〈 Chapter 268 〉 Episode 262 – FFF

*

“…Let’s hear the reason first.”

As I mentioned before, the Pope is the highest authority in the Beastman Kingdom.

That being was bowing their head to us right now.

While asking us to help escape with Caressy.

[Moreover, didn’t he call Caressy something different?］

“Oh, that’s true.”

When he was with the Holy Knights, he clearly referred to Caressy as ‘Saintess.’

But now, when he was with us, the Pope was calling her ‘Our Caressy.’

It was obvious he had a special relationship with her, so I decided to listen.

Then, the Pope lifted his head and spoke with a gloomy expression.

“You all understand how crazy this place is right now.”

“We do. I thought you were the culprit, Pope.”

“…If it’s my fault, then it is.”

The Pope continued explaining.

Originally, the Mother Church had been dominant in the Beastman Kingdom, but while Caressy was at the Academy, the Motherless Church rapidly rose to power.

And in the process, they expelled all supporters of Caressy.

Naturally, Caressy’s position shrank.

It had been an opportunity for the Motherless Church to take over.

Luckily, since the Pope came from the Mother Church, he couldn’t bring himself to drag Caressy down either.

“They plan to completely drag our Caressy down from her position as Saintess in the religious trial tomorrow.”

“What are the charges?”

“Because she ignored the scheduled downfall of the Beastman Kingdom and has no achievements, they claim she lacks the qualities of a Saintess.”

The scheduled downfall of the Beastman Kingdom.

I could somewhat understand that.

Because in the future that Caressy regressed to, I had killed everyone.

Including Caressy and the Holy Knights.

[Isn’t it ridiculous to say that the country will fall just because they died?］

‘If a nation’s power is completely gone, its downfall is just a matter of time.’

Strangely enough, the world revolves around violence.

Without the violence of the police, public order ceases to exist.

At the same time, power without violence is just a threatening scarecrow.

It means they could easily be brought down and torn to shreds.

Similarly, if the violence represented by Holy Knights vanished from the religious Beastman Kingdom,

the end of the Beastman Kingdom was painfully predictable.

Of course, initially, there were virtues and the authority of the established church, but

that was merely the order built by the violence of the church until now.

In the end, limits would appear.

[They say such things, but in reality, they haven’t done anything.］

‘When it comes to belittling others, they don’t think about such things. Heartless bastards.’

I cautiously spoke to the Pope.

“As you know, I’m closest to the culprit behind the downfall of the Beastman Kingdom.”

“I know. That’s why Caressy has been reporting to me about you passionately.”

“I’ve approached the one responsible for the downfall and even achieved some things.”

The Heroines also fervently expressed their opinions to back me up.

“Still, she got along well with Shinwoo. Almost treated him like a pet.”

“Considering he’s a cat beastman, he put in some effort! Who would’ve thought Yumi would level up to Silver!”

“……Also, I’m a cat beastman, you know.”

“Why is she treated this way despite doing a good job? Even succubi get promoted quickly if they squeeze enough from the big shots.”

“You all squeeze just the right amount, you crazy girl.”

But despite our testimonies, the Pope sighed deeply.

“However, the opposing faction completely ignores that and stubbornly attached charges.”

“Just to pull down Caressy?”

“That’s right.”

At this point, I started to understand somewhat why they were so intent on dragging down Caressy.

“I can roughly guess why they’re trying this hard to bring down Caressy.”

“Do you know their intentions?”

“In the end, they want to get rid of you, Pope, while taking the Pope’s position for the Motherless Church, right?”

“……Impressive. You figured it out all at once.”

The Pope looked at me, astonished.

“According to Caressy’s reports, she mentioned you normally lacked intelligence.”

“That damn Caressy, really.”

[But didn’t she report accurately?］

‘I’m done for, you shitty brat.’

To sum it up, it was a petty fight born from the desire of a new force wanting to seize the power of the existing one.

In the face of that desire, even if someone was diligently working to prevent the downfall, it would be in vain.

They would forcibly cut down and drag her down to seize that power for themselves.

Despite the foretold downfall, they were only looking to gain what they could for themselves.

I couldn’t help but think these bastards were really despicable.

Meanwhile, the Pope once again deeply bowed his head and politely said to us.

“I don’t mind what happens to me, but please, don’t let our Caressy be harmed.”

“……Hmm.”

“I’ll give you everything I own. It may be small, but you’ll at least be able to live well for the rest of your life.”

“I’ll think about it for a moment.”

The moment I saw the Pope earnestly pleading with me, a thought came to mind.

They were now throwing out their schemes to quickly seize excessive power.

If they forcibly pulled her down, they would face backlash, so they used the somewhat far-fetched scheme of a religious trial.

Then, if they threw the tricks out, they should just take it head-on.

“Pope.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

I spoke calmly to the gloomy-faced Pope.

“If we win the trial, Caressy can keep her position, right?”

“That is the case. That’s why Caressy is being so stubborn.”

“And the Pope would no longer be at risk of losing power?”

“……What do you mean?”

The Pope’s face showed confusion and disbelief.

I smiled at that face and said,

“I’ll go crush the trial.”

[…Usually when someone says that, they end up getting crushed instead, don’t they?］

‘Shut up. It’s negativity that’s contagious.’

Anyway, since they threw the trick of a religious trial,

I just needed to counter it and obtain a fair verdict.

I’m not sure I’d definitely win, but

I don’t think I’ll lose either.

If it’s dragged into a real joke of a trial, it’ll end there.

[Consider it as practicing for when you stand in court later.]

‘Am I the plaintiff then?’

[What are you talking about? You’re the defendant. Do you think how many lawsuits you have against you?］

‘Damn it.’

Then it hit me suddenly—what about the money the Pope was offering?

It might be a considerable amount, but it would be more necessary for the Pope than for me now.

“And keep that money you said you’d give. There will be a genuine need for it soon.”

“What do you mean by that?”

I simply explained to the tilting Pope.

“Just a spoiler, but it’d be good to contact a construction company in advance.”

“……I don’t quite understand, but I’ll keep that in mind.”

The Pope still wore a puzzled expression, but I didn’t go out of my way to clarify that confusion.

If I talked about future plans, the Pope might just faint.

We quickly moved to the guest room and briefly devised a strategy.

This place was the modern-day Sodom and Gomorrah.

In the Bible, that location was utterly destroyed,

and we intended to do the same.

After hearing the plan, Elcia, Ayeon, and I started chuckling.

“Hyeji unni! Do you have any intentions of sparing this place at all?!”

“If we had ten righteous people, we could save it.”

“Ah, Great Demon, how will you handle it when there aren’t even ten righteous here!”

Indeed, as I said, among those I’ve met in the Beastman Kingdom so far, including Caressy, there were just three decent folks.

A wild boar beastman selling pizza and the Pope I just encountered.

Even considering the wrongfully suffering beast men, we still wouldn’t reach ten righteous.

The moment the conditions for destruction were fulfilled.

Hyeji smiled ominously, far more sinister than anything in the world.

“I will destroy it.”

It might end like Sodom and Gomorrah, but we won’t use sulfur.

Otherwise, it would be plagiarism of the Bible.

That is why the current operation is solely focused on using fire.

F(Fire)

F(Flame)

F(Forever)

It’s time for the FFF-grade furry hunter to take action.

*

A day passed, and finally, the trial date arrived.

The Pope informed us in detail about the location and time of the trial.

He wore an extremely worried expression, but there was a hint of hope in that face.

At the door of the courtroom, the Pope cautiously spoke to us.

“I will attend the trial as well, but I am practically neutral, so I can’t offer help.”

“It doesn’t matter. Just maintain neutrality.”

“Then I will go in first.”

Since there was a class system in place, the order of entry into the courtroom was pre-determined.

First came the Pope, followed by the bishops, Holy Knights, and the believers hoping to observe from the Motherless Church.

Finally, it would be the turn of the believers from the Mother Church.

Since my turn to enter was last anyway, I decided to quietly wait.

After the Pope entered and soon followed the bishops.

Finally, it was the turn of the Holy Knights to enter.

As they passed by us, they shot us glares of anger.

Suddenly, the number above the head of the Holy Knight Commander increased, and he ordered one of the knights.

“Lock the gates tight so no dog bastard gets in!”

“Yes! Understood!”

Since we were close, a mirror fragment appeared,

and through that, I checked the future before the Commander’s regression.

As soon as I returned from that future, I quickly spoke to Hyeji.

“Hyeji, can you attach a bomb inside the door?”

“You need a detonator, right? Here’s the detonator switch.”

As expected, Hyeji was the best at collaborating without me even having to ask.

As soon as the Holy Knights took their stand, furry gay bastards trying to observe the trial rushed in.

Suddenly, the doors of the courtroom slammed shut, and I heard the sound of numerous locks engaging.

“No more entries! Lock the door tight!”

Click! Click!

But I hadn’t entered yet.

However, thanks to my advance notice, Hyeji had secretly placed the bomb inside the door.

Though I felt a bit uneasy about it being placed below, I was simply grateful that it was set.

I planned to blow it up and boldly walk through the gap.

[If you’re not careful, won’t you end up trapped with those gay bastards?］

‘No.’

Pie’s concern was valid.

In there, since the Pope was neutral, the only ones on my side were me and Caressy.

However, this worked out well since we’d be gathered in one place.

I smiled ominously and spoke to Pie.

‘Those dog bastards are the ones getting trapped with me.’

[…Suddenly, they seem a bit pitiful.]

Besides, I had also prepared something in case things got tricky.

This should be enough to incapacitate the Holy Knights.

Well then, since this was the beginning, I offered a prayer before all else.

Prayer is important, after all.

“Oh, Magical Conch Shell, may we wreck this place?”

At that moment, a conch shell suddenly rolled beside me.

From that conch shell, a chilling voice flowed out.

《Sure.》

[Why is that coming out of here!!!］

‘Kyaru popped out, so a magical conch shell should be here too.’

[Damn it.]

Anyway, permission was granted.

Hearing the words of the magical conch shell, we solemnly spoke.

“”””Amen.””””

With that, the Heroines began to move in perfect unison.

As they left their seats, after a short time,

upon hearing the sounds coming from inside, I pressed the detonator switch.

*