Chapter 235
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「Hm? Wait a moment. Your mana level—」
Cardinal Gilbert’s expression shows momentary bewilderment.
「Could it be that your ‘Limit Break’ was only temporary? Ah, then we’ll need to revise our plans.」
Though Cardinal Gilbert furrows his brow, he quickly regains his composure.
「Well, no matter.」
He turns his gaze toward the Crater Church associates.
「Today, many have come from Crater at my call.」
From among the numerous church officials, ten people, including the Pope, step forward. They quickly arrange themselves in a circle around the restrained Ryūgūin.
「Everyone here has their own grievances against you.」
Ryūgūin makes a loud gulping sound.
「Since you’re an idiot, I’ll have to spell it out clearly for you—they all feel outrage toward you.」
Ryūgūin’s body trembles as he looks around at his surroundings.
「Royal Capital, Greeneyes, Skuld, Bluemoon, Seasky, Flipper, Pell-mell, Gin Fizz, Sangaf, Lemone.」
Gilbert lists off the names of several cities.
All of them are familiar… or rather, they’re all cities that we had visited.
「Everywhere you went, you hurt countless people. Those you hurt with your selfishness had loved ones too. It’s only natural that they would seek revenge. It’s perfectly normal.」
The restrained Ryūgūin desperately twists his body. He struggles with all his might to escape from this place as quickly as possible.
「Moreover, you cast a wicked spell on Saint Mika. Nearly every high-ranking member of the church reveres her. What you did is completely unforgivable. So why did you think you could get away unscathed?」
Well, there’s no point asking an imbecile, Gilbert concludes, and continues speaking.
「What we’re about to bestow upon you is our gift to a fool like you.」
Following Gilbert’s signal, those surrounding Ryūgūin place several items on the floor and draw what appears to be a magic circle with geometric patterns and letters, centered on Ryūgūin. As soon as they finish, they surround him again, and one of them begins some kind of incantation.
「Despite being an idiot, you certainly had a way with words. You had no qualms about lying, and felt not a shred of guilt about deceiving others. Perhaps you did have a talent for falsehoods after all. That’s why we’ll first ‘take away your ability to lie.’」
There is a certain resolve in Gilbert’s voice.
「Ah, it seems I can’t control my own anger. How immature of me. To think I’d want to hear your final screams.」
With another gesture of two fingers, he removes the barrier around Ryūgūin’s mouth.
「Please, stop this—!」
As Ryūgūin screams, the first incantation ends.
And then they declare,
「[Precept of No False Speech (Liephobia)]」
Ryūgūin is momentarily engulfed in a pillar of light.
It happens so quickly that Ryūgūin himself can’t comprehend what has happened to him, and he stands there dumbfounded.
「Now you will never be able to lie again for all eternity. No matter how small the lie, no matter if it’s for someone else’s benefit. Ah, and since we’ve branded ‘that’ as taboo upon your soul, it cannot be undone.」
「Please, stop, please stop!」
Gilbert continues his explanation dispassionately,
「Someone help me… somebody help me…」
「[Precept of No Theft (Robphobia)]」
「Mika! Help me! Angelica! I—」
As this continues, more incantations are cast in succession,
「Ahhh!! Stop it! Why are you doing this—」
「[Precept of No Sexual Misconduct (Sexphobia)]」
「What did I ever do to deserve this?!」
The pillar of light keeps engulfing Ryūgūin and disappearing,
「I don’t want this—!」
「[Precept of No Intoxicants (Alcoholphobia)]」
「Gilbert, please! Help—」
The cycle repeats.
「That makes four. Your specialties—lying and exploitation—along with your beloved acts of sexual misconduct and drinking, you’ll never be able to do any of these again.」
Ugh, ugh… Ryūgūin bows his face to the ground.
「If you try to do any of these things, you’ll experience severe pain and numbness in both mind and body, leaving you incapacitated for a period of time. If you actually complete the act, you’ll suffer lasting aftereffects that neither recovery potions nor healing magic can cure.」
「How… how can you do something so cruel…?」
「Cruel? What are you talking about? Did I say we were finished? We’re not even halfway done yet.」
Gilbert states this fact matter-of-factly.
Hearing this, Ryūgūin,
「UWAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!」
Lets out a scream while crying.
「That’s enough!! Isn’t this sufficient already?!」
Ryūgūin lets out a soul-piercing scream.
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