When the Pope Becomes Competent - Chapter 78
Only Noblemtl
◈78. Anomaly that occurred in the dungeon
Why on earth did the number of people allowed on the 3rd floor suddenly change to only 1?
I thought about it, but I still couldn’t figure out the reason.
Still, it seemed clear that something had changed.
Because the system message window has never given incorrect information before.
However, it seemed that the group couldn’t see the message window floating above the dungeon entrance, so I explained the situation to them.
Something like something strange happened and only one person was allowed to go up to the third floor.
After that, I told them that I would go up to the third floor alone, but they all opposed it.
Rubin shouted at me not to even dream of such a dangerous thing, and the sleepwalkers also stopped me for some reason.
“You acted like you had something to show me, and now you’re already trying to kill yourself?” …
This meant that going up to the third floor alone, where the boss monster was waiting, was tantamount to suicide.
To that, I answered briefly.
-“There’s nothing I can do. Only one person can go up to the third floor, so I have to go.”
If only one person could go up to the third floor, it had to be me.
Because I’m the only one with the purification skill.
And maybe because I’m the strongest here.
So I kept asking, “If not me, who will go?” … and no one complained anymore.
So now.
I was standing alone in front of the third floor entrance.
I was staring at the swaying entrance and was about to start walking towards it.
Suddenly, Dionik muttered behind him.
“I still want to stop you, but… I’ll just let you go today, hyung. I admire your heart for sacrificing yourself to worry about our safety.”
“It’s not that I’m worried about you… … . I’m just going because I think I’m the best person to go up to the third floor.”
“Are you listening to me?” Elodie continued.
“It’s virtual, but if you try to sacrifice yourself alone next time, I won’t let you go. You’ll feel ignored.”
“No, I’m not going to sacrifice myself for you guys.”
Rubin also ignored my response and added:
“Tsk, Nike… You could have just said that you were worried about us and that you were going out on your own. Don’t you know that even if you pretend like nothing happened, there’s no one here who’ll be fooled?”
“… … No, I’m just the best suited to go to the third floor… Phew, that’s fine. Think of it as you like.”
Even though I said no, my group pretended not to hear me and kept trying to cover me up.
So I was about to give up and go into the third floor, when the vice-captain of the Holy Knights bowed his head toward me.
“Thank you. Thanks to your Majesty, all the knights were able to return without any casualties. So please, Your Majesty, return safely as well.”
“Okay. Just wait until I get here.”
After that, the other knights who had been standing behind also bowed their heads deeply.
Why is the greeting so harsh? There is no need to bow so deeply… … .
As I looked at that sight, I felt a strange warmth inside me, so I hurried my steps.
The biggest battle still remains before we can relax.
So I went through the entrance and―
[You have entered the boss room, 『Dragon Palace Audience Hall』, of the L-rank dungeon 『The Buried Dragon Palace』.]
So I received a system message that I really missed.
Yeah, that was quite a nostalgic message.
Because a similar message popped up when I entered the boss room right before I got into the game.
So, it is true that it is a longing message… … .
‘What is this?’
The scene that unfolded before my eyes was not the scene of the boss room that I was familiar with.
It’s common to see an unidentified coffin placed there, or a boss mob sitting solemnly and seriously on a throne.
In comparison, this place―
‘What greenhouse…?’
It was literally a warm greenhouse where plants were grown.
A greenhouse with colorful flowers in full bloom, warm and a little humid.
“… … .”
Feeling a little dazed, I moved my body, which had become heavy from exhaustion.
The fragrance of flowers blooming everywhere was strong.
Enough to cover up the smell of blood and sweat that enveloped my body.
It was when I had walked somewhat into the territory of that strange final boss.
‘… … What is that?’
I found a suspicious envelope lying on the side of the road.
I opened the information window, confirmed that it was a regular letter, and opened the envelope.
Inside, inexplicably, was an invitation.
You are invited to an afternoon tea party.
… it was an invitation with simple and clear content.
Beneath the short text was a brief map showing the location of the tea party.
It’s as if they’ve made a consideration so that you won’t end up wandering around looking for a party venue.
“… … .”
The monster that was supposed to come out on the third floor isn’t even there, and there’s a greenhouse and a tea party.
It was so suspicious, even though it was suspicious. But―
‘No matter what, I have no choice but to go at least once… …?’
To collapse a dungeon, you had to find and destroy the dungeon core guarded by the boss monster.
Before that, we had to find and rescue Argelio too.
So, if there was anything even a little suspicious, we had to go and dig it up.
Thump, thump.
With heavy steps, I walked towards the tea party venue while looking at the invitation map.
Perhaps because of the effects of using the Deification skill earlier, my vision would become blurry here and there, but I didn’t rest until the very end.
And then finally, I was able to reach my destination.
“… … .”
There was a tea table set up there.
The person sitting at the table immediately noticed me and bowed his head toward me.
“Nice to meet you. My name is Netelon.”
“… … .”
I might have just accepted his statement without question.
If only this place wasn’t inside a dungeon.
Not forgetting where this place was, I looked at the man with my nerves tense.
Gentle green eyes.
Soft-looking brown hair.
The author, who gave off the impression of a friendly florist, seemed out of place here.
‘What the heck?’
Despite my curiosity, the man… ‘Netelon’ continued to greet me warmly.
“I’ve been waiting for you. I hope you enjoy this greenhouse that I worked so hard to decorate.”
“You decorated this greenhouse… …?”
“Yes, that’s right. It’s a place I’ve prepared for you.”
The more I listened, the more complicated my mind became.
‘Could this person have been kidnapped here like Argelio? Is he suffering from delusions due to the shock of being kidnapped by a monster?’
For now, that seemed the most likely possibility.
No matter how I looked at it, this author didn’t seem to be the boss monster here.
I opened my eyes and said to Nethellon.
“… … Let’s take it slow. Why are you here? This is inside a dungeon. And there was no one else here? Someone with gray hair—”
“His Holiness?!”
Just as I was about to ask about Argelio, a familiar voice was heard.
As I looked under the shade of the trees in the direction where the voice had come from, I was able to find an equally familiar face.
“Argelio!!”
“Your Majesty!! I knew you would come to save me!!”
The guy seemed a bit overjoyed and tried to hug me.
Of course, I was glad that he was alive, but… there were still a few unresolved questions, so I postponed the hug.
“You look okay?”
“… … I’m sorry it sounds like you expected me to be completely fine… … .”
“No, that’s not what I meant―”
I scratched the bridge of my nose for a moment and then honestly told him what I had heard outside.
“I heard that he was taken away by a monster. He was half-dead and kept in a monster food warehouse… Ahem, I thought he was being stored there.”
“Let me explain.”
The one who spoke on behalf of Argel, who seemed shocked by the story about the food warehouse, was the author named Netelon.
He said this while holding out cookies that he had prepared on the table for some unknown period of time.
“It wasn’t kidnapping, it was bringing them in.”
“… … You?”
“Yes, in order to have a smooth conversation with you. I have invited him as a guest and am waiting for the moment when you… Your Majesty, will visit.”
As they said, Argelio’s condition was quite good.
No, rather, I felt embarrassed, as if I had been treated better than at the cathedral.
So is what Netelon said really true?
Did he really kidnap Argelio himself and keep him in such a nice place?
As my thoughts were becoming more complicated, Netelon was the first to speak to me.
“Let me greet you again. I am Netelon, one of the returnees, known as the Cultivator.”
“… … .”
“You call our people this. The Ancients… or ‘The Erased Ones.’”
Ancient people. Those who enjoyed dazzling technological advancements that modern humans cannot even dare to imitate.
However, for some reason, they completely disappeared from this land and were called ‘the erased ones’ by the demons.
Nethellon was saying that he was of that race.
I never thought it would turn out like this.
And you’re a grower, too.
I remembered clearly where I had seen that name. It was in the eighth main oracle.
[Eighth Main Trust – Defending Against the Returners’ Invasion (In Progress)]
Sub-Trust (1) – Eliminate the “Elcapists” who have begun to take root throughout the Empire! (0/10)
Sub-Trust (2) – Defeat or kill the ‘Cultivator’ who planted the Elcapist seeds! (0/1)
According to the sub-trust (2) of the eighth main trust, the one who sowed the elcapist seeds was the cultivator.
And then there was this person in front of me who introduced himself as the cultivator.
First, I asked the guy to confirm.
“You guys… The erased ones were after Luciana and me… …? You were the ones who planted the Elcapist seeds and brainwashed Cheonggwang.”
“I can only apologize for the former. I have been very rude. Your Majesty’s help is absolutely necessary for our plans… but I didn’t think you would be willing to help me.”
“… … .”
“That’s why I tried to use the light to drain His Majesty’s power a little bit… but it looks like it failed.”
Finally, the bastard confessed. He said that he was the mastermind behind this incident.
So what I had to do was cut that neck off and protect the peace.
but-
‘They’re not alone. They move in groups.’
I had to dig out what else was behind it.
In that sense, this was a good opportunity.
This is my first time encountering a member of the Erased Ones.
In other words, it wasn’t an opportunity that came often, and judging by his attitude right now, it seemed like he was trying to tease me.
It meant that if you acted as if you had fallen for the guy’s persuasion and fooled him, you could get the information back.
‘There’s no danger. I have that item in my pocket right now… … .’
I clutched it tightly, having kept it in my pocket since before I came in here.
Then he spoke to Nethelon.
“Tell me more. What do you want from me?”