When the Pope Becomes Competent - Chapter 47



Only Noblemtl

◈47. Let’s catch the serial killer.

After looking over the man’s information window a couple more times, I gestured toward him.

“There, you―”

I told him to come closer so I could get a better look, even before I could say that.

He was the first to jump up from his chair and come towards me.

“Ha, am I being investigated now too?”

A rough expression and a rough gait.

Plus, a muscular body covered in scars that seems to say, ‘I’m a bad guy.’

And above all, the karma point that records 「-469」… … .

I clicked my tongue as I watched him approach.

‘It’s obvious what kind of attitude a person with that level of karma points would have.’

As expected, soon a voice came out of the bastard’s mouth that was exactly as I had expected.

“Well, let’s say these two people have those skills, so you might be suspicious. But why me? All I have is combat skills.”

As expected, the attitude was aggressive.

It seems that he was trying to take the initiative before I could interrogate him.

Some guild members approached him as if trying to stop him―

“Everyone, don’t stop me. I have to say what I have to say.”

He made those threats in advance and then glared at me straight in the eye.

“I understand that you are wary of us, outsiders? I understand. I understand, but don’t you think this is too much? Why do you keep looking to us as the cause of the disease spreading among you?”

“… … .”

“I guess you weren’t satisfied even after raiding in the middle of the night?”

It seemed like he was talking about the attack incident that Bliss had told me about earlier.

They said that all the guild members were upset about that, and as expected, the atmosphere in the campsite became tense as soon as the story of the raid came up.

The red and blue clouds also seemed to sense the ominous atmosphere and came closer to me.

“The mood is not good. I think it would be better to go back quickly today.”

“I also… have the same opinion… … .”

Following Cheongun’s words, Bliss also came forward to protect me and spoke.

“Whether this is a dream or reality, it would be difficult for me if you get hurt… … .”

“Wait a minute, who’s getting hurt? Everyone, get out of the way. I’ll take care of this.”

As I said that, I stepped forward towards Bliss again.

Anyway, Jeokun, Cheongun, Bliss, I appreciate your concern, but you were ignoring me too much.

I was strong when I was Nickelus, and I’m strong now that I’m Black Moon.

Also, either way, he was just as ill-tempered.

“I can’t just ignore guys like that.”

As I stood in front of the muscular guy from before while saying that, he immediately started picking on me again.

“Huh, you’re going to hang the sword on your waist and glare at me fiercely…? Do you know what that attitude means to guys like us who just came from afar?”

“I don’t know. But among warriors like us, this attitude has a very simple meaning. It means, if you don’t shut up, I’ll cut off your head.”

“Hoo… … . We have something in common. That’s what we mean between us too. But even knowing that, you glare at me with such a fierce expression… Are you trying to fight each other with your swords?”

He fiddled with the handle of the sword he had in his bosom.

The corners of his mouth turned into a confident smile, as if he could cook something like that with ease.

And I, who had been waiting for him to let his guard down, opened my mouth at that moment.

“Instead of talking, draw your sword, Bedir.”

“… … !!”

When I called his name, his face, which had been so confident until just a moment ago, immediately turned pale.

As if I had been caught doing something I shouldn’t have been caught doing.

Bliss, who was watching the situation from the side, whispered to me.

“His name is not ‘Bedir.’ His name is ‘Rahim.’”

“No. What I just said is my real name. Rahim is probably a pseudonym.”

The name that appears in the bastard’s information window is different from the name Bliss gave him.

That is, the guy used a pseudonym.

Feeling my guess growing more and more certain, I asked the bastard.

“Bedir. I don’t know why you lie.”

“That, that’s a lie? When did I… … .”

“You lied about your name, and you lied about your skills, too.”

While the guy was unable to hide his embarrassment, he continued to press on him.

“You said it yourself a little while ago. The only skill you have is combat skills. But now I see that that’s not the case.”

“What nonsense! My skill is definitely―!”

“A burgeoning plague. Why are you hiding this skill? It looks like the skill level is high and it’s a skill that can kill people.”

A situation where my real name and skills, which I had been hiding, were revealed because of me.

The guy was so flustered that he couldn’t even respond properly.

At that moment, Peton, who had been acquitted earlier, suddenly intervened.

“Wait, but you said ‘Bedir’?! That’s the name of a famous serial killer in our area!?”

While everyone was shocked by Petun’s scream, I nodded slowly.

It was exactly as expected.

‘As expected, he was a criminal who hid in the guild and concealed his identity to avoid detection by the state.’

From the moment I first saw it, there were more than a few suspicious points.

Karma points are so low that they cannot be earned unless you commit murder.

A suspicious attitude of getting overly upset when I show signs of calling my name.

Moreover, he even hid his real name and skills from his colleagues… … ?

This was like advertising, “I’m a guy who committed a crime and ran away!”

But there was another reason why I was so sure that the guy was a criminal.

Instead of explaining it in words, I drew my sword to show them.

and-

Crunch.

I swung the drawn sword straight at the bastard’s neck.

It wasn’t a beheading.

I cut the ‘necklace string’ that was around the bastard’s neck and broke it.

Bam.

The broken necklace fell to the floor, throwing the people there into even greater confusion.

“Oh, your face has changed!”

As if shouted by an unknown person, Bedir’s face began to change as soon as the necklace broke.

The necklace I just cut off was a disguise item called “Mask of Deception” according to the item information window.

He’s been hiding his true face with that item until now.

And Petun, who had reacted upon hearing Bedir’s name earlier, finally shouted the words that would end the situation.

“Eww!! It’s that face!! The face of a famous serial killer in our area!! It’s exactly like the montage picture I saw on the wanted poster!!”

Same name as a serial killer.

But when I checked, even the face was the same.

So there was no doubt that he was the serial killer himself.

Others seemed to have judged it the same way, as they began to gather around Bedir, holding ropes and other arrest tools.

‘Yes, even though there are many people with opaque pasts and criminals in the guild… a serial killer is crossing the line.’

All the guild members, including pickpockets, thieves, robbers, etc., who were mixed in among the guild members, were glaring at Bedir.

Even Marsha Youngae, who had killed quite a few people with poison, was looking at him with a look that said, ‘That crazy murderer should be thrown in jail right away!’

Bedir shouted in frustration as he saw those approaching him to arrest him.

“No, wait! Why are you guys like this?! Do you have any proof that I’m that serial killer?! Guild Leader! Don’t just watch, help me!!”

He reached out to Bliss for help at the last moment, but of course, he was ignored.

“Wait! Ugh! I’ve been wronged! This is all a conspiracy made up by that Black Moon or whatever!”

The bastard shouted like that and was soon dragged away, tied up tightly.

As the situation became more or less settled, this time everyone’s eyes turned towards me.

The guild members watched me with furtive glances as if I had cast some kind of spell, and so did Jeokun and Cheongun. They were looking at me with eyes that seemed to have witnessed some unfamiliar spell.

“Black Moon… … . What kind of miraculous magic did you just perform? How did you figure it out so easily?”

Jeokun asked in a somewhat cautious tone. Then―

“That author… matches everything from his name to his abilities… I think he really is possessed by a spirit… … .”

Cheongun was so surprised by his usual creepy voice.

I just raised one hand and signaled them to calm down.

“It’s nothing. I’ll explain everything later.”

I feel good that they both admire my information window checking skills, but I still feel like I need to explain it well when I have time.

I don’t know about now, but later on, I might start to doubt my identity.

They are naive and follow the Black Moon well, so no matter what you say, they will believe you without any doubt… … .

While everyone was surprised, Bliss, who had guessed my abilities, asked in a more calm tone than others.

“The more I look at it, the more I want this skill. Can you tell me a little bit about its specific functions?”

“Okay. Even if I tell you, it’ll be hard for you to understand. It’s an ability that’s completely different from skill.”

“They are going off track… … .”

“Rather than that, keep a close eye on the guy who was just captured. He has a history of serial killings and has disease-related skills… He’s the most likely suspect right now.”

I continued to whisper in a small voice so only Bliss could hear.

“Once it’s clear that he’s the real culprit who spread the disease, let’s take him to the hermit. Then the imperial curse will probably be lifted.”

The reason the concubine cursed the imperial family was because he believed that the first emperor had betrayed him and killed the village believers.

But what if you found out that the person who spread the disease and caused discord between the two groups was the ‘real culprit’ behind all this?

Then the grudge would be resolved and the curse could be lifted.

Bliss also nodded as if she understood.

“I will take responsibility and reveal Bedir’s crimes. I will do whatever it takes to… … .”

“… … .”

… by any means necessary.

This kid always says something creepy once or twice, right?

I slowly backed away from Bliss, who spoke as if she were going to torture Bedir.

“Let’s go. Red Cloud, Blue Cloud.”

“yes!”

“…yes…….”

After that, I took my subordinates and headed towards my residence… no, towards Heukwol’s residence.

After that, I was planning to organize the things I found out today one by one―

“Your Majesty the Black Moon.”

On my way back, two believers suddenly appeared and stopped me.

Their identities were immediately recognizable thanks to their pure white attire and neatly tied hair.

‘The clothes of Baekmaedang?’

They, the doctors, gave me a brief bow and continued to tell me.

“The seon-gwan is calling. He said he has something to say about ‘dreams.’”

Of all things, why did it have to be a dream?

Gulp. I thought, swallowing the dry saliva from my parched throat.

Maybe the herald had figured out some big truth by doing some math.

* * *

Late at night. Inside a dark hospital room in the cathedral.

A lump of pure white fur was curled up next to Nickelus’ head as he slept deeply.

That furball… ‘Rubin’ was staring at Nickelus, calmly and persistently.

“… … .”

The sleeping Nickelus’ face was simply peaceful.

At first glance, you wouldn’t know that he had been asleep for three days already.

“Nike… … .”

Rubin opened his mouth again, staring blankly at the moonlight falling on Nickelus’ eyelashes.

“You promised me. You said you would never leave me alone. But why… ?”

A voice that continued on as if it was about to break.

It finally stopped for a moment, then started again.

“Why do you keep lying down?”

The last question, barely squeezed out as if squeezing it out, was scattered in the quiet hospital room.

Without anyone answering, it just became a monologue.

“You said you’d always be with me.”

Even with Rubin’s final blow, Nickelus did not wake up.

He just had his eyes tightly shut with a calm expression.

Who is so worried and yet so comfortable sleeping?

Rubin looked at Nickelus with a look of resentment.

It was a little while later that Rubin’s body, which had been curled up, slowly stood up.

“So… I hope you understand… even if I do something a little dangerous to wake you up.”