Hmm… It should be fine?
Even if Dannes really gets mad, I don’t think he’ll be that harsh, so I guess I’ll just pretend I don’t know.
Considering my current situation, I have enough on my plate to worry about without them.
“Where on earth have you been?”
“Are you really not going to tell me?”
“[Ahaha…]”
As soon as I returned, I was met by Stella and Uriel, who were asking where I had been. Given their inquisitive tone, it seemed my concerns had indeed been justified.
At least Evan didn’t ask me where I had gone, but this side was worse.
I could sense his thoughts were along the lines of, “Oh, she must have gone to heal someone again.”
‘How did you know…?’
How could he tell?
It’s not like he followed me and watched me heal the knights; I have no idea how he figured out I went to heal someone.
It felt a bit eerie, but it wasn’t completely incomprehensible.
After all, if I had to pick someone I’ve spent the most time with, it would only be Evan.
Although we haven’t been together for that long, it’s not like it was a short time either, so I probably had enough time to get a grasp on what kind of personality this girl ‘Aria’ is pretending to have.
So I think it’s better to just think, ‘Well, that could happen.’
While thinking that, as I was pondering where to visit in the Holy Kingdom, someone approached and tapped me on the shoulder.
“[Huh?]”
In fact, I’m always aware of my surroundings using divine power, so it’s not that I didn’t notice.
I felt someone approaching, but since I usually don’t use my divine power to a level that would give me a precise reading—because it gives me a headache—I didn’t detect who it was.
I only picked up that someone was coming, but I couldn’t figure out who it was.
However, the fact that someone placed a hand on my shoulder means it must be someone close to me…
‘Hold on, this hand feels like…’
For some reason, I felt like I could guess who it was…?
Feeling a bit anxious, I turned my head and concentrated a bit more by tapping into my divine power, and I was able to identify who it was.
That identity was…
“[Ah…]”
“You, it’s you…”
Oh…
The moment I confirmed who it was, I froze, and my friends, having not figured out who it was yet, sent me mostly puzzled thoughts.
However, the one who was the quickest to pick up on it and was sharp-minded was Stella…
It was no wonder she might become a great magician in the future; she quickly inferred my relationship with the person and what they were wearing, and…
“I heard that our Aria has returned…”
Just from her tone, she seemed to have figured it out.
“Is it the Pope…?”
“Hoho… I didn’t think you would recognize me, Stella.”
“[Wha, what… No, Pope…?!]”
Why is this person here?
I almost unintentionally called him “grandpa pope.”
“Y-you mean, Pope?!”
“What brings you here…?”
The other knights and nuns nearby were also surprised and hurried over to question the Pope about what brought him here.
Seeing everyone so flustered and the atmosphere going haywire made me involuntarily sigh.
It wasn’t surprising they’d react so strongly; the Pope, or rather Asclyna, didn’t usually stroll around like this.
Most of the time, unless he was forced out for official duties, it was tough even for ordinary paladins or nuns to see him.
Of course, there might be instances where he pretends to be a kind old man and sneaks out into the village…
After all, it was due to his ordinary grandfatherly appearance that he found and took me in when I was lost in this world, blind and deaf.
Well, in such cases, they wouldn’t be able to link that grandfatherly figure with the Pope…
So that would mean he rarely appeared in such a formal manner as the Pope?
In addition to that, there was no way he would come to the knight training grounds where we were. That’s why everyone showed such reactions.
I myself was also surprised and left speechless, not expecting the Pope to appear here.
At that moment, Asclyna… no, the Pope continued to speak.
“I never thought you were training right after arriving, Hero.”
“Ah, ahahaha…”
As someone who didn’t know much about the Pope, all the hero could do was laugh.
I didn’t understand how the situation had developed like this, but what about Evan? Suddenly, the highest authority in this country appeared right before us and casually remarked about my training, smiling gently.
Even just that smile felt remarkable.
Anyway, there must be some reason why the Pope chose to show up here…
Ah.
“[Ah…]”
Thinking back, there was someone I should have met first.
Of course, that was Asclyna… I mean, the Pope.
The very reason I ended up coming here was that the “Pope” summoned me. It’s only natural I should have gone to visit him first, yet here I was, messing around instead. I could only imagine that Asclyna would be quite upset about it.
Of course, I believe that since he’s acting as the Pope, he wouldn’t show any anger toward me.
But… why do I get the feeling as if he’s sulking, as if he’s trying to convey his discontent?
‘In the meantime, he’s trying to mask his identity by sounding like a grandfather mad at his granddaughter…’
No, is that his usual way of speaking…?
I’m not sure…
No, I can’t just d*e here.
Given this turn of events, I have no choice but to offer a sincere apology…!
“[I-I’m sorry…]”
Without a trace of hesitation, I begged the Pope, bowing my head.
My friends were startled by my sudden humility, but soon seemed to swallow their words, realizing he was the Pope.
Have you heard the saying “Sincerity wins every time”?
I wasn’t crying or anything, but it was true I couldn’t remember much, so I figured offering a preemptive apology was best.
I was sure that even a cold-hearted Pope would accept that.
I thought that way and acted, which could be seen as somewhat calculative…
“Y-you don’t need to apologize that much…!”
His voice seemed genuinely flustered, and the way he communicated through thoughts made it even more awkward for me.
I never imagined he would be this taken aback by my apology.
To be honest, seeing such a surprised expression from him during the two years we’ve been together was a first.
Moreover, this wasn’t even a private moment; it was in front of other knights and nuns who didn’t have a clear understanding of the Pope as a person. This added to the shock of the situation.
‘W-what is this…’
Asclyna…?
Surely, she’s not a dragon who would pull such tricks…?
What on earth happened?
Only moments ago, he seemed to radiate an aura of being extremely sulky, but when I earnestly apologized, that tension seemed to dissipate immediately, and he was there, feeling sorry and fidgeting as if he were a doting grandfather.
I stared at the Pope in a daze.
The one responsible for this strange incident seemed bewildered by what was happening.
‘Ha…’
Taking a moment to assess the surroundings with divine power, I decided to just go along with it.
Well, this kind of thing shouldn’t really be a major problem in the story.
It’s a matter of self-image that one must handle themselves.
Anyway, if I just stood here in a daze, things wouldn’t resolve on their own, so I figured I should take the initiative.
I then immediately turned to the Pope and apologized again.
“[N-no, it’s me who did wrong… I’m really sorry…]”
“A-ah, no… it was me…!”
Not really intending it, we ended up repeating our apologies back and forth.…
He’s strong.
I can’t tell if he’s genuinely apologizing or if there’s some other reason for his behavior.
While I was caught up in a strange psychological struggle of my own, it was interrupted…
“Cough, cough…”
By Evan, who interjected between us.
Even I thought it was ridiculous, so I decided to stop here.
This time, it’s my defeat…
