Chapter 74………………………
“Come in, it’s been a while. Ijef.”
The gentle, soft voice spread quietly throughout the tent.
The one in white robes, a sacred presence—it was Pope Gregorian.
“This humble one greets Your Holiness.”
Ijef bowed calmly, leaving out the old formula where he once called himself a servant of God.
Across from him sat a man in black, arms crossed, glaring at him.
That person is… Mephisto…
The one called the Lord of the Demon Realm.
Ijef had half-expected Asterios to arrive first, but that assumption was wrong, and unease crept in.
“Congratulations to both of you for passing safely.”
Perhaps because they each represented the highest peak of holy power and demonic might, an awkward tension seemed to hang between the Pope and Mephisto. Ijef politely offered his greetings to the two.
“You did well to return safely as well, Ijef. Congratulations on your swift passage.”
Gregorian praised him warmly with a kind smile. Mephisto, however, kept his cold expression.
At that moment, the sound of a short horn blew once again, and commotion stirred outside the tent.
“That must be Daniel.”
The Pope smiled kindly. And indeed, the one who entered, panting heavily, was none other than the Great Sage Daniel.
“Haah… Y-Your Holiness… how can you be so… haah… light on your feet…?”
Daniel was pale and out of breath. After a night of climbing for more than eight hours, it was only natural that the sage, who was never particularly strong, was utterly drained of energy.
“You should’ve exercised a little, you know.”
Gregorian chuckled. Watching his sage drenched in sweat and gasping for breath seemed amusing to him.
“It’s not… haah… that my stamina is poor, but that Your Holiness is… haa… incredible!”
Even on the verge of collapse, Daniel straightened his back, unwilling to let go of his pride. That’s when he noticed Ijef and locked eyes with him.
“Greetings to the Sage of the Grand Temple. Have you been well?”
Daniel’s gaze quickly sharpened. Once, this man had bowed before him, calling him a great teacher—but now Ijef stood tall, calm-faced.
How dare you so easily abandon your post! And here of all places—Dreat?
Not in Graham, serving God, but in the land of dragons!
Daniel’s face openly showed his disdain.
It had already displeased him that his prized disciple disappeared without a word after being excommunicated, not even reaching out once. To meet him here, as a contestant no less, stoked his anger further.
“Hmph.”
Daniel let out a scoffing laugh before he finally snapped, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
“When you said you were stepping down from the priesthood for family matters, did you mean starting a new family of your own?”
Rarely, a priest might leave the order due to unavoidable personal circumstances. But Ijef had been one of Graham’s finest, a disciple Daniel had trusted and cherished.
Few were as kind and virtuous as Ijef. He had caused no problems over the years, and Daniel’s expectations had been high—making the sense of betrayal all the greater.
So, the quiet cat was the first to leap onto the stove, after all…
Perhaps he had fallen for the imperial princess, blinded by love.
Indeed, upon reaching adulthood, she was dazzlingly beautiful—so much so that one could lose their very senses.
As the Saintess, Roziana had always been an object of Daniel’s respect, but even if she weren’t, she would still be admired and desired.
Admiration—or perhaps desire was the more fitting word now.
So even Ijef, in the end, is just a man.
It was not uncommon for priests to abandon their vows after falling in love. Daniel concluded that Ijef must have chosen expulsion because of Roziana.
Wait…
A memory surfaced. Daniel’s brow furrowed.
He hadn’t forgotten that Ijef had failed to complete the “last mission” entrusted to him—the secret delivery of a sealed letter from Dreat to Graham.
The letter had disappeared before reaching its destination. Although Daniel could not say for certain it was Ijef’s doing, suspicion lingered. Soon after, Ijef had abandoned the priesthood. Now Daniel’s disdain deepened into a sense of betrayal.
Could it be… even back then, when I sent him near the border…?
His thoughts were interrupted by a mocking voice.
“Surprising, that a weakling like you made it here fourth.”
It was Mephisto, who had until then only observed with a strange gleam in his eyes.
“To think even Daniel could make it down—what are the others doing?”
“W-What? Even Daniel?”
Daniel bristled at the insult, but recalling the Pope’s presence, he quickly restrained himself and changed his tone.
“Ahem. What do you mean by that? It is precisely because I escorted His Holiness tirelessly that we arrived so quickly.”
In truth, he was trying to claim credit.
“Oh? Not alone, but escorting the Pope yourself?”
“Yes. Serving His Holiness is my duty and my honor.”
“Then why did you arrive fourth?”
Though the difference was slight, the Pope had been the first to arrive, followed by Mephisto, then Ijef, and finally Daniel.
“…Do I owe you an explanation for that?”
“Not really. But compared to the Pope, even Ijef was ahead of you.”
“T-That’s because, on the way down—!”
Daniel started to flare up, but Gregorian gently waved his hand.
“Please don’t tease our sage, Mephisto. Daniel was delayed because he stopped to help another contestant in trouble on the descent, all while staying at my side.”
“Oh?”
Mephisto raised his brows in genuine surprise.
“Hmph. True enough. You’ll see for yourself once that contestant arrives.”
Daniel declared proudly. But Mephisto still gave him a sidelong glare, until Gregorian spoke again.
“Mephisto, I do not lie. Is your curiosity satisfied?”
Gregorian’s silver eyes glittered like stardust.
“If you say so, then so be it.”
“Show respect to His Holiness! Addressing him so rudely is unacceptable!”
Daniel burst out in anger, but Mephisto shot back.
“Hah. Strange—this isn’t like your usual careless tongue. You sound almost proper.”
“Careless tongue? Who…?”
Daniel caught himself mid-sentence.
“Ahem. I’ve never spoken so. Perhaps you’ve mistaken me for someone else, Lord Mephisto.”
“Ridiculous.”
Mephisto scoffed, shaking his head. Yet all the while, his sharp gaze never left the others.
So, aside from me, all three are priests of Graham. That must be why holy power warded off the illusions.
His eyes glinted. He too had been caught in the mist of illusions on the mountain, but he had broken free quickly, losing only time.
“Regardless—show proper respect to His Holiness!”
Daniel pressed again. But Gregorian placed a calming hand on his shoulder, shaking his head. Knowing the Pope’s endlessly gentle nature, Daniel reluctantly swallowed his temper.
“It would be best for us to return to the palace now.”
Gregorian rose and gave a slight bow to Ijef and Mephisto. Daniel, shooting a last sharp glare, followed him out.
“Hm.”
Mephisto exhaled quietly, stroking his chin.
As expected, the Pope is no simple opponent.
He had tried deliberate, crude provocations, but the man neither faltered nor showed an opening.
Suddenly, he turned to Ijef.
“You didn’t see any illusions up there either, did you?”
Ijef hesitated at the phrasing—you too—but then answered calmly.
“I cannot speak for the others, but in my case, the mist did not show me any illusions.”
“Just as I thought.”
Mephisto muttered. Not long after, the horn sounded again.
Hoping it was Asterios, Ijef went to the entrance—only to find Edwin.
“Ah, you’ve arrived. Congratulations on passing.”
“And to you as well.”
After exchanging greetings, Edwin stepped inside and locked eyes with Mephisto, who stood with arms crossed. Their gazes clashed like blades in the air.
“Hmph. Tired of seeing your face already. At this rate, I might grow fond of you.”
“Likewise. Though I don’t know why you keep trailing behind me.”
“Trailing? I arrived right after Ijef.”
“And you call that something to boast about? The one after Ijef was the sage, not you.”
“What? You expect me to believe Daniel was faster than me?”
Two men, both centuries old, bickering like children.
It was almost laughable. And yet, in true battle, these two—the Tower Master and Mephisto—were terrifying beings who would not stop until blood was spilled and limbs were severed.
Watching them squabble, Ijef found himself thinking of the silent Asterios.
“Don’t tell me… he still hasn’t arrived?”
Edwin frowned and asked Ijef.
