Clearing the Game at the End of the World

Chapter 72 – In The Name Of Honor (6)

Let’s make a simple summary of the situation. Look at it from the Light’s Order’s perspective.

Is the escapee prisoner Professor a different person from the Crimson Mute? — Yes.

It’s all out in the research documents. It started with how he fainted in Touran, and Charlotte took him to the church to when Isaac dragged him to his mansion and did the experiments. And first of all, he is a human. He is not someone strong enough to have a title like ‘Crimson Mute.’

Then, is Professor allied with the dark mages and/or the mutes? — Surprisingly, no.

Honestly, with that oracle and looking into his background, this guy is definitely suspicious. He even managed to make it out alive inside a city taken over by the mutes. So we brought him, thinking he was the one, but he wasn’t. It’s not even a lie because he has a truth spell activated on him. Apparently, his body’s a monster, but his soul is still a human that rejects the Queen…? As priests, they definitely take the side of the soul compared to the body, so seeing that he managed to escape from the Queen with his will must make him a good guy.

So, should we spare him? – No.

In the end, he still had a mute’s body and still claimed to hear the Queen’s voice, so there was always a chance that he was going to switch over. The church believed that the voice in his mind was the Queen. This is a little risky. And the oracle just happens to be talking about a darkness hiding in the city. Doesn’t that mean this guy is a potential danger? We should kill him, after all! If he’s a good guy, then he’ll find himself up there with Ro Haram!

— were the results they arrived at. He was innocent, but he still needed to be executed. The only way to get through this alive, aside from brute force, was to prove his worth to them.

“You can… know the Queen’s will? Is this true?”

Being the direct transmitter of the Queen’s communication channel should make him useful enough to keep alive.

‘_Although it’s a lie.’_

In short, my objective was to ‘seem’ like I would be useful.

“Although my soul has been freed from the grasp of the Queen, my body still belongs to them. Even now, they are speaking in my head and sending me information. If you spare me, then I’ll definitely be of help to predict and prepare for future mute attacks.”

Professor flashed a meaningful smile as he the bishop, Senadis’, face filled with anticipation.

– Speedwagon : Are you talking about us?

– professor : Mhm. I’m not wrong. Since the chatroom was part of the system’s programs, it could be interpreted as speaking in my mind. And it’s true that I can gain information. There is a way to know how the mutes are going to move in the future, the ‘world clear data’. Although it’s a lot different from my own seed, it’s possible to know how they would move to ‘an extent’.

– Jokass : This guy is scamming.

– takealook : The man’s supposed to be a merchant, and he’s still live-streaming himself scamming other people.

– Noru_is_druig : Note… when BDSM comes….. Hide the women and children….. and make sure not to get persuaded by their words….

– Udnam_undam : That sounds more like the response protocol for Type 3 mutants.

Hm. It was definitely a scam since he had thrown out multiple false promises to trick them. But he did keep his head on his neck, thanks to it. That’s more than worth the price.

“…Then it really must mean that the darkness within the city is the Savior’s Order. Since it must be information you heard with your own ears.”

Professor nodded vigorously at Senadis’ comment.

“Yes. Although they were created not long ago, the Savior’s Order isn’t just another false religious group that thrives on chaos but a terrible seed planted by the mutes to target the heart of humanity. They consider the mutes as saviors, and not only are they worshipped, but the believers also support them actively in order to help them bring ‘salvation’ to humanity.”

“I see… the situation much worse than I expected. Even if they are mere ignorant commoners, how could they believe such a blatant lie…”

“It’s most likely that they used visual achievements to lure them in. They would have told the commoners that if they devoted themselves to the Savior’s Order, they would be chosen as ‘Selectors’ like the talking mutes they’d seen and heard about and that they could gain the power to trample on the nobles that were always the oppressors.”

“…You said you know their information. Do you happen to know where they are residing within Tobrune?”

Senadis was still being wary of him. She was implying that if he really could hear them, then he should at least know where their base camp was located.

“The place where the Masterless Horses gather.”

“Where the Masterless Horses… gather?”

Of course, he had this ready as well. He needed to have something ready to prove that he was a useful information source.

Professor gave her a victorious smile as he continued.

“As you know, Rodrick is well known as the Land of the Knights. Like its name, countless young people aspire to become knights, but only a selected few are chosen to be the knights of Rodrick, and those who head to the capital with hopes and dreams all leave with them crushed. And this place built by the inferiority towards knights, the city of mages, has a facility providing work for those failed knights.”

“You mean…. The ‘Singing Helm’ Tavern?”

“That’s correct.”

The ‘Singing Helm’. One of the taverns within Tobrune, famous as the location where wandering knights that yet to have a master gather. Between players, this place is known as a good spot to find meat shield roles at the beginning of the game.

‘_It’s an easier code than I expected. Well, it does have to be simple enough for the common folks to understand too.’_

A horse was generally an animal that only nobles and knights rode. A horse without a master? Nobles didn’t have masters. So the horse must signify knights. Since they don’t have masters, then it should be talking about wandering knights. And the only place in Tobrune where knights like those gather is the ‘Singing Helm’.

It was obvious what state the men coming to the capital with only the dream of becoming a knight would be in. Idiots that used every single penny of the money they had, possibly even selling the only cow or donkey in their family’s possession, to buy cheap armor and act like they were some big shot, then collapsing after getting a taste of the bitter reality.

The feeling of inferiority and despair, and anger towards the nobles that didn’t recognize their talent made it easy to lure them in when they were told that ‘You are the one selected to save humanity!’ or something like ‘I will give you strength to crush the strongest knight in the capital!’. Since most were wearing odd clothing, it would have been easy for outsiders to enter without being suspicious. The tavern for masterless knights, the Singing Helm, was definitely the base of the Savior’s Order in this area.

“Those vile….”

“That does remind me, there were quite a few among the believers that said they heard of the Savior’s Order…”

“We need to make countermeasures. How dare those heretics expand their influence right in front of Ro Haram’s eyes.”

“All civilians of Tobrune, aside from church members, have the possibility to become heretics!”

“Purification! This city needs purification! We need to contact the main church to request an Inquisition and start the purification at once!”

From quiet murmuring to a discussion full of emotions. From a discussion to an argument. With the word ‘heretics’, the priests of the Light’s Order betrayed their identity as kind priests and started to seem more like a cult blinded by the light.

‘_Hm… did I fire them up too much? At this rate, they’re going to burn down the entire city just to kill a small branch of the organization.’_

It was a fury, a raging fire, that was on a completely different level from when they first looked at me. The Savior’s Order was a problem, but if he just let them handle it, then they might just actually massacre the entire city.

‘_Sometimes there are people that think anything is possible when you add the term faith to it. That smaller things were just stepping stones for a greater purpose.’_

He knew that they were those types of people, but it definitely felt nasty actually seeing it.

At first, he thought that he could play with them a little and get a position within the church, but never mind that. He was physiologically incompatible with these guys. He’ll just rip off what he can, then scram.

[…Are you mad?]

‘_A little.’_

Hyde went silent for a moment, then snapped his fingers, floating in the void. Wait a minute. This guy has a thumb now. When did he take that? I can still feel it, though.

[It’s the Dome, isn’t it?]

Professor’s face crumpled up at Hyde’s statement.

‘_How can you be so inconsiderate when you’re sharing a brain with someone as nice as me?’_

[That’s the privilege of a self-centered child. Either that or you’re not nice.]

‘_Bulls***.’_

At that moment, he could feel a blurry haze fall over his disgusting past. Even if he talked like that, this was probably Hyde’s sort of ‘consideration’ for him. Since he was able to alter his memories from the start.

‘_Looks like someone’s a fast learner.’_

[They say that children are like sponges.]

‘_The fact that you can say stuff like that means you aren’t a child. You 21-year-old infant.’_

Snicker snicker—

With his mocking laughter, he could feel the memories of his mother naturally fade away. It wasn’t like he forgot it, but more like it folded into a corner of his mind after the times that passed by. Thanks to that, he was able to concentrate on the game again.

Once he finished his internal discussion and opened his eyes, he saw that the anger between the priests and paladins had calmed and quieted back down.

‘_No, it wasn’t calmed down.’_

Sharp eyes. Lips sealed tightly. This wasn’t anger that simmered down. It was a state right before thought was about to turn into action. They were already fully prepared and were just waiting for their bishop’s command.

As the female bishop felt the eyes that were trained on her, she quietly let out a sigh and then chanted the sacred mantra.

“Latura.”

“…Latura, Ro Haram.”

“Latura, Ro Haram.”

Senadis, who had been calmly closing her eyes, slowly pulled a delicate small glass bottle out of her white robe.

Pap. Pap. Pap.

After approaching Professor, who was still kneeling, Senadis looked down at him with a pious expression.

“I will ask one last question.”

A solemn and holy voice. The light shining from her body was so bright that he was unable to see her face even when he looked up.

“Professor. Thou hast a body tainted with evil by the hands of a wicked heretic, and a spirit defiled by the clutches of the Queen. Even with the will to live a human life, thy body will ultimately be left in the cold plains to die, and thy soul will never reach the heavens. Even knowing this, will thou swear to devote the rest of thy soul to serving humanity?”

‘_Seriously. These guys are as bad at hiding their intentions as an infant Hyde.’_

In every single phrase, I could feel them treating me as an outsider rather than part of humanity. They were asking if, even as a tool, will I fight the mutes and live for the humans.

“Yes. I swear.”

It’s irritating, but Professor still lowered his head and uttered the words of affirmation. He had sworn faith, but it wasn’t towards them. He was going to try his hardest to live anyway.

But it sounded different to the bishop’s ears as her rigid smiling mask faintly softened into a gentler smile.

“…The Lord speaks. The light shines equally upon all. Even at the lowest of places, be enlightened. This is also the will of the Lord. I announce the final judgment. Escapee Professor. You are declared innocent.”

‘_Let’s go! I passed!’_

Professor was cheering internally, but Senadis, who should have ended the trial after the judgment, was still talking.

“In addition, it is surely the will of the Lord that even after passing through such hardships, thou hast kneeled in front of Ro Haram and confessed thy sins.”

Hm? Wait. Was there something more? You said I was tainted or something. Doctrinally, she shouldn’t be able to give me a position related to the church.

And with her words, she tilted the bottle and slowly spilled the contents onto Professor’s bowed head. Its scent calmed his anxious and rapidly turning mind. This was perfumed oil and the highest quality of oil the church offered to god.

“Thou, Professor, anointed one that cannot serve the church. In the past, the church had entrusted important missions in the name of the church to outsiders when the world was in chaos. To thou, I give the position as ‘Warrior’ of the Light’s Order, and command you to become a beacon that will light the path towards the future for mankind.”

“H…..huh? W—wait a min—”

Clink!

“This is a sacred ceremony. Do not dare open your mouth.”

The paladin standing next to the bishop quietly growled to me with his hand on his sheath when I stuttered out of shock.

Drip. Drip.

And once the last drop of oil landed on his head, Senadis smiled brightly at Professor like she did when they first met.

“Oh, tainted soul, Professor. As a representative of the Order’s name, does thou accept the title as ‘Warrior’?”

“Uh. Um…”

T—this is odd. This wasn’t in any part of my plan!

In the solemn environment, eyes started to glint sharper as Professor dragged out his response. The moment he said ‘No.’ to the question—

‘H, How dare you reject a sacred mission!’

‘He was part of the heretics, after all! He had spoken lies in front of Ro-Haram’s statue using the heretic’s horrifying magic!’

‘Kill him!’

‘Hang him at the top of the highest tower and starve him to death!’

Hm…. It’s as clear as day. How dare a sinner that’s tainted by the heretics refuse a sacred mission. The anger residing within all of the priests and paladins would surely pour out on me.

– Soygaybar : Dang, miss bishop is seriously suddenly stepping on it.

– takealook : she was telling them to kill him just a moment ago. This is almost illegal racing.

– Highwaynachoman : Warrior, if rejects, is heretic

– Jokass : Isn’t a warrior for the Light’s Order pretty good, to be honest?

– takealook : Who knows? He’s basically signing a contract without even checking the terms and conditions.

Professor had a chilling shiver pass through his spine. It was over, that was for sure, but it was his life that was over.

‘_This is checkmate. I didn’t trick them at all. They tricked me instead!’_

Just then did Professor realize the identity of the odd discomfort he was feeling. He was positive he had made his way out of the situation well.

‘_That victorious smile! El Senadis, that woman. I don’t know since when she was playing along with my plans, but she knew! She even dragged in the other priests and tricked both me and at the same time to make this situation happen!’_

As Professor looked at the woman that was smiling as brightly as the first time they met, he imagined a massive snake flicking its tongue.