“Summer, what on earth……”

The Pope quickly took out a handkerchief from his bosom and pressed it against Summer’s neck. The white handkerchief was instantly stained red.

The Pope looked severely flustered and frightened. He always acted so cryptic, but he had this side to him too.

“How did you know I was trying to die?”

Perhaps due to the tension easing, Summer’s voice cracked hoarsely. The Pope, his already pale face turning even whiter, opened his mouth.

“I was doing volunteer work nearby. It’s a regularly held event.”

His voice trembled slightly. He still seemed unable to escape that moment when Summer had raised the dagger.

“Your Holiness. Do you expect me to believe that?”

“The wound has healed completely. More importantly, how did you end up in this dangerous place, my lady?”

When the Pope removed his hand, the wound was clean as if it had never existed.

As if nothing had happened, the Pope completely changed his expression and was smiling benevolently.

Summer let out an involuntary sneer and asked sarcastically while exhaling:

“Haha, but why are you here, Your Holiness?”

“That’s……”

The Pope pressed his lips tightly shut.

No matter how much volunteer work was happening nearby, what business would someone of the Pope’s stature have in a deserted alley wearing a black hood?

Even if he tried to make excuses, they should at least be plausible. Summer inwardly clicked her tongue and waved her hand dismissively.

“Don’t say anything. I don’t really want to get involved.”

“You’re quite perceptive, my lady.”

“Yes. I have other things I need to think about.”

What on earth does the world want from me? She needed to use her head.

For now, the only viable death was to die naturally, without breaking plausibility.

However, the world seemed quite displeased even when Summer drank poison in place of Julian.

So then, how exactly was she supposed to die for the world to send her back to her original world?

This part would probably need to be looked at again in the prayer room.

“What exactly is the problem?”

“The temple is always open, so please come to the temple whenever you’re having a difficult time.”

Another detestable statement. Summer openly frowned as she distanced herself from the Pope. The cold brick wall touched her back.

“I like the temple. If only Your Holiness didn’t act so suspiciously.”

“Haha. If I ask, would you become my accomplice?”

“I refuse.”

“I thought so.”

The Pope was still smiling cryptically. But the tips of his fingers holding the handkerchief were trembling faintly.

His appearance, unable to completely hide his agitation, was extremely unfamiliar.

At this moment, could she uncover something?

“If I tell you one story first, could Your Holiness give me one in return?”

In Summer’s view, the Pope knew many things.

While he didn’t seem to be from Summer’s original world, he appeared to be observing this world from above like an observer.

So she had to extract everything she could from him.

This world is a mess. Nothing flowed according to plan or resolution.

Noisy and flashy and never leaving people alone.

Clamorous and lonely.

Noisy and solitary.

“Summer. Would you first allow me to use your name?”

“Go ahead. You’re already using it anyway.”

“Summer, wait.”

The Pope brought his lips close to Summer’s ear. His fine lavender hair flowed down, tickling Summer’s cheek.

Just his approach brought a refreshing scent that made her forget this was a dirty alley.

“Summer. My name is, Damian Cheshire.”

“Damian Cheshire.”

“Yes. Damian Cheshire. That’s my name. Now that you know my name, we’re accomplices.”

“What? Where is there such a law…!”

While Summer was flustered, the Pope burst out laughing, threw off his hood, and took Summer’s hand to lead her.

“…Huh?”

Surprise filled Summer’s eyes as she looked at the Pope.

The Pope’s beautiful lavender hair gradually turned pitch black.

Led by the Pope’s hand, Summer quickly exited the alley.

As the view opened up to reveal a bustling market, she strangely felt both overwhelmed and relieved.

The Pope was still holding Summer’s hand as he wove through the crowd.

The surprising thing was that no one recognized the Pope.

She could guess why. Purple was the Pope’s symbol. They wouldn’t recognize him with black hair.

But she still wondered how he could freely change his hair color in this world.

“We’re almost there, Summer.”

“Your Holiness, your hair……”

“Didn’t I say we’re accomplices now?”

The Pope turned to Summer with a smile that bloomed like a flower.

Hair darker than the night sky, eyes redder than blood.

“…What on earth.”

“Summer knows too. The Empire considers purple sacred.”

The Pope loosened his grip on Summer’s hand. But he didn’t let go.

Summer simply forgot she was holding his hand out of shock, but Damian still raised the corners of his mouth in satisfaction as he looked at their joined hands.

“Can you change hair color with holy power too?”

“There’s nothing holy power can’t do. Except harm others.”

“Which is real?”

“This appearance is the real Damian Cheshire.”

The Pope smiled languidly. Ah, now he finally felt natural.

“Why did you change your appearance?”

“…Those with holy power all have light-colored body hair. Like sky blue or light purple.”

Julian Dudley immediately came to mind. Her lovely appearance like cotton candy.

Curling sky blue hair and sparkling pink eyes.

But this Pope before her had an appearance more suited to a seductive devil, even to Summer’s eyes.

“Is that the only reason?”

“You really don’t know. I’m a commoner.”

“…What?”

“For a commoner to rise to the position of Pope, they must be flawless in every way except for their status.”

“…That’s harsh.”

The truth Summer didn’t know was even harsher. Those without the light body hair that was proof of holy power were stoned to death as evil practitioners if they used holy power.

Damian too had nearly been killed like that once.

If not for his benefactor, Damian would have already been killed by the mob.

Paradoxically, Damian, who had the qualities that could get him killed by them, had learned to change his hair and eye color with holy power and was now worshipped by them.

There was a saying to turn the other cheek when struck, but Damian couldn’t understand it.

He couldn’t love the mob that killed his mother and tried to kill him by burning down his home.

Cursing God for giving him holy power was Damian’s daily routine.

“I accepted my fate. Don’t look at me like that, it’s not uncomfortable.”

But telling such dark stories would only burden Summer.

So Damian just smiled and said it wasn’t uncomfortable.

Summer glanced at Damian and spoke indifferently.

“I wasn’t pitying you. Just, I think the place I need to return to isn’t much different from here.”

Ordinary. He had to endure such harsh and difficult times for that word. And after becoming ordinary, then what?

“Is that so?”

“So I can’t pity you, Damian. I might understand, but not pity.”

“……”

Damian’s eyes trembled faintly. But Summer didn’t see his face as she was looking around.

It was the kind of expression one would make upon hearing words they had never heard before in their life.

“Where is this? It’s such a wide open field.”

“We’re almost there.”

Following Damian a bit further, a lone grave appeared on a quiet windswept hill.

“Here it is. The place I wanted to show you.”

“Oh my. I guess romance is out of the question for me after all.”

“Were you hoping for it?”

“No. It’s a joke. Anyway, are we allowed to just enter a place like this? It looks like private property.”

“Of course not.”

“Is it okay for the Pope to do this?”

“It is. Since I’m not exactly a good Pope.”

Damian grinned lightly, wrinkling his nose. Summer took her eyes off Damian and examined the grave without a headstone.

“Why on earth did you want to show me this? ‘You’ll end up like this if you’re not careful’?”

“Well, something like that.”

“What? Please tell me you’re joking.”

“Don’t worry, I didn’t bring you here to threaten you.”

The Pope slowly sat down on the grass and gently stroked the grave. His attitude was like caressing something very precious.

Feeling unnecessarily solemn, Summer quietly closed her eyes and offered a silent prayer.

A gust of wind blew, laying the grass blades flat in one direction, then they stood up again when the wind stopped.

The shepherd’s purse flowers scattered across the field swayed in the faint breeze, and the fluffy dandelion seeds from the patches of dandelions floated away with the wind.

It was a peaceful and beautiful place.

Summer finished her prayer and opened her eyes, raising her head. Damian had been watching her for some time, trying to hold back a smile.

“Damian… How long have you been watching!”

“For a while now. Did you know the owner of this grave when you prayed?”

“No. But farewells are always sad.”

At Summer’s grumpy reply, Damian burst out laughing and leaned his shoulder against the grave.

“I wonder if she returned safely.”

“Whose grave is this?”

“Selena.”

It was clearly a woman’s name. Summer’s mind raced quickly. She hadn’t seen it when reading the original work.

She either didn’t appear at all, or was a very minor character.

“Um, she must have been important to Your Holiness.”

“She was an important person. She gave me the possibility of becoming Pope.”

His face was full of longing, as if that expression alone wasn’t enough.

“That’s amazing. Was it perhaps romantic feelings?”

“It was respect. But then she passed away.”

“Mm, may she rest in peace in heaven.”

Summer prayed carefully. Damian gazed at the praying Summer for a moment before letting out a playful laugh.

“It would be a big problem if she returned to heaven.”

“……”

“Don’t you think so, Summer Lindsey?”

Thump thump. Summer’s heart began to race.