When the Pope Becomes Competent - Chapter 80



Only Noblemtl

◈80. God’s Judgement Ticket

The reason Elodie was so sure that Nickelus was dangerous was simple.

As far as she knew, those who were erased had skills more powerful than those of current humanity.

Even though they were both L-class, the quality of their skills was different.

So, no matter how strong Nickelus was, he would not be able to avoid a hard fight if he faced them head-on.

“Elodie, there’s fire coming out of your eyes.”

Dionik finally said those words to Elodie, who was staring intently at the entrance leading up to the third floor.

Then he sat down next to Elodie and asked.

“Why are you staring at the entrance like that?”

“Because I was worried.”

“nerves?”

Elodie nodded.

“Nickelus… Maybe we’ll run into the Erased Ones on the third floor. It’d be really troublesome if we were to be subdued and reduced to their puppets.”

“Well then, that would be a big problem.”

Dionik also nodded in agreement after hearing that story.

But he immediately added these words:

“But I don’t think we need to worry too much. He’s stronger than us, and he’s also very smart.”

“… … .”

“He’ll probably come back alive and well. No, on the contrary, he might be extracting information or something.”

Dionik chuckled, saying that it would be possible for Nickelus to do that.

But Elodie didn’t laugh.

Just like before, he was just quietly looking in the direction where Nickelus had disappeared.

Dionik suddenly asked while staring at Elodie.

“But is that really all?”

“… … ?”

“Is that really the only reason you’re worried? That the destruction of the world we were trying to prevent will be hastened by the guy being caught… Is that the only thing you’re worried about?”

Dionik, who asked that question, did not laugh.

With a serious face and serious eyes that he had never shown before, he just waited for Elodie’s answer.

“… … .”

Elodie was silent for a moment, then turned her head in the other direction.

“Was there any other reason? I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

“If you don’t understand, then that’s fine. Now, stop worrying and drink the potion quickly. You need to get better soon.”

Dionik, with his usual mischievous smile on his face, suddenly held out a bottle of potion.

As the rank of the Awakened was high, their wounds did not heal well even if they drank a lot of potions, and so they had already consumed quite a few bottles of intermediate potions.

I was taking a short break because I was tired from drinking too much.

Dionic was holding it out to her again, with great difficulty.

Elodie, who had been forced to take the bottle, wrinkled her eyes like a child facing food she didn’t like.

“Ugh… … .”

With a disgusted face, she then held her nose.

That way I wouldn’t have to smell the annoying potion scent.

She hesitated for a while, but eventually swallowed it down.

* * *

The first emotion that Netelon showed upon hearing my words was confusion.

I understand.

I was currently in a situation where I was injured here and there while going through the dungeon… In other words, I was in a situation where I couldn’t fight at full strength.

So, I guess he thought he had no choice but to accept whatever offer he made.

But the words I uttered were not an agreement, much less a sigh, but a ‘provocation’…

I kindly repeated my words to Nethelon, who was frozen in bewilderment.

“I’m asking. If I kill you here, there will be no one to sow the Elcapist seeds, so will the dungeons and monsters stop appearing?”

“under.”

Netelon, who had finally gotten over his embarrassment, let out a snort.

Then, in an instant, his face hardened again.

“Do you think you can kill him?”

“Is there anything I can’t do?”

I guess my light tone got on your nerves.

The bastard’s gaze became sharp, as if he were someone else.

“What can’t I do? … … Would you like to see what you look like first?”

An arrogant attitude, unlike before.

He pointed out my behavior in that manner.

Unlike the guy with clean clothes, I was torn and scratched here and there as I made my way through the first and second floors of the dungeon.

A twisted smile appeared on the corner of the bastard’s mouth, as if he was mocking that sight.

“Didn’t you end up like that because you couldn’t even easily deal with one of the Qinggwang that I had brainwashed you into using?”

“You’re talking as if you were so great that you could brainwash Cheong-Gwang. You were able to brainwash Cheong-Gwang because he stupidly swallowed a tree first.”

“… … .”

“Since you were the one who planted the seed, your power must have been contained in that tree, and since that Cheonggwang guy swallowed it… … . He must have been able to suppress its spirit by using the tree in its stomach as a medium.”

In response to my remark, Netelon offered his own excuses.

“Even so, Cheonggwang is a second-class spirit… I am saying that I have enough power to suppress the spirit of a second-class spirit. So I ask again. Can you kill me?”

“… … .”

“I hope you won’t let this great opportunity slip away with unnecessary stubbornness. Since our Priscillians are not yet able to come over here, your chance has come.”

“… … .”

“If it weren’t for the lack of manpower, I wouldn’t have asked you to do anything for me. Then, you would have been nothing more than a target for removal like the other weeds.”

Even though the guy kept talking nonsense, I just kept my mouth shut.

Because I was concentrating on more important things in my head.

[Would you like to use the item “God’s Judgement” 1 time ticket now?]

―Yes

―No

The item I had in my pocket before entering the 3rd floor was the God’s Judgement Ticket.

This item was a reward I received after completing the seventh main trust, and it was something I had been saving for this moment.

I didn’t use this when I was attacked by fish on the first floor of the dungeon, nor when I had trouble with the blue light on the second floor.

Just for this moment.

To feed these motherfuckers a big one-shot counter.

So this time I chose Yes without hesitation, and then the message came to mind.

[You selected Yes. Your ticket will be consumed. The countdown will begin.]

-Time left until God’s judgment comes: 10 seconds

As I had previously read in the item description, it took 10 seconds for God’s judgment to come down.

I glanced up at the sky and waited.

Just wait for it to come down and destroy the guy in front of you.

As I continued to remain silent, Nethelon called out to me with his eyes distorted.

“Your Majesty? Are you listening? Where are you looking?”

“I was just curious what the weather is like right now.”

“… … .”

“Since I came in here, I can’t see the sky because of the dungeon ceiling, so I need to be able to know the weather.”

The moment he heard my answer, Netelon’s expression hardened to a icy coldness.

I added further to the man who was probably feeling insulted.

“I didn’t hear what you were muttering. You said there was a shortage of workers and the weeds were like this. If you need someone to cut the grass, find someone else to do it. I’m already busy running the church.”

“… … .”

Now there was not a single trace of smile on Nethellon’s face.

He probably masked the anger and contempt that was raging inside me with just a cold, expressionless look.

And then―

bang-!

He used his skill.

Accordingly, a branch that grew from the ground in an instant pushed Argelio towards the large tree behind him.

Argelio, who was soon caught between the trees, exhaled painfully.

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty… … .”

“Argelio!!”

Fortunately, it didn’t seem like the attack was enough to kill him.

Damn, I can’t believe you’re just being quiet and then suddenly using a skill.

I wanted to draw my sword and cut the branch right away, but I couldn’t move yet.

In order for God’s judgment to be exact on Nethelon, both I and Nethelon had to remain still in that place.

Because I could only bring down God’s judgment on enemies within a 3 meter radius around me.

Fortunately, Netelon didn’t notice what I was planning and continued to threaten me while still sitting in my seat.

“I tried to persuade you with kind words, but you still don’t understand. Is it really necessary to resort to violence?”

The tree branches that had sprouted with the power of the skill grew from the ground in accordance with the bastard’s words, making a strange ‘giggig-‘ sound.

As if trying to crush Argelio, who was stuck between the trees, and burst him.

I glanced at the system window anxiously.

―Time left until God’s judgment comes down: 5 seconds

Five seconds. That was the amount of time left before God’s judgment descended.

The situation was such that we had to keep Netelon still for those five seconds, while also making sure Argelio was safe.

I had no choice but to give the answer that Netelon wanted.

“… … Okay. I will cooperate with you.”

“oh.”

Only then did Netelon let a smile spread across his face.

“I guess sometimes one violent attack is more effective than a hundred words.”

Nethellon, not knowing that I had answered like that only to kill time, did not hide his joy.

I expected the guy would soon release Argelio.

but-

“But it’s still unpleasant. I tried to speak nicely to you, but you openly ignore what I say… … .”

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty… Aaak!!”

Argelio’s screams continued.

That guy Netelon didn’t unlock the skill.

“What are you doing!! I said I would cooperate!! Unlock the skill!!”

“Your Majesty is a stubborn person. I know that you won’t cooperate easily if I just tell you. So, as an example, let’s have at least one person… … .”

The bastard continued to press Argelio once more, and Argelio didn’t even scream anymore.

He is just letting out his last breath, as if spitting out his last words.

Nethellon watched with a purely cruel smile, like a child squeezing a bug to death.

There are now only about two seconds left until God’s judgment comes.

Meanwhile, Nethelon opened his mouth again.

“Would you please kneel down?”

“… … .”

“Then I will release the author.”

The bastard looked at me with his eyes wide in a crescent shape.

It seemed as if he was expecting the one who had been acting so arrogant to completely submit under his feet.

If I kneel as the guy says, he will release Argelio in return.

Instead, Netelon will writhe in pleasure from his victory.

That was a scene I really didn’t want to see even in my dreams. So I had already decided what I was going to say.

“no.”

“… … Do you really have to see the author explode to death?”

“You don’t have to look. The countdown is over.”

“……yes?”

Netelon asked so stupidly, not knowing that I had used my ticket.

At the same time, I looked at the message that appeared before my eyes.

[The power of God judges evil!]

Everything happened in a split second.

Without any warning, a straight white line of light descended from the sky.

The beam of light, containing such powerful energy, pierced through the dungeon’s ceiling and poured down directly onto Nethelon.

“… … !!”

Only then did Nethelon realize that something was wrong and tried to escape, but the judgment had already been handed down.

I had prepared in advance, so I quickly flew to protect Argelio.

“Bow your head as low as you can!”

I also bow my head as I shout to Argelio―

Kwakwang-!!

A secondary shock wave, condensed and condensed, swept through the surroundings as if exploding.

Dust blew in all directions, and flowers and trees were uprooted and blown away.

This is God’s judgment.

It was the ‘Light Barrage’ that I had just summoned from the satellite ‘White Moon’ using my ticket.