67 – There is a substitute – 2

***

Putting aside the shamelessness of trying to approach Hyeonu now, Evangeline was worthy of being a member of the warriors’ party, if only in terms of ability. It was because he managed to get the tribunal from the Pope in a short time by properly using his blessing as a secret guardian.

“This…”

Despite his strong opportunist personality, the pope is the pope anyway. The priest, who was supposed to do good according to the word of God, openly tried to cause chaos.

The proof of that is the stencil.

Looking down at the evidence of the powerful witchcraft containing the demon king’s energy, Veronica tightly closed her eyes.

Why is tonight going to be quite long?

“…Good find.”

Evangeline infiltrated the Pope’s residence only for about thirty minutes.

For Veronica, who had gone into the Pope’s residence to meet him in the past, it was nothing short of amazing.

He would have to go through a maze-like hallway to get to the Pope’s residence, and there were quite a few traps there.

But while infiltrating, in this amount of time, and even bringing it to this hidden trinket?

I really couldn’t ignore his ability.

‘There must be a reason Hyeonu… made him do it.’

But even if the head understood, the emotions did not.

Especially if you are a woman who is obsessed with the man she likes.

“…how did you find it so quickly?”

“Ah, I won’t tell you. This is because Hyeonu taught me this…”

At Evangeline’s words, Veronica slightly twitched her eyebrows. She glanced at the cardinals and bishops who were looking at the trinket Evangeline had brought.

All of them were paying attention only to the tribunal, not to themselves or Evangeline.

That’s why she was able to speak calmly while glaring at Evangeline.

“…you don’t think Hyeonu will accept you just because he came looking for that, right?”

The moment he uttered those words, on top of his big, bouncy buttocks wrapped in black priestly clothes. An itchy feeling of pleasure soared.

As a priest, there was no need to feel superior to others.

On top of that, as a chosen priest, Veronica, who had been gifted with high holy power since she was a child, was not very familiar with feelings of superiority.

Being superior to others was a very normal thing for her.

But as a woman?

Evangeline, no. To be precise, the warrior party members love Hyeonu.

I don’t know if I should call this love or a meaningless obsession.

If I had to define it, it would be a feeling close to love.

However, their feelings will not reach Hyeonu.

Because there is a thick wall around him.

It’s really more than causation.

Why did Hyeonu hit the wall in his heart? After all, they are Isn’t it a wall created by their negative emotions?

Are you trying to convey positive emotions without even knowing that the wall exists?

It was so laughable that nothing but ridicule came out.

But what about me against them?

Of course, his emotions are also blocked by the wall of his mind, but at least he had something better than them.

trust right away.

Hyeonu trusts himself.

more than them

As such, they are unlikely to accept themselves, no. higher than anyone else in this world.

that sense of superiority.

Veronica’s long legs trembled involuntarily at the feeling of that thrilling and shady pleasure of being better than others running up her spine.

“That… I know.”

Evangeline’s ears drooped and her head bowed. Veronica’s gaze turned colder, not just because the elf, who was famous for being arrogant, was hanging her head down, but also because of the female’s instinctive sense of superiority that she was winning the competition.

“…Okay. Then how are you going to do that?”

“…Hyeonu didn’t tell me to give it to you.”

“Hmm. Hyeonu is going to give it to me anyway? How about just giving it now?”

Veronica reached out to Evangeline, who held the tribunal in her arms, but she only shook her head slowly.

It seems like you want to be praised by Hyeonu that much, right? Inwardly, she gnashed her teeth at Evangeline, but Veronica didn’t show much.

After all, the advantage is that you are yourself.

So it wouldn’t hurt to show some mercy.

All the bishops and cardinals who should have checked that anyway checked the evidence.

“…Okay. Hurry up and go back. Hyeonu will be waiting for you.”

nod Evangeline turned around. As she disappeared into the darkness, Veronica let out a heavy breath.

ruler. The plan that I met with Hyeonu earlier is progressing step by step.

Then all that’s left is for me to do.

You must repay the trust he places in you.

“Did everyone check?”

“…Yes.”

“…huh. I never thought the Pope would do something like this…”

Cardinals and bishops, aware of the strange atmosphere in the church these days, could only groan.

I never thought the pope and the cardinals would have done this.

After confirming the trinket brought by Evangeline, they made up their minds and nodded.

Now, it’s time to do good.

“Then let’s proceed.”

Veronica took the people with her and calmly walked to the Heretic Questioner’s territory.

In this place, where even the power of the pope does not work, it is no different from a separate area within the church.

Hundreds of Heretic Questioners and Paladins had already gathered.

Looking down at them, the woman who is now leading the political situation opened her mouth.

“I found the evidence. Aurelius, Gastro and Abelyn.”

The pope and the cardinals. Even though the names of all high-ranking members of the church were mentioned, the expressions of the Heretic Questioners and Paladins did not change in the slightest.

For them, the important thing is the church, not the pope.

“Arrest the apostates.”

“All for God.”

Beginning with the response to Veronica’s solemn declaration, the flames of revolution began to flare up in the church.

.

.

.

On the way back from meeting Veronica.

Evangeline, who was moving in the dark, thought that this darkness suited her very well.

Moreover, I felt that way more because I ran into Veronica, who was so confident and in the light earlier.

Veronica seemed very bright. Even though she was covered in black priestly clothes, her eyes were infinitely deep and bright, and overflowed with confidence.

No wonder.

Unlike herself, who committed endless sins on her journey to defeat the demon lord, Veronica would have nothing to be ashamed of.

Veronica approached the sage step by step and built up trust in him. Aside from their good feelings as men and women, no one in this world would be ahead of Veronica in terms of reliability as a colleague.

Even Claire, who we think is the better of us, won’t work for Veronica.

The steps toward the meeting place with Hyeonu were getting heavier.

The paved stone road with memories of walking with Hyeonu in the past caught Evangeline’s ankles like the most damp mud.

It must be because of the memories of the past that remain on this road.

-what. human. Are you having a hard time with just that? under. i really can’t use it So, how do you think you can go around with this Evangeline-sama? Get some training right. Don’t even dream of catching our ankles. Because there is no stopping the journey just to help you.

“Ah…”

The memories of the past that she wanted to erase and forget became soggy mud and caught Evangeline’s ankles.

It is a swamp. An infinitely deep, sticky swamp.

The more I walk to Hyeonu, one step at a time, the memories of the past come to mind.

-huh. Do you do enough? But anyway, are you human? Stop doing useless things and hurry up and have a meal, shall we? oh I want to eat creme vegetable soup today. what? No creme? human. Don’t you know how to gather? do you want to go together? huh. If you want me to go with you, why don’t you get down on your knees and beg for it?

“Ah… oops…!”

Why did you do that? Why did I do that?

The first was an expression of pride. However, Hyeonu was always smiling and didn’t seem to be hurt.

so a little more. A little more. A little more.

Why did he turn a blind eye to the fact that this much would be okay and that carelessness hurt him?

Ahh. How painful must Hyeonu have been? how painful was it

I am so distressed just thinking about the past and regretting it.

“Heo-euk… Huh…”

Evangeline shuddered with unbearable nausea and disgust. He hurriedly took the medicine out of his pocket and put it in his mouth, but the elf’s body couldn’t accept the medicine properly.

There is only one thing you can do.

It should be fine since I finished the mission given by Hyeonu.

Evangeline held the dagger in a trembling hand and brought it to her ear.

-Suddenly.

A terrible burning pain awakens the mind. As much as it hurts, guilt, self-loathing diminishes.

But I can’t completely erase it.

Even so, walking like this is this yeonpanjang in the bosom.

It must be because of the very small sense of achievement and reward that Hyeonu took what he wanted.

“hahaha…”

Guilt grips the legs along with pain in the ears. The joy of meeting Hyeonu again, and at the same time, the fear soared.

What should I do if Hyeonu doesn’t even look at me even after bringing this to me?

no. What would you do if I told you to disappear right in front of my eyes now that you have nothing to do with it?

And with Veronica…

In front of Evangeline’s eyes, the one she had met earlier, who was so confident and beautiful. The silver-haired priest, who was like light, came to mind.

The moment she imagined her smiling leisurely as she looked back at herself while holding Hyeonu’s arm, Evangeline trembled.

afraid.

He was afraid of Veronica more than when he defeated the demon king, and more than that, he was afraid of the illusion of Hyeonu hugging Veronica without even looking at him.

Evangeline gulped and looked at the stencil.

What if you were attacked and pretended to be stolen and hid it somewhere?

Then Hyeonu always suggested various ways. Even if this isn’t there, I’ll try to find another way. And for that, with me, not Veronica, again…

Evangeline gripped the tribunal tightly at the dark thought creeping up.

no.

So no.

If that happens, not only Veronica but also Hyeonu will be in danger.

I can’t let Hyeonu endanger himself with my hands.

So let’s go.

Because Hyeonu is waiting.

So, Evangeline moved without moving.

Ignoring the blood dripping from the wounded ear.

***

As they headed towards the church with Evangeline and the Baltin party members who had joined earlier, the commotion grew.

Every time he passed between the alleys, he could encounter mercenaries, necromancers, or assassins.

No, to be precise, I was only wandering around the places I met with them in the game.

It was because it would be easier for Veronica to deal with the pope and his followers later.

Interrogating and executing those perpetrators for no reason would be a headache if they had a useless accident.

In addition, there are so many people who can be used right now, so what do you do if you play?

“No, why so many enemies?!”

Of course, it wasn’t that the usable manpower didn’t get annoyed.

“Don’t whine about that. I’ll even make you recover.”

I looked at Valtin as I calmed down the crying Cyron. It seemed that he was lacking in magic power, so I gave him some magic power and drank the magic potion. Seventh bottle already.

It was dirty, but it didn’t really hurt.

“Ton, Hyeonu… I-drinking too much… isn’t it? Eh, I heard that drinking too much is bad…”

“Hmm? I’ve been drinking this every day, so there’s no particular problem. And you drank a lot during your journey to defeat the Demon Lord.”

Claire, Leventia, and Evangeline.

All three had high physical attack power and low magical abilities. Of course, it wasn’t because of his blessings, level, and equipment, but it wasn’t higher than a magical character. So, the longer the battle went, the more I could not help but run out of mana, so I used a lot of mana distribution at that time.

At that time, Evangeline was the one who received the most of my magical power.

Because she preferred flashy battles to efficient ones.

It wasn’t the first time or two that I overkilled using skills needlessly and then ran out of magic in the middle.

“…That’s… I-I’m so sorry…”

Evangeline apologized in a timid tone, pale in color, but there was nothing wrong with it.

It’s okay if you overkill a lot because it reduces stress. Thanks to that, Evangeline suffered a little less on that day.

“Hey. Sage. How much longer do we have to fight? This is a reward, right?”

Baltin, who had received magic from me, asked me, so I just nodded. The church will take care of it.

If not, what will I give you?

“Oh. What are they?”

They came almost near the church, but the paladins and priests were protecting the church and fighting the undead.

While everyone who saw it was bewildered, I heard the moonlight.

“If you just pierce here, it’s over.”

“There are too many undead? Do we have to start looking for necromancers?”

“I don’t have to look.”

After climbing up the wall, I blew off the neck of the necromancer who was concentrating on the roof and controlling the undead.

“I know where you are.”

After that, the undead who continued to resurrect collapsed.

Now the church side will have no problem.

When I jumped down with the head of the necromancer, the paladins and priests found us and came running laughing.

“Aren’t you a wise man!”

“Eh… He must have been the Heretic Questioner, right? I think we met on the battlefield…”

“Yes! You remember.”

“But where’s Veronica?”

“I’m here.”

From the inside, Veronica stepped out, leading the priests in black robes.

Behind her…

“Did you catch them all?”

“okay.”

Pope Aurelius.

Cardinal Gastro.

Cardinal Abelyn.

They are key figures in the papacy.

“ruler.”

Those who belonged to the Black Rebels were chained and glaring at me gnashing their teeth.

Receiving their stares, I shrugged, and Veronica thrust the tribunal she received from me into the captive group of the pope.

As the cold, cold gazes pierced them, the pope group gnashed their teeth, but could not say anything.

“This should be sufficient evidence of apostasy.”

A word from the woman who led the Heretic Questioner was cold enough to plunge the head of the church into the abyss and at the same time declare the birth of a new center of the church.