The Hero Party Couldn’t Kill Me

Chapter 10: Who is the wicked (5)

“Oh, how did you know? Answer me!”

Auguste was the first to speak. I smiled and accepted.

“… Seeing as you ask, it must have been a real revelation.”

Belatedly, Auguste realized his mistake, but he was already spilled water.

At the same time, people’s murmur grew louder. I spoke in a clear voice before the sound grew louder.

When I started talking, the people fell silent again.

“Now, the judge confirmed that the revelation I heard was correct. So let’s see it here. This great temple is struck by lightning and collapses, and I smile in triumph as I see it. And the saintess thought that I was throwing a thunderbolt before instead. The problem starts here. How can you interpret this as a great threat to the Empire?”

For the first time in this trial, the eyes of the saintess began to waver. Everyone’s eyes were now focused on the saintess.

“… The collapse of the Great Hall means that the Goddess is abandoning us. So it can be interpreted as a great threat to the empire.”

“Why does the collapse of the temple mean that the goddess is abandoning us? Is that also part of the revelation?”

“… Yes. It hasn’t been made public, but it’s a revelation from a very long time ago.”

“So who exactly does ‘we’ mean here?”

“Yes, yes, the whole empire!”

“Saint, do not deceive yourself. If it was that serious, why did you say so vaguely that it was a great threat to the Empire? Why didn’t you tell me earlier that the great threat is that the Goddess will abandon the empire?”

At least I thought there would be a proper excuse for this. I would rather have said that Etoileism is an empire.

“… That’s because it’s hard for ordinary people to understand if you say it like that.”

However, the excuse the priest behind the saintess made was too weak.

At this mistake, the crowd began to boo. Her princess and her guards escorting her stepped forward and managed to calm her crowd.

I waited until the crowd was quiet before asking the next question.

“Well, that’s good. Either way, it’s certainly a revelation that’s hard to accept. By the way, saintess, have you ever thought about why the goddess gave such a revelation?”

“I think he did it because he was angry with us.”

“Then do you know why the Goddess is angry?”

“I don’t understand. Why are you suddenly asking this question?”

“As far as I can see, the saintess’ second mistake was to look only at the superficial cause and focus on eliminating it. The root cause remains the same.”

“Not really. As we saw in the case before, in the end, the revelation could be stopped only by blocking the person whom the Goddess pointed out as the cause. In this way, the Goddess tells you how to change your will.”

“Do you really think so? I sincerely ask you. These are the characters from the cases I mentioned earlier. What happened after changing the revelation? Did you die enjoying your heavenly life?”

The saintess’ expression distorted when she heard my question.

First of all, the saintess who had prevented her own assassination was excommunicated. This is a fact I already knew.

I learned about the second case later, but the emperor, who escaped assassination thanks to a revelation, became tyrannical after that incident, and eventually met a miserable end when he was driven out by his younger brother.

The saintess who informed the revelation also had a short-lived confrontation with the emperor.

“Then what do you think is the root cause?”

From noble mtl dot com

When the saintess was unable to say anything, the priest next to her asked instead.

“Wouldn’t you know better about that? Why was the goddess angry? Of course, it must have been because they didn’t listen to the goddess. Then what does the Goddess not like?”

“Are you saying that we did evil?”

“I don’t know everything, but what I do know is that there are enough evil deeds to incur the wrath of the Goddess. First of all, even after hearing the revelation of the goddess, I devoted everything to rebuilding the Great Temple of Etoile.”

“Why is that evil?”

“Even as this Etoile Great War drained the empire’s finances. Even while exploiting the labor of people exhausted by the war. Is it worth it to protect it even while selling a ridiculous thing called indulgences?”

“If you can stop the revelation, it’s worth it!”

“You still don’t understand me? Why do we make the same mistakes when we see the words of those who tried to reverse the revelations in the past? Rather, didn’t you think that the Goddess was trying to destroy the Great Hall because of that obsession?”

I pushed myself up to the pit. The priest who justified his actions hesitated to say anything.

“Also, committing the scam of indulgences while draining the empire’s finances is also a big mistake. Isn’t that already well illustrated in the case of Iris Rossier? So, was she saved by buying indulgences? Or is she being punished?”

“In the end, aren’t all the evil deeds you listed happened because of you? I did all this out of necessity to stop you!”

“Yes, yes! We talked so well, but in the end, wasn’t it you who struck the thunderbolt at Daishinjeon a few days ago?”

Even after explaining this far, the priests still protested against me.

People who watched the priests booed, and some tried to run towards the priests.

The concourse is a total mess.

“Stop!!”

The confusion subsided only after the princess raised her voice and restrained it. And when it was quiet again, I spoke calmly.

“Yes. It was me who struck the thunderbolt a few days ago.”

Of course, the stillness I barely regained became noisy again at my word.

“It was after hearing the revelation. I was also mistaken. I wonder if I have the authority to destroy the Great Crusade. In fact, I tend to use lightning magic well. But the Great Sanctuary did not collapse.”

I stopped her words for a moment and looked at the lost saintess.

“That’s when I realized. That I don’t have the power to destroy the Great Crusade. If there’s someone who can destroy the Great Crusade, it’s probably only the Goddess.”

“… That was enough. I will now pass judgment.”

As soon as I finished speaking, Judge Auguste spoke freely. It seemed that he was trying to minimize the confusion by covering my mouth even now.

I looked at him pathetically and said.

“Good. Then we will finish it as quickly as possible.”

“Stop….”

“Summarizing, the reason I thought her saintess was a wicked person was because she arbitrarily interpreted her goddess’ revelation, and because she recklessly tried to prevent her revelation from being fulfilled without considering her goddess’ will. No see. And in the process, they unjustly tried to kill me, drained the empire’s finances to rebuild the Great Temple, and threw the empire into chaos by issuing indulgences.”

After catching her breath for a while, she looked at the saintess who was already in a state of disrepair and said.

“And perhaps, even before receiving this revelation, she did something to incur the wrath of the Goddess. That is why I am asking Saint Lucy Pricis to be punished.”

I then looked at Auguste and said.

“You still want to punish me. Great. Do as you please. Just keep in mind this one thing. Killing me won’t change the outcome.

Because it is. It is the will of the Goddess.”

After my words, the central hall fell silent. It was like the calm before the storm.

Everyone’s eyes were on Auguste. Auguste swallowed dry saliva and looked at the saintess.

And after a moment’s hesitation, he gave his verdict.

“I, Auguste… With the approval of Her Highness, Edmund is sentenced to death.”

At the same time, shouts erupted from everywhere. The turmoil was stronger than ever. It was to the extent that even the princess could not handle it now.

“Ha, but! If you tell me who you collaborated with, I will spare your life.”

Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, Auguste hurriedly added this. I snorted at his shallow trick.

“What does that mean? Isn’t this your intention to calm the wrath of the angry mob anyway?”

“… ….”

“I will say this instead. Who do you think I heard this revelation from?”

The crowd, which had been tumultuous at my words, fell silent again. They waited for my next words.

“The goddess has already chosen another saint who can hear her revelations. And he will carry out the revelation of the goddess instead of Saint Lucy.”

With those words, I came down from the podium. Again the crowd went into a frenzy. I watched them for a while.

As expected, he was sentenced to death. But no regrets. Because my plan has already been accomplished.

Looking back, the paladins who were already waiting were holding the rope with trembling hands. Now that the death sentence has been handed down, they must be trying to tie me down.

“What are you so afraid of? It won’t hurt you, so tie it up.”

I gladly handed them my arms and said,

Before they restrained me, enduring the shouts of the crowd, something faintly appeared in the palm of my hand.

It was a magic circle with a new pattern drawn a few days ago.