Vol 3 Chapter 71 – Self-Introduction Was Delayed

“Those who blaspheme my god have no need to remain in this world. I’ll slaughter them all. Just like this.”

Ugh, he sounds like a total nutcase now… I was clearly fed up, having just witnessed a side of Al I never wanted to see.

He was already the “absolutely kill all evildoers” guy, which was bad enough, but now throw religion into the mix… That’s strike two.

“Ugh, what a cult fanatic. When a crazy ideology combines with overwhelming power, it’s literally hell. Literally.“

Seriously, can’t some divine punishment strike him down? …Though knowing this guy, if any god besides the one he worships tried that, he’d probably fight back and win.

Even I don’t want to battle a god. Actually, I just want to be a shut-in.

“There was a loud noise over here!”
“It came from where Masado and the others were. Hurry!”

The thundering footsteps of a crowd approached, getting louder. Well, this city was mostly under the Church of Arias’s control, so naturally people would swarm toward anything unusual.

Even though our chances would plummet if we faced a mob, Al was puffing out his chest for some reason.

“Hmm, it seems the faithless are gathering. The Church of Arias is an organization that blasphemes the Church of Shannon. I must slaughter them all…”
“Ah, so Al’s already decided the Church of Arias is evil…”

An idiot versus religious warfare? You’ve got to be kidding me. That’s the worst…

As I openly wallowed in despair, a cool voice called out.

“This way.”
“Huh?”

The one trying to guide us was the Church of Shannon believer who’d been chased by Masado and his crew. Wait… we’re being led by a cult member…?

I really don’t want to. This is definitely gonna be bad…

“Starting a conflict with the Church of Arias here is not what our god desires. If we go now, we can escape unnoticed. This way.”

She said something surprisingly reasonable. Though the way she phrased it—like fighting the Church of Arias might be acceptable under different circumstances—made me grimace.

Yep, cult member through and through.

“Mm… I see. Then let us go.”
“Wait, you’re trusting her? You just met!”

Al casually dropped his combat stance and started following the believer. Antares would trail after Al like a baby bird wherever he went, so I had to be the one to speak up.

“Yes, it’s fine. We worship the same god.”
“That’s exactly why I can’t trust her.”

If she were a normal person, I’d believe her too. But she’s a cult member. I can’t trust anything about her.

“Besides, she is…”
“This way.”

Al tried to say something more, but the believer urged us forward and he started moving.

“Sigh… fine, whatever…”

It’s not like I could escape anyway since I’d be dragged along by force. I let out a deep sigh and followed after Al and the others.

◆

“This is our hideout in this city.”

We were led to a dark spot in the back alleys. If I were alone, I’d never follow someone here.

I mean, it’s basically screaming “I’m luring you here to kill you.” However, Al followed without showing the slightest suspicion.

As for Antares… she was probably humming along because she was confident she could turn the tables even if betrayed. Plus, her simple thought process: If Master trusts them, so do I.

“Uwaaah…”
“What’s wrong?”
“No, I just really don’t want to go in…”

This is the cult’s hideout. There are definitely corpses lying around inside.

And there’ll be a gruesome altar dripping with blood, all ominous and foreboding. Eek…

“Why not? It feels very comfortable…”
“Aren’t all your sensory organs rotted out or something?”

Where exactly in this blood-reeking altar is there anything comfortable? Only vampires would be happy here.

“Even if you say that, staying outside makes it easier for Church of Arias followers to find you, doesn’t it? If you want to fight to the death, that’s fine with me…”
“That’s annoying too, so no…”

Urged on by Antares, I reluctantly entered the so-called hideout. Move forward, it’s a cult. Step back, it’s a massacre.

What am I supposed to do…? Feeling utterly fed up, I slowly stepped into the hideout and…

“Huh…?”

I was stunned. Inside the hideout was cleaner than I expected—no blood or organs scattered on the ground.

No corpses lying around either. If that had been all, I might’ve reconsidered my opinion of the Church of Shannon.

But that didn’t happen. Because in a completely different way, this hideout was batshit insane.

“What… is this…?”

There was a brown-skinned woman. She looked exactly like the ghost that occasionally appeared.

Skimpy outfit, sexy body—total pervert material. That woman was here… except it wasn’t actually her.

I don’t know what I’m saying, but I don’t understand it either. Posters! Dolls! Statues! Cushions! Body pillows!

All of them featured the brown-skinned pervert woman. What is this!? What does this mean!? I can’t keep up and I don’t want to!

“This is an altar venerating our chief deity.”
“It’s completely different from the one Al made though!?”

What was that gruesome altar all about!? And what’s with this cringe-level otaku altar!?

“Our god loves blood and organs, and is loved by us.”
“Huh?”

What are you spouting with that smug face, you idiot? You got a death wish? Someone please do something about this moron and knock some sense into them.

“Thank you so much for saving me earlier.”

The Church of Shannon believer bowed deeply. I didn’t want to save you though…

“It’s only natural to help a fellow believer. Besides, you seem very devout toward our god.”
“Of course. Everything I am belongs to Shannon-sama.”

Al looked satisfied as he gazed at the altar. The believer puffed out her chest with pride.

…I don’t even have the energy to comment anymore. Actually, who even is this believer?

As if sensing my thoughts, the believer removed the hood hiding her face. What emerged was a face so perfectly beautiful it could be called a peerless beauty.

But when I saw her eyes, I despaired. Because they were the same muddy, chaotic mess as Al’s and Antares’s.

“My apologies for the delayed introduction. My name is Eusuaria. I serve as the current leader of the Church of Shannon.”
“Eep!“

She’s the most dangerous person in the cult!