◈ Episode 111. Do You Grasp the Situation? (1)
Now, let us think about this in general terms.
The holy land of the Goddess Church, Muon.
Even if its tightly shut gates had opened, the eyes of the holy knights remained fierce. And in the midst of tens of thousands of eyes watching, I had to find the Saintess, Freyja?
Truly, it could only be called a hopeless situation.
“I feel bad saying this to Gaiber, but……”
“There must have been some kind of misunderstanding after all, right?”
“There’s no way the Goddess Church I knew would do something like that for no reason!”
“Still, the Magic Tower really is something. The moment they move, things get resolved.”
And on top of that, if the players were listening to their conversation.
They would realize just how absurdly difficult this was.
Because one wrong move and I’d end up saddled with an enormous false accusation.
However.
Click—my steps did not hesitate in the slightest.
So what if there were tens of thousands of holy knights?
So what if Muon’s scale was magnificent?
I had, Granfell had, pride.『No temptation, deception, or trial of any demon can so much as scratch Granfell’s lofty pride.』Even if it was so heavy that it dragged me down.
A pride that could never be shaken……!
That pride was speaking to me.[Skill, ‘Natural Enemy Relationship,’ activates.]
It found this moment.
This moment of having to breathe the same air as a demon.
Deeply displeasing.
“There you are.”
I shifted my gaze and looked at the white building.
As expected of the greatest religion on the Arcana Continent.
The building was no ordinary size.
Yes, inside that place was the demon.
The self-proclaimed Saintess, Freyja.
The entrance to the main cathedral was blocked by holy knights.
“……
Whoa, did you see how cold their faces were? Looks like we can’t go in there.”
Some of the players had tried to enter Muon’s main cathedral.
But it seemed they had already been stopped.
They may have opened Muon with some black-hearted scheme.
But they had no intention of revealing the place where they themselves were coiled up.
“Foolish.”
But you are gravely mistaken, aren’t you?
It seems you do not know why a natural enemy is called a natural enemy.
Because it cannot be defied under any circumstances.
That is why it is called a natural enemy.
Yes.
From the moment I set foot in Muon, I realized it.
Not only its location.
But also that what resided in those holy knights of Muon was not ‘faith.’
It was a demon’s [Abnormal Status]
and nothing more.‘To reach the demon, I have to break through those holy knights.’There really are a lot of them, though.
Breaking through a defensive line of tens of thousands of holy knights?
It was something I couldn’t even dare to imagine, but I had a certain ‘group’ at my back that could make even such an unimaginable thing possible.
That’s right, the Magic Tower. The very Magic Tower that, once it set its mind to something, would accomplish anything.‘Since you’ve also realized that the Magic Tower has moved…….’That must be why you opened Muon like this.
To increase the number of eyes watching.
Of course, the Magic Tower does not concern itself with anyone’s opinion.
Even if the whole world were watching.
If I gave the word, it could probably sweep away the enemies blocking my path, tens of thousands of holy knights included.
But let’s avoid that. Whether the Magic Tower cared or not, the whole world would start walking on eggshells around the Magic Tower instead.
And the chaos that would result from that?
It would be beyond imagination.
And amid such great chaos.
A demon’s power would only grow stronger.‘How cunning.’As expected of a demon that had swallowed the Goddess Church.
And pulled off the dirty trick called the Holy War.
It was on a completely different level from the demons I had seen in reality, wasn’t it?
No matter the situation, it had dug itself an escape route.‘But when it comes to digging holes, I’m not half bad either.’In other words, I did not have only one option.‘Remove the [Abnormal Status]
cast on tens of thousands of holy knights.’No matter how overflowing my mana was, that would be close to impossible by common sense.
Even Marcelo’s mana would find that a bit burdensome.
On top of that, the holy knights under the [Abnormal Status]
would never simply stand by and watch as magic was manifested toward them.
But I could do it.
There was no hesitation.
I took a demon’s item out of my inventory.
A demon’s item that would become the offering for [Exorcism Ritual].[‘Gloomy Statue’ has been selected as the offering.][Skill, ‘Exorcism Ritual,’ activates.][Inviting the selected target to the ‘ritual.’]‘Ritual.’
A space where a battle of mental strength between demon hunter and demon takes place.
A demon invited to the ritual no longer has the leeway to maintain an [Abnormal Status].
Even if that abnormal status was cast by some extraordinary demon.
Yes, had I not witnessed it myself?
A great evil, the Seven Deadly Sins’ Greed.
And even the abnormal status of the Demon King, Decarabia.
The moment Exorcism Ritual activated.
To be precise, the moment I opened my mouth.
I had watched them become meaningless.
In that sense, perhaps it might feel unfair.
That the holy knights of Muon, whom you deceived for so long, slipped from your grasp all at once.
But to me, this was an extremely natural result.
A demon hunter and a demon.
An inescapable natural enemy.
That was the kind of relationship it was.
No, you should know that better than anyone, shouldn’t you?
Because you feared such a natural enemy.
That must be why you tied Akshan to the Holy War and sent it to the other world. Just as I recognized the demon at this moment, the moment Exorcism Ritual activated, it must have recognized me as well.
“How does it feel, insignificant kin?”
Of course, my own impression was as simple as could be.
Click—“Wait. You cannot approach this place.”
The abnormal status had vanished.
Even in the midst of confusion, the holy knight blocked my way.
I calmly straightened my attire and declared.
“Now is the moment of judgment you have awaited.”*Holy knight Talim Eber’s mind was in turmoil.‘……
Why am I wary of them?’Flinch—the hand gripping the hilt at his waist felt awkward.
Pointing a sword at civilians.
It was something that went against the code of the holy knights.
Talim furrowed his brow and recalled his memories.‘……
The Saintess’s words.’Yes, everything had begun with Saintess Freyja.
Talim steadied himself while recalling Freyja’s voice.
He warned the one approaching.
“Wait. You cannot approach this place.”
The answer came immediately.
“Now is the moment of judgment you have awaited.”
“……!”
The moment of judgment?……
Judgment?
At that word, a headache surged through Talim.
His head hurt as if it would split open.‘Judgment Day……!’He vaguely recalled what Freyja had said.
Until the Day of Judgment came.
No matter what happened, they must not leave Muon.
Because the Saintess had spoken so.
Had he not kept his place, even going so far as to violate the code of the holy knights?
“!”
That was right.
When the Arcana Continent was trampled by demons.
When innocent people were slaughtered.
Even on the day his own hometown was destroyed.
He had remained holed up in Muon, waiting only for the Day of Judgment.
“Urgh!”……
Did I truly do that?
In that instant, an uncontrollable nausea surged up in Talim.
It was because his body and mind were colliding head-on.
Doubt began to bloom in Talim’s chest.‘……
Why did I do nothing?’It had all been to obey the Saintess’s words.
Because he believed the Saintess would lead them to the right place.
As Talim desperately suppressed his doubt, the voice continued.
“Freyja.”
“……?”
“Does that still look like a Saintess to you?”
“……!”
Blasphemy.
Had it been any other time, he would have reflexively drawn the sword at his waist. But Talim could not do so. Because the silver-haired man’s words were correct.‘……
What on earth have I?’Because he could no longer trust Freyja.
Where had it gone wrong?……
No, since when had he failed to notice?
Thinking back on it now, Freyja’s actions made no sense.
The Goddess Church had a duty to protect its believers.
It had a duty to save the Arcana Continent being trampled by demons in the name of the Goddess. Yet Freyja had been excessively obsessed with Muon.
However.‘The Goddess’s revelation.’Whenever he harbored such doubts, a powerful thought would arise.
That thought would put his doubts to rest.
Clench—Talim balled his fist.‘Even under trial, my faith shall not waver.’Yes, soon the Goddess’s revelation would come, as it always did.
He simply had to act according to the Goddess’s revelation.
“……
Why.”
But there was no longer any revelation from the Goddess.
Though doubts he should never harbor were rising all the way to his head.
All he heard was the man’s calm voice.
“The abnormal status has vanished.”
Without realizing it, Talim asked back.
“……
An abnormal status?”
A kind of curse.
Was he saying that I had been under a curse all this time?
For that to be the case, his body felt perfectly fine.
The doubt in Talim’s mind grew even larger.‘He clearly said the abnormal status had vanished.’If he could not tell what kind of curse it was.
He could work backward and see what had disappeared.
But no matter how he thought back.
There was only one thing that had disappeared from him.
The Goddess’s revelation.
“U-uuurgh!!”
Nausea surged up once again.
To show such an unsightly display in Muon, before another person. Talim hurriedly gathered himself and looked at the man. But there was not the slightest change in the man’s expression.
Talim opened his mouth.
“……
If she is not the Saintess, then what is she?”
An uncontrollable doubt had taken hold.
That was why he had no choice but to ask the man.
Even as he did, Talim fervently hoped.
Please, do not let the man answer.
But this time as well, the answer returned immediately.
“A demon.”
“Ahh…….”
An answer that denied his faith from its very roots....
It must feel like you were struck in the back of the head.
You probably cannot accept it right away.
But what can be done?
This is reality.
Thud—the holy knight who had blocked my path sank to his knees on the floor.
It seemed the strength had left his legs.
By the way, I could feel burning gazes.
They were the eyes of the players.
They were not close enough to hear the conversation.‘Don’t tell me some strange rumor is going to spread again because of this.’Such a concern crossed my mind.
But now was the time to focus on the demon before me.
As I steeled myself, the holy knight opened his mouth once again.
“……
I cannot believe it.”
Yes, of course you cannot.
But reality is filthy by nature.
“Even if I was deceived by Freyja, I cannot agree that she is a demon. Even if the Saintess never existed, the Goddess’s care is with us. The Goddess’s miracle, the Tears of the Holy Son, remaining intact is proof of that.”
His eyes trembled as he continued.
“In such a holy land, in Muon. A demon cannot set foot.”
So that was what he meant.
As long as he did not believe in Freyja, that was fine.
Neither I nor Granfell were religious, though.
In this world, there is freedom of religion.
Whatever someone believes has nothing to do with me.
To begin with, even my parents, you know.
One goes to a temple, and the other goes to church.
However, I had a tiresome personality that could not let incorrect statements pass.
I said calmly.
“It is nothing like a miracle of the Goddess.”
Yes, that thing which had become the reason the Goddess Church spread far and wide.
The thing the media had made a fuss over as the elixir of youth.
The Tears of the Holy Son.
Why a mere spring had such effects.
At least to my eyes, the reason was clearly visible.
“It is not something special like the name Tears of the Holy Son would suggest, either. What acts upon aging is merely one of the effects of the secret herb growing beneath the spring, ‘Aria Moss.’ Its appearance is difficult to distinguish from ordinary moss, so proper research was never conducted. It is only natural that you could not recognize it.”
“……
What did you say?”
“However, Aria Moss alone cannot produce such an effect. The effects of Aria Moss are only valid at a specific temperature. Most likely, the mineral sunk in the pond is maintaining the appropriate water temperature. Considering the surrounding environment, ‘Demune Moonstone’ seems the most likely.”[Pentagram of Pure Knowledge].
The truth I was able to perceive thanks to it.
What supported my conjecture was the quest window.─Identify the forces participating in the Holy War. (In Progress)●Encounter the Saint of the Goddess Church. (Success)●Identify the true nature of the Saintess of the Goddess Church. (Success)●Hunt the demon disguised as the Saintess of the Goddess Church. (In Progress)●Identify the original sin of the Magic Tower. (Success)
The quest window was telling me.
That there had never been either a Saint or a Saintess in the Goddess Church to begin with.
At my words, the holy knight completely collapsed.
“……”
“Aaaaaaaaah!!”
I knew what the Arcana Continent looked like.
So I could understand how he felt.
Guilt, or perhaps regret.
If I could have had my way,
I would have liked to offer him some small comfort.
But with this tiresome personality, there was no way warm words like that would come out.
All I could do was open my mouth in my own fashion.
“I do not believe in gods.”……
I really knew how to scrape at a raw wound.
As if fanning the flames of a burning house wasn’t enough.
I was spouting words that would make an enemy of the Goddess Church without hesitation.
My vision went faint, but my mouth kept running smoothly.
“Because there is no definitive proof that they exist.”
“…….”
“However, there is also no definitive proof that gods do not exist.”
“……?”
At my words, doubt surfaced on the paladin’s face.
His expression seemed to ask whether there was not already enough proof.
Well, his mind must have been thoroughly shattered.
It was only natural for him to think that way.
Their holy land, Muon, had been completely toyed with by a demon. Whatever the case for other gods, he must have thought that alone was proof enough that the Goddess did not exist.
But that was overestimating it.
“Because a lowly demon could never serve as proof.”
“……!”
That would be no different from acknowledging the existence of demons.
And Granfell’s pride could not allow that.
At that moment.
A thunderous roar struck my eardrums.
Ruuuuumble—!
Muon’s pure-white main castle came crashing down.
From between the collapsed walls, enormous tentacles burst out.
Freyja, the demon who had impersonated the Saintess, had revealed herself.
A massive lump of tentacles.
From it came a languid voice that did not suit its form.
Judging by the paladins’ reactions, it must have been Freyja’s voice.
“So the rumors drifting about were true. Good. I have found a newer target for deception, so I shall end the game here. It was enjoyable enough in its own way, foolish Goddess Church, driven mad by an illusion.”
Just as I had guessed.
Seeing as she was perfectly fine even within the ritual, she was no ordinary demon.
And those rumors drifting about.
She seemed to know something about my existence as well.
But you made a serious mistake, you know?
Did you really think I would come alone
to enemy territory where I had no idea what unexpected situation I might get caught up in?
Yes, naturally, behind me stood the Magic Tower.
And not just any Magic Tower, either.
After Senios’s death, the senior mages of the Magic Tower had reached the peak of their fury toward demons.
Step—……
But wait.
Maybe there was no need for the Magic Tower to step in at all.
Clank—Before I knew it, a paladin was standing beside me.
His gaze was no longer wavering.
Soon, a resolute voice rang out.
“Thank you for saying that to me when I had lost heart.”
Shing—Then he drew his sword.
“It is time to prove true faith that does not yield to trials.”
“It is time to judge the demon who deceived the Goddess.”
“In the name of the Goddess. Draw your swords, paladins of Muon!”
At the same time,
a message appeared in my vision.[You have acquired command authority over the Goddess Church’s Paladin Order.][46,800 paladins under Talim Eber, commander of the Goddess Church’s Paladin Order][Current Status: Awaiting orders]
“!”