Chapter 291: Cale, more than a Dragon (5)

“Welcome, Your Holiness, the Pope.”

The one who received Pope Casillia was a butler.

Cale watched the butler while recalling what the Pope had said.

‘Exion is a Dragon, but he resembles a knight more. Additionally, unlike Ryan and other Dragons, he is quite rational and can foresee the future.’

‘What does that mean?’

In response to Cale’s question, she answered.

‘He knows how to govern humans.’

Cale understood the meaning of those words as soon as he arrived at this place.

‘It’s the way of human society.’

The butler serving Exion stood before him.

He was an Elder. His attire was so luxurious that it resembled a butler from a high noble family, and his demeanor exuded great dignity. Moreover, the butler radiated an obvious pride about himself.

“It’s been a while, Butler.”

“Yes, Your Holiness, the Pope. My lord wanted to come out to greet you, but the situation is so urgent that he sent me instead.”

This butler was proud to serve Exion as his lord.

'Quite-'

Yes, this butler seemed quite happy.

'Interesting.'

The atmosphere here was completely opposite to that of Ryan’s Castle.

Cale had arrived at an annex building within Exion Castle. It was a large rectangular building specifically prepared for teleportation, with no special decorations.

“Pope, I will guide you to your lodging.”

Those who were beside the butler seemed to be knights who worked here. Their posture was impeccable, and they also showed great pride in themselves.

“Since there are quite a few people, we have prepared a separate annex building. Although it is not the main room of the castle where you usually stay, we have done our best to ensure that nothing is lacking, so I ask for your understanding.”

“I understand. This time we are quite a number.”

Besides Cale and Clopeh, five Bishops, including Horns and the first bishop, accompanied the Pope. Counting the Temple members who were with them, the number rose to about twenty people. This was just the first group; Casillia intended to call all the Bishops here in response to Exion’s summons.

'And among them, we will infiltrate our allies.'

Choi Han, Rosalyn, and other human allies were going to mix with this group to enter Exion Castle.

'Later, when we reach the annex, I will call Raon.'

Just in case, Raon was to come once he received the coordinates of the lodging.

“But aren’t they more formal than I expected?”

Exion knew, thanks to Emperor Alt’s report, that the Pope had betrayed them and joined their enemies. Despite that, the butler and the knights showed no hostility. In fact, it seemed they respected the Pope.

‘This means Exion hasn’t told them anything.’

Creak.

The knights opened the door to the building. The exterior landscape could be seen. Cale recalled again the evaluation the Pope had made about Exion.

‘He knows how to govern humans.’

Ha.

Cale suppressed his laugh that was about to escape.

“It’s nobility.”

The landscape that appeared before him was reminiscent of the Duke’s Castle in Henituse. The garden was not ostentatious but was elegantly and tastefully decorated. There were no flashy fountains or statues, but all the materials used were of the highest quality. Additionally, the garden was designed to harmonize with the appearance of Exion Castle, creating a picturesque scene. Just seeing this landscape evoked an image of Exion.

“It’s as if-”

Yes, it’s as if-

“It reminded me of an ancient noble knight family.”

A family of noble knights that one could imagine in many fantasy novels, a family that was upright and dignified. Not a small family, but a ducal or duchess family, considered the best in a kingdom, exactly that image was now before Cale. Moreover, the employees working in the garden, the knights who seemed to be heading to the training ground, all had normal expressions as if they were living their daily lives. And they greeted the Pope’s group with respect. The atmosphere was so refreshing and peaceful.

Cale felt a strange sensation.

'Exion might be the most dangerous.'

Exion, the Three-Star Dragon.

This guy was very cunning.

He recalled the additional words of Pope Casillia.

‘He is a Dragon, but he acts according to human norms. Like a splendid knight, an exemplary noble. Governing, perhaps he does that better than Ryan.’

Exion was the sword of the Dragon Lord, but he was also very cunning.

Cale, acting as a simple servant behind the Pope, slightly shrank as he continuously observed the surroundings.

'There is a door in the backyard of the castle leading to the World Tree.'

Cale observed this strangely peaceful space while recording the appearance of the castle in his memory.

At that moment, the Pope spoke to the butler in a casual tone.

“Butler. You know that a total mobilization order has been issued, right?”

It was a question like throwing a stone on the surface of a calm lake.

Total mobilization order.

The Pope deliberately brought up the weight of those words.

And the butler responded.

“Yes, I know.”

Huh?

That calm response made Cale raise his eyebrows in surprise. At that moment, he saw the Pope glancing at him. She seemed to want to communicate something.

And Cale caught the tension in her eyes.

'What is happening?'

While Cale wondered, the butler spoke calmly.

“Ryan has died, and Epley is missing. That means a great enemy has emerged that threatens this world, right?”

What?

Cale felt strange.

The butler and the knights.

Their expressions were peaceful.

“But Exion has issued a total mobilization order, and the Lord will return soon. Then, all the problems will be resolved, right?”

The butler looked at the Pope with a serene smile.

“Pope, you came here in response to Exion’s call, not to ally with the enemies, but to support our side, right?”

…Wow.

Cale was amazed.

What-

‘Did all these people already know?’

A single butler and two knights.

They knew the Pope had conspired with the enemy, yet they behaved calmly.

‘How is this possible?’

Cale was really surprised.

And the butler’s additional words surprised him even more.

“Exion-nim instructed us to treat the Pope and the Temple members with the utmost respect. He said we must win them back as allies.”

The butler added in a joking tone, shrugging his shoulders.

“Exion-nim said the Pope is a bit difficult, so we must treat her very well to win her favor again. Isn’t that, right?”

Wow.

Cale was a bit impressed.

And the butler too.

'Exion, this Dragon is really cunning, isn’t he?'

He thought that he might be a different kind of enemy from those he had encountered so far.

“Pope, Exion-nim said he will soon prepare a proposal for you. A proposal that could remove the limitations you possess. Until then, he asked you not to take sides and wait.”

The Pope’s eyebrows slightly raised.

“…My limitations?”

The Pope, who was trying to show Cale the true danger of Exion, found the answer immediately upon hearing those words.

Life.

There was no doubt he was referring to her life.

And Exion had a proposal related to that?

Pff.

A light laugh escaped the Pope’s lips.

‘I understand now.’

She thought of Cale and the Third Bishop Horns.

The information they gave her.

‘The Hunters are planning to create another world.’

This must be what Cale Henituse mentioned.

Turning a fictional world into reality?

“…Yes.”

The Pope murmured quietly.

“My limitations are clear. I am eager to converse with Exion.”

Her voice was filled with sincerity.

That’s why the butler's face brightened even more.

“Thank you for accepting.”

He stopped in front of the pavilion and opened the door. The interior of the pavilion was quite impressive.

“Rest comfortably. Let me know if you need anything.”

“Yes. Thank you for the guidance.”

The butler greeted the Pope and then bowed respectfully to the Bishops and their group before leaving with the knights without hesitation.

Cale, who had followed the Pope inside the pavilion, looked at the First Bishop.

As soon as the front door closed, mana emerged alongside the First Bishop.

Swish~

The mana spread throughout the pavilion. Like the wind, it quickly swept through the interior of the pavilion and soon returned to the First Bishop.

“No surveillance.”

The Pope calmly responded to the First Bishop’s words.

“Indeed. Exion is not that kind of person.”

Surveillance, espionage. It was not something he would do. At that moment, the Third Bishop approached the Pope and spoke.

“Your Holiness, will you listen to Exion’s proposal?”

Casillia read the concern in the eyes of the Third Bishop Horns.

The Pope smiled slightly and responded.

“Are you worried that I will cross into that fictitious world to prolong my life?”

“Hmm.”

Horns couldn’t continue and pressed his lips together. The Pope looked at Cale instead.

“Commander, what do you think I will do? No, that question is unnecessary.”

Cale smiled relaxedly. The Pope shook her head upon seeing him.

“You seem too relaxed.”

To which Cale quickly responded.

“Your Holiness, wouldn’t it be better to embrace your boundless emotions rather than dwell on your limited constraints?”

“…”

Even the small smile on the Pope’s lips disappeared.

She looked at Cale with an indifferent expression.

“…You truly understand my psychology well.”

Casillia.

She had a desire more intense than her own limited life. Anger towards the world. Resentment. Desires for destruction. Those were her infinite, endless feelings. And that was something Exion couldn’t satisfy.

It was obvious.

Anyone who only saw Casillia’s limitations couldn’t see the bottomless abyss inside her.

“The Commander is a very interesting person.”

The Pope said that without a hint of humor and looked away from Cale.

But then, Cale’s voice was heard, and her shoulders trembled slightly.

“I don’t usually do this, but I dare say that thinking about what an infinite emotion truly is might be beneficial.”

“…What do you mean?”

Fire sparked in the Pope’s eyes. She looked at Cale intently, unaware.

Cale shrugged slightly.

“This is something you can ignore.”

“……”

The Pope looked at him with tightly pressed lips, then turned to her group.

“Go to your rooms to rest. Bishops, come to my living room.”

She didn’t look back at Cale.

Cale watched her calmly, then gestured to Horns, indicating that he should send the coordinates to Raon via the communicator.

Horns nodded, and the others moved to their assigned positions.

Clopeh remained firmly behind Cale throughout the process.

Then, in the midst of the small commotion...

Bang!

A loud noise was heard.

‘Hm?’

Cale looked at the main door in surprise.

Crack!

The seemingly solid main door cracked and split. And a leg slipped through the crack. And then, disappeared through the crack.

Bang!

She kicked the door again.

Boom!

Ignoring the door that flew inward, the figure entered.

‘An elf?’

Cale opened his eyes wide at the sight of the woman.

‘An Inquisitor?’

Before that thought could form. The Third Bishop Horns straightened and stepped forward with a stern face.

“Third Inquisitor. Such lack of manners—”

(TL Note: It seems the Third Inquisitor is a woman)

But he couldn’t continue.

“!”

Horns’ eyes widened. Cale’s eyes also widened.

“What is this?”

Whoosh.

The elf, the Third Inquisitor, quickly advanced towards Cale.

Surprised by the sudden situation, Cale thought of deploying his shield but was even more shocked to see the woman’s eyes.

‘She’s crazy.’

The elf's eyes gleamed with a hint of madness.

So, Cale got a bit scared.

- Deploy the shield!

Super Rock also got alarmed.

Just as Cale was about to deploy the shield, a back stood in front of him.

Clopeh Sekka.

- Ah! That’s right! We have someone even crazier!

Super Rock spoke in an excited voice.

“Third Inquisitor!”

Horns’ voice rose.

Whoosh.

When the wind noise peaked, the Third Inquisitor spoke.

“You—!”

The elf grabbed Clopeh by the neck. The hood covering Clopeh, just like Cale, slipped. His white hair and green eyes were revealed.

Her target was not Cale. It was Clopeh Sekka.

“Who are you?”

Her voice trembled uncontrollably.

Whoosh—

There was an intense vibration on her side. An empty sheath on her hip was vibrating.

It was a peculiarly designed wooden sheath.

When Clopeh saw this, his eyes shone.

“Who are you really?”

The Third Inquisitor tightened her grip on Clopeh’s neck.

“Third Inquisitor, what are you doing!”

“Stop!”

“…Third Inquisitor. Have you forgotten that you are in front of me, the Pope?”

When the Bishops and the Pope tried to stop her. The Third Inquisitor spoke with a trembling voice.

“How is it possible that a human like you is the Guardian Knight of the Dragon Lord?”

Guardian Knight of the Dragon Lord.

With those words, silence fell.

The twenty people here were all close to the Pope and shared her ideals.

Everyone looked at Clopeh, whose neck was being held by the elf.

Smile~

Clopeh smiled. It was a bright smile. Totally inappropriate for the silence.

“This situation is totally unexpected.”

Clopeh’s voice, though he was being held, was calm.

“I am Cale-nim’s Guardian Knight.”

His voice was so serene and soft that it seemed sacred.

“A person destined to be a Legend. How can that compare to a mere Dragon?”

Cale heard these absurd words and ran his hands over his face.

He wished Raon and Choi Han would arrive soon.

Meanwhile, Clopeh smiled brightly at the Elf and asked.

“Hmm? How is it possible?”

The Elf stopped.

“How can you ask me if I am the Guardian Knight of a Dragon instead of Cale-nim? Hmm? Please, answer. I am very curious. Hmm?”

In Clopeh’s smiling eyes, the Third Inquisitor saw the madness.

The same madness she remembered in the eyes of the First Inquisitor, who protected the Dragon Lord.

Unconsciously, the hand holding Clopeh’s neck began to tremble.

Cale, meanwhile, kept running his hands over his face.

- Wow!

Super Rock exclaimed genuinely impressed.

***

If you find any errors or have suggestions, please feel free to provide feedback.

Thank you for reading!

[Author – Yu Ryeo Han]

[Translator – Anowa]

[Proofreader – Rai_Mayank]