Antagonist Protection Service-Chapter 124: The End of Days (2)

The book had gone unchanged since I had those two give their votes on the Third Day. So then, what was she talking about? Was there something I hadn't noticed, or was she perhaps mistaken?

'No way...'

Of course, I wasn't so naive. No part of me doubted the Protagonist knew something I didn't, but if it wasn't anything to do with the book, then what...?

"Cici~? The poor lad appears so terribly confused. Won't you tell him?"

"..."

"What?"

Spinning around, my gaze flickered between the two vibrant-haired girls.

One, with not a hint of any sort of emotion adorning her face.

The other, bearing the same mocking smirk that had become all too familiar.

"Oh? Kihihi, gosh, you're so clueless, aren't you? Haaa, to be so pitifully stupid. How sad..."

"..."

Meeting their piercing stares, doubt sprouted within me.

'Why would she say that? What's going on here that I don't understand? They're not... working together, are they?'

No, that was preposterous. An alliance or union between the Protagonist and Antagonist was simply impossible. There had to be something I was missing, something that could have only happened recently or perhaps even on this very day, something they both implicitly understood... something hidden, buried within the rules of the Trial?

Hurriedly, I turned back around to face the inscription.

『"I am the Lord thy God."』

『The Congregation of Apostles is welcomed to the Lord's, to the abode of His holy reverence.』

『Twelve Apostles, unified by sin and His overwhelming, ubiquitous love.』

『Obey the Holy Covenant; abide by the Commandments; hunt the sheepskin wolf.』

『Name the 「Judas」 amongst thou, repent, and bring upon His divine retribution - to consecrate thy quintessence.』

『Thou hast as many days as thou hast sins.』

"Twelve Apostles, unified... consecrate thy quintessence...?"

Even going back to it again and scanning it over and over didn't lead to anything new popping up, and that was the case no matter how hard I forced myself to think.

Pouring my attention over not just the inscription but also the listed Decalogue itself, as well as the book atop the altar, at some point, I noticed something was off.

"...Huh? Wait..."

'The names...'

『Lilliana Weiss names 「Judas」』

『Bartholomew names 「Judas」』

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『Matthew names 「Judas」』

『Thomas names 「Judas」』

『John names 「Judas」』

There were the same five votes there had been since the other day.

Nothing had changed.

And yet.

'Where's... her name? Cecilia, did she never vote...?'

Perhaps far too belatedly, I realised the Antagonist had, in fact, never named the Protagonist as 「Judas」 herself.

'No, that must just be because she's the Antagonist, so she can't vote... At least, I think she wants this Trial to be fair, and her being able to vote wouldn't be fair, so it makes sense like that... Something like her intentionally not voting, it doesn't make any sense at all--'

"―Have you figured it out yet? Have those poor, tried little gears of yours whirred enough to your liking? So? Do you want to show your working to the rest of the class, or should we rather spell it out for you clearly?"

Facing the two once more as the Protagonist spoke to me, I noticed a slight change on each of their faces.

In her case, it only seemed that she was finding the situation increasingly more entertaining, giving a cheeky grin that didn't feel right after seeing what sort of expressions she was capable of a few days ago.

As for Cecilia...

"Well, Cici? Will you say it, or shall I?"

"..."

"Hm? Hm hm? What was that? Speak up, I couldn't quite hear you~ Oh? Oh my. Don't tell me, is that a hint of frustration I smell coming from you? But aren't you supposed to be the lenient one? The kind one? The fair one? Or was that all a convenient little lie? Do tell us. After all, I'm sure I'm not the only one here just on the edge of my seat, dying to hear what it is you have to say... isn't that right?"

Saying that slyly, she glanced over to me before sliding a hand over her mouth and giggling quietly to herself.

This Protagonist had a peerless talent for making every action annoying, for making every sound that exited her mouth be something that would only wind you up. Simply trying my best to ignore her, I looked at Cecilia, who had yet to say a word for quite a while now.

For the most part, her face bore the same, almost expressionless look as it had the entire time.

The only difference was, now, I felt for the first time that she, too, was irritated.

And, when the relentless Protagonist continued to prod and poke her for some kind of response, eventually, it worked.

"...Haa..."

Cecilia sighed.

Casting a cursory glance at the evidently excited Protagonist, and another at "Thomas" who had by now lifted herself to sit on the pew properly, she ultimately ended by meeting my eyes.

And with a soft, quiet voice, simply stated.

"「Judas」 has escaped. The congregation has failed."

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Naturally, I was at a loss.

'...What? What the hell do you mean, escaped?'

Following Cecilia's statement, a taut silence stifled the church.

I was left speechless, simply not understanding what was even going on, Cecilia herself―evidently disgruntled―had also zipped her mouth shut, and the Protagonist, surprisingly enough, seemed so beside herself with glee that she pinched the hem of her extravagant dress and performed a twirl, humming without casting a deluge of verbal assault on the nearest bystander.

And, for a while, those mellifluous hums were all that could be heard throughout the nave.

To the extent that part of me considered whether it might have been a song from the OST.

However, even after she was done, that was not the end.

Of course it wasn't――This would only end with her life, after all.

"Ah! It truly is a beautiful day, is it not? Do you not just feel like singing, like dancing, like jumping for joy! A beautiful end. Truly, truly wonderful! And how pathetic. I didn't have to do so much as snap my fingers and you failed so spectacularly! An ingenious trial you have created, Cici! Everything fell apart in just the right places, in just the right amounts, wouldn't you say? Dismantled by its own process, really, how wretched."

Babbling on as usual, she twirled again, addressing Cecilia with such a shit-eating grin that it got even on my nerves.

"Well? Any words from the loser~? I. Have. Won. Teehee!"

In turn, the Antagonist only looked at her steadily, her shining blue eyes not faltering in the slightest.

"...For now."

"Hmmm~? 'For now'? Why, whatever could you mean? Cici, I do hope you jest. In three days, I will leave, and there is nothing you can do about it, see~"

"The Lord will ensure you meet your just end. No matter how long it takes, no matter how long you run, no matter what tricks nor what schemes you employ. You cannot hide forever."

"Mmm, okay okay. Yes, sure. Let's go with that then. Ugh, you and your 'Lord', just how obsessive can one get? It is rather perverted, you know? Anyway, we all know that isn't happening, so good luck I suppose! I don't find it likely to fall victim to someone else's imaginary friend."

"We'll see just how imaginary He is when you are made to repent, depraved scum."

After the brief back and forth, I watched as the two girls faced each other like a scene from a... No, that's exactly what it was, wasn't it?

The Protagonist and her condescending grin.

The Antagonist and her quiet, yet undeniably fiery glare.

"Aha. Keep staring at me like that and you might just make me fall to my knees me with those eyes~ Well, I don't mind playing around with a loser every now and then~"

"...Disgusting. This isn't over. Not until you are made to face your rightful judgement."

Like that, the two adversaries had each given their piece.

Whether I understood what was happening or not, whether I liked what was happening or not, the process for naming 「Judas」 was officially over.

But the Trial was not.

Three days remained until the end, where I still had no idea what would happen, but until then, there were still those who had yet to confess, or to otherwise realise the weight of those sins.

And, for the first time, I was afraid the Protagonist might actually escape.