The cathedral was well-lit. Specks of light fell onto the granite floor, layer upon layer in an extremely symmetrical manner, illuminating patterns of grapevines entangling the holy fruit.
The pope wore a velvet winter robe with white ferret fur trims. Complex patterns were sewn into the edges with golden thread. The long train of his robe dragged behind him on the clean floors, so clean they were shining. A heavy three-pointed coronet sat on his head. A white gold stole hung on his body, his left hand holding a crosier made of gold, his right hand wearing a ruby ring symbolizing the most supreme representative of Christ in the world.
After the trainees were brought to the cathedral by the police officer, the pope, in front of the altar, finally turned around.
His face looked the same age as his figure did from the back. Layers of soft black hair fell over his ears, that youthful face much smaller than adults. A pair of eyes shone. Long eyelashes fell over his eyes, hiding the light shining inside. He was like a little cupid from Greek mythology, innocent and harmless.
Appearance wise, the boy looked to be only five or six years old. Forget about the heavy three-pointed coronet. He shouldn’t be able to even hold the staff steadily.
However, he held it steady. Not only did he hold it steadily, but when he stood in front of the altar, he seemed decently presentable and respectable.
He straightened his back, his expression serious. He tried very hard to portray himself as a powerful adult.
However, it’s a pity, his height that is. Glancing up from the cathedral floor he was standing on, if it wasn’t for the coronet on his head, it could be seen that the little pope wasn’t much taller than the altar. He was so cute people couldn’t hold back their laughter.
This little pope was only a six-year-old child. Although strange, the trainees didn’t find anything off with the situation. Neither did the bullet chat.
[Ah! This little pope is so cute!]
[Such an adorable little boy ahhhh! Little boy, mama loves you!!]
[I don’t know why, but I feel like this little guy seems familiar? However, after staring at him for so long, I can’t seem to figure out just what feels familiar… Strange. Whatever, forget it. Ahhhhhhh, save me. This little kid is really too cute. He looks so obedient and good.]
Zong Jiu was the only exception.
The six-year-old child’s appearance hadn’t fully matured, but from the little pope’s delicate features, his future appearance wouldn’t be ugly.
One very possible reason why everyone couldn’t think of the Devil right away was because of age.
The second possible reason is that, other than Zong Jiu, everyone else’s impression of No. 1 was only from his appearance during the second round of selections. In addition, his throne was on the highest point of the studio. For many, even if they looked up, it was hard to see clearly. As for Las Vegas, trainees who could squeeze into the inner circle of the center gambling area were in the minority.
The third reason… is probably because of the atmosphere around him.
This miniature Devil and No. 1 were completely different in all aspects.
But Zong Jiu could one hundred percent be sure that the little pope standing in front of him was his mortal enemy. As for how he could recognize him? This could only be attributed to the wonderful sixth sense between mortal enemies and intuition.
If he couldn’t even recognize his mortal enemy, then how could he be considered his mortal enemy?!
Great. The Devil actually became the pope.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
The white-haired young man stood still, his expression indifferent.
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Zong Jiu silently shook his head, “I can’t be sure yet. “
After the Devil grew up, the atmosphere around him was very distinguishable. It was a sharp hostility that was incompatible with the entire world. The madness in him was definitely the craziest and most abnormal of all those Zong Jiu came in contact with after transmigrating.
However, right now, although he was certain they were the same person, the atmosphere around the little pope was calm. Even if a bit of slyness occasionally shined his eyes, it was on a completely different level from the heavy hostility and maliciousness that made it hard to breathe around the adult Devil.
Even their eye color was different.
The Dark Warlock’s green eyes were because his family was from Northern Europe. Van Zhuo’s red eyes were because he’s a vampire. Zong Jiu had light pink eyes because the original had albinism and lacked melanin from birth.
And the Devil’s eyes were dark gold and extremely recognizable. Also known as amber eyes, the color was extremely rare.
The little pope standing in front of them had black-brown eyes, very common and ordinary. There wasn’t a bit of similarity with No. 1’s cold and dazzling dark gold eyes.
“Oh right. If there’s a chance, try to investigate and gather more information on the second main task in the upcoming days.”
While looking forward, Zong Jiu whispered in a volume that only Anthony could hear.
Anthony froze for a moment, “Why?”
“There’s clearly something wrong with the first main task. Plus, you also heard. A majority of half-vampires can’t pass judgment right, no?”
The white-haired young man looked at him with an obviously fake smile, “You aren’t anxious or worried even if doing the first main task means you will have to bite the dust here?”
In an instant, the half-vampire felt an indescribable feeling well up.
He had always held a very strong hostility towards the Magician.
During Las Vegas, the other had won many chips from him. Since he had hit his repetition and disgraced him in front of everyone, Anthony was biased against him. He only held back his idea of kicking him when he was down during the Famine Mountain Village instance because of his highness’s order. Although the engagement was nullified, the news of it was already shocking enough. Otherwise, Anthony wouldn’t be quiet as a chick.
Of course, more importantly, Zong Jiu had shown extraordinary ability.
But this time, Zong Jiu knew that he held biases against him and didn’t have to care about teamwork. After all, he was the so-called “innately holy person” by the NPCs.
After a long time passed, when even Zong Jiu thought that the other wouldn’t open their mouth, Anthony quietly grumbled out.
“I got it.”
“Welcome to the Town of Good.”
When Zong Jiu and Anthony were whispering together, the little pope opened his mouth.
His gaze swept past everyone standing below, lingering on the white-haired magician for exceptionally long.
Even the feeling behind the gaze was different.
Zong Jiu had basically ruled out the possibility of him faking it.
After pausing for about five seconds, the little pope moved his gaze away.
“Guests from afar, you must be exhausted from the long journey and travel. Please sit.”
He walked down from the high platform, raising his hand with the red ruby ring, signaling for the trainees to sit down on the black benches in the cathedral.
This act of him being a little host made people break out into a silent smiles.
They weren’t sure if it was an illusion, but this little town’s large cathedral made them feel very comfortable.
The believers, surrounding the church, praying. The occasional white dove that flew past the window. The pages of scripture placed on the podium being blown by the wind. The unknown incense burning inside. They all made their anxious and restless emotions slowly calm down.
The trainees’ perpetually tense bodies and mental states started to relax as they sat down on the benches.
The benches considerately had a layer of cushion on them. When sitting down, it didn’t feel cold.
“I know that you have many questions. Please be patient. I will tell everyone everything one by one.”
The little pope said neither slower nor quickly, his voice still containing the purity belonging to children.
……
In the time following, he nearly perfectly answered all of the trainees’ questions.
“The judgment day is the day they set——”
The little pope pointed towards the sky while per functionally drawing a cross on his chest, “There are still seven days. Oh, no, today is the first day. The seventh day is Judgment Day. You still have five days of time to eliminate the sin on your wrist.”
“This town is called the Town of Good. But since we are humans, not sages, we are born with sin. As long as we have evil thoughts or commit crimes, black lines of sin will also appear on the townfolk’s wrists.”
He explained while signaling for the police officer to pull up his sleeve.
The police officer immediately understood and quickly muttered: “Praise Satan!”
As expected, as soon as his words ended, a black line slowly appeared on the police officer’s wrist.
The townsfolk can come to the confessional to confess to me. Honestly admitting the sins they’ve committed and sincerely repenting can eliminate the black line on their wrist.
The little pope nodded to the police officer. The latter then let go of his sleeve and walked towards the dark brown little wood room near the wall of the cathedral.
This little wooden room was built by the cathedral wall. Inside, a wooden plank was used as a divider, and a dark purple curtain hung down from both sides.
Confession was one of the sacraments of Roman catholicism. As long as the believer who sinned confessed to the clergy member on the other side of the wooden plank, disclosing their sin, the clergy member could perform sacramental absolution, pardoning their sin.
This was why people commonly said that the clergy knew the most.
“I’m not sure if this method is useful for you all because there have been outsiders who have tried it.”
The little pope paused for a moment, “However, after the explanation, I will hold a Sacrament of Penance for the sake of validity. All guests are welcome to come and give it a try.”
“But other than this method, is there any other method to eliminate sins?” Xu Su asked.
“There are.”
The little pope walked down from the platform, pointing towards the sky outside.
“Under the soil is hell. In hell, there’s a Town of Evil below the Town of Good. It’s as you think. That world is filled with maliciousness, contrary to the Town of Good.”
“Recently, as judgment day draws near, the townsfolk of the Town of Evil will become restless. Every time the full moon is in the middle of the sky, this mirror city will be connected to the Town of Good through the reflection in the water.
“The Town of Evil is a sinful existence. The guns issued earlier are for this purpose. If you eliminate the townsfolk of the Town of Evil during the night, it can cancel out your sin.”
All his words were true.
Zong Jiu had been secretly observing this miniaturized version of the Devil. The doubts in his heart grew bigger and bigger.
“That’s right. I heard Grandma Maria say there was an innately holy person among the guests?”
Suddenly, the little pope changed the topic and glanced over with great interest. His gaze contained undisguised curiosity.
“Innately holy people can pass Judgement Day safe and sound. No need for confessions or killing off evil. What a blessing.”
“It just so happens… I feel fated with this beautiful big brother.”
A sweet smile appeared on the little Devil’s face, “Brother, how about staying in the cathedral to accompany me for these few days?”
I bet the Devil is on The Town of Evil lol.
Is this…shota play? :3
😨
Double gasp 😨
…. I won’t apologize for my comment. I however will offer food and drink for anyone shocked by my comment.
🍧🍨🍦
🍰🧁🍫🍩🍪🍯
🧋🧃🥛🍵☕🍺🍷🥃🍸🍹
Here, choose your poison.
Ill take the boba, ty 😊🧋🧋
At this point idec about the comments im just waiting for the next update!! Ahhhhh!!
i welped help lol
Even as a little cutie, Number 1 is not going to be good…pfft! Thanks for the update 🤣
».. there have been outsiders who have tried it.« no outsiders (? Otherwise that sentence makes no sense (for me xD). But maybe I’m wrong and understood it just in the wrong way.)
#1 did you forget that children are especially creepy so you have to look out for them? xDDD
That whole instance and all they are talking about sounds just like a huuuge trap. Sounds too good to be true and kinda too easy? Okay, I don’t know how hard it is to kill those residents of the evil town or if they will be especially tempted to have evil thoughts in those 5-6 days.
Thx for the ch ٩( >ヮ<)۶
Oh yeah, that part. I went back and had to look through it again, even though I remember triple checking that during trans lol. But it does seem to say that outsiders have tried it. whelp. XD
This is Def some kind of trap. Like, trying to nerf Zong Jiu somehow by getting all his people either dead or staying in this instance? Or maybe to test Zong Jiu to see if he’ll choose other people’s happiness over his desire to fuck over the Devil?? I’m Soooo curious for what’s gonna happen
The devil actually become a pope
Real daddy. If I can talking about pope like that, I’m sorry if you are a Christian
Thank you for your translation 💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗
Btw who are the audience
The devil is so sneaky! Everyone will tell and usher Jiu Jiu to stay with “the Pope”, though they dont know his true intentions haha! I cant wait to see what will happen next with them!!
Thank you for the update.. Patiently waiting for more!! 😊🙏
It’s supposed to be melanin, which is the pigment that gives colour to your hair, skin and eyes. Melatonin is the hormone produced by your brain at night.
OMG, I’m sorry about that. Just going back on the comments. It should be fixed. >.<
The townsfolk can come to the confessional to
confess to me. Honestly admitting the sins they’ve committed and sincerely repenting can eliminate the black line on their wrist.
I think there should be speech quotations around this part.
Also, your translation is incredible!!! Thank you so much for your hard work!
so cute!!
That “Praise Satan!” had me cracking up, it was so random
I’m guessing the lack of shadows makes it difficult to tell if the Town of Evil has actual evil/monsters in it. Just randomly opening fire on another town of people Definitely sounds like a great way to be ‘pure for Judgement Day’ huh