28 The Royal Capital of the Past Part 12

Guided by Anri, we arrive at the audience where Sieg and other important people are waiting.

If you feel like it, you can specify the coordinates and fly, but hypocrites don't do it because they respect their superiors as much as possible.

"... I'm kind of nervous."

"It's okay, if it's the usual Merus-san, there's no problem!"

"Yes, I hope so..."

"She's really just a mob who doesn't even make it to the podium."

It was the only time I had such an opportunity, but it was only called for a perfect attendance award... Even in the game, it's a bonus you get if you log in every day.

"If you don't have much experience, the meaning is different."

I feel a little nostalgic for the gaze when I stood up after being called, and the time when I gave up.

"Is this event a sense of dread that has been heightened dozens of times?"

"But yeah. I have no choice but to do it."

"Yes, please do your best!"

"It's certainly scary, but I still don't really feel it... If I'm really in trouble, I'll rely on holy and magical weapons to get through it."

"──Merus-sama, it's time."

As I was letting go of my nervousness, the knight who contacted me through the door said so.

I feel the tension that should have eased as if it's finally here, becoming stiff again.

"Ah, ah... then let's go."

Gokuri, swallowed and relaxed.

"I approach the door and wait for that moment."

Go-go-go-go-go-go, the knights opened the doors on both sides.

Little by little, a dazzling light shines into my field of vision, imprinting the high-class sight on my eyes.

And then, the sound of picone resounded directly in my brain, and my... huh, picone?

"... Ah, this is the timing."

I immediately grasped the contents of the communication by manipulating my thoughts in exchange for magical power, and muttered in a low voice.

"It's the sixth day, so I'm convinced that it's inevitable in a way."

"Yes yes, I'll do it. Look at the hypocrite's secret maneuvers."

I decided to be alone while looking at the completely opened stage.

　　◆　　　□　　◆　　　□　　◆

The opening words shook the solemn place.

"──This person will reward Merus."

Neiro Kingdom's royal castle, it gave tension to the selected people gathered during the audience.

The person whose name was called, namely Merus, was an unknown person who suddenly appeared from somewhere.

I should have been an ordinary adventurer, but this place was created because I had walked through the labyrinth alone.

Each of them gathered information from various places, but they were unable to grasp any traces of their journey until now.

"Ha, thank you very much!"

A boy with black and white hair, dressed in a strange design not found in this country.

He bows his puppet-like features and shows the utmost courtesy to the king.

A rare adventurer who can tell his own story... For those who saw him for the first time, that was their first impression.

"Um. Then, there's something I have to tell you on this occasion."

"The ceremony ended quickly."

However, the king was supposed to start consulting on an even more serious incident that could affect the survival of the country.

「──Fuhahahahaha!

It was a voice that suddenly resounded from above Shizuku's head.

If everyone looked in that direction, they could see the black mist polluting the air.

"My name is 'Raven', and I belong to the cult of the Evil God!　Although it was only for a short time, I decided to breathe the same air as you... let's get along!"

"A cult of evil gods!?"

"What the hell, are you sure you don't know of a religion that worships a great god? Oi oi, this country is stupid and inferior!"

Saying that, Raven put his foot down to the ground while laughing loudly...as soon as he stepped on it, the area around him was eroded by a darkening nanika.

"Just as the king over there was trying to say, our demonic hands are closing in on this country.In the newly prepared labyrinth, we have purchased a large amount of monsters――Cook-kook, which one? It's good to realize how difficult it was for us to procure the nuke!!"

In the second half, the person's feelings were overflowing, and those who were conveyed to that feeling fell into a situation where they could not open their mouths.

The gaze that was directed at her was not only hostile but also sympathetic.

"Wha, what are those eyes. You fools, today is the anniversary of your demise! The labyrinth will run amok and destroy this city! Fuhahaha, despair! Worship the dying country from the world!"

A world road is a road that connects a world different from this world.

"In other words, the underworld that leads to the afterlife."

An evil god who kills his leader and tries to make the capital's collapse even more certain...but his eyes still looked at him with sympathy.

"No, do you know what this ceremony is for?"

"...Hey, look at that! What did that stupid guy with his head down do?"

Raven said so and pointed at Merus.

That's right, this ceremony was held to celebrate Merus' achievements.

"──It's a ceremony to celebrate traversing the labyrinth."

"... Huh?"

"Merus, who is here, walked alone through the labyrinth that was born near here. In gratitude for that, we held a ceremony like this."

A moment passes as Raven puts his mind to the test to make sense of the situation.

Then I realized something... and went mad.

"T-Is that what you mean? I was talking about the lost labyrinth... oi oi oi oi oi, don't be silly! Isn't that just a clown!"

A black haze spreads around like it's causing a tantrum.

The sense of intimidation that was unleashed gave the surroundings a sense of dread that wiped away their past blunders, and brought fear.

"... Well, it's fine. We already finished transporting the labyrinth master. If we crush the fools here, that's the story."

Raven regained his composure by venting his anger and looked around again.

Those who were afraid of his own magical power and were unable to move.

"First of all, let me show you. The king over there...isn't it too early to kill him? He's a guy who doesn't need it, and he has just the right amount of power... Alright, it's you."

A fool who still hasn't lifted his head, laughing at the height of his stupidity and pointing at him.

Those who participated in the ceremony were relieved that they were not targeted, but they looked at the adventurers who could not do anything against the intruders.

"Since you're alone, the scouts sneaked in, right? 　The bottom layer is an empty shell, could someone like you come here?"

A black haze hangs over the created magical power, creating an ominous sphere in Raven's palm.

Naturally, there was a fool who took an immovable stance in front of him...

"──Die, you fool of the highest order."

And then, an explosion occurred during the audience.

The smoke that billowed in, the phenomenon caused by the power of the smoke made the faces of those present change into one full of surprise.

"That's from looking at the center of the explosion."

It was about the one man who gasped and gasped and had an expression that he didn't understand the situation.

"Geho, goho... what is this?"

Raven, who should have fired the attack, is directly affected by his own magic and takes damage.

The smoke created by the explosion, as well as the black haze that had been created until then, drifted around Raven as if blocked by something.

"It is a barrier.

"Yes, it was a barrier."

With his head lowered, Merus slowly raises his head and looks up at the king without even looking at Raven.

"King.

As a result of taking a long time to corrode, Raven could not move forward.

Merus had been preparing for his magic all this time with his head bowed.

A thought chant skill that allows you to chant without opening your mouth, and a parallel action skill that allows you to perform multiple actions in parallel.

While hiding the flickering of his magical power, he slowly observed Raven's movements while building a barrier.

"Tch, did you also use concealment?

"King, make a decision."

"Hey, listen to me!"

He yelled out, but unlike before, no mist of magic power leaked out.

The king lightly closes his eyes and speaks.

"Umu. On this rare occasion, show those who doubt your ability--the true value of using martial arts to make them recognize me."

"Hah, do as I please!"

"The stage is set."

"This is a crisis involving another nation that will never be talked about."

A battle drama between a single hypocrite and a single cult, with the lives of the upper echelons at stake.

──This is the prologue to the prologue to committing a mortal sin that does not even fear God.