The Sweep of Withered Leaves

"Are you... Mr. Steven?"

Evan stared at the figure strolling in and stood there in a daze for a long moment before murmuring.

"Oh, little Evan..."

Wu Ming gave a lazy greeting. "I've watched this farce from the sidelines for long enough. I think it's time for it to end..."

Bang! Bang!

He snapped his fingers lightly, and several black-robed clerics beside him crumpled to the floor.

"Who are you?"

Gandalf's pupils contracted as he demanded, his expression twisted.

Although the other man looked very young, he gave Gandalf an unfathomable feeling.

In particular, for some reason, when Gandalf looked at his face, he felt an inexplicable familiarity, as if he had seen it somewhere before.

"Found him!"

A flurry of footsteps sounded, accompanied by an excited voice.

A man in black robes held a Cross Sword in his hand. A blood-red radiance, almost tangible, enveloped it as he pursued Robin.

"You can't get away..."

He looked at Robin and let out a night-owl's harsh laugh. But after sweeping his gaze around, he suddenly froze, like a duck with its neck caught.

"Steven!!!"

The man in black robes spoke in a voice that was half sob, half laugh. Even Evan could hear the complicated emotions in it, along with his boundless hatred.

"Oh? So it's Lucius..."

Wu Ming curled his lip. "Did you think becoming a Reincarnator would let you escape the gods' judgment?"

"I never imagined... you'd return to the mortal world!"

The man in black robes pulled off his hood, revealing a face covered in sores, hideous as an Evil Ghost. His eyes blazed with hatred. "The former Pope—Steven!"

"What?"

Evan cried out.

Even he had heard the incredible stories about the Church from the previous era. Pope Steven in particular had practically been the incarnation of a