The city of Forstru was the stronghold of the Holy Kruel Faith, and within its great cathedral lay the Chamber of the Celestial Throne.
In that opulent room, Pope Mackey was pondering his next move.
"I had the Marquis Mool's grandson cursed in order to seize the position of Elector and cement it further, but the caster was killed by a powerful curse backlash."
Three of the Curse-Kill Four Heavenly Kings — specialists in assassination — had died simultaneously.
The remaining one should still be able to cast curses, but when considering the risk of backlash,
one could not help but
hesitate.
"Should I resort to brute force? But the Marquis's estate security is undoubtedly tight. I'd rather use the Assassination Guild for this. But will they accept a commission from me now, when I've never hired them before? They might try to take advantage of my situation."
Moreover, whoever had cast the counter-curse was also on his mind.
The likelihood that a practitioner far more skilled than any of them
had sided
with the Marquis was high — but who could it possibly be?
In any case, he had to find a way to get the Assassination Guild moving.
"Why don't you just give up on all of it and live an honest life? And while you're at it, you should probably resign your position as Elector too."
"Who are you?!"
The one who had entered the Chamber of the Celestial Throne with an Appraiser in tow was a girl who couldn't have been more than a child.
"That's a subordination collar...! How shameful — to be subjugated by such a young girl!"
"B-But, Your Holiness...!"
"Oh, did I ever mention that I put a Slave Choker on this guy?"
The appraisal official has a transparent collar on them, so it shouldn't even be visible.
"You fool — anyone could see that just by looking! What exactly are you planning, coming here?"
Anyone could see it, huh.
If they can see through a transparent collar, their skill as a mage must be pretty high.
"Why are you so dead set against a useless skill? On my way here I was attacked and called a God's enemy, but I have no idea why."
If anything, since God bestowed this useless skill upon me, shouldn't they be calling me a child of God instead?
Not that I'd want that title, either.
"And forcing a ten-year-old child into exile just because they have a useless skill — that's way too unreasonable!"
"Y-Your Holiness! This one is a useless skill awakener! Let me settle this grudge I've held for years, right here and now!"
"Oh... I see, I see. So this is what they mean by a moth flying straight into the flame. Very well, Awakener — you shall die here today. Had you never awakened, your life would have been spared. But you... you will not be forgiven."
"Just answer my question already."
"Don't think this room is merely a lavish chamber! It's packed with magic items — all countermeasures against awakeners who might attack! They weaken the opponent's abilities while amplifying mine."
Pope McKein flashed a grin, pointed his ornate staff at me, and began his chant.
"I'll deal with you myself — O Holy Judgment, deliver your immaculate sentence here and now! Enemies of God shall perish! [Divine Magic] — Divine Judgment!"
The Pope's spell conjured five pillars of light around me, all hurtling in my direction.
"That's the Pope's most powerful and devastating magic! You're dragging me into it too?!"
"Your death won't be in vain. I'll promote you two ranks afterward — consider it an appointment to Archbishop."
"No — if I die, it'll all be for nothing! I don't want to die! What was the point of serving you all this time?! Lord McKein, have mercy!"
"Out of the question. The eradication of God's enemies takes absolute priority."
The appraisal official I was restraining shrieked and squirmed, but the Pope's refusal was brief and merciless.
"NoOOOO! I don't want to diiiie! You—help meeee!"
Hmm, this one seems to lack faith.
While we were putting on this little farce, the dazzling pillar of light the Pope had unleashed converged on me (and the appraisal official), and everything was engulfed in blinding white light.
"AAGHHH..."
"We've done it! You accursed awakened one with that wretched trash skill!
Repent
before God for your sins!"
◇◇◇◇◇◇
I posted the book cover illustration on my notes page.
It's a cool illustration by Arano!
McKein looks awesome as a villain, and Sofia is super cute!
Of course, they'll have appearances in the book version too!
Skills: [Reverse][Divine Eye][Sword God][Fist God][Spear God][Blazing Magic][Freezing Magic][Clear Gale Magic][Rock-Iron Magic][Holy Magic][Dark Magic][Space-Time Magic][Thunder God Sword][Phantom Thief Gentleman][Ninja Master][Truth Seeker][Unnatural Strength][Pain Dampening][Complete Status Ailment Resistance][Shadow Spirit's Protection][Super Intuition][Heaven's Gate][Abyssal Contractee][Magic Hand][Treasure Search][Seduction][Eloquence][Fortune][Growth Speed x10]
Rank: Orichalcum
Thank you for reading!