I Wanted To Believe My “Popular Phase” Had Arrived (3)

I left Arka’s room and headed toward my own bedroom.

“Damn it, why am I the only one on the lower floor?”

Originally, we were supposed to sleep on the same floor.

But Erika said she couldn’t trust me and ordered me to sleep one floor below.

I protested that it was a hassle, but position-wise she outranked me.

There was no way I could defy her, so I trudged down the stairs.

“I told you, I’m not going to attack anyone.”

“Soji-dono has no romantic interest in Erika-dono, I take it.”

“Obviously. A woman with that kind of personality… well, I’ll admit her looks are honestly my type.”

“I see. Appearance-wise, Erika-dono, and personality-wise, Arka-dono are Soji-dono’s preferences, then.”

“…How do you know that?”

“Just a hunch, I say.”

A side effect of sharing a mind, maybe.

He was right, so I couldn’t deny it.

I didn’t have a shred of privacy.

I let out a small sigh.

Clack.

I noticed footsteps that weren’t mine.

“There is someone else here, I say.”

“That’s…”

Descending the stairs to the underground was Semirena.

“Why at this hour?”

“It is concerning, I say.”

She hadn’t noticed us.

I thought for a moment.

Kojiro and I came to the same conclusion.

“Let’s follow her.”

“I shall go ahead, I say.”

We decided to tail her quietly.

With ghostly Kojiro around, we could confirm her route without being noticed.

How convenient.

All that was left was to move slowly, calmly, and quietly.

“She is heading to the underground prison, I say.”

“The prison?”

The one where the corrupt duke was being held?

What was she planning to do at this hour?

I had a bad feeling.

“Let’s hurry.”

“Understood.”

We went down the stairs.

Then, just before the room with the prison cells, we stopped and peeked inside.

“—I will set you free.”

“R-really?!”

“Yes.”

Hey, hey. You’ve got to be kidding me.

Was Semirena trying to free the corrupt duke?

Why?

Don’t tell me she was secretly connected to the Demon King’s army too?

As we watched, she actually unlocked the cell.

This was seriously bad.

Should I wake Erika and tell her right now?

“T-thank you! I’m getting out of this place right now—gah!”

“…Huh?”

Squelch.

A hole opened in the corrupt lord’s chest.

Piercing straight through him was Semirena’s slender, beautiful arm.

“W-what…?”

“I told you, didn’t I? That I would set you free.”

“What are you—”

“This will free you, won’t it? From this world.”

The corrupt lord collapsed to the ground.

His heart had been pierced—instant death.

Even from a distance, I could tell.

A massive amount of blood spilled across the dungeon floor.

“I had no intention of letting you escape. You sided with the Demon King. Despite receiving the Goddess’s blessing, you betrayed her mercy. You deserve ten thousand deaths.”

The corrupt lord was already dead.

No response came, no matter what she said.

Yet Semirena stepped on his fallen body and continued.

“I am speaking to you, you fool who defied the Goddess! Repent! Atone for your sins!”

Of course, there was no reply.

Each time she stepped down, there was a wet sound, and blood splattered.

Her white Saint’s robes were being dyed red.

“Ah, how filthy. What a grotesque sight… this is the fate of those who turn their backs on the Goddess.”

She then clasped her hands toward the corpse and began to pray.

“In place of my Lord, I have delivered judgment upon an evil soul. Please bear witness.”

“…Th—”

This was way too terrifying!

What was that?

Was this her true nature?

That was nothing like a Saint at all…

Overcome by fear, I stepped back.

There was a small stone behind me, and I stepped on it.

It made a sound.

Naturally, she heard it.

“Oh my? Well, well… Hero-sama.”

“Ugh…”

I’d been found.

She turned a smile toward me, soaked in blood.

There was no hostility, yet she was utterly terrifying.

“Um… this is…”

“I apologize for showing you something unsightly. The evil soul has been purified. I will clean everything properly, so please do not concern yourself.”

“No, that’s not what I mean. Weren’t we supposed to hand him over to the kingdom…?”

“That is unnecessary. I have already punished him in the Goddess’s stead.”

Semirena smiled gently.

It sent a chill down my spine.

I was so afraid I thought she might kill me next.

Then my gaze was drawn to her chest.

Usually hidden by her clothes, it was slightly exposed now.

What I saw was a metal disk.

A disk engraved with the image of a Goddess, overlaid with a cross-like design…

I had seen it before.

I remembered Erika’s lesson.

There were many private organizations in this country.

Among them was one the kingdom viewed as particularly dangerous.

A religious group that worshiped the Goddess.

An extremist faction that would use any means necessary to spread their faith.

Its name was—

“‘Vessels of God.’”

“You are well informed. As expected of the Hero-sama.”

You’ve got to be kidding me.

I’d heard they were a deranged religious group, but…

“Semirena… you’re a member of that?”

“Yes.”

She took the disk—the symbol of the organization—from her chest.

Holding it out, she smiled softly and declared:

“I am the leader of the paradise of those who love the Goddess… the ‘Vessels of God.’”

“L-lea—”

She’s the top dog?!