Chapter 40: Where the Dream Began

Chapter 40: Where the Dream Began

After returning to the real world, Alger patiently waited for the mission Mr. Fool had mentioned to arrive.

On this day, wearing papal vestments and a silver-black mask, he was discussing internal affairs of the Sea God Church with Danitz, the Divine Envoy, when he suddenly saw a bishop enter.

“Your Holiness, the Church of Storms has sent an emissary with two gifts to congratulate you on becoming God’s representative.” The bishop held a box made from white tin and bowed respectfully.

Danitz, who had secretly been rejoicing over Bayam’s telegraph line having broken down earlier, was startled and blurted, “Where is that emissary?”

“He left after delivering the gifts,” the bishop at the door answered with considerable helplessness.

Although members of the Church of Storms were often irritable and impulsive, behavior like this was still quite rare.

Alger nodded gently.

“That they do not treat us with hostility, and even sent an emissary with gifts, is already enough.”

As he spoke, he raised his right hand and made a gentle grasp. The white tin box in the bishop’s hands was lifted by a gust of wind and flew toward him.

After catching the small box, Alger’s movements suddenly slowed, as though he sensed its weight.

He opened the container bit by bit and saw, placed inside, a book bound from yellowish-brown parchment.

Upon the book’s surface, a line of words was written in Elvish:

Book of Calamity.

Book of Calamity… After clearly seeing those words, Alger was momentarily dazed, feeling as if he were dreaming.

But very quickly, he understood this was real. He understood what mission Mr. Fool had spoken of.

Alger sighed soundlessly and looked toward the bishop at the door.

“What is the second gift?”

“It is a ghost ship called the Blue Avenger. It is already docked at the harbor,” the bishop answered, not sensing anything unusual.

Blue Avenger… When Danitz heard that name, he instinctively turned his gaze toward Pope Alger beside him.

He remembered very clearly that this had been the other party’s ship when he was still a pirate.

This meant the Church of Storms knew that the Pope of the Sea God Church was their former cardinal!

Is this supposed to be a congratulation, or a declaration of war? As Danitz’s heart tightened, he realized that the other gift was also something he knew quite well.

It was the extraordinarily evil Book of Calamity, which he had once seen while following Gehrman Sparrow.

“Write a letter back to the Church of Storms for me, thanking them for their gifts,” Alger, having already steadied himself, calmly instructed.

After that bishop left the room, he turned to Danitz and said, “Divine Envoy, I have received Mr. Fool’s oracle. Next, I will leave to complete a mission. Perhaps I will only return several years later.”

“Oracle?” Danitz blurted in astonishment.

At that moment, only one thought echoed through his mind:

Why didn’t I know?

Alger nodded.

“Mr. Fool will soon enter slumber.

“However, this will not affect your prayers receiving responses.”

“…” Danitz was so shocked he could not speak.

Alger continued, “Gehrman Sparrow has also entered slumber along with Him.

“After I leave, the Church’s affairs will be transferred to Elder Derrick Berg of New City of Silver. You must cooperate with him and record in the scriptures the fact that the Sea God is a subordinate god of Mr. Fool, so that all believers accept it.

“Our faith is the key to Mr. Fool’s awakening. As His Divine Envoy, you must set an example in this regard.

“Of course, He may give you new oracles at any time and assign you other missions.”

Danitz felt somewhat dizzy and lost as he listened, but he still understood the gravity of the matter.

After a moment of hesitation, he nodded heavily.

“All right.”

After finishing his instructions, Alger stood, holding the Book of Calamity, and returned to his own room.

Looking at himself in the mirror, he laughed once, then slowly removed the…