I once again gazed intently at that traits window from earlier.

[■■’s Might]

[The qualification to stand above anyone else in this world.]

This… has definitely changed.

Where I’d expect to see something about immunity to mental attacks, there was a bizarre phrase instead.

The first two characters had been replaced by some weird symbols.

‘…This is really happening.’

Having played the previous game, I thought if any hidden Easter egg would be there, it might be related to this trait because it was the most suspicious.

After all, it was a power that also worked on the final boss—the demon lord of domination.

During gameplay, it was easy to brush it off as just a game, but looking back, it meant this trait was superior to the final boss.

Choosing this trait was precisely because of that.

‘In reality, I was somewhat hands-off about it.’

Even if there weren’t any hidden elements, immunity to mental attacks was already an outstanding ability.

So I figured either way, it would work out, but suddenly I hit the jackpot.

The description of the trait may be a bit ambiguous, but in itself, the evolution of the trait was worth celebrating.

I didn’t know what had strengthened or what benefits had emerged, but at least it was guaranteed that something originally useless wouldn’t stay that way.

‘…But why did it change?’

I had seen traits evolve when certain conditions were met in the previous game.

Unless the system underwent a radical change in this sequel, it was likely that a similar mechanism was in place here too.

If that was true, it meant I must have subconsciously satisfied the trigger to evolve it.

What on earth did I do to cause that…?

“…Ah.”

In an instant, memories of the past rushed through my mind.

Starting with bringing in big names like Siel, Lien, and Miss Rubia, and going through killing the archmage’s disciple.

Acquiring the fallen holy sword and artifacts without permission.

Hiding the revolutionaries.

Infiltrating the empire’s army with spies.

Creating the Black Fangs faith, a cult, and spreading it nationwide.

Just considering these significant acts, recently proclaiming plans to crumble the Holy Church.

…Yeah, I’ve caused quite a racket.

It wasn’t that I couldn’t guess the cause; it was more that there were just too many to consider.

While I was reflecting on all my actions thus far, feeling rather solemn…

“…?”

The peculiar light suddenly interrupted my thoughts, which was already a chaotic mess.

I searched for the source of the light and caught sight of the mark on the back of my hand.

A unique pattern glowing crimson.

This was a familiar effect—one of the tracking spells I had seen several times while playing the previous game.

It was the signal that something unusual had happened to whoever I’d placed it on.

However, the important part was…

I had only one person under this tracking spell.

Lucy.

The empire’s worst psychopath.

A human monstrosity who derives pleasure from murder.

The blue-haired villain girl I encountered in the black market, mentioned in a spoiler post.

So this signal reaching me meant something was off with her.

A strange intuition washed over me.

It felt as though something significant was happening just outside my sight.

There was only one thing I needed to do.

I hurriedly threw on my robe and activated the tracking spell.

Using the path I’d set up with Lucy last time, I let the magic flow, naturally bringing her location into my mind.

And then…

My face broke into a puzzled expression.

‘The Cathedral?’

What on earth was she doing there?

*

Karon staggered as he got up from his place.

The miracle spring, which had once overflowed with divine power, was now dry, just as I expected.

Indeed, that monster had devoured all the divine power in that short time.

And… what it consumed wasn’t just divine power.

He could barely move his body.

Even the slightest motion sent terrible pain shooting through him.

Karon’s skin was wrinkled and sagging, and his once-black hair had turned completely white.

This was the end he had faced.

Touching what he absolutely shouldn’t have touched had cost him dearly.

A cardinal who achieved great success at a young age.

The future seemed bright, with the papacy practically promised, but now, he was nothing but an old, disheveled man.

Yet,

‘No…’

Karon gritted his teeth.

He knew he had been utterly defeated and lost everything. He wasn’t foolish enough to deny that.

However, even so, he couldn’t let go of what he had clutched onto.

He didn’t want a life that ended in aged death.

How had he come this far?

He couldn’t just die like this.

He needed another opportunity.

He had to find a way to rise again, by any means necessary.

“C-c-c-cardinal? What on earth happened here?”

Even as that was,

“Come to me. There’s something you need to do.”

Even if it meant breaking taboos.

The face of his subordinate turned pale with fear upon hearing Karon’s words.

He realized from Karon’s tone and expression that something dreadful was happening.

The realization that his life was at risk.

However, Karon approached him without hesitation.

No matter how much he was an old man, his subordinate could not resist Karon.

Because the Holy Church and the empire were more like two sides of the same coin.

If he provided the holy relics here, what the Church offered in return was a means of efficient domination.

“P-please spare my life. I-I can’t die here.”

The subordinate mumbled those words with a ghostly pale face, even hastily showing a photo of a newborn child from his pocket.

At that moment, the subordinate’s fate was sealed.

If he had demonstrated his usefulness instead of pulling on heartstrings, his chances of survival would have gone up a bit.

There was a limit to how oblivious one could be.

After having served Karon for such a long time, he hadn’t even grasped his character.

“I’m genuinely curious.”

Karon interrupted the subordinate’s lengthy pleas for his life and said.

The subordinate’s face turned bewildered.

Karon slowly approached him and asked…

“Did you really think I’d care about your future or that of your child?”

Genuinely.

It didn’t matter one bit.

What did it matter if a child grew up without a father? He could tear this man apart in front of that child if it helped his survival.

His own survival mattered more than any other human’s.

That’s why Karon extended his hand toward the subordinate without hesitation.

With a truly ghastly smile that came from the depths of his heart.

And at that moment, dark energy gushed forth.

More demon than human at this point.

The outcome of secret research conducted by the Pope and Karon himself.

The Holy Church, ostensibly fighting against demons, was ironically the best place to explore them.

[Devote everything to me.]

The man before him gazed blankly at Karon, tear-streaked.

And soon… the empire’s distinctive slave mark began to glow.

The man responded eerily as if he were a puppet on strings, willingly clasping Karon’s hand.

A contract was sealed.

The man before him melted away.

Bone and flesh.

What made up this man dissolved into shadows and vanished, and only that life force flowed into Karon.

Karon exuded ominous magical energy.

Having imitated a devil’s contract in a human body, it was a somewhat natural result.

He hadn’t been able to use the utility of the contract sooner because of such unnecessary side effects.

However, there was no time to dawdle over means or methods now.

He couldn’t remain attached to the Holy Church any longer anyway.

Even if the Pope cared for him, he wouldn’t cover for Karon after this.

After all, Karon had squandered the sacred relics and hadn’t yet completed concealing all the deeds he had committed.

The Pope would absolutely send representatives from other branches that would come to kill Karon.

‘I will survive. By any means.’

He would survive and lay in wait for the next opportunity that would eventually come.

The secret passage leading to the Cathedral.

With a gruesome smile, Karon ascended the stairs, hoping to reclaim his original form by absorbing the life forces of the beings above.

And……

Karon’s face turned to one of shock.

Before him, an unbelievable scene unfolded.

A beautiful statue was drenched in red.

The stench of blood filled the air.

This place was tainted with human blood and flesh.

Such an unbelievable situation.

Why?

A singular memory flashed through his mind like a slide show.

A conversation with a man Karon had dealt with in the past.

– “God is watching your despicable form, so one day you will pay for what you’ve done.”

– “Haven’t you realized it yet? There’s no such thing as a god in this world. So there’s no divine retribution.”

Back then, Karon had smirked at the dying man.

No matter what Karon did, divine punishment didn’t exist.

There might indeed be entities that strengthened him when he devoted his faith to them, but they drew no line between good and evil.

In that case, they were not gods but machines.

And machines existed for humans to use.

That’s why Karon had been able to stand with confidence until now.

Believing that divine punishment would never come for him.

But…….

“I found it.”

Looking back now, that thought was partly right but also partly wrong.

There’s no benevolent god of light.

Thus, there’s no way a god would punish Karon for his villainy.

However, there was a punishment.

Footsteps echoed.

The footsteps heralded his death.

“Now, it’s just you and me left.”

A girl with blue hair, drenched in blood, looked at Karon with tears in her eyes.

…Sin had come to visit Karon.