#855 The Last Sacred Person

O lost lambs, do well to revere and worship me.

I am Quincedo.

Pope Quincedo, to be precise.

I oversee the human race’s religious Order, which worships the supreme, absolute god, Zeus – the highest in all the world. I am God’s proxy, the closest to divinity one can be.

It’s hardly an overstatement to say I am the most sacred and magnificent being among humanity.

My words are the words of Lord Zeus.

My prayers bring divine glory to the heavens and purity to the earth.

In essence, it’s not an exaggeration to say that I am the one continuously saving this rotten, refuse-filled world.

In this world, creatures resembling humans, known as demons, run rampant, trampling upon the justice of the heavens.

We are indeed plunging forward toward the apocalypse. Still, the only reason we’ve not yet perished and maintained some semblance of normalcy is due to my prayers to the celestial gods.

That is why I am the hero who supports this world, the foremost contributor, a savior destined to be remembered in history.

I am the most noble being in the world. Compared to me, the Demon King and his ilk are less than cockroaches scurrying for scraps.

Demons are nothing more than pests, a blight upon existence.

And yet...!

In recent years, I, of such exalted status, have been subjected to utterly unjust treatment.

It all started when the incompetent Human King lost the war.

Despite the Order’s aid in creating the ultimate Divine Barrier, they allowed it to be destroyed, permitting the vile demon vermin to invade.

If that was the case, they should have fought to the bitter end, taking as many demons as possible.

But no, they surrendered early, inviting the demon’s large army...

Defiling the sacred, Zeus-blessed soil of the Human Kingdom with the stench of those filthy demons...!

As a result, I was forced to flee from my exalted seat in the grand cathedral.

What a tragedy.

That I, the most noble of popes, should be cast down to the dirt, fleeing in disarray.

But if I didn’t run, those abhorrent demons would surely try to kill me at any cost.

For I, as Zeus’s proxy, must be an eyesore to those embodiments of evil.

Without eliminating me, their conquest of the world cannot be complete.

I am the last shield against their wickedness.

Yet, the struggles of this desperate escape are indescribable.

As pope, being an avatar of Zeus himself, I’m entitled to a life of utmost luxury.

Feasting on seasonal delicacies, bathing in rose extract, anointing myself with the finest oils...

And when bored, whimsically whipping slaves of lower rank for amusement.

In imitation of the great Zeus, such a life is the duty of Quincedo, head of the human race’s religious Order.

But in my flight, I was deprived of all these worldly pleasures.

Feasts, oils, slaves – all meant for me, yet snatched away. By what right?

I trudged through wild underbrush to evade my demon pursuers, muddying my feet.

The food my followers offered was nothing more than roasted rats, snakes, or lizards.

How could a noble pope consume such rubbish? I threw it away, yet the next day and the day after, they offered the same.

When I finally forced myself to eat, tears streamed down my face.

Why must I, the embodiment of the greatest and most sacred Zeus, suffer such indignity?

Shouldn’t everything exist solely for my comfort?

That’s why feudal lords offer half their harvest as tribute and why, despite current laws, I alone am allowed slaves.

To treat me, Pope Quincedo, so unjustly...

Demons, your damnation is sealed!

All demons are destined for hell!

They will know the agony of boiling blood for the torment they’ve caused me!!!

But no matter how long I fled, the hardship never eased.

I thought those mere demons would soon leave the Human Kingdom!

Our nation’s lost lambs should have been well-trained as loyal warriors to Zeus by the sacred teachings of our church.

They were supposed to resist the evil demons at the cost of their lives, demonstrating the justice of the heavens...

But as time passed, my loyal priests vanished.

So did my brave guards.

One by one, the faithful who shared the trials of escape disappeared.

Even the underground resistance, my last hope, was crushed.

Once, my demon pursuers nearly caught me, betrayed at the last moment by a follower.

Why?

Weren’t enlightened humans supposed to be stronger than any demon?

O great Zeus.

Why do you subject your faithful to such severe trials?

Shouldn’t I, your embodiment, live in luxury and safety more than anyone else?

Just as I doubted my iron faith, finally, good news arrived...!

The Demon King’s Army! They’re retreating!!!

After years, the despicable demons infesting our holy nation realized they were too unworthy of this Zeus-blessed land.

This is victory!

Enduring until the enemy crumbles from within!

Ah, a victory achieved through non-resistance and non-compliance, truly befitting a holy man. I am certain future generations will sing praises of me, the Ultimate Pope, who vanquished the wicked demons!

Right then! Now that the Demon King’s Army has retreated, it’s time to return to our stronghold, the grand cathedral!

With the demons gone, there’s no reason for us to flee anymore. I shall make a grand comeback as the high priest of the state religion and take the reins as the leader of the Human Kingdom!!!

Since the useless royal family has been completely wiped out, it falls upon me, the Pope, to take control of the country!

Listening to the voice of God is my duty!

Let’s go, everyone, to the cathedral... no, to the Royal Palace.

Everyone must be eagerly waiting. In this urgent situation, I, as God’s proxy and the leader of the people, will take charge as the Saint King of the Human Kingdom.

Time for a counterattack against the demons!

I’ll force the feudal lords of the various domains to raise an army and use it to annihilate every last demon!!!

“Pope! We can see the human army approaching!”

Ah! They’ve come to greet me so soon!

They must be eagerly awaiting my return, God’s chosen child!!!

You’ve waited long, but now, I, the Pope... no, the Saint King, will rule over you as the leader of the human race.

Show me your loyalty!

“This isn’t the time to be laughing so heartily! We need to run! Run now!!!”

The panicked believer who brought the news said.

Run? Why ever for?

“That army is here to take your life! You’ve been recklessly announcing your whereabouts since the Demon King’s Army withdrew. What were you thinking?!”

Eh? But the humans hate demons and should be rejoicing at their departure.

And as the Pope, they should be adoring me and rushing to welcome me.

And crown me as the king of the human race!

“How naive can you get?! Don’t you realize how much the church is resented across the nation for its selfish actions during the war? Now that the Demon King’s Army is gone, they might just kill you without a trial, driven by pure spite!”

What?! How dare they think to harm me, the Pope!

Surely, these are just a few heretics. The majority must be looking forward to warmly welcoming me...

...Whoa! They’re shooting arrows!

They’re serious.

And it’s not just one or two, but a rain of arrowssssssssssss!!!

“Drats... Staying with this idiot will get me killed no matter how many lives I have! I’ve reached my limit! I’m getting out of here!”

Huh?

Wait, my faithful follower!

Aren’t you staying because of your fervent belief while so many faithless ones have left?

“I was exploiting my position as a priest when the church was still powerful, sucking up all the benefits! No one’s going to believe a late conversion now. Getting caught means definite imprisonment! I thought using your name might make life on the run a bit easier...!”

Something hit my face.

What is this... mud?

“If I’d known you were this stupid, I would’ve never followed you! I’m going to turn over a new leaf now! Starting afresh as a good person!!!”

Saying this, the follower runs towards the enemy army.

I could only stare in astonishment at his departing back.

Me... An idiot...?!

How outrageously mistaken! I am God’s proxy, the representative of all humanity! Unforgivable... Absolutely unforgivable!!!

Well then, I, the Pope, will now show the world that I am indeed the greatest saint and sage!

...Thud.

Guh?!

“Ah, did an arrow just hit something?”