Chapter 223
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「’Doubt,’ is it?」
Sensei’s decisive statement makes Ryūgūin tremble.
「W-what are you saying?! You show up out of nowhere and say ‘doubt’?! This woman must be crazy!!」
His expression shifts from tearful to angry as he shouts with spittle flying from his mouth. However,
「The only crazy one here is you, fool,」
Sensei cuts him down sharply.
Clearly displeased, Ryūgūin starts screaming, 「Do you have any idea who I am?!!」
She snaps her crimson fan open again, and in her hand appears her beloved sword.
「You need to be quiet. You’re getting rather annoying.」
She gives her sword a light swing. Lightning fast. The sound of cutting air follows a moment later.
Ryūgūin’s face contorts with fear as he lets out a 「Hii…」 and plops down on his behind, shaking his head repeatedly at Sensei.
「Now that this one has finally quieted down, I shall speak briefly.」
Sensei looks around the room. I also scan my surroundings once more. Many of the church officials are already showing an almost excessive reaction to Sensei. The Pope’s eyes are bulging out of their sockets, while most of the cardinals and high priests are flustered, unsure whether to bow their heads or clasp their hands, their faces pale. However, there are some whose expressions seem to say, 「What’s with this woman? She’s good-looking but is she crazy?」
「Most of those from the Crater Church here seem to understand without me having to explain.」
Sensei’s gaze is sharp.
「But there are some who remain unclear. Isn’t that right, Pope?」
At Sensei’s words and gaze, the Pope prostrates himself with a pale face.
Seeing this, most of those who had come to the same realization follow his lead, and the remaining few hurriedly prostrate themselves as well.
「Well, that’s fine, you may sit up properly. We can discuss those matters after we deal with the Hero situation.」
The Pope responds, 「As you wish,」 and finally, the murmuring among the church officials subsides.
Sensei turns to the dumbfounded Ryūgūin and asks:
「By the way, Hero Ryūgūin, was the god you met ‘an elderly figure with a stern expression that commanded such authority you felt compelled to bow your head’?」
Sensei snorts mockingly.
Though Ryūgūin, who has managed to stand up, shows a moment of confusion at Sensei’s question, he quickly conceals it and responds with grand gestures and a desperate expression.
「That’s right!! I saw it!! A god with a stern face and a beard!!! Try to deny it if you can!!」
A sound of destruction echoes. It’s the sound of Sensei stomping through the floor.
Once again, Ryūgūin deflates and falls silent.
「Hero, I have unfortunate news for you – no such god exists.」
「On what grounds—」
「Grounds? That’s obvious – my very existence is the proof, and the evidence that your words are lies. No god of such appearance exists in this world. Rather, there are no male gods left in this country at all. Moreover, the god (Crater) whom the Crater Church worships is female.」
Some of the church officials are moved to tears by Sensei’s words.
The Pope in particular is sobbing, creating a somewhat strange atmosphere.
「Huh? See, this woman really is crazy!! Someone, anyone, throw this woman out right now!!」
Ryūgūin fails to read the room and loudly commands the surrounding soldiers and knights. No one remains who would listen to his orders. Unable to grasp the situation, he has committed a grave blunder. His rash words have provoked anger.
A fireball shoots out from one of the cardinals and strikes Ryūgūin directly.
「Aaaaaahhhhh!!! I’m burning!!! Aaaahhh! It’s hooooot!!」
A deluge of water rains down on the burning Ryūgūin.
Showing no concern for Ryūgūin’s condition, one of the cardinals shouts loudly in response to his earlier words:
「You insolent fool!! So you were indeed deceiving us!! You fake Hero!!
A true Hero would know who this person is!!」
His eyes are completely wild with anger and joy.
「Do you have any idea who this person is—」
「That’s enough.
There’s no point in discussing who I am here. Besides, what good would it do to tell someone like him? It’s enough that you understand who I am and that the Hero’s words are steeped in lies. This one no longer needs mercy or agreement.」
Sensei’s voice lacks its usual gentleness.
「Ha!! As you wish!!」
The church officials raise their voices at her command.
This was the decisive blow against Ryūgūin’s deception.
Chancellor Madison, who had been quietly observing their behavior, judges that the outcome is decided even without detailed explanation.
「Hero Ryūgūin, that should be enough. You have nothing left to say, right?」
Madison poses this final question to Ryūgūin.
However, Ryūgūin latches onto what should have been just a final confirmation.
「This is weird!! I’m the Hero!! You’re all just NPCs from a backward world without wisdom or intelligence!! This is all wrong from the start!! This is a mistake!! That’s right!! This is definitely a mistake!!」
His face shows signs of madness.
This is the end result of someone who has acted however they pleased in this world.
「So what if I stole Yamada’s achievements!! Is there even a complaint from the victim?! There isn’t, right?! Where is Yamada?! He’s nowhere to be found, right?! He’s already dead!! Try bringing him out if you can!!」
Ryūgūin screams with such force it seems blood might burst from his throat.
Anon whispers in my ear.
「Everything is ready. Let’s show him what’s what.」
And then, I sense her (Sena’s) presence behind me.
「Ichiro, take back everything.」
With her words at my back, I remove my mask and step forward, one step, then another. And then—
「You called for me, Ryūgūin?」
Ryūgūin, who had been shouting 「What?! Don’t get in my way!! You primitive monkey!!」 turns around, and upon seeing my face, his expression turns to shock as his jaw drops open wide.
「Yamada Ichiro has returned, just as you wished?」
Ryūgūin takes several steps backward, loses his balance again, and falls backward, landing on his behind.
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