The Witch Cult.
A terrorist organization that roams this otherworld continent, taking the name of the Witch of Envy, Satella, as their faith, and led by a core group of madmen known as Sin Archbishops.
Although named the Witch Cult, these believers actually have absolutely no connection to the Witches of Sin, aside from the Witch of Vainglory, Pandora. This includes the Witch of Envy, Satella, herself.
So, rather than the Witch Cult, it would be more accurate to call them the Witch Factor Cult.
Committing evil deeds that suit their own desires under the guise of the Witch's name—this is the truest portrayal of the vast majority of those within the Witch Cult. Just as Suke and Tsukishiro Yuki once discussed, the word 'Witch' itself is merely a scapegoat for innocent lambs.
There is nothing new under the sun; it is the same in every world.
"The Witch Cult believers will attack the Mathers domain in three days?"
"Although protecting one's own territory is your side's responsibility, since it is information released by Sir Suke, we are quite willing to lend a helping hand."
Inside the Karsten ducal mansion, Crusch pondered for a moment before agreeing to Emilia's request for aid.
In fact, it wasn't just them. As Emilia sought help along the way, almost all the other candidates who were originally her competitors agreed to her request. This was vastly different from the scene Natsuki Subaru had initially worried about, where they would constantly face closed doors. The problem was, that gentleman hadn't agreed to join their camp either, had he?
"Although I don't know why the process went so smoothly, the result is still a Yes!"
Actually, after hearing Suke mention that Ram and the others might die, Natsuki Subaru had the resolve to use "Return by Death" to use trial and error first. Although he currently didn't know what the Witch Cult believers attacking Mathers would do, or how strong they were.
But he had an illusion that if Suke hadn't appeared, he would have lost a lot because of this.
"With this, even if Mr. Roswaal is still bedridden, we don't have to worry about combat power issues!"
Natsuki Subaru, who had already grown somewhat, wasn't foolish enough to ask Suke for help. Since the other party said it was a trial for them, the referee wouldn't intervene unless it was absolutely necessary.
"It is not yet time to celebrate, Sir Natsuki Subaru."
"The Witch Cult is a terrifying existence. If their Sin Archbishops are truly plotting an attack, never mind the border domain of Mathers... it would be a calamity that cannot be underestimated for the entire Kingdom of Lugnica."
Crusch spoke up. This ducal lady, who knew the history of the continent's nations well, had also heard news of the two Witch Cult Sin Archbishops currently active.
[Sloth] Petelgeuse Romanee-Conti.
[Greed] Regulus Corneas.
The former was the most active Sin Archbishop and the one most likely to attack the Mathers domain. As for the latter...
Just recalling the history of a fortress city in the Vollachia Empire—which was even stronger than the Kingdom of Lugnica—being captured by him single-handedly gave Crusch a shuddering chill.
Since Sir Suke stated this was a trial for Emilia's group, the Witch Cult attacking the Mathers domain must presumably include at least one of these two. This was Crusch's thought.
"Why dawdle? This mistress believes the flow of the current Royal Selection is already quite obvious."
"Sir Suke can suppress the voices of even the Council of Sages and the Knight Order. In a sense, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he single-handedly captured the Royal Palace last night."
Priscilla's figure appeared at the mansion's entrance. Appearing alongside her were the figures of the other candidates.
"The Chief Court Magician, Roswaal, continues to curry favor even after being publicly beaten by him, and the Sword Saint Reinhard, known as the kingdom's strongest, is unwilling to move against him."
"Are these attitudes not explanation enough?"
"This 'trial' that Sir Suke nominally gives to this half-elf is, in fact, a 'trial' for all of us candidates."
"Whoever can eliminate the hidden danger of this Witch Cult attack will have the qualifications to sit on the throne."
"I believe the upper echelons of the Royal Palace have all tacitly accepted this point."
Priscilla lightly waved her folding fan, dissecting the event.
In this world where extraordinary martial prowess and magic exist, to become a King, so-called campaign slogans and governing philosophies are secondary. Possessing top-tier power, or obtaining the support of a top-tier powerhouse, is what truly matters.
This was the consensus of the vast majority present.
"This...!"
"Then isn't our act of asking for help... equivalent to...?"
Hearing Priscilla's analysis, Emilia's eyes widened. She suddenly realized she seemed to have actively pushed away the throne Suke had stuffed into her arms.
But it couldn't really be put that way. After all, if the Witch Cult's attack really involved a Sin Archbishop, their group might truly not be a match for them.
"Oh my, you've inadvertently invited wolves into the house, little Emilia."
"Who told you to seek help for the sake of stability? They're just some Witch Cult minions. Wouldn't it have been fine to just take me along and wipe them out?"
Puck, the cat-like spirit, flew out. It had been sleeping deeply last night, so it didn't know of Suke's deeds. But after meeting that man who looked like a farmer this morning, Puck realized his terrifying nature.
Too ordinary.
Excessively ordinary, eerily ordinary.
If he were truly an ordinary person, that would be one thing. But the fact that he single-handedly suppressed the strong experts of the Royal Palace, and even instant-killed them, could not be faked.
As one of the Four Great Spirits governing 'Fire', Puck couldn't even say for sure what the odds would be if it manifested its true form against him. Though it should win, right? After all, it was the Beast of the End?
"Forget it, it's better to be steady. I always feel you aren't very reliable, Puck," Natsuki Subaru muttered from the side.
"You brat, what are you saying?!"
Hearing Natsuki Subaru badmouthing it from the side, the angry Puck flew onto his head and smacked it hard with a cat paw.
If Suke saw this, he would only praise Natsuki Subaru for doing the right thing. This was the true 'Civil War Deity KD King', the existence that had killed Natsuki Subaru the most times—even Roswaal would have to call it Big Brother upon seeing it!
"Then next, do we need to hold a strategy meeting with the Sin Archbishop as the hypothetical enemy?"
"If the opponent is a notorious Sin Archbishop, it would be foolish for any of us to go in single-handedly."
"For the peace of the kingdom, perhaps we should first..."
Clang! Clang—!
Just as Crusch proposed formulating a battle plan, the sound of violent metal clashing suddenly came from outside the house! The intensity of that clashing was such that every sound seemed like a thunderclap!
"!"
Almost everyone was attracted by the sound, running out of the ducal mansion to look toward the courtyard mid-air where the noise originated. There were two figures holding swords, constantly colliding.
Whenever that purple sword radiating starlight clashed with the sheathed Dragon Sword, the intense sound waves alone were enough to make those who were slightly weaker cover their ears.
"Stop!"
The red-haired figure, the wielder of the Dragon Sword, was the first to call for a halt. He smiled bitterly, canceled the 'Divine Protection of Levitation' he had just acquired, and landed first.
"What's wrong, Sword Saint? Hasn't this just begun?"
Suke raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised. After all, why did this Sword Saint, who served as the ceiling of combat power, call for a stop when the Dragon Sword hadn't even been unsheathed?
"We cannot continue fighting like this." Reinhard smiled bitterly and lifted the sheath of the Dragon Sword, which had already been cracked by Suke's sword within a few exchanges, showing it to Suke.
"Although I do not know what material Your Excellency's sword is cast from, its sharpness is truly something I have only seen once in my life."
"I only have this one scabbard for my sword. It would be troublesome if Your Excellency shattered it."
"Then why don't you draw your sword?"
"...I do not know why. Even though Your Excellency is extraordinarily powerful, my sword has been unwilling to unsheath itself from beginning to end."
"This is the first time I have seen such a situation. I am truly sorry."
Reinhard was also somewhat speechless. This was clearly an enemy worth fighting with all his might, yet at this critical moment, his personal weapon, the Dragon Sword, dropped the ball. Although he could fight Suke with his bare hands, that would be too unsatisfying, and Suke had said beforehand that fighting him was to practice swordsmanship.
Facing the crowd who came up to marvel at the cracked Dragon Sword scabbard, Suke was at a loss. One must know, he had originally come to ask this Sword Saint 'Rei-ao-tian' (Reinhard the OP) for advice on swordsmanship with the attitude of a student.
After all, having a precious sword but not knowing how to use it... he couldn't just act like a sword-throwing soldier every time he faced an enemy, like when he fought Gilgamesh before, right? But he could only possess one Galaxy Sword at most. What would he do against multiple strong enemies?
But clearly, the learning process was not as smooth as Suke had imagined.
"What a divine weapon, to be able to even crack the scabbard of the Dragon Sword passed down through generations of the Sword Saint's family!"
"I wonder which is superior, this sword or the Yang Sword Vollachia held by this mistress?"
As a fellow sword wielder, Priscilla exclaimed in admiration. In fact, she could deduce without saying it: when the strength of both sides is similar, for one weapon to shatter the other implies an insurmountable gap in quality. Like using a refined steel sword to chop a copper sword.
Although the Empire's Yang Sword was as famous as the Kingdom's Dragon Sword, they were presumably on par with each other. To be able to crack or even shatter the other party's weapon... unless her strength could crush the Sword Saint Reinhard. But although Priscilla was arrogant, she had that much self-awareness.
"The Dragon Sword's scabbard... was actually cracked..."
Wilhelm, the Sword Demon who had watched Suke and Reinhard's battle from the side the whole time, had a complex expression. Come to think of it, the Dragon Sword and its scabbard were actually one of the few relics left in this world by this old man's late wife, the previous Sword Saint.
Now that it had been damaged in a mock battle, his mood was more or less somewhat subtle.
"If Your Excellency wishes to learn swordsmanship, this old man is willing to impart everything he knows to Your Excellency in place of the Sword Saint."
"Although a divine sword is a necessity for a powerful swordsman, there are many key points besides that which I can teach Your Excellency, provided Your Excellency does not disdain my old age and failing strength."
Wilhelm stepped forward and spoke to Suke. Suke knowingly caught the wooden sword thrown by him and stood in confrontation with the Sword Demon, who also held a wooden sword.
"Although Your Excellency holds a divine sword, judging from the battle between Your Excellency and the Sword Saint just now, Your Excellency indeed does not understand swordsmanship very well."
Replaying the scene of Suke and Reinhard's white-blade combat in his mind, Wilhelm found that this man dressed as a farmer knew absolutely nothing about swordsmanship, simply hacking and slashing with wide, open movements.
"Swordsmanship is the balance of power and technique. Focusing solely on power will drain stamina in vain, while focusing solely on technique will eventually breed flaws."
Wilhelm pressed forward, quickly thrusting his wooden sword at the opening in Suke's abdomen.
"Let this old man demonstrate for Your Excellency... Hmm?!"
Then, the scene that followed completely exceeded the cognition of swordsmanship this Sword Demon had cultivated his entire life. He saw Suke simply perform a horizontal slash with the wooden sword in his hand. Clearly, the opponent's wooden sword did not touch the wooden sword he held, yet the wooden sword in his hand flew out of his grip as if struck by a massive force from a horizontal direction!
Wilhelm retreated a step. He looked at the web of his hand, which was torn and bleeding from the shock of trying to forcibly grip the sword under that massive force, and then looked at the innocent-looking Suke.
He instantly understood why the other party sought Reinhard as a sparring partner instead of himself. Left hand: High Stats. Right hand: High Mechanics.
Suke indicated that he couldn't help it. The reason he didn't choose the Sword Demon and others to ask about swordsmanship was that he was afraid they weren't durable enough, unlike Reinhard who could resurrect via Divine Protection if he died.
"Sigh, forget it, forget it. No sword practice today!"
"Don't keep crowding around here, you're making me embarrassed."
The crowd once again understood the power of this farmer-like man. Although it was just a practice battle, forcing both the Sword Saint and the Sword Demon into a disadvantage was enough to prove the power of his 'swordsmanship'!
Some people were even thinking of titles for Suke.
As everyone knew, Suke was a weirdo who called himself a Farmer, so should they call him "Sword Farmer"... that felt wrong somewhere.
Since a farmer plants seeds, could he be called "Sword Seed"?
That was even more wrong! (Translator's Note: "Sword Seed"/"Jianzhong" sounds like a derogatory term for "mongrel".)
Seeing that everyone was present, Suke simply asked about everyone's upcoming plans. Upon learning that everyone agreed to help Emilia's group crusade against the Witch Cult, Suke also lamented that the original work's massive headwind had turned into a massive tailwind.
[Sloth] Petelgeuse: "I'm playing against the All-Stars, for real?"
One must know that in the original plot, Natsuki Subaru died who knows how many times before accidentally inviting a helper—the "Finest Knight" Julius, who had "humiliated" him in public. And even then, finally defeating the Sloth Sin Archbishop was a narrow victory.
Now? As the one theoretically weakest in combat power among the Sin Archbishops, Sloth had best pray the group wouldn't tear him limb from limb in a scramble for credit.
[Not a Bad Child: Big Brother, I've arrived at a very big, very tall tree. I should reach where Big Brother is very soon~]
[Not a Bad Child: [Image]]
[Not a Bad Child: On the way, I met some strange uncles and aunties wrapped in clothes who were gathering towards... it seems to be the direction of the border?]
However, just then, there was sudden activity in the public channel in the bottom left corner of Suke's vision.
[Not a Bad Child: They said Abi is some 'Witch', which made Abi very unhappy!]
[Not a Bad Child: Big Brother, you know Abi hates it most when people other than Big Brother call Abi a Witch. So Abi made them all go crazy. Now they are all loyal followers of 'Uncle'~]
[Not a Bad Child: [Image]]
[Not a Bad Child: Abi heard them chanting something about Witch of Sin and Sin Archbishop. It sounds very impressive. From now on, Abi is the Witch of Sin, and Big Brother can be Abi's Archbishop, okay?]
Suke noticed two photos sent consecutively by Abigail in the bottom left public channel. One was the giant tree where the White Whale, one of the Three Great Demon Beasts, appeared nearby in the original plot. The other was a group of Witch Cult believers kneeling on the ground, heads touching the earth as if in incomparable piety.
Suke: ?
____
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