episode_0013

Originally, I thought the war would be fierce, but my disciples were much more capable than I had thought.

In less than a day, tens of thousands were slaughtered with ease and they advanced here at an overwhelming speed.

The war was ending faster than I had anticipated.

“When this war ends, there will be many useful test subjects, so there won’t be many opportunities to watch for a while, Teacher.”

If she’s talking about useful test subjects, she must be referring to the hostages left after the war.

According to the content written in the Continental Law, regardless of who it is, basic human rights should be respected, and hostages should not be mistreated. However, the Evil Religion is a powerful organization on this continent.

Even if everyone except the Evil Religion opposes them, they have enough power to win.

Thinking about it, the grandiose plan to dominate the world has truly succeeded.

An absurd plan was realized, and even the last goal of consolidating one empire was achieved in less than a day.

They have become really competent in my absence, these kids.

“Now that the Pope is dead, most people will surrender. It would be nice if you understood that sympathy for them is a luxury.”

Saving the saint is now sufficient.

Do not harbor any more sympathy for them.

“I am your god, but I have no reason to show affection to others besides you.”

“In that case, it’s fortunate, Teacher, that you show sympathy to many things without being like an evil spirit.”

She said that with a lot of sarcasm.

Certainly, she often asked whether it would be better not to kill unnecessarily or did too many things like that.

Thinking about those things, even if she noticed, there was nothing strange about it.

“Yes, thank you for always accepting my coercion.”

“Don’t say that, Teacher. In the end, everyone in the Evil Religion stays by your side for their own reasons.”

Saying that, she walked ahead.

The sound of war coming from afar was getting closer, and the cries of slaughter were growing louder.

Finally, when they completely approached this place.

I stood in front of them shaking the severed head of the holy emperor.

“Children, you’ve worked hard.”

At my words, all the priests shouted.

Thinking about it, their crimson priest robes were soaked in blood until they turned completely red.

Looking at the blood on their weapons, it seemed they had relentlessly advanced without rest.

Moreover, because they were priests, I felt even more alienated.

Abel received the head of the holy emperor from me and declared it throughout the entire Sacred Empire using magic.

“The holy emperor is already dead! If anyone wants to challenge us further, they must come directly to the Papal Palace!”

With his declaration, the Holy War ended abruptly.

Well, even if the White Tower threw warnings, as the Evil Religion was more terrifying than them, all the towers on the continent except the White Tower sided with the Evil Religion.

Furthermore, many kingdoms and captive empires, including the empire ruled by Beatrice, stood on this side, making it an overwhelmingly one-sided war.

I didn’t expect it to end this quickly.

“Evil! I’ve pushed them all away in this form!”

Much larger and more majestic than what you see on TV.

Adele, revealing the form of a dragon, was now much larger than the castle.

At this point, I think Adele might be the greatest beneficiary of the gift I gave her.

‘Well, they probably won’t get involved here anyway.’

Why would a dragon be a dragon?

They are lazy, have no intention of doing anything, stand by and watch.

Unless it’s a scenario of world destruction, they have no intention of getting involved.

If the Evil Religion dominates the world and unifies it, but if they have no intention of destroying humanity, then they are guys who have not a single thought of getting involved.

Perhaps it will be the same in the future.

“Well, everyone did a great job.”

“Father, where is the saint? Right now, my head…”

“I took care of that child separately. Children, clean up the remaining remnants.”

Even if warned, those with faith will oppose the cult.

The many people visible in the distance are proof of that.

Swords, spears, shields, even farming tools.

They rush to prove the correctness of their faith by bringing everything they can carry.

It was quite a beautiful picture. If they were to achieve victory here, it would make for a rather nice picture, but unfortunately, the opponents are monsters.

They are the ones who killed the Demon King and unified the continent even before I came to this world.

I had planned to conquer the Holy Empire after summoning me… I think? I’m not sure about that part.

“…Fast.”

Just Adel shooting a breath upward casually.

Although the cult’s distinctive quantity is small, the presence of a hundred faithful priests makes one feel secure deep down.

Nevertheless, they are really strong.

There was a reason they made it to the brink of conquering the continent even without me.

It wasn’t long before they completely subdued the Holy Empire and could return to the cult.

Returning to my room, the saint welcomed me.

“You’ve returned.”

She was sitting on the floor.

Thinking about it, it’s quite strange.

She knows my true identity, understands my purpose that I myself don’t know, and said she would cooperate with me.

Even after coming into this room, she just sat quietly in the same posture as when she first arrived.

“Sigh…”

My head is spinning.

What kind of picture was Damian drawing, what thoughts were Lucia having, what did Saint Rebecca see?

But first, I helped Rebecca up.

“Rebecca, I’ll introduce you at tonight’s meeting. You’re a hostage from the Celestial Sect, and you’ll be used as a political tool to control the countless people of the Holy Empire. The treatment won’t be pleasant. Are you okay with that?”

I ask this for justification.

I know how much time she will spend in the future.

A justification to avoid feeling guilty about it.

I, too, retain the soul and thoughts of an ordinary person, so instinctively, I want to avoid that responsibility.

Foolish and sentimental.

“At dinner tonight, we’ll eat together.”

Of course, even if that’s the case, I will support her as much as I can since I am not powerless.

The current situation is like a company chairman bringing in a parachute, and the existing employees might not view it favorably.

It was at that level.

Perhaps because they are demons, the kids seem to follow my words well, and I am also accommodating them to that extent, living together.

Hmm, it’s a more normal and ideal relationship than I thought?

Of course, it’s a bit unusual that they start wars, conduct human experiments, and do quite a lot of things, but oh well.

If it’s what they want to do, I’ll just respect them as the god they believe in.

Dinner time quickly approached.

“O Demons, it is time for dinner.”

Polite and dignified voice.

One of the few common sense holders in our sect and, of course, a man who has killed the most but has a warm heart inside.

…Looking at it this way, abnormality is the same.

Caesar, the only assassin in the sect, came to meet us.

“Long time no see, kid.”

“I heard that even the demons directly eliminated the Pope in today’s battle. Really impressive….Rebecca?”

As soon as Caesar saw Rebecca, he pushed me back and gripped a dagger in reverse in his hand.

And that whole sequence literally happened in a fleeting moment.

“The saint of Cheonsingyo infiltrated here for some reason.”

“Caesar, let me introduce the guest I brought. Let’s go together.”

“…If the demon desires it, so be it. However, it might be better to speak the moment we enter the banquet. I may inquire about the purpose, but others may not.”

Understood.

In the demon religion, our key figures are mostly individuals with shattered personalities, who sometimes tear their heads off or demand answers from dead bodies before even asking a question.

So, it’s probably best to speak as soon as we enter.

Even before entering, speak.

“Let us enter first.”

Thinking about how to handle it, we arrived shortly.

First, I spoke at the door.

“I have brought a guest today. So, do not act recklessly, do not kill, just sit quietly.”

“Understood, Father.”

A faint voice came from beyond the door.

Good, let’s go in with peace of mind.

Let’s go in right away.

As soon as I entered, I swatted away thorns from an unknown plant flying towards me with my hand and swiftly deflected an arrow coming at me from the side.

Wow, this was just one attack, quite impressive.

“It’s a shame. I heard the demon brought another woman, so I tried not to complicate things further.”

With a sly smile, Mari appeared.

I expected that. If she’s a woman who can secretly observe a room beyond my intuition, there’s probably no one here apart from Mari.

I don’t know how she managed to watch over me without being noticed, but she couldn’t ascend due to the effect of the World Tree’s sap.

Considering that, could the influence of the corrupted World Tree also be behind her unnoticed observation?

I’m grateful for the escort, but it was quite easy to guess who it was.

“Mari, I hope you won’t refuse my request.”

“If the demon wishes, there is no need to refuse.”

Mari truly feels like a teenage girl.

She does as she pleases but also accommodates my requests.

Perhaps that’s why I didn’t feel resentful towards her; instead, she felt more like a daughter than the others.

Maybe I’ve really lost it.

“Bring another meal.”

Even in this situation, Abel calmly arranged for another seat.

By the way, Beatrice is here too.

As the Empress of the Empire, she has an implicit agreement not to fully participate in the banquet due to ruling the empire.

“I’ll be back soon, Lady Rebecca, please sit comfortably. It would be better over here.”

He chose a suitable spot, not too far from us but distant from Mari, as if he could read my mind accurately.

Indeed, Abel.

The epitome of wisdom in our sect.

Of course, I didn’t choose directly; they were selected by the saints and the saintesses, but I did pick one saint well.

“Oh, please sit…”

Veronica concealed her face quite a bit.

Thus, although she seemed quite improved, she still stumbled over her words.

“Well, then let’s start the dinner today. It’s so rare that everyone gathered within ten fingers from the birth date of the banquet. And for the first time, a guest has also arrived.”

Rebecca started eating eagerly.

Everyone seemed to enjoy the banquet.

Or is it accurate to say they were enjoying it?

They ate just enough to satisfy their hunger, focusing more on the meeting than savoring the taste.

“Now, before we get soaked in the satisfaction of achieving our long-prepared goal, may I ask why the saint of Cheonsingyo has come here?”

Abel was asking me, not Rebecca.

Hmm, has the word spread that I brought Rebecca?

At least, it’s fortunate that Mari didn’t try to kill Rebecca before my arrival.

It was just a touch earlier, so to speak.

“Rebecca, the saint of Cheonsingyo, has been brought as I desired. Since the people of the Holy Empire will not easily listen to us, we need a leash that can hold their reins, don’t we?

“…That may not be all, but at least that’s the minimum purpose. Understood. Let’s discuss this matter separately next time. For now, let’s enjoy the banquet. Isn’t today a good day?”

Every corner of the continent knelt under the feet of the evil religion.

There may be some minority tribes left, but apart from such peculiar cases, it’s safe to say they’ve all been conquered.

“Let’s not have any unpleasant meetings today. The war is over, and a gloomy atmosphere isn’t suitable. Bring the alcohol.”

As he said that, the priests brought the alcohol.

From what I remember, it was an extremely precious liquor that Abel had personally collected one by one.

The way everyone looked at the alcohol seemed to indicate they understood its value.

“Well, let’s not worry today and drink to our heart’s content. By the way, there’s a banquet scheduled in the Empire tomorrow, so I hope you all attend then too.”

With those words, the officers’ small toasts began.