Chapter 59: A Little Heart-to-Heart Talk
A person's body is very sturdy; even with missing limbs, one can survive with proper medical care. But a person's body is also very fragile; without a vital organ, death is immediate.
For example, the heart.
"My heart... my heart...!"
At the moment before his death, this sentence repeated in Bolic's mind. But at the same time, he felt it was strange. Does the soul really exist in this world? Why do I still have the ability to think after I've already died?
"To answer your question, yes, the soul exists. And you are not dead."
So the soul really does exist.
Wait, I'm not dead?
"Of course not! If you're awake, then get up already! What are you still doing lying on the ground!"
Greeted by this scolding, Bolic slowly opened his eyes.
The ceiling was familiar.
He was lying on his back on the soft wool carpet, and he could smell the scent of dirt and fresh blood.
"My heart!"
In a panic, he quickly scrambled up, patting himself all over.
There was nothing wrong.
Was it an illusion? Was everything just now fake? I didn't actually die, it was just a hallucination?
But when he saw the hole torn in the front of his clothes and the bloodstains around it, Bolic was certain that he had, in fact, just died!
"Bolic, you are too flustered. What kind of behavior is this in front of His Excellency?"
A gentle reprimand reached his ears.
He turned his head and saw a familiar figure kneeling beside him.
"Your Holiness?!" Bolic looked at him in surprise.
At that moment, the Leader was kneeling in the direction of the luxurious chaise lounge, upon which a man was now sitting.
The man who had ripped out his heart!
"Demon!"
"A demon? I would prefer you call me a god... or a god's messenger."
Kobayashi looked with great interest at the panicked Bolic, very satisfied with his terrified, trembling appearance.
"Your Holiness, he is a heretic! A demon! Quick! Order him to be killed! Quickly! Rakshasa Demons, attack! Go on!"
Bolic pointed at Kobayashi and shouted emotionally at the Leader, repeatedly urging the surrounding guards and the Rakshasa Four Demons, as if only this could vent the fear in his heart.
However, no one moved.
They were all kneeling on the ground with pious expressions, their hands clasped together, in an attitude of worship towards the man on the chair.
Instead, the Leader admonished him. "Bolic, His Excellency has already told me of all your crimes. To atone for your past sins, you should just obediently accept the punishment of the gods."
"Punishment of the gods... hahaha, the punishment of the gods?! There are no gods in this world! No gods!! NONE!!!"
Bolic's face turned beet red, as if all the blood had rushed to his head. Veins popped out on his forehead as he screamed in terror, saliva flying everywhere.
No matter how much he denied it, in his heart, he was already wavering.
And now, all he needed was a little push.
Kobayashi's lips curled. He said with feigned disappointment, "Ahhh, what a letdown~ I shouldn't have resurrected you. I even helped you heal your hidden illnesses. What a waste of my efforts."
Hidden illnesses?
Bolic took a moment to feel his own body, which was full of vitality and energy. The feeling of weakness from having been hollowed out by wine and women was completely gone.
"Hahaha—, it's fake! It's all fake! You must have used some kind of stamina-enhancing drug on me!" Bolic denied it to the bitter end, still trying to escape reality.
"Honestly, if I didn't have a use for you, I would have sent you to see the goddess by now."
Kobayashi was also getting impatient. He waved his hand at him. "Alright, alright, just watch from the side for now."
Then, he looked at the Leader.
And opened with a reprimand.
"Although you have a simple and honest nature, are charitable and benevolent, and possess an extraordinary charisma that is deeply loved by your followers, at the same time, you are a poor judge of character, allowing him to cause trouble under the church's protection. I truly doubt whether you have the ability to see through people's hearts."
"I am deeply sorry for this. It is entirely my own fault."
The Leader could have pushed the responsibility away, saying he had been misled by slander, or that Bolic was skilled at deception, but he responsibly took the blame himself.
An excellent leader.
Kobayashi nodded with satisfaction. "Good. Then I sentence you to death."
"Yes," the Leader accepted his fate.
Kobayashi then looked at Bolic, a malicious grin curling on his lips, which made Bolic, who had been thinking about how to escape, subconsciously tremble.
"Bolic, you will be the executioner."
"What?"
"I said, you will be the executioner. If you're unwilling, then I'll have to have a little 'heart-to-heart' talk with you."
Seeing that he wouldn't agree, Kobayashi's right hand began to stretch forward.
Watching the approaching right hand, he could already smell the scent of blood from the palm, and feel the beating of the heart that was about to be grasped again.
"I'll do it! I'll do it!"
Bolic quickly nodded in agreement.
He drew the long sword from a nearby guard and said to the Leader, "Your Holiness, I'm sorry!"
The two of them were now grasshoppers on the same rope. No matter how much he wanted to replace him, right now he only felt grief. After all, the demon sitting on the throne was toying with their lives as he pleased.
"It's alright, Bolic. I will die, but at the same time, I will be reborn. So you don't have to be sad."
The Leader, on the other hand, showed no fear at all. Instead, he said something completely baffling.
The whole 'returning to the arms of the gods' routine?
Bolic was a clergyman. He naturally knew the rhetoric they used for the deceased. But they all knew it was fake. It was impossible for the Leader not to understand!
Damn it!
With anger and fear, he viciously chopped off the Leader's head.
And the Leader, as his head fell to the ground, did not cry out or scream, but instead looked at him with a smile, and then slowly closed his eyes.
Fresh blood stained the hem of his clothes, and the smell of blood filled his nostrils.
Bolic was terrified.
But his punishment was not over. He heard the demon on the luxurious chaise lounge issue another command.
"Bolic, put his head back on his neck."
"H-head... put it back?"
Why? Is he insulting the Leader's corpse? He truly is a demon...
But under the pressure, he had no choice but to obey.
The Leader had long stopped breathing, and his serenely smiling face was devoid of color. He had died the moment his head was cut off, he was sure of it!
He tremblingly picked up the Leader's head and gently placed it where it should be. He even positioned it quite straight.
"Very good. Next, I'll show you a miracle."
He snapped his fingers lightly.
—[Resurrection]!
A blinding magic circle suddenly lit up. But no one, except Bolic, covered their eyes. Instead, they held back the tears in their eyes and stared intently at the miracle that was about to happen.
Three seconds passed...
The light faded, the magic circle disappeared, and the neck of the Leader lying on the ground was perfectly intact. He slowly opened his eyes.
"It seems I have been resurrected. No, perhaps 'reborn' is a better word."
The Leader got up and knelt piously before Kobayashi. "Thank you for your grace. May the favor of the gods be with you always, Son of God!"
"May the favor of the gods be with you always, Son of God!" xN
And the others, after seeing this, had an incomparably fanatical glint in their eyes. Like the Leader, they knelt before him with their hands clasped in piety.
No, no, no, Son of God?!
Although I know that a child favored by the gods is called a Son of God, no matter how you think about it, I'm the one taking care of that idiot Goddess of Water, right?
"Call me Father!"
"...What?"
"Ahem, it's nothing."
Kobayashi coughed awkwardly. "Don't call me Son of God. Just call me Master Kobayashi. We have to hide my identity for now."
"I see. I understand."
The Leader also nodded as if he understood something, then bowed and said, "May the favor of the gods be with you always, Master Kobayashi!"
"Master Kobayashi!" xN
Very good!
He turned to look at the dumbfounded Bolic and asked, "How about it? Are you satisfied with this miracle? By the way, you were resurrected using this same method just now."
"You're lying..."
Bolic's worldview had been shattered.
Resurrecting the dead was against all common sense. It was something even the Emperor a thousand years ago couldn't do. The proof was, if he could, why didn't he use it?
And now, a miracle had played out before his very eyes.
"Oh my, it seems you still don't believe me. In that case, would anyone else like to perform for him?"
"Me!"
"Let me do it!"
"I'll do it!"
"Please let me!"
Even though it meant certain death, everyone present was scrambling for the chance. Because they had all just been resurrected, they firmly believed that by doing this, they would receive the favor and blessings of the gods.
Suddenly, a subordinate rushed out. It was the very same subordinate who had burst into the palace to report to him earlier. Before Bolic could react, the man grabbed his hand, which was holding the sword, and plunged it into his own chest.
"W-what are you doing? Are you insane?!" Bolic screamed in terror.
But the subordinate had a fanatical smile on his face. "Lord Bolic, I... I also wish to receive the favor and... blessings of the gods."
With a thud, he fell to the ground.
Dead.
"Oh dear, you've accidentally killed someone. The goddess will be angry, you know."
"N-no... it's not like that! It wasn't me! It was him! He deliberately ran into it! I beg for the goddess's forgiveness! I beg for the goddess's forgiveness!"
Bolic fell to his knees in fear and begged loudly. It seemed he now truly believed that a goddess existed and would punish him for his past evil deeds.
"Don't be nervous," Kobayashi patted his shoulder, comforting him. "Today is a day of proselytizing. The goddess will not be angry. Besides, he only died. Can't we just resurrect him again?"
"R-resurrect..."
As he spoke, the magic circle lit up again. Three seconds later, the subordinate stood up, alive and kicking.
"See? It's just that simple."
A snap of the fingers, and a person could be resurrected. If this wasn't a miracle that only a god could perform, then what else could be called a miracle?
If you want to completely subdue a person, you have to destroy their worldview in one fell swoop, and then help them rebuild it. This way, they will submit to you with all their heart.
Although the thunderous method was a bit crude and could easily destroy their mind, the process was simple, convenient, and fast, which was just right for Kobayashi, who was short on time.
"So, are you going to join us, or do I have to have another little 'heart-to-heart' talk with you before you join us?"
The smile Kobayashi directed at Bolic was incomparably kind.
(End of Chapter)