Abyssal Chronicles

Chapter 370 - 371 : The Pope part 2 [4/5]

"It’s been a while, hasn’t it? Not happy to see an old friend?"

The man chuckles lightly, behaving like he’s meeting a long-lost friend, casually slinging his arm over Nick’s shoulder.

The man has a dazzling golden short hair, with the ends of his hair dyed a pure white. His vibrant red eyes are squinted into a slit, warmly focused on Archbishop Nick. Strictly speaking, the man’s appearance was average. He’s the sort who’d go unnoticed in a crowd.

However,

This seemingly ordinary presence radiates a barely perceptible aura. Even though he isn’t showing any magical or holy powers, and his words and actions are friendly, he exerts a pressure on Nick that he has never experienced before, almost halting his heart.

After the man’s unexpected arrival, the four white-robed Sacred Envoys kneel down without a word, giving their most sincere greetings.

The way the four Sacred Envoys treat him naturally indicates the golden-haired man’s identity.

After taking a deep breath to calm his racing heart,

Nick tries to keep his cool and respectfully greets the golden-haired man,

"Subordinate Nick, pay... paying my respect to... His Holiness the Pope."

"Subordinate, really? Do we need to be so formal?"

The man feigns displeasure and chuckles,

"Nick, how many times have I told you? We’re friends. When there are no believers around, just call me Kael. No need for formalities."

Kael Rod Andoluchivichi.

The supreme ruler of Asumos, the Twelfth Pope. Moreover, he’s universally recognized as the Goddess’s representative in the mortal world.

His high status isn’t confined to the Church only; across the entire Ancita continent, he is unmatched.

Whether it’s the emperors of the four great empires, or the masters of the Holy Tower, Red Moon Tower, when facing the supreme ruler of the Church, they all have to show him respect.

On one hand, this is due to Kael’s supreme status and the commanding influence of the Church. On the other, it’s Kael’s unparalleled strength that demands respect. In a world that values power, Kael’s exceptional combat prowess at the peak of the eighth level leaves no room for anyone to underestimate him. In Red Leaf Empire, his reputation even overshadows that of the imperial family.

The reason was simple.

In the eyes of many, the Pope is the savior of the Red Leaf Empire. If it weren’t for the Pope’s intervention years ago, the Red Leaf Empire would have been destroyed by the Most fearsome Demon King [Higanbana], and become part of history.

Although his fame is immense,

For more than three hundred years since becoming the Pope, Kael has rarely appeared in public. The daily operations and various major events of the Church were almost always presided over by three archbishops. The Pope rarely participates.

He seems to always stay deep within the holy Cathedral, worshiping the statue of the Goddess.

Even when orders are occasionally issued, they are relayed through the four Sacred Envoys. Even the upper echelons of the Church find it difficult to meet this elusive Pope.

As a result,

For most people, the supreme leader of Asumos Church has become a symbol of mystery. Given that the Pope rarely appears at large gatherings and that the Church can control the flow of information, very few have seen his true face.

Thus, the image of this unmatched powerhouse in the minds of ordinary believers and citizens is left to their personal imaginations. There are handsome, dashing knights; tall, powerful warriors; priests full of sanctity; and kind, elderly men...

However, no matter how these people imagine, they probably can’t conceive that this Might person they worship in their minds is a young man with an unremarkable appearance...

...

Faced with this golden-haired man who seems to be on familiar terms with him, Archbishop Nick can’t help but draw a deep breath and tremble, shaking his head in denial:

"Your Holiness... We must respect the hierarchy... It’s entirely inappropriate to... call you by your name directly..."

"Aiya, Nick, why are you always so stiff?"

Seeing his suggestion firmly and fearfully rejected by Nick, Kael simply shook his head, not offended in the least.

"Let it be, let it be. If you’re uncomfortable, how can I force you, especially as an old friend?"

"Thank you, Holy Father."

"Sigh, have it your way."

After patting Nick’s shoulder, Kael revealed a worried expression. He circled around Nick, sizing up the archbishop’s physique:

"Speaking of which, after what you’ve been through, how’s your old body holding up?"

"I’m...I’m okay," Nick replied shakily.

Upon the Pope’s mention of SkyDome incident, Nick’s eyes narrowed and his body started shaking due to sudden anxiety. Kael’s words were devoid of blame and rather seemed full of concern, yet Nick was terrified.

"I’m... I’m very sorry... Holy Father, this time I... I failed to stop the abyssal demon’s invasion. The weapon I was supposed to bring back was destroyed in the battle, and the plan to expanding The Church’s influence wasn’t materialized... I’m... I’m deeply sorry!"

With that, Nick even kneeled before Kael without another word, as if sincerely repenting for his failure.

Seeing this, Kael, who was watching the trembling archbishop, paused for a moment.

A deep, poignant glow flashed in his dark red eyes.

Then, Kael let out a deep sigh and helped Nick to his feet,

"Hahaha, all right, all right! Nick, relax... I’m not upset about this."

"You’re... you’re not?"

Looking up at the smiling Pope, Nick looked puzzled.

"This... this time I..."

"It’s nothing. I’m well aware of the severity of this demon invasion."

With that, Kael walked slowly towards the throne, carefully picking up the trembling, fluffy white creature from the seat. Then, while petting and soothing the small creature, Kael addressed Nick and Bai Yanluo:

"The attack of the abyss demons this time is not something your team could have stopped. Even here in the Church, facing an invasion of that magnitude, we may not have been able to resist. Moreover, that Demon Inferno appeared later in the incident. That Demon King, even four hundred years ago, when I attacked the Winter Forest with two colleagues, we couldn’t defeat it. It’s unrealistic to expect you to combat such a creature, isn’t it? Also... the fact that the reinforcements were intercepted by the Divine Punishment Sect was unexpected. So, Nick... I don’t blame you. You don’t need to be so nervous."

Kael showed a kind smile,

"Holy... Holy Father, is that truly how you feel?"