I Became the Narrow-Eyed Henchman of the Evil Boss

I will create the foundation that will restore the glory of the old era. Let’s all reclaim the shining age of the gods together.

Utis’s intentions were clear.

“Knock, and the door shall be opened to you; seek, and salvation shall come to you. Join me!”

But the Divine Cult had no choice but to remain silent due to the blasphemous plan proposed by the Pope, which the cult had agreed to.

There were those who voted against it and priests who were unable to attend the vote. But the fact remains that the Divine Cult ultimately supported the Pope.

“……”

The doubtful silence that hung over the priests typically seemed to reflect a deliberation over unexpected proposals. However, Orthes, having already received a clue from Sikton, could sense a certain discomfort lurking within the silence.

‘Look at this?’

It seemed Sikton wasn’t just blabbering nonsense. Mixed feelings about the return of the age of gods; a feeling that was both welcoming yet somewhat awkward.

The one who stepped forward as the representative of the silent priests was Philoxenon. Being a servant of the main god, he possessed the strongest speaking rights among the priests present from various cults.

“That’s a bold proposal. But it is also risky. If the Mage King gets hold of the Ten Commandments, it would lead to a disaster incomparable to the Ten Towers.”

“Exactly why we must stop Argyrion’s expansion. The Ten Towers, having exhausted their power fighting against Argyrion, would be even more vulnerable to the descent of the Mage King.”

“I must acknowledge that it’s a persuasive proposal. However, this will change the policies of all the cults belonging to the Divine Cult. We are mere members of the Divine Cult, not true representatives, so we can’t provide an immediate answer.”

“True representative? Are you referring to the ‘Pope’?”

Philoxenon’s eyes glimmered with surprise. Who would have thought that a priest who had never even visited the Divine Cult would know about the Pope’s existence?

But upon careful thought, it wasn’t all that strange. While infiltrating Blasphemia, he would have been able to gather information about the leaders of the Divine Cult.

“I cannot speak in front of an outsider.”

Orthes realized why the Pope did not appear at the gathering of the twelve cult representatives. It was because the Pope’s face could not be shown to an outsider.

‘Quite cautious, hmm…’

Demanding an immediate decision on the plan was something only a rookie would do. Orthes quickly calculated the pros and cons.

Now was the time to step back and observe. Having presented a new future, they would need time to mull it over.

Especially for a monumental event like the descent of the Mage King. The prophecy shared by Orthes would bring great chaos to the cult’s future.

‘The next best option is for the entire Divine Cult to support my plan and cooperate in eliminating Argyrion while starting a search for relics. The best option is…’

Internal conflict within the Divine Cult. If the factions for and against the proposal proceeded with their own plans and failed to unite, that would be the best outcome.

The Divine Cult was also an unknown variable that Orthes was unaware of.

*

Philoxenon’s words clearly contained the intent to oust Utis. Demus gazed at Utis.

Despite the somewhat provocative remark, Utis’s expression showed no change. Only a subtle smile remained steady on his face.

“Is that so? Then the intruder will take his leave.”

Utis bowed politely. The exaggerated gesture was deliberate. Demus sensed a jester or actor-like aura emanating from Utis once again.

“But before that…”

After finishing his bow, Orthes suddenly held out a small box, as if he had pulled it from his robe.

“I have a gift for you.”

Orthes opened the box, revealing a few grapes inside.

It was too meager to be called a gift. Not even a single bunch, just a few berries.

What was the intention behind this?

The first to discern the identity of the ‘grapes’ among the priests were Philoxenon and Hyacinth, belonging to the more seasoned side.

“Bacchus’s fruit! It wasn’t taken away along with the cult’s destruction?”

*

Now comes the important part. I wore a relaxed smile.

“Demus, the priest, surely informed you that I brought a child from the Bacchus cult during my time in Elysion.”

Silence.

“I was not just a mere witness at the last moment of the Bacchus cult. I also played the role of a mortuary worker, collecting their remains.”

“You must have misheard about a grave robber.”

Hyacinth scoffed. I responded with a laugh.

“That may be so. But isn’t it better than Blasphemia taking all those legacies?”

“……”

“I have no interest in the ownership of the Bacchus cult’s assets, including the grapevines. I am merely holding onto them until the rightful heir of the Bacchus cult comes to claim them.”

Philoxenon spoke up to replace the silent Hyacinth. His tone was not the stern one used when invoking holy power, but rather the voice of a weary middle manager.

“So you are saying you had been guarding the cult’s artifacts from Blasphemia?”

“I would appreciate it if you could take it that way.”

“And so, what is the reason for showing that to us now?”

“How many ‘legacies’ do you think I have seen and collected while using Blasphemia’s identity?”

In truth, I hadn’t seen that many. But I knew where some of the relics were buried.

“And how many relics do you think are stored in Blasphemia’s secret vault?”

My idea of the ‘best outcome’ involved inciting internal conflict within the Divine Cult. To hope for the best results only by throwing out the facts and praying for division wouldn’t suffice.

Isn’t it said that heaven helps those who help themselves?

“Those interested in the cult’s relics I may have collected personally, please reach out to me via this mail. It’s the account of L13 from Blasphemia, so you’ll need to take appropriate security measures.”

I provided a reason for the priests to personally contact me.

All of them could potentially become informants and allies for my claims.

Conversation is the beginning of empathy. The priests conversing with me would gradually learn about the threat of the ‘return of the Mage King’. The more they empathized with that threat, the greater the possibility of internal conflict.

As the conversations continued through various channels, it would become easier to uncover the truth behind the so-called ‘betrayal’ committed by the Divine Cult.

Demus was once again the one to escort me out.

“…There were many things you didn’t tell me.”

“I tend to keep a few secrets.”

Demus nodded.

“After sending you off, a meeting about that… terrifying news you mentioned will commence. The Pope will likely come himself. I will inform you of the outcome.”

He avoided speaking specifically about the return of the Mage King. Even a priest of the war god, accustomed to battle and violence, finds that name fearsome.

I was in no position to comment. The Mage King was the biggest variable for me as well.

“If there’s nothing more to say, let’s part ways.”

“Oh, by the way, I was curious about something.”

“What is it?”

“If the Pope is absent, shouldn’t there be not one but two vacant seats?”

*

After Orthes took his leave, a brief recess was declared during the priests’ meeting. Meanwhile, Hyacinth led another priest from the round table as they walked away.

The countless layers of holy powers, intertwined and complex, formed a labyrinth. Each step along the marble corridors changed the scenery drastically.

Aegio’s heavenly realm, Elimon’s chamber, Enyalius’s battlefield…

With each step through the vibrant spaces, Phoibos’s foresight lingered. A design meant to ensure no one could find their way without holy power. Hyacinth exited the corridor linking all sacred sites, finally arriving before a darkness reminiscent of the abyss.

“O Pope!”

Beneath the twelve flickering lights, now reduced to eleven, the one meditating turned his head.

“Has the visitor already returned?”

“He unleashed truly exquisitely calculated horrendous chaos among us and left. Did he not say that the ancient disaster would return to us?”

The Pope recognized the underlying fear in Hyacinth’s words, laden with anger. He gently nodded, urging Hyacinth to withdraw.

Though feeling an unbearable fury towards Utis, Hyacinth remained loyal to the Pope’s request. It was his duty to bring this young priest before the Pope.

Only the quiet priest who followed along remained.

“Now, Kore. Would you explain what you saw?”

As she removed her hood, flowing bright red hair spilled down. She was not originally one from the twelve cults.

The Pope’s eyes sparkled with intensity.

“The prophecy of the old era. An outsider has come bearing the prophecy handed from Pope to Pope, passed only to your thirteenth substitute cult.”

The Pope turned to Kore, the goddess of the underworld, the thirteenth god, Pluto.

“What color was the soul you witnessed?”

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