I, Who Came From the Abyss, Will Save Humanity Again Today - Volume 2 Chapter 2

Chapter 2: This Probably Isn’t a Real Pope

 

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Narangard City, the capital.

 

This is historically the largest agricultural trade center, known worldwide as the “Emerald Capital.” The Sylgaria Republic, as a country whose main economic source is agricultural industry, relies not on simple farming and cultivation, but on forming cooperatives to integrate scattered family farm operations into the entire industrial chain, achieving large-scale division of labor and production. Unlike concepts from the original world, here, farmers are synonymous with wealth.

 

Vastly different from the small village where I once settled, as one of humanity’s four great royal cities, Narangard’s prosperity is beyond words. Impressive buildings stand densely packed, countless intersecting streets form an intricate network, and the passing pedestrians mostly wear bright clothing.

 

Forsel, as the Holy Church’s central diocese in Sylgaria, naturally sits in Narangard’s most prosperous area. It was now noon, and the carriage quietly drove through the bustling street markets, slowly coming to a stop in front of a magnificent Baroque-style building.

 

The Saint Marie Cathedral, initially built 600 years ago, is one of humanity’s oldest churches.

 

“Wake up, we’re here.”

 

“Wake up.”

 

In my sleep, I felt a slight shake and reluctantly opened my eyes. Carlos’s scruffy face gradually came into focus.

 

I frowned and impatiently pushed him away.

 

Long journeys are the most exhausting. During this time, we often slept in the carriage to make good time, and my biological clock had become completely irregular. Last night I barely slept at all, only managing to doze off at dawn. Being woken up now naturally put me in a bad mood.

 

“Where is this?”

 

Taking a few seconds to let consciousness return to my body, I stretched hard and asked while yawning.

 

“Saint Marie Cathedral, we’ve arrived.”

 

“…Oh.”

 

For some reason, I suddenly felt nervous.

 

Along the way, Carlos told me many things, including just how hostile the Holy Church is toward the Abyss. It’s comparable to a blood feud, especially in recent years, as the frequency of Abyssal monsters appearing has increased. With the Church’s intelligence network, they can usually detect signs beforehand, evacuate civilians before battle begins, formulate strategies, make thorough preparations, and minimize losses, just like the situation when I appeared. But there are some special Abyssal beings that appear suddenly without warning, following no discernible pattern. In such cases, if not stopped in time, the monsters will become extremely powerful after devouring many lives.

 

That kind of power is overwhelming, a chaos that makes one tremble. Without at least three Pontifical Knights to suppress it, humans have no ability to counterattack at all.

 

Carlos told me that the last time they encountered such a situation was in the Valen Empire two years ago, which was the bloodiest Abyssal war in history. A monster called Gluttony, carrying a black tornado that blotted out the sky, destroyed three great cities in just a few days, with tens of thousands of citizens vanishing into ash. Countless Church Knights and Archbishops were powerless before such a natural disaster.

 

That time, five Pontifical Knights fought fearlessly, assisted by the Cardinal, and finally managed to kill it outside the Winter City at the cost of two heroes’ lives. If not for this, humanity’s four royal cities would now only be three.

 

Yet at this moment, I, who am also an Abyssal monster, have come to one of the Holy Church’s central dioceses.

 

If this is really a trap, will I be tied to a cross and burned to death… I thought fearfully.

 

“Hey, what are you spacing out for? Get out of the carriage.”

 

Carlos saw me sitting motionless in the carriage and started urging me.

 

“Cas-ka, I want to run away, can I?”

 

“…No, and please call me Carlos properly, thank you.”

 

Carlos pulled me out of the carriage in one motion.

 

“Don’t worry, nothing will happen while I’m here, let’s go.”

 

I looked at the enormous building before me with its inviolable holy majesty, feeling slightly nervous, and followed hesitantly behind Carlos.

 

“Respected Sir Carlos, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

 

As soon as we climbed the steps, two monks wearing black robes came forward to greet us, seemingly having stood at the entrance for a long time. The robe style looked familiar, somewhat similar to the old man in robes, and my heart trembled as I recalled the fear of being dominated by the golden bell.

 

One monk, seeing me following behind Carlos, was about to inquire about my identity, but when he turned to meet my eyes, his face suddenly turned red.

 

“This… beautiful… pfft…”

 

His body trembled as he struggled to hold back laughter, managing to squeeze out two words before finally breaking into a grin.

 

I frowned in displeasure.

 

Are they looking down on me?

 

What’s so funny? Is this a time to laugh during such a formal reception? Is this the quality of Holy Church monks?

 

“Um, ahem, Sir Carlos, this, beautiful lady, ahem…”

 

The other monk, seeing the situation turning awkward, immediately stepped forward to smooth things over, but he too couldn’t resist the urge to laugh, speaking haltingly without finishing his sentence.

 

“She is His Holiness’s honored guest, do not be disrespectful.”

 

Carlos maintained a cold expression, looking straight ahead as if he hadn’t seen anything, and spoke calmly.

 

“Yes, please cough follow me, His Holiness has been waiting for some time.”

 

Having barely finished speaking, the two monks quickly turned away as if they dared not look at me anymore, leading us into the cathedral’s hall.

 

The cathedral’s interior decoration was extremely luxurious, with exquisite masonry weathered by hundreds of years, exuding a heavy sense of history. On the elegant walls, several huge murals displayed incomparable artistic charm, and the golden cross rising from the vaulted ceiling bathed in the sunlight streaming through the ribbed windows looked supremely holy.

 

Though it felt like being in a painting, I couldn’t focus on appreciating it at all, my attention fixed on the monks ahead who were trying to suppress their laughter.

 

“Ca-Carlos, what are they laughing at?”

 

“Hmm? Oh, probably because they think you’re cute.”

 

Carlos said carelessly, his forced explanation completely failing to dispel my doubts.

 

Did I get something dirty on me?

 

I immediately looked down to check, but the delicate ruffled dress was clean and tidy, with nothing unusual to be found.

 

…Weirdos.

 

The monks led us up to the third floor and stopped in front of a beautifully carved wooden door at the deepest end, gently knocking.

 

“Your Holiness, Sir Carlos has arrived.”

 

They then stepped aside and waited quietly. After a moment, a lazy voice came from inside.

 

“…Oh, please let him in.”

 

“Sir Carlos, His Holiness is inside, please enter.”

 

Carlos pushed open the door unceremoniously, and I took a deep breath behind him, taking small steps into the room.

 

The door closed, and warm sunlight streamed into the room. I squinted and looked over, immediately seeing an exquisitely luxurious large bed.

 

The size looked big enough for 10 people to lie on it, but at the moment there was only one disheveled, unkempt young figure sitting there.

 

“Yo, Your Holiness, long time no see.”

 

Carlos greeted casually.

 

Hmm, Your Holiness?

 

I looked around the room in confusion. Besides the figure sitting on the bed, where was His Holiness?

 

“Haaah— Carlos, drop that act with me, there are no outsiders here.”

 

That figure scratched his explosion of bed-head blonde hair, opened his mouth in a yawn, and then used his pinky finger to pick his ear.

 

????

 

This person is the Pope?!

 

You’ve got to be kidding, shouldn’t the Pope be some white-haired old man who speaks slowly and deliberately, maintains composure no matter what he’s doing, and emanates a noble holy aura?

 

This isn’t what we agreed on!

 

I couldn’t help but start seriously examining that figure. Blonde hair and blue eyes, with clear and strong facial features, handsome to the point of being pretty, looking even younger than Carlos.

 

Right now he completely looked like he just woke up, and was even wearing pajamas!

 

This kind of person is this world’s Pope? This isn’t some idol drama, what were the Holy Church people thinking?

 

…Hard to accept.

 

“Sit down, why are you standing?”

 

The man on the bed waved his hand, showing no intention of getting up, acting completely casual.

 

But in this room, besides one large bed there’s nothing else, not even a chair, where are we supposed to sit? Surely not on the bed? The mighty Pope, humanity’s true ruler, meets people in this state?

 

“Ah, we’d better not, we’ll just stand.”

 

Carlos immediately said, probably feeling too awkward.

 

“Oh, suit yourself. So, you came to see me… for what again?”

 

The blonde man looked at Carlos drowsily, asking questioningly.

 

“…Act like a proper person, would you?”

 

Carlos was somewhat speechless.

 

“Ha, just kidding, just kidding. I just woke up, my head’s still a bit fuzzy… hey you, you…”

 

The blonde man seemed to only notice me now, raising his lazy eyelids and looking over slowly.

 

I was about to speak.

 

“Pfft, hahahaha!!” The supposed Pope suddenly burst out laughing, holding his stomach and pounding the bed frantically as he said to Carlos, “Carlos, what’s this about? Did you bring her here to wake me up with laughter? Hahahaha!”

 

He laughed so hard he started rolling on the bed, looking completely unable to stop.

 

Carlos shrugged his shoulders.

 

“Stop laughing, let’s talk business.”

 

“Haha! No way, you painted her face into such a ghostly appearance and won’t let me laugh, aren’t you being unreasonable? This is too much, hahaha—”

 

Ghostly appearance?

 

I immediately wiped my face with my hand, and my palm instantly turned black. Somewhat dumbfounded, I wiped again with my other hand, and now both hands were pitch black.

 

I brought them to my nose and sniffed.

 

…Ink?

 

In an instant, I understood everything.

 

My chest began heaving violently, and I felt like I could grind my teeth to dust as I glared at the innocent-looking Carlos.

 

Angry.

 

Angry angry angry angry!!

 

“Carlos——!” I pounced like an angry kitten, baring my claws and raising my small hands to smear his face.

 

“No, let me explain!”