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 - 51

Chapter 51: Do You Wish to Know the Truth?

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A day after five crusaders were dispatched. The Pope was in his office, listening to the report from his subordinates with a big frown on his face. 

“They still haven’t returned yet…?! Just what the heck is happening there?!”

“We-We currently have no way of figuring that out yet! The communication channel has been cut off completely…”

“Are you saying the people at Raudi Trading Company killed those crusaders?! Darn it… No one is buying our holy water anymore! We need to get the recipe for Power Elixirs! Right now!!”

“Ho-How about if we threaten the alchemist at that company? That way, we could achieve our goal-“

“You fool!! We can’t afford to go behind the scenes! The people need to see for themselves the fate of those who dare to oppose the church! We need to show the people that will happen to people who dare to defy the sacredness of God! Raudi Trading Company has to serve as an example for that!”

“Ye-Yes! Then… Should we dispatch more Crusaders to them then?!”

“That’s right… Tch. Just the heck is happening here…”

The fact that the Crusaders hadn’t returned even after the date had changed was way too strange. The secretary priest left, leaving the Pope alone in his office. Frustrated, the Pope pondered his situation. 

Could it be that the Crusaders were killed..? No, that can’t be possible. No matter how much resentment that Rielle has toward the church, attacking the Crusaders is the same as waging war against the nation. A trading company whose lifeline is the people’s trust and business negotiations from other companies won’t dare to do that… So… The Crusaders are being held hostage then? But do they even have people strong enough to overpower the Crusaders in the first place? Tch… Just what the heck is happening here…

“Shit… That damn girl has made the situation much more complicated. I will need to make sure she suffers through the worst humiliation.”

That’s right. I will add you into my collection. I will play with your body as I like, defiling your soul and body thoroughly and then… I will burn you at the stake when you’re at your lowest point. I won’t be satisfied otherwise. Not after you’ve caused me so much trouble like this…

“Himmler-sama, this is Alywn. May I come in?”

Amidst his sinister thought, the voice of a young girl echoed into the room along with the sound of a knock, causing the Pope to flinch in shock.

“Yes, Alywn. Please, come on in.”

“Thank you very much.”

Shortly after that, a young girl with light brown hair entered the room. The Pope greeted her with a gentle smile, a stark contrast to his wicked demeanor just a moment before. The healer of the Hero’s party sat before the Pope, looking pleased. 

“Are you going on another journey with Kaltz-sama? Where are you going this time?”

“He mentioned the desire to conquer an A-rank dungeon quite far from here. We’re going to leave the capital tomorrow.”

“I see… You’re already challenging an A-rank dungeon already… As expected from Kaltz-sama, his growth is tremendous.”

“Yes. He’s been training relentlessly, as if he was possessed by something….”

The Pope nodded with a bitter smile on his face. According to Alwyn, it seemed Kaltz to be struggling with himself. That guy was already stubborn in the first place and the incident in the slums only created a toll on his mental side. Because of that, Alywn and Brien, who were accompanying him, were having a tough time as well. 

Fufu~ Well, not that I could care less about the Hero. 

The reason why Kaltz was chosen as the Hero was simple. He was highly talented, but at the same time, he didn’t have any critical thinking skills in his bones. Basically, he was someone easy to manipulate for the empire. Sure, he was really chosen by the Holy Sword, but that didn’t change the fact that Kaltz was a simpleton that could be easily manipulated. Which was why the church sent Alwyn to accompany him. Just like him, Alwyn was incredibly talented. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that she was the most talented clergy in the church.

If it weren’t for her tremendous holy power, I would’ve locked this girl in my collection too… Fufu~ Well, not like I can do that now..

Seeing Alwyn’s weary expression, the Pope smirked in his mind. It was truly a coincidence that he found her. One day, someone reported a crying baby was found at the church’s main gate. After he realized the baby was a girl, the Pope pretended he took Alwyn out of his sheer good will. 

However, it turned out Alwyn possessed a tremendous amount of holy power. If it weren’t for that, she would’ve been treated like the other sisters in the church. Her potential was too great to let her be treated as a toy for the church. Hence why the Pope decided to welcome her as a disciple and raise her with care. 

Fortunately, Alwyn never had any suspicion of the church’s dark side. She was the type to trust people blindly. Hence why Alwyn had remained safe all this time. 

“But… Himmler-sama, your complexion looks bad lately. I think it’s better if you take some time to rest…”

“Oh, no, no, Alwyn. I’m the Pope of this empire. I must guide the people in the right direction and guide them to heaven.”

The Pope knew that Alwyn trusted him deeply. To her, the Pope was her life savior. The one who took her in when she had nowhere else to go. The Pope was the one that gave her a home and taught her many things. 

“Even so, health comes first, you know? Fufu~ Himmler-sama, should I cast some holy magic on you?”

“Haha~ Your kind words alone have lifted my spirits, Alwyn.  Now, please go quickly. Kaltz-sama is waiting for you, right?”

“……..Yes.”

Alwyn looked a bit uncomfortable at the mention of Kaltz, but then she bowed before leaving the room. 

Recalling Alwyn’s womanly figure, the Pope chuckled to himself. 

“Aaah~ What a shame, Alwyn. I would love to violate you at least once…”

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Alwyn was feeling glum.

Starting tomorrow, she would need to face a week full of nonstop battles. No, maybe two weeks full even. Since the incident at the slum, Kaltz had lost all control. 

“I am justice. There’s now way my beliefs could be wrong.”

He chanted those words like a madman as he wielded his sword recklessly. Naturally, Kaltz had become more ruthless toward Brien and Alwyn. 

“Just why do you two keep asking for a break? You can easily overcome physical fatigue with sheer determination. Do you really think you can defeat the demons when you’re not willing to put in the effort…?”

“…Haaah….”

Alwyn was aware. At that time, the three of them couldn’t stand a chance against the demons. Kaltz was beaten to the pulp and neither Brien and Alwyn could move out of fear. They just followed the boy’s words obediently. 

Kaltz must had felt incredibly humiliated. Alywn knew Kaltz was trying this hard because he wanted to erase the shame for being defeated by the demon, but… 

The way he’s acting now… Feels a bit too twisted.

“….Chloe-san…”

They hadn’t always been like this. Back when Chloe was here… Chloe was practically the voice for Brien and Alwyn. She boldly spoke her mind to Kaltz, reprimanding Kaltz for going overboard. She single-handedly kept the entire party rolling.

Now that Chloe was gone, the Hero party began to crack rapidly. Brien was already exhausted to the brim. No matter what Kaltz said to her, Brien would only respond negatively, like Kaltz’s existence already irked her so much. 

As the only person mediating between them, Alwyn was feeling very stressed. 

“…God, please guide us…”

In a small prayer room that she had used since she was young, Alwyn knelt. She gripped her hands tightly as she prayed earnestly. 

“Is the path I am currently walking on truly the right one…? I’ve lived my life following Your words and the holy scriptures… God, please tell me… The power of the demons is far too strong for us. It seems victory is like a fleeting dream even if we were to train hard for a hundred years.”

Confessing her predicament to God lightened the burden in her heart a little. However, she had yet voiced the question that weighed her heart the most. 

“But… God, are that boy and girl… Are they really the demons?”

She had seen it with her eyes. The sinister laboratory hidden in a forest next to the slum. 

“If there are demons in this country… No, if the noble governing this country are not human, but the evil, then… What am I fighting for? Please tell me… Your servant seeks answers.. God, oh God… I desire the truth.”

Sometimes, I wish I had remained oblivious. That way, I wouldn’t have to endure such painful thoughts. 

However, the doubt that sprouted after returning from the slum only grew bigger, eventually consuming her own heart. She couldn’t stop herself from doubting everything. In fact, Kaltz didn’t look like a hero who was destined to defeat the demons in Alwyn’s eyes and she also didn’t think the empire was righteous either. 

“….Haah..”

But of course, the answer she sought wouldn’t come that easily. Feeling resigned, Alwyn stood up to leave the prayer room, but then…

“Alwyn.”

“…..Huh?”

A voice that shouldn’t be heard came from the other side of the door. A familiar voice. The voice of a trusted companion, someone she wholeheartedly believed. Alwyn immediately opened the door to confirm the owner of the voice and…

“Chloe-san!”

A mature-looking girl with silky black hair smiled wryly at her. 

“Do you wish to know the truth?” 

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T/N: Let’s see if Alwyn is redeemable or not (≖_≖ )