Chapter 58: Even the Worst Person's Heart is Still Red
—I will establish the Axis Theocracy!
"Hahaha, this is much crazier than anything I did in Night Raid."
Bulat burst into laughter, yet he also said with conviction, "But if this is the future you've seen, Kobayashi, I'd be happy to help. I can trust you, right?"
"Of course. You can always trust me."
Kobayashi made his guarantee.
Sheele also said in her dazed way, "I believe in Kobayashi."
"I don't particularly mind," Liver said, touching the ring on his hand, as if having made a decision. "If this can save my master, General Esdeath, I am willing to temporarily offer my all."
"Well, thank you very much for that."
Although Liver's [Black Marlin] was useless against Kobayashi, it was still a Teigu and could be used as a means of deterrence later.
"But I never thought there'd really be no wanted posters here," Bulat said, walking down the bustling street. The pedestrians coming and going didn't cry out or run away because of his exposed face, and there were no portraits of him on the notice boards. He had thought his future actions would be hindered. Now it seemed he didn't have to worry.
"This place is far from the Imperial Capital, after all. And nominally, you are already dead," Liver explained casually. But they all knew the real reason was simply the inaction of the authorities here.
"So, what's the plan next?"
"We need to find someone. I'm sure he will receive us warmly."
To quickly take down a person and make them defect, one must naturally act with the force of a tyrant and the methods of a thunderbolt, instantly destroying their spirit and making them forever hold you in awe while maintaining their loyalty.
And he already had a target in mind.
The Path of Peace
A religion that preached that one could live a long and happy life by doing good deeds, and was deeply believed in by the populace. It had spread incredibly widely, with even some remote villages knowing of its existence. Over ten years, it had gradually formed into a massive power.
And within it, there were two very important figures.
One was the leader, who had unparalleled charisma. The other was a man deeply trusted by the leader, but whose actual identity was a spy planted in the Path of Peace by the Prime Minister.
"That's right, it's me, Bolic!"
Leaning back on a luxurious and soft chaise lounge, he downed a glass of expensive fruit wine. His hands and eyes wandered over the beautiful women leaning against him. His dissolute appearance had not a single shred of the sacred dignity a clergyman should have.
"That leader is such a fool."
Bolic laughed smugly. "That guy... as long as you pretend to be a loyal puppet in front of him, he'll trust you without reservation... It's just too funny, hahahaha—"
But he wouldn't be satisfied with just this.
He wanted to replace the leader and become the leader himself. That way, he could control a large number of believers and no longer be controlled by others. He could even have a power struggle with the Prime Minister who was pulling his strings from behind!
That's right! As long as I become the leader...
"Lord Bolic! Someone is here to see you!"
Just as he was lost in his wonderful fantasy, a tactless subordinate burst into his room and reported to him in a panic.
"Someone wants to see me?"
If it were the leader, he wouldn't need to be so panicked. But now, he was flustered and lacking all decorum.
Bolic asked strangely, "Who is it?"
"I don't know them."
"Hmm... alright. Let them come for an audience."
He waved his hand casually, already with the attitude of being the leader himself.
However—
"I don't quite like the word 'audience.' Because 'audience' is generally used when a subordinate meets with a superior. You should say 'visit'... or 'grace us with your presence'."
Before the subordinate could summon them, the uninvited guests had already burst into his palace.
The person in the lead looked rather young, with a smile on his lips that inexplicably made him feel anxious. And the two men and two women behind him also exuded the aura of powerful experts. Of course, it was mostly the bloodstains on their clothes that made them look like they were not to be trifled with.
Bolic frowned in annoyance and questioned them, "Who are you? Why have you trespassed into my palace?!"
Dignity increases with one's position. He was, at the very least, the leader's assistant. If he could be so easily broken in upon by a few random people, what face would he have left?
Bolic shouted loudly, "Guards? Where are the guards?!"
"L-Lord Bolic... everyone in the palace has been... been... killed."
The subordinate who had come to report stammered out this sentence, which also explained why he had been in such a panic from the beginning.
But Bolic was not nervous, because he still had a trump card. He asked again:
"Who in the world are you?"
This time, his tone was no longer questioning, and he finally seemed to be taking them seriously.
"Hmm... an introduction?"
Kobayashi stroked his chin, feigning thought. "You can call me Kobayashi. As for my identity... the Vicar of the Goddess. What do you think of that title?"
"Vicar of the Goddess?"
Hearing this, Bolic was slightly stunned, and then he immediately burst into laughter.
"Hahaha—, to actually call yourself the Vicar of the Goddess! To actually call yourself a vicar?! Hahahahahaha—"
His laughter grew louder and more arrogant. The beautiful women in his arms also began to giggle, as if looking at an arrogant, clowning fool.
But that was to be expected. If someone came up to you and said they were a god, you would definitely think there was something wrong with their head. This was especially true for a clergyman like Bolic, who knew very well that no gods existed!
"If there were a god, I would have been smitten by divine punishment long ago! To actually call yourself the Vicar of the Goddess... and here I thought you were some big shot. Now it seems you're just an idiot who's lost his mind."
Bolic suddenly seemed to lose interest and waved his hand. Just as he was about to tell them to leave, he suddenly noticed the bewitching Sheele and the pretty RyuZU, and a wicked lust arose in his heart.
"You have offended me. Normally, I would never forgive you. But..."
Bolic pointed at the two women, licked his lips, and said, "As long as you leave the two of them behind, I will be magnanimous and let the rest of you leave."
Bolic seemed to be unaware of the gravity of the situation. He snapped his fingers lightly, and in an instant, four people in strange poses appeared in front of him, implicitly protecting him.
"These are the Rakshasa Four Demons of the Imperial Fist, sent by the Capital specifically to protect me, so that I may control the Path of Peace's instruments of violence."
His smug appearance made it seem as if victory were already in his grasp.
Yes, that's what low-level villains are like.
Kobayashi scratched his head in annoyance. "Aaaah, I can't hear you, I can't hear you! So annoying, these grasshoppers just keep popping up! RyuZU, they're all yours."
"Yes. As you command, Master Kobayashi."
RyuZU respectfully held her skirt and curtsied slightly, but she also said with a sharp tongue, "However, Master Kobayashi, have you not been relying on me more and more lately?"
"Sorry. Does it bother you?"
"No. This is precisely what I desire. Please, use me more in the future."
I hope she's talking about combat, and not... that other thing.
"That other thing is also acceptable."
RyuZU seemed to have seen through his thoughts and indicated that she would accept everything about him.
"Ahem, well..."
Kobayashi was extremely embarrassed under the teasing gazes of the others.
Bolic was getting annoyed. He said coldly, "Your time for joking is over. Rakshasa Four Demons, get them!"
"..."
"Rakshasa Four Demons, what are you waiting for? Start, quickly! Rakshasa Four Demons?!"
Bolic glared at the four unmoving figures in front of him. He didn't expect his orders to be ineffective. To be disobeyed in front of outsiders, wasn't that an even greater slap in his own face?
"Start? No, it's already over."
"What nonsense are you talking... ?!"
Before Bolic could issue another command, he saw blood-red lines gradually appear on the bodies of the Four Rakshasa Demons. In the next moment, with a splat, their limbs scattered onto the ground in pieces. A large amount of crimson liquid stained the white wool carpet, creating a bloody scene of great impact.
"Aaaah—!!!"
The beautiful women in his arms screamed in terror at this sight, momentarily deafening Bolic and leaving his mind blank. It was unclear if it was from the screams or from the bloody mess before him.
"No matter how many times I see it, it's still ridiculous."
Bulat couldn't help but give RyuZU a thumbs up in praise.
Liver also swallowed and said in comparison, "The ability to surpass time... even my master couldn't do something like this."
The current Esdeath had not yet met Tatsumi, nor had she developed her new time-freezing move, [Mahapadma], out of a desire to keep him. So at present, Kobayashi was the strongest individual!
Bolic couldn't accept this fact.
The beautiful women in his arms scattered and fled. Bolic fell from the luxurious, soft chaise lounge. He still couldn't believe this was real. But the smell of blood in his nose and the realness of the touch let him know that this was definitely not fake.
"N-no! In an instant, just one instant... they've even killed Teigu users before, yet in just an instant...!"
"That's right. It was just one instant."
As if to deal him an even greater blow, or perhaps to claim credit, RyuZU lifted her head slightly and said, "The moment you gave the order, Master Kobayashi, I had already completed the mission."
"Amazing, amazing."
Kobayashi affectionately patted her small head.
Then he walked towards the fallen Bolic, who was frantically scrambling backwards in a panic until he was backed against a pillar.
"Is there anything else you want to say now?"
"D-don't kill me! Please, don't kill me!" Bolic shook his head in fear and begged loudly, "Whether it's money or people, or even my position, I can give it all to you! I can satisfy you! Please, don't kill me! I'm begging you!"
Hearing this, Kobayashi cursed, "Fool! If I kill you, all of this will be mine anyway!"
"Ah, ah... no, no! Please!"
Tears and snot streamed down Bolic's face. The way he groveled on the ground, begging for mercy, was completely devoid of his earlier arrogant attitude. It seemed the shock from RyuZU was too great. The moment his trump card was swept away, his psychological defenses instantly collapsed.
"It seems you have no other tricks up your sleeve."
Kobayashi slowly extended his hand towards him.
No matter how much Bolic frantically dodged and begged, the hand still pressed down on his chest.
With a single pull.
A fresh, red, beating heart was dug out.
"Tsk."
Seeing it, Kobayashi clicked his tongue in annoyance.
Bolic stared blankly at the constantly beating heart in Kobayashi's hand. He knew it was his heart.
"My heart... mine! M-my heart... that's my heart... mine..."
He reached out, wanting to snatch it back. But without a heart to pump blood and supply oxygen, his body gradually lost its strength, and his consciousness also faded.
In a daze, he heard these words.
"As I thought, even the heart of the darkest person is still red. Sometimes, the gods are truly unfair."
(End of Chapter)