Chapter 103: The Slothful Archbishop
After Subaru Natsuki arrived at the mansion with the villagers, Rem, Ram, and Subaru began arranging places for the villagers to stay.
Fortunately, the mansion was still spacious enough; although there were many villagers, everyone could be accommodated.
After spending the entire morning organizing everything, it was already noon.
Feeling a bit exhausted, Subaru sat at the mansion's front gate holding his longsword.
From the house behind him came many sounds, mostly the joyful shouts and laughter of children.
After a busy morning, Emilia also came out to help, though she wore a cloak the entire time, and no one in the village showed any reaction when interacting with her.
That cloak probably disrupted people's recognition, but none of that was important.
What was important was that the Witch's Cult was coming.
The sound of a door opening came from behind. Turning his head, Subaru saw Ram with a serious expression nodding to him.
Seeing this, Subaru sighed and stood up, drawing the longsword he always carried.
"Senpai, have everyone from the village hide. You protect them inside. Leave the outside to me."
"Barusu..." Subaru looked at Ram in confusion, but she said nothing and turned to enter the mansion, closing the door behind her.
However, the door opened once again. Turning his head, Subaru saw Rem standing beside him, holding her flail.
Understanding what Rem meant, Subaru smiled gently and reached out to pat her head.
"Rem, sorry, leave this to me. Please go inside and protect them."
"But—"
"You also saw the many glass windows around the mansion. I can't be sure the Witch's Cult will only come through the front gate, so I have to ask this of you. Both the villagers and you are very important to me.
So please, let me be a bit stubborn here."
Under Subaru's earnest gaze, though Rem wanted to stay and fight alongside him, she ultimately obeyed and returned inside the mansion.
The sound of the door closing came from behind, and the noise inside the mansion ceased.
Subaru raised his longsword, gripping it tightly with both hands, staring intently at the people emerging from the ground near the iron gate.
Judging by their equipment, he knew they were members of the Witch's Cult.
Under Subaru's gaze, the cult members separated to stand on either side of the gate.
One man with green hair stepped forward from the middle of the group.
"This rich scent, this strong aura—could it be that you are Pride?"
In Subaru's eyes, the green-haired man hugged his body and twisted wildly, his cracked mouth revealing gleaming white teeth.
His huge, glaring eyes combined with his appearance made him look like a madman.
No, the feeling Subaru got wasn't just madness—it was indescribable; frenzy and insanity were insufficient words to describe him.
"Ah, how rude of me. I should introduce myself. I am Petelgeuse Romanee-Conti, the Archbishop of the Witch's Cult, holding the title of Sin Archbishop of Sloth."
Watching Petelgeuse bow deeply at a 180-degree angle, Subaru thought to himself that this man was not someone to be reasoned with normally.
"Petelgeuse, huh? You're the boss, right? Can we negotiate something?" Subaru forced a smile as he asked, though he never loosened his grip on the sword.
Because he had no hope for the answer.
"Oh? Negotiate something? Why is that? You carry such a strong love, yet you hold a sword blocking our way?"
Ignoring Petelgeuse's words, Subaru spoke plainly.
"Can you just go home? To be honest, I don't really understand your Witch's Cult. The books say you're just a bunch of lunatics, a group of villains. But before we met or exchanged words, I still considered you as people. So can you leave? I don't want to fight..."
"Villains? Lunatics? That's right! We are villains, we are lunatics! But those are judgments made by ignorant and foolish people. We're just making everyone experience the love of the witch.
Ah~~~ You're really slothful, aren't you? You already see us as enemies, yet you hold a sword trying to stop our trial while speaking such gentle words. You truly are slothful."
"Does this mean negotiations have failed?"
"Our trial will not be canceled! Anyone who stands before us before the trial is complete is our enemy!"
Hearing this, Subaru took a deep breath and tightened his grip on the longsword as he stepped forward.
"I know... When I saw you, I knew there was no chance for negotiation... So I have nothing more to say."
As he finished speaking, Subaru vanished from his spot and dashed quickly toward Petelgeuse.
At that moment, a cult member behind Petelgeuse threw a strange short sword at him.
Subaru didn't stop; with quick swings of his longsword, he deflected all the thrown short swords and charged straight at Petelgeuse.
The cult members started rushing toward him.
Subaru stopped and swung his sword to block attacks from three opponents ahead, while more cult members appeared around him, surrounding him.
Clenching his teeth, Subaru swung the longsword to defend and kept moving his body to dodge attacks.
Many times, he could have taken the lives of those in front of him with his sword, but he couldn't bring himself to strike!
He knew this wasn't the time for mercy. These people were lunatics.
Yet, the sword in his hand wouldn't fall cleanly.
"How slothful you are! You had many chances to take our lives, yet your sword hesitates. Since you stand before us treating us as enemies, isn't it to protect the people behind you?
Why show mercy? You truly are slothful!"
Petelgeuse looked at Subaru, surrounded, his hands behind his back, a malicious smile on his face.
He lightly waved his hand, and in Subaru's sight, the group of cultists behind Petelgeuse charged toward the mansion.
Seeing this, Subaru's pupils contracted. The next moment, blood splattered before his eyes as a cultist fell.
Subaru freed one hand and grabbed a nearby person, throwing them forcefully at the advancing cultists.
Then, swinging his longsword rapidly, he charged to the mansion's gate, dealing with everyone around him.
Subaru's breathing grew heavy. He turned to look toward Petelgeuse's direction, his hand gripping the longsword trembling slightly.
"If you want to get inside, then step over my body!"
"My brain is shaking!!!!!! To protect the one he deeply loves, he wields his sword to take our lives. Such diligence!
Our love will not be defeated so easily.
We will complete the trial and make the witch understand our love.
You are our enemy!"
Petelgeuse wildly grabbed his hair, a smile on his face but his eyes full of murderous intent.
Spreading his arms wide, he shouted:
"Now, let our trial begin! Let the witch witness our love!"