Now, they could imagine the death of the world.

Born as members of a small village, dirtying their hands throughout their lives, they never dreamed that the world could die.

Even if the village was wiped out entirely, they couldn’t fathom this vast, indifferent world crumbling. It would be strange to seriously ponder the collapse of the world.

The greatest threat they could conceive was a knight.

Being caught by some righteous knight for their misdeeds, and meeting death by an unstoppable force of violence.

But they never thought that would be optimistic.

The sky was not visible. They couldn’t be sure if they were even stepping on the ground. It felt like they were moving, but there was not a single piece of evidence to prove they actually were.

“Subtract.”

It felt like they were losing something, but they couldn’t tell what it was. However, they vaguely knew they were being whittled away, bit by bit.

It will be erased just like this. After the eraser passes over the crude drawing on the whiteboard, only unrecognizable remnants are left.

So.

To prove one’s existence in the pitch-black darkness.

“aaah──!!”

“Ugh, ughaaah!”

One can only scream out loud to make sure the cries reach their own ears.

But after a brief moment.

There’s no one left to cry.

—

“The traffickers have been wiped out, and now there’s only one left…”

“What do you mean ‘how come’? Are you going to spare them ‘one more chance’?”

The paladin clenched the hilt of the greatsword upon hearing the indifferent voices of the man and woman. Although he couldn’t see ahead, he focused on his senses to maintain a vigilant stance.

This too is a trial. A trial arranged by the Goddess. Even if he were to fall here, the High Priest would continue the great work.

The “Sacred Fluid” discovered by chance in the temple of Elmest.

Drawn by its intense scent, the High Priest and the paladin, who had been hiding in their hideout, resumed their activities. The paladin went outside to gather humans for sacrifice. The High Priest proceeded with the resurrection ritual of the Goddess inside.

So.

As long as She is resurrected, it’s all right. Even if I fall here…!

A voice rumbles and echoes in the darkness.

“See, you’re enchanted. Probably a minion of the dead queen… If they’ve been mind-controlled while living an honest life, they should be released.”

“Does that make the sins they’ve committed disappear?”

“Sins are exactly why they must live. Instead of comfortably escaping through death, they should live and pay for them. I’m talking to you, you know.”

“Hmph, I have no intention of paying. So… are you planning to crack open that guy’s head right here? It might take about three hours. I hate when travels get prolonged.”

Something is creeping up in the darkness.

The fallen paladin squinted his eyes trying to discern what it was, but peering into the darkness was no easy task. Only the circulating chill metaphorically suggested ‘something is coming.’

The young man’s voice rang out. With the indifference of a student explaining the outline of an experiment while looking at a frog about to be dissected.

“There’s a quick and easy way. Dip it in malignancy. Just slightly. Then the hidden vile parts will be drawn out.”

“Dip in malignancy? Your eyes, ah… So now, instead of suppressing and denying the evil planted in your head, you’re going to use it and overcome it? You’re going to confront me head-on and win?”

“What I’m trying to overcome is 93%, and you’ve already won. Let’s speak clearly.”

“The hope for escape is swelling more and more. I’m hoping you’ll trip over your own feet and fall. Then maybe I’ll give you a little guidance.”

Pitch-black.

Even in a world shrouded in darkness, a particularly black dot trembled.

A small but venomous dot first traced an arc in the void, followed by a point as silent as the abyss. As the trajectory completed some sort of magic, a translucent mirror appeared in the air.

If one were to gaze into it, the blackness would gaze back. And upon realizing that this mirror was tainting the heart with malignancy──

“I’ve done nothing wrong!”

It burst forth.

The tightly sealed lips parted, and words spilled out as if vomiting bile.

“I served the goddess, for I was told I had the aptitude for divine power! They said it was enough to pray and believe every day, and though it was a tedious chore, I did it diligently. That’s how I became a paladin.”

“And then?”

“Then the goddess appeared in my dreams, saying she adored me. She seduced me. As a devout believer, I couldn’t resist her! Imagine, being embraced by the goddess? What man could refuse?”

“To desire an embrace with the object of your faith… interesting. Go on. What did you do with the power you gained?”

The paladin couldn’t stop speaking. The blackness that dyed his heart became the primer, and the filth hidden deep within poured out.

The one who adorned himself with the words ‘goddess’ and ‘faith’ revealed his true intentions, lured by a subtle voice and hue.

“I lay with women.”

“Aha, you lay with women. Which women?”

“The order’s priestesses, a few of the living sacrifices brought in, those who were asleep…”

“That’s quite wicked. Why would you do that?”

The voice in the darkness asked lightly, as if chiding a close friend, yet also as if interrogating a criminal.

The paladin shouted.

“The goddess commanded it. I was worthy. She said it was fine! That I could do as I pleased and she wouldn’t take away my divine power!”

“That must have been the Queen of Succubi impersonating the goddess. Haven’t you ever considered that the seductive voice wasn’t the goddess’s?”

“At first, I doubted… but my divine power didn’t fade. Even as I laid bare my desires, even as I killed, the divine power remained!”

“Alright, that’s enough.”

Clap.

The sound of applause echoed, resounding as if shaking the entire space. Startled, the paladin’s strength drained, and he slumped to the ground.

And before him, a young mage revealed himself. He pronounced judgment.

“You didn’t fall under strong mental domination; you simply succumbed to a few sweet words. You didn’t even pretend to resist. It doesn’t seem like you pondered much. When the opportunity arose, you acted as if you had been waiting for it.”

“……..”

“I’ll take that meager conscience you were born with. I’ll give you a quest too. Lead the people of that village, wander the continent, and save those endangered by the likes of you.”

Each word seeped into his brain, tearing through to the deepest parts, as a stark white color burrowed in. The paladin knew he could not defy this man’s command. Not now, not ever.

He felt the weight of a shackle in a corner of his heart. Unless he atoned for his deeds, this restraint and command would never be lifted.

In the fading consciousness, the knight thought to himself.

What have I done?

It was a belated regret.

—

The fallen knight and the villagers were neatly piled up in the clearing. In about six hours, they would wake up en masse, moving according to the self-hypnosis I had set.

Let them struggle as much as they have sinned, saving the people.

As I dusted off my hands with a sense of satisfaction, as if I had neatly completed separating the trash, the evil deity poked my thigh and sneered beside me.

“Controlling people like puppets with hypnosis, how are you any different from the queen? Villain. Trash. Mad sorcerer.”

“Quiet, you. What’s so wrong with using a hypnosis app to carry out justice?”

“That ‘justice’ of yours is ultimately just personal… blargh.”

“I know what you’re going to say, damn it. Always trying to scratch at people for no reason. But is that something you should be saying?”

I don’t have to take moral lectures from anyone else, but certainly not from this global troublemaker. If the reformation of the evil deity were complete, maybe. But until the flower of conscience fully blooms, this is not a human but a beast. That’s what I decided.

I grabbed the evil deity’s head tightly and turned towards the shattered carriage.

“Master of the Tower, Phingballez, are you hurt anywhere?”

“Hmm… No, I’m not hurt.”

From noble mtl dot come

“The carriage is badly damaged, though. And the horses are dead.”

“Oh dear.”

It’s a mess. The horses that had carried us this far had already departed on a long journey, and the carriage, while maintaining its shape, seemed to be severely damaged here and there.

So this is how our journey on foot begins. Not exactly welcome.

“I’ll try to fix it. There’s plenty of wood around here.”

“…Even if you fix the carriage, what about the horses?”

“I can pull it.”

“Aha.”

Right, Phingballez can pull it. Then there’s no problem.

I picked up the evil deity, who was gnawing and drooping on my hand, and said,

“I’ll go check if there are any people caught in the village, any remnants.”

“Yes. I’ll be waiting.”

“I’ll come too. In butterfly mode.”

Flurrying. The Master of the Tower transformed into a butterfly and fluttered away.

It seems he’s embarrassed and uncomfortable after firing off Yunadesbeam in front of me. I think I understand how he feels. It’s like… I don’t want to show Yunas how I beat someone up like they’re nothing.

Of course, players including Roderus beat them like they were nothing, but that was just a session, wasn’t it?

I waved casually to Pingballez and started walking towards the village.

It’s a quaint mountain village. It looks like they’re trying to be self-sufficient with several potato fields in sight, and surprisingly sturdy fences catch my eye.

When you deduce with the knowledge of who the culprit is, it’s like seeing every little foreshadowing clearly.

Knowing these people make a living off human trafficking, the peculiarities of the village become glaringly obvious. Like the structure designed to prevent escape from inside out.

And suspiciously, there are farming tools that could be used as weapons in an emergency scattered about.

“So… if you were the village chief, where would you lock up the captured prey, Watson?”

“…What’s a Watson?”

“Someone less smart than me.”

Swoosh!

I dodged the low kick from Akushin-chan with a jump. Fuming, Akushin-chan shared her deduction.

“If it were me, I’d hide them next to the food storage. Carrying food in and out all the time looks suspicious. If you can lock them up and feed them, it’s better to do it all in one place.”

“Then let’s start there. If your deduction is wrong, you’re an idiot.”

“And if I’m right?”

“Then my wisdom in hiring a capable assistant shines.”

I dragged Akushin-chan to a building that looked like a food storage. Sure enough, there was a secret entrance to a basement tucked away in the corner.

Before opening the entrance, I pressed my ear to the ground and focused my magic slightly, feeling faint signs of life from inside. There’s someone there.

They don’t seem to be armed. Most likely, they’re the kidnapped ones. So, what should my opening line be? Ta-da, you’re free?

As I pondered my concept and was about to enter the basement, Akushin-chan grabbed my shoulder.

“Hey, Mima.”

“Why… no, why do you call me that? It’s embarrassing.”

“Remember the bet on the carriage? Get do—…”

“Ah, I can’t hear you, I can’t hear you.”

Before Akushin-chan could state her terms, I dashed down the stairs leading to the basement. She’s planning to ruin my social reputation right from the entrance.

No way. No matter who the captured person is, should I show them a crazy magician in escape mode right at first sight? No, I can’t.

Crash bang!

A short chase began.

“Hey!!”

“Damn it, save it for another day!”

“You’re writing this to mess with me, aren’t you? Do you really think I’d postpone it? If you act so shamelessly, I’ll cry. Should I go and cry my eyes out in front of Lorei?!”

“Go ahead and try, buddy. Then I’ll just have to⋯⋯! Ack!”

The Evil Spirit’s speed was faster than expected.

I tumbled over from the tackle from behind. After rolling around three times and regaining my senses, I found the Evil Spirit triumphantly sitting astride me, sprawled out on the ground.

With a victorious air, the Evil Spirit declared,

“You, become my steed! Lie beneath me and crawl on all fours!”

“⋯⋯⋯⋯.”

I slowly turned my head, raising my hand as if in trouble, and murmured loudly enough for everyone around to hear,

“Listen, I get how you feel⋯⋯ but I can’t accept your love. It’s problematic if you like me too much. You’re not my type, and I don’t have the courage to satisfy your sadistic tendencies.”

“What kind of dog nonsense── Oh.”

The Evil Spirit’s head heated up as she remembered something she had momentarily forgotten. Wasn’t the whole point of trying to make me her steed to use the person trapped here to embarrass me?

Click, the gears in the Evil Spirit’s head turned.

The young lady with sky-blue hair, trapped in the cell, was trying to comprehend the situation with a bewildered expression. After sorting things out in her own way, she cautiously said,

“⋯⋯Should I just look at the wall?”

“No, it’s not that⋯⋯ No! I don’t like this guy at all! It’s a misunderstanding!”

“They say a strong denial is a strong affirmation.”

“Shut up!!”

It took a while for the excited Evil Spirit to cool down.

—

Despite the perplexing and chaotic situation, the young lady maintained her noble composure and greeted politely,

“Thank you for saving me. I am the eldest of the Julius Ducal family. My name is Erbasillion Julius.”

“Eek⋯⋯.”

“Oh my, such a high-ranking person. But how did you end up here⋯⋯ Why are you like this, Tower Master?”

Yuna froze with a chirp and quickly gestured to me. She wanted me to lean in closer.

As I lowered my posture, Yuna whispered the shocking truth.

“Gasp⋯⋯⋯⋯.”

Hearing the truth, I too gasped for air as if a dagger had been plunged into my chest. As we both clutched at our chests, the Evil Spirit showed interest.

“What’s wrong, Mima? Why are you trembling? What’s with the Tower Master?”

“It’s nothing. No problem at all. Really.”

I desperately feigned calmness. This truth must not be conveyed to the Evil Spirit.

Yul something or other.

I still can’t remember people’s names, so I couldn’t catch the melody. But I could understand the title Yuna translated for me.

The Great Northern Duke’s family.

So, that young lady’s father is…

…the big shot from my days as an otherworldly virtual idol.