Cruel massacres unfolded throughout the city.

Screams of terror.

Lamentations soaked in tears.

Cries for help.

You realized that this was very similar to what had happened in the City of Scales.

That was also why Sophia’s face hardened as soon as she saw that wall made of emerald.

The more terrible part was that the heavenly priests never dirtied their own hands.

The one leading the massacre was Sophia’s older brother, whom the residents had praised as such a hero.

— O’ proud citizens of Doria! I am sad. So very sad!

— My soldiers and I on the frontlines fought desperately against foreign enemies for Doria’s glory, freedom, and justice. However, the traitors hiding among us stabbed us in the back with a bitter blade of betrayal!

— They ignored this city’s discipline and traditions and colluded with ugly kings. To destroy this city and become new kings themselves to rule Doria!

— But their ruse was foiled. Because the righteous and just heaven did not ignore such injustice. Because their messenger saved me and my soldiers when we were cornered, and repelled the ambitions of those evil kings.

— Now we must make the traitors pay their due punishment and properly repay heaven’s grace!

— Only God is justice, and only God is truth!

They executed the “traitors” with swords and armor imbued with emerald light.

Those who usually criticized the actions of the radical faction, those who pointed out their actions in the council, those who expressed doubts about heaven’s movements, they were all designated as traitors.

There were many who rebelled against this outrageous violence that was little more than coercion, but soon there weren’t many.

How could there be many when the radical faction silenced them with swords and blood?

— Hahahahaha!

— O’, Lord! O’, Heaven!

The faces of those carrying out the massacre were filled with ecstasy.

It was extremely difficult to persuade the other side with all their heart and soul, but it was so easy and simple to physically strike and kill opponents.

It was an unparalleled pleasure to crush and stamp out all those who argued in the name of absolute justice.

The actions of the radical faction became more radical as time passed, and even the citizens who initially denounced and rebelled against them soon begged for their lives, consumed by fear.

Priest Erichthon received such citizens with a benevolent face.

And he told them.

— I believe in your innocence. I mean that you have no guilt at all, you were just caught up in this incident, deceived by traitors. Now, it’s time for you to prove your innocence with your own hands!

It was meaningless to ask how to prove it.

Those who went before were already proving their faithfulness.

Therefore, the survivors had to choose.

Whether to die as traitors like this.

Or to kill those who were once comrades, branding them as traitors to prove their innocence.

— Don’t spout nonsense! What exactly is justice!? What exactly is God’s will!? You just want to get rid of those who are in your way!

There were those who chose the former, that was, those who kept their beliefs to the end or fought against tyranny.

Encouraged by the words of such people, others also attempted to resist together.

However, those who already held swords in their hands were merciless.

If they showed any signs of refuting or trying to point out their actions, they just killed them regardless of logic or anything else.

— Ugh, uwaah!

— I-I’ll do it! I’ll do it!

— Die! Die, you traitor!

Then, there was no choice left for the remaining ones.

To survive, they participated in the massacre.

To cover up that guilt, they deceived themselves that this was God’s will.

The city of scholars, who used to question heaven, had to offer repentance with blood and tears, saying they had been swallowed by hubris.

Finally, a handful of resistors, including Sophia and Langwidere, were all bound and forced to kneel in the city square.

— Execute the traitors!

— You evil woman! My husband died because of you!

— Great priest! Please bestow judgment!

Amidst the echoing voices of curses and resentment, Priest Erichthon approached Sophia with a benevolent face.

Then, he whispered so that others couldn’t hear.

— Now do you understand? The intellect and rationality you pursued are this empty. Humans are essentially foolish, cowardly, and selfish. From the beginning, no matter how hard these imperfect beings play house with laws and disciplines, such things are worthless in the eyes of the great.

— Look at how those who respected and praised you so easily flip their palms and criticize you. The sight of those who shouted about discipline and human reason now shamelessly crying out to God.

— The earth is this ugly. But heaven is different. It’s a paradise where only the chosen ones can go, and therefore no ugliness exists. Now, Sophia. Although you’re somewhat different from Lady Langwidere, you, too, have special qualifications.

— Please take my hand. Let’s leave this dirty earth and be together as a member of heaven.

Sophia’s shoulders shook upon hearing Priest Erichthon’s words.

He thought it was emotion mixed with tears and smiled, but soon his expression hardened.

Her trembling wasn’t caused by something expected like gratitude or anguish, but something far too incomprehensible for him—laughter.

It was such an intense laughter that if her hands weren’t tied, she might have grabbed her stomach and rolled on the ground.

— Ahahahahahaha!

As the loud laughter rang out, people who had been immersed in madness each held their breath.

In the square where silence fell, Sophia quietly stood up and opened her mouth.

Neither her tattered clothes nor the ropes binding her body were enough to suppress her dignity and momentum.

— Priest Erichthon, it seems you need to study a bit more. Your words are no different from sneering at ‘humans are indeed ugly’ while watching two people in water fighting over a single plank. It’s the same as setting up extreme preconditions from the start and then mocking people for acting desperately when cornered.

— …What?

— Did you not say intellect and rationality are worthless? Then why didn’t you refute head-on with those great words of God, instead of silencing with violence?

— Did you not say the citizens have no shame? Then after forcing such behavior on them, are you, who pretend to be clean while being hypocritical, shameful?

— Did you say the earth is ugly and there’s nothing ugly in heaven? Then why are you, who is uglier than anyone I’ve seen so far, swaggering around saying you belong to heaven?

Erichthon’s face distorted with shame and anger.

Sophia didn’t stop speaking.

Around her body, a dazzling pure white radiance bloomed.

— You who forced choices through power rather than logic will one day be crushed by a greater power and perish.

— Even if you try to intimidate people and color their hearts as you wish, you won’t be able to erase the spark of conscience that will someday return to their hearts.

— You, who have made God a tool to justify yourselves, will someday be abandoned by God.

Sophia’s gaze pierced through Erichthon.

The people who had been throwing words of condemnation at her now bowed their heads and closed their eyes as if suppressing something.

Just as Erichthon tried to refute with words.

— That’s enough. Priest, it’s a trap to even exchange words with this witch.

Sophia’s older brother, who had approached at some point, swung his sword at Sophia.

You tried to reflexively block the older brother’s sword, but the sword passed through you and cut Sophia.

Slash!

Blood spurted, and Sophia’s body crumbled.

— ──Teacher!!!!!

Langwidere’s sorrowful cry rang out.

Members of the Hubris school hurriedly tried to rise and approach Sophia, but soldiers led by the older brother forcibly suppressed them.

Seeing Sophia fallen on the ground, the older brother’s eyes twitched.

Despite suffering a near-fatal wound, waves of pure white holy power could be seen trying to heal Sophia’s own body.

He clicked his tongue and picked up his sword again.

Just as the sharp blade was about to strike down towards Sophia’s neck.

— Stop! If you lay even one more hand on the teacher, I’ll die before I go with you to heaven or whatever!

— W-wait! Stop!

At Erichthon’s restraint, the older brother stopped the sword he was about to swing.

Erichthon approached Langwidere and said.

— Those words… do you mean you’ll come with me to heaven if I guarantee that Sophia person’s safety?

— …Yes.

Langwidere’s eyes were fierce enough to kill Erichthon with just her gaze, but he didn’t seem to mind at all.

As if it didn’t matter how “the current Langwidere” viewed him.

Seeing this, the older brother intervened with a displeased look.

— Given the situation, can’t we just drag her along regardless of what that woman says?

— Hehe, that’s not impossible, but it would be better if Lady Langwidere cooperates voluntarily. I ask you to take care of her for a moment.

The older brother seemed very reluctant, but not wanting to openly clash with Erichthon, he acted as requested.

Sophia seemed to be trying somehow to stop the deal before her eyes, but the wound she had suffered didn’t allow Sophia to move.

Thus, the student and teacher faced parting.

It was the moment when you were watching this scene with mixed feelings.

Swoosh!

A blood spear containing terrifying power rushed towards you, tearing through the air.

You quickly swung your shield to block the attack, but even the aftermath made your body roll on the ground.

You stared straight ahead.

There was an angel—or perhaps there was the queen of vampires.

She had eerie long hair, and a flowing dress draped down—or perhaps she was wrapped in neat judicial robes and had holy wings spread behind her back.

An ice-cold beautiful face stared at you—or perhaps a gentle but somehow doll-like smile looked at you.

Two visions were distorting and flashing, intersecting with each other like static.

Their power was far degraded compared to their prime, but you were also not in a normal body condition.

《STAGE 3rd. VS ≡二三二≡≡二三二≡》

《In the confrontation≡二三二≡, you can ≡二三二≡ as you wish.》

《If ≡二三二≡ lose, ≡二三二≡≡二三二≡ will ≡二三二≡≡二三二≡ with Sophia Hubris’ body》

The narration that rang out a beat late was also wrapped in even greater static, as if proving the current situation wasn’t normal.

It seemed that the opponent was suppressing the intervention of the game book.

You quickly checked Sophia’s condition.

In one scenery, Sophia could be seen researching something while confined in her home, and in the other scenery, she was seen vomiting blood and dying while drinking a beverage.

Moreover, this time the confined scenery was quickly disappearing, while the poisoned scenery was becoming increasingly distinct.

The enemy was strong, you were weakened, external help was difficult to expect, and there was even a time limit.

But you didn’t get scared or complain.

Rather, you even welcomed the enemy’s appearance.

[The ‘Tin Knight’ burns with fighting spirit, saying they came at just the right time as he needed something to beat on!]

After all, to relieve this stuffiness built up in your chest, you needed to knock something down.

You charged towards the opponent who was either an angel or a vampire, or perhaps neither yet.

***

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