It was an action born of certainty, believing Kijung couldn’t possibly know. However, Fernand, having no interest in the Ezwen faction, didn’t know either.
“The Pope’s Faction naturally follows His Holiness, but the Anti-Pope’s Faction... Well?”
“Man, at least know their leader! Who heads the Anti-Pope’s Faction? That Tus... something guy?”
“Oh, it’s not Tusculani. That faction has completely crumbled.”
During the current Pope’s time as a cardinal, Tusculani was one of the strongest candidates for the papacy. It was Kijung who played a decisive role in toppling Tusculani, the largest faction in Ezwen.
After uncovering electoral fraud, Tusculani completely collapsed, and his followers disbanded.
“I thought you had a masterstroke because you declared you’d become C9. But you didn’t even know the name of the opposing leader?”
Feeling frustrated by Kijung’s words, Kidd stepped up.
Luger kept muttering, “Just like Ha Leeha’s hyung!” in a grumbling tone.
Both Leeha and Fernand, as well as Browless, couldn’t hide their anxiety, but Kijung himself seemed completely nonchalant.
“I really don’t know about those things. Being the guild master of Byulcho requires a lot of attention. Since the last incident, there have been daily membership requests, and conducting joining tests is no easy task either.”
“Do you call that an excuse? If you don’t know, then find someone who does—”
“Yeah, that’s why I brought her.”
What gave Kijung so much confidence?
The phrase “9 Cardinals Committee” and the mention of Ezwen’s “faction” battles. When those words came up, Kijung had already had someone in mind.
“Oh boy, even if everyone doesn’t know, how can you discuss such things right in front of the papal office? And do you think it won’t be noticeable when one of the most prominent cardinals from the Pope’s Faction is right here?”
The scolding voice sounded somewhat like Ram Hwayeon, but she wouldn’t come all the way here. The scale of the New Continent’s paleo coalition, the 〈Partisan〉, had been growing day by day, constructing fortresses and barriers everywhere to expand their defensive lines.
However, concerning matters related to divine power, there was someone who could be recognized as having information as good as or better than Ram Hwayeon’s.
She waved her hand toward Kijung as she appeared with the sound of elegant footsteps.
“Raphaela...?”
“The Saintess? Now that I think about it, it has been a long time since I’ve seen her.”
“Oh my. Hello, Ha Leeha of the 〈R- Rank〉! And ‘Stinger’ Kidd and unlucky Luger, too?”
“What the—”
Saintess Raphaela.
Due to her nickname, very few knew her true nature. Luckily, Kijung knew her true nature very well.
—Right, Kijung, you mentioned her before?
—Yes. That woman is super cunning. She probably knows everything.
Leeha and Kijung exchanged looks. During the Pyrot-Cocri avatar slaying quest, their conversations had reached Leeha as well. She was indeed not an ordinary person.
—So, should I help you? This time it’s not even a quest.
—Hyung, didn’t you remember what I said earlier? I have the right to choose one of the Fibiel dioceses.
—What does that have to do with her?
—Oh, hyung, returning from 〈Laputa〉, seems to have his brain stiffened. If I become the diocesan bishop, who do you think would manage the ‘monasteries’ in that diocese?
“Oh...?”
Leeha, unknowingly, let out a gasp. What Raphaela wanted so much was the position of the Grand Abbot of Minis! If she could get something equivalent in another country like Fibiel?
Knowing that her fame had already sufficiently spread in Minis, Raphaela would desire it even more.
—You’re quite clever?
—Who do you think I learned from? Haha, hyung. Leave it to me. In Middle Earth’s time, it’s 50 days, so I’ll figure it out by then.
In reality, it was only about ten days. Considering logout times, the actual working hours would be even less. Despite that, Kijung was confident.
For some reason, Leeha felt that the presence of his younger cousin in front of him had significantly grown.
―I believe you.
―Okay.
Not just for Leeha, but also for Kijung, who was growing into an essential player that Middle Earth couldn’t overlook.
* * *
It was a sight Blaugrunn would never normally show.
Above all, Leeha quickly understood the presence of a woman who remained unfazed even at his appearance.
“Hello, dragon.”
“Are you that brat’s partner? You look quite weak. Unlike you, Bailephus’ partner seemed trustworthy. You’re a disappointment.”
“Haha. Is that so?”
Despite his over 100% affinity with the metal dragon clan, such an attitude! Leeha glanced at Blaugrunn.
—Who is she?
—The strongest bully born from the Steel Dragon clan.
With those simple words, Blaugrunn answered. No further explanation was necessary for Leeha to decide.
“Then we shall be going. We’ve something to report to Lord Bahamut. Let’s go, Blaugrunn-ssi.”
“What, you two just do as you please―”
“Goodbye, Zelreja-nim!”
Before Zelreja could finish her sentence, Blaugrunn used teleportation.
Swoosh―!
As Leeha’s body was transported, he saw the woman running towards him from the rock.
He thought the distance was considerable, but she moved in an instant.
『Whew, that was close...』
“Right? I thought she’d grab me by the scruff of my neck.”
Both Jellypong and Leeha instinctively took a defensive stance simultaneously.
“Haha, seems like you greeted Zelreja.”
The metal dragon King, Bahamut, was watching the scene.
Leeha, trying to return the greeting after a long time, halted his action. Bahamut’s left arm was missing.
* * *
“Bahamut... nim?”
Bailephus and Alexander were no longer visible.
Bahamut was alone in his lair. Leeha suddenly felt Bahamut’s lair seemed desolate.
No matter how vast the hollow was, he had never felt this way before.
Even in human form, Bahamut’s presence always filled the large space.
But now?
It wasn’t just about ‘losing an arm’.
“Oh, this? Don’t worry too much. There’s no inconvenience for me with something like this.”
Bahamut snapped his right hand, summoning tea. The cup floated toward Bahamut’s mouth without any shaking.
Seeing the playful expression of the dragon as he savored the tea, Leeha managed to smile.
“I see. Haha, it’s been a while.”
It couldn’t possibly be fine.
In fact, the very need for such actions indicated how serious it was. Bahamut accepted his greeting with a bittersweet yet kind smile.
“I’ve heard the stories from Alexander and Bailephus. You went through a lot, I heard.”
“No, sir. It was Bailephus who went through the most. Not to mention Blaugrunn-ssi and Zelreja-nim too.”
Suppressing the thought ‘The Lord must have suffered the most,’ Leeha kept himself from revealing what he knew.
Having already heard from Kijung about Bluebeard, Leeha could surmise.
Did they have to trade Bluebeard’s abdominal wound for Bahamut’s ‘left arm’?
‘Even if it wasn’t a small wound, losing an arm is a totally different story. Damn, and clueless users are just whining about balance!’