226-220 powerful drug

When we returned to the large training ground, what was waiting for us were the knights in tight formation and the staff in the Healer's Guild.

And at the front, the figure of the masters and the War Maiden Holy Knights were restraining and seating the knights who had been turned into demons, including Dongahaha, who had caused a commotion this time, and the other knights who had been turned into demons.

Apparently, the knights who had been turned into madness had regained consciousness and were being restrained and seated as well.

The knights had a look of surprise at the fact that I had really brought the Pope to the big training ground, but they kept their gaze quietly focused on the Pope and me.

''Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your patience. You will be able to find a lot of people who will be able to help you. Then Pope please.

When the Pope stepped in front of me, I walked up to Dongahaha with an interesting expression on my face and stopped, and began to speak to him directly.

'O Dongahaha, has the Church become an abomination to you?'

"...No, Pope, this church is and always has been and always will be like a home to me. And those of us here are like family.

Dongahaha looked startled for a moment when he was suddenly spoken to, but he quickly recovered and replied to the Pope's questioned words slowly and with a slight smile.

The Pope's sudden action was on condition that the Pope, who wanted to talk to Dongahaha, would judge him in front of everyone.

''I would like to get a little time to talk with Dongahaha before I judge you in front of everyone...''

You can do everything you want, Pope.

It was a small exchange condition, but I had decided to leave everything to the Pope, who had said it while making his voice small on the buttocks.

........And yet, Dongahaha's face was so calm that he didn't seem to be spouting a lie as he declared the church to be his home and the church people to be his family.

It was very hard to believe that this was the one who was trying to destroy the church not long ago.

''Well so is my mistress. But then, why did you spread rumors about Luciel and even use the Evil Law to let the demon tribe infiltrate the church?

The Pope nodded with a smile in agreement with Dongahaha's words, but his face immediately clouded over and he asked why he caused the series of events.

''I am very sorry to Sage Luciel, but the fact that I could no longer use Holy Attribute Magic made me fear for the future of the Church. That's why.''

It is true that if Luciel is unable to use Holy Attribute magic, the impact on the church and beyond will not be small. But even if that were to happen, as long as we all work together, we should be able to overcome it.

You can't!　The inside of this church is already rotten. That's why we tried to destroy everything before it could rot any further.

Dongahaha looked at me and uttered an apology, then turned to the Pope again and told him clearly that he was going to destroy the church.

But I wasn't surprised that he, the head of the executive branch, had told me that the church was corrupt.

I had thought that the executive branch, which runs the church behind the scenes, was corrupting the church, but the way he said it, it sounded like the rest of the executive branch was corrupting the church, or something like that.

The reputation and authority of the church should be getting a boost these days, and I didn't think there was a corrupting factor, so I didn't understand the truth of why he said that.

'What do you mean, I've heard that the church's authority is slowly returning,'

The Pope seemed to have the same question and asked Dongahaha again.

'The reputation of the Church hasn't changed that much. To the extent that the fame of the Sage Luciel has grown and the guidelines created by the Sage Luciel have made the healers less hated by the people.'

Those words came as a shock to me.

I had worked hard for myself, but I thought I had worked hard with everyone else in the church, in no small part because I had worked hard.

That's the popularity and fame of just me... and everyone else's efforts as well, so I'm sure they understand that I'm not alone in my efforts.

"Since the healers' reputation is growing, the church's reputation is growing as well, right?

The Pope heard exactly what I wanted to hear.

But his response was different from what I had imagined.

''No, sir. Among the knights, only the War Maiden Holy Knights' squadron has increased in reputation. The reputation for the rest of the knights may have gone up a bit, but it's not much of a difference. And the heavyweights who have been at the helm of the church until now have been treated as incompetent.

Why?

The Pope asks Dongahaha for a further explanation.

"For failing to instruct the healers for decades," he said, "you have increased the number of vicious healers and let them run free. You have allowed more rogue healers to flourish and go unchecked. And when the number of demons increased, they did not allocate more knights than necessary. It's probably because of these grievances.

It's...

'Yes. Yes, because a labyrinth has been created inside the Church. But they don't know that.

But with Luciel becoming an S-level healer, the Church was slowly regaining the trust of its people, wasn't it?

'Yes, that's right. Without him, there is no substitute for the fact that the Church and the healers would have been the objects of malice. However, that was until he became a deleterious agent....

I listened to the words Dongahaha spoke, as I couldn't remember acting in a way that would bother the church since I became an S-class healer.

''........Did Luciel do something?''

''I told you when we were drawing up the guidelines. That the wise man, Luciel, could be a deleterious drug...

Dongahaha meditated and shook his head, only answering in the abstract.

'But I'm sure you were involved in creating the guidelines and legislation.

'Yes. But I couldn't let Luciel the Wise do any more than that, nor could I have wanted him to. But he must have been a heroic figure. As soon as he left the church, he did two great things: slaying the dragon when he stepped through the labyrinth, and leveling Yenis.

It's so strange because I'm completely caught up in it, and yet it happens from the edge.

But I did my best to live, so why couldn't I do that?

It's true that Luciel has made a difference. But that doesn't mean that anyone but Luciel is incompetent.

Yes, but they are judged by people who don't know what's going on inside the Church. But they are judged by people who don't know their way around the Church. Outstanding achievement can obscure everything around you.

As I listened to this, I was reminded of the words of my boss, who was a top salesman in a previous life, "What do you mean?

What's the meaning of this?

'There are many of us here who are unhappy that only the wise Luciel is being evaluated. It's a good thing that they don't have a church to begin with, because they don't study within the church and don't change their behavior, so it's strange for them to be evaluated, but they don't even understand such a thing, so they only complain and complain and drag each other to the ground. The same can be said for the healers and the knights.

That's the role of the leader...

'I'll be in charge of the executive, or the Knight Commander Catherine for the Order, or Granharto for the exorcist.

Dongahaha acted in the supremacy of the human race to destroy the church.

Catherine-san was already unable to lead the Order and was caught by the executive branch.

Mr. Granhardt sent my replacement to the labyrinth, and when he couldn't stop their outbursts, he had the evil gods kill them.

I'm in a state where the only person who can take the leadership is Dongahaha.

If that's how you're really pulling your leg, it's rotten, but really........

'How long have you been planning this?

''It was three months ago when Sage Luciel lost his magic. Well, we've been making a lot of preparations since the demon race showed up roughly six months ago...

The Pope-sama makes a face of stunned disbelief and freezes with his mouth half open.

''........If Luciel was unable to use magic, what would you have done?''

If I hadn't sent out a touch to execute him and there was no one to help him, I would have just executed him to become a cornerstone of the church.

The Pope changed the subject a bit, but what he was waiting for was an impermanent word.

Even though he was prepared for that, it was indeed a bit excruciating to hear that he had such a plan.

He wondered why Dongahaha spoke the facts somewhat matter-of-factly, and there was no sign or pretense of venting his resentment and bitterness to the Pope, or of taking any action.

''........Is it still the concubine's fault that things have come to this?

'Cluck. You've always liked to blame yourself. You won't survive the battle against the demon race if you do that.

Demon race?

Hmmm, I've been talking a little too much. It's time for you to judge me. If you are able to judge me, that is. Hahaha.

Dongahaha smiled high and looked up at the Pope.