As soon as I finished the strategy for the fourth dungeon and stepped outside, I used Joy’s magic to head toward the nearby Holy Land.
The village under evacuation orders was quiet. Recently, every time I came, people gathered to see my face, and it made me feel like I was losing my mind!
Thinking this way was better, I threw Joy over my shoulder and yelled for Frey to take Phoebe.
“I can run by myself, you know!”
“Should I wait for a fat pig who’s slow and sluggish?! It’s driving me crazy!”
I knew that Joy and Phoebe did their best to catch up with me!
But come on, they’re just a wizard and a clergy!
Of course they’d be slower compared to those doing the running!
Do you think I could afford to dawdle in such a pressing situation?!
“Saintess. Excuse me.”
“Uh, yes.”
Leaving behind the somewhat disappointed Phoebe, I dashed forward.
As I got closer to the Holy Land, the unpleasant energy in the air became thicker.
Something that instinctively made me feel repulsed.
An atmosphere no living being would welcome.
Is this the energy of the End?
It’s really disgusting.
Just like an Evil God, the smell was awful. How long did I run with my brows furrowed due to the stench?
I could see a pillar standing tall in the center of the Holy Land crumbling down.
The clean cut suggested it wasn’t the Pope’s doing, but rather that of a Sword Saint.
As a pervert who targets married men, he has absolutely no self-control.
I only needed to buy some time, and yet, he couldn’t even manage that!
“…Oh great Lord Jushin…”
“Take your claims to that fox lady.”
“…What?”
Anyway, that’s not my responsibility!
As I got closer to the Holy Land, I could hear the sounds of battle in my ears.
The sound of swords slicing through the air.
The sound of a heavy mace smashing through flesh and bone.
The sound of fists hitting shields.
And the sound of someone gritting their teeth while another person laughs.
“Apostle! Saintess!”
Johann and several clergy members gathered inside the Holy Land were praying amidst this chaos, placing the holy relic I gave them in the center.
“The preparation is complete!”
“Shoddy Phoebe!”
“Understood! Just tell me when!”
After sending Phoebe to activate the relic, I rushed towards the Pope, who was standing amidst the debris of collapsed buildings.
A horrific stench was emanating from the crystals surrounding him.
As the sun was fleeing in fear of the end, the sky turned black.
Even the moon and stars seemed scared as no light existed in the black sky.
From below the earth, the energy of death was oozing out, and the sword saints with piercing gazes stood confidently before us, wielding their broken equipment amidst countless deaths.
[Evil God Agra is about to descend into this world.]
[Progress: 1%]
After checking the blue message that appeared before me for the first time in a while, I smiled and raised my shield.
I could see my shield-wielding hand tremble. This was different from the dungeons I had tackled up until now.
What lay before me wasn’t a trial that could be easily overcome if I just put my mind to it.
It was a disaster. A trial that could not be overcome unless I relied solely on my abilities.
It was a gamble where one wrong step meant losing my life.
And that’s why I’m scared.
The pain that will come my way terrifies me. I want to look away from the screams of my friends out of fear.
But I have to move forward.
Because it’s something I must do.
As I added strength to my trembling hands and stepped forward, the darkened sky cleared up, and sunlight shone down on me.
Shoddy God. Don’t tell me you thought a measly cheer like this would suffice?
If that’s the case, I might genuinely get angry!
Well, the sunlight is warm and feels nice, so I’ll let it slide this time.
But be prepared.
Once everything is over, I’ll definitely stick a mace into your head.
The moment I smiled grimly, the Pope, who had been looking at the sky, turned his head and faced me.
His pupils, already warped, were now colored in black, harboring the abyss within them.
Is that why?
Just looking at him sent shivers down my spine.
I was about to say it was unnaturally difficult.
“The Age of Myth has already begun, Apostle.”
I know. I can’t stop the Age of Myth from arriving.
“So?”
But what do you want? If I intended to stop the Age of Myth, I would have smashed your skull by now.
“Do you think you can stop this?”
Pffhahaha. Idiot. You don’t even consider that you left me behind, huh?
Alright. I’ll indulge you a bit. Let’s have some fun.
“Why are you asking the obvious?♡ You’re as dumb as you look~♡”
The moment I confirmed that my gaze had drawn his attention, I signaled Frey with a nod.
She immediately drew her sword and cut down the knights behind her.
Taking advantage of the moment when his attention shifted to Frey, I scattered fairies around.
As the view changed and the Pope surrounded by the energy of Evil God came into sight.
“Your subordinates are as sloppy as you?♡”
“My physical abilities have reached their peak.”
While I processed the line I might have heard countless times in my ears, I raised my shield.
The Pope’s first phase.
Using the Authority of the End for physical enhancement to engage in close combat.
When I first encountered this, I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of nonsense this was, but it hasn’t changed much since then.
Feeling the shock from a failed parry, I was pushed back.
Hahaha. For a pig, he’s disgustingly fast.
But it’s not like I can’t catch up at all.
As I blocked another attack, my friends moved in.
Arthur’s imitation of the Sword Saint’s sword struck, and Joy’s darkness obscured the Pope’s vision, giving me room to raise my shield again.
Let’s try to speed up the timing just a bit. And I’ll infuse some divinity in case of emergency.
Then.
KWAANG!
The shock did lessen, but it’s still not perfect.
“My authority has reached its peak.”
Already moving to the second phase!? What the hell? I didn’t even take any hits!
Cursing internally, I raised my shield again.
Another wave of shock. My body lifted into the air. The Pope charged after me.
“Hey, I’m still over here, you know?”
The Sword Saint’s strike cut the Pope’s neck, and Grandpa’s doll knocked him down.
Taking advantage of the moment the Pope flew away, I landed and healed my body with divine magic, stabilizing my stance.
“I’ll end it in your sight.”
[Progress: 10%]
As the Pope declared from behind the clouds of dust, everything went dark.
“Shoddy God!”
The moment I dispelled the darkness with the Authority of Purification, three knights appeared around me.
Seeing them wielding their weapons with a hint of guilt, I jumped to evade their attack, then smashed one of their heads using their weapons as a foothold.
The sensation of bone breaking was horrifying through the mace.
“Apostle.”
The distance between the Pope and me suddenly closed. He gripped the head of his shield with both hands and smiled at me with blood-red eyes.
“You’re quite silent today.”
“I didn’t want to reward a pig~♡ I’ll feel really bad if you start twitching suddenly~♡”
“Is that so? Because you don’t seem to be very composed.”
The moment Frey’s blade severed the Pope’s hands, the scenery around us changed.
We arrived in the heights, where even breaths were cold enough to freeze.
“Aaaah! Seriously! What kind of childish power is this?!”
As I fell under gravity, I bit my lip.
It’s not enough to keep the Authority of Purification constantly around me.
If I do such a thing in a place filled with the energy of Evil Gods, I’ll end up unable to do anything when the real fight starts.
But if I let the Authority of the End roam freely, that will be just as troublesome!
[Lucy.]
‘What is it?!’
[If that guy is going to act freely under the pretense of authority, can’t you do the same?]
‘That perverted guy is practically the same as Evil God Agra! That’s why he can do such a thing!’
[What makes you any different? Right now you’re essentially being treated as a divine being capable of performing miracles on this land.]
I’m not just a proxy chosen by the Lord; I’m recognized as a god performing miracles directly on this land.
Is this even a thing?
[Let’s lay a brave front and see how it goes. The Age of Myth is approaching; even exceptional cases should be possible, right?]
‘I hope so.’
Thinking it’s something to worry about after falling, I felt the scenery around me change again.
What now!
– Lucy!
– You did it!
– It’s Lucy!
Landing on my backside and groaning, I looked at the flying fairies around me and tilted my head.
What did they do? This isn’t even a forest!
[Progress: 20%]
“Lucy!”
“There’s no time to celebrate! Move now!”
“It’s annoying not dying.”
Before rising to the skies, the knights I could easily subdue were now pushing my friends back.
While we maintained the frontline together with the Sword Saint and the doll, we were the ones getting pushed back.
Why have the knights suddenly become stronger?
At the same time, I felt the energy of Agra within them.
Whew. Alright. I’ll do as the Pope does.
“Aaah~♡ Seriously~♡ There’s an awful smell everywhere~♡ It’s so annoying that you should just disappear~♡ Trash♡”
…This isn’t what I wanted.
Trying my best to act unapologetic, I was sweating profusely inside as divinity surged within me and enveloped the land.
Oh.
Oh no.
It feels odd for me to say this, but is it really possible for the Authority of Purification to activate with something like that?
Does this make sense?
