“…It’s Lady Snow.”
“The Margrave’s daughter? Wasn’t she supposed to be unconscious and bedridden?”
“And all of her knights are present as well.”
The cathedral buzzed with rising murmurs.
Whoa, it’s true. It’s really Snow.
Impressive.
She’s wearing a white shirt and robe that looks like pajamas, completely like she just woke up, yet she still manages to look stunning.
“Father Ronald! This trial of God’s judgement is clearly unjust! You’re framing the homeless—or rather, Mr. Kasuya from the very beginning! As a noble, I cannot overlook this!”
“Oh my, my, Lady Snow, how wonderful to see you. Are you feeling well? You carry the important bloodline of the Margrave, please take care of yourself.”
“Oh, thank you, Father. But no need to worry. Before I think of heirs, I must first handle my own rule. And I cannot overlook this injustice. Stop the execution of Kasuya immediately.”
“Hahaha… Is that the consensus of the Margrave family? Would you dare defy the laws established by the church, no, by the Empire?”
“I’m saying the way you’re enforcing those laws is clearly wrong! I know for a fact that Kasuya would never try to frame us!”
“Oh, is that so? Could it be that Lady Snow has objections to God’s will? The trial of God’s judgement has proven his guilt. To question that… well, that would mean… do you perhaps doubt the will of God?”
“Th-that’s not it… but he’s innocent…”
“Snow, that’s enough. We should really stop here. Don’t push this any further.”
“Aki! Don’t you think this is wrong? He’s our classmate!”
“…I care about you.”
Snow is tougher than she looks.
She’s awesome, like the perfect protagonist.
Could she be an essential part of my villain act, too?
“Do you think you can fulfill your noble duty just by saving your own skin? …Father Ronald, I know the truth.”
“Oh?”
“He’s innocent! I know who the real killer of Grellod is!”
Huh?
The atmosphere is changing—.
“The Curse… The Curse Brotherhood…! It was the Curse Brotherhood who killed Grellod !”
Why…?
“The Curse…?”
“Grellod was the one who kidnapped the reincarnated heroes using her great magic! And the ones who slew her were a group dressed in black who call themselves the Curse Brotherhood…! Kasuya has nothing to do with it!”
Wait, have I been falsely accused of being part of the Curse Brotherhood this whole time?
Hold on, does that mean… since I am the Curse Brotherhood, am I the bad guy after all?
Well, I am the villain, so I guess it’s fine.
“W-What is… No, Lady Snow must be mistaken. Take her outside the cathedral…”
“Yes, sir!”
The knights in armor encircle Snow and her group.
“Wait, Maris Church. Touch Snow, and you’ll regret it. I won’t hold back.”
“Su-chan is my friend, after all. I appreciate what the church has done for me, but I’ll stand by my friends!”
“If Haru and Snow are on one side, and Aki’s there too, there’s no way I can side against them.”
Top-tier elites!
You guys aren’t just pretty faces with good personalities, huh?
You’ve got courage, too.
It’s great, really.
I’d love to be cornered by people like this as the villain.
Facing forward for what you believe in, for the sake of friends, even while surrounded by knights.
—It’s so annoying.
Yeah, this is what Isekai stories are supposed to be like.
“Maris Church, the true enemy is the Curse Brotherhood, those usurpers! Release Kasuya!”
With a surprisingly fierce look in her eyes, Snow glares at the church members.
“Impossible.”
“Huh?”
In an instant, four arms stretch out from a mirror and grab Snow and her group tightly.
“Huh? Aaahhhh!?”
“D-Damn it, let go! Aaaahhhh!!”
“Kyah! It hurts, I’m being crushed… ah!”
“Ugh, aaaaahhh!?”
Cries of agony.
Wait, does that hurt that much?
Uh-oh, I can’t tell since I’m guarding myself with curse energy…
“Reincarnated heroes… Ah, that girl belongs to that creature, does she? Poor thing. Dying here would be a mercy.”
“God! You’re God, so you should know what’s right, shouldn’t you!?”
Snow, the only one left resisting, shouts while being crushed by the god’s grip.
“How amusing… a mere toy, daring to talk back… Righteousness, is it? Then prove it—prove if you can stand by your righteousness even beyond pain and fear.”
“Ah… ugh…”
“A mere reincarnated hero, getting arrogant in the presence of God’s judgement… Ah, perfect. I shall teach you, wise little mouse. Others, innocent ones, died because of you.”
“Wise mouse…?”
“It is not for one such as you to know. Pitiful reincarnated hero, now bow your head, beg for your life—if you entertain me, I may spare you—no, never mind.”
“U-ugh, wh-what… I’m going to be torn apart… Please, at least spare my friends…”
“Weakling, your ideals will never come true. Ideals require strength. And without strength, your ideals are worthless.”
“I… I…”
The top-tier elites are limp in the grip of the god’s arms.
This looks bad.
Navigator, this is…
“The god’s power is destroying their souls… It’s a function of divine punishment from the god of fairness and justice… Unfortunately, they don’t have curse energy like you, Player…”
Ah, so curse energy can’t interfere with this god, huh?
“Ah, how weak, weak and pitiful, ugly, fragile… But oh, how beautiful, as you die, as your souls melt and disintegrate—”
“SOIYA!”
Curse energy infestation!!
“AAAAAAGGGHHHHH!!!???”
A sizzling sound echoes.
Oh, I did it.
The god’s arms have melted.