Chapter 159: Holy War for Creatures – 3

Chapter 159: Holy War for Creatures – 3

The day, which felt like a dream and I wished would last forever, ended, and the world returned to normal.

At the same time, so did our plan.

Since the Hero and the Saintess would personally run around for the Holy Kingdom’s figures… I just needed to inform Christie, Melini, and the Demon King about the plan.

And while I was at it, subtly contact anyone from the Empire who might help with this Holy War.

I felt bad for suddenly showing Christie, who was in such a peaceful mood yesterday, something like this… but, well, it couldn’t be helped.

Anyway, my first target was Christie.

However, Christie was no longer just a Defense Captain but a Knight Commander, so I couldn’t just meet her whenever I wanted… or rather, I didn’t have to wait.

Christie’s whereabouts were obvious, so even if I just subtly showed my face near her, she would tell them to let me in.

And so, I leaked the story of our Holy War and the god to Christie, my first recruitment target.

Her reaction? …For some reason, I got scolded again. Why was I doing such dangerous things?

“……Both the Saintess and unnie. Why do you all scold me first…?”

“Because it’s dangerous!”

“No, don’t people usually get surprised or shocked by the truth?”

“I was surprised and shocked that you were doing such dangerous things, wasn’t I?”

If there hadn’t been a slight tremor in Christie’s expression as she said that, I might have actually believed her.

Her acting skills had improved a lot, but Christie was still a bit clumsy in some areas.

Noticing my gaze, Christie eventually smiled and gave her honest thoughts.

“In many ways… it’s an unexpected truth.”

“Right?”

“If this is true, then there won’t be any major problems, except for the conflict between the power-hungry nobles within the Empire and the Emperor who wants to crush them.

The monster hordes… no, the Demon King’s Army suddenly retreated because the Demon King learned this truth, right?”

“Th-that’s right.”

She was right. That was definitely the truth.

However… um… it was me who beat up the Demon King and wiped out the Demon King’s Army to tell her that.

I suddenly wondered how much difference there would be between me without the Holy Sword buff and Christie.

If I used my fraudulent potions, I’d win, but… if we used them moderately, wouldn’t we be evenly matched? I wondered.

“……You, tell me honestly. What happened to the Demon King’s Army?”

“Wh-why that again…?”

“You’re subtly letting on that it’s not my guess. Well, did you bring the Hero or something and wipe them all out?”

“…Not the Hero, but with the Holy Sword…?”

At that, Christie seemed to be chewing over the meaning of what she had just heard in her mind for a moment.

…It was exactly that state of being dumbfounded after hearing an unexpected truth from a joke.

Fortunately, Christie’s malfunction didn’t last long, and about 10 seconds later, Christie looked at me strangely.

“C-can that Holy Sword… be wielded by just anyone like that?”

“Well… we just happened to be able to communicate?”

“……Are you really some hidden Hero or something?”

In the end, I had no choice but to explain the fierce battle with the Demon King’s Army to Christie.

I expected to be scolded again for doing something dangerous and overdoing it, but surprisingly, she seemed to be in a very good mood.

Especially, every time I did something with greatsword techniques instead of potions or divine arts, I could see the corner of her mouth subtly curling up.

*Well… if you really think about it, your greatsword techniques were taught by Christie. Though you half-developed them yourself.*

‘Ah.’

There was a clearer reason than I thought.

……She seemed to subtly like that her greatsword techniques were being put to good use.

“Anyway, please decide now. Whether you will join this Holy War to ultimately overthrow the Holy Kingdom.”

“If this is true, then of course it’s right to join. The Emperor and the other nobles… will immediately agree to the Holy Kingdom being overturned.”

“Thank you, unnie. Actually, I thought you would naturally say you’d join.”

“Hmm… really? By the way, am I the first?”

“Huh? Ah…! You’re the first person I’ve sought out. The Archbishops and thoughtful Bishops of the Holy Kingdom are being contacted by the Hero and the Saintess.”

At that, Christie nodded, as if satisfied.

…Christie sometimes seemed quite lighthearted.

“I’d love to teach you more about sword techniques, you know. I’ve even created new moves. But… I guess there won’t be time, right?”

“……Probably not.”

“Yes, I thought so. Lucia lives such a busy life.”

Christie, saying that, smiled faintly and looked at me.

It was a warm gaze, filled with affection, familiarity, and a hint of worry.

…So much so that I was a little embarrassed and slightly looked away.

“Well, it’s okay! I can show you later, after everything’s done.”

“…Y-yes! Later, definitely show me. Ah, after I teach you divine arts, I’ll go to the next person. Please let me know if there’s anyone in the Empire who might join this plan!”

And so, I quickly taught Christie ‘Lucia-style Divine Arts.’

Since Christie couldn’t use divine power originally, there wasn’t much she could do… but just knowing how to use it had significance in that it could prevent divine interference.

Now, I just needed to repeat this with Melini and the Demon King.

***

The conversations with Melini and the Demon King ended faster than expected.

Melini already half-knew the situation, and the Demon King knew it from the start.

Of course, it was obvious that the Demon King would be beaten up if she went to the Holy Kingdom, so we had to agree that she would help when we fought the god later.

Anyway, since things with those two were quickly finished, I could just wait a bit and then go help the Saintess and Hero.

Or I could contact someone from the Empire that Christie might suggest.

*…Hmm, unfortunately, I don’t think it’ll be either of those?*

“……When you say that, it’s deeply ominous, you know? My body isn’t fully recovered yet, you know?”

Although the Saintess healed me well, my physical condition wasn’t actually that great.

It was a state where mock battles for training purposes were fine, but real combat would be too much.

Because of that, I really wanted to avoid combat… but with Ria suddenly acting like that, my anxiety levels were about to skyrocket.

*Well, there won’t be a fight. Even if there is, that side is alone, so you’d easily subdue them in your current state.*

“Current…?”

Before I could ask more, a knock sounded at the door.

…Thinking that our house door had received a lot of knocks since yesterday, I opened it, and a familiar person appeared before my eyes.

No, a familiar person, but definitely not a close one.

“……What brings the esteemed Prophet of God here?”

“……”

Elena was silent.

Her expression… unlike her usual self, was tinged with anxiety and nervousness.

Overall, she just seemed confused.

“……I have something to ask.”

“You? Me? Interesting. What could the Prophet of God possibly be curious about?”

“……Is it true?”

Words without a subject. But obvious to anyone.

Honestly, I hadn’t expected Elena to be shaken like this… but, well, it seems the god messed up again.

Even then, unable to control its temper, it forcibly possessed the Demon King’s body and descended, only to end up revealing the truth to the Demon King. Wasn’t Elena in a similar situation?

Therefore, I decided to just tell her as it was. It seemed the Prophet didn’t perfectly know everything either.

How should I put it, she knew the core facts, but believed their intention was for a better world.

“It is, isn’t it? Why, isn’t it a story you already know?”

“…In the future the god showed me, we were all happy.”

“If the god is so omnipotent, couldn’t it just show the future it wanted?”

“……”

Even though I said it, Elena seemed to already know it.

However, the fact that she had changed so dramatically was a bit suspicious, if anything… but Elena’s reaction and appearance were genuine, so I couldn’t really say anything.

“Th-then… do you know anything about the person called the former Prophet?”

“Aha. So it was that. That old woman must have a lot of grudges against the god too, seeing her go this far.”

Perhaps because they were both Prophets, they were connected, or perhaps the Holy Sword did something in that collapsing sanctuary, but the former Prophet seemed to have told Elena something.

She seemed to have quite a bit of anger towards the god, and it must have been greater than I imagined.

She looked very gentle and quiet, but perhaps she had a fiery temper after all.

“Well… come in. You seem to have a lot to talk about.”

*Branch Point

-> A branch point has occurred for Elena, the final protagonist and hidden protagonist!

=> Set her straight and make her deny the future shown to her by herself!

*

And, it seems there’s a lot to do as well.