“Finally, the Mirmord family is collapsing.”

I raised an amused smirk.

It was undoubtedly a situation where the Pope would meet his demise.

However, his expression didn’t reflect such thoughts. He wore an assured look, more convinced than anyone that the Mirmord family would perish.

As I narrowed my eyes and approached the Pope, I froze, caught in Dad’s grip.

“Sienna, it’s dangerous.”

Dad spoke on my behalf.

“Pope, let me explain it so you understand. What does Acid’s cheek with ancient language have to do with Mirmord?”

I decided to play the role of the irritating sidekick next to Dad.

“Yeah, and anyway, Pope, you’re going to die soon, right?”

‘I thought he’d be surprised to hear “You will die,” but the Pope seemed less bothered than expected.’

He chuckled as he looked at me.

“I can die. If the long-awaited wind of the temple is fulfilled.”

“The long-awaited wind of the temple?”

“Yeah, the prophecy in the scripture said our well-forged sword would slay all the evil families opposing the temple.”

“The meaning of those words…”

Considering the current situation, the Pope’s words ultimately had the same meaning.

I recalled the ominous feeling when the Pope repeatedly referred to Acid as the ‘well-forged sword.’

“Yes, Acid, our sword, will slaughter all the enemies of the temple, the Mirmord. When he is burned in the sacred fire, and ancient characters are engraved on his cheek, the prophecy will be fulfilled.”

I mockingly punched my fist into my palm as if he were a braggart.

“Without even hearing God’s words, only relying on a prophecy? Don’t lie. Where is the scripture? And where is the evidence that Acid is a sword?”

“Don’t believe it? Seems like provocation. As for the proof that Acid is the sword, well, I suppose I have to explain everything to you in detail?”

The Pope, who had been coughing for a while after being grabbed by the neck, retorted again.

“The original scripture is with our saint. I am, after all, a foster parent.”

Despite the Pope’s expression filled with arrogance, he still maintained a calm face.

My gaze met Dad’s simultaneously.

Dad, with a sardonic laugh, effortlessly sliced the candle in the middle with Acid’s intervention.

“Foster parent theme, and the scripture with the saint? Did you have the right to burn incense on the foster parent theme? The candle lit by the flattery should easily go out.”

The Pope’s face, which had been giggling for a while, suddenly turned angry.

“Dare you touch the ceremony of summoning God, foolish Mirmord.”

Matthias’s expression was adorned with a sneer.

“It doesn’t matter. If what you say is true, I’m going to die anyway, right? He’s the well-forged sword, the Mirmord family, and I, the head of the family, the antagonist of the temple and the source of evil.”

“You catch on quite quickly. Yes, the demise of your people was already written in the prophecy.”

“That’s it then.”

“While the unexpected intrusion of this one feels sudden… Anyway, everything is satisfactory now that ancient characters are engraved on the sword’s cheek.”

The Pope’s voice gradually lost strength.

It meant he was dying.

As he twisted his body, he eventually smashed his face on the ground, looking at the Pope. Dad raised his mouth.

“If Acid is going to eradicate the Mirmord, then killing him now will be enough.”

At the words that Acid would be killed, my complexion turned pale in an instant.

At that moment, the Pope spoke as if mocking.

“No, those connected by Mirmord’s blood, and those with their will, can never kill the sword. Until the source of evil disappears, the sword cannot even commit suicide. If you’re curious, try killing him once…”

Finishing his words, the Pope’s eyes slowly closed.

He continued to delude himself into thinking he had achieved everything until he died.

I muttered irritably as I looked at the smile on his lips.
“I’m just… beyond disbelief right now.”

“Why, Sienna?”

Looking down at the freshly killed Pope, I thought silently.

I didn’t deny fatalism.

Perhaps the future of humans might have been predetermined by the gods.

I, too, understood my position, having been reborn into a book through the grace of the gods.

However, I believed that human will precedes fate.

If humans desire, strongly long for, and strive to change their destiny, I believed that destiny would undoubtedly change.

‘Just like how I changed the original, .’

“It’s just so absurd to believe in fate and act so helpless, Dad.”

“Our daughter…”

“I don’t believe in prophecies or fate. I think if we make an effort, nothing is set in stone.”

At that moment, Acid, seemingly regaining consciousness, grabbed the edge of my clothes. As soon as he grabbed me, he let out a short sigh.

I didn’t say anything.

I just hoped that even a slight glimmer of life would be reflected in his eyes as he looked at me.

“Do you… believe in me?”

The only words I could offer to Acid, who seemed to be undergoing inner torment, were…

“I believe in you.”

I conveyed trust in him.