please teach me a trick.

In this situation, the phrase ‘seems qualified’… had a clear meaning.

Still, I asked Grandma Heukwol to confirm.

“Will you teach me how to use a sword?”

“Okay, if you want.”

Grandma Heukwol nodded willingly.

Then he explained why he changed his attitude.

『As I said before, my swordsmanship is one that cannot be learned unless you harbor resentment and have a heart that truly wants to comfort those who remain in this world.』

“Yes, you did.”

『If you are the one who has comforted the sorrow of Seon-gwan and Baek-mae, you will surely be able to understand the deep secrets contained in my swordsmanship.』

While saying so, Grandma Heukwol advised.

“Then, would you like to swing your sword in front of me? I need to see your skill level in detail.”

I immediately swung the Baekhwamyeongwoldo a few times.

The more I swung my sword, the more subtle the expression on Black Moon Grandmother’s face became.

After swinging it about 5 times, Grandma Heukwol said.

“As expected, this is a mess. Even the basic posture isn’t right.”

“Because I’ve never learned it.”

『But it’s not like there’s no hope at all. I see you have a natural sense. In other words… yes, you have talent.』

She said that and continued talking.

『A talent granted only to a very select few. So there is such a thing. When I see things like this, I guess I’m pretty lucky… … ? It’s not easy to take on someone with your level of talent as a disciple.』

“Are you just going to let it float?”

“No, I’m serious. If I help you a little, you’ll improve quickly. Just relax for a moment.”

I tried to relax as I was told.

Then, a strange power flowed into my body from Baekhwamyeongwoldo―

‘My body moves on its own… …?’

My body moved on its own and I held the sword.

It seemed that the spirit of the Black Moon Grandmother contained in the Baekhwamyeongwoldo was possessing my body and correcting my posture.

Grandma Heukwol advised me in that state.

『There are a total of five styles in my sword technique, the ‘Moonyoung Sword Technique’. I’m going to use the first one, the ‘Sharp Crescent Moon’, on your body, so get used to it.』

Black Moon Grandmother, possessed by my body, moved my arm.

Even as I shuddered at the strange sensation of my arms moving on their own, I tried to get used to the position my body was in now.

With the determination to remember even the movement of each and every muscle.

In that state, Grandmother Heukwol demonstrated the first form, “Sharp Crescent Moon.”

“… … !”

It was clearly a sword I had swung with my body.

But the sword held a completely different power than when I swung it carelessly earlier.

The power contained in that way was soon released toward the wall in accordance with the swinging motion.

Saa-

The black energy released in a crescent shape left a long scratch on the wall.

Silently. Just sharply.

I stuck out my tongue as I looked at the wall that was neatly drawn as if measured with a ruler.

“So, let’s try it. The first formula I just showed you.”

As the Black Moon grandmother spoke, she stepped away from my body.

Since she had just demonstrated it to me using my own body, it was much easier to follow along than if I had just watched and learned it.

So I swung the sword, just like that feeling I had just now.

Saa-

The blade cut through the air, making a similar sound.

But the black energy was not released.

It was a natural result, if it was obvious. Because I didn’t know how to release the black energy.

I’ve fired a sword before, but that was only possible because I used the power of my skill.

I have never fired a sword attack with just my own strength without using any skills.

“Again. Straighten your back a little more.”

After hearing her words, I swung my sword again.

It was slightly better than before, but the sharp, crescent-moon-shaped sword energy still didn’t come out.

The expression on the face of Grandma Heukwol, who was watching from the side, became subtle.

『Hmm… … . The movements aren’t bad, but something… is lacking.』

She seemed to be thinking deeply about something, then asked me.

“What were you thinking as you swung your sword?”

“… … ? The breakfast I ate earlier.”

“hmm…….”

After hearing my answer, Grandma Heukwol thought about it for a while and then finally gave a somewhat incomprehensible answer.

“I think it would be good to practice again while looking at the moon at night.”

“The moon…?”

I couldn’t understand why we had to practice again while looking at the moon when we could just train during the day.

So, to me who asked in a bewildered manner, she continued to give me an answer that was still difficult to understand.

“In my opinion, I think it would be a good idea to first practice praying while looking at the moon.”

* * *

After saying that they should practice while looking at the moon, Grandma Heukwol fell asleep again.

Since spirits are also beings that move through energy, they cannot materialize all day long.

For that reason, Baekhwamyeongwoldo became quiet again.

I was planning to just quietly wait for night to come, but before that, unexpected people came to see me.

“Bliss… and Petros?”

I brought the two people who came to the captain’s cabin together inside.

After that, he asked them to sit down.

‘Why did these two come here together? Did Luciana give them some work to do?’

I told Luciana before we left the cathedral.

I think there’s a need to restore their relationship a little.

So I thought maybe Luciana had done something to force a relationship between the two.

After hearing Bliss’s subsequent answer, it seemed like my guess was correct.

“I heard from Sir Luciana. She told me to explore the ship?”

“Oh, that’s right. Did you find anything?”

“There is one.”

As Bliss spoke, she took something out of her bosom.

It was an old book that looked so worn that it almost fell apart.

I took it carefully and read its contents.

As I checked the contents, my eyes gradually grew wider in surprise.

“Could this be… … .”

“This is the journal entry written by one of the soldiers on board the Dawn Star’s Footsteps when it went missing.”

As Bliss answered, it was a journal.

Records of those who survived on this ship before it disappeared.

And on the last page of the record it said:

-I couldn’t avoid the peak of the mountain.

The ship was badly damaged and its power source was also damaged.

Can we survive?

After that sentence, there was no further content written.

‘Did it crash into a mountain peak and get wrecked… … .’

I’ve always wondered.

Why did the Morning Star’s Footsteps ship, which was sent to suppress the civil war, go missing along the way?

Now the mystery has been solved.

Bliss continued,

“When I looked into it myself, it was as it was written, and the damage was severe not only on the outside but also on the inside.”

“It will need repairs to be used properly.”

“Yes. And these too―”

Bliss paused for a moment, opened her inventory, and took out some items.

“These are items found in one of the warehouses. A total of five items were found.”

“You found the item??”

“It seems to be a weapon item that the imperial army had at that time.”

Come to think of it, it seems like a weapon item could have been discovered.

Before it went missing, the Morning Star’s Footsteps was on the move to ‘suppress the civil war.’

I muttered as I scanned the items.

“I unexpectedly got a windfall… … ? Wait, but do I have to return this to the royal family?”

I thought it would be right to return it since it was an item used by the imperial army in the past.

After hearing that story, Bliss was silent for a moment, then smiled.

“We just use it.”

“Is that okay… … ?”

“Your Majesty is the owner of the ship now. So the items on the ship belong to you… and more importantly, the number of items is not that many.”

“Yes, His Majesty will understand. In fact, even though he knew that I had found the Morning Star’s Footsteps, he didn’t ask for it back or anything.”

I nodded and continued speaking.

“Okay, I’ll take a closer look at the items later. I’m busy tonight with a lot of things to do. And as for you guys―”

My words trailed off as I looked back and forth between Bliss and Petros, who was standing quietly beside her.

Then he asked cautiously.

“Does it seem like your hands and feet fit together well?”

I just took a quick look around, wondering if things had been restored between the two of them as I had hoped.

Did the two really become close?

Or should I straighten my face and then let out an awkward laugh?

Bliss and Petros stared at each other as they waited nervously.

Bliss was the first to answer.

“It fits pretty well.”

“Really? Petros, do you think so too? And everything that happened before is okay?”

I asked that and looked at Petros.

I wanted to hear properly whether there was still any lingering resentment from the previous war of nerves.

Petros met my gaze and smiled faintly.

“That’s right, Sonbal. The time Lord Bliss threw the teacup… If I think about it, it was my mistake to speak first.”

Only when I saw the guy’s smile did I feel at ease.

Their relationship has been somewhat restored, if not perfectly.

* * *

Quite some time has passed since I sent them both out.

Finally, the moon rose in the sky, and Black Moon Grandmother also woke up from her sleep.

We came out of the cabin together and stood on the deck to practice.

There, where the skeleton soldiers were lined up, the Black Moon Grandmother spoke.

『When I was alive, I looked up at the moon every night and prayed. For the people I left behind… filled with guilt toward them.』

Black Moon Grandmother opened her eyes, which had been tightly shut, and spoke.

“And after praying like that, I swung my sword once.”

“The sword… … .”

『I swing it once, praying that they are safe… I swing it again, praying that they are happy… … .』

“Was that the sword technique that was created?”

“Yes. It’s a sword technique filled with my guilt.”

Then the Black Moon grandmother said:

『That is, the core of this sword technique is the heart. The heart that cares for someone, the heart that feels affection for someone, the heart that feels sorry for someone, the heart that wants to comfort someone.』

“mind…….”

『Therefore, in order to properly master this swordsmanship, you must put your heart into the sword. The reason your swordsmanship feels awkward is probably because you skipped that process.』

I told him to put his heart into it, but it was too difficult for me to ask.

Up until now, I’ve always relied on the power of skills when attacking, and I didn’t really need to think when using skills.

Because I just recited the skill casting words in my head and the skill was activated accordingly.

As I made a puzzled expression, Grandma Heukwol added an explanation.

『Have you ever felt sorry for someone? If so, think back to that time and try to open the first form.』

I felt sorry… … .

When I heard that, I pictured it in my head.

The face of Baekmae, who believed my lies and left with a smile just before she died.

How I felt when I had no choice but to deceive her.

Then he swung his sword.

Saa-

For a moment, very faintly, a crescent-shaped sword energy was emitted from the tip of the sword.

Heavy guilt towards someone… … .

That heart was shot out as a powerful force that was visible to the eyes.

“Once again. With even more earnestness.”

I looked up at the moon once.

After that, he prayed towards it just like Grandma Heukwol had done, and then cut the air with the tip of his sword.

This time, a dark aura shot out a little darker.

“Wow, that’s amazing. I didn’t know you’d be successful in such a short period of time… … . ”

“Are you good at it?”

“Yes. But it’s not perfect yet. It needs to be more earnest.”

Hearing her words, I felt guilty again.

It wasn’t difficult.

Nickelus is the one who watched the destruction of this world.

Because a huge sense of guilt toward the world faintly lingered in my heart as I inherited Nickelus’s karma.

I drew that heart and lifted the sword―

Saaaaak―

He swung his sword long towards the sea.

Immediately after that, the Black Moon grandmother who had been watching let out a surprised exclamation of “Ah.”