CH 127

Fear grew on people’s faces.

“S-Stop it!”

I heard a man who was quite energetic shouting out loud. But I didn’t care and spread my hands.

Bangㅡ!

Hessed’s thunder and lightning followed with a rumble and a perfect special effect.

‘At times like this, the horror atmosphere is the best.’

I opened my mouth and spoke loudly again.

“Here are those to satisfy your noble pleasures, who love to chew people alive. May they gladly receive their will through human sacrifice and return to extinction with their souls in peace…”

Hessed struck the lightning hard again.

“Aaakh!”

“Euaaakh!”

People shuddered and trembled at the sound of thunder.

“Chew people alive? Human sacrifice?”

“Isn’t she crazy? Stop! Stop!”

“S-Saintess! Stop!”

I twitched my eyebrows and looked at them. About half an arm of those who remained were trembling, unable to come to their senses.

“Why? You asked me to bring Raid back.”

Fear hung over people’s faces.

“That, that…”

“As expected, the Demon King…”

It was different from the time before when he vigorously stopped me. The coachman leading my carriage had long since run away.

“Hmm. You have to speak straight, right? I don’t know what you mean?”

A voice broke out among the people at my words.

“Please stop now!”

“Please stop summoning Sir Raid! Saintess!”

“W-We made a mistake!”

I raised my eyebrows and quietly raised a hand. Hessed’s lightning was dying down.

I crossed my arms and looked at them.

“I understand that it’s hard to accept the reality, but this kind of futility is just a crime. Did you catch me and demand the restoration of Raid at the temple of Elium? While being so afraid that Raid had descended.”

Naturally, no one answered my words.

The raucous crowd was as quiet as a mouse.

“Please think about what your anger is for. Do you want to change reality, or do you want to be like a child knowing you can’t change reality?”

Painful factual violence is the best cure for a lost sheep.

[The Gods are eating corn snacks and then gulping soda.]

I started walking, and the crowd that surrounded me parted on both sides, giving way.

As I walked a little outside the crowd, I heard a voice behind me.

“Saintess!”

I stopped and stood up.

The man who seemed to be the leader shouted with a distorted face.

“Then, who should we trust in our lives now? If not him… Whom should we trust?”

After a while, I let out a small sigh and turned my head. Then I told him.

“I want to tell you to believe in yourself, but…”

Numerous anxious eyes turned to me.

Why do humans believe in God?

It may be because they need a lighthouse for their aimless voyage, or because they need comfort and hope. Wouldn’t it be a heartless word for them to believe in themselves and be alone?

“You have eight options. If you stubbornly look at the broken road, other opportunities won’t come.”

[The God of Justice, Hetuse, agrees with you.]

Voices that seemed to give up or agree with my words burst out.

“Yes. Even if you complain like this, God Raid won’t come back.”

“There is no God Raid anymore. None! Shit!”

“To think that he was the Demon King! Raid was the Demon King! That bastard! I didn’t want to admit it!”

I left them behind and walked. The agony and choice left behind was now theirs.

After taking a few more steps, I saw the Paladins running towards me.

“Saintess!! Are you okay!!”

“Saintess!!”

It seems that they came running after hearing that the carriage I was riding in had disappeared. I also had a regret, I would have taken Dwayne with me if I had known this trouble would happen.

“Ah, I’m fine. See. I’m alright, am I not?”

“That’s a relief.”

Soon after, I turned around slightly at the sound of chatter.

“I-I was wrong!”

“Run away! They are the Paladins of Elium!”

The crowd quickly dissipated and several people were seen being captured by the Paladins.

‘Ah, I’m tired.’

It was time to look back and let out a small sigh.

Pfft. I heard a familiar laugh and looked away to see Diego.

His dark purple eyes shone under beautiful silver hair. Soon, a low voice, as if teasing, reached my ears.

“I watched that well. Queen.”

It was difficult for me to manage my expression, but I tried to raise one corner of my lips.

“…What did you come here for?”

“I have come to see the Queen.”

“Damn it, if you dare to say the word ‘queen’ one more time!”

‘Don’t remind me of the dark history, you demon!’

At my reaction, he chuckled again.

Diego beckoned and the Paladins backed away a bit, then we started talking at close range.

“I’m surprised you’re queenly enough even without a whip.”

I didn’t give any more warning and tried to grab him by the collar with Ciel’s power. But then, sparks rose, and his hand grabbed my wrist. Soon, a low voice reached my ears.

“Ssssh. I’ll stop teasing you.”

I violently pushed his hand away from me. Then I walked forward with my chin raised.

“Are you upset?”

“No. I just don’t want to hang out with the Demon King.”

“Would you like to hang out with me if I’m not?”

I furrowed my eyebrows and looked back.

“Should I pray to the Gods for repentance?”

[The God of Benevolence, Oman, nods his head vigorously with his eyes wide open.]

“Haha, just kidding.”

[The God of Benevolence, Oman, adds Diego to the challenging list in addition to the existing three men.]

“You went to see Professor Draive.”

I frowned at his words.

“Did you do a background check?”

“Yes.”

I forgot what to say after hearing those words he had said so confidently.

“Ah, yes.”

“It wasn’t your background check, it was Professor Draive’s. He was a man who was very talented in necromancy.”

Hmmm, I would have been a bit embarrassed if I overreacted.

“I see. Well… I did meet Professor Draive briefly.”

“The reason is?”

While staring at him naturally asking for an answer, I opened my mouth. In a way, it wouldn’t be a bad thing if he knew. No, I just thought he might help.

“Camilla isn’t dead.”

I sensed his suspicious glance at the unexpected news of his sister.

“That’s why I met Professor Drave.”

Then he said right away.

“That can’t be. Unless Bellatrix pushes herself to the point of extinguishing her existence.”

“You mean she can save her if she overdoes it?”

“I have heard about the Gods from Leto. Gods aren’t necessarily omnipotent, because doing more than just authority could endanger their divinity. But he also added that he would become an omniscient God.”

Again, the conclusion wasn’t different from what I thought. I can only hope that Bellatrix will be baited soon.

“Meeting like this at this time…”

I told Diego.

“…?”

“Could you please cooperate?”

If Rita’s necklace was something special and meaningful with the color of Rita’s soul, then the energy contained in the necklace would be enough to appeal to Bellatrix for the truth.

But this was just Rita’s thing, so I decided to use the necklace as a medium to bring it in front of Bellatrix. To do so, I need necromancy, that is, black magic.

Draive is said to have escaped the surveillance of Cass’ men and went on vacation to the countryside, but it took time to catch him, so I thought that Diego in front of me would be better. After all, he also uses black magic.

“What is it? How about that gaze as if you’re looking at a chicken instead of a pheasant?”

(a chicken instead of a pheasant: an expression to describe a situation where something is replaced with something else similar when the exact same thing isn’t found.)

“As expected, you’re quick-witted.”

I confided in Diego about what had happened so far.

When he heard about my trip to Salerium, he looked at me with a stunned look.

“I was just curious when I heard the report that you met Draive, but as expected, it exceeded my expectations. I have no idea what you are thinking.”

“Well, it wasn’t such a scary place, so don’t be surprised.”

“So you’re asking me to cast black magic on this necklace?”

“Well… That’s right. According to the necromancy book in Draive’s lab, the object of the dead becomes the medium. And you don’t want to leave anything to be regretted about Camilla, so there’s nothing to lose.

Diego looked at me for a long time and said incomprehensibly.

“I heard that the temple persecutes those who use black magic. Seeing it again, you’re really amazing. Well, it’s kind of amazing when you think about it now since you came to the black magic guild, Deviamon.”

“It’s not about harming people, and it’s just a temporary use of necessary skills for what’s needed, so there’s no need to have preconceived notions.”

I shrugged.

“The Gods don’t think much of it. Rather, humans are more stubborn.”

[The God of Art, Mond, agrees with you.]

[The God of Benevolence, Oman, agrees with you.]

[The God of Justice, Hetuse, spits alone.]

[The God of Destruction, Ciel, bites Hetuse’s butt as if to pay attention.]

“Ha…”

Diego looked at me for a long time with dark eyes.

“Will you cooperate with me? Or won’t you?”

I smiled and asked him.