Although the Church seems not to have delved deeply into the study of dreams, if even the Hero can visit the Land of Dead Dreams like a tourist, there is no way the Pope would be unable to access the dream realm.

Yet the Dusk Fairy does not know that the Pope is already terminally ill.

Clearly, she hasn't seen the Pope in her dreams.

The Pope nodded lightly, his expression guilty, "Exactly so. If it weren't for the Dusk Crystal's obstruction, she would have already noticed at a glance that I am nearing the end, relying only on the power of the Holy Sword and the Holy Hall to barely cling to life.

"While she struggles so hard in the Land of Dead Dreams... I, as the Pope, have let things slip so badly, it's truly shameful."

The old man let out a heavy sigh.

"So, how did you end up like this?" The Hero couldn't hold back anymore, frowning as he asked.

The Pope slowly walked to the front row and sat on a long bench, gently patting the seat beside him.

The Hero hesitated for a moment but eventually sat beside the old man, silently listening to his words.

The slanted morning sun shone on them, their silhouettes, one old and one young, overlapping on the ground.

"This must have started decades ago..."

[Prologue]

1.5. I was once the Bishop of the Isolated Island

2.6. I participated in pioneering voyages

3.7. I visited the former Queen

4.8. I was born on an Isolated Island in the far sea

9. I led the Holy War on the open sea

10. Great Success/Great Failure

D10=d10(3)=3

♛: I visited the former Queen

"At that time, I was invited by the former King to visit the then Princess—" The old Pope spoke in a soft voice, articulating clearly and steadily.

"The former Princess... oh, she was a Siren, right? I've seen her descendants, some have reverted."

Recalling the Seventh Prince he met the day before yesterday, the Hero realized.

Upon hearing this, the Pope was first surprised, then seemed to connect something.

"You know? Well, there's no need to explain much then.

"The descendant should refer to the Seventh Prince, he's a good kid, more outstanding than the King was in his youth."

Talking about the King was also in an ordinary tone, the old Pope chuckled, but soon his smile faded, and a bit of self-mockery appeared on his aged face.

"Since we've skipped a good chunk of the backstory, there's really nothing too complicated left to say.

"The former Queen was a Siren's Shamaness. Back then, I learned from her about the existence of the Deep Sea Demon, but couldn't remove its influence left on the Queen, only striving to lessen her mental anguish.

"To prepare for a rainy day and prevent its invasion, I never made the demon's existence public, but I did a lot of work during that time...

"But there's no need to detail these old matters anymore, I might as well just speak about the outcome."

[The Pope's Research on Nether Sea Dream]

D100+30=d100(22)+30=52

As for the current Pope's deeds, although the writings are not as detailed as those of the Saintess, the length is also substantial.

Listening to his words, the Hero silently recalled the records in ecclesiastical canon and the Kingdom's history books:

He collaborated with the Kingdom Government, nearly eradicating the nightmare scourge along the coast, and proposed many suggestions and measures, greatly developing the port and fisheries. The prosperity of the Holy City Port is inseparable from him,

Because of the Pope's emphasis on the ocean, many are optimistic about the great Nun from the far sea's isolated island in this Saintess selection.

"From the outcome, the Great Demon was sealed in the distant Deep Night Sea, its interference with the mainland extremely limited. Although at that time I discovered some of its 'tentacles,' they could all be easily severed.

"But this was just a palliative measure, not a cure. I consulted many ancient texts, studied the writings left by the Sirens, and understood that once the Sirens failed, the entire coast would face the threat of the deep sea. What I did was merely a drop in the ocean."

At this point, a trace of sadness flashed through the Pope's blue eyes: "Looking back now, the Sirens breaking ties with the Kingdom might have been an attempt to avoid dragging us into it.

"I even thought of urging the King to develop shipbuilding and take the initiative to eradicate this threat in the far sea depths... But on the night I finished drafting the proposal, I discovered my dreams had already been corrupted."

Recalling the Siren's corpse near the Holy City's coast, the Hero's small face tensed up.

"It wasn't just one or a group of Magic Creatures, but a phenomenon, a plague, a dream epidemic that spreads in ways humans cannot comprehend. The more you contact it, the more you understand it, the harder it is not to be contaminated by it. By the time I realized it, it was already too late." The Pope closed his eyes, his smile bitter.

"At first, I tried innumerable ways to fight it.

"In the beginning, I always managed to win, driving it away time and again, but each time I thought I had gotten rid of it, I would find the corruption reappearing unnoticed, and getting deeper.

"Later on, I couldn't even resist anymore, merely suppressing it with great difficulty. Yet the corruption continued to deepen daily. To avoid facing the Nightmare, I could only use meditation to replace sleep."

The old Pope opened his eyes again, his gaze unable to hide the cloudiness.

The Hero looked at the old man's aged blue pupils, and the mottled black gold short hair, now understanding where his fatigue and dark circles came from.

"And now, you are unable even to maintain meditation, only relying on the power of the Holy Sword to isolate the dream's influence."

The Hero said somewhat compassionately.

"...Exactly so."

The Pope sighed softly, under the golden dawn light, his figure seemed like an old tree on the verge of breaking with merely a storm to come.

[The Pope's Research Achievements are (50+ inspiration direction only, no specific results)]

1.5. Dream of the Cluster

2.6. Holy Sword Alien Dream

3.7. Sea of Light

4.8. Matter Dream

9. Hero

10. Great Success/Great Failure

D10=d10(10)=10

D2=d2(1)=1

♛: Great Success~

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.