episode_0128

I received a detailed report from Milaia about what she did in the capital.

Originally, she had planned to challenge the rebels and turn the palace into a battlefield before returning.

However, before Milaia left, she mentioned that she had to use a different method to keep her promise of not leading herself to her death, as I had advised her not to.

The method she used was utilizing her unique ‘delayed assassination’ technique.

Not only did she possess excellent skills in magic quantity, efficient use of magic, and swordsmanship, but she also had the ability to use a peculiar technique.

That was delaying the damage from a fatal blow using magic.

Having watched Milaia fight several times, I knew this.

She always started by cutting through the empty space around her to protect herself, creating an invisible blade shield that would cut down any approaching enemies.

I had tried to imitate her technique before, but the activation principle was too complex for me to replicate her magical skills.

Milaia could store her assassination in the desired location, have it follow her, and activate it at a chosen time.

It was a versatile technique that could divide the power of one assassination into multiple strikes and be applied in various ways.

And Milaia said to me, “I’ve cut down all the secret chambers in the rebel’s palace.”

“….”

“And in three days, it will be activated during the rebel’s meeting in the secret chamber.”

Milaia spoke of this terrifying fact with a blank expression.

In other words, in three days, all the rebels gathered in the secret chamber would fall victim to Milaia’s planted assassinations, turning it into a sea of blood.

It was truly a fearsome ability.

Moreover, Milaia had already returned to Kubel.

Yet in three days, she could eliminate the rebels in the secret chamber of the capital’s palace.

Milaia’s assassination could be kept hidden for so long.

If she had operated as an assassin rather than an adventurer, she could have assassinated in a way that would never be caught.

“So, in three days, there will be no one left to rule the capital?”

“Yes, probably. I don’t think anyone can survive in the secret chamber.”

“Hmm….”

The rebels, who had been rampaging until now, would lose their strength in an instant, leaving the capital in a state of anarchy.

“But even if the rebel king dies, won’t someone else take his place?”

I asked Milaia and Algot.

Even if the rebel king dies, a new tyrant could take his place.

After all, the rebels currently occupying the capital might have someone else in mind who wouldn’t fall victim to Milaia.

But Algot shook his head.

“If what Milaia says is true, it won’t be easy to step up. People will be scared.”

“Ah….”

“The secret chamber is one of the most important places where the king conducts his business. If everyone in there dies for unknown reasons… the next person to claim the throne will have to be prepared for that.”

Indeed, Algot’s words made sense.

For someone who didn’t know about Milaia’s abilities, the events that would unfold in the secret chamber in three days would be filled with unknown fear.

It would seem as if an invisible person was wandering around killing people.

Like a divine punishment….

Wait, divine punishment?

“Algot, when was the scheduled interim mayor inauguration speech again?”

“It will be held at Kubel Plaza in two days.”

“What if we utilize Milaia’s work in the capital…?”

“What do you mean?”

Algot looked puzzled, not understanding the meaning behind my words.

We aim to reveal the existence of the goddess and declare Kube as the ‘City of the Goddess.’

For this plan to be successful, we needed to both conceal the goddess’s incompetence and showcase her power.

What if we were to say that the goddess’s punishment will rain down on the vile rebels who have taken over the capital?

Gods are objects of reverence, but also objects of fear.

If we were to embellish Milaia’s actions as if they were Stellaia’s and use them in a speech, it might have a dramatic effect.

“Milaia’s scandal will break out in three days. Then, it can be used in the Kube Grand Square speech two days later. Tell Stellaia to announce that she will bring punishment upon the rebels in the palace. And after a day? A miraculous event will actually occur in the palace.”

“The goddess’s punishment…”

“By doing so, people will come to fear Stellaia’s power. I believe that fear of the goddess will likely lead to support for us. What do you think?”

After hearing my words, Algot handed me back the draft of the speech and said, “I think you need to rewrite the speech.”

* * *

The Kube Grand Square was bustling with people.

Guild Master Algot informed the crowd that an important announcement regarding the future of Kube and the kingdom would be made.

With everyone aware of the chaotic state of the kingdom, such words could not simply be ignored.

Therefore, a large number of curious citizens had gathered in the Kube Grand Square, buzzing with excitement.

In the center of the square stood a large platform, similar to a stage.

And under that platform, a makeshift tent was set up, where Stellaia, the goddess, and other individuals were waiting to be revealed to the people.

“With this many people, we should be able to represent Kube’s opinions adequately.”

Algot, who had briefly climbed onto the platform to check the number of people, said.

The powerless goddess Stellaia, assisted by the saint Selena, was diligently practicing her lines.

“I… I will! In the name of the goddess, I will bring punishment upon the palace!”

“That’s too much. Just calmly inform the rebels tomorrow that punishment will befall them as usual.”

I sighed softly as I watched Stellaia practice her lines.

I had already briefed her on all the plans the day before.

Stellaia was quite hopeful for the opportunity to stand before the people again as a goddess with the help of humans, despite having lost all her power.

It would have been better if she had not been lazy in the first place and prevented this from happening.

After all the preparations were complete, Algot took the stage first and addressed the crowd.

“Dear citizens of Kube, welcome. I am Algot, the Guild Master of Kube Adventurers Guild. I stand here today to inform you of an important fact.”

Murmurs filled the air.

All eyes were focused on the platform.

I waited for my turn, going over the prepared speech in my mind.

Today, Kube will become a city under the watchful eye of the goddess.

And I, as the apostle of Stellaia, a new hero, will step forward and deliver a speech to the people.

The goal is to gain overwhelming support from the citizens of Kube for all our claims.

Honestly, I don’t know if it will go as planned or how people will react.

“Yunoa was feeling anxious.

Naturally, he was not a hero.

But he was trying to pass himself off as the incompetent goddess Stellaia’s hero.”

As Algot was informing the people that the Kube mayor had fled under pressure from the rebels, a narration was heard.

Yes, I know better than anyone that I am not a hero.

However, just as Algot took on the temporary role of ‘acting mayor’ for Kubel, just as the goddess Stellania appeared before people as a goddess even without power, I, too, am not a hero but will present myself as one.

“Yunoa had to remember who sent him to this world.

He was not a disciple of Stellania, but a disciple of the goddess who sent him to this world.

If he ever forgets that, he would truly prove himself to be a fickle and unreliable man.”

What’s with this narration…

Could it be jealousy?

“Yunoa was a scumbag.”

As soon as that thought crossed his mind, a short criticism from the narration struck like a sword.

Did this narration inherit the personality of the higher goddess who sent me to this world?

Jealousy at a time like this…

I wonder about the true nature of the goddess whose will is detached from the narration.

“…So, Guild Master Algot will temporarily take over the position of mayor until Kubel’s situation stabilizes.”

As I was mentally conversing with the narration, Algot finished his speech in front of the public.

Now it was time for me and Stellania to ascend the platform and reveal the presence of the goddess appearing before Kubel.

“Alright, let’s go up.”

I said to the slightly nervous Stellania.

As Stellania climbed the steps of the platform, her back gradually transformed into her original goddess form.

Changing appearance was one of the few abilities that remained for a goddess even after losing her power.

Finally, Stellania with long blonde hair appeared floating in all directions on the platform.

Among the crowd who saw Stellania’s goddess form, there was an outburst of admiration.

If they did not know her incompetent nature and only saw her appearance, Stellania was simply the goddess herself.

“Is it really the goddess of Kubel?”

“What on earth is happening…?”

There was no doubt that the citizens of Kubel clearly recognized her as a goddess.

But it was up to us to determine how they would perceive her as ‘which goddess’.

“Respected citizens of Kubel…”

Standing on the platform with the goddess, I began the opening sentence of my speech as the eyes of the citizens of Kubel focused on us.