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Though I told her I would cooperate, she wouldn’t make it in time just by switching her weapon, so I had her follow my instructions.

First was building her foundation.

“A-A timber collecting commission…?”
“Yes.”

Erica was puzzled but I half-forcibly made her take several commissions and sent her on them for about a week.

After a few days, I felt a change when I saw Sofia who came for the school lunch.

“Ah, g-good morning!”

It was when I headed down to the first floor to help with the lunch transportation since I had no shifts.

When I met her suddenly, she clearly forced a smile towards me.

The school was probably part of it, and I could think of other reasons too, but my thoughts naturally went in the direction of it being related to Bernard.

I couldn’t just ignore it so I asked her.

“You don’t seem very energetic. Did something happen?”

Sofia flinched a bit when she heard my question while we were carrying the lunch. But she didn’t say anything.

“…Is it something you can’t say?”

She didn’t affirm or deny that either.

“Okay. I’ll just ask, so just shake your head if I’m wrong, okay?”

She agreed.

“Is it related to something outside of the church?”

Denial. Sofia shook her head.

“Is the reason related to the school?”

Denial.

“Is the reason related to you?”

A little pause, but denial again.

It’s not the reason why she’s not energetic, but she’s the reason why she can’t say it… I guess?

“I see. Got it.”
“Big sister, I…”
“It’s okay.”

I interrupted her words, not letting her finish it.

Perhaps she simply hasn’t sorted her feelings, but curses tend to activate the moment you disclosed a secret. There was no need to make her risk it.

“Don’t worry. I’ll do what I can. Lock the door tightly tonight.”
“…Okay.”

I never thought being unable to tell someone that I wouldn’t let anyone die, even as a mere consolation, could be this painful.

Once I finished carrying the lunch, I headed straight to the lord’s mansion.

“I have a request.”
“Please tell me.”

He seemed to have realized the gravity of the situation from my expression and fixed his posture on the sofa.

“I would like you to make it so the pastor accompanies you when you head to the royal capital to make a report.”
“…Can I ask you why?”

I agreed of course.

No matter how much Ector trusted me, I didn’t want to abuse it.

Once I explained the situation to him aside from my cheats, he fell into dismay as it turned out to be beyond his expectations. But as someone who had overcome many difficulties, he quickly collected himself and agreed.

I just needed to proceed with preparations now.

That night I had an unexpected visit. Sensing a present, I left the window open. I fixed my gaze on the silhouette on the opposite rooftop.

“How do you do, o beautiful priestess.”

The one who greeted me with a respectful bow was none other than Bernard. His status remained unchanged, but his atmosphere couldn’t be any different from his.

“How polite for you to come and meet me, great Evil God.”

Bernard smiled back at my sarcastic remark.

“Naturally. It is because you have noticed me that I am able to meet you again like this. I only did what was natural.”

Again.

I was convinced after hearing that word. If a new evil god was born, there was no way the great spirits wouldn’t notice it.

Bernard had previously visited the village where the sacrificial ritual used to be held. At this point, there was no mistaking it.

“Are you the Oldest Evil God?”
“Indeed. It seems you already figured it out so—”

Bernard’s voice broke off there.

“Perhaps you would be more familiar with this voice.”

Along with laughter, an unpleasant voice like styrofoam was scraped, which was completely different from his voice until then.

“But I don’t understand it. You were killed by me, so why are you coming out to me like this?”
“Because you were taking your time.”

He continued with his disgusting voice.

“Back then, you were beautiful. You were frightening. Your arrogant behavior was so divine—it stole my heart.”
“Thanks for the compliment.”
“But what about the current you? You are certainly beautiful. And your power is frightening enough that I feel like kneeling down. However…”

The voice continued.

“You lack the brilliance of those days! You have no ferocity! No avarice!! You don’t even view me as a target to kill now.”

He denied me and scorned me with his gaze.

I didn’t plan to accept it, but no words to refute came to my mind.

“Do your best to remain as a spectator on a high chair. I shall do everything to drag you down from it.”
“…You think I will let you?”
“If you don’t, then that’s all the better for me.”

I don’t get it.

I had no idea what this evil god was thinking.

“Can I ask one question?”
“Alright… But I shall ask you one myself.”

He’s quite polite despite being an evil god…

“Okay. Then let me ask. Is Bernard’s consciousness still there?”
“Yes. During the day, he desperately hides the nightmares that should be tormenting him right about now behind a smile.”

Which means, the evil god had been appearing for some time now… I screwed up.

Seeing my regret, the evil god spoke in extreme delight.

“It’s my turn now.”
“…Go ahead.”

Even if you try to form some weird contract, there’s still a limit to how far you can push it.

Bring it on!

“Are you still a virgin?”
“Goodbye.”

I closed the window, hugged Haku, and went to bed.

I knew it.

Virgin was a criterion in his choice of sacrifices, too. He’s a virgin-obsessed freak, freak I tell you.

I didn’t give him an answer but I felt like I heard his happy voice and it irritated me.

Now a rule has been added that if I take him down directly it would end up like winning a match but losing the contest.

…Well, I never planned to do that from the start, so it’s fine.

Speaking of contests, there was Erica.

A week after sending her out, she safely returned to the branch.

“Ugh… my muscles hurt…”
“Next, take this and subjugate Rondo Boiga.”
“Huh?! I-Is this also…”
“I wish you luck.”

I sent her away with a big smile.

“Next, take care of Rondo Red Ape.”
“Huh?”

I finished processing another commission for her just as she returned. She spent one more week being dispatched on such subjugation commissions.

Meanwhile, Ector headed to the royal capital to report about Luneville matters like the arena and the church. Of course, he took the pastor along. With this, it would be a week before he’s back.

On the other hand, as Erica continued doing commissions, Serge managed to complete three B-rank, and five C-rank commissions.

They had three days left until the final date.

“Did you rest well yesterday?”
“…Yes.”

Her status showed no problems, but her spirits were down in the dumps.

“What should I do after this…”
“Next one is the last.”
“Considering the deadline, that’s true…”

She answered with a dry laugh.

Since she’s been driven hard all this time, she seemed to fail to understand the situation well.

“Your next subjugation target is Guula Azi Ogre.”
“Right… wait, whaa-?! I-Isn’t Azi Ogre an A-rank monster?!! I can’t! It’s impossible!!”

Everyone in the hall stared at her after her scream.

They had expressions past bewilderment and ridicule, and looked to be doubting her sanity.

Guula Azi Ogre was a semi-calamity designated creature, and it was a monster that was recently confirmed to have taken over the forest after the Tyrant Spider disappeared from it.

It has a robust upper half that you’d mistake for a giant, and a snake-like lower half, and it preyed on its enemies by using its long lower half and superhuman strength.

It has a gluttonous disposition and wanted to devour every creature it laid its eyes on, so it was designated as a semi-calamity creature that ruined the ecosystem.

More than its giant body and superhuman strength, what make Guula Azi Ogre an A-rank monster was its practically inexhaustible vitality.

It didn’t let go of its target that it designated as prey no matter how much it got cut, burned, or pierced, and that was deemed as the biggest threat factor.

But it actually had a weak point, so there was talk about reconsidering its rank.

“It’s okay. You can definitely defeat it alone as you are now.”

Since I declared it so firmly, she started to lose confidence in her own anxiety.

“B-But…”
“Stop messing around!!”

The one who interrupted her words was Serge who had rushed into the branch out of breath.

He approached Erica without even stopping to fix his breathing.

“There’s no way you can defeat THAT Azi Ogre! Are you suicidal, you idiot!!”
“Wha-!?”