Ch.346346. Blasphemy (6)

Looking at the fully functional vessel now, one couldn’t help but wonder.

‘If it can move like that anyway, why did they even create the homunculus sisters in the first place?’

The answer is simple.

“The output is different!”

I shouted while grabbing Yuria and Lucien with both arms and leaping to avoid the attacks pouring from the vessel.

All kinds of attacks were being unleashed from that direction, but so far they were manageable to dodge.

So far.

It would probably get harder if this continued.

The situation wasn’t much different from the battle I had with the Pope before the vessel awakened.

The difference was that the Grand Duke, who could have delivered a fatal blow like before, was now devoured inside the vessel, and the Pope was being much more aggressive.

‘He probably won’t fall for the same trick twice anyway.’

While the Grand Duke’s swordsmanship far exceeded my expectations, the Pope wasn’t so naive as to fall for the same attack twice.

I needed to devise a different approach.

With that in mind, I pulled out another item I had brought along—a rosary.

“…The output seems plenty powerful already!”

The Holy Maiden exclaimed in shock as she saw the ground where I had just dodged with both sisters crater deeply from the vessel’s spell.

Fundamentally, holy power is an ability focused on inflicting damage to the target’s mind or soul rather than physical impact.

For a spell like that to show such destructive power meant that any demon or angel hit by it would obviously be “purified” instantly.

“That thing is just forcibly using something that wasn’t meant to be used that way!”

In other words, it’s a difference in purpose.

The Pope is currently moving the vessel because his raw holy power output is absurdly high, while these sisters were born with a specific purpose from the beginning.

Together, they’re the universe’s best at supplying “fuel” to something.

“That’s what we’re going to use.”

A strike utilizing the fundamental difference in capabilities.

Just as the ability I used on the Pope was my fundamental nature, I’m saying we’ll use the “output” that is these two’s created purpose.

It’s rather philosophical that their very purpose of creation would be used against their creator.

“How are we supposed to use that? We’ve never done anything like that before…!”

“There is a way to use it artificially.”

The Pope must have prepared a method to use these two.

It’s just… a rather extreme measure.

But considering the Grand Duke is currently being “digested” inside the vessel, we need to end this quickly, so we have to use it.

“Stab me. With the Severer.”

I pointed at myself as I said this.

There was a reason I had set up Yuria and the Severer as a set from the beginning.

If we compare the principle of these three to a gun, the Holy Maiden is the “bullet,” Yuria is the “trigger,” and the Severer is the “barrel.”

What ultimately determines the direction of the power is that thing, so although it’s a bit strange, there’s no other way to use it rapidly.

“I’ll briefly serve as a substitute vessel. We just need to balance the scales once.”

“…”

“That’s why I ascended to become a demon. I’ll be fine.”

Of course, that wasn’t the only reason I did it, but it’s certainly one of the reasons I kept strengthening the Fallen Angel’s seal.

“B-but…”

Yuria stammered with a pale face.

“I-I’ve hurt Darwood before…”

She seems to be triggered by some trauma. Well, I have been split in two by her before, so that makes sense.

“I-if I fail again…”

“It’s not like you’re stabbing to kill me like last time. Have some confidence.”

“But…!”

Hmm.

Perhaps because of her previous experience, she seems to have a strong aversion to this.

In times like these, I need to boost her self-esteem.

And the best way to boost self-esteem is to remind her of her successful experiences.

“That’s not true. You haven’t always failed.”

“…What?”

I patted Yuria’s shoulder as she stared at me blankly, and pointed to the area near my stomach.

What nonsense is she talking about, not having any special achievements with me?

You definitely have an accomplishment that others couldn’t even dream of.

“Getting stabbed by you hurt the most.”

“…Uh…”

“Your accuracy was amazing. I couldn’t even dodge it. Just stab gently with that same accuracy this time.”

“…”

Yuria looked back and forth between me and that spot.

She seemed to be intensely debating whether she should feel good about hearing such words.

Then I should erase that doubt too!

[…Is that true?]

“Out of all the hardships I’ve endured, you were the most special!”

“…”

“You’re the best. You definitely have qualities that other girls can’t imitate!”

But I continued to shower her with praise, as if hypnotizing her. Ignoring even Calivan’s muttering.

“…Darwood…”

Eventually, Yuria’s eyes welled up with tears.

It’s just baseless flattery without any substance, but if you keep pushing it, it usually works somehow.

Praise makes even whales dance. Especially someone with low self-esteem like her will listen to even these ridiculous words…!

“…Is that something to be moved by?!”

[This actually works?!]

Well, well.

Don’t interrupt when two people are deeply connecting, you two.

But regardless of Lucien’s objections, Yuria’s demeanor had clearly become much more determined than before.

Seeing her look back and forth between the Severer and me, then speaking with an “Mmm!” expression, it was obvious.

“…I’ll try to become even more special to you, Darwood!”

“…”

No.

You don’t need to try that hard.

Just stab me…

●

He had gained the upper hand.

From the beginning, those three couldn’t inflict any meaningful damage on the Pope. Now that the Grand Duke was gone too, they certainly had no means to harm him.

The Pope continued to pour attacks from the vessel toward his opponents with that thought in mind.

Now all that remained was to kill them calmly and decisively, without leaving any room for response. The fact that not even a decent counterattack was coming proved it…

While he was thinking this.

“A-alright!”

With such a strangely light battle cry.

Suddenly, Yuria stabbed Darwood in the stomach with the Severer.

Blood spurted violently from Darwood’s mouth with a “puhwat” sound.

“I said you didn’t need to try that hard, Yuria…!”

“I-I-I’m sorry…!”

“No, it’s fine! I can handle this much!”

“…”

The Pope momentarily stopped moving.

“…?”

Then he stared blankly at the scene.

Even in such a dire situation, his reaction showed how much the sight unfolding before his eyes transcended his common sense.

“-What are you…?”

Such confusion was evident in his incomplete sentence that stumbled out.

“…?!”

But soon that bewilderment turned to shock.

The energy emanating from Darwood’s body, pierced by the Severer, was something eerily familiar.

It was, without a doubt.

Very similar to the energy emitted by this “vessel” he had prepared throughout his lifetime.

“That’s not it.”

Darwood spoke while coughing up blood.

“You’re not the only one who can prepare.”

“…You.”

“Others can do it much, much better than you.”

This is absurd.

The Pope gritted his teeth.

‘Don’t be… ridiculous…!’

He should be the one holding the initiative in every situation, manipulating the world from behind the scenes.

That’s how it has always been, and that rule must never be broken in the “new world” he was about to unfold.

In that sense.

Being caught off guard by an unexpected attack and having the “strategy” he had prepared his whole life copied by his opponent were completely different matters.

It felt like.

Being played by his opponent.

“So.”

But, as if mocking his expression.

Darwood calmly spoke up.

Until now, his demeanor had been half-joking.

But the current atmosphere as he spoke these words was undeniably serious.

“Absurd things keep happening in this world, you know?”

“You—!”

“Your title is wrong to begin with. How could someone like you be the Pope? Calling you a devil bastard would be more fitting.”

How many continental-scale misfortunes had the Pope caused?

How many people had become unhappy and suffered because of this pathetic man’s pathetic ambitions?

“…And you even went after the people around me.”

Perhaps that’s why his tone had changed from playful to serious.

It’s even more absurd that he attaches phrases like purifying the world to his actions.

So.

“Why don’t you try being purified yourself this time?”

It’s time to settle the karmic debt.

Darwood, having drawn up energy completely identical to the vessel’s, unleashed the spell toward the Pope.

●