Chapter 95: A Rematch with Esdeath
The Pope's job is very tiring, with government affairs keeping one busy from morning till night.
A certain Old Master Huang was right: every day you open your eyes, hundreds of mouths are waiting to be fed. It's enough to make your head explode, not to mention Kobayashi also had to look after the entire Holy Kingdom.
Furthermore, the Holy Kingdom had just been established, and everything was waiting to be rebuilt. Everything required his labor. It was too tiring.
Therefore—
Kobayashi chose to throw down his carrying pole and quit.
He left the mess to others, while he himself ran off to travel. Mmm, very much in the style of an Archbishop of the Axis Order.
He was prepared to put what he had learned into practice.
"In summary, you can be the Pope."
Kobayashi pushed the original Leader of the Path of Peace onto his throne, plopped the papal crown onto his head, and stuffed the scepter into his arms. The simple handover ceremony was thus concluded.
This action left the Leader completely dumbfounded.
...Are you kidding me?!
"Master Kobayashi, what is the meaning of this?"
He quickly stood up, taking off the papal crown and letting go of the scepter, saying urgently, "Making me the Pope... I've never heard of such a thing! And I am completely incompetent to serve!"
In his view, he was not qualified to be the Pope.
After all, Kobayashi was the one who overthrew the corrupt Empire, and Kobayashi was the one who ended the internal strife in the Capital and stopped the invasion of the foreign tribes. Only a person like him was qualified to be the supreme leader.
If he took the position, wouldn't that be the same as stealing the fruits of victory?
"Alright, alright, don't say that!"
Kobayashi patted his shoulder, telling him to relax.
He then added, "You were the Leader in the first place, your management ability is not bad, and you can rally many believers. Don't refuse the position of Pope, okay?"
"...I think Master Kobayashi simply doesn't want to work." He had seen right through Kobayashi's thoughts.
"Ahem, how could that be..."
Kobayashi coughed lightly, his eyes darting around quickly before lighting up, as if he had thought of something.
He said with great emotion, "Actually, I have to return to the Lady Goddess's side. The Holy Kingdom has just been established, and I can't rest easy if there isn't a trustworthy person to manage it. You happen to have the experience, so you are the most suitable candidate."
"R-return to the Lady Goddess's side..."
He heard the keywords, and his eyes instantly burst with a scorching light. He grabbed Kobayashi's arm, his grip so strong he couldn't break free.
His emotions were stirred, his voice high, his breathing ragged, and his face flushed. He said with great fervor, "Please take me with you! I also wish to witness the grace of the Lady Goddess! Please, I beg you, take me with you!"
From him, Kobayashi saw the shadow of Darkness. Their fanaticism for a certain thing was identical.
"No, no, no, there's no way I can take you."
Kobayashi pushed his approaching head away.
The cheat ability could only carry non-living things; it couldn't take him. And even if it could, he wouldn't. Just imagine: if a fanatic so zealous for Aqua was serving by her side, how terrifying would that idiot goddess, whose tail already so easily stuck up in the sky, become? If the two of them were together, they would definitely cause chaos and turn Axel upside down.
Thinking of this, Kobayashi couldn't help but shiver. He absolutely, definitely could not let him meet Aqua!
"I know you're anxious, but don't be."
Kobayashi cleared his throat. "Listen to me. The Holy Kingdom has just been established. I need to return as soon as possible to tell the Lady Goddess about this so that she may bestow her blessings upon the kingdom. Your mission is to manage it well for me while I am away, and don't let other forces take the opportunity to cause trouble."
"Haah..."
"Don't worry, I will convey your feelings for you. When the Lady Goddess sees that you have put the Holy Kingdom in good order, she will surely give you a reward."
"You must, absolutely!"
He was finally persuaded by Kobayashi and decided to stay and manage the Holy Kingdom.
However...
"I will not inherit the position of Pope. That is a position that belongs exclusively to you, Master Kobayashi. No one here, including myself, is qualified to inherit it. As for my future position, please convey my request to the Lady Goddess and let her decide."
"Mmm... that's fine too."
Kobayashi thought for a moment and agreed.
After all, the other party was a zealot of Aqua. If he left without any checks and balances, who knows what kind of propaganda he would create to expand the power of the church. If it became like the Axis Order in Konosuba, pushing some strong people to their limits until they chose to become Demon Kings, then he would be a villain guilty of the most heinous crimes.
"Then Acting Pope it is. No problem, right?"
"Yes, I am willing to accept."
Kobayashi settled his position and prepared to pass this appointment on to the people below.
Just as he left the room, he saw the members of Night Raid and the Jaegers waiting outside.
"Everyone..."
"We heard what you just said."
Lubbock scratched his head, looking a bit awkward, then said with regret, "We're parting ways, aren't we?"
"Mmm. Just as I said, I really am going back to see the Lady Goddess." As if to add to his authenticity, Kobayashi said seriously, "I'm not lying to you about this."
"We already guessed as much."
"After all, you can control multiple Teigu."
"And you can use magic."
"You can even resurrect the dead..."
"No matter how you look at it, you're no ordinary person, Kobayashi."
It seemed they had all sensed it.
Leone stepped forward, slung an arm around his shoulder, and said boisterously, "You must come back for a visit! Next time, let's have an even more heated battle!... The four of us, together."
"Ahem, ahem, ahem..."
Kobayashi coughed, covering his embarrassment. However, the others already knew, and their strange looks made him feel ashamed.
Sheele also hugged him gently and said softly, "I will wait for you to come back."
"I'll be back soon, I promise," Kobayashi said, affectionately stroking her cheek. He then turned to Chelsea, "You too, little wildcat."
"I am not a little wildcat," Chelsea huffed.
"Ehh—, but the scratch marks on my back still hurt a little. I wonder who did that?"
"Hey! Don't say such things out loud!"
Chelsea's shy appearance made everyone laugh.
After the laughter died down.
"Alright, I should go."
Kobayashi held RyuZU's hand, gave them one last deep look, waved, and said softly:
"—Goodbye, everyone."
"We'll be waiting for you, Kobayashi."
A purple light array flashed, and Kobayashi and RyuZU disappeared.
Northern Border
This place was covered in ice and snow year-round. After their defeat, the Revolutionary Army had been driven here by the Holy Kingdom. Kobayashi had said he would annihilate them, but he just didn't have the energy right now, so he had temporarily entrusted one person to stand guard.
That's right, one person, one city.
The only one who could do it was Esdeath.
On the city wall, two people stood side-by-side.
Kobayashi said, "Captain, I'll have to trouble you for the time being. After the reinforcements arrive, you can return to the Capital at any time. I believe they will all welcome you."
"I am no longer your captain. Just call me Esdeath," she said, looking at the ice-covered glaciers in the distance. "It doesn't matter. I grew up here since I was a child. I don't find it difficult. And I don't plan on going back."
Esdeath loved war.
She had always believed that the battlefield was the most suitable place for her, so she often did things like sparing her opponents to let them grow stronger, only to completely crush them later. The grand reunion happy ending that he had created did not suit her.
"But I never thought I would be resurrected," Esdeath said, flexing her wrist, as if it still didn't feel real.
Kobayashi, however, said, "It's not just you. Liver, Seryu, Bols, Wave, and Kurome... I resurrected them all."
"...Is that so. Thank you."
Esdeath's thanks had a double meaning. One was for resurrecting her subordinates, and the other was for not letting them gang up on her. After all, the scene of a superior being besieged by her own subordinates would have been too ugly.
Kobayashi also understood.
But he didn't claim credit. All of the Jaegers deeply respected Esdeath. Not helping her was the most they could do; it was impossible to get them to attack her.
This was Esdeath's charisma.
She was silent for a moment, then asked, "Kobayashi, are you satisfied doing all this?"
"I am very satisfied! Because this is what I've always insisted on!"
He gave her a thumbs up and a proud smile.
Esdeath's heart was shaken. She gently stroked the brim of her cap and lowered her head slightly. Just as Kobayashi was wondering, he heard her ask.
"You are the Pope now, right? A position in this country comparable to the Emperor?"
"...That's correct."
"And you defeated me."
"It was a fluke."
"And you are not from the Capital, are you?"
"Mmm, 'Kobayashi the Clockmaker' was a fake identity... If I have to say it, I'm not even from this world."
"By the way, how old are you, Kobayashi?"
"Eighteen!"
Both in length and in age, it's 18!
...Hmm?
"Why are you asking these questions?"
Kobayashi blinked. For some reason, he had a bad feeling about what was coming next. And when he saw Esdeath's bashful expression, his eyes went wide as his dangerous premonition became reality.
"RyuZU! Imaginary—"
"Mahapadma!"
The world was frozen once again, becoming a world of ice. And this time, even Kobayashi could not move.
"Your necklace is very useful, but as long as I exceed its tolerance, I can freeze you along with it... That being said, it seems you're still conscious, Kobayashi."
The necklace's immunity was strong, but it was still just equipment and had a limit. So all she had to do was exceed that limit. Others might not be able to do it, but Esdeath had that potential. She could surpass the necklace's limit in a short time. Her talent and strength were truly ridiculous.
Esdeath slowly walked up, ignored the frozen RyuZU to the side, and threw Kobayashi over her shoulder.
"—I won't let you get away this time."
Time flowed again, and the two of them had long since disappeared.
That night, Kobayashi understood one thing.
This woman was terrifying beyond belief, in every sense of the word!
Although Esdeath didn't want to let him go, she was truly out of strength and could only let him leave. After some... tender moments, he found RyuZU, and the two of them left that world.
(Slay! Akame ga Kill! Complete)
(End of Chapter)
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