Ch.365Adjustable NPC. (3)

-BANG!!

“…What’s going on? I don’t think the dog of the main god has come to deal with me personally, has he?”

Avaritia skillfully pushed away the mountains of documents that were still standing around her with her magic, then sat back down in her seat, crossing her legs imperiously as she glared at the Pope. And the Pope, without permission, sat down on the sofa that had been revealed and began to speak.

“For a guest who’s come from far away, shouldn’t you at least offer a cup of tea?”

“Okay, you want it filled with poison up to a lethal dose? Since it’s your last supper, I’ll make sure it smells nice.”

Moving her magic, the mayor actually filled a teacup with pitch-black, viscous magic and hurled it in front of the Pope.

“Here, drink it down. You’ll fly straight to your beloved god’s side in one go.”

“…Tsk tsk, my goodness. I’m truly not welcome here.”

Avaritia smirked as she watched the Pope shake his head at the magic that looked like it could melt the teacup at any moment, then spoke.

“So, what brings the head of the Holy Nation—a war criminal and the main player in destroying the Empire—all the way here? Don’t tell me you noticed I’m a demon and plan to use that to mess with the Ponia Alliance? If that’s the case, I’ll snap your neck right now.”

“Of course not. I’ve known you were a demon since I became Pope. I have no intention of picking a fight over something like that.”

“…What?”

She couldn’t remember exactly when he had been appointed Pope, but she knew it was roughly 30-40 years ago. While she felt a slight chill at the fact that she’d been exposed for longer than she thought, Avaritia concluded that since he had known for so long without attacking her as a heretic, his goal wasn’t simply to use her demonic nature against her. In that case…

“Don’t tell me you’ve come all this way to ask me to join your side?”

“Heh heh, as expected. You’ve been a mayor in the human world for a long time. You’re quite sharp.”

“…Are you serious?”

Declaring war on Ponia, a major power on the continent, and two neutral cities with comparable wealth and military might. And now, before their alliance was complete, one side had been destroyed. What benefit could Aigram possibly gain from joining them? Avaritia racked her brain, but there was only one conclusion.

“Sorry, but if you’re planning to blackmail me with the fact that I’m a demon, forget it. I’m confident I can hide for a while and make a comeback after your lifespan ends.”

“I wouldn’t be so foolish as to try blackmailing a Seven Deadly Sins demon over mere species.”

“Then what are you planning to blackmail me with? Let me tell you something first. The holy power I sense from you is considerable, but don’t think you can kill me with it.”

Even as a corrupt Pope, she knew he possessed tremendous holy power befitting the leader of the Holy Nation, the source of all holy power, as soon as he removed his hood. That’s why she had immediately prepared for battle. However, now that she could properly sense it at leisure, she was certain. With that level of holy power, at best he could only “defeat” her—not kill her like “that man” who had made her feel nothing. And the Pope himself seemed to know this as he nodded and spoke again.

“You’re right. Holy power is being depleted across the Eight Continent. When people are injured, they seek magic and potions rather than holy power. When diseases spread, they look for herbs and doctors instead of priests. As a result, the holy power I possess now is less than half of what I had when I took office.”

The fact that his current holy power was less than half of what it once was—she felt a slight chill wondering just how much he had possessed in his prime. Nevertheless, since that wasn’t the case now, Avaritia maintained her imperious posture and gestured with her chin, urging him to get to the point.

“It’s simple. As you just mentioned yourself, join our side. Then, Superbia (Pride) will overlook everything that’s happened so far and accept you.”

“…Fuck.”

Her imperious attitude immediately crumbled at the name that came out, and cold sweat began to flow down her face. Why was the leader of a place full of the main god’s dogs uttering that name? She had heard reports from Ponia and Nati that Greed seemed to be involved in this war, but she had only thought of it as the Empire going berserk. In fact, that’s why she had judged the Holy Nation’s actions to be so slow, but…

-Grooowl…

“What the hell are you? Why is that bastard’s name coming out of your mouth?!”

-GROOOWL!!

As killing intent and magic overflowed, the entire building began to shake, documents spilled everywhere, and the workers outside could be heard shouting about an earthquake, but that wasn’t what mattered to Avaritia right now.

To think that he had been involved with the Holy Nation. No, if Pride was with the Holy Nation and Greed with the Empire… This meant they had all been involved from the beginning. In other words, this war was artificially created by the Seven Deadly Sins. If so, the result would be…

“Fuck!!”

-CRASH!!!

“A failure, I see.”

Avaritia instantly brought out her wings and horns and fired a magic bullet with all her might at the Pope’s face, but from within the explosion, he merely let out an unaffected hoarse voice. So she deliberated. Should she use her power now to weaken and kill him, or…

‘…No. Escape is the answer!’

Even if she weakened him, she might not be able to kill him. Moreover, her opponent was Pride. If one of the leaders of the Seven Deadly Sins had joined forces with the Pope, there was no telling what he might have done. Plus…

‘Didn’t they say the death toll from this war exceeded 500,000?! Is that enough to fulfill the conditions for him to cross over to the human world?! No!! He must not have fulfilled them yet, which is why he’s trying to draw me in!! Damn it! I thought post-war cleanup was Ponia and the Empire’s business, but am I being set up to take the fall?!’

There’s too little information. If he had already been summoned, she wasn’t weak enough not to notice. But even excluding him, what’s troublesome are his minions—the possibility that high-ranking demons belonging to Pride’s hierarchy had crossed over and made contracts with the Pope.

Moreover, if Sloth (Pigritia) found out that Greed had died, he would move. He never moves first, but once he has something to do, he absolutely gets it done. Perhaps those who died in this war might have become sacrificial materials for the summoning of that mentally deranged Lust…!!

-BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG!!!

As she completely blew up the office and flew out the window, the workers shouted that she was a demon and made a fuss. It doesn’t matter, she was getting tired of this appearance anyway. She had heard recently that Lust was somewhere on the continent too. She could just change to a male form soon. Anyway…!!

‘First, I need to get away from the city…?!!’

“Did you think I would let you escape?”

“What?!!”

-CRASH!!

“KYAAAAH!!!”

As a voice amplified by holy power echoed throughout heaven and earth, Avaritia collided with a giant holy magic formation that appeared in the sky and began to fall, staggering. Then, hammers and swords of holy power, larger than the mayor’s mansion, began to form above the city.

“Y-You crazy bastard!! This is a city where humans live…!!!”

“That’s right. A city where [heretical] humans live. Don’t you think it’s right to erase it from the map?”

“Bullshit!!!”

Unlike other Seven Deadly Sins, she had never created followers; she had merely been filling her desires with the capital they brought in. Despite the fact that the humans living here unknowingly had no sin, the Pope was emanating incredible holy power with a benevolent face from the mansion. If that falls, all the humans in the city will die.

“Crazy!! You bastard!!!”

If the attack was falling outside the city, she would have fled, but inside the city was a different story. This city itself was the embodiment of Greed’s own desire. If all the humans who were tools to fulfill that desire died, truly nothing would remain.

-FLUTTER!!

“Under the power of Greed, I command you!!! Exploit!!!”

-CRASH!!!!

“KYAAAH!!!”

Thinking that she must block this attack even if she loses most of what she’s accumulated, she releases her power at full force, but it’s not a power with high combat ability to begin with. Moreover…

“Y-You bastard!! You, you…!!!”

“Heh heh, now that you’re facing it directly, do you understand? This isn’t something done with holy power alone.”

The attack she’s blocking is not pure holy power. It’s clearly holy magic based on holy power, but no Seven Deadly Sin would fail to notice the thick demonic energy contained within it. Avaritia, vomiting blood as the skin all over her body began to tear, cursed in genuine anger. To think that arrogant bastard would transfer his “power” to a human!!

“Now, decide. Will you die along with the city, or will you join us?”

“F-AAAAARGH!!!”

Her fingers were exposed to the bone, and her wings were blown apart. The holy power, larger than the mansion and certainly stronger than herself. Moreover, the demonic energy contained within it was the power of a Seven Deadly Sin of higher rank than herself. However, Avaritia could not back down here even if it meant death. This city, these “tools” of the city, were her “assets” that she had accumulated throughout her lifetime in the human world. The only time the Seven Deadly Sin of Greed would completely give up her assets is when her head falls.

“Ugh, OOOOH!!!”

Black blood began to burst from every hole in her face, and now even her wrists were exposed to the bone, but she drew in all the power within the city to supply magic and block the attack.

She doesn’t think she can recover in just a few years after fully revealing her form and even activating all her powers. But even more than that…

“DON’T!!! TOUCH!!! MY!!! THINGS!!!”

Feeling that she couldn’t die in peace without landing a blow on that old man and Pride who created this situation, Avaritia’s defense, using all her might…

-CRASH!!! Beep ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯!

…achieved the miracle of Episode 1’s deus ex machina blocking the final raid boss’s attack from Episode 7.

“Impressive block. Then, how will you handle the next [divine punishment]?”

“…F-ck.”

That day, Aigram collapsed.