Mesugaki Tank Enters The Academy-Chapter 688: Four (1)

Upon hearing the news of the third evil god's resurrection, Johann made his way toward the sanctuary’s chapel.

Inside, all the priests who worked at the holy site had gathered, offering prayers to the heavens.

"They don't carry the warm sanctity that the Apostles or the Saint did," Johann thought to himself.

However, that didn't mean that what they possessed was not divinity, nor did it mean their faith had turned into falsehood.

Those who had remained in what was perhaps the most dangerous place had chosen to dedicate themselves, offering themselves for both the gods and the world.

Their fervent prayers became a wish, leaving their intent upon the sacred artifact in the center.

"How is the progress?"

"The divinity is nearly concentrated. Once the Saint arrives, we can activate it immediately."

"We don't have much time left. It's confirmed that even the evil god of destruction has descended upon this land."

"...Is that so?"

Upon hearing Johann’s words, Cardinal Lazarus didn't seem particularly surprised.

"Did you have an idea?"

"Everyone must have. The air has changed every time an evil god descended upon this world."

At Lazarus' words, the other priests quietly agreed.

It was impossible to express it precisely, but something had indeed changed. What exactly changed and how it had changed couldn’t be described.

But one thing was clear: the world had changed, and it was moving in a direction hostile to humanity.

"It’s only a few gods who were once sealed who have been freed, and yet, look at this. What will happen when the age of the gods truly returns?"

Thus, those present came to realize just how dangerous the actions the former pope had planned were.

The return of the gods didn’t simply mean that gods would stand by their side.

It meant the rules of the world would change, and under those new rules, humans would become tools, forced to shed their blood.

Until the moment the victory of the gods was determined.

Or perhaps, until the world’s destruction.

"Cardinal Lazarus, it is arrogant to think that only we feel the danger. Everyone must be aware of it."

And so, they were all praying. Praying to the great Lord in the heavens, hoping for their salvation.

"Right now, I believe the faith toward the gods is higher than ever."

"And that’s why it’s dangerous."

The voice that suddenly came from behind was all too familiar to Johann, and it was one that should never have been heard here.

Before he even turned his head, Johann realized who it was, and swiftly drew a dagger from his robe, slashing backward.

With the sensation of cutting into flesh, hot blood spilled onto Johann’s hand.

The once-pristine white priestly robe was stained with crimson.

"You haven’t rusted at all. I suppose that’s proof that even in the midst of your intense duties, you didn’t neglect your training. Johann, Cardinal. Truly, it’s just like you."

The man, once the revered figure of the Church of the Lord, laughed even as his neck was pierced, patting Johann’s shoulder.

"I always liked you for this."

Johann did not respond, instead grabbing the pope’s face and injecting divinity.

The abuse of healing magic. The collapse of the body through excessive recovery. A technique Johann, who had once been tasked with the most sordid deeds, could easily handle.

However, Johann did not overestimate himself.

The man before him was the one who had conceived and taught this method.

He had expected retaliation, and Johann's assumption proved correct.

The pope’s head shattered into pieces.

"Hmm. This feels good. I can feel a little warmth in your divinity now."

But even though the head had disappeared, the voice did not cease.

"Perhaps it’s because the Lord’s power has grown even stronger? Or perhaps it’s because you’ve become more faithful?"

Despite the confusion, Johann tried to do what needed to be done.

A rough hand approached from behind, pulling him back, and just before a sword emerged from where he had been standing moments ago.

"Old man. I know you still want to call yourself young, but let’s be reasonable. What happens to the guard if you die?"

The Swordmaster. The title given to the one who wields the sword best on the continent. The current Swordmaster was an exceptional individual, considered an anomaly among many legendary swordsmen.

A commoner adventurer who, despite never aspiring to be one, rose to the position of Swordmaster, proving that her swordsmanship was undeniable to anyone.

"Did the Apostle know that I would target this place?"

The pope, having seen all of the power he had dispersed cut away, sighed in genuine admiration.

"If it were just cutting away a single power, that would be easy."

"But how much skill would it take to cut away dozens of powers that are about to be activated?"

He now understood why the Apostle of the Lord had stationed this woman here.

She could protect this place.

The pope, with a look of surprise, clicked his tongue.

"Isn’t it strange to not predict this? What is so common about this place?"

"No, it’s normal to not predict it. That’s the usual way."

The pope's lips curled into a smile.

"Yes, normally, you would think like a Swordmaster."

"But the Apostle of the Lord knows of my exceptions. They knew everything from the start."

Even when everyone else doubted my faith and questioned me, they never doubted my belief in the Lord.

Twisted and tangled as it may be, my faith is unshakable, and the Lord knew that.

So, they also know what it means for me to assault this holy place.

They knew this was the perfect place to resurrect the evil god, yet I have delayed it for so long.

And I’ve clenched my teeth, knowing that without this, I would not be able to become the Lord’s trial.

All of it.

"Hahahahaha!"

In other words, not doing my best here would be to disregard the Lord’s expectations.

"Alright! I understand! I, the Pope, will dedicate everything for the will of the great Lord!"

"...What are you saying? You crazy bastard."

"Swordmaster, do you know? I’ve been wandering the world for a very long time. Since an age so old that history could not even record it."

"Oh? And?"

"And I have worshiped the great Lord since those days. By the way, I was the one who decided to make this place the holy ground."

"...Wait a minute."

"So, naturally, I have set up many devices here."

From the moment I was certain that the world needed only one god.

"Today, the Church of the Lord will fall. At the hands of a demon who once wore the Pope's mantle."

At that moment, as the pope raised his hand with a sinister smile, the building shook.

"And that demon, horrifically and astonishingly, has resurrected the evil god Agra at the very heart of the Church."

At the same time, the holy knights who had been waiting behind the pope revealed themselves. The Swordmaster narrowed his eyes as he watched their stance.

"This is troublesome."

Each of their individual powers wasn’t a big deal. Even if they all attacked together, it wouldn’t be hard to slay them.

But these men, even if they die, will not stay dead.

"Old man."

"Speak."

"Can they survive on their own and hold off those to protect this place?"

"Don’t worry about that."

A new voice interjected from behind.

A large man in armor, holding the Church’s shield in one hand and a thick mace in the other, stepped forward.

It was the exact same weapon that the legendary holy knight had once used in the mythic era to save the world.

"I’ll protect everyone."

"Oh. Well, that’s reassuring. The legendary holy knight."

"I’m just an imitation, a doll."

"No, no. You said yourself that you could call yourself that. Don’t be so picky."

The Swordmaster muttered and placed his hand on the sword at his waist.

The knights raised their shields to prepare for the impact they were about to face.

But it was meaningless.

"Disregarding others’ recognition means disregarding others themselves."

At the moment the sword was swung, everything in front of the Swordmaster was cleaved away.

The pope. The knights. The doors. The walls. The building. Even the sky beyond.

All of it.

"You know that, don’t you?"

"I do know. But... I’m still not mature enough to name it. So for now, I’d rather remain a doll."

"If you live like that, you won’t live to your full name."

"That’s for the best."

"Ah, really. I told you, we’re just not a good fit."

Even as he grumbled, the Swordmaster continued to swing his sword, turning the debris that should have fallen from above into dust.

At the same time, he made meat of those trying to resurrect yet again.

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"Really? I think you two suit each other quite well."

Yet, one person remained unaffected by the storm.

Even as it crumbled and turned to dust, the voice, calm and collected, emerged from the chaos as the disaster smiled atop the wreckage.

"From the way you looked at Allen, I’m guessing you prefer big men?"

"Shut the hell up. You crazy old bastard. You think I’d want to date a doctrinaire like this?"

"...I do follow principles, but I don’t think I deserve such an insult."

"Ah. Sorry. But when I imagined it, I got chills."

"Well, it's good that the other person isn’t here."

The knights behind the pope rose again.

Ruel’s doll and the priests.

And the people of the church.

The Swordmaster, standing at the front, raised his weapon.

"Alright, everyone. Please do your best to stop me. Just as the Apostle of the Lord has prepared a trial for me."