After I Stopped Sponsoring, the Female Leads Began Obsessing Over Me

306 – Side Story: The Black Tarantula and the Saint (2)

“Oh, who is this? Isn’t this Ian Black Angus, the pride of our Deus Church and the hope of tens of millions of believers, the hero who saved the continent and protected everyone from the evil hands of the Blood Demon, and who has even been to the Vatican at my invitation? Welcome! “

With socks on – Ian looked at the Pope, who literally jumped out with socks on, as if he were dumbfounded.

“Are those real socks?”

“No. They are tabi-shaped shoes. They are worn only when noble people come to visit. Quickly, you too, look at the camera over there and smile.”

The Pope whispered, holding Ian’s shoulder.

Ian forcibly pulled up the corner of his motionless mouth and smiled at the reporters holding a magic camera.

Click, click.

The sound of the flash not stopping means there is still time left to continue the act.

The fox-like old pope held his hand with both of him, smiling broadly.

“Thank you for coming to such a shabby place.”

“It’s a shabby place. It’s not any other place, it’s Holy Constantine’s papal palace. If anyone hears about it, they’ll be in big trouble.”

“Isn’t it true that Saint Ian Black Angus, the warrior who defeated the blood demon, came to the Vatican in person? No matter how well it was decorated, it was still ugly and shabby!”

At that point, Ian’s eyes narrowed.

Why does the Pope, who knows enough to know, say something like that?

The reason was revealed in his following awkward self-talk.

“Hehe, hehe! In the future, we need to carry out some expansion work at the Vatican to provide even more hospitality to heroes like you. We have post-war restoration funds, so we can use that!”

The Pope laughed when reporters and a secretary saw that the secretary had written down his words.

Was that really the intention?

An old man like a fox.

Ian shook his head.

“Anyway, I sincerely welcome you. As you may have noticed, Ian, your treatment is comparable to that of the emperor of an empire.”

“Is it that much?”

“Of course. Who did you kill? An evil spirit, that is, a blood demon! He is a hero who saved the continent. Not only that, but you killed a blood demon…”

“What does it mean to destroy it?”

“Doesn’t that mean you are stronger than the Blood Demon? It means you are the strongest on the continent! Even though I, the Pope, represent tens of millions of believers, I can’t help but look at you. Haha!”

The Pope laughed loudly despite being noticed.

This is a characteristic of the top leadership.

Even when they sometimes have to say something that hurts their pride or is even humiliating, their attitude and posture are confident.

Mix humor into it.

Or maybe he just laughed like the Pope.

Whatever it is, be confident.

It’s like Princess Asteria who takes care of Ian, who has become the world’s strongest person.

You can’t believe they take care of me so naturally, as no one can tell I’m the strongest person on the continent.

Ian thought that was the charm of Asteria.

I don’t want to do those annoying things anyway.

While walking towards the reception room.

The Pope smiled and opened his mouth.

There were still reporters.

“Looking at this, it reminds me of our first meeting. “I really made a good impression on you.”

First impression?

Ian was dumbfounded.

My first impression of meeting the Pope was when I was unfairly misunderstood as a witch and subjected to a witch trial. All she remembers is almost being burned at the stake. After all, when you become the Pope, is it necessary to have the shamelessness that comes naturally?

“At that time, I had a hard time because I was afraid of being burned at the stake.”

The Pope hastily waved his hand

To reporters.

“Let’s pretend you didn’t hear what we just heard. And Ian, please cooperate a little. The situation is in chaos because the war is being restored. That’s why your visit is important. The morale of many of our subjects is at stake.”

Speech is flashy.

Although it is not practical.

Therefore, when dealing with politicians, you only need to remember two things.

First. I don’t believe what they say.

Second.

“What will I get if I follow you?”

I always make sure to pay the price for listening to them.

Ian was a pro when it came to dealing with politicians.

“Let’s pretend we owe one debt.”

“Good.”

The more debt you owe them, the better.

After cooperating with the Pope’s propaganda campaign a few times, we arrived at the reception room.

“Thank you for your hard work. This is the end of our coverage.”

The Pope gently bites reporters.

This is probably why the Pope called me.

Ian’s intuition was correct.

As soon as he entered the living room, the Pope sat down on the sofa, crossed his legs, and started munching on his dessert.

From anyone’s perspective, he looked like an office worker who had taken care of all the important work and now had only the annoying things left to do.

“You take one too. It’s delicious because it’s imported from a famous place.”

Ian remembered his title

Director of Dessert Research Institute.

It is also not polite to refuse dessert right in front of you.

Ian asked after taking a bite of the macaron.

“So, that’s the reason you called me.”

“Ah. Serial killer.”

Gulp.

I took a sip of espresso and said, yay! The Pope gave an exclamation and continued speaking while taking a bite of dessert.

“The name is Baal. The estimated star status has far exceeded 5 stars. Therefore, the exact power cannot be measured. There is a high possibility that it is quite strong.”

“Why?”

“They have been active near the Vatican and have not been seen even once. What can they say? They say they have overwhelming force that surpasses that of our Holy Knights. Moreover, since they act alone, it is not easy to follow them.”＜ Br＞

“What is the extent of the damage?”

“Hundreds, I guess.”

“It’s pretty big.”

“It’s just speculation. Based on some evidence of cannibalism, I calculated how many people it might have consumed. Humans have limits to their digestive systems.”

Anyway, Holy Constantine is a country equivalent to an empire. There is a reason why such a country is having such a hard time catching a man-eating madman.

“Isn’t there a Heretic Questioner?”

“The child has serious injuries from the aftermath of the bloody battle. It will take time for him to recover. On the other hand, we cannot deploy too many knights. Rumors will not be good, so we have asked for cooperation from the empire. If you are you, you can do it. .”

Ian nodded.

Anyway, I thought it was half called for justification, but there was a good reason.

The Pope spoke seriously.

“Baal. That person is by no means weak. Of course, I am not doubting your skills. In fact, it might be like using an ox knife to kill a chicken. Still, be careful. I have a hunch that this person will not be easy. It may be the old man’s luck. “

Although it may be a bit sly, the Pope is the Pope.

There is room to at least respect his seriousness to some extent.

During the invasion of the void monsters, it was the Pope who blocked the voids at the forefront in the southern sea of the continent.

In fact, that was the reason Ian answered his call.

“No. Thank you for the advice.”

“Thank you. In that sense, I will give you the name saint.”

“What?”

It’s cancelled.

Why are you suddenly calling me a saint?

Aria, he was still in a strange state.

“Saint Aria. Didn’t she pray as your companion? Take her with you. Let’s go on a date. I’ll give you some pocket money.”

“It’s okay. “I decline.”

“Uh huh. It’s okay.”

“No.”

“It’s okay. Isn’t it time to be energetic?”

This crazy old man.

“It seems like the Pope doesn’t value the saint too much.”

The Pope shook his head.

“Not you, but that kid. That kid is full of blood. Please help him.”

Ah.

It was something like that.

Horizontal wrinkles etched into the Pope’s benevolent forehead.

“I’ll give you a bigger debt.”

Ian nodded.

Negotiation is concluded.

◆

Outskirts of the city.

No matter how brightly the Vatican was shining in the distance, there were shadows that the light could not reach.

An alley.

“I… I have a lot to eat, so I’ll take bait!”

Aria said, cupping her chest with her arms.

He definitely has a lot of weight. Because her breasts she she were spilling over her her arms her her her. She said she had a special hall made for the saint. No. This isn’t important.

“There’s no need for that. Just stand quietly behind me and use your shield and heal well. There won’t be much use for that either.”

“But we have to do something! Argh!”

Ian managed to catch Aria as she fell.

“Doing nothing is helping.”

“I’m sorry… I can’t see under my feet because of my chest.”

Aria’s size she certainly looked uncomfortable.

Normally, she would have used her divine power to keep her footing her her, but in order to track Baal, her presence her her her was hidden as much as possible.

Her her Ian held out his hand her her her to her her her.

“Catch it.”

“Um… Really?”

“It would be difficult if I fell again.”

“Uh… Yes! Thank you.”

Contrary to what she said, Aria hesitated for a while before finally grabbing the end of her sleeve. She muttered in a very low voice.

“It feels like a date…”

“What?”

“Oh, it’s nothing! I’m sorry!”

Aria muttered, lowering her head.

The expression is already invisible due to her long bangs.

Still, her condition has improved a lot compared to Aria, who couldn’t even speak and stuttered before.

These days, there’s even a fan club for saints or something.

It was a taste that was difficult for Ian to understand.

“Hey, there’s Ian.”

“Huh?”

“Thank you. For dragging me.”

“What can I do with just this much?”

“Oh, no! … That’s not it.”

Aria rolled her eyes, her face turning red in embarrassment.

“Well, there are things I usually do.”

“Yes.”

“I know that no amount of apologies are enough for those things. I’d like to say thank you first…”

“I told you, I’m not the Ian Black Angus you know.”

To his colleagues, it was Ian who finished explaining everything, starting with the developer.

Aria quickly nodded her head.

“Ah… I know! I have very complicated feelings, too.”

“Yes.”

“Well, still, it was you who did something bad. It was you who helped me. So I’m sorry, and I’m grateful.”

Ian nodded.

There were no regrets left for Aria. Rather, it was the best she showed during the battle with the blood demon. That was enough to make me her companion.

“Here.”

She arrived at the destination before she knew it.

Traces of the magic power of Baal, the serial cannibal.

It had a strong scent of blood and was so faint that no one could recognize it, but it wasn’t difficult for Ian to track it down.

“There is no sound. Let’s enter carefully.”

Click.

There was no sign until I opened the door.

What’s strange is that the lighting seems quite red?

— Sigh!

A sudden pain struck her wrist.

It was because Aria grabbed her wrist.

When Ian asked why, Aria trembled and pointed to her corner.

There was a spider.

A spider as big as a person’s palm.

It was staring at me from the corner of the wall, as if it were a surveillance camera.

“Spider is a beneficial animal.”

Ian muttered.

It almost sounded like a promise to oneself.

Ignoring the countless gazes following them, the two entered the building.

— Jeopuk, Jeopuk.

The sound of footsteps is unusually loud.

The air was also stuffy for some reason.

Why don’t I feel so popular?

For some reason, Ian felt a chill down his spine.

At that time.

— Kuuk

Aria, who was holding her sleeve her her her, clasped her hand her her her.

“Aria?”

Ian turned his head.

It wasn’t Aria.

Dark darkness.

Bright red eyes staring at you.

Only then did Ian realize.

“…”

She found herself caught in a spider’s web.