Chapter 484 [484] The new pope.

Chapter 484 [484] The new pope.

"Stefan Caravel!"

My name rung out, and I, stood in a daze.

"What?"

I questioned, not in my mind. It was heard by everyone here.

In my stupor, I was standing still. Looking at everyone, who were looking at me as well. With...strange eyes.

I had become ready to accept whatever fate lay in front of me, I was ready to fight them all to escape, get to my room, get Gaebolg and run.

But... Nothing went to plan. Not even the damn election. Someone else was supposed to be the pope...those bastards would never vote for me.

'Are they playing...a trick, perhaps?'

The thought came to my mind. It could very well be possible. These scheming, heinous bastards would of course think of such.

But, there is a slight...echo in my heart. An echo that whispers to my mind that this is true. Maybe it is my ambition, or maybe it is just...my wish becoming alive.

However... I must not succumb to it. Hurriedly, I used my holy power to discern their intentions. I need to know!

But I found nothing yet again, only pure fanatics...of me.

Not of our deity, but...me? Have they truly gone insane?

No, that cannot be it. They are right in the head. My powers deem it to be so. So I am right!

The voice in my mind, the warning from my heart, my guts and instincts are wrong.

I am right!

They...really did choose me.

"Pope Stefan?"Ñ00v€l--ß1n hosted the premiere release of this chapter.

The priestess said, to gain my attention.

'Pope.'

'Pope.'

'Pope.'

That word resounded in my mind...millions of times. For so long, I had... I had dreamt of this. Wished for it. Prayed for it.

Fought for it.

And it was granted to me...like that?

Preposterous! It could not be this easy. It must not be this easy! It...can't be this easy.

They are all my enemies, I know it in my heart, but my powers tell me the opposite.

They truly believe that I should be pope.

'But then...'

Why?

Why oppose me for so long? Why make my life a hell? Why make it so that I would be weak? That I would die every second of my life.

Was it...to nurture me? That they would not actually kill me, but would rather just do it to make me stronger?

No, that is wrong. Multiple times I have almost died, and the assassins and demons I faced were out to kill me. Every one of them wanted to kill me.

Only by the grace of my deity was I able to survive. And the nature of these bastards didn't sit right with me, nor their current actions.

For example, the bishop of gold. A greedy bastard who did anything for money. I once called him out on public and disgraced his image. He hates me as if I am the person that killed his entire family.

But he agrees of my stance.

The words left my mouth, so easily, I was shocked. I tried to take it back, but it didn't work.

"Tsk tsk."

I heard someone click their tongue. They were behind me. Yet I did not dare look back. I tried to move my neck, but my muscles were scared.

My body was scared. I felt like the demon king was behind me.

'Demon king...'

I thought. Maybe it is the demon king who planned this. Who took control of them!

In my sudden assumption, I had forgotten that my holy powers had told me there was nothing but pure fanatiscm in their minds. I was just so ready to grab at any string I could see, so I could escape.

I devised a plan to use Stella and end him, and get rid of the curse on the people here.

"I thought you wouldn't succumb to the power... I was wrong."

I paused.

The voice that accompanied the wind to my ears. I knew of it. I knew of this voice a few days ago and remembered it clearly.

"What's wrong? Scared?"

The barbarian...how?

He was simply a pawn for me to use to get more favour, to appear more merciful... So am I hearing things or not?

I turned around, strangely, there was nothing stopping me now. I turned around and I was correct. It was the barbarian. But he possessed hair like golden silk now. His eyes were still the same emerald green, but I believe there is something else within them. He still towers over me, and his smile...

His smile is wicked.

"You...?"

I questioned, hesitant but curious. I want to know what is going on here.

"Yes. Who else?"

His voice rang in my ears again, like a drum. Reverberating through my brain. My heart skipped a beat.

I fell from my seat, down the stairs and onto the ground.

He followed me, and sat on the seat. I looked at him from above.

"I had hope for you, Stefan, I thought at least you...wouldn't be greedy and succumb to the mightiest wine that is power. You became drunk in mere seconds."

What is he talking about?

I wondered as I massaged my ass. I had regained some clarity and I looked at him, and said.

"What...are you doing?"

Why do you dare sit there? Who has given you permission? You are still a barbarian.

"Why are you sitting there? Come down this instant!"

That is not your seat, but mine! Mine!

I am the pope, Not you! You came here only because I was merciful enough... So how dare you?

"Come down there?"

He cackled, I began to walk up the steps, but he stopped me. Strangely, I listened to him.

"Woah there. Stop. If I want to sit here..."

Staring right into my eyes, he continued.

"Who can stop me? Whowantsto stop me?"

He said, addressing not just me, but everyone here.