A Snake’s Life Ch 27

Chapter 27

 

The pope bowed so deeply it bordered on servility. Casa stood firmly in front of me as if to say he absolutely would not step aside. Knowing Casa’s personality, there was no way he would act like this on his own. That could only mean one thing—an order from the master. To prevent me from meeting the pope. The pope had every right to be angry at Casa’s blatant hostility, but instead he wore a genial smile.

“Please don’t overreact like that. It’s merely a greeting. If you try to hide things, even the Divine Messenger might find it suffocating.”

His ridiculous words made me sigh. I hated how he spoke like he knew me so well when we had barely met. And even before that, it was the pope’s gaze that irritated me. The moment our eyes met, he looked at me as if I were a pitiful child. To the point I almost wondered if I really was.

He twisted his words in a way that could be easily misunderstood. He emphasized the “unavoidable circumstances” and followed it up with how hiding things would feel stifling. Glancing at Casa with a sigh, he made it seem like Casa was the one in the way. Casa’s eyes grew even sharper at the pope’s subtly rebuking tone.

“It’s been quite concerning for us too, not even being able to approach the palace. This meeting must have been guided by the Divine. Seeing you well puts our hearts at ease.”

Putting the pieces together, it meant they couldn’t even enter the palace, couldn’t get close, and hadn’t heard any news, so they were wandering in worry until the Divine led them to me. That was the gist of it. The pope’s subtle tone seemed to be emphasizing that it was due to others’ schemes they couldn’t meet with me.

“I heard it’s been difficult even to step outside the palace—are you all right?”

So what? Living in a room is great. My forehead wrinkled slightly at the pope’s tone.

“Shuiren-nim, let’s go.”

Casa, seemingly done with this interaction, urged me toward the palace.

“How dare you lay a hand on the Divine Messenger? Are you all right, Messenger?”

He shouted as if I had suffered some great insult. Realizing how strangely the situation was unfolding, Casa let out a small sigh.

“Messenger, why are you staying silent? Is there something you wish to tell me?”

He smiled benevolently, as if ready to hear anything I had to say.

I scratched my head at the absurdity. Yeah, this was completely ridiculous. They said the Divine’s power was weakening, and with the pope like this, it was no wonder. A supposed servant of the Divine living in such luxury with no sense of restraint. Jewelry fit for nobles hung all over his robes. I couldn’t help but frown at the sight.

I wondered what exactly he was trying to hear from me. His meaningful tone and pitiful expression made it clear. I had suspected it before, but now I was certain—the pope wanted to sow discord between the master and me. How dare he.

“What should I do, Shuiren-nim?”

Casa whispered quietly in my ear. His hand subtly reached for his sword, ready to draw it if necessary. He moved in such a way that the others couldn’t see. I swatted his hand away.

Why do people here always reach for their swords? You wouldn’t know, but in the place I came from, the moment someone threw the first punch, they’d already lost. I pushed past him and stepped forward.

It was only natural for someone from the temple to try to take the Divine Messenger back. They believed in the Divine, right? So of course, they thought the Messenger should be at the temple. But I had absolutely no intention of going. I needed to crush that pointless hope in advance.

“You’re a servant of the Divine?”

“Yes, that’s correct. I am also your servant, Messenger.”

When I snapped back at him, the pope’s eyes widened slightly. But he quickly responded with a merciful smile and gestured toward the many clergy bowing behind him.

“Won’t you come to the temple? We sincerely wish to serve you. The faithful, who long for your mercy, are desperately waiting. We will welcome you with all our hearts.”

“Nope.”

“…Excuse me?”

Was it my response that flustered him? Even the priests behind him started murmuring. But none of that mattered to me. There was no reason to abandon my precious safe haven and leave. Seeing that I wasn’t backing down, Casa also silently stood behind me.

“I mean, seriously. Why should I go with you? There must be a reason, right?”

“We serve the Divine, follow His word, and act upon His guidance. You are the Messenger sent by His call, are you not? It is only right that you be in the temple!”

“That’s right! It makes no sense for the Divine Messenger to remain in the imperial palace!”

“As the Messenger, you have a responsibility to show mercy to the faithful!”

The pope, no longer smiling kindly, now laughed in disbelief. The priests also raised their voices, clearly thinking my words were absurd. Yeah, that’s the expression I should be making. Their blatant attempt to take me away left me with a sour expression. As if it weren’t already obvious what would happen to me if I actually went with them. Normal? Nothing about this was normal.

“Says who? I’ll decide where I belong. And that place is here. And responsibility? Who asked me to take any on?”

“What???”

I dug in my ear, pretending I didn’t hear them. The priests grew desperate and began calling for the pope. He raised his hand to calm them.

“Your Holiness…”

“The Messenger is still young and does not yet fully understand the situation. Everyone, please calm down.”

“Who are you calling young?”

My voice was drowned out by the priests’ murmuring. The pope began listing the benefits of going to the temple to try and persuade me.

“Isn’t it stifling to be cooped up in the palace? We travel all around to bring mercy to the faithful. We even receive many donations, so we can assure you of excellent hospitality.”

“Not at all. I’m not stifled in the least. Donations, huh? Do you have more money than my master?”

“…”

The pope’s brow furrowed at my blunt remark. I scoffed at his reaction.

“That can’t be, right? The outside world? Why would I go somewhere so dangerous? Home is the safest place, don’t you know that? And my master doesn’t even give me much work. Even if I loaf around or waste money, he doesn’t care. But… if I go to the temple, I have to meet with the believers, I’ll have to do work as the Divine Messenger, travel around on pilgrimages in a carriage. I get motion sickness really badly—you know I nearly died from it during the last rain ritual.”

I’m planning to live like a freeloader. Who are they to try to ruin my life? It’s obvious that if I go to the temple, they’ll use me in every possible way under the guise of “Divine Messenger.”

“There’s really nothing better than here, huh?”

I pointed out every downside one by one with my finger. Then I shrugged. After I finished speaking, the pope’s smile was disappearing from his face. I scoffed at him as if telling him to wake up. He looked at me with eyes so sharp, it was like he wanted to eat me alive. I waved my hand like swatting away an annoying fly and started walking away.

“Your Holiness…”

“Then what is it that the Divine Messenger desires?”

My steps halted. So that’s how he wants to play?

“Nothing. My master does everything for me.”

Contrary to my expectation that he’d back down, the pope didn’t seem like he was ready to let me go that easily. As if he had already finished profiling me, he suddenly changed his approach and offered a deal. My eyes narrowed at that attitude.

“Your master… Do you really know his situation well?”

I looked at him with a dumbfounded expression. In response, he couldn’t help but let out a laugh.

“It may seem like things have improved thanks to your help, Divine Messenger, but that’s absolutely not the case. All it’s done is raise the suspicions and vigilance of the other nobles. And who can guarantee that you won’t get caught up in it?”

He said it with just the right level of nuance. He never spoke directly, but who wouldn’t understand the meaning behind those words? Perhaps seeing the way my face hardened, he became even more confident and continued.

“We want to…”

“Hey, I said I’m not interested. You lot should figure out your own survival, yeah? Don’t rely on me. Forget the offer. I’m not interested.”

I decided there was no point in listening any further and cut off his words. I waved my hand and walked farther away from them. The pope only gazed steadily at my retreating figure, but the clerics behind him, their faces flushed red, began shouting.

“You must not use the power of the Divine for personal benefit!! It must be shared with everyone!”

What a load of crap. Who begged them for anything?

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure it rains regularly. And besides, if it’s really about sharing with everyone, you wouldn’t be spending donations on fancy clothes and accessories, would you?”

I smiled sweetly as I threw that sharp jab at them. The pope and his clerics, perhaps reminded of the donations they’d been pocketing, couldn’t utter a single word like mute puppets.

Not even worth a jab. Now it’s quiet. Come to think of it, the Divine said wicked people were stealing His power… Could it be…? Maybe I should take a shot.

I stopped in my tracks and looked back. As I turned around, they were glaring at me with hostile eyes.

“Since we’re talking about the Divine… I heard the reason it stopped raining was because some wicked person is stealing His power…”

“What in the world…”

“There’s a wicked person…?”

“That can’t be true!”

Though their reactions varied, some pursed their lips in silence while others hung their heads. I wasn’t sure if I really saw it, but for a brief moment, I thought I saw a cold gleam in the pope’s eyes. Still, judging from their reactions, I had plenty of reason to be suspicious.

Can’t hurt to be cautious.

“Your Holiness, what will you do? The Divine Messenger…”

“Let’s go. It’s a shame, but it seems the Divine Messenger’s mind is firmly made up.”

The pope could not contain his anger at Shuiren’s cheeky attitude. Behind his benevolent smile, his clenched fist trembled. No matter how divine the messenger, he never imagined the boy could actually communicate with the Divine Himself. A chill ran down his spine.

He had thought it was nothing more than an old legend. But this much was certain—The Divine could speak and act through His messenger. It was regrettable that he couldn’t win him over, but seeing how decisively Shuiren rejected him, there was no way forward. That meant the pope’s next action was clear. Just as Her Majesty the Empress said—Shuiren must disappear. He wasn’t sure, but the way Shuiren hinted at knowing “that” was enough for the pope to realize that his disappearance would be most beneficial.

“Looks like things will be busy.”

“Pardon?”

“Let’s go to the Empress.”

Time to make a move.

The priest who had been advising him looked puzzled by the pope’s decision to go to the empress, but he obeyed. They headed for the Empress’s palace.