When the Pope Becomes Competent - Chapter 64



Only Noblemtl

◈64. A bet with God

As I was using the Deification skill, several scary messages came to mind one after another.

[Skill “Deification (L)” has been activated.]

[The effect of the skill “Deification (L)” causes a being with a 1st-grade rank to reside in your body.]

[All abilities, including your attack power, increase due to the effect of the skill “Deification (L).”]

*Ability Increase Rate: ???

*Skill Duration: ???

Looking at the message windows, I recalled what had happened in the captain’s dream.

When the seon-gwan activated the Kang Shin-mu skill in front of me, she said this.

-“If you have similar skills to me, watch what I do from now on. And make sure to engrave the power and danger of this ability in your mind. This is also one of the rewards I give you.”

The instructor tried to teach me by demonstrating it right in front of my eyes.

The power and danger of the skill to summon a god.

And now that I’ve activated the skill myself, I think I know why she did that.

‘It’s a dangerous skill.’

Deification. As its name suggests, this skill gave me the power to become a god.

However, it wasn’t just because of its great power that I considered this skill dangerous.

‘Control of the body… … .’

Control of my body was being transferred to the being that resided in my body.

It meant that I couldn’t move my body at will.

Then, a mass of pure white light suddenly appeared before my eyes.

It soon came towards me and said hello.

【Nice to meet you, Lucid Miller’s Apostle. I am Lucid Miller’s first clone, ‘Doria’. Originally, Lucid Miller herself should have been summoned here… but since that is not possible at the moment, I, a clone, came instead.】

‘A replica… … ?’

【To put it simply, I am a clone ‘Polydroid’ created to guide you on the right path. Even so, my status is the same as that of a god, first-class. Anyway, thanks to your skill, I was able to inhabit your body like this. Thank you for granting me control of my body.】

After this polydroid that looked like a ball of light took control of something, my body definitely stopped moving the way I wanted it to.

Even though they were my fingers, I couldn’t move them as I wanted, and even though they were my lips, I couldn’t speak as I wanted.

Should I just say that it’s fortunate that this polydroid, which is Doria or something, understands and responds just by thinking about it in my head?

It was then that the seeds completely germinated and broke through the box.

Kwajik!!

The box shattered and strange wooden branches sprouted out through the gap.

The branches grew in an instant, and the roots spread out in all directions.

“Whoaaah!! Anthony… … !!”

I wanted to turn my head in the direction where the high-pitched scream came from, but I couldn’t turn as I wanted.

But still, I thought I knew what the situation was.

The man who appeared to be the husband or lover of the screaming woman… probably named Anthony, was impaled on a sharp branch.

【… … .】

Doria, the polydroid that had taken control of my body, could only watch it numbly.

What the hell is this? Why did you introduce yourself as a clone of Lucid Miller? And why aren’t you doing anything?

I couldn’t help but feel bewildered because there were so many things I didn’t know.

When the seon-gwan used the same skill, the strong-willed god solved the problem in an instant… … .

‘I don’t know what it is, but move! Now is not the time to be squirming!’

Even as I was screaming inwardly, a person died.

It was the child who had fallen earlier and whom I had helped up.

The small, warm body hangs limply, impaled on a tree branch.

The sight was so unrealistic that for a moment I forgot what I was urging him to do.

‘Unlock… First, we need to unlock the skill!’

If it’s a skill that can’t do anything, it’s better not to use it.

After I release this damn summoning skill, it would have been better to use another attack skill and chop that branch myself.

I judged it that way, but―

‘Can’t… it be released… ?’

Skill was not unlocked.

I thought about the ‘unlock skill’ command in my head like I always do, but nothing happened.

My body wouldn’t move, my skills wouldn’t unlock, everything was out of my control.

‘Get out of my body!’

I shouted that in my head to Doria, who seemed to be directly controlling my body.

Because if there was anything I could still control, it was my own consciousness.

In the meantime, four people have already died.

People who had witnessed the terrible sight now came to me and begged with tears in their eyes.

“Your Majesty! Please do something about it!!”

“God’s grace… Show me your grace!!”

“Oh my God, oh my God, please!”

Anyone who is in a life-threatening situation becomes desperate.

Atheists also seek God when faced with death.

That is why even those who had doubted the Pope’s qualifications until just now were unable to do so even in this situation.

People who are pierced.

And those who come to me and seek salvation before they are pierced.

Looking at all of them, I screamed with anger inside me.

‘Please! Please do something!’

It was at that moment that Doria moved my vocal cords and lips.

【Everyone, please step aside.】

Even though the sound came out through my vocal cords, it wasn’t my will.

It wasn’t even my voice.

As if he had used a skill that allowed him to channel some special power into his voice like Delsey, people’s bodies began to move on their own at Doria’s command.

“… … Huh?”

“My body is acting on its own… … .”

“What is this… … ?”

People moved out of the way in confusion.

Doria took control of my body and made me pass leisurely between the people who had stepped aside.

Then he sat me down on the soft sofa by the window. It was a seat with a good view of the moon.

Meanwhile, a fifth person was impaled and killed.

“Ahhh!!” With the fifth victim’s desperate screams as music, I… My body looked up at the moon.

Like that, I couldn’t even turn my head.

By then, all of this strange situation felt like an illusion.

‘… …Why on earth are you doing this?’

Without even losing my anger, I simply asked why.

Doria surprisingly did not ignore him and answered coolly.

【First of all, there’s nothing I can do right now.】

‘There’s nothing I can do?’

【Can you identify a specific ant in an anthill with tens of thousands of tiny ants? Then, put your hand in, pull the ant out without breaking it anywhere, and take care of it as delicately as you would a person? Can you do that?】

‘… … .’

【That’s right. The intervention of such a huge being can actually be violent to small things.】

In an overly light voice, Doria continued.

【I’m trying not to kill the ants right now. It’s very difficult.】

It seemed to mean that since his status was higher than that of humans, and thus his power was far stronger than that of humans, he could not intervene arbitrarily.

So what does this polydroid really have to do with Lucid Miller?

Although he introduced himself as a clone of Lucid Miller, it doesn’t look like that at all.

【I have to be careful. I don’t want the laws of the world to be broken by my intervention. In fact, even talking to you like this―】

There was a momentary crackling and the voice was cut off.

【… That’s also a little dangerous. Normally, you shouldn’t even talk to them.】

After hearing that, I couldn’t help but say this.

‘… … Then why did you answer my call? What good are you if you can’t do anything? You should have just not shown up… … .’

【Even I am not completely incapable of doing anything.】

The sixth person was impaled to death.

People have stopped praying to me now.

Those who tried to escape by clearing away the bodies of those who had fallen and died at the entrance, and those who were just waiting for death remained.

【I can’t directly intervene with the ants, but I can give advice or lend my power to special ants called ‘Apostles’. That way, I can help the ants indirectly.】

‘Then now the party—’

【However, it seems difficult for me to lend you my strength right away.】

A polydroid floating in the air in the shape of a ball of light came and sat on my shoulder.

【In your previous life, you already refused the role of an apostle. So, there are many more people here now―】

Once again Doria’s voice cut off.

This time it was disconnected for a little longer.

【… People died. The red moon, the blue moon… and even the last white moon that can be seen outside the window were all shattered.】

‘… … .’

【How can I trust you and lend you strength?】

It was only after I heard that question that I thought I understood.

The reason why he let people die in front of me.

The guy is trying to gauge my reaction right now.

Am I worthy of being called by my own apostles?

I wonder if he will abandon that role this time as he did before―

And so, will the world not be led down the path to destruction once again?

It could be said that they were trying to check them out.

When I thought about it that way, I thought I knew what answer the guy wanted to hear.

‘The Nickelus of the past probably didn’t have the confidence to play the special ant role you expected. So he would have tried to protect only the people he could protect, the ones he treasured. Even if it meant giving up everything else.’

【… … .】

‘I’m different from that guy. I’m confident I can do it. I’m trying because I think I can do it.’

It was my honest feelings, without any embellishment.

I honestly wasn’t sure if this was a satisfactory answer for this polydroid who called himself a clone of God.

Even more so because, unlike Rubin, this guy had no facial expression.

【… … .】

The guy stood still like a computer processing calculations.

With that little head of yours, you must be calculating fiercely whether what I’m saying is bullshit or not.

Eventually, the results of the calculation were derived.

【Then I will give you a chance. With that determination, take back control of your body from me ‘by yourself’. By doing so, prove that you are a person fit to be an apostle. Then I will lend you the power to save them.】

It was not long after Doria said that.

Tiring. A selection window pops up with a pleasant sound effect.

[A first-class being offers you a bet. Do you accept?]

―Yes

―No

*Bet winning reward: Recover control of the body.

*Penalty for losing a bet: Permanent loss of physical control.

The contents of the selection window I checked were simple and threatening.

If you succeed, you will get your body back, but if you fail… … .

‘From now on, I have to live like a puppet… … .’

I was silent.

And I just stared at the Yes and No in front of me.

Just a bunch of choices that are thrown out there without even telling you the exact details of the bet.

【Why don’t you choose it?】

When I didn’t choose Yes, Doria asked me that question as if urging me.

I quietly listened to his urging, and then finally spat out the answer I had chosen over and over again.

‘You asked me to prove that I was fit to be an apostle? Then… I won’t choose.’

【yes?】

‘I won’t choose from the choices you gave me.’

Not choosing.

Finding a new path, one that is completely different from the only two choices God gave us.

That was the choice I made after much deliberation.