35-30 Third audience negotiations with the Pope and Object X

When I returned from the labyrinth, Cattleya-san called out to me first.

''Welcome back. That face... first of all, thank you for coming back alive.''

'Please don't do that. My stomach hurts when you bow to Mr. Cattleya, who has always been so good to me.

'Hmmm. Is that so?

'Stop those naughty eyes, please. Then let's get to the point first, please.

Oh, God. You have to tease me some more.

While saying that, I take the card and transfer the magic stone to Katrina-san's bag. Yes, Katrina-san is always doing P conversions with her magic bag, which is more powerful than mine.

''It's really great this time, 426,549p.''

It was pretty good. Even so, it was seriously bad this time to write "serious". If it wasn't for the area high heels, I would have died.

"...At such a young age, area high heels, Luciel, aren't you faking your age?

"...What? I couldn't even use my heels when I signed up at 15, though?

Or are you dabbling in weird drugs or something?

It can't be... What?

Let's do a clean confession in front of the Pope, shall we?

I can stiffen my arms.

'I hope so. I've been wondering as well, Mr. Cattleya, so I'm going to ask you to get to the Pope again this time.

'What? You're kind of aggressive. Is it because you finally defeated the boss of the 30th level?

No. Only this time I'm hoping to find out what it is I've been drinking for over two years.

"...this isn't how I thought it would play out.

It's going to solve a two-year mystery.

'I feel like the tension is higher than usual. Did you really feel like you were going to die?

'Haha. I stuttered because it was swept away. Well, luck was very much on my side this time and I did no damage, but I could really feel the holy magic working on Andet. Otherwise, I would have almost died again this time.

"Luciel, don't tell me you're going to die.

It's a figure of speech. Sorry.

Well, shall we go now?

We continue to talk as we walk.

'So what kind of demon was it this time?

''I really thought I was going to die when three wights and five dead knights appeared. I managed to get to VIII where I could use Area High Heels, so I was saved, but I'm afraid that sooner or later there will be undead dragons, Dullahan, and other beastly undead.

''I see. Also, since Dullahan is a fairy and not classically undead, holy magic won't work on him.

"...Really? Please don't let the flag fly.

What's a flag?

Don't worry about it.

'Speaking of which, what are you drinking?

In the Adventurer's Guild, there's an extremely foul-smelling and disgusting object called Object X. It is said that the Sage of Time made it for the Adventurer's Guild. Did you know that the Sage of Time is said to have created it for the adventurers?

'I've never heard of it. Is that a famous one?

'Yes. I'll just keep drinking this and it'll give me a street name.

Well, that sounds pretty intense. But still... Pope Cattleya.

Yeah. You can come in.

Ha.

Thus I was about to begin negotiating an audience with the Pope for the third time.

As Cattleya and I got down on our knees and hung our heads, the Pope called out to us, "Is today's matter about the Lord of the Thirty Levels?

'Is today's matter about the Lord of the Thirty Levels?

''Ha. They've defeated the Lord of the Thirty Levels.

"Hmm. It's a big deal. Even so, I never would have guessed that a single person could reach the 30th layer.

Thank you, sir. This is the result of the equipment and tools you gave us.

Oh. I see. And that's not all, I see. I hear you're also very powerful.

I'm afraid I must inform you, sir. It seems that he has been drinking something that is said to have been created by a wise man called Object X.

This way.

I took the barrel of the object X out of my magic bag.

? Put it away now.

"...Ugh, is it poison?

Huh? Does it smell that bad? Not only is Cattleya frowning, but all the handmaids are frowning as well?

''No, it's a magical tool created by a wise man that is handled by the Adventurers Guild, and it comes out when you channel your magic power. It's said to be something that no demon can get close to among the adventurers.

'There is such a thing? Wait... what's the proper name for it?

"I'm told it's Object X. It's what every newbie adventurer is always trying to get drunk.

''...Maybe it wasn't object X, but a pill developed by mixing various herbs, dragon heart, spirit water, and world tree roots to awaken adventurers' latent abilities, which was renamed because the magic tool developed so that the same one could be prepared at any time was somehow liquid. It must be. No, in that case, it should be object X. When it was a pill, it was named "God's Lament" by the person who developed it because it was so bad. I'm sure that's what was written in the literature.

It's a cheat item, that's for sure. Still, I'm glad there's nothing weird about it.

'Maybe the source of that god's lament for drinking Object X in liquid form is the source of my being able to be active. It certainly tastes too bad, so bad that even God would be saddened, and my sense of taste and smell is still broken for an hour after drinking it, and there is a small amount of poison in it, but I was taught that the body's immune system is able to detoxify it sufficiently and the poison doesn't accumulate, so it's not a problem. I drink a mug of the undiluted solution before and after three meals, breakfast, lunch and dinner. It's been two and a half years since I started drinking this, but it may be because of this.

He lightly tapped the magic bag that held the object X away.

''.......Are you really drinking that?

'Yes, sir. It's a world where lives are lost lightly. I was afraid I had to do what I could. I'll drink it if I can get used to it strongly enough to just drink it, without risk. Oh, except for the fact that drinking this will give me a street name and look at me poorly.

I'm getting a little sad saying that.

I understand. Your efforts and your hard work have brought you to this point.

"...Luciel, you're amazing. Huh? I'm back to normal, Miss Cattleya.

Hmm. Then there will be no problem. The wise man has no idea what to do with the taste and smell.

Very much so.

Now, what was the demon this time?

'Yes, sir. There are three wights and five skeleton knights. I was able to run around and take them out with area high heels.

Really? So much for your youth. Maybe the Lord will make it all the way to Archbishop one day.

I'll do my best.

Then get me out of here.

I took out all the items I had picked up and handed them to the handmaiden.

As usual, as I went through the items the handmaiden gave me, I suddenly heard muttering and a voice called out to me.

''These are those three girls'...enough for today. I'll give your reward to Cattleya, good luck with your attack.

The voice was a bit hard and dark. This was apparently a setting where they were acquainted.

Then the Pope was let out of his room and I decided to head to the dining room for the first time in a long time.

''Ah, sister, it's been a while. I'd like another big dinner today, please.

I spoke to Obachan as I mixed in some flattery.

I'd like to know how much you would like, that knight, how much would you like?

Did the weirdly stiff speech get to my head? has come to mind?

How did you get that accent? I'm Luciel, okay?

As he checked his surroundings and whispered, Oba-chan froze and his face softened as if it were melting ice.

'Well, well, it was you, Luciel, wasn't it? I had no idea who you were at all, with your hair tied up and your armor on. I'll get you ready in a minute.

After that, the kitchen began to work quite hurriedly and said, "Here you go. Have a drink and build up your strength," and a freshly prepared meal, a little more than usual, was prepared.

''It looks good. You're doing a good job.

That's nice of you to say. I'll say the same for you all.

Thank you. Thank you again.

As I sat down, I wondered if it was so hard to serve here that I had to be so nervous. With that in mind, he ate the hot meal.

'Thanks for the treat. I'll stop by again in the morning.''

So I'll have plenty for you tomorrow.

'Yes. Please.

Thus, I went back to my room after having a conversation with Obasanjo.

'There's no harassment, and I'm sure everyone knows I'm not here. We can't use force at the church headquarters, but then again, I've had an audience with the Pope so many times that we wouldn't be able to clash openly with him.

While I was thinking about that, I went to sleep when I had just settled down after a long time of rereading magic books and concentrating on the basic training of magic.

The next morning, after taking a voluminous meal and being given a lunch, when I proceeded to the labyrinth, Cattleya-san was there, which was unusual for this time of day.

'Good morning, Miss Cattleya,'

Good morning. Mr. Luciel, it's the Pope's...

Then he handed me a piece of parchment.

'What's this?

Lamentations of God, apparently a book on the efficacy of object X.

God's Lamentations and Object X were detailed in the book.

'There's quite a lot in there, but oh well. Then I'm off to the labyrinth.

Good luck. If you ever need help with anything, I'm here for you.

"...? Yes. Nice to meet you.

Was it my imagination that I saw a rare glimmer of sympathy in Cattleya's eyes?

I ran out into the labyrinth with that in mind.

After defeating the monsters from the first level to the twentieth level, I was shocked to read the paper I was given before going to bed.

This was a verbatim copy of the literature on God's Lamentations and Object X.

The three major human desires of sleep, appetite and s*xual desire tend to be diluted in the priestly professions, including the church-related professions of knighthood and healing.

It is with great regret that I had to reluctantly name this, which I created, the Lament of God, but it is a remedy to prevent them from being treated unfairly in this world and from losing the joy of living as a human being.

The benefits are increased appetite, increased libido, and autonomic nervous system activation, but as a byproduct it has also been found to build resistance to various conditions and to activate sleeping cells, making them more susceptible to various status changes.

When I tried to put it in the church, it was criticized for its excessive odor, and I was even told that it was not appropriate for the church.

I was inconsolable. Then Cryos, the master of the Adventurer's Guild Headquarters, noticed its efficacy and decided to give it to a newcomer.

Thus, my research was put to good use in the Adventurer's Guild.

I will focus all my efforts on developing a cure that can be placed in the church one day.

It seems that the cure that the wise man made in the church never finished the cure because every time he made the cure it gave off a strange smell.

After I finished reading it, I understood. Wasn't that pitying look on Cattleya's face because she was seen as an impotent person? And then I realized.

And then I realized, I could have a conversation with a woman, and I was interested but not horny.

I'm going to be in love with someone when I clear the labyrinth," said the energy from my tired body, and I finally recovered from the shock after advancing to the 30th level.

I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to get the best out of it. By the way, it disappears with a single hit of cleansing magic, so don't force it, and gradually increase the number of the training in the labyrinth training grounds.