This villain, please exercise some restraint.

"Of course I can be willing to... be a supporting role with some scenes. But I was wondering, since the so-called protagonists in your description are so magical, they have that kind of invisible and even invincible... 'luck', then, shouldn't you have some confidence in the protagonist in your mind?"

"You should sincerely believe that no matter whether he can get the so-called extra protection or not, because he is the protagonist, so... no matter what happens, he will... escape danger."

The "Pope" looked at the young man beside him again with a strange smile.

"Are you too unconfident about the 'protagonist' you mentioned? After all, as you said, we are just stepping stones on his road to growth, just supporting roles."

"Does the 'protagonist' also need protection?"

The "Pope" was asking questions, and in his words, it seemed that the protagonist was... a very powerful being.

"Of course the protagonist needs protection."

The short boy raised his face suddenly, without giving any thought to this answer.

"Oh? Really? Why? Why would a protagonist with invincible luck need protection?"

This question was asked very smoothly. The short boy opened his mouth, but found that his mind was too empty and he couldn't get any answer from it.

"because--"

Yeah... because of what...

Why am I so firm in my answer to this question? As for the question that follows, which seems to be easier to answer...for a moment, I can't say a word.

It was like an answer that had no reason, but was imprinted deep in his soul without him even noticing.

"So the answer is completely based on intuition?"

The "Pope" asked this question.

Although this sentence came from his mouth in the form of a question, but... he said it with inexplicable certainty.

The boss opened his mouth, but had no answer. Perhaps the "Pope" was right. At least now, he couldn't find a reason for this answer.

He...felt this almost subconsciously.

Although the concept of "protagonist" represents the absolute path to success in his impression, but... he is still trying to pull in the "Pope" to protect such an existence.

Yes, there are some contradictions.

but……

"Pope, do you know what happened during my absence? Or what did I witness?"

The short boy shook his confused head and asked.

"Although I would like to give a positive answer, unfortunately, the existing memories known to you cannot be perceived by me."

"But let me guess. I think you probably went to contact the protagonist?"

The boss nodded, then shook his head. For some reason, he was not surprised that the "Pope" could guess that it was related to the protagonist.

"But your guess is not comprehensive. I have come into contact with the 'protagonist'. Besides him, there is another person who may be beyond our expectations."

"I probably - by some strange coincidence - met Temperance, who may not be a stranger to you."

"To be precise, there is also the Wheel of Fortune."

"I thought, as a creature related to Tarot cards, perhaps you also know something about the Wheel of Fortune?"

Upon hearing this, the "Pope" was silent for a moment.

"You mean, Temperance didn't disappear and still exists in this world? But if he didn't disappear, how could you become Temperance? How could you become the new... Temperance?"

"How can you be sure that you saw the one I was talking about... Temperance?"

Questions came one after another, leaving the boss at a loss for words.

Previously, the "Pope" had turned a blind eye to the questions he raised, but now, the power to give an answer has returned to his hands, which is rare.

This feeling of knowing the answer, especially when facing this guy "The Pope", is unexpectedly... good.

"'Pope', do you want an answer?"

The short boy blinked and asked knowingly.

"think."

Without even a second's thought, the "Pope" blurted out the answer.

Even those dead fish-like eyes began to emit some inexplicable and illusory life colors because of these questions.

"I'm sorry, I can't answer these questions."

The short boy said with a smile.

He saw the "Pope" clench his scepter for a moment, and saw his dead fish eyes turn away again.

"Your words reminded me of a guy."

After a moment's silence, the "Pope" looked at the short boy and suddenly said this.

"……who?"

"'world'."

"...The world? The...world in the tarot cards?"

The boss was stunned for a moment. The existence that gave him the "Temperance" card gave him extra power.

"Yes, I suddenly feel that you two are very similar. For example, you insist on being a riddler even though you know the answer. For example, your attitude towards the so-called 'protagonist' is somewhat extreme."

"Same extremes, extreme and unreasonable protection and...extreme and unreasonable...indifference."

"I can't tell which of the two is better, but... it's strange, I can't seem to see... a future with either attitude."

The Pope's words, to the boss, became somewhat mysterious unconsciously, but..."

The boss looked at his hands and the "Pope" said, "The World" is very much like him.

He does not know the "world", nor does he understand the "world", and he cannot even detect the existence of the "world".

"So, from whose attitude did you see...the future?"

For some unknown reason...the boss asked.

Maybe it has nothing to do with him, but he is indeed quite... curious about this issue.

"That's a question I can answer, and I think it's okay to tell you."

The "Pope" smiled and spoke in a surprisingly nice way this time.

"To be honest, I don't see the future in any being, including the one in the Tarot cards, including 'The World', including 'Moderation', and including you."

"You know what? I saw nothingness. Maybe, that ability that allows me to see the future has not yet appeared."

"The indifference of 'World', the bottomless greed of 'Moderation'... They both have irredeemable flaws. As for you——"

The Pope's words were interrupted by the short boy.

"There is no need to compare me with these two. Or as Justice said, perhaps in the eyes of you beings, I am not even worthy of being compared with them."

There was a hint of coldness in the boss' words.

“I don’t understand the ‘world’, so I won’t comment on it.”

"But your so-called 'moderation', in my opinion, is not worth any comparison with me."

"If your evaluation of 'towards the world' is that he is indifferent to everything, then isn't 'moderation' the same?"

"Isn't the disregard for life also a kind of...disregard?"

"When death is approaching, Temperance will say that he doesn't want to die, but... he has hurt his spiritual world. Although he is alive in reality, he is no different from being dead. Does he want to die?"

"How can a demon who disregards life be compared with me?