Chapter 619: Untainted Truth (1)

It wasn’t that long, but it felt like quite a long time had passed.

I felt that way since I did a lot of work in a short period.

Only two months had passed since Raphael and the Blue Guild members gathered to have a meal. Yet, it felt like six months had gone by.

Of course, what I had achieved was also something to cheer about. All three stocks in my hand were showing signs of soaring.

It wasn’t just spinning around in circles like it used to. It was really trying to spread its wings. The stock that bore fruit first was the Chimera Coin, which had been cruising along calm waters.

There were no unexpected plummets. I could safely say that it had achieved stability.

The problems around me didn’t leave me alone, but I couldn’t forget such a specific event. After so many errors and sleepless nights, I finally gained feats that made all of my sacrifices worth it.

‘Tutorial Dungeon version.’

Complete.

‘Crack Museum version.’

Complete.

‘The Garden of Fear version.’

Complete.

A total of three Named Angels.

We had finished three projects months sooner than the expected time period.

The other three units had yet to be established, but the overall production situation gained momentum thanks to Han Sora’s performance. I didn’t really think I could complete all 666 angels before, but at that rate, I thought I could pull out more than that.

Six hundred sixty-six angels that could fight against our enemies. Just imagining it gave me the chills.

‘We just have to keep going at this speed.’

Benignore’s biggest concern was also being resolved in its own way. In fact, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that that case had been stagnant. That was why no other conclusion had been made on the treatment of Benignore and related issues on the continent.

‘That’s why they can’t imprison her.’

I had no choice but to think that I was definitely different from the devil’s side.

If Benignore were Lucifer’s demon, wouldn’t she have already fallen apart and gone behind bars?

‘Maybe she was forgiven…’

Either she was punished or fizzled out. The point was I could assure anyone that we would’ve already reached a conclusion if that was the case.

I didn’t know what exactly the problem was, but perhaps the fact that the superiors’ story didn’t end was the problem they are experiencing. Of course, all those things were good for me.

When my head was almost about to explode due to with the chance to survive even further.

Benignore said it took as many as a thousand years to resolve the latest dispute, so it wouldn’t be bad to label the work as temporarily finished.

From what I heard, Benignore’s detained divinity had returned and that the story itself was flowing positively. Just because the Benignore Coin had only caused me pain so far, what used to provide me with a sense of security started keeping me awake at night.

Looking at every one of them, they were merely just not falling apart, but that alone was a virtue.

Of course, Benignore’s trial preparations were steadily underway as it was unknown when it would happen again, but it was undeniable that there was more room.

‘I like this.’

And the other stock…

It wasn’t a bad situation. If anyone asked what was happening, its value was getting higher and higher.

Because it was the Holy Sword Coin, I thought it would completely plummet, so I had no choice but to be happy when the value raised a little.

Of course, Raphael hadn’t followed me completely.

‘I’m still suspicious…’

He said he would work hard, but the time that had passed was too short to peel off the harnesses in his head completely. Still, it wasn’t that bad.

If it was rushed, wouldn’t everyone have gotten more worried? We had to build a bond slowly as he got used to the person named Light Kiyoung.

Based on that reasoning, it would be right to express that we had achieved enough results.

I was so used to spending time with him that it became a habit.

Compared to the past, it would be contrasting. A comfortable daily life with light had settled in place of the past, where he was stuck in an invisible corrugated room and had a dogfight with devil contractors.

A balanced diet, a warm life with a bed on his back, and a constructive conversation with the Light of the Continent.

He laughed, talked, and sweated every day.

Humans were bound to get used to their environment.

I didn’t think the revenge that’s burning in his heart would fade, but at least the current situation could make him enjoy his present life.

Didn’t others think he looked very happy just enjoying the moment?

“Then… I’ll finish my prayer for Benignore.”

While I finished my short prayer, I heard the priests quietly calling the Goddess’s name.

Of course, Raphael’s face was right in front of me. Just in time, I raised my head when the warm light of the sun came through the window, shining down on me.

It was hard to imagine that I was a devil trying to control the continent.

‘I’m going to add in a spoonful of bright smiles.’

At the end of the service, which began in a reverent atmosphere, the first person to speak was, of course, Pope Basel.

“Great work, Honorary Cardinal.”

“I’m just ashamed to think I might be lacking.”

“Hahaha, who would think that the Honorary Cardinal’s prayer is insufficient? Benignore would have been greatly pleased. Looking at the gray face of our warrior, he seems to be thinking the same thing as me…”

“Yes, I feel the same way as Pope Basel. You looked so divine that I couldn’t take my eyes off of you… Your devotion made me feel ashamed of myself.”

‘You’re a good talker.’

“That’s what they say…”

“…”

“What do you say, Honorary Cardinal? Since you’re already here… I heard that many believers are looking forward to the service led by Honorary Cardinal Lee Kiyoung. I thought it would be okay to conduct it at least once for the sake of the believers.”

“How can I lead such a sacred practice with the Pope in my presence?”

“That’s not true. It pains me to say this, but my health isn’t the same anymore. I wonder if the time for Benignore to call me to her side is coming…”

‘You’re getting older, but you’re still doing well. Come on. I don’t want to be a pope.’

“That’s what I’m saying…”

“Let’s talk a little more about it later to discuss the details… It’s not something that can be done in a rush. But before that… I hope the Honorary Cardinal will host the appointment ceremony of the holy warrior.”

‘That’s a good opportunity for me.’

“If Pope Basel says so…”

“That’s a good idea, Honorary Cardinal. Anyway, didn’t you say you had a place to go today?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, yeah… that’s too bad.”

“You don’t have to be so down. We’ll have an opportunity to meet again, Pope.”

“Then make sure you have a cup of tea before you go.”

“Of course.”

“Good work, Hyung.”

“It’s nothing. I just did what I had to do. Then shall we head out?”

“Yes.”

A slight smile could now be seen.

I didn’t know if it was real, but I thought it was right to judge it as an act at that time.

‘Well, it doesn’t matter if it’s acting, but…’

I wasn’t in an urgent situation. It was the other party that had to rush.

Unlike our party, where everything was going as planned, the opposition was quite troubled.

‘No results. There are no results.’

It would’ve been a big problem for them that they hadn’t achieved anything yet. Of course, he became physically stronger, but he was getting further and further away from his goals.

We couldn’t have known where to start digging and what to do first.

Although he seemed to be communicating with some members of the Vatican’s priesthood and the Continental Protection and Management Committee, he couldn’t get the information he needed.

I was certain that it wouldn’t be easy to ask such questions in the first place.

‘Honorary Cardinal Lee Kiyoung is suspicious. If they had any strange circumstances and evidence, how would I ask them to show me?’

In general, it was heretical to ask such a thing. He had managed to enter the enemy’s territory, but his arms and eyes were currently tied up.

He was looking at me with his eyes wide open to somehow dig up information about a human being named Lee Kiyoung, but the only scene he could see…

“My body is dirty. I’m afraid I’ll hurt the Honorary Cardinal…”

“No one in the world has a dirty body. You don’t have to say that because you got sick, so come on.”

“This is wrong. This… this is contagious…”

‘Yeah, right, contagious! You bastard. If you could infect me, you already would’ve.’

I was obviously doing my best to treat infectious diseases. Raphael, looking at me from behind, had a firm look on his face.

Of course, I couldn’t blame him.

The place where I, him, and some priests were sitting was where I had no choice but to solidify my expression.

The place was full of sick people suffering from the nauseating smell of death. The ground was stained with pus and rotting flesh.

It was a small village where people who had been abandoned by the world lived.

Who could think of us as bad and evil while watching us working hard in a place like that?

“Well… I’ll help you, Hyung.”

“No, it’s all right. Raphael would be better off helping other priests.”

If I could, I would’ve taken care of the patients’ abscesses there. It was a pity that I couldn’t show them such a scene.

‘It’s the first time I’ve ever resented divinity and alchemy.’

Of course, we couldn’t make such a heart-warming scene, but what we were doing was beautiful enough in its own right.

Applying healing ointment directly and taking a closer look at each person’s body couldn’t be done using mental skills.

‘Volunteer work is good. It’s good.’

Raphael openly displayed his reaction.

The rare human waste that had signed a contract with the devil, the dark being that manipulated the continent for his own gain and tried to keep everything under his feet. That villain that had an indescribably vicious image was treating patients who were at the lowest position right in front of him.

He was willing to offer his body for those who hadn’t been cured by general divine power and was eager and enthusiastic about them.

‘Those devil-contracting bastards aren’t like me… They can’t even do this. Don’t you think so?’

It was quite different from the politicians’ actions that always left behind pictures or videos for publicity purposes.

He was watching the daily life of Lee Kiyoung in person.

It must’ve been thought that all the scenes encountered through the media were for publicity.

Of course, it was being used for publicity purposes.

However, even if it was for publicity, it was a completely different matter if one showed that he regularly volunteered and did his best.

I had been neglecting the place recently, but hadn’t I been making those kinds of events regularly anyway?

I was also very familiar with what the group of priests thought of me.

‘Oh… he’s here to take care of his image again.’

No one in that place thought like that.

Who could blame them when they had already seen plenty of volunteer groups moving in unison as if they had worked together plenty of times before?

Regardless of the purpose, it was undeniable that human Lee Kiyoung was working hard for the weak.

‘Their mouths would’ve been filled with bubbles if the reactionary bastards saw me doing this work.’

It wouldn’t be strange if they said no if I asked them if they’d ever done the same thing.

‘Look at this. I’m not a bad person. Can’t they see this?’

It was enough to cause a change in the expression of the young warrior.

Raphael seemed doubtful. However, I wasn’t certain his suspicions weren’t aimed towards me.

It was aimed towards the truth he used to believe in.