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 - 58

Chapter 58: Alwyn Has Changed

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Two days after we attacked the church, Alwyn’s mental state remained shattered. Her values, beliefs, life and everything she had believed had crumbled in one night. She had no idea that the place she belonged to was actually the den of evil, nor did she know the Pope that she had respected so much was actually a despicable human being. 

“….”

The fairy tale crumbled and in return, the bitter reality slipped in. Actually, she was supposed to meet up with Kaltz and the others yesterday. Then, they would head toward the dungeon. However, due to the shock, she had forgotten to contact her party member. Now, she had become an empty husk as she shut herself in one of the empty rooms at Rielle’s mansion.

In that quiet room, the sound of a gentle knock echoed.

“…”

“Alwyn, it’s me, Kai.”

“….Ah.”

Upon hearing Kai’s voice, Alwyn tried to get up from the bed. However, her knees suddenly gave out, causing her to fall onto the floor. 

“Alwyn!”

Upon hearing that sound, Kai quickly opened the door without waiting for Alwyn’s answer and entered the room. In that dimly lit room, Alwyn was kneeling on the floor. She looked up at Kai. Her eyes were devoid of any sign of life. 

“….I heard from Chloe that you haven’t eaten anything in these past two days.”

Kai said with a bitter expression on his face. Alwyn let her head hung low before she slowly stood up.

“…I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“I…. The church is the actual root of all evil. The demon wasn’t you, Kai-san. It was us.”

“…Not us. That wasn’t your fault.”

“No, it was my fault. Had I paid more attention to others… Had I questioned more things… Had I doubted more… None of this would’ve-“

“You don’t need to bear the responsibility of a whole organization all by yourself, Alwyn.”

Gently, as not to hurt her, Kai took Alwyn’s wrist and guided her to the bed. 

“I know my words won’t give you any comfort, but you’re not at fault. At least, not from what I can see.”

“…”

“Of course, since you’re part of the church, people will definitely blame you too. Nothing can be done about that.”

After making Alwyn sit on the edge of the bed, Kai took a chair to sit in front of her. The dark circles under her eyes were so prominent. Her face was ghostly pale, both from not eating and not sleeping for days. Her lips were dry. She looked like she’d collapse at any given moment. Chloe had done her best to nurture Alwyn, but it seemed even Chloe couldn’t do much about her. 

…But still, Kai took a deep breath and braced himself. He made sure to speak loud and clear, in hope that his words could reach her. 

“Despite everything else, there are people that you’ve saved.”

“….Huh?”

“You used to volunteer at orphanages and even went out of your way to treat people in the slum, right? As long as you keep your heart pure like at that time, people will come to trust you again someday.”

“…”

Alwyn’s eyes widened in shock. Of course. This was part of her past that she had never shared with anyone. This was something that Kai came to know after completing her quest. 

“….You really know everything about me, huh?”

She spoke calmly, but there was a faint smile on her face. A smile that she hadn’t shown in a long time. 

“I really can’t see you as a demon, Kai-san.”

“…Is that so?”

“You’re a strange one. A really strange one.”

Alwyn cast her head down and sighed deeply again before suddenly, she lifted her head and looked Kai in the eyes. In a tone laced with a hint of stubbornness, Alwyn said. 

“There’s something that you want to talk about, right?”

“…Yeah.”

“May I ask what you want to talk about?”

“…”

Kai paused for a moment before he slowly opened his mouth.

“The Pope refused to apologize. He’s choosing an all-out war.”

“…”

“He has summoned all Crusaders stationed in various regions to the capital and he even asked for Kaltz help. I thought you should know.”

“….I see.”

Once again, all emotions vanished from Alwyn’s eyes. Her gaze became hollow again. There was no hint of tears in sight. 

“He threw his last chance away, didn’t he?”

“…Alwyn.”

“You’re going to kill the Pope, right?”

“Yeah.”

Alwyn always referred to the Pope as ‘His Holiness’ instead of ‘the Pope’. This change signaled her perspective of him. hearing this, Kai licked his lips. Without any hesitation, he continued on. 

“We’re planning to attack the church at midnight tonight. The preparations are already complete and by sunrise tomorrow… The Pope will be dead. The church will be destroyed too.”

“…”

“He, along with the Crusaders, have tormented countless people. Far too many people have suffered under their tyranny. We must give them the proper retribution for that.”

“…..I see…. Fufu…”

Kai furrowed his eyebrows slightly. He didn’t expect Alwyn would smile, let alone laugh like this. 

Why is she laughing? Everything I just said is basically like a knife to her heart. 

“Fufu…. Ufufufu… Ahahahaa….”

And yet, Alwyn kept laughing. Not burst out laughing. She was only laughing softly while clapping several times. 

After a while, Alwyn finally took another deep breath. 

“Kai-san, I have something to ask from you.”

“…Personally speaking, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Fufu… So you already know what I’m going to ask? However, I’m sorry, I have to say it… Kai-san, please take me with you.”

“Alwyn…”

“Please, I won’t get in your way anymore. Even if the Pope dies, I won’t cry.”

“…Why would you go that far though?”

“It is my duty to witness everything.”

In that split second, a flash of stubbornness sparked in Alwyn’s eyes. It was not a determination. It was something different, something like a sticky obsession, something that she had never shown before. 

“Technically speaking, I am the spokesperson for the church. It wouldn’t be right for someone of my standing to not witness the church’s end. I will watch the Pope die with my eyes and then, I will make sure all the evil practices the church has done will end with the Pope. I will rebuild a righteous church from scratch.”

“But you know, Kaltz will be there too. Kaltz might see you as an enemy if you stay by our side. Are you fine with that?”

“If my strength is needed, then I will stand on the opposite side of Kaltz-sama just this once.”

“Why?”

As soon as Kai asked her that question, Alwyn showed him a beaming smile. 

“Because that man is unbelievably stubborn.”

“….”

“If he’s there, the church will never change. He will definitely keep on supporting the Pope, since the Pope was the one that chose him as a hero. Even now, even though all of the Pope’s sins have been exposed, that guy still continues to turn a blind eye on the truth and wholeheartedly believe he’s on the side of justice.”

“…..”

“In times like this when change is necessary, a fool like him will only get in the way.”

Kai widened in his eyes as he stared at Alwyn. 

Is this really Alwyn? The kind and gullible Alwyn who’s always so gentle? I didn’t know she could spit such venomous words like that… 

However, the proof of her obsession didn’t stop there. She looked up at the ceiling and sighed deeply again.

“Besides… No matter what… No matter what happens… I just can’t forgive the Pope… I absolutely can’t forgive him….”

“Alwyn…”

“Strange, isn’t it? Just two days ago, I was so desperate to protect him, but now… Now that I know he won’t repent… The hatred suddenly appeared. I hate him so much, I loathe him, so much so that I almost can’t believe I can feel this way toward someone. He was the one that saved me, the one that raised me, and yet…. Fufufu…”

“….”

“I will never forgive the Pope.”

Words that were inappropriate for a clergy like her. And yet, after saying all that, the corner of her mouth raised into a smile and… 

“Someone like him… It would’ve been better if someone like him had never been born. Right? Ufufufu~”

She wore a chilling smile that sent shivers down Kai’s spine.

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T/N: When the good girl gone bad, you need to be very very afraid