"Did you release the seal of Marie Rose?" the coffin suddenly asked.
"Huh?" Alan blinked. "Marie Rose was sealed here?" he asked in surprise.
"…You're not lying," the Sacred Wood Coffin murmured. "I don't detect any falsehood from you."
"Then… where is Marie Rose?" the coffin asked, its voice turning uneasy.
"I don't know," Alan replied honestly.
"I was heading to Vatican because I wanted my weapon blessed. I even hired Rebecca priests, but those bastards dragged me here instead. Then, because of the lingering influence of Marie Rose, people around here weakened, tried to kill me, and… well, you can see the result. They're all dead."
"Rebecca priests indulging in such acts…" the coffin frowned.
"How far they have fallen."
"Then what happened?" the Sacred Wood Coffin asked.
"She came out," Alan said. "Looked at me once… and then left. Said I was an interesting human for not falling for her charm."
"…Are you a man?" the coffin suddenly asked.
"What kind of stupid question is that?" Alan snapped.
"No, it doesn't matters," the coffin replied calmly.
"Her charm doesn't discriminate. It can even influence certain genders differently."
"…Anyway," the coffin continued, "I was designed to awaken when someone approached me. But when I opened my eyes, Marie Rose was no longer here. From what you're saying, it seems your fight with those buffoons woke her up."
"I doubt she was even fully sealed," Alan shrugged.
"I mean, how could she wake up and walk out like nothing happened?"
"…Sigh."
The Sacred Wood Coffin let out a heavy sigh.
"What has happened… We worked so hard to seal her."
"You worked to seal Marie Rose?" Alan raised an eyebrow.
"…Yes," the coffin replied.
"Let me introduce myself."
"I am the Second Pope, Chreshler. The strongest pope in existence. When I was alive, I stood on par with legends."
"…So," Alan said slowly, "you turned yourself into a coffin to imprison Marie Rose?"
"I asked the legendary blacksmith Pagma for help," Chreshler said bitterly.
"But he betrayed me."
"…How?" Alan asked.
"He told me that if I became the coffin, I would be able to feel Marie Rose's body close to me," Chreshler said, his voice trembling.
"But there was nothing. No sensation. No warmth. Nothing aside from sight and hearing."
"…How pitiful," he continued. "Why couldn't I feel her?"
"..."
Alan stared at the coffin in complete silence.
After a long pause, he finally muttered,
"What a pervert."
"Did you say something?" the Pope asked.
Alan shook his head. "No. Anyway… you said you asked Pagma for help, but how did he turn you into a coffin?"
"Lie inside me," the Pope said, opening the coffin lid.
"Huh?" Alan stared at him.
"Isn't it better to see than to listen?" the Pope replied.
Alan nodded.
Heh… what an unexpected development, Alan smiled inwardly. I was thinking of getting clues from him to learn Pagma's Sword Dance, but he's presenting it himself.
He walked forward and lay inside the coffin.
[The Sacred Wood Coffin has accepted you.]
[The divine power has permeated you in a very small amount.]
[Dark resistance has permanently increased by 5%.]
[In the future, there is a very low chance of adding 5% holy attribute damage to basic attacks.]
[Affinity with Chreshler has increased by three.]
"…!"
Alan received unexpected benefits. His vision turned dark.
When he opened his eyes again, he saw a long-haired man standing before him.
[You are in a frozen state in Chreshler's past.]
[You are experiencing the past from Chreshler's perspective.]
[You are in an observer state. You can't intervene in the past.]
Chreshler opened his mouth—his voice echoed in Alan's mind.
"Can you make a coffin out of sacred wood?"
Chreshler's past voice was different from the one Alan heard in the present. It was older, cracked, and weary. These were clearly Chreshler's final years.
"You don't fear the sacred wood?" Chreshler asked.
"I know enough and have handled branches of the World Tree several times. I believe that experience will help," Pagma replied confidently.
Chreshler nodded as he sat down and stared at Pagma."Very well. I will trust you, since you are someone the Fifth Generation recommended."
Once permission was given, Pagma immediately began his work.
His movements to suppress the holy power of the sacred wood were careful and delicate, yet not slow. Alan watched closely, unable to look away.
His workmanship is incredible.
This was the man who had created countless techniques purely through knowledge. The process of carving a massive sacred tree into a coffin was almost artistic.
[The Sacred Wood Coffin production method has been acquired.]
[You have learned the techniques to handle sacred wood.]
"…!"
Alan's heart skipped. He didn't know when he would use it, but it was an unexpected gain.
Time in the past accelerated.
Soon, Pagma completed the beautiful white coffin.
Chreshler admired it quietly."Beautiful. It will be a perfect match for Marie Rose."
"Your Holiness," Pagma spoke.
"Is that title a habit? I am a retired pope," Chreshler replied.
"I have fulfilled your wish," Pagma said. "In return, I would like to ask for two things."
"You are a bold man," Chreshler said after a pause. "Very well. Speak."
"I heard that Your Holiness personally held the funerals for the legends."
"So?"
"I wish to know where they are buried."
"…Why?"
"I want to honor their souls."
"And also…"
Pagma drew a sword.
The oriental longsword shimmered with a beautiful, restrained brilliance.
"Teach me how to be strong."
'I wonder how strong Pagma and this old man was?' Alan thought looking forward for the grand battle.
"Huhu, look at this guy who has committed unpardonable atrocities against humans."
Contrary to Alan's expectations, a battle didn't immediately occur. Chreshler stepped back instead.
"You want to point your sword at an old man who might die tomorrow? Hey, I'm 110 years old this year. One hundred and ten. My blood pressure will spike just from swinging a sword, and I could die. Eh, you're a bad guy. I didn't know you would use such despicable means."