Chapter 40 Part6 (1/2)
<chapter 40.=”” fake=”” hero=”” saga=”” -=”” 6=””>
It had been a long time since they'd last met; the Sun G.o.d religion's Pope looked at Kay, who was fully equipped and asked.
”I heard that Lawrence has a young, beautiful lover, who's also business savvy and goes with him everywhere. What about you; you got anyone? I don't want to take all the credit, but you've become more well known because of us.”
”I'm planning on stealing her from him.”
”Don't do it! If the Sun G.o.d's hero splits from his backer for such a trivial reason, then we'll lose face!”
”It was a joke. To be honest, I'm not interested.”
Since both of them were him, there weren't any problems, but it seems like the Pope still considered them separate individuals.
The situation had changed from what he'd first envisioned, and there wouldn't be any problems with disclosing the fact that he was both Kay and Lawrence. However, he stubbornly wanted to go with his original concept. People would be suspicious if he disclosed the fact that Lawrence never existed in the first place.
”So that's your preference. Hmm... Just asking, but are you trying to steal Lawrence from his lover, not the other way around?”
”!?”
Hold up. That's what the 'close relations.h.i.+p' between Lawrence and Kay meant in the book being sold in the capital...! Lee s.h.i.+n Woo was conflicted; he wanted to interrogate the Pope, but he was also fearful of the subject. Fortunately or unfortunately, the Pope soon changed topics to the main point of discussion.
”Don't think about which side you like for the time being. The dungeon we're headed for now is no joking matter.”
”You're talking about the level 7 dungeon, right?”
”We've named it the Desert of Death.”
”I like it. It's clear and concise.”
As normal humans couldn't check stats, it was difficult for them to a.s.sess a dungeon properly. So, they would only be able to a.s.sess its level by going into the dungeon and fighting the monsters. That was why dungeon casualties were so high.
”When you asked us to look into a level 7 dungeon, we actually tried looking into other places. But you just entered the capital, and you need to make a huge impression for the spotlight to be flashed onto you, so we ultimately came back to this one.”
”It seems quite famous.”
”Of course. In a way, it's the most famous dungeon in the entire country.”
To be honest, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo already knew about the dungeon. He had learned about this dungeon from Rem just shortly after it had acquired the golem network; the reason he was able to get information on it so quickly was because of how well known it was. The dungeon wasn't open to the public, but he had gotten the info once the golem network had spread to the capital.
'It's influential enough to reduce the size of the capital.'
To be exact, they had attempted to form outer walls to expand the capital, but the creation of said walls was canceled due to the dungeon's sudden appearance.
At the time, the damage done to human life was considerable, so the knight order was mobilized. However, the knights were annihilated. The 12 generals of the surface were sent next, but even they had trouble with it, so it was 'sealed unless the Emperor himself took action'. This just went to show how dangerous the dungeon was.
”If all the 12 generals had gone, or if they had risked their lives to clear it, they could've done it. Aside from clearing the dungeon, the 12 generals had several other tasks to do; when they actually tried to clear the dungeon with the help of another knight order and the magicians, they found that it was too difficult, as the monsters were too strong. Ultimately, the Emperor only pa.s.sed a temporary measure: 'the 12 generals would lead a punitive force, consisting of elites from the knight order, and stop the dungeon countercurrent'. Dozens of years have pa.s.sed since that order was given.”
”Then it must've gotten worse inside if it's been dozens of years.”
”Of course.”
If the 12 generals couldn't hope to clear it, then it must be h.e.l.l. But the critical reason that made them entrust the dungeon to him despite all that was...
”The internal environment is a tropical desert. You take fire damage just from entering and the inside is teeming with monsters that can use High Rank Fire. No matter how great of a warrior you are, it's difficult to maintain tip-top condition throughout, and because magicians lack stamina, they can't even enter the dungeon. The dungeon is protected by its awful environment... But our religious order uses fire, so the entry barriers are less severe for us.”
”Conversely, you're saying that our fire won't be very effective against them.”
”That's why you're here. All the priests and paladins that have watched you know that your power doesn't lie entirely in your ability to use fire.”
They had probably noticed how powerful Bursting Thunder was when combined with the fire element. A warrior that possessed impeccable swordsmans.h.i.+p and could wield powerful flames. That was Lee s.h.i.+n Woo, or Kay's current image. It wasn't wrong in real life either. But there was one thing that bothered him.
'But Bursting Thunder is strongest when used in conjunction with the Lightning element. However, I can't just pull out a new element out of the blue, and using bones in front of other people is out of the question...'
Of course, he should be able to progress through the dungeon. He had Zenon's help right now, as well as the Absorption and Fire Resistance skills. He couldn't help but feel relaxed. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo thought of it as training his fire-related skills.
'Hoo. But it's still the wrong way to go about this. Though, it doesn't matter how much time I take; as long as I clear the dungeon, my fame will rise. And if I'm in a pinch, then I can just get away from the others and use my true abilities. ...Should I lay a smokescreen beforehand?'
While Lee s.h.i.+n Woo was deep in thought, the Pope seemed to misunderstand and spoke in a relaxed tone.
”If you're this worried, then I, the Pope of the Sun G.o.d religion, should go with you. I have no intention of losing you here and even less intention of dying in there. Relax.”
”No, I won't die no matter what. There's no need for you to enter the dungeon. You'll get in the way.”
”Get in the way? You shouldn't look down on my fire magic and resistance. I can also use healing spells too, so...”
”The paladins and the priests will get in the way too. It's fine that they are willing to risk their lives for their religion, but if I find that they're holding me down then I'll send them right back to the surface.”
”M-Mm...”
The Pope groaned. Of course, the Pope had sent the paladins and priests to a.s.sist him so that he wouldn't think that the Sun G.o.d religion was using him one-sidedly, but he was still worried. After all, the Sun G.o.d religion and the hero Kay had pledged to sink or swim together.
Lee s.h.i.+n Woo knew how conflicted the Pope was and just laughed softly.
”I understand how you feel. But I can't clear this dungeon as easily as the others, so that's why I'm telling you this in advance.”
”The other dungeons were easy for you? You truly are impressive. I wonder where you came from.”
”Haha, isn't this all because of the Sun G.o.d's grace?”
Lee s.h.i.+n Woo replied jokingly. After that, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo could begin to see the ruined dungeon entrance and acted like he was taking something out of his bag when he was really going through his inventory. He took out a bottle of Kerr Century Elemental and pa.s.sed it to the Pope.