Arcane Sniper [Matan’s Shooter]

In reality, the voting had practically come to an end.

Even if Romero adds 3 more votes, he would only have 60 votes. He would not surpass the majority.

If 3 votes are added to Tusculani, it would be exactly 61 votes, a majority.

“C-Cardinal Romero.”

“It’s okay. Don’t be nervous, everything is flowing according to the will of the Lord.”

Instead of showing tension, Romero rather comforted the surrounding supporting factions. Among the visibly tense archbishops, his calm demeanor was a contrast showing composure.

“That’s right. Prepare for the second round of voting.”

“Is it that simple as you say! If three more votes are added now on the other side-“

“The 118th vote, Tusculani.”

Cheers erupted once again.

Unfolding the laminated ballot to show and confirm the name written on it, another line was drawn on the large board.

“The 119th vote, Tusculani.”

The atmosphere had completely shifted by now.

There was only one vote left. The score stood at Romero 57, Tusculani 60.

The chanting hall was engulfed in chaos.

What will happen to the archbishops who had supported Romero until now? If Tusculani becomes the Archbishop, it wouldn’t end with just a ‘greeting of revenge.’

Starting from the moderate faction archbishops already attempting a new balancing act, to the archbishops trembling in unease, the diverse faces of the human factions were seen by the contrast.

And at that moment, the final vote was cast.

“The 120th vote.”

Tusculani looked at the name written on the ballot. Then, he unfolded it before the voting council.

“Tusculani.”

The birth of a new Pope──!

Tusculani! Tusculani!

As a line was drawn next to Tusculani’s name for the 61st vote, everything was over.

“It’s the e… end, the continent is now-.”

“Gaius IV… I can only sympathize with my lack of power. I’m sorry it has come to this.”

With a call to the title of the deceased Pope Gaius IV, Romero closed his eyes. Even the cardinals who had knelt at Romero’s decision looked surprised. Tusculani put on a confident expression. Just at the moment when everyone had given up, a person who had kept their eyes closed since the beginning of the vote count walked forward.

Thud, thud, thud.

“Greetings, Your Holiness. What brings you here, Holy Knight?”

Tusculani, who had already started to act like a pope, receiving congratulatory messages from everyone around him, smiled upon seeing the person approaching him.

In response to Tusculani’s joyful smile, the person shouted at the top of their lungs, “Fraudulent election! This vote is invalid!”

For a moment, every person in the cathedral fell silent.

“What blasphemy is this! How dare a mere special cardinal question the sacred election of the newly appointed Pope!”

Tusculani’s eyes instantly turned red with anger. However, the person did not take a step back.

Even the simple act of nodding their head was not easy. Their body, filled with fury, wanted to rush forward and strike down the sly fox in front of them.

“I can. Since my ballot is missing among the 120.”

“What?! What nonsense is this? All 120 votes have been validated and counted! It’s too late to question now.”

“No! I don’t know how you did it, but the important thing is my vote has disappeared!”

“How do you know it’s your vote! Did it have your name written on it!?”

As Tusculani erupted in anger, the nine faction cardinals joined in accusing the person. After glancing briefly at Romero, who had spoken with a melancholic voice, the person, turned their gaze back to Tusculani. Their face showed determination, indicating all preparations for the upcoming battle were in place.

“Yes, I know my vote.”

“How is that possible! In an anonymous vote, how can you possibly know who-“

“I left my name there.”

“W-what? What!?”

“I wrote my name, personally, because I will be the pope.”

The cathedral was in chaos.

※ ※

“T-this cannot be! How dare you do such a thing in the sacred conclave! Do you not realize this is no joke!”

“Yes, it cannot be. It was not appropriate to do it here. But I did it!”

In a conclave that selects the most sacred person, no one could lie. No one could deceive their conscience. Especially not if they were NPCs.

Therefore, Kijung thought.

If this was a trap, he was the only one who could expose it.

“Rule 3, [Do not write your name]! I violated that rule and wrote my name! But where is my vote? Why is my name not written on that board!”

Clang, clank, clunk.

Each time Kijung’s plate boots touched the floor, they made a distinct sound. Facing off against Tusculani, Kijung delivered a slap to his face.

“Prove it, cardinal.”

Tusculani’s face turned pale.

Stammering towards the cardinal, Kijung spoke again.

“I cannot use cunning tricks. If there were others, they might have caught your trick in a more elegant way, but I only know how to confront it directly.”

Kijung took a step forward towards Tusculani, as if challenging him.

“Well, I will accept the punishment given by the Lord… so, bring out the real ballot box.”

Tusculani could only step aside unwillingly. Even so, Kijung did not stop.

“Or should I bring it out?”

“S-stop! Stop, you little rascal!”

Tusculani rushed to drag Kijung away. Despite momentarily putting aside his sword and shield, Kijung, being unarmed, was not to be underestimated.

“Still don’t know why I’m a Holy Knight.”

Kijung grabbed Tusculani’s attacking arm and swiftly rotated his body, entwining his lower body deeply into Tusculani’s. There was only one attitude that could come from such a situation.

Kijung with a plate mail, facing Tusculani in a red robe.

Kwoong—–…… A round of Upeochigi.

Tusculani, whose chest was compressed, fainted without even screaming.

“Phew, I didn’t become a tanker for nothing. I’m confident in handling the situation because I did some martial arts training when I was young.”

Kijung didn’t even know who he was talking to but shouted with joy.

Then, as Tusculani began his speech, Kijung dashed towards the stand where he had stood.

“Perhaps here – at the time of the switcheroo, when everyone was praying -!”

Amidst the shattered pieces of wood flying like flower petals from the ‘Body Blow’ inflicted on even Ghibrid like Blaugrunn turned into Ghibrid, there was no way the stand could withstand it. All the Cardinals inside the hall could see it.

“Too- Iyeagi.”

“It’s the polling booth.”

“There’s a polling booth! There’s another one over there!”

Distributing real ballot papers and conducting real voting. Still, Tusculani didn’t care.

Everything had already been completed inside the prepared fake voting booth. The faces of the two Tusculani monks from Unit 09 who conducted the ballot count changed drastically.

It wouldn’t take long to figure out who was involved in this incident. Watching this unfold, Kijung took a deep breath.

“Haah…?”

“Exorcism Cardinal. How… did you end up going on such an adventure? Engaging in such a perilous endeavor…”

Romero approached him.

“You will face punishment. Or rather, blasphemy cannot be overlooked.”

Saying such words, the elder who first expressed concern for Kijung’s well-being made Kijung smile.

“But you told the Exorcism Cardinal.”

“What did I say?”

“You called me a ‘Holy Knight of Strong Will’. I just acted according to my strong will.”

It was a trap, a huge scheme that started that night when Tusculani tried to seduce Kijung.

Why did Tusculani call for Kijung, who was clearly opposed, by what means could he win Kijung over?

The reason he kept hinting to Kijung about the possibility of losing in this election was also to make Kijung lower his guard.

If Kijung wrote ‘Romero’ without any suspicion in this election, he would inevitably fall into the trap. The moment when Kijung was about to write Romero’s name down, and the moment when he tried not to doubt the priests of Ezwen. Could it be that Kijung’s animalistic instinct felt a danger that couldn’t be understood with the head? And isn’t the will leading Kijung’s actions almost entirely based on instincts?

The result was that it led to writing his own name.

“Sigh… It’s better to use the body. Let’s really… stop fighting with our heads.”

Kijung sprawled out inside the sacred sanctuary.

Tusculani, surrounded by Romero’s supporters, naturally had the outcome of the new voting: Tusculani with 31 votes, Parnaje with 6 votes, Master Kay with 1 vote, and Romero with 82 votes.

Shortly after, white smoke rose from the central tower of the Ezwen Papacy. A new Pope who would inherit the will of the former Pope Gaius IV was born.

“Ugh, it’s finally over! It should be fine with the emergency communication network, search range, and delegation of tasks to each paleo… The problem is who the ‘human’ actually responsible for this will be… Haaa.”

Stretching while yawning, he organized the documents in front of him. Kidd and Luger were already scouring the area for Kaztor’s traces, while he could only move a step slower.

“Luger is heading east. Well, it’s most rational to start from the last place we met.”

It was midnight, so Luger, who was waiting in front of the Dark Forest, saw the sun finally passing through the forest. His destination was obvious without looking. He would search near the place where he first encountered the household.

“Come to think of it, if the one who first picks up the firearm of the deceased Matan’s Shooter becomes the next Matan’s Shooter… doesn’t that mean Kyle has to die? Hm, even if I meet Elizabeth or Brown right now… what would they say, what kind of reaction would they show?”

Bursting into a chuckle unintentionally, he thought, “That’s absurd. Getting a new skill from Brown was indeed effective, but before even inserting a new bullet, he’d likely have a bullet in my head from Elizabeth.”

Another of the three musketeers was approaching in a different way.

“Is Kidd starting over from the Gorilla paleo side?”

Having waited for days in a place where Kaztor might appear, now even the possibility of Kaztor showing up was slim, and didn’t they already investigate every nook and cranny of Kaztor’s laboratory thoroughly?

“Do I really have to double-check such a place? Well, detail-oriented is what’s needed.”

Quickly organizing the documents, he prepared to leave.

Kijung: Hahaha. Come quickly, Eung-ah! It’s a complete festival – chaos, chaos.”

Leeha: Got it. No coronation ceremony or anything like that, right? You’ve ascended to Pope – well, that’s all over! Romero, the priest, is now Pope Urbano II!”

Hearing Kijung’s anxious voice, Leeha unconsciously smiled. It was all because Romero becoming Pope and creating a new pseudonym, which kept Kijung chattering for over two hours about the “Operation to Reveal Election Fraud.”

“My heart is pounding just from listening. Well… Gotta admit, Kijung is truly ignorant.”

It was a behavior close to a trap investigation entirely based on intuition and instinct.