Chapter 922. Gen (1)
I thought it was going to take Jung Ha-Yan a lot longer to realize it, but it seemed that she cared about Sera more than I thought. It was proven by how she immediately thought of Seraphim the moment she accepted the fact that incompetence or achieving results didn't really matter when it came to her.
Jung Ha-Yan definitely tried not to think about him, but I was sure that a part of her was always thinking about him.
‘It’s a good sign.’
I was kind of annoyed and heartbroken, but this was right.
If Seraphim was making her happy, then there was no reason for me to get rid of him. Actually, I had plenty of reasons to get rid of him, but I was forced to keep him because he was a seed that I had sown myself.
After all, I had contributed a bit to what made Jung Ha-Yan today. Of course, the fact that she turned out this way was technically her family's fault.
“Huh?”
“I-It’s nothing. Hehe...” Jung Ha-Yan laughed.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“I-I said it’s nothing,” Jung Ha-Yan answered.
“...”
“I-It’s really... nothing...” Jung Ha-Yan repeated.
Naturally, she didn’t immediately run to Sera and focused on me instead. Jung Ha-Yan's eyes were wide as she stared at me, looking like she hadn't made a fuss earlier. She seemed to have realized that she was in a mess right now, as she was trying her best to look as lovely as possible.
“He... hehe...”
She was pretty cute.
“Am I... pretty?” Jung Ha-Yan asked.
“Yeah...” I replied.
“Do you like me?” Jung Ha-Yan asked.
“Ah... yeah,” I responded.
“What do you... like about me?” Jung Ha-Yan asked.
“I like that you do your best in everything you do. You’re kind, and you take care of the people around you. I like it when you focus on your studies, and being around you feels pretty relaxing. More importantly, you’re pretty, cute, and lovely,” I answered.
I was pretty good at lip service, but half of what I said was true.
I had to cheer her up a bit to make her feel better.
As expected, she started trembling...
“That’s what I thought... from the first time I saw you,” I added.
“W-What?”
I wasn’t lying because I immediately thought about bringing her to my side the moment I saw her.
Jung Ha-Yan giggled, and she seemed to have thought that the atmosphere was romantic because she got closer to me. However, I felt awkward in the middle of this slightly romantic mood.
Jung Ha-Yan tilted her head at a forty-five-degree angle.
Perhaps she thought that the left side of her face was prettier because she was trying her best to show me the left side of her face. Her neck ended up getting twisted in a strange way, but she didn’t seem to care about that.
I kissed her lightly, and she giggled.
And that was when a voice echoed outside the door...
“Father Lee Ki-Young.”
“Ha-Yan,” I said.
“Shh. D-D-Don’t say anything, oppa,” Jung Ha-Yan said.
‘There’s someone outside, damn it.’
“S-Surrender yourself... to your instincts,” Jung Ha-Yan added.
‘What the hell are you talking about? Where did you hear that from? Was it Kim Ye-Ri? Did you take Dance of Enchantment lessons?’
There was knocking on the door, and Jung Ha-Yan frowned upon hearing it.
“Father Lee Ki-Young, I’m sorry it’s already so late...”
“Let’s get up, Ha-Yan. It looks like I still have some work to do. Also... this is different from that. I need to handle some documents that need to be submitted as soon as possible. I think your punishment will be light, and... let’s look into your magic together,” I suggested.
‘I’m sure she’ll get it back today.’
“O-Okay... i-i-it can’t be helped. I-I’ll... see you later,” Jung Ha-Yan said.
'You’re coming here again?'
“Okay. Let’s meet after work. I’ll call you,” I told her.
“O-Okay!”
Jung Ha-Yan opened the door, and I saw a priest outside. Jung Ha-Yan glared at him because he had ruined the romantic atmosphere, but the priest simply lowered his head without showing any reaction.
I knew why he came here. He probably wasn’t one of Father Basel’s men, as they had never really visited me during late hours without contacting me first. In addition, it was my first time seeing the priest before me.
‘They’re moving faster than I thought.’
It seemed that this incident was that important to them.
There was no way they’d know when I would execute my plan, so I assumed they contacted me first because they were feeling guilty. At this rate, their plan would get ruined, but they had already realized who was at the center of attention right now.
Of course, it was none other than me, which meant that their chances of winning would increase if they somehow managed to make me jump onto their side.
‘They sure act fast.’
It seemed that they were that desperate.
‘And they’re quick-witted, too...’
My plan hadn't started yet, and there was no way the rumor that Lee Ji-Hye had started had already spread that far. In addition, Father Basel had yet to do anything that would make them move like this.
In other words, the reason behind this move of theirs was to prepare for what was to come. It seemed that they had an idea as to what was coming. I wasn't sure whether it was Gen or not, so perhaps this was Father Yohan or Simon's decision?
They could also be working together... Well, it didn't really matter.
“I’m sorry for visiting so suddenly,” the priest said.
“It’s fine. May I ask why you’re here?” I asked.
“Templar Gen would like to speak with you,” the priest replied.
'That’s surprising.'
“What?”
“I’m sorry I can’t tell you the details, Father Lee Ki-Young,” said the priest.
“Templar Gen...” I said.
“Yes.”
“Could you wait a bit? I need to get ready...” I told him.
“Then can I assume you’re agreeing to his request?” the priest asked.
“Of course. I actually wanted to thank him... I’m glad he asked to meet,” I responded.
I decided to wear just an ordinary priest uniform, nothing too fancy.
I didn’t need to wear any accessories, as we were meeting secretly. Lee Chang-Ryeol and Park Lian were good candidates to come with me, as they were tight-lipped, and whenever they had to do something, they would always do it discreetly.
I sent a quick message to Jo Hye-Jin and examined myself in the mirror. I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary, so I nodded in satisfaction. I looked kind of tired and sick, but I actually liked that look right now.
“Let’s go,” I said.
“I’ll guide you,” he said.
The Vatican was dark at night.
There were priests and monks praying or carrying out their tasks, but the place remained quiet and dark. The stationed guards didn’t show any reaction upon seeing me. They were obviously greeting me, but they didn't perform any special actions like a salute or something else.
I assumed it was all because they were Father Yohan’s men.
The Holy Knights here were probably taking turns standing guard, and it seemed that Templar Gen had asked me for a meeting when it was time for Father Yohan’s men to stand guard here.
Those who weren’t his men were probably bribed.... or they were on Father Basel’s side.
‘It’s more systematic than I thought.’
The faction war seemed bigger than I originally thought.
I looked around and couldn't see the Holy Knights in places where they'd normally walk around to patrol the Vatican. The corridor was massive and quiet, so the atmosphere was kind of scary, especially when there was no one else here but the priest.
‘These bastards. I hope they’re not trying to assassinate me. Was I too hasty when I accepted this request for a meeting?’
Could Lee Chang-Ryeol and Park Lian take on the Templars?
I wasn’t really worried, as I had already let Jo Hye-Jin know, but being more cautious wasn't going to hurt anyone.
If they were going to harm me, it would be an opportunity for me.
They’d basically be digging their own grave if they were to do that, so I was certain that they wouldn’t do something stupid like that.
The walk to our destination felt pretty boring, so I used my Telescope to look around.
- O-Oppa... s-said that he likes me. He said I’m pretty... and l-lovely.
- Really? I told you that was going to happen, Miss Jung Ha-Yan.
- I-It must not matter to him whether I have magic or not. I-I think he just likes me. H-He like me, even without magic.
- I like you too, even without magic. And I'm sure everyone feels the same way as me.
- I-I must be pretty. Do I look pretty to you, Sora?
- Of course. You’re very lovely.
- He... hehehe.
- Ha... haha...
- Ah! Where’s Sera?
- I’m not sure. He’s probably asleep by now...
- F-Forget it then. H-How about we visit him tomorrow?
- Really?
- Y-Yeah.
- I’m sure Sera will really like that, Miss Jung Ha-Yan.
- W-We should look around the temple together.
- How about inviting the sub guild master as well?
- I-If only he has time...
'I don’t think... I’ll have time...'
“Father Lee Ki-Young?”
“...”
“Father Lee Ki-Young.”
“Ah... I’m sorry. I was... distracted for a moment,” I said.
“We’re here,” the priest said.
“Okay.”
“He’s waiting inside. Hope you enjoy your time...” said the priest.
“Thank you,” I said.
The priest led me to a small door. The room beyond the door didn’t seem that big to me, but when I opened the door, it was actually pretty big.
Gen called me, and his appearance didn't really change at all.
His expression was indifferent, but his gaze was filled with mixed emotions, and it was bothering me.
“I’m sorry for the rude invitation,” Gen said.
“It’s fine. I’m sure you had no other choice. I actually wanted to thank you,” I told him.
I nodded to tell him that I understood his position, but I didn’t mean that in a political sense. I was the Saint of Light, and I was aware that the Templars were a group of people that had to remain hidden from the public.
“And I really... wanted to meet you again,” I added with a hint of guilt.
‘He was forced to come here.’
Based on Gen's personality, he wasn't the type who'd take the initiative to do something, so I assumed that he was forced to do this. The order to talk to me had probably come from either Father Yohan or Simon.
He looked uncomfortable, and I wasn’t sure exactly why, but he was staring at me as if I was pitiful.
‘It's probably because I’m the honorary cardinal who had sacrificed myself for the continent. I’m smart, but I’m an innocent saint ignorant of the evil of this world. I’m a saint whose job is to instill faith in everyone's heart; I'm a monk who will stubbornly go on my way despite knowing that the journey will inflict tremendous pain on me.’
I was an honorary cardinal who had unwittingly found myself in the middle of a faction and power war within the Vatican.
‘Shit, that’s a pretty good setup.’
It was highly likely that he was given the mission to receive my approval, so I understood why he was staring at me as if I was pitiful. I felt like I finally knew why he requested to meet me when he had been avoiding me.
Templar Gen was basically trying to pull in the innocent saint into the wicked and dirty political scene, and he was going to do that by...
‘By weaponizing the good impression that I had of him...’
'You jerk. Are you to stain this white piece of paper?'
‘You wicked jerk.’
'You disgusting jerk.'
‘You dirty jerk.’
“I can't stop thinking about our conversation and the scenery we saw together at the time. We've met each other again sooner than I thought... so I’m happy,” I told him. I had to smile brightly at him because that was my role. “Looks like we'll talk about the goddess all night long."