I Got Reincarnated Into a Game I Was a Top-Ranker in and I Became the Leader of a Villain Group That Will Destroy This Shitty Country - 43

Chapter 43: It Seems You’re Still Lacking in Faith

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Upon returning to the capital following the incident at the slum, the Hero, Kaltz, found himself living in hell. Although Alwyn had treated his legs, which had been pierced by Kai’s magic, Kaltz was still suffering mentally. The emotional pain was unbearable. At that moment, a primal side of Kaltz realized. He couldn’t win against Kai. Not in his current state. Defeating the demon seemed like a mere fleeting dream for him. 

“……DARN IT ALLL!!!!”

BANG!!

Kalt slammed the table in the inn, creating a loud noise as he shouted for what felt like the umpteenth time today. He couldn’t do anything. He was beaten senselessly, toyed with relentlessly. He was supposed to be a hero… Yes, a hero! Someone who was destined to save the world!

“Just… What is this… What the hell is going on…”

Why did he let me live? No, more importantly… Was it really Gebels who built that sinister laboratory?

Suspicion began to grow, gradually corroding his once resolute heart. Despite thinking it was impossible for Gebels to do that, but the mere possibility of ‘what if’ was gnawing on Kaltz’s mind. He couldn’t ignore it. And above all else… Chloe’s betrayal filled Kaltz with fury. 

“That woman…!!! I should’ve killed her while I could!!! I can’t believe she’d change side with demons..!!”

While Kaltz was rendered unconscious by Kai, Chloe had disappeared, following those demons. It was an act of betrayal. Simple and clear. This betrayal also proved that Chloe was a coward, who was ready to abandon her comrades and groveling at the feet of the demon. Chloe actually chose the demon over the Hero’s party, forsaking the side of justice. 

Kaltz wondered. 

Why? How did things end up like this? I’m a Hero, right?

He was chosen by the holy sword, the treasure of this kingdom. Kaltz truly believed after being chosen by the holy sword, he would continue to grow and thrive. He believed he would be able to overcome anything as long as he stuck to his beliefs. 

Kaltz truly didn’t understand why these trials kept coming after him one after another.

“Maybe… I was wrong…? No. It can’t be….! It… It can’t be…”

The image of Gebels’ gruesome corpse came to his mind. The misshapen corpses scattered all over the laboratory, Chloe’s disgusted expression when he aimed his sword at her… Even the infuriating demon’s face who claimed to have saved his life while exposing all his darkest secrets.

All of it.. Those memories… Everything about it seemed to negate everything he had been building up until now. 

Kaltz couldn’t bear it. Because… It felt like his own common sense was being denied. Because…. It felt like the bright future he hoped for and the beliefs he stubbornly clung onto were wrong. 

“………No.”

Clutching his head with both hands, Kaltz began chanting frantically like a lunatic. 

“NO,NO,NO,NO,NO,NO,NO,NO,NO,NO,NO,NO,NO,NO,NO,NO,NO,NO,NO,NO,NO,NO,NO,NO!!!!”

No way. There was no way the demon’s were right. This… This must be part of the demon’s scheme. The demons must be the one that created that laboratory. Kaltz didn’t know why, but he was convinced. He was absolutely sure the demon somehow created that laboratory and experimented on Gebels. 

He had to believe. He had to. Otherwise, he would lose his mind. Kaltz refused to bend his beliefs and ideology. It was easier to live thinking as he had always been. After all, everyone around him had always told him that was the right thing to do. Kaltz also convinced his belief was right.

I want to defeat the demons and become a hero!

“There’s no way the holy sword would choose me if I was wrong…. I wouldn’t be chosen as a Hero if I was wrong… Haha… Ha… No-No! In the first place, why am I even being swayed by the words of a demon?! Demons are the enemies of humanity! The evil beings that should be eradicated….! Haha…. Hahaha!!”

Right. Chloe was an annoyance in my party anyway. She didn’t have a single qualification to become a hero. Kaltz thought he should’ve kicked her sooner. Thinking about the words of a demon was pointless. Gebels was used by the demons. The Pope, who had saved his life… The Crown Prince, who should be the ruler of this country… None of them were wrong. After all… If they were wrong, that would be the end of everything. 

“….Fufufufu…. Haaah… Maybe I should go hunting.”

Kaltz wondered, why was he lost in thought like this all by himself. It wasn’t like him. He decided he should keep doing what he was best at. Moving his body without thinking about trivial stuff. 

The hero stood up with his holy sword in hand. 

Alywn and Brien said they have something to do today… I guess that means I’ll be going to the dungeon alone today.

“….Alone.”

Now that Chloe was gone, the party had been reduced to just three members. Just three of them. 

….I wonder why.. I thought that if I become a hero, I’d be surrounded by wonderful comrades. That’s always been my dream, yet…

“…Haha… What am I thinking? I should hurry to the dungeon.”

With the holy sword firmly grasped in his hand, Kaltz left the inn and headed for the dungeon. 

No one was beside him. He was all alone.

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Meanwhile, Alwyn, who had returned from the slum, was meeting Pope Himmler in one of the rooms in the church. 

“…Himmler-sama, there was an incident.”

“I see. Is that so?”

Alywn told everything in detail to the Pope. From the events in the slum, to the underground laboratory and even her encounter with the demons. She also mentioned her confusion about why the demons had helped them once and didn’t kill them despite having the chance to do so.

After Alywn finished retelling everything, the fat Pope only nodded with a compassionate look on his face. Alywn’s expression was glum. She was seriously contemplating whether to speak her mind or not. Eventually, she decided she had to speak. 

Taking a deep breath, Alwyn stared at the Pope. She couldn’t run away. After all, she was a cleric, someone who should be the epitome of goodness.

“Yes. And also… Himmler-sama, there’s something I’d like to ask.”

“Ooh… What is it, Alwyn?”

“…..The one that built that laboratory… Was it Gebels-san?”

Alywn was convinced that there was no way Himmler didn’t know about this. The Empire had a strong relationship with the church. Religion and politics had always been intertwined in the Empire. Since she was young, Alwyn had seen the Pope entering and leaving the imperial palace numerous times for political duties. 

Above all… Considering the scale of that laboratory, Alwyn thought there was no way Pope Himmel wasn’t aware of its existence. 

In order to build such a big underground facility… To have a wide collection of black magic books and… To conduct wicked experiments on countless people… Doing all of that would require a tremendous amount of money and labor. The entire kingdom would need to join hands to make it possible.

“….Ah, Alwyn…”

However, the Pope stood up and placed a hand on Alwyn’s shoulder. 

“It seems you’re still lacking in faith.”

Pope Himmel said. His voice was eerily unsettling. 

“…Huh?”

“I never thought you out of all people would be swayed by the words of demons. You, the one with the most holy power in this church… Actually harboring such impure thoughts…! I do have to say, I’m disappointed, Alwyn.”

“Bu-But…!”

“Alwyn, I think you will have to repent for your sin later on.”

Pope Himmel opened his slitted eyes and smirked. 

“Do you really think the empire… Would the nation of God actually commit such an atrocity? Black magic experiments? Even if it was true the empire was the one behind it, what could the empire gain from experimenting in black magic? Think about it, Alwyn.”

“…..”

“You are someone who will inherit my position. A very talented future pope. Please, erase such disrespectful thoughts from your mind. Alwyn, you are someone chosen by God. You are different from other people.”

“….Po-Pope Himmel…”

“Now, now. It’s best if you refrain from talking back. Fufufu… Alwyn… It’s not too late yet. Go, go to the chapel right away. Kneel before the cross and repent. Pray so God will forgive your sin for being seduced by the sweet whispers of the demons.”

Cold sweat ran down Alwyn’s spine. Alwyn was feeling horribly uncomfortable. With his gaze still locked on Alwyn, Pope Himmel continued on. 

“After all, there’s no way the empire is evil. Fufu~”

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T/N: The epitome of gaslighting your way ¯_(ツ)_/¯