“The Pope!”
“Good afternoon, my dear children. Could you open the door for me?”
“W-what do you want? Our Lady is resting today. A lady… a lady should not be disturbed by any gentleman!”
Anyone who suddenly visited right before lunchtime was either up to no good or looking for a free meal.
Both were extremely dangerous.
“Ah… I thought this was Saintess Idledra’s residence. I am Issar Samious.”
Hailey stood near the door handle but didn’t dare open it.
After all, the man separated from her by only a single door was the mysterious Issar Samious.
According to the records of the Holy See, this youngest Pope was originally an obscure priest.
In fact, it was said that no one had ever seen his true form.
The most recent records detailed the mysterious Pope’s succession ceremony and his discovery of the Saintess Idledra, the Apostle of the Goddess.
It was precisely because of this legendary and great feat that the Pope’s name had gradually entered the public’s view.
‘Wait, is the person outside Santa Claus or some bearded thug? Surely a consecrated cross isn’t waiting for me…’
“Um, if you’re delivering milk, we haven’t paid yet.”
“Child, I am not a milkman. I won’t ask you for money.”
Issar felt a bit helpless, but he still responded gently.
The door slowly creaked open, revealing a small crack.
Then, a single, curiosity-filled purple eye peeked out before the door slammed shut with a bang.
“Sorry! I can’t open the door for strangers if they aren’t delivering milk!”
‘No one told me this doll child was such a little rascal,’ Issar thought.
He scratched his head, feeling a bit troubled, and prepared to knock gently again.
“What if I say I am delivering milk?”
“I already said I didn’t order any milk, so I won’t open the door!”
‘So she won’t open the door no matter what I say? This is difficult.’
However, since Idledra hadn’t spoken up yet, he decided to wait.
“Hailey, is there a guest? Why do I feel like your presence is a bit flustered?”
Although Idledra had a vague guess about the visitor’s identity, she didn’t reveal it immediately.
“Uh, no. It’s just a fake priest coming to preach. I chased him away. Doesn’t he know this is the Saintess’s territory?”
In truth, Hailey was a bit curious after hearing Issar’s gentle tone.
After all, his subordinates were all “fierce and evil” or “wicked.”
It was rare to encounter such a gentle and kind elderly man.
She wanted to see what the legendary Pope actually looked like.
“A priest who doesn’t even recognize the Saintess? That is indeed quite ridiculous.”
Unfortunately, whenever Hailey lied, her tone subconsciously became a bit panicked, and her eyes would guiltily dart around.
Although Idledra couldn’t see that guilty gaze, she only had to lightly hold Hailey’s hand to feel the slight trembling.
It was the scent of a lie.
“Alright, Hailey. Let the gentleman in. He isn’t a bad person for now.”
With no other choice since Idledra had spoken, Hailey had to bite the bullet and open the door.
She tremblingly led the smiling Pope inside.
“Thank you, dear Hailey. I recall you don’t have a name yet? Do you need me to—”
The Pope gently observed the wary Hailey.
Whether in terms of her face or her physique, this little Doll was extremely similar to the Saintess.
Only her personality… there was a significant difference there.
“She has a name. Her name is Idhaeli Senele. It is the name I gave her. She is mine.”
Just as the Pope was about to offer a name with the same casual interest one might show a stray cat, Idledra’s cold and distant voice rang out.
Idledra, wearing her eye patch, had somehow carefully navigated her way in front of the two of them.
Hailey hurried over to support her wobbling form.
This girl really didn’t take care of herself at all.
“Good afternoon, Saintess Idledra. It seems you and this young Doll are living quite well.”
“Thanks to you, Pope Issar, Your Holiness. I wonder how you found the time to disturb me in the midst of your busy schedule?”
Facing the Pope’s gentle and familiar pleasantries, Idledra only responded with a few icy words.
She didn’t seem honored or happy in the slightest.
On the contrary, her expression toward the Pope was one of distance and rejection, appearing even more repulsed than one would be by a stranger.
‘You actually want to name my Hailey? Such wishful thinking. I don’t know what you’re here for, but hurry up and get out, you old geezer.’
Hailey felt at a loss looking at the fire-and-water atmosphere between the two.
She had rarely seen Idledra act so cold.
Come to think of it, it seemed like every time she was unhappy, it involved those people from the Holy See.
“Don’t be so cold. After all, if it weren’t for me, your affairs might have been exposed by that rat who escaped.”
“Hmph. You’re just afraid he would pull down your own facade along with it. Why speak so grandiosely?”
Idledra let out a disdainful sneer.
She had heard from Little Mary this morning that the gatekeeper of the Church had been replaced by a new, unfamiliar clergyman.
She already knew the fate of the old gatekeeper.
However, that alone wouldn’t be enough to bring this inscrutable man before her in person.
There was definitely another scheme.
“Correct. My reason for coming to find you is certainly not that simple. You two seem to have become increasingly flashy lately.”
The Pope didn’t look at her. Instead, he looked at the still-wary Hailey next to her as if inspecting her.
She was like a cat with its fur standing on end, glaring at him with fierce caution.
‘Squinty-eyed people are all monsters,’ Hailey thought, ‘especially these noble elders who look so honest and gentlemanly. They definitely aren’t as simple as they look.’
The Pope was likely referring to how the two of them had exposed their identities in public several times recently, as well as Idledra’s unauthorized use of Black Magic.
Either one was extremely dangerous.
“Wait a minute! Setting aside the fact that your own subordinates caused those situations… if something is going to happen, I’m the one who should be arrested!”
Though she was afraid of dying, Idledra had only been exposed because of her.
As a person living in this world, one had to stand by “righteousness”!
Hailey maintained an air of being ready to die for a cause, only to be pulled into Idledra’s embrace.
The Saintess gazed coldly at the somewhat awkward man before them.
“I will naturally protect my Hailey. There is no need for Your Holiness to worry about her, whether you want me to let her go or intend to take her away…”
If Hailey’s hand hadn’t been cautiously pressing down on her arm, the aura of black Mana would likely have begun to emerge from her body.
“Stop, stop, stop! You can’t attack him here…”
Killing someone to silence them here would be far too loud.
If it didn’t work… at the very least, they should wait and hit him with a club from behind later.