10.

Words can kill a person or save them; they can ruin a nation or make it prosper.

Words gather to become strength, to become power, and to possess mighty force.

In the end, the Empire collapsed due to people's words.

—"They say the reason the princess hasn't shown her face is because she's become a hideous monster due to black magic."

—"They say on nights when the moon doesn't rise, winged demons can be seen at the Imperial Palace."

—"Isn't the Emperor already steeped in black magic, living every day surrounded by alcohol and women?"

These were common rumors and conspiracies.

It wasn't just limited to the continent. Even on Earth, dozens of such nonsensical rumors circulated every day.

Usually, people filtered them out without believing them. Because strictly speaking, the content made no sense.

Even if a somewhat plausible story broke, like a blatant sexual scandal between a famous actress and a comedian, people tended to suspect rather than believe at first because there was no proof.

People knew how scary words could be and what results thoughtlessly spoken words could produce.

That was the difference. The real reason the Empire collapsed lay there.

One person, then two people.

Rumors created by added words, combined with the appropriate intervention of the Allied Forces and the temple, gave the rumors substance. Regardless of the facts, they became a singular truth that spread among the people.

No opportunity for clarification or rebuttal was given.

Once the majority believed the rumors, the Allied Forces and the temple did not wait. Because they had used money and people to turn non-existent facts into reality. Manipulating rumors isn't easy, but if one sets their mind to it, it's not impossible either.

So Kim Buja intended to return the favor exactly as received.

"Since the saintess happens to be on her way to create discord within the temple, there will be an opening."

Ideally, he wanted to visit at least three more of the remaining nine dungeons, but regrettably, time was short.

The given 60 days were by no means short, but the continent was vast. Moving here and there, the remaining 50 days or so would vanish in an instant.

Above all, there was no need to slice open the belly of the goose that laid the golden eggs all at once. Even if it was mission gold, hoarding it blindly wasn't necessarily good.

Whatever he held would disappear once a chapter ended and he returned. However, buying good things from the Gold Shop to take with him wasn't an option either, as the Gold Shop's level was too low to buy anything to his liking.

He didn't feel enough of a deficit to need to purchase weapons or items from the Gold Shop in the first place. Therefore, he moved immediately.

It was difficult to systematically create rumors all at once, as the Allied Forces did.

Instead, he had the fastest and most certain means to spread rumors: Gold and the Gold Shop.

How fun would this be? He was already fluttering with excitement.

From the start until now, he had faced only life-threatening crises while being chased by the Allied Forces in every chapter. Now, for the first time, he was given a chance to counterattack.

Although it was only at the level of a toddler taking its first steps, he would call it a counterattack, starting with this; he would no longer just be on the receiving end in future chapters.

"Let's go see the pope."

Kim Buja, fully loaded with ammunition, headed once again toward the capital of the Empire.

* * *

On the surface, the pope was a considerably benevolent person.

He was like a sage who looked like he jumped straight out of a movie. An old man with a long white beard, a gentle smile, and wearing pure white robes.

"Evil is rampant on the continent. We joined forces and succeeded in defeating the massive evil group known as the Empire, but it is not over yet. Demons and black magic do not retract their heads so easily once extended. God has spoken. Do not compromise with darkness. I hear He spoke directly to the saintess as well. The saintess has seen the true nature of deep darkness with her own eyes. Darkness dwells even in the princess, whom we blessed and cared for for years. Always be vigilant. Do not lend an ear to desire and greed."

Every word he uttered contained divine power, seeming to purify the hearts of the listeners, and every forcefully spoken word held contempt for darkness.

Countless people bowed toward the pope. They looked at the pope as if they were looking at God himself and prayed.

'Save me, too.'

Watching that scene, Kim Buja clicked his tongue.

He had never believed in God, not even once in reality. Since God didn't exist, naturally, he couldn't believe.

Reality was too cold and ruthless for a God to exist, a place where those who lived viciously lived better. Yet, even in such a place, cults thrived.

People who wanted to entrust themselves to something gave everything to cult leaders and staked their lives on ineffective prayers.

That is what humans are. When lonely and struggling, they want to rely on something.

Therefore, he could understand and accept it, not in reality, but at least here.

[All stats increased by 20.]

[Stamina recovery rate increased by 50%.]

The rain of divine power that poured down at the end of the pope's speech worked a miracle on everyone gathered in the vast plaza of the capital.

Of course, it was temporary and wouldn't last long. But for ordinary people, where would there be a clearer blessing from God than this?

They felt their bodies becoming lighter and healthier. With just a single performance, the pope clearly demonstrated that he represented God.

For humans who would offer their entire fortunes for a glib tongue, it was inevitably a fatal sweetness.

Furthermore, a real God existed here. Kim Buja still didn't believe, but he couldn't deny that a medium that could be considered a god existed.

He couldn't be sure whether that being truly loved, blessed, or cherished humanity. But for that very reason, the pope wasn't a fraud. And maybe that's why he envied him—envy, mixed with a strange sense of relief.

"This is easy."

Buja confirmed with his own two eyes the optimal conditions to put his plan into action until the very end.

The wall that was the pope seemed high.

Even in the plaza where everyone stood at the same height, the pope, standing a head above the rest, and the Paladins surrounding him exuded a dignity that one dared not approach.

Divinity! It looked special and noble.

But Kim Buja knew. He heard it from the saintess. He heard it from the princess.

What they were doing while wearing the mask of God.

That was why he could smile.

"Holy-powered cultist bastards."

Real priests, the ones in Kim Buja's head—those from novels who served and worshipped God and volunteered for the people—deserved respect.

If such a person sat in the pope's seat, he wouldn't have even dared to think of attempting this operation.

Kim Buja was confident in everything, but volunteering for others or sacrificing himself with a pure heart to help them was the one thing he wasn't confident in.

He had come to confirm that. Even if circumstantial evidence and reports made it 90% certain, seeing it with his own two eyes was what completed the 100%.

"Okay, done. I've got the mold, so let's start in earnest."

And he firmly imprinted the pope's appearance into his mind and into the skin mask.

It was the beginning of the counterattack.

11.

Strange rumors began to circulate on the continent.

"Did you hear?"

"What?"

"The pope personally visited the Es Kingdom?"

"Huh? Wasn't he in the Imperial Capital just a while ago?"

"They say because things are ominous with black magic and demons, he decided to tour personally."

"Wow, I wish he would come to our kingdom too."

"No. He shouldn't come."

"Why?"

"It's not confirmed, but strange rumors are going around."

Ominous rumors that even people in far-off kingdoms would whisper about.

"Like what?"

"They say an epidemic breaks out in the villages the pope visits."

"What? No way."

Naturally, people who heard the rumor for the first time showed a consistent reaction.

"That makes no sense."

"I think it makes no sense too."

Everyone thought so. Even thinking rationally, it was a claim that didn't hold water. It was the pope, no less.

Although not an entity directly chosen by God like the saintess, he was the king of the order, possessing an amount of divine power that certainly did not pale in comparison to hers!

The father who looked after all the priests of the continent! The practical proxy of God.

If such a person passed through, it was normal for existing diseases to disappear, not for an epidemic to arise. So why an epidemic?

"And they say there's no cure, so about 30% of the village population dies?"

Even a passing demon would laugh at that statement.

Nevertheless, the reason such rumors spread in a distant kingdom completely unrelated to the concerned kingdom was that there was a plausible reason.

Reason and evidence. Even without seeing it personally, that was enough to pass on the words. People were especially sensitive to such issues. The victims were people of the same class as themselves. They didn't know when they might end up in the same situation. What if such a thing happened where they lived?

Anxiety and fear spread rumors. Since they were afraid to harbor impious thoughts against the pope, they displaced them. If the number of people sympathizing with this anxiety and fear increased, perhaps they could block the pope's path.

One could live without the pope's blessing, but catching the epidemic meant death.

Even if the rumor wasn't verified, wouldn't it be better to avoid it just in case?

'Let's be careful.'

'If the pope comes, let's avoid him.'

The rumor merely awakened that level of caution in the minds of the people.

At least for the first few days, the rumor started spreading.

They thought the talk would just circulate and then die out. But it didn't.

"I heard the people the pope took to personally bestow grace upon came back in a strange state?"

"What?"

"They say some suddenly gnaw on raw meat, chant strange spells, or go on a rampage with their eyes half-rolled back."

As days went by and time passed, the bizarre rumors grew larger and approached the people.

Of course, despite this, no one directly publicized the rumors or inquired with the temple. The first to encounter these rumors were mostly commoners. To them, the temple was an absolutely inviolable territory.

Dare to raise a banner of revolt against God? Looking at the Empire, they learned what would happen.

So it was delayed until the bizarre rumors reached the temple.

It was only a matter of a few days, really. But those few days were enough.

"Did you hear that? They say the pope actually made a contract with a demon and is refining black magic."

"What? Hey, that's nonsense."

"The continent is in an uproar right now. There's even talk that the princess being involved with black magic was actually the pope's doing."

"Watch your mouth. You could get in really big trouble talking like that."

"I know. I'm telling you because you believe it, just in case. Be careful. They say right after the Empire collapsed, the pope has been openly touring the peripheral kingdoms and refining black magic. We could become sacrifices too. If you hear anything about the pope coming, just run."

"……I don't believe it, but I guess it's better to be careful?"

Yes, a few days were enough to spread terror. Enough time for a single word to become truth and spread among the people.

"If that's really true, what happens to the Empire?"

And enough time to cast a small doubt on the truth everyone believed.

* * *

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