I’m Really Not Trying to Be Chased by the Heroine as the Villainous Playboy! – Chapter 783

Chapter 165: Forgiveness

Roy was quite touched.

He thought to himself that only his biological father could understand his plight, knowing that dating several girls at once wasn’t as glamorous as outsiders made it seem!

“So you’ll just have to work hard alone from now on.”

“Huh?”

Before Roy could register what was happening, Karl zoomed up to the carriage with a pile of gifts, waving goodbye as he sped off.

The girls turned their gazes toward their old father, looking back at him like a wolf that had lost its rabbit only to stumble upon a sheep.

Charlotte cheerfully asked, “Roy, whose gift do you think matches your father’s taste more?”

“That’s…”

I’m not him, how would I know?!

Unbelievable!

They say sons give their fathers a hard time, but how can a father give his son such a headache?! You just bail and leave me to deal with all this, don’t you?!

All the benefits go to Dad, while I’m stuck handling this chaotic mess alone. What a “great father” indeed.

——————

In the pure, immaculate church, hymns were rising and falling.

At the headquarters of the Holy Light Church in the sacred city of Luxerion, the church elite from the Eastern Continent gathered.

Revered priests, bishops, and holy knights, who were adored by the masses, now humbled themselves and knelt like any ordinary faithful, worshipping the Holy Light.

Before the goddess, all souls were equal.

And atop the holy seat, the representative of the Holy Light goddess, the one closest to the divine among mortals, leading people through darkness and suffering, naturally deserved such worship.

Of course, he also wielded the authority to judge.

“Simon Uriel, as a high-ranking archbishop, you have received the divine favor of the Holy Light and have risen to the rank of [Seraph].”

“I had high hopes for you.”

“But your actions this time have disappointed the goddess, the Holy Light, and the people of this world by failing to meet my expectations.”

The indifferent statement felt like an invisible mountain, crushing Simon’s breath away.

Simon said nothing in reply; he only bowed lower and spoke dolorously, “I acknowledge my wrongdoing.”

“You have caused the loss of many candidate saints, offended major Western powers, lost the Holy Sword, and even allowed an unknown force to seize the bones of the Grim Reaper. The most critical part is…”

“You failed to lead the Destined Saintess onto the right path, jeopardizing the great mission of salvation. My sins are unforgivable!”

“Please, Your Excellency, punish me!”

Simon had already taken everything regarding Alice into account, yet he fell short on the variable of the False King’s blood, Roy Ainbrad.

No matter how much he regretted, time couldn’t turn back, and the conclusion was already set; Simon didn’t know what more he could do beside repent.

“Punishment? Do you think mere punishment can recover the Holy Sword and the bones of the Grim Reaper?”

“Let alone how you will explain this delay in the mission of salvation to the people?”

“Despite possessing the [Seraph] power granted by Your Excellency, you still couldn’t defeat the silver-blooded Teresa. It’s simply a waste of such grace!”

“Your Excellency, Uriel’s behavior is so disgraceful that he no longer deserves to hold the position of archbishop!”

In an instant, a tide of ridicule and scorn flooded in from all directions, like wild beasts that would swallow Simon whole without leaving a trace.

Once a renowned genius of the continent, he was also the youngest archbishop in history.

Simon’s talent and ability were impeccable; however, standing out too much naturally attracted jealousy.

As Simon anticipated, this failure would mark the first step toward his downfall.

He had long prepared to shoulder the cost of responsibility, whether the criticisms were reasonable or not. He gritted his teeth and silently bore the punishment meant for him.

Until a warm voice, like a gentle breeze, swept in, dispelling all cold shadows.

“Simon, there’s no need to blame yourself.”

“All beings are sinners; life itself is a journey of atonement.”

Simon looked up in disbelief.

Atop the holy seat, the Pope’s face was filled with compassion.

His heart, as vast as his ample frame, seemed to embrace the entire sky.

“You are a Seraph I hold dear; do not underestimate yourself.”

The Pope’s words were an unbreakable decree.

No matter how much dissatisfaction the crowd had against Simon, they dared not show their teeth at this moment.

For Simon, this grace filled him with genuine gratitude, stirring in his chest.

Indeed, it was the Pope who had elevated him back then.

Perhaps not all in the Holy Light Church were benevolent, but only the Pope was the eternal light.

The Pope would never let biases and vested interests mislead his fairness; he always provided his subordinates with care.

Yes, the Pope’s quest was the salvation of the world; how could he care about momentary political struggles? How could Simon doubt such a noble lord who dedicated himself to saving others?

Simon felt ashamed of his earlier wavering and was deeply grateful for the Pope’s mercy, bowing his head deeply.

“Thank you for your forgiveness, Your Excellency!”

“However, about the Destined Saintess…”

“Don’t worry.”

The Pope smiled gently, his gaze becoming profound.

It felt as if he was perceiving matters beyond the immediate, something broader and grander than the understanding of mere mortals.

“All destinies have their predetermined courses; even if straying temporarily, one will eventually return to the right path.”

“We have already planted the seeds; it’s only a matter of time before the results come to fruition.”

Simon was left confused: “Please, Your Excellency, clarify.”

The monarch atop the holy seat relaxed slightly; his overly ample form made it inconvenient to act: “Simon, despite this journey failing, it is not without gains.”

“After being baptized by the Holy Light, the Destined Saintess carries the goddess’s mark deep within her soul. She might suppress or even digest some of the goddess’s power temporarily, but how can a mortal body compare to a divine being?”

“One day, the goddess will personally intervene to reclaim her angel. At that time, the hypocritical royal blood can’t stop it at all.”

“I see!” Joy returned to Simon’s face; the darkness in his eyes that had lingered since the White Harbor incident finally regained its sparkle.

The Destined Saintess was indispensable for the world’s salvation.

Realizing that the future of the world was not doomed due to the mishap at White Harbor lightened Simon’s guilt and pain, and the expressions of the church leaders around him softened too.

Yet, nobody noticed that the Pope, who had just spoken soothingly, had a momentary glimmer of seriousness in his eyes.

After the meeting ended.

The Pope, who was plump and hefty, went alone to the underground of the chapel, passing through layers of complex prohibitions, arriving at the deepest point where neither light nor air could penetrate.

There, stood a massive door forged from mythril and holy white stone.

It was hard enough to withstand dragon strikes and had barriers that even great mages could not penetrate. It was both an impenetrable fortress and a foreboding forbidden zone.

Only a few people in the entire Holy Light Church knew of this place, and only the Pope himself could pass through this door, facing the truth that the Holy Light Church had concealed for centuries from the world.

The Pope raised his hand, and the giant door opened.

A pure white light, like a miracle from the heavenly realm, illuminated the entire world.