“Y-yes. I was told I’m a recessive one.”
“I see.”
The Pope leaned slightly toward Egru.
“You have a wonderful scent. Not all Omegas are like this. You seem to have been born with it, even as a recessive.”
“R-really? Thank you. I wouldn’t know myself…”
Egru’s cheeks flushed pink at the compliment, soft as lambswool.
“It’s true. I feel I could smell it forever and never tire of it.”
The Pope took Egru’s hands in his with a tender expression. Then he interlaced their fingers one by one.
Huh?
Egru was puzzled but quietly accepted the intimate touch.
It was because he didn’t know exactly what constituted normal physical contact. He didn’t want to overreact and commit an embarrassing faux pas like last time.
“I want to listen attentively to everything the little believer has to say. I might be able to answer some of your questions.”
“Y-yes, for example, what kind of…”
“Hmm, do you know about the demon massacre that happened on the island recently?” the Pope asked while rubbing the back of Egru’s hand with his thumb.
“It was truly a lamentable incident. I can’t tell you how fortunate it is that you survived, little believer.”
The Pope closed his eyes tightly as if holding back tears, then opened them again.
“May I ask how you managed to survive there?”
“W-well, that…”
When Egru showed signs of hesitation, the Pope quickly continued his explanation.
“I’ll do everything to prevent it from happening again, but just in case a similar tragedy occurs in the future…”
A bottomless sadness settled in the Pope’s purple eyes.
“I’d like to know, as it might be the key to saving others in the same situation.”
“Ah!”
Egru felt ashamed for not understanding the Pope’s humanitarian intentions. He admired the Pope’s attitude of working toward peace in every moment. In fact, wasn’t it the Pope rather than himself who had the qualities of a hero?
Oh!
A sudden idea flashed through Egru’s mind.
T-that’s it!
The Pope had lived a long time and was wise—he might know the reason.
How on earth had he been able to return from death?
“A-actually…!”
Egru hurriedly explained everything from beginning to end. The lengthy story continued until evening.
For some reason, as his elaborate explanation grew longer, those purple eyes became transparently moist. The Pope, breathing with increasing difficulty, looked somewhat pained.
“Are you all right, Your Holiness?”
Egru paused momentarily in his story, having reached the part about the slave market.
“Yes, of course. I apologize for interrupting. I just…”
The Pope tried to smile reassuringly at Egru. But he couldn’t stop the tears flowing down his cheeks.
The Pope sobbed until his pale white skin turned red.
“I’m just so incredibly happy that you’ve returned alive.”
“Thank you. B-but don’t cry. Your head will hurt if you cry for too long.”
At Egru’s words, the Pope closed his eyes and steadied his breathing. While Egru hurriedly grabbed tissues, he heard a low murmur.
“I thought Gilbert had died somewhere long ago, but he was hiding in the World Tree.”
“W-what did you just say?”
“Me?”
The Pope asked back while wiping away his tears. Egru handed him the tissues, blinking with a puzzled expression.
“N-no, I’m sorry. I must have misheard.”
“It happens sometimes. Thank you.”
After neatly composing himself, the Pope unexpectedly pulled Egru into a tight embrace.
“You’ve been through so much, little believer. Truly, so much.”
“Uh…”
“From now on, only happiness will unfold before you. I promise with everything I have.”
Though his features were squished from the tight embrace, Egru was extremely happy. Whatever it was, encouraging words from someone else gave him great strength.
“Um, Your Holiness…”
“Yes, little believer. Ask me anything.”
“Perhaps…”
After fumbling with his lips for a while, Egru squeezed his eyes shut.
“Can I really become a h-hero?”
“……”
The Pope rolled his purple eyes once and then pulled up the corner of his mouth.
“Shall we test it?”
“What? H-how…”
“Come with me.”
The Pope glanced at the sunset-tinted window and rose to his feet.
“However, I am a weak person without any power. Though I’m called the highest authority of the church, I possess no means to protect myself.”
The Pope turned to the confused-looking Egru and smiled.
“It means you, the hero, must protect me.”
“H-hero…!”
At being called a hero, Egru’s cheekbones rose prominently. He jumped up and put on his outer clothes.
****
The two headed to a birch forest far from the cabin.
“Winter is a wonderful season. Do you like winter, little believer?”
“Um…”
Egru pondered, cupping his chin.
“I think it would be nice with one thick fur coat and a warm house. Like the cabin just now.”
“I see.”
By the time they arrived after walking for a while, it was already dark. A fierce wind whistled through the eerie trees.
Egru instinctively hunched his shoulders and asked:
“Your Holiness, w-what exactly are we testing here?”
“You’ll know soon.”
With these cryptic words, the Pope handed Egru a dagger. Fine snowflakes settled on the well-honed blade.
Grrrr…
An unknown growl came from the grass beyond the darkness. Egru was immediately terrified, but the Pope standing beside him was completely composed.
“A hero must know how to defeat monsters. With courage enough to shake heaven and earth.”
“Y-yes!”
Though very afraid, Egru stepped forward, squeezing his eyes shut. Crack. At that moment, a white form burst out from the rustling bushes.
“Huh?”
It was a white rabbit. Its round, shining eyes were quite cute.
Egru smiled slightly in relief.
“A r-rabbit. It d-doesn’t seem dangerous.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“What?”
Kyaaaak—!
The next moment, the rabbit’s mouth split open into four parts. Inside the mouth, which dripped purple saliva, were densely packed sharp teeth.
“D-grade monster, Gali Rabbit. Its fangs and claws contain paralyzing venom. It’s a troublesome monster that devours newborns in northern villages during the dead of winter.”
“Eeek…!”
Egru was horrified at this calm explanation.
Before he could do anything, the Gali Rabbit lunged toward the Pope. Egru instinctively blocked the Pope’s front, thinking:
I’m g-going to be bitten…!
In a last desperate attempt, Egru swung his hand holding the dagger. It was truly a terrible movement.
Kieeeeek—!
But the next moment, the Gali Rabbit’s death cry rang out. Egru slightly opened his tightly closed eyes.
“Huh?”
The Gali Rabbit melted away, starting from its skin, then muscles, and finally bones. Hiss, a wispy smoke rose above the Gali Rabbit’s corpse.
Egru looked down at the short dagger. He had defeated a D-grade monster with utterly clumsy sword skills.
“That was magnificent, little believer.”
The sound of clapping hands came from behind while he stood there dumbfounded.
“Ah…”
The Pope embraced Egru’s shoulders from behind and whispered in his ear. His purple eyes shone with an unusual radiance.
“You are already a proper hero. If anyone says you don’t qualify to be a hero, tell them about this experience.”
At this highly praising statement, Egru scratched the back of his head and smiled. However, the warm atmosphere didn’t last long…
“Ah…!”
Another Gali Rabbit that sprung out from behind took the Pope by surprise. Startled, Egru rushed over and attacked the monster with his dagger.
Kieeeek—!
The second Gali Rabbit also melted away in seconds. By now, a reasonable suspicion arose that these might be extremely weak monsters.
Or perhaps the dagger had extraordinary powers. But no matter how he looked at it, it seemed like just an ordinary dagger.
“I should mention that Gali Rabbits are monsters difficult for one person to hunt.”
“R-really?”
“Yes, they’re usually hunted in groups. You did exceptionally well, little believer.”
Egru smiled brightly at the Pope’s explanation.
Unaware that purple eyes had been constantly glowing behind his back.
Each time magic was used without incantation, the Pope’s eyes flashed and dimmed in rapid succession.
“Ah…”
The Pope suddenly staggered toward Egru.
Egru quickly supported him and examined his wound. Blood was flowing from the arm bitten by the Gali Rabbit.
“L-let’s go back and treat that right away! Should I carry you?”
“I appreciate your offer, but actually, I…”
The Pope gazed intently at Egru out of the corner of his eye.
“May I share your bed tonight?”
“Huh? Why…?”
Egru couldn’t help but ask. His expression showed he truly didn’t understand.
“Oh my, I’ve inadvertently been rude. I must have been quite shocked by the Gali Rabbit bite.”
The Pope drooped his shoulders glumly with a hurt expression.
“I thought I would feel safe all night by the hero’s side. I’m sorry if I startled you.”
Hero…!
Egru tried his best to hide his swelling emotions. He couldn’t understand why being called a hero resonated so deeply with him.
“N-no, not at all. If that’s the case, I’ll stay by your side all night and watch over you.”
“Thank you. You saved my life.”
The Pope quietly licked his lips and swallowed.