… It is finally the end of Monguenues-sama’s suffering, the one who bears the t.i.tle of the Evil G.o.d.…》Glutometsa’s voice itself was clear, but it sometimes sounded inflated as though he was putting on airs.
Oops, let’s not forget [Appraisal]――
Hey, this is…!
While I was stunned by surprise, Glutometsa’s speech continues.
《――The underhanded techniques you’ve tempered until now…. If Evil G.o.d-sama is to be referred to as evil, then we shall willingly be referred to as evil as well…. Bearing this resolve, use your a.s.sa.s.sination techniques to…. In preparation for that moment in the near future, polish yourselves even more sternly…. I may be repeating myself but the moment is approaching… Dear children, absolutely don’t be negligent…》
The emissaries who had been dosed with the hallucinogen gradually grew more excited as Glutometsa continued to leisurely sing out praises, whereas I remained completely cool-headed.
Let me share Archbishop Glutometsa’s [Appraisal] results.
《Illusion. An apparition produced by Gazaine Munzer’s legendary-cla.s.s skill [Illusion Magic] 9.》
In short, there was no such thing as the Archbishop.
Securing the Archbishop when the religious organisation is overthrown was an important factor so I had trouble making the final decision, but since Archbishop Glutometsa = Gazaine, things will be settled quickly.
The four children didn’t experience an uplift in mood because they had taken the antidote. They were bewildered, but as I had instructed them beforehand, they didn’t make a big deal out of it.
Nebil and the others were the same.
Nebil was an especially good actor; he took the initiative to start a chant in response to the Archbishop, even though he was supposed to be sober.
Although Nebil’s foundations are excellent, he does make blunders once in a while.
Well, the incident with the Ususake Mushrooms was my fault though….
After the Ma.s.s ended and everyone left, only Elemia remained.
Elemia was kneeling at the altar, facing the statue of the Evil G.o.d with both hands clasped together in prayer.
“Evil G.o.d-sama… Evil G.o.d-sama…”
She addressed the G.o.d.
I’m worried, but now is not the time to speak.
I cast a backward glance at the praying Elemia, then used [Espionage Techniques] to sneak into the back of the chapel.
As expected, Gazaine was there.
Of course, there’s no way Archbishop Glutometsa would be there.
Sensing a presence suddenly appearing behind him, Gazaine turned around with a sharp gaze.
I greeted Gazaine with one hand and say with a cynical smile on my face,
“Hey, where did the Archbishop disappear to, Leader?”
“…So it’s you. Don’t startle me.”
Even though I appeared, Gazaine doesn’t seem shaken.
Instead, he makes a brazen smile and shrugs at me.
Gazaine knows that I don’t believe in the Evil G.o.d.
Part of it might be because he finds it amusing, but that shouldn’t be all.
I’d like to draw out the answer to that soon.
There’s a risk, but me being obedient would probably seem more ominous to him.
The other day I even slipped into a dragon’s lair, to say nothing of a tiger’s den.
I won’t get cold feet this late in the game.
That said, I need a smokescreen at least.
I showed Gazaine the wine cup that I had pilfered before coming here, and spilled its contents on the spot.
“Tch… A brat with sticky fingers.
Did you not drink it.”
My action caused Gazaine to have a great misunderstanding.
“It’s magnificent.”
“…What is?”
“This religious organisation.
I thought it was a thoughtless doctrine to have people sneaking around and killing people; however, I don’t know why but you have quite a splendid religion here.”
“As usual, those aren’t a brat’s thoughts.
But it’s the opposite.”
“Opposite?”
“Yeah.
In order to have them do such things, a half-baked doctrine was no good.”
“I see.
You’re saying that a doctrine full of deceit and sophistry is necessary for that exact reason.”
“A religion is generally like that anyway.
Having them believe in an imaginary G.o.d and a heaven that doesn’t exist, and for them to forget about the cruel reality before their eyes is what a religion does.”
The representative of this religious organisation is an incredible atheist.
…I’ll say this just in case, but this is purely Gazaine’s personal opinion.
I personally have no religion, but I have no intention of denying people of such.
But before that, G.o.ds really do exist here in Marquekt.
They even have distinct blessings known as Skill and Levels.
“I think G.o.d exists.
Even the Evil G.o.d exists.”
“Those guys won’t save us.
They’re simply governors of the world.”
“…Even the Evil G.o.d?”
“Who knows.
However, he abused his power as a G.o.d and was chased from heaven.”
“That’s a first.”
“Abusing one’s power and being chased from heaven, isn’t it kinda chic?
Since there’s no way someone like me will be saved by G.o.d.”
“Wouldn’t you be saved if you believed in the Evil G.o.d?”
“Heh. How transparent. You already know though.
Unexpectedly, the villains worship the Evil G.o.d not because of sophistication or capriciousness, but out of seriousness, you know?”
“……You too?”
“No way. I do sympathise with the Evil G.o.d though.
Even if the path leads me to h.e.l.l… I will rely on my own power, and cut through that path.”
I suppose he’d even make a deal with the Evil G.o.d.
“Is it alright, that ’s leader of all people is declaring such things?”“You don’t believe in him anyway, right?”
“……”
“I’m not really rebuking you.”
Gazaine hesitated for a brief moment.
When it comes to speaking, I thought this man would chatter away.
And then, the words that came out of his mouth after he paused was truly something unexpected.
“――Won’tcha come with me?”
I was flabbergasted.
Gazaine advocated further.
“I don’t have the heart to settle with just being the boss of such an uncool religious a.s.sa.s.sination organisation.
I have the power to do that much.”
Gazaine seems to gaze off into the distance.
However, there were no fragments of dream-like ambiguity in his eyes, instead there was strength, like he was focused on something that was there.
He had the serious expression of a man who was always looking for trouble somewhere.
I suddenly became embarra.s.sed somehow, and tried to dodge the issue with sarcastic words.
“The a.s.sa.s.sination King?”
“Don’t make fun of it. I’m serious.”
“So you have that much of a backing?”
Be honest, this organisation’s doctrine wasn’t something that your pragmatic brain came up with, was it?”
“……Another thought that shouldn’t come from a brat, as usual.
But that’s fine.”
“Oi, oi… How disgusting.”
“I know that it’s not in your character.
Your power exposes those around you to danger.
At this rate, you, born with overwhelming power, will be unable to live normally, you know?”
“That’s a line I wouldn’t expect from a man who coerced me into coming here by holding my family hostage.”
“Hmph.
You probably understand already though.
If you’re just aiming for the “dark side” of a society like ours, then it’s true that you might be able to strike back if you get stronger.
However, the nastiest ones are actually those on the “surface”, you know?
If you reject them, they will immediately judge you as a risk factor and will either kill you or drive you out.”
“……”
I was unable to form a reply to Gazaine’s words.
Digging up the history knowledge from my previous life, I easily understood that Gazaine’s remark was not necessarily an exaggeration.
“――I can make a place for you to belong.
No, not in public; looking at it objectively, it is evil itself.
――But you know.
I will crush Santamana and establish my own kingdom.
’s emissaries will be reborn as clergymen instead of a.s.sa.s.sins.It would be fine to even entrust to you entirely, after it has become a holy religious organisation.
If you say that the authority in this world is good, then I can even confer the rank of Marquis to you.”“…You’re also good at making empty promises.”
“I have calculated that this is possible if you follow me.”
“Why?
No, to begin with, there’s no way you can build a country with just one individual’s fighting strength.”
Gazaine couldn’t reply to my words immediately.
It was as though someone’s figure had appeared in his line of sight.
“――I know another brat like you.
In order to oppose that brat, I want your power.”
“――A brat like me, you say?”
“Oh? So you’re interested.
If you follow me, I’ll give you information about them.”
d.a.m.n.
Did I bite off too much?
“You know, there’s a society in this world that is more profound than the underground, one that people are hard pressed to even call ‘the darkness’.
As a result of that, I became able to zero in on those guys.
To a.s.sociate with those guys who surpa.s.s reason, we also need to bring out beings that surpa.s.s reason or else.
For a time, I wondered whether Elemia was such, but although she is unique, she’s not special.
The one who I thought was special was, in the end, you alone.”
“…That’s a considerably unreliable story I hear.”
“In reality, it is an unreliable story.
That is all.”
“Don’t you resent me?”
“Resent? Why?”
“I killed a considerable number of ’s emissaries before coming here.”“A foolish question.
It’s not like I have any remaining right to resent people.
Well, I do my best at all times.
Constantly moving forward, moving forward.”
“Sounds like a tiring way of living.”
The me with no fatigue is like that but I unintentionally said it.
“Isn’t it better than stepping back and losing interest?”
“I suppose there is a mountain of corpses behind you as you continue to move forward.
Not only enemies, are supposed allies and emissaries also tools used by you to advance forward?”
“What, those guys die believing that they can go to heaven.
There’s no G.o.d who will save me.
That’s why I must obtain paradise with my own strength.”
Gazaine stood up after saying that.
Then, he walked off without turning back towards me.
“H-hey…”
“Hmph. Think about it.
Isn’t it tedious, accompanying them to play make-believe a.s.sa.s.sin indefinitely, even for you?”
I could only watch in dumbfoundment as Gazaine departed.