RD | Chapter 52

Of course, there was no way everything could go smoothly.

Once the chaos settled, the people of the Vatican flocked to Keith. They had seen and heard what had unfolded within the Vatican. Even those who hadn’t witnessed it firsthand quickly learned about it from others.

The Vatican’s barrier had disappeared. For the first time in their lives, they were fully exposed to the outside world.

While there had always been demons roaming within the walls, they had previously left those who stayed inside their homes alone. But now, they were no different from the people outside the Vatican—living a life where being discovered meant death. They would have to cower in shabby, easily hidden shelters, terrified of being found by demons. At any moment, demons could invade their refuge, destroying their safe havens and devouring them.

And yet, where could they even find such pitiful shelters? The Vatican was already overcrowded, making them conspicuous. If a powerful demon decided to trample over them, there would be nothing they could do to resist.

“Sir Keith, please protect us.”

“Come back to us, Sir Keith. Lead us.”

“Please become the new Pope.”

“That’s not possible,” Keith replied, shaking his head. “The Pope is chosen through a conclave of cardinals. Without the cardinals reconvening, a new Pope cannot be elected—unless God Himself bestows a divine revelation….”

Keith’s response was frustratingly by-the-book. He turned to glance at Ian, his expression subtly expectant, though Ian couldn’t understand why.

What? Does he want me to issue a divine revelation or something?

If Ian could’ve done it, he would have. He would’ve loved to fake a revelation, appoint Keith as the new Pope, and observe what buffs the “Pope” title would grant. But would people really believe such a hastily concocted revelation? He could easily end up accused of heresy and executed. For now, Ian opted to root for Keith silently.

“How will the cardinals ever return? Aren’t they already gone? None of them have come back to the Vatican….”

The people continued to plead with Keith.

Keep going, Ian encouraged silently.

The cardinals, who had once presided over their dioceses, had not returned to the Vatican since demons began ruling the world.

In the original Keith route, the journey began with searching for these missing cardinals. Meeting all of them and bringing them back to the Vatican was a key part of the storyline.

For a defense-focused game, there was an oddly large amount of running around involved.

“Do not utter such impudent words. Who can prove the cardinals are dead? Without them convening, electing a new Pope is out of the question,” Keith concluded, ending the discussion.

Keith had a certain authority about him. When he decided a conversation was over, most people didn’t dare bring it up again. The crowd fell silent, their pleading halted. That was, until someone picked up a stone and hurled it at Maverick.

“It’s his fault! It’s because of him that Sir Keith won’t stay and protect us!”

“He’s the sinner who drove Sir Keith away! He should be executed!”

Maverick remained silent, bowing his head as he endured the stones being thrown at him. Keith, appalled, stepped in to stop the assault.

“What are you doing?!”

“But Sir Keith, aren’t you going to abandon us?”

“How are we supposed to survive?” they cried, weeping.

“I am not abandoning you,” Keith declared firmly. “I am a servant of God. I will never abandon those who believe in Him.”

Keith’s resolute answer was accompanied by a glance at Ian so pointed that even the oblivious could tell he was seeking help.

Ian felt uneasy.

“Give us a command, Lord Ian. How can we save these people? We need your wisdom.”

Didn’t you say you never thought I was wise…?

Ian was bewildered but suddenly struck with an idea.

Wait.

He’d always wondered—why did the king in Ian’s route abandon his castle?

Castles were designed to withstand external enemies. Yet, because of the king’s foolishness, Ian ended up governing his people from a cave.

In Keith’s route, the Vatican castle was supposed to collapse, too….

Ian surveyed the castle.

It was intact.

Thanks to Ian’s interference in shaking Maverick’s resolve, Keith and Maverick hadn’t destroyed the entire structure during their fight. The Vatican’s white, elegant walls stood as pristine as ever.

And Ian had the authority to establish a third dungeon.

A second external force!

“Keith!”

“Yes, Lord Ian.”

Keith, who had been quietly observing Ian, watched as Ian’s mood shifted dramatically. His troubled expression gave way to a bright smile, and he looked at Keith with an almost childlike eagerness.

Another strange idea, Keith thought.

No, perhaps a sacred one….

Ian’s eyes sparkled as he spoke. His emotions shifted so easily it was almost endearing.

“You’re going to be the administrator of this place.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I’m going to declare this my dungeon.”

The moment Ian finished speaking, the ground surrounding the Vatican rumbled. A round, translucent barrier reappeared, encasing the area.

“What in the world…?!”

“My God!”

While the people knelt and clasped their hands in prayer, Keith asked Ian quietly, “Did you create this barrier, Lord Ian?”

He had seen similar miracles in Ian’s dungeons before.

“Uh, of course I did.”

Ian responded without so much as blinking.

It was in the Vatican’s management tab. I used my experience points to activate it, so yeah, technically, I did it.

Keith was certain Ian was lying, though he couldn’t pinpoint why. As far as he knew, Ian was an excellent liar. Whether a divine messenger should be so skilled in deception was debatable, but….

“A miracle indeed…,” Keith murmured reluctantly.

“That’s what I said.”

What an amusing man, Keith thought, nodding at Ian’s stubborn insistence.

Ian couldn’t understand why Keith’s belief in him as a “Savior” seemed to be diminishing with every word he spoke.

Yet oddly, Keith’s loyalty kept rising. It made no sense.

“Sir Keith, who is this man…?”

“Is he a priest?”

The people, intrigued by the miraculous figure Keith was addressing, wanted to know who he was. Judging from their conversation, it seemed the black-haired man was responsible for the divine event.

“This man is….”

Keith hesitated, but Ian poked him in the side before he could speak. If Keith started spouting nonsense about Ian being a “Servant of God,” it would cause all sorts of trouble.

“A friend,” Ian interrupted.

“……?”

Keith stared at Ian in confusion, but Ian didn’t look back.

“Ah…! Of course! Sir Keith’s… friend?”

“Friend! …Friend?”

“…A friend, I see!” The crowd’s reaction was bizarre.

Doesn’t this guy have friends? Ian wondered. Not that he was one to talk, but still, what was with their reaction?

It seemed everyone knew Keith didn’t have friends.

“Yes… a friend. My friend, Lord Ian, saved me from the demons and captured them.”

“Together,” Ian whispered to Keith. Since he was shorter, he had to tilt his head slightly to reach Keith’s ear.

“…Yes. Together. We captured them.”

“Wow… wowww!”

“Unbelievable!”

The crowd erupted in applause and cheers. Why Keith addressed his “friend” so formally and added the honorific “Lord” was a mystery, but who cared? Friends were friends. Though Ian was clearly feeding Keith lines, the people didn’t seem to mind.

Keith’s friend.

Friend?

Why were they standing so close, whispering to each other like that?

Ding!
[The people find your relationship suspicious.]

Ding!
[The people find your relationship questionable!]

Ian had no idea what the problem was. How could he know something was off when he had never had friends himself?

Didn’t I handle this well?

In any case, Keith, now appointed as the “Administrator” of Ian’s third dungeon, began organizing the remaining Vatican soldiers and assigning them to their proper roles.

Ian, reviewing the defensive spells and manpower available in the third dungeon “Vatican,” could barely suppress his laughter.

This is insane.

He was probably the first person to possess something like this. Ian missed the internet desperately—he wanted to brag about it so badly.

After taking some rest, they finally managed to tear themselves away from the people clinging to them and left the Vatican.

Well, that worked out somehow.

As Ian grinned, Keith asked, “Where should we go now?”

“To the Eastern Fairy Queen’s Island.”

It wasn’t because Ian needed the antidote that could be found there. He’d already healed the priest using <Purification>.

But I’m out of alcohol.

The island also happened to be the closest location housing one of the Demon King’s life vessels. In gaming terms, proximity usually meant lower difficulty.

Ian nodded to himself confidently.

Keith asked, “The Fairy Queen’s Island… such a place exists?”

“Of course. Fairies, elves, they’re all still alive. If humans are surviving, why wouldn’t other races?”

“That’s not what I meant… I’m curious how Lord Ian knows about such places. Aren’t they normally impossible to find?”

Thinking about the plummeting credibility of his “Savior” title, Ian replied solemnly, “God revealed it to me.”

“Ah, I see….”

Ding!
[Keith doubts whether you are truly a “Savior.”]

Why?!