When the Pope Becomes Competent - Chapter 105



Only Noblemtl

◈105. Ghosts’ Ballroom

A crescent-shaped black aura stretched out into the sea.

For some reason, the sword energy I shot was larger and clearer than the sword energy that Grandma Heukwol had shown me as a demonstration before.

Maybe it was because I had poured out all the enormous guilt I had been holding inside, just as she had told me.

Grandma Heukwol, who had briefly exclaimed at the sight of my sword, soon broke her silence.

“You did it. I just showed you how to do it once.”

“You did a good job, right?”

“It’s absolutely perfect.”

Grandma Heukwol nodded slowly and suddenly asked.

『I’m more curious than that. What guilt did you have that allowed you to successfully create such a perfectly sharp crescent moon?』

“It’s just… I’ve committed great sins against many people before.”

The giant monster I had seen when I was settling my karma with the help of the seon-gwan came to mind.

A lump made up of many things.

And the resentment of the people who cried within it… … .

Their voices still seemed to ring in my ears.

After hearing my answer, Grandma Heukwol quietly nodded her head.

“It’s a sin… … . Same as me.”

Is she also remembering her own sins?

A bitter smile appeared on his wrinkled lips.

“Perhaps you can master my swordsmanship even more perfectly than I can.”

After that, Grandmother Black Moon instructed me to swing the sword a few more times.

I followed suit and tried the sharp crescent moon several more times, and eventually I was able to perfect it as my technique.

* * *

Having practiced swordsmanship all night, I took a short nap when the others began to wake up one by one.

I opened my eyes again when Luciana shook my shoulder, waking me up.

“Your Majesty, we have arrived at the dungeon.”

“iced coffee.”

“But are you sleeping here?”

“I was practicing swordsmanship and I was so tired that I fell asleep… … By the way, where is the dungeon?”

In response to my question, Luciana pointed far ahead with her finger.

“Do you see that gloomy castle over there?”

“… … Could that be it?”

“Yes, according to what I’ve researched, that’s the dungeon where you can hear a woman crying.”

The dungeon seen in the distance was… simply put, a castle.

A castle with a gloomy atmosphere where it seems like a ghost might jump out.

‘Tsk, this is the type of dungeon I hate.’

As far as I know, undead monsters always appear in dungeons with that kind of atmosphere.

Dead, twisted skeletons, zombies, or ghosts.

For someone like me who hates ghosts, this dungeon was the polar opposite.

Well… It’s kind of funny that you’re afraid of ghost dungeons when you’re traveling on a ghost ship.

‘I just wish there weren’t any monsters that suddenly jump out from behind and startle me.’

While I was secretly hoping so, the ghost ship soon arrived at the dungeon.

* * *

A quiet office.

A middle-aged man with graying hair was sitting at his desk, sipping tea.

The middle-aged man, Luciana’s father and the former Marquis Lazar, spoke to his son.

“Is this confirmed news?”

“Yes, Father. They say a huge ship flew across the sky and approached the dungeon. Several guards patrolling the area witnessed it, so it must be reliable information.”

“Hmm… …. You came sooner than I thought.”

A few days ago, a letter arrived from the former Marquis.

It was a letter from his daughter, Luciana, saying that she would soon visit the dungeon with the Pope to conquer it.

It was only a few days ago that I received that letter… so I thought I would have some more time before I could visit―

‘I never thought you would come on a flying ship… … .’

I haven’t heard any rumors about the Morning Star’s Footsteps yet.

For the former Marquis Lazar, it was quite strange to visit by boat floating in the air.

While he was surprised, his eldest son, Ivan, who had brought him the news, said:

“Shouldn’t we send support? It’s obvious that they’ll either die or run away as soon as they enter the dungeon.”

“Hmm… … .”

“That’s right. It’s a dungeon that even our three brothers, who are A-rank, couldn’t clear even after entering it five times. I heard that the Pope is strong, but he’s just a slacker who drinks alcohol and perms. There’s no way he could clear such a difficult dungeon—”

“Stop it. Stop being so rude. He’s not as bad as people say. And I haven’t heard any bad rumors about him lately.”

The story of how Luciana was cursed with a skill when she was young was kept a secret.

That’s why Ivan didn’t know that it was Nickelus who saved Luciana, and he only evaluated Nickelus through rumors.

Just by the rumor that Nickelus is a piece of shit.

In addition, the stories of Nickelus’s many accomplishments are not yet properly known even in the Marquisate of Lazar.

For that reason, Ivan didn’t trust Nickelus’ dungeon raid team at all.

“Whether he’s a loser or not, I think we should send him some support. If His Holiness dies in the dungeon… wouldn’t it be a problem for us too?”

After hearing Ivan’s words, the former Marquis Lazar was deeply troubled.

Although he left the marquisate to his son and abdicated, all major decisions in the marquisate remained in his hands.

So, after much thought, he made a decision.

“We do not send support.”

“Yes!? But it’s definitely going to fail… … .”

“He’s not as weak as you think. If you try to lend a hand, you might end up getting in the way.”

It was Nickelus who instantly cured Luciana, who was dying while under the curse skill.

The former Marquis, who remembered that past, did not underestimate Nickelus’s abilities.

“I’m sure you’ll do well this time too.”

“This time too…? Are you someone who has been active in the past?”

“Okay. It’s nothing. Anyway, since we have reinforcements, prepare some refreshments in case he stops by.”

After sending his son away with those words, the former Marquis Lazar recalled the boy’s face.

It was the face of a young boy who had confidently told Luciana to prepare refreshments so that she could completely remove her curse.

* * *

The situation where we finally arrived at the Ghost Castle dungeon.

Before getting off the ship, I spoke to my companions first.

“Okay, then let’s split up into teams like we promised. Bliss, Petros, and I will go into that gloomy dungeon together.”

As I said, Bliss and Petros came to my side.

I continued speaking to the rest of the group.

“And in the meantime, the rest of Luciana, the Mongmas, and Cheonggwang, go and attack the dungeon that’s all the way north from here.”

Splitting the team into two was something I had already told the group last night.

Of course, if we all went in together without any division, the attack would have been easier.

But with seven dungeons still left to clear, there was no time to sit around and clear them one by one.

If we split the teams like this and each took charge of a dungeon, the time would be shortened by half.

‘It won’t be dangerous to split up into teams. Unlike the last sea dungeon, this time we have Cheonggwang and Petros.’

Even though the teams were divided, each team had at least three A-class or higher awakened players.

On my side, it’s me, Bliss, and Petros.

On Luciana’s side, there’s Luciana, the dreamers, and Cheonggwang.

It could be said to be much safer than before.

There was no particular opposition as the group had already agreed to split into teams.

Cheong-Gwang and Dionic opened their mouths one after another, as if they were just greeting each other.

“Please be careful, my benefactor.”

“Don’t die, hyung.”

Then Elodie and Luciana spoke to me too.

“Don’t get hurt like an idiot and come out safe.”

“If something happens to Your Majesty while I’m away, I’ll spend the rest of my life feeling guilty. So… please make sure you return safely.”

At Luciana’s long request, I nodded.

As she said, she never intended to die or get hurt.

Because I don’t know how much guilt she’ll feel if I die.

After that, I left the ghost ship summoning flute to Luciana.

Luciana steered the ship with her flute and headed north with the rest of her party.

While my party dealt with the ghost dungeon, I left to conquer another dungeon to the north.

It was agreed that if both teams succeeded in clearing the dungeon, they would meet here again.

So Luciana and her group left, and I spoke to Bliss and Petros who were left behind.

“Let’s go in slowly.”

After that, I stood in front of that gloomy castle in the dungeon with the guys.

Then a message popped up.

[Would you like to enter the dungeon “Souls’ Ash Ballroom (L)”?]

-Number of attendees: (3/20) people

– Entry Race: Human (3)

―Yes

―No

Unlike in the past when there were various races that entered, this time there were no Rubins or Mongmas, so there were only three humans.

Looking at the numbers, I boldly chose Yes.

Finally, the castle door opened with a creepy ‘creak-creak’ sound.

As I passed through the black fog beyond the open door, I finally saw the inside of the dungeon.

[You have entered the L-rank dungeon “Ashen Ballroom of Souls.”]

The inside of the dungeon was as spooky as expected.

Perhaps it had once been a ballroom in the distant past, but it had been in that state for about a thousand years, and everything was ashen.

Old and torn curtains, cracked marble, a chandelier that could easily fall down at any moment…

Wherever I looked, there were layers of traces of time.

‘By the way, isn’t it strange? This dungeon was also formed from Elcapist seeds, but why does it have the shape of an artificial structure?’

Could it be that these dungeons were actually spaces that existed in some other world?

Could it be that such a space was summoned by the power of the Elcapist tree and came to be called a ‘dungeon’ here?

It was when I was having such random thoughts.

[The monsters “Wandering Ballroom Workers” have detected your presence!]

A message that came to mind urgently.

Then, one by one, things began to appear in the empty ballroom.

Petros just then fixed his hold on the spear and defined them.

“It’s a skeleton. Dressed as a waiter.”

As Petros said, they were skeletons.

That too, with a huge number of skeletons.

I looked at them and chuckled.

‘I guess it’s because I’ve seen so many skeletons, I’m used to them now, they’re cute.’

The ghost ship also contained many skeletons that appeared to have been former sailors.

That’s why I didn’t feel particularly scared when I saw the skeleton that just appeared.

I took out the Baekhwamyeongwoldo from my inventory and glared at the bone fragments rushing toward me.

Then he spoke to Petros and Bliss.

“Haven’t you seen what I learned this morning? I’ll show you right now, so watch carefully.”

When I told them to watch, Bliss and Petros stepped back sensibly.

The stage was set.

I thought of that state. The people who died because of Nickelus’s neglect.

Feeling sorry for them. Guilt made my strength waver even more.

And when all those rippling forces were in my sword, I swung it at the skeletons.