The Villain is Too Good at Sniping - Chapter 134



Only Noblemtl

Episode 134

Episode 134. Blue (3)

The next morning. It was the moment I was about to leave the guest house.

“… No.”

“Why not?”

“Why not? You probably know the reason best.”

I was blocked by an unexpected obstacle.

None other than Rebecca, the original owner of the room I was staying in. She was tilting her head and demanding an explanation from me.

“I know what you’ve been doing at Arsene. I’ve even been involved in some of the incidents. That’s why I’m telling you. This isn’t going to work.”

“It’s something that absolutely has to be done.”

“Zion, you’re not the kind of person who would jump in so recklessly. At least, that’s what I knew of you. You always acted rationally, logically, and after thorough calculations.”

Rebecca was genuinely concerned about me, which is why she was stopping me.

“It’s so reckless. If things go wrong, you could really die.”

In fact, there was a chance that I wouldn’t have told Rebecca at all. It was something that Isabel and I had talked about alone, and if we both kept quiet, it would have gone away.

However, Rebecca is the current head of the Arsene student council and is in a position to lead Arsene.

If I were to attack Isabel and the Holy Order, and that too on Arsene’s premises, it would certainly reach the student council. Even if no one else does, Rebecca will be able to figure out the identity of the attacker.

Even if I leave it alone, it will get exposed. Rebecca is not the type to go around telling people who the culprit is, but I thought it would be better to make it a little more certain, so I brought it up after much thought. I thought that since Rebecca is bound to have a hard time with the Holy Church, they would probably tolerate it to some extent.

The result was the opposite.

“I also know that you have some kind of ties to the Holy Order. Sion Illionheart.”

“It’s not like there’s any collusion, it’s just-

“… … .”

“We do have a similar relationship.”

I was about to explain something more, but I just stopped.

If I were to explain each one, I would have to dig into the incident that led to Rebecca becoming a swordsman. There was no need to dig up Rebecca’s wounds, so I decided to just keep my mouth shut.

Anyway, I was in the same boat as Isabel, conspiring with her. That’s why I still attend church services every weekend. No matter what I did, I ended up in trouble.

“Can you at least tell me the reason properly?”

“I’m sure Rebecca has guessed.”

I tried to tell the story in as roundabout a way as possible.

“You know, Rebecca, that the Holy Church is not as clean a religious group as it appears. They even drive out and purge those who get in their way.”

“I ask why you are coming forward now.”

“I decided it was time to step forward, so I did.”

Rebecca furrowed her brows. She seemed a little annoyed that I wouldn’t say a word.

But I added one more word.

“This is something that we can’t just sit back and watch forever. If we don’t stop it when we can, it will come back as a bigger disaster.”

The Holy Order, which boasts of omnipotent power, is in some ways similar to the magicians of the ivory tower.

Just as the Ivory Tower controls what happens in Elysium, the Holy Cult exerts undisputed power across the continent under the pretext of destroying the unclean.

In the process, the principle of presumption of innocence and the crime of innocence do not apply. Even an ordinary person can be branded a Mine if they are influenced by the Holy Church.

Isabel, who had the trait [Divinity], probably watched and tolerated the corruption of the Divine Church for quite some time. However, she became skeptical of the religion she belonged to, and was eventually driven to the point where she came to me for advice, saying she wanted to destroy the Divine Church.

-A pigsty where monsters gather to fulfill their desires in the name of God… … .

-I want to… destroy the Holy Order.

If I declare that I will not help Isabel, Isabel will stand against the Holy Order alone. It was the same in the original.

The problem is that the difficulty of this world is hell and there are surprise events.

The Isabel and the Holy Order episode was a side quest and wasn’t absolutely necessary, but this is reality, not a game.

If Isabel were to die or be seriously injured, there would be no greater disaster than that. The Holy Church would eventually become a villainous group that would surpass the Mine Association, and the only person who could put the brakes on that would be Isabel.

If something is going to happen anyway, I’d rather take the initiative. That’s all I want to tell Rebecca.

“There are many things I don’t understand, and honestly, I think you’re making this judgment because you didn’t get enough rest while taking the end-of-semester survival training. That’s ridiculous, isn’t it?”

Rebecca’s eyes narrowed. She shook her head and sighed deeply. But the words she heard next stabbed me in the chest like a knife.

“But even if I stop you, you’ll still leave eventually.”

“… As I said, it is necessary.”

“If something like this is going to happen no matter what I do, wouldn’t it be better to just let it go… … .”

Rebecca probably feels like she has no answer. She’s probably coming to a similar conclusion as I, that if something is going to happen anyway, it might as well be that we take the initiative.

“At least, this.”

“yes?”

Rebecca takes out a small magical tool from subspace.

“This is an artifact with a spell engraved on it that allows the user to move to a specific location once by turning the jewel in the middle.”

It was a ring-shaped artifact. Rebecca handed it to me without any hesitation.

“It’s an artifact that can only be used once, but it will protect you at least once.”

“Are you giving this to me?”

“What good is it to rent a magic tool that can only be used once?”

I accepted the ring that Rebecca offered me. Judging by the teleportation spell engraved on it, it was probably worth at least hundreds of millions.

“At least it’s better than dying in an unknown place.”

But since human lives cannot be considered a threat, Rebecca willingly handed me over one of her artifacts.

As I was about to turn around to express my gratitude, Rebecca muttered as she passed by.

“… Are you sure you don’t need my help?”

“Rebecca, please stay in Arsene. It will be safer for both you and me.”

Rebecca is the student council president at Arsene. She carries a lot on her shoulders, and she is not one to get caught up in something she doesn’t know.

So Rebecca had to coordinate and adjust all the circumstances here. The only person who could bury the incident of the raid in the gray zone Kion without a sound was Rebecca, the student council president.

“I will send Secretary Amelia nearby.”

“Is that okay?”

“I think we can just handle it as additional research related to the Raknia Cave.”

Anyone could see that it was an abuse of power and an overstep of authority by involving the student council in personal matters.

“Have a nice day, Zion Illionheart.”

Rebecca didn’t seem willing to give in any further.

***

-I am Isabel, a trainee priestess of the Holy Order. I have come to you today because I have something important to tell you.

-The cult is driving innocent people into a mine. As a priest of the cult, I can no longer allow the cult to run wild.

-Please help me, lend me your strength… … .

The side quest, ‘The Darkness of the Sacred Church’, as its name suggests, deals with the dark side of the Sacred Church.

The power of the Holy Order, which was born during the great war hundreds of years ago, was formidable, and humanity eventually achieved victory by driving out the demons that were threatening the world.

In the process, the Holy Order used divine power to perform miracles, such as raising the dead and causing severed limbs to grow back.

It’s only natural that many people would follow when a miracle happens right before their eyes.

The Holy Church grew rapidly, pushing out the indigenous religions that had dominated various parts of the continent until then.

But as the body grows, so do the shadows. ‘The Darkness of the Holy Church’ sheds light on what happens behind the scenes of the Holy Church, which worships the god of light, Aad.

The player can either accept or decline Isabel’s offer. The choice is entirely theirs.

-I will decline.

-Yes, that won’t work either… … .

If you refuse, the story related to the Holy Order will be blocked. You will also lose contact with Priest Isabelle. This is the choice most players who find side quests annoying.

-I will help you, priest.

-Is that…really?

Conversely, accepting Priestess Isabelle’s offer will see the player delve into the dark side of the Cult with Isabelle, unlocking a series of storylines related to the Cult.

To obtain the hidden trait [Holy Spirit] given as a reward here, you must accept Priest Isabelle’s offer and successfully complete the side quest.

[Divine Spirit] is a trait that must be acquired, as it not only allows you to control divine power, but also makes you immune to various mental magic. Also, although I didn’t tell Priest Isabelle, there is one more thing I can’t tell you.

I put my hand on my chest. An ominous aura enveloped my throbbing heart. It was a reaction to the poison I had been force-fed in Esperland.

Perhaps [Divine Spirit] will lead to a clue to eradicate loneliness. It may be a bit of a leap of thought, but if loneliness can be eliminated, what else can’t we do? This is also one of the problems that must be solved before Act 3 arrives.

“…Lord Zion.”

Now, in front of me stands Priest Isabel with a determined expression. She called my name once and didn’t say anything else, but she was looking at me with a questioning look, as if to ask if I was really okay.

“I told you. It’s something that has to be done.”

“I don’t mind, but Sion, you’re an outsider. There’s no need to risk your life for something like this.”

Priest Isabelle shook her head. I know the burden she must feel.

The Holy Grail, which had the power to revive even the dead, was shattered. Priest Isabelle already knows that I have overcome the crisis of death once.

“Don’t you know, Father Isabelle, that if you step back from here, there will be no next time?”

However, it is not only Father Isabel who stands here with a determined expression. I too am in a position where I cannot back down.

Isabel chewed her lower lip for a moment, then looked at me with a determined expression.

“…Okay, I understand. But please, Sion, never face anyone from the sect directly.”

“There’s no reason for me, a shooter, to be there.”

“I’m telling you this because it’s important. Even if my identity is discovered, I won’t go as far as dying… but Sion, your position is different.”

Even if she fails and gets caught here, Isabel won’t die. She’ll be severely punished, but Isabel is gifted with the ability to never leave the Holy Order again.

Perhaps the Holy Order would want to keep Isabel alive, even if it meant brainwashing her.

“If you get caught, you will die.”

On the other hand, I am different. If my identity is discovered, I will die. Even if I don’t die, I will be tortured to a degree that I would rather die.

“Do you really not regret it, Father Isabelle?”

“I… have already decided.”

Isabel wore a mask. It was a balaclava that covered her entire face. Seeing Isabel, who would grow up to be a saint, dressed up like a terrorist was an indescribable feeling.

“We will overthrow the Holy Order, uproot it if necessary.”

The sacred sect that was supposed to destroy the unclean has turned its hand to the unclean. There is no one who can stop it. Except for the two of you gathered here.

“As Zion said, it is necessary. It is also an opportunity that will not come again.”

Priest Isabel smiled as she held the flail. To the onlookers, it was a rather creepy sight.