The lamb had finally received enlightenment. Would the shepherd now retreat behind the scenes?
Faced with the Witch's explanation, Fu Qian nodded for a moment, feeling rather as though a great undertaking had finally come to fruition. But...
"Isn't that a bit too lonely? You don't seem like the type who'd enjoy being worshipped."
Seeing her knight lost in thought, the Witch kept walking, curiosity on her face.
"At least, that's how I felt personally. It was terribly boring, which is why I decided to let them come up with their own ideas this time."
The Witch was undoubtedly referring to her experience in the original World Within the Painting. Though, in the eyes of her one and only Templar Knight, she'd looked perfectly comfortable lying around back then.
"Of course, if you're interested, I can always send apostles to walk among the world."
Having a leader who could change the rules of heaven and earth whenever she pleased was pretty nice.
"Rent..."
Yet faced with the Witch's thoughtful suggestion, Fu Qian sighed in admiration and gave a slight shake of his head.
Hm?
"Looks like I paid for nothing after all. That's a really expensive neighborhood."
Under the Witch's gaze, Fu Qian let out a long sigh.
"...That's true."
True to her title of Pope, the Witch immediately followed Fu Qian's abrupt change of topic.
"Your landlady this time, Mrs. Harper, did benefit quite a bit."
"It's one thing that you can't get your rent back. She probably won't need to rent out her house again, either."
"Oh?"
Fu Qian clearly lacked the Pope's knack for seeing the whole picture, and seemed puzzled by the development that had suddenly left his former landlady financially independent.
"With the stars in disarray and the apocalypse drawing near, a group of evil-power