Chapter 420: A Truly Awe-Inspiring Figure

"Are you insane?" Solomon shifted the shopping bag to his other hand. It wasn't particularly heavy, but the straps were cutting painfully into his fingers. Pointing at his temple, he added, "Or do you think I'm crazy enough to agree to your proposition?"

"It's not a proposition—it's a request," Father Moru sighed.

It was only then that Solomon noticed how exhausted the priest looked. His lips were pale and cracked, his forehead beaded with sweat. Each blink seemed to require tremendous effort, as though his eyelids were weighted. Despite this, Solomon refrained from using mind-reading to pry into Moru's thoughts. He had already decided to reject the invitation—he was only keeping up this conversation out of politeness.

"Think of it as a travel opportunity. The Church will cover your airfare, accommodations, and expenses," Moru explained. "If you visit Rome, you could stay at Castel Gandolfo. It's surrounded by charming towns on the Alban Hills. You could enjoy fresh local produce, visit Lake Albano, the Vatican Observatory, or even the Pope's private gardens. If you'd prefer London—"

"I live in London," Solomon interrupted, waving his free hand dismissively, as if swatting away a pesky fly.

"Fair enough," Moru conceded with a strained smile. "But I still recommend Rome. The Anglican Church is more of a social institution than a true religious order. I don't wish to criticize the previous pope—he was my spiritual leader, after all—but I must say, the current Pope is much humbler. I believe you'd get along well with him."

"I didn't study theology, Moru. I studied physics. I choose to understand the world through mathematics and reason, not through the fear-induced ignorance of religion." Solomon's tone hardened. "Yes, fear—that's the foundation of all religion, even in a world where true gods exist. You shouldn't revere someone just because they can summon lightning and wear golden robes. Fear leads to worship, worship leads to ignorance, and ignorance erodes reason. Religion, to me, is no different from modern celebrity worship. Claiming that morality and social order stem from divine influence is utterly irrational. Can you point to any idol who's shaped human ethics?"

"Pope Francis simply wants to speak with you," Moru replied calmly, unfazed by Solomon's criticism. He'd heard these arguments before. "Even if you dislike religion, there's no harm in listening to the wisdom of an elder, is there? The Pope is not an aloof figurehead. He deeply cares about the lives of ordinary people. Give him a chance, Solomon. It's just a conversation—no one will force you to do anything."

"Does he have proper manners? Is he well-spoken?"

"Yes, he's extremely courteous."

"Does he know how to use cutlery?"

"Of course."

"Ah, then he must truly be an awe-inspiring figure," Solomon quipped sarcastically. He declined the silver pigeon that Moru offered. "Fine. I'll go. Just pray that your Pope lives long enough to meet me. And Moru? Don't come here again. Clergy aren't welcome in my home."

"Won't we need a priest to officiate the wedding?" Bayonetta's question caught Solomon off guard when he recounted his conversation with Moru to the witch.

"Didn't you say the other day that dating should last at least a hundred years?" Solomon remarked, placing his groceries into the fridge before collapsing onto the sofa beside her. "Jeanne said the same. You both claimed that since our lifespans are so long, relationships should be measured in centuries."

"Boya, you shouldn't take a girl's words at face value," Bayonetta teased, putting down her fashion magazine. She was the only woman who could effortlessly pull off bold purple and magenta eyeshadow. Lately, she had been experimenting with even more daring color schemes, inspired by an intriguing suggestion in the magazine.

Laughing softly, she playfully pinched Solomon's cheek and leaned in to sniff his hair. Satisfied that he didn't smell bad, she gave him a quick kiss on the lips, then pushed him back to the other end of the sofa before he could kiss her back.

Though Solomon had cast the Endure Environment spell to regulate his body temperature under layers of clothing, it couldn't extinguish the fire Bayonetta ignited within him. He felt a surge of heat and swallowed nervously.

"Or… is it that you don't want to get married?" Bayonetta's voice turned mischievous as she hid her lower face behind the magazine. Her eyes sparkled with teasing intent as she gently poked Solomon's thigh with her painted toes.

"Of course I want to. We can have Athena officiate instead. There's no need for a priest," Solomon replied, capturing her delicate foot in his hands and placing a light kiss on its arch. Bayonetta didn't pull away, allowing him to play with her toes.

"Hmm~ Or perhaps your mentor should do it?"

"That could work," Solomon agreed. If Bayonetta was willing to let the Ancient One officiate in a spiritual form, he wouldn't object. Bayonetta narrowed her eyes, pulling her leg back gracefully and guiding Solomon closer to her. As he leaned in, aiming to kiss her collarbone, a sudden interruption shattered the moment.

The Cheshire Cat leapt from its perch on the cat tree, its plump body colliding with Solomon like a furry cannonball. Bayonetta burst into laughter as Solomon sighed, scooping the hefty cat off his lap and tossing it aside.

The cat had already gorged itself on its food bowl earlier. Awoken by Solomon's return, it now loudly demanded treats.

"You little spy!" Solomon grumbled, poking the cat's squishy forehead. "Did Jeanne put you up to this?"

"Meow!" The gray short-haired cat, sensing danger, tried to burrow into Bayonetta's arms, forgetting that she was the one who had taken it to the vet for its neutering. Solomon grabbed its tail, scolding it as it whimpered pitifully for protection.

"You ungrateful little glutton! Have you forgotten whose familiar you are?" Solomon growled. The Cheshire Cat, utterly useless as a magical companion, spent its days eating, sleeping, and bullying other neighborhood cats. It couldn't even fetch a drink, making it arguably the most worthless familiar in existence.

Bayonetta cradled both Solomon and the cat in her arms, her laughter echoing through the room.

[Check out my Patreon for +200 additional chapters in all my fanfics! Only $5 per novel or $15 for all!!] [www.p@treon.com/Mutter]

[+50 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]

[+5 Reviews = +1 Extra Chapter]