Are You and Your God Sane?
Their absurd remark made me retch for a moment, freezing the entire conference hall. But who could blame me? These Holy Kingdom bastards who went around burning people alive as heretics. Now they wanted all-out war with Magus Civitas, but since they were short on manpower, they planned to conscript us—the outcasts and criminals they'd despised as heretics. It was ridiculous.
Repent for past sins, fight for the gods, and receive absolution, they said. After abandoning this North Continent for so long, their sudden visit and outrageous demands were beyond belief.
"So now you're desperate enough to borrow power from us devil contractors? Huh?!"
"You... back then... Dantalian the devil?!"
"Oh, my bad. Truth is, I'm a devil contractor bound to Dantalian. Owe 'em a favor from ten years back."
"What?! You tricked us that day! You filthy spawn of the devil!"
"Tricked? Hilarious! Listen to what I actually said back then. [Did I ever say with my own mouth that I was Dantalian?] You idiots jumped to conclusions on your own!"
Crunch!
"And let me tell you something! That day! You tried to burn innocent people alive just because they happened to cross paths with us by chance—completely unrelated to any devil! Do you really think that was justified? Wasn't that the truly ugly act?! You, who tried to kill even sinless kids through heresy trials—do you really believe you're the righteous ones?!"
Ten years ago, the day I first encountered those things. They tried to slaughter people with no guilt, including young Mira and Shera back then. Just for associating with us!
And we didn't even choose this form willingly, yet they didn't bother with proper talk—straight to killing us as heretics. Were they the normal ones? Even in this godforsaken world where heretic hunts are routine, I still think their attitude that day was the abnormal one.
"You wicked seed of evil dare insult our sacred god?!"
"Insult? Fine, let me ask you this. Who in this world proves that the goodness of your almighty god is real, and that your actions are truly normal? You claim we're evil, sure—but who proves you're good, that you're justice? Isn't it just brute force imposing 'justice'? Fanatics branding innocents heretics and burning them alive just for being near devils?"
"Y-You bastard! Blasphemy against the divine?!"
The conference hall froze over like an ice age had hit. Who could've imagined anyone openly spouting such blasphemy right in front of the Seven Virtues Knights from the Holy Kingdom, self-proclaimed servants of god?
My kids and Big Daddy just went, "Phew~ Boss (that crazy bastard) is stirring up trouble again~" slapping their foreheads with sighs. The heteromorphs watched me with intrigued gazes. The real surprise? Gerhart, who'd been stone-faced until now, was shaking with dilated pupils in sheer shock.
Big Daddy and the heteromorphs have lived long enough for that, but looks like the Holy Kingdom's faith has spread to the West Continent too?
But recalling what Halphas had told me recently, it was hard to see their god as absolute good. The sole god worshipped by humans in this mid-plane. They considered even uttering his name irreverent, calling him only "our holy lord."
In the distant past, countless gods existed in ancient times. Some of the 666 devils were once gods themselves, twisted and demonized by their church and their god—becoming today's hellish 666. Hearing that, I couldn't help doubting if their god was truly just and righteous.
Devils don't lie. Halphas had no reason to tell me, but that fact alone was enough.
In this world so far, the Holy Kingdom's "heretic hunts" had led to countless massacres. Even in a world overrun by devils and monsters, my 21st-century Earth sensibilities from my past life couldn't comprehend it.
Sure, the Holy Kingdom had kind priests and holy knights doing charity in the god's name. A rare few might genuinely devote themselves to helping the needy. But saints like that were a tiny minority. Reality isn't pretty—in a world where human life is cheap, they'd killed more innocents linked to heretics under the guise of "purification" than they'd ever saved.
"Kyahahahaha!!~♥ Jackpot!~ Our boss dropping bombs like this! Ahh~ So glad I stuck around!!~♥"
"Crazy fucker... Going all out like that!"
"Puhahaha! North Face punk's totally nuts! Asking holy knights if their god's sane! First lunatic like this in my dwarf life!"
"Hm~ The contractor of Dantalian speaks intriguing words. Is the god's righteousness truly normal..."
"Grrr. Interesting talk from that human. Gotta discuss him separately with the tribal alliance leaders."
...
Whoa? Heteromorph favorability shooting up outta nowhere? Guess the Holy Kingdom oppressed them behind my back somewhere?
Me, unintentionally boosting heteromorph goodwill. Might help smooth future trades and relations with a better rep.
But first...
"Hey. Answer me. Were all those massacres you committed truly justice? Do you really think that's the path for this world? Burning homes and torturing people as heretics just because a devil appeared nearby, calling it 'god's will'—are you and your god sane?"
Thud!Clang!-
"I won't tolerate more blasphemy!"
Click! Click! Click! Holy knights drawing swords, led by Gloria.
Of course—for those fanatics, logic was irrelevant; god was absolute. Never expected rational answers from them anyway. Even on old Earth, witch hunts lasted till the 18th century. In a world where gods and devils are real, questioning their god's legitimacy was intolerable.
Unable to stomach my blasphemy against their faith, Gloria and the knights drew blades, radiating massive killing intent like they meant to slaughter me on the spot. Wishful thinking on their part, though!
Whirrr!Splash! !!!
"Guh?! Spiderwebs?!"
"Hehehe~ Don't draw weapons on our boss so casually, you filthy holy knights?"
"An arakne thought extinct ages ago?! How?!"
Estelle noona, who'd been lurking on the ceiling since who-knows-when, unleashed webs binding Gloria and the knights. Everyone at the summit stared in shock, clueless she'd been up there.
"You crazy punk! When did you infiltrate my mansion?!"
"Ah~ Sorry about that! I'll ask Estelle noona to clean it up later."
"Your whole family's a pack of troublemakers!"
"Sigh~ So narrow-minded! Estelle noona, just bind 'em lightly! Don't kill."
"Hmm? Wouldn't killing be easier?"
Estelle noona raised her darkening hand. If she wanted, she'd inject arakne venom in that state and poison them dead. Only if I ordered it, though.
"Technically I started it, and killing them just means more headaches later."
"Hmmm~ Fine. I'll tie 'em up tight instead."
Whirrr!Mmmph!
"Faith is the steadfast shield. Piety drives out evil!"
Snap!
"Heh? That auntie sliced right through?"
As more webs headed for the bound knights, golden radiance poured from Gloria's sword, sharpening into a blade that severed Estelle noona's tough threads like paper. No average aura could cut those—befitting a holy knight captain.
Hummm!-
"That's... an aura blade? The Seven Virtues' holy knight captain title isn't bluff. Sword master at that age."
"Whoa?! She looks my age at most?!"
"You filthy devil spawn! I'm Gloria, captain of the Purity Holy Knights under the Seven Virtues! Twenty-nine this year!!--"
She's got crazy baby face?!
She looked like a high school girl—total youthful beauty! But sword master meant top-tier strength. Achieving that so young? Must've lived a brutal life of training.
Sense aside, a sword master was a huge threat.
Should I take her out now? Maybe peel her face skin for sword master skills...
BOOM!
"Kneel... before us!"
...
Thud!
"Aaaah—no... that's not it... no... Sisters, forgive me... it wasn't like that..."
"Hm?"
With Gerhart's surging aura and a single word, Gloria dropped to her knees, mumbling apologies wracked with guilt. Not just her—the accompanying knights, Big Daddy's family rushing in at the commotion, heteromorph escorts, even my kids trembled in terror.
Only family executives like me and the bosses held steady. Everyone else shook like they'd seen something horrifying.
"What the hell? Big Daddy, what's this?"
"Hmph! Can't you tell? Gerhart's power. Contractor of the Demon of Fear, Balac."
"Fear?"
"Literal. Spreads unforgettable nightmares, dread, terror—crushing minds. Devil contractors resist somewhat, but only those with top-100 demons. The rest crumble, go mad, or shatter completely."
This is insane?! Like a final boss skill from some game—absolute in its own way.
Humans all carry fears. This Gerhart weaponized them to break minds—total cheat. I'd met multiple devils, gained extra from Dantalian, bonded with greater Vanessa. Immunity from that? Or half-devil body from the contract blocking it? Either way, annoying power.
"Forgive me... sisters. Forgive me... Lord, why didn't you save my sisters? Aaaah..."
"Hmph! Even that proud holy knight has an unforgettable nightmare day, huh."
Looks like trauma from the Magus Civitas clash ten years ago? While I ditched Pladeus's grimoire and ran, her knights probably got massacred.
"Aaaah... mercy... Lord... absolve my sins..."
Thud!
Gloria and her knights fainted from trauma overload. Gerhart rose, slinging a massive black greatsword over his shoulder—nearly as tall as his 180cm frame. He approached to finish the fallen Gloria.
Bang!- Twaang!~
...
"You dare block us?"
As he raised the greatsword to decapitate, I pistol-shot the blade, deflecting it and saving the choked knight girl's life. Dissatisfied, he glared at me with hostility.
"Sorry, but she's tangled with me now. Thanks for the assist, but third parties, step back?"
"You dare... command us?"
"Us, huh~ Not even emperor yet, and already looking down on folks? Eh? Rebel~ Black Prince?"
...
Gerhart spun, sword aimed at me. Damn, nothing ever goes smoothly here! Brute force was the only truth!