Antagonist Protection Service

『3 - "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain."』

After wrapping the bodies in their bedsheets and moving them to the same corner in the nave as last time, the time came yet again for a confession to be made.

Of course, because this was the Third Day, I already knew that wasn't going to happen.

Following the Protagonist's similar spiel to the First Round, this time with far less spouting of verbal abuse, she made everyone well aware that she was the intended target for today's confession this time as well.

Thereafter, everyone split off into their own parties as per usual, with the delinquent and the Protagonist being the only two to be alone, though it's not like I didn't expect it.

Unfortunately, because it was his little sister that just passed away, right now wasn't seeming like the best time to approach "John" for a favour, no matter if I had built some rapport with him over the last two days or not.

Naturally, because the mother and her son were also with him for support this time too, I also couldn't ask them.

'That just leaves...'

"Pardon me. Do you mind if I take a seat?"

Just as I was dreading confronting the delinquent currently taking a nap in the North Transept, Cecilia approached me. Giving her the go-ahead, she nodded and sat down on the pew beside me, one of the same spots I had frequently taken to musing from since accepting the Contract.

Looking at the calm girl as she sat down with a strange elegance, I wondered internally.

'Is it the same conversation as last time?'

Just like the last Round when this happened, "John" and the other two were in the kitchen, and the Protagonist was in the South Transept.

Last time she approached me in this manner was on the Third Day as well. I wasn't sure if the consistent timing was merely a coincidence, or if this was intentional on her part for whatever reason. Of course, either way, it was just a minor detail.

The circumstances were different this time around, however. The Protagonist had yet to accuse Cecilia of being 「Judas」, and because of that, she had no reason to thank me for showing her kindness despite that suspicion.

Curious what her motivation was this time, I kept my gaze on her and waited.

"...Witch."

The first word to exit her mouth was that.

Muttering just that singular word, she turned to face me, piercing into my eyes with her own.

"Will you help me to burn the witch?"

Many questions ran through my mind at that instant, but regardless of what I wanted to ask, there was only one response I felt I needed to give.

"No matter how many tries it takes."

Nodding once, she moved that intense gaze to what lay in front us, towards the inscription at the end of the hall.

"I'm glad. That not everyone is tainted with sin."

"..."

"Everyone must be a pure soul. Only through that can we achieve a pure world."

"..."

"Sinners must be burned."

A soft chill ran down my spine at that sentence, and as she turned to face me briefly again, I couldn't help but gulp feeling the attention of her gaze.

"I care not where you came from nor who you are. Cleanse the world with me. Cleanse 「Judas」 from this filthy, tainted world. Is that not the most righteous responsibility?"

Meeting her unblinking stare, I could barely respond.

"Y-yeah... "

A tense silence ensued for a while, but before long, she nodded again.

"...I'm glad. Truly."

Giving the smallest hint of a smile that I was only hardly able to recognise, she then stood up and began to walk away, perhaps having heard everything she wanted.

"..."

'Fuck... Crazy bitch...'

Staring at her tiny back, I could only be reminded yet again why she was the Antagonist.

❖─────★★☆☆☆─────❖

Days passed without much happening.

『4 - "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy."』

On the Fourth Day, it was "John's" turn for confession, and perhaps because his little sister had already passed away, he made the decision this time to actually do it.

Whether that was playing pretend or not, wasn't exactly relevant, at least not to Cecilia.

In the meantime, I managed to convince the mother, "Peter", to name the Protagonist as 「Judas」 in the stead of "John".

No one repented on this day.

『5 - "Honour thy father and thy mother."』

On the Fifth Day, it was the delinquent's turn for confession, and surprisingly, he came out with it rather quickly.

Perhaps he was motivated by the reality of his life being on the line, but he didn't seem to care about admitting how he was on bad terms with his parents.

Honestly, it didn't even seem like he had done anything wrong if what he said was true, although the way he phrased it could certainly have been worked on.

Because nothing happened to her since my previous request, "Peter" allowed "John" to follow along, leading him to also name the Protagonist as 「Judas」. She did not permit her son, however.

No one repented on this day.

『6 - "Thou shalt not kill."』

"Thomas" was no longer alive in this Round to be able to confess, and so nobody had to worry about that.

Although I was alive and I had killed, I thankfully knew that I wasn't here for the Trial, and Cecilia herself was in fact convinced of my purity, which was convenient.

I tried persuading "Peter" to let her son name the Protagonist as 「Judas」, and although she seemed almost convinced seeing that nothing had happened to her or "John" yet, she was still somewhat wary.

The delinquent could not be convinced.

No one repented on this day.

『"Day of the Sabbath."』

Because it was the Sabbath Day, there were no confessions.

It also meant I was unable to convince anyone to name the Protagonist, as any talk referring to the Trial was strictly forbidden.

No one repented on this day.

『7 - "Thou shalt not commit adultery."』

On the Eighth Day of the First Round, the Protagonist accused the already-deceased "Peter".

Of course, that was never confirmed, but like with the delinquent, she was now alive to prove whether that accusation was right or wrong with a confession from her own lips.

She ended up denying all claims.

Because she was offended by the very idea, she also denied talking to me and so did not allow her child to name the Protagonist as 「Judas」.

The delinquent remained just as stand-offish as the days prior.

In the end, no one repented on this day.

『8 - "Thou shalt not steal."』

The Ninth Day began with two fresh corpses.