episode_0011

“Saint.”

“Ah, you came. May the Libra bless you… Thank you for your hard work. How did the investigation into Cardinal Maple go?”

“Yes, we found evidence of a contract with the Demon Tribe in the Cardinal’s residence in order to take over the currently vacant position of the Pope. And the disappearance is thought to be a crime committed using the same method as the Empire’s serial disappearances. At first glance, it may seem like a disappearance, but the rest of the body, except for the head, was torn to pieces and floated down the river…”

“That’s okay. I already know the rest.”

It wasn’t important. It was just a rotten branch that needed to be cut off anyway, so it just got cut off on its own. It was probably done by a thief or something who had obtained information from somewhere.

When I first learned of the contract with the Demon Tribe while traveling with the previous warriors, I was only sorry that I was unable to cut it off due to my lack of position. Rather, I should be grateful to the one who cut off the cardinal.

Of course, Gabriel could not have imagined that the Demon King would personally kill a high-ranking official of the Holy Nation who had made a contract with the Demon Tribe, a traitor who would bring enormous benefits to the Demon Tribe if left alive. He simply thought about the topic for a moment, dismissed it as nothing, and erased it from his mind.

“But, Saintess, if you prepare for war when the goddess’ people are already suffering from this year’s famine…”

“King, there is no mission to doubt for the followers of the Goddess. There is only a mission to follow.”

The eyes overflowed with divine power to an abnormal level that seemed to not allow any objections, and one of the paladins was completely overwhelmed by it.

“Don’t worry, it’s all Goddess’s will.”

As he spoke, Gabriel still held in his left hand the documents for preparing for war, and in his right hand he held a vial containing the power of the warrior. It was something he had secretly extracted from Smith’s body, and if this fact was discovered, he would be publicly questioned and would have nothing to say.

“I should be thankful to Sister Bell. Although I was the one who heard the revelation from the goddess and led the board from the beginning, it was Sister Bell who made it easy. Hoohoohoo… It starts from the moment you return to the Holy Land.”

When I took off the mask I had been wearing my whole life for a moment, I felt an indescribable pleasure. It came from my sense of mission to carry out the will of the goddess.

*****

“I was worried that I’d be caught because I was wanted, but I guess I don’t need to be.”

The empire he returned to was… literally a mess.

“Extra! Extra!!! Marquis Larkpain was found murdered!!”

“Extra! Extra!! It turns out that the Duchess Fried is in league with the Demons!”

“You call that a special edition? It’s a special edition! Princes and princesses in their 50s were massacred!!”

How do I get extras added every minute?

If I’m in this state of confusion, you might not recognize me even if I go out in public. My public image is that of an ordinary country boy from Leon Nine Saber’s time.

“Just in case, please change your hair color, my precious one. If you get even one scratch, the human world may be destroyed by the Demon King that day.”

“That’s an exaggeration. But I get it. You should at least dye your hair white so that you look like brothers.”

Let me say this again, I’m a guy.

“Everyone will think we’re siblings… Oh, I understand. I’ll be careful with my tongue. ”

Mr. Swap. Where did you hear the rumor? I’m a man who lives my life the way I want.

Anyway, the process of changing hair color didn’t take that long.

“You’re done… …What are you doing there?”

“This, this is…”

This kid is changing his hair color by himself using his magic power, so he’s doing something else.

“Cat?”

“This is a breed called Munchkin. Its short legs are its charm point.”

“I guess you like cats. By the way, Munchkin… I think there will be a lot of them with the Novelpia tag.”

“Do you like other animals besides cats? I especially like foxes. How cool is their fluffy tail? Many people don’t know this. And their snouts are also a nice touch-”

“…Collim point?”

“Ah.”

“Wow. Every time I pass by the room, I hear animal sounds. Are you furry?”

“I’m not a furry… I love all animals equally…”

“Then it must be an interstitial insect.”

My facial expression twisted. How is it that there isn’t a single normal person in this Demon King’s Castle?

“Follow me with that cat, quick… I don’t care about your sexual preferences.”

“Okay, I understand…”

Mino, who had become gloomy, followed him, holding the cat in his arms. Is it because the Vampire Lords are known to be rich in the world, because they are ‘suspiciously rich guys’?

“Then, the former colleagues whose current status I can confirm through this outing are Bell, Gabriel, and Ena… Su is a thief, so she’s free and not tied up anywhere, so it’ll be hard to find her whereabouts, and Nia is an elf, so she’ll probably have returned to the World Tree, so it’ll be hard to find her.”

“If you put it that way, isn’t that the same for that fellow wizard?”

“How do you know Belle? Well anyway… Belle’s situation is different. Belle will be with Smith. The new warrior…”

Ugh, Leah clenched her teeth. Thinking back, she was filled with anger.

‘That former warrior… It’s been a long time since the Demon King killed him. I haven’t heard what happened to his comrades though…’

Still, it would be the same in the Empire, either becoming a slave or being attached to a new warrior, Mino changed his mind.

“Please fix it, there are still many steps left to decorate the plan.”

“…I see. Phew… I find that funny too. I’m being comforted by people I thought were my mortal enemies just a few days ago…”

Now I won’t just sit there and cry. You’ve shown me with your own hands that nothing will change. I will stand on the side of the Demons and take complete revenge on you. Even if it’s ridiculous as a former warrior.

The more I thought about it, the more vivid the sound of Belle and Ena having sex and the scene of them kissing in the back alley came to mind. Damn, I have to be cool-headed to get revenge.

“First… let’s find Gabriel. I don’t think the other two will be able to maintain their sanity if they meet.”

“Are you okay? Your complexion doesn’t look good.”

“Don’t worry about it. It’s nothing.”

“Okay, I understand.”

“By the way, is there a way to find it? Gabrielle. She’s a saint after all.”

“There’s no need to search for it. According to the intelligence, it is openly displayed in the Temple of the Goddess of Libra in the Imperial Capital…”

…That’s perfect. I want to get revenge on Niana Su, who abandoned me without even seeing my face, and be close to her. Paradoxically, I don’t think I’ll lose my senses.

Mino read my expression.

“Would you like to go now?”

“Yeah. Can you escort me? My strength right now…”

I wiggled my fingers, applying force, and as expected, my strength drained away. This is why warriors die young. I didn’t know that all the strength I used to swing my sword when I was hunting mobs was my life force…

“Your condition is particularly severe. Most warriors of the past don’t have their vitality drained in such a toxic manner.”

“Is it because I’m a ‘multi-talented’ warrior? Because I’m incompetent, I needed more strength to do even that.”

“Don’t think so. I don’t give anyone a nickname like ‘precious’.”

“Is that a compliment? Cheer up.”

“That’s right.”

“…Yeah, cheer up. Let’s go.”

After gathering my courage one last time, I walked to the temple.

“Oh. Isn’t this the place…?”

There were minor incidents where I got a little lost.

“This way, noble one!! It’s not you!”

“Oh, sorry.”

…It’s definitely not the case that I was a stray from the beginning. It’s just because my body changed!

‘…Does changing bodies usually have anything to do with the road? It’s just the original…’

Mino thought about that for a moment and then stopped his thoughts. The temple was right in front of him.

*****

“Welcome to the temple of the Goddess of Libra, brothers and sisters.”

For a moment, I felt bad when the priest held out the offering bag with a blatant look in his eyes, as if asking for money, but I soon came to my senses when I saw Mino put one gold piece in without showing it.

“Oh, well…then have a good time.”

The priest also opened his eyes wide, as if he had never expected to receive so much as gold.

“Tsk. Those priests can’t be that rotten…”

I nodded in agreement to Mino’s quiet mutterings, buried in the meow of the cat in Mino’s arms.

In fact, seeing as the goddess above abandoned me without saying a word, it may be because the upper water is dirty. Seeing as Gabriel abandoned me as soon as my power was separated, they were all the same guys.

So, it wasn’t a crime for me to hang out with these demons like this. I justified it quietly like that.

Isn’t that right, Gabriel?

I looked straight at Gabriel, surrounded by believers in the middle of the temple.

Gabriel avoided my gaze and pretended to bless the believers.

Eyes, but only for a moment. It was an undeniable fact.

With my eyes peeled, I could clearly see what Gabriel was looking at.

“Huh, huh?? Your Majesty? I’m just going to spy…!”

I thought I was angry enough already, but there was more to the abyss.

As I was breaking through the believers with Mino as my meat shield, only then did Gabriel look at me.

I know it’s an irrational act. But, Mino, who is looking at all the believers and me, as if he’s noticed my identity. Those eyes that see everything as a puppet…

Because the eyes that had been looking at us since the beginning of our journey, the eyes that had never changed, were eerily identical.

“May you be blessed by the Libra. Sister, what are you curious about that brought you here?”

“Well, wouldn’t you know better? Gabriel. Seeing how they separated the space like this. ”

The disguise that had been using Mino’s magic power at the right time was continuously exposed to strong holy power, so it came off and her bright yellow hair fluttered between the air.

“…Ahaha, that’s right. Then, shall we go inside the temple and talk? Sister Leah.”

And Gabriel smiled, as if he had been waiting for this moment, as if he had already known this would happen.

Even at this very moment, and at the very moment when I lost my warrior’s power, Gabriel was still looking at me as some kind of long-term pawn.

*****

“Hira. Galvein.”

“”…Yep.””

“Where did Leah go?”

“That, that…”

They both shivered at the same time. They clearly left it in Mino’s hands!

Galvein was even more furious. Judging from the note next to where the blood packs disappeared from in his lab, it was clear that they had gone somewhere, but if he had just said that, he couldn’t be sure how many pieces his life vessel would be shattered into.

Besides, Hira only thought that she was a market person, and didn’t know that she was Leah’s restraint, so he was flustered when Leah suddenly disappeared and rolled his eyes, saying, “Huh?” It was a secret that only Hira didn’t know.

“…I guess it’s the human side. Leah has enemies on that side. ”

Abel touched his forehead. It was fortunate that Mino was the most specialized in defense among the Four Heavenly Kings. The other two were shouting that the best defense was attack!, so it only seemed that way in comparison.

“Guard the Demon King’s Castle. I will go out and bring him back myself.”

“Your honor.”

As soon as Abel turned around and left the room, he ran out of the Demon King’s castle with somewhat urgent steps.

“Please, I hope it’s not just the temple…”