Volume 3 Chapter 11 The Riot from the Tag Battle, and Then...
Inside the Grand Church Shinathica, in the largest hall, Horace and Luster Report were awaited by members of an elite knight order and talented healers along with high-ranking priests.
At the most prominent spot on the platform stood Silvio, who saw Horace entering and his already angry face turned redder.
"You've got some nerve showing up here, you great villain, Horace!"
Calling him a villain right off the bat.
What could he possibly have...
"A villain, huh? Just what evil thing did I do?"
"Don't play dumb! The golems attacking Theocracy Nation. You're the one controlling them!"
"Got any proof?"
"Only someone with a massive antenna in their mansion and trained to defeat Demon Lords could control so many golems at once! The evidence all points to you!"
"Haven't you heard Valzeil's statement? He was controlling golems without an antenna. You might want to get your facts straight."
"You could have modified the antenna to control non-metal golems. You can't weasel out of this!"
"Oh, so there's a story about the 'controller' actually being near the rampaging golems, and he was your subordinate?"
"That was a coincidence, found when the control was seized from the golems. We saved them! You attacked! Don't twist the story!"
Silvio, his face still full of anger.
In contrast, Horace kept his cool.
"The guy who supposedly 'took control of the golems' was dressed as a priest, they say. There's a bunch of high-ranking priests here... What if I unleashed a new golem right now? Think you could take control?"
"Hmph! So you're gonna make the golems rampage again, you villain! That's what you've been doing all along, right?"
Anyone would think it's 'illogical', but it seems like Silvio couldn't care less.
"Villain! You're the scum trying to destroy the whole world! You used debt to pull everyone's strings, turned the heroes into pawns, and now that trick's dead, you're unleashing golems to force your way! Don't even try to deny it!"
Silvio could only hurl insults while Horace just struggled not to sigh.
By the way, Silvio kept insisting 'the debt collecting scheme doesn't work anymore', but that was never really the point: the hero community's got more money than they know what to do with.
No one's chasing them down for late payments with interest.
Granted, just having a mountain of debt hanging over everyone felt gross.
It spread unease and doubt like a plague, and Horace understood that.
Still, Horace didn't get how 'not pressuring people for money' suddenly meant 'the plan failed.'
Honestly... Horace hadn't even realized the hero community was in the lending business at first.
Now, Silvio speaks dramatically.
"I'll cut off your head, free the heroes you've trapped in your twisted schemes, and finally──finally──the world will be saved for real!"
"Saving the heroes, huh? And after you kill me... what then?"
"Their suffering is beyond imagining! None shall endure it any longer... We'll welcome them in the manor we've prepared, shower them with every comfort──"
"And then what? Blow 'em to pieces with the explosives you've stashed in the basement?"
"Exactly! ...Wait──what?"
A shocked murmur swept through the crowd.
Even Rangella and her crew──who thought they'd seen it all──were stunned silent. Then Rangella spoke.
"W-What... what is going on, Master?"
"It's simple. I'm not the only one who wants to be killed by Silvio. He wants to kill all the hero communities as well."
"...You. No way..."
"That's right, Rangella"
Horace continues his words without changing his expression.
"You see, I know the truth from 15 years ago"
"~~~~~! Hey, the Knights! Kill him! Break that mouth! Cut off your head!"
Silvio cried.
When he heard this, most of the knights were confused, but about a dozen came forward with orders.
"They're loyal people, huh? Are they thrust into me in this atmosphere?"
"Master, here it is-"
"No, it's fine. They're not going to fight."
Horace unleashes intimidation.
However, it is not dyed gray, but transparent.
Rather, it seemed that Horace, who now lacked any real intensity inside, couldn't put out that kind of overwhelming pressure anymore.
Even so, crushing average folks here was still way too easy for him.
The very air blurred as a wave of force slammed through, knocking the charging knights flat.
"Ugh, o-oh..."
"Wha──what is this...?"
The knights couldn't stand up.
They'd never felt anything like this before.
"Look! That man's a heretic──defying the Church itself!"
"Heretic, huh? Well, considering your so-called 'Five Divine Gods' are crap, maybe I am, Sir Knigh──"
"That thing must be purged from this world! Kill him──kill him! End him, now!"
Silvio spat as he screamed.
"Stop screaming. Isn't this justice to you? If you're so sure you're right, why not just stand tall? People move when they believe in something. Look at yourself──who here thinks you're the hero now?"
"Shut up, you villain! You──what right do you have to talk about justice?! Who are you to define it, huh?!"
"Not my problem. I've never cared about that."
"Then shut your mouth! Offer up your neck! Don't you dare speak!"
Silvio raised his staff high.
Lightning shot out at Horace──only for a see-through shield to snap into place, blocking the strike cold.
"And what are you doing, fools?! He's evil! We're justice! If you trust in God, follow the holy path!"
He blasted lightning at the knights, too.
The knights wavered──scared, confused──but still aimed their swords at Horace.
"Damn it...s──screw this!"
A few of them charged at Horace.
But their faces showed it clear──they didn't know what they were even trying to do.
"Pathetic."
Horace let out a loud sigh, not bothering to hide it, then walked up and kicked a knight flying.
"Gah!"
The knight crashed back──knocking down a few more as he tumbled.
"Guess nobody's surprised I said I know the truth. Seems like nobody here has figured out what I'm hiding. Or what I've noticed. Not a single one."
He kept talking, even as he punched and kicked aside the other knights who rushed him.
"Shut your filthy mouth, you villain! You deserve to die! Die! DIEEEEEEEEEEEE!"
Another thunder strike is unleashed.
But it doesn't work on Horace.
Again, a semi-transparent shield appears, blocking the thunder strike.
"Hah, seems like we're at an impasse here."
Horace gives Silvio a piercing glare.
His eyes... clearly, they're not the same anymore.
"Everyone, cover your ears! AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Silvio's scream.
But no one can hear him.
Whether you want to or not, you can't avoid hearing what Horace has to say.
That's just how humans are.
Driven by curiosity, they step into territories they can't handle.
It's like that.
That's why.
That's exactly why.
...Everyone here will come to know.
"Fifteen years ago, your daughter, corrupted by the gem given by the Great Church, became the Demon Lord. This is an undeniable truth."
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