Chapter 53: There’s no problem with making fictional religions into evil organizations

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Translator: Soafp

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“It's not me. You've got the wrong person.”

“No you don't! No matter how you look at it, you're Ask-kun, right!?”

I tried to play dumb on reflex, but this time there was no way I could bluff my way through it.

I'd completely screwed up.

Because my mask melted inside that pathogen's stomach, my face got exposed.

Hmmm…

No-Name had only just started operating. It felt way too early for my identity to be revealed.

What to do…

“…I'm not Ask. I'm his twin brother who was separated from him at birth.”

“Eh—h-his brother?”

“That's right. If you look closely, our faces are different, aren't they?”

“They look identical to me!?”

“We're identical twins.”

When I stubbornly pushed that explanation with a straight face, Lidiel nodded for the time being.

“Then why are you calling yourself No-Name?”

“Well, you see, it's… that.”

“Which is!?”

Even if I was pretending to be Ask's brother, it'd still be embarrassing to admit I admired heroes who hide their identities while doing good.

I needed to come up with some excuse, fast.

“I'm actually fighting an evil organization.”

“An e-evil organization? Something like that exists?”

“Yes. A group called the White Faith—people scheming to revive the White God. I fight them day and night. That demon earlier was one of them. I hide my identity because I don't want innocent people around me to get dragged into it.”

“So… that's how it is…”

I felt a little bad, but I decided to borrow Belchika's full-blown chuunibyou headcanon.

Well, the White Church was nothing but delusion anyway.

Treating a fictional religion as an evil organization shouldn't cause any problems.

“I-I don't really understand it all, but… you're trying to do something good, right?”

“Huh? Ah, well, yeah. More or less.”

Lidiel still looked doubtful, but she raised her thumb firmly and said:

“Then I'll support you!! Do your best!!”

“Thanks. Oh, right. Please don't tell anyone about me, okay?”

“Eh? But—you're the one who drove off that vicious demon! You might get an unbelievable reward from the Empire…”

“I don't need a reward. I'm just doing what I want to do.”

“Somehow… you're…”

This time, Lidiel's eyes sparkled.

She looked just like a child gazing at a hero—pure, shining eyes.

“You're cool!!”

“…You think so?”

“Yes!! Refusing rewards and acting silently for the sake of your goal alone… that's so cool!!”

Lidiel said this with a beaming smile.

O-oh wow, being praised this directly makes my face start to grin uncontrollably.

After talking with a pathogen that felt like a concentrated stew of crap and garbage, Lidiel's smile looked even more dazzling by contrast.

I should retreat before I grin too much.

“Alright then, I'll be going.”

“Yes!! Let's meet again somewhere!!”

I left Lidiel behind and hurriedly withdrew from the scene.

Later, it seems Lidiel explained everything to Cannon Fodder Dog, who arrived at the battlefield after the fact.

As a result, what happened was…

Lidiel was promoted to first-class citizen for her achievement in driving off a vicious demon.

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Zenapart was dragging her body through a small forest in demon territory.

Her internal organs had been torn apart from the inside, and she was bleeding heavily.

It was an amount of blood loss that would have killed a human.

“Hah… hah… hah… damn it… that guy!! Crushing my heart so casually!!”

“…Pathetic, Zenapart.”

“—That voice! Belchika!?”

Startled, Zenapart turned around to see a girl wearing a mirror-like mask standing there.

“…Mmm!! What, are you angry?”

“Yes. I am angry. Therefore, I will kill you.”

“C-come on now, no need to get so mad. It was just a little prank.”

“A prank? After killing so many people?”

Belchika drew her holy sword and pointed its tip at Zenapart.

It was a hair-trigger standoff—when suddenly,

“…Belchika… lower… your sword…”

“—Why are you here…?”

“Mmm!! Perfect timing!! Help me, Kokonoha-chaaan!!”

Following Zenapart's gaze, a beautiful woman stood leaning against a tree.

She was a woman in white.

A stunning beauty with pure white hair tied with golden hair ornaments and golden eyes.

She was taller than an adult man and carried an unapproachable, divine aura.

Most striking were her fox ears and nine glossy tails.

She wore a loosely draped kimono from the eastern lands, shamelessly exposing her ample breasts and thick thighs.

Her name was Kokonoha.

A cardinal of the White Church who governed “Lust,” and a member of the neutral faction, like Belchika.

“…What I despise most… is conflict among our own kind… restrain your anger…”

“But Zenapart broke the pact not to interfere with the Empire first. How do you intend to make her pay for that?”

“…Hmm… then… let us do this…”

“Mmm!! W-what? Why are you walking over here without saying anything!?”

Kokonoha stepped up to Zenapart and severed her head.

“Gyaa!? Wh-what are you doing!?”

“…This way… Zenapart must devote her power to recovery… and will be unable to act for several years…”

“And you expect that to settle things?”

“…If that is unacceptable… then you and I… will have to fight…”

“—!”

Belchika swallowed her words.

Seeing this, Zenapart—now just a head—grinned smugly.

“Mmm!! Picking a fight with the strongest of the White Church, Kokonoha-chan, isn't the smartest move~!! You should just head home quietly~”

“…Very well. I'll withdraw this time. But if the extremists break the pact again—”

“…I hate strife among kin… those who repeatedly drag down their own kind… I will eliminate…”

“That answer is sufficient. I'll take my leave.”

Belchika departed quickly.

After watching her go, Zenapart thanked Kokonoha.

“Mmm!! You saved me~!! Thanks to you, I didn't die~!!”

“…I did not save you… farewell…”

“Eh—hey! You're just leaving me as a head!? A-at least carry me back to the Demon King's castle!!”

“…I am a germaphobe… I do not wish to touch one covered in blood and filth…”

“Calling me filth is too cruel~!?”

As Kokonoha turned to leave Zenapart behind, Zenapart suddenly said “Ah!” as if she'd remembered something.

“Oh right!! I'll tell you something good, Kokonoha-chan!!”

“…What is it?”

“The Black King has appeared~!! Mmm!! What an emotional reunion, right~!!”

“…Impossible…”

It happened in an instant.

Kokonoha stared at Zenapart with emotionless eyes and moved to crush her without hesitation.

Zenapart quickly shifted her jaw to dodge.

“Hey—watch it! Wh-what are you doing!?”

“That one shall never rise again… for it was I myself who slew him when he lost his sanity…”

Kokonoha lowered her gaze and bit her lip.

“Anyone who impersonates that one… will not be forgiven… must not be forgiven…”

“Mmm. H-hey, Kokonoha-chan?”

“Punishment for sinners… death for those who dare impersonate my king… Hitoha, you are there, are you not?”

“Yes. I am here.”

Appearing soundlessly beside Kokonoha was a girl clad in shinobi attire.

Kokonoha issued her command.

“Summon the Hachio-shu… gather the Chibishu… find the sinner who impersonates that one…”

“Yes.”

“However… do not touch him… I will erase him with my own hands… I will strangle him to death myself…”

Hearing the voice filled with rage and murderous intent, Zenapart thought to herself:

How terrifying.