CH 416.5

“Hyaha! We’re back! Oh, I’m so tired.”

“O-Oh, Akzeryus-sama ……! You’re back early, aren’t you? So Sherida-sama was with you”

“……”

“What an unfriendly guy, that’s why you’re mistaken for a man, you know?”

“…… Finish your report already.”

“Yes, yes. Oh, yeah, let him rest somewhere.”

When Akzeryus dropped the Erekhim he was carrying on his shoulders to the floor, the man in front of him yelped in surprise.

“Erekhim-dono!? My God, your face is covered in blood ……”

“I was enjoying a walk in the air when he woke up and struggled, so I punched him in the face and knocked him out. Hyahaha!”

“T-Take him to the medical facility right away …… Apollos-sama is having dinner with King Gilgarden, why don’t you take a bath while you’re waiting?”

“Oh, yes. Sherida, would you like to join me?”

“…… Die, you blunt, lecherous, perverted dog.”

“Isn’t that awful!?”

“…… Hmph, who would have died up there if I hadn’t stepped in to help?”

Sherida sniffed and turned on her heel to walk down the aisle, while Akzeryus laughed and watched him go, then headed for the bathhouse, washing away the blood that flowed with the Windstream that Jack had released.

“A change of clothes.”

“Oh, thanks. Come to my room later …… I’ll take good care of you.”

“Oh my, Akzeryus-sama.”

When he got out of the bath, he picked up the maid who had brought him a change of clothes and went to Apollos’ room alone.

“Lord Founder, Akzeryus is back.”

“Come in.”

When Apollos urged him to enter with a slightly grumpy tone of voice, Akzeryus lowered his shoulder and went inside. In front of him, Apollos is resting his cheek on his desk. He let out a sigh and then opened his mouth.

“…… By the looks of it, I’d say you failed, wouldn’t you?”

“Hyahaha! Well, that’s how it ended …… That town is very interesting and I can see why Retzel and Erekhim failed. There’s a lot more cooperation between the lord, the guild, the people from the academy, and residents than in other towns. I didn’t expect to leave without killing a single person.”

“Hoh.”

“…… I saw a man with stern eyes, a magic swordsman, a man with similar abilities, and the son of a lord …… They had a lot of power and even possessed a dragon. I think It will be difficult to bring them down with an ordinary force.”

“Ooh!? So you’re here ……”

“Of course, I have to report too, pervert. What should we do, Lord Founder? They know about us out in the open. The Reflexion Kingdom may notice us, but …… do we destroy them first?”

Sherida’s green eyes narrowed as she asked Apollos a question. The eyes are telling him that if destroy them, now’s the time.

“I’ll do it if you tell me to, you know? I’ve found a few lively ones, after all ……”

“Hmm …… how many Chief Priests are left now?”

“…… I believe all of them are still here except for Aiatsubus.”

“Oh, no, Kimuranut should be out there somewhere. He left with me when I left.”

“……. When did he ……”

When Sherida muttered bitterly, Apollos asked a question to Akzeryus.

“I wanted to seize it in secret, but we have no choice …… A thousand Everlide soldiers with Akzeryus, Sherida, and Kemuda should be enough to destroy one town, right? I also plan to send out my followers.”

“Oh, you’re so generous, Lord Founder! Hyahahahahaha, I’m sure that’s more than enough. You know, if we incite Erekhim to mass-produce monsters with [Pictorial Mind] from a safe position, we’ll definitely be able to overrun them. If we take the people of the town hostage, they won’t be able to move too!”

“Umu. But don’t kill the women and children, okay? We need to keep the faithful and give the men something to take home, after all.”

“…… Thank you very much. I’ll get right on it then ……”

“The Everlide soldiers will have to wait a little while for Gilgarden to prepare them. You can fly, but the troops will have to ride in wagons and walk. Also, once we take it, we’ll use it as a stepping stone to the Reflexion Kingdom.”

Apollos stood up from his chair and put his hands on Akzeryus and Sherida’s shoulders and gave them instructions. When Axelyrus heard this, he chuckled–

“At last, It’s time for war. Are you going to execute the King of Reflexion?”

“Yes. I’ll go get Albert’s head. I’ve also made a force called the Ten Chief Priests. I guess It’s about time.”

“Then notify Kemuda.”

“Please. I’ll let you know when we leave. Get some rest.”

” “Yes, sir.” “

After they had saluted and left, Apollos sat down in his chair again and muttered to himself without expression.

“It’s time. It’s been forty years since I was born and fell into this world …… It’s been a long time …… I’ll make sure you recognize me–“

◆ 　 ◇ 　 ◆

“The Lord Founder is finally getting serious. It’s getting interesting! ……Gyaaah!?”

“It’s not something you can say while touching someone’s ass. But the true purpose of us Ten Chief Priests can finally be accomplished. I wish all of us attacks them, not just three of us.”

“Isn’t it okay when it’s time we fight against the country? It is true that they were strong, but if you and Kemuda were there from the start, it’ll be easy.”

“……”

Sherida looked at Akzeryus for a moment, then quickly turned around and appeared in the distance.

“…… Well, for now, I’m relying on your help to attack the town of Gust. I’m going to go tell Kemuda, so Akzeryus should rest.”

“Hyahahaha! Thank you! …… Now then, it’s going to be busy–“

Akzeryus smiled devilishly and licked his tongue.

The demonic hand of the Gospel’s Descent quietly heads towards the town of Gust.

Next time, we’ll return to Lars’s point of view! New chapter!

Thank you for reading!

[Afterword Theater]

“The final battle is almost upon us.”

Does it make you feel like you’re rarely fighting something like a god?

“Well then ……!”