This Isn’t an E*otic Game?

A worshipper of the Evil God.@@novelbin@@

Beings responsible for countless strife, conflicts, wars, and massacres in the human world.

They grow stronger by offering human blood to their god and are known to specialize in infiltrating societies under the guise of specific identities to sow discord and dismantle communities.

The most skilled among them are said to be indistinguishable even through divine magic, making them extraordinarily difficult to identify. It’s rumored that many still operate secretly within society.

That’s what I had heard.

And yet, the priest from the Sun Church who came to interrogate me turned out to be a worshipper of the Evil God?

What kind of coincidence is this?

Though I narrowly avoided hanging, there was no time to feel relieved.

“He’s a saint! A true saint beyond any doubt!”

“Saint! Heal us!”

“My daughter is sick! Please, heal her!”

Hearing the overwhelming cheers from the slum dwellers, I couldn’t help but think I might have made a mistake.

It was far too late to backtrack now and say, I’m not a saint. I’m just a miserable fool trying to prevent the apocalypse using some random erotic-game skills. No one would believe me anymore.

“I need to rest. Please provide me with food and a place to lie down,” I said, too exhausted to care about anything else.

The tension from the Sun Church’s arrival had worn me down completely, leaving me feeling utterly drained.

Within five minutes, a bed—considered quite luxurious by slum standards—and a decent meal were set before me.

I ate the food, and the moment my head hit the surprisingly soft pillow, I fell asleep.

When I opened my eyes again, I saw rows of Sun Church priests, dozens of knights, and heavily armed police officers standing before me.

I wanted to close my eyes forever.

“Are you the Healer Saint of the Church of Lilia?”

An elderly priest, who appeared to be the leader, looked down at me and asked softly.

I slowly sat up.

What did they want?

Are you here to expose the fact that our Sun Church harbored an Evil God worshipper? Or are you here because I’ve been taking away your potential clients in your territory?

Or maybe it’s just a “You’re a heretic, so die!” execution ending?

I felt like I was going to pee myself. My legs were weak, and I could barely hold it together.

What do you expect me to do when you show me something like this the moment I wake up?

“I am not affiliated with any church. I’m simply someone who cares for the downtrodden,” I said, thinking to myself, Just give me one month to pretend to be a saint and I’ll disappear. I won’t interfere with your territory. Just let me live...

“Thank you, Saint,” the elderly priest suddenly said, bowing deeply to me. Not only that, but he took my hand and left a gentle kiss on the back of it.

...What kind of situation is this?

“Thanks to you, we were able to uncover a worshipper of the Evil God. It also gave us an opportunity to reflect on the mistakes our Sun Church has made.”

The elderly priest looked up at the sky.

The radiant sun shone brightly, even over the slums.

“There is no eternal shadow, nor eternal light. The sun shines equally over all heads—we had forgotten this for far too long.”

As I stood there blinking in silence, unsure of what to say, the priest turned to the crowd.

“We interrogated the Evil God worshipper who had infiltrated our church yesterday! He confessed to trying to turn the Sun Church into a den of greed, a church for the wealthy that rejects the poor!”

He bowed again, this time to the slum dwellers.

The other knights and priests followed suit.

“Forgive our foolishness. And forgive us for doubting the saint and accusing him of wrongdoing. The Evil God worshipper admitted that the moment the saint reached out his hand, he felt as if his heart had stopped!”

...Well, that’s because I accidentally froze his heart with Time Stop.

“The shock of that divine strike broke the disguise spell he was using to conceal himself! He confessed that he feared the saint, and he was executed yesterday. No one can deny this miracle! How could anyone doubt one who performs such miracles!?”

The elderly priest approached the armed officers.

“I, High Priest Alois of the Sun Church, guarantee that this man lying in that bed is no heretic or unregistered magician. He is noble and virtuous. Protect him.”

“As you wish, High Priest.”

The elderly priest—no, High Priest Alois—turned back to me.

“Police and our church’s knights will guard you. We’ve contacted the Church of Lilia, and their priests and knights are on their way. Until they arrive, we will protect you. May the sun always shine upon you, and may the grace of Lilia watch over you.”

With a formal bow, Alois stepped back.

I said nothing, simply staring at the scene before me.

Is this working out too well?

No.

It was the mention of the Church of Lilia that bothered me.

I’m not even a follower of Lilia!

I’ve never once uttered the name “Lilia,” so why is this happening!?

Won’t they immediately realize I’m not part of their faith the moment they see me?

Won’t they accuse me of impersonating a saint sent by their god and brand me a heretic?

Won’t being burned at the stake hurt like hell!?!?

Damn it.

I’m completely screwed.

Where’s the witch? I need to treat her and get out of here fast!

“Form an orderly line!”

“Don’t push others! People could get hurt if they fall!”

“The saint needs time to eat, drink, and rest! He won’t be performing any treatments during his breaks!”

“Priority will be given to children and the severely injured! Those with minor injuries, please wait your turn!”

The police and knights from the Sun Church restored order, ensuring there were no more accidents caused by the crowd.

Watching the slum dwellers line up in an orderly manner for treatment made me want to cry.

I made up my mind.

At this rate, I’d end up meeting the Church of Lilia representatives, and they’d find out I’m not one of them. Then they’d burn me at the stake for impersonating a saint.

Thankfully, it wasn’t too late yet.

The Sun Church had just acknowledged me. That should be enough to establish some authority and fame, right?

And now I even had knights and police I could command.

I needed to use them to find the witch as quickly as possible.

That was the only way I could survive.

“Sir Knight, a moment, please.”

I paused the treatments and called one of the knights guarding me.

“Do you happen to know much about wizards or witches?”

“There is a Magic Tower in the capital. I know its location, but I have no personal connections with any witches or wizards.”

The Magic Tower, huh?

Right.

"Since she’s a witch who uses magic, wouldn’t the Magic Tower be the best place to find her?"

“Doesn’t matter. Could you go to the Magic Tower and ask if there’s a witch with four arms and half her face covered by something like a mask?”

If what I saw in the prophecy was accurate, the witch would undoubtedly have a horribly distorted left face.

Naturally, it stood to reason that she’d be hiding it with a mask.

“Four arms... and half her face covered by a mask?”

“Yes. I absolutely must meet her. Could you hurry and find out for me?”

“If it’s what the Saint desires, I’ll do anything.”

The knight nodded and immediately ran off, disappearing into the distance.

Good.

Now I just need to meet the witch, treat her, and get this over with before the people from the Church of Lilia arrive.

That’s all there is to it.

A glimmer of hope started to appear.

I resumed the treatments, grinding through this miserable saint act, never knowing when I might end up hanged or burned at the stake.

I wanted to be done with it as soon as possible.

*****

Tudel couldn’t stand being in the Magic Tower any longer.

She needed to produce new research.

Something far greater than anything that loathsome Erfa could come up with.

As she walked through the first-floor lobby to step out for new materials, her eyes were drawn to a man in strange attire who didn’t seem like he belonged in the Magic Tower.

A man with the emblem of a blazing flame on his chest.

A knight of the Sun Church.

“You’re looking for a witch?”

“Yes, one with four arms and half her face covered by a mask. Is such a person here in the Magic Tower? The Healer Saint is searching for her.”

Hearing the conversation between the lobby receptionist and the knight, Tudel’s curiosity was piqued, and she interjected.

“The Healer Saint is looking for a witch?”

“Yes, exactly. Does such a person reside in the Magic Tower?”

Tudel’s eyes narrowed.

“Why are you looking for someone like that?”

“I don’t know. But the Saint said it’s someone he must meet.”

“Is that so?”

Tudel studied the knight with a peculiar expression before flashing a smile.

“Wait here a moment. I’ll check for you.”

“Thank you, Witch.”

Tudel shot a silent signal to the receptionist, instructing her not to say anything, and then turned back toward the tower.

She climbed the stairs and stopped in front of Erfa’s private research lab, knocking on the door.

After a brief pause, the door opened, revealing Erfa wearing her usual silver mask over her left face.

Her visible right eye widened in surprise.

“Tudel? What are you doing here?”

She looked utterly shocked that Tudel had come.

Tudel gave her a sly smile.

“There’s a knight on the first floor looking for you.”

“A knight?”

“A knight from the Sun Church.”

Erfa’s eyes narrowed.

She had dealt with several religious orders before in her miracle research, including the Sun Church, but not to the extent that they’d seek her out personally.

“Why would the Sun Church be looking for me?”

“The Healer Saint is searching for you.”

Erfa’s expression froze.

The Healer Saint?

Why?

“Are you sure he’s looking for me?”

“He said he’s looking for a witch with four arms and half her face covered by a mask. Do you know anyone else who fits that description?”

“...I see. I’ll go down and check.”

As Erfa started to close the door, Tudel blocked it.

“Why is the Healer Saint looking for you?”

“How would I know?”

“Does it have anything to do with that left face you’re hiding?”

Erfa flinched briefly.

It was a fleeting moment, but Tudel didn’t miss it.

“It’s not like that. I’ve already told you—this mask is just a fashion statement.”

“Huh. Really? For a ‘fashion statement,’ you sure wear it obsessively.”

Erfa’s right face twisted in irritation.

“Do I have to explain my fashion choices to you?”

“No, you don’t.”

Witches and wizards were eccentric by nature.

Some wizards claimed their research only succeeded when conducted naked, while others always enchanted themselves to walk on ceilings. There were witches with grotesque amounts of piercings covering their tongues and ears.

Compared to those extremes, a witch who hid half her face with a mask seemed fairly normal.

Tudel, too, had never thought much of Erfa’s mask until now.

But the mention of the Healer Saint and her masked left face sparked an idea in Tudel’s mind like a lightning bolt.

“I just assumed you kept it covered because your left face was horribly disfigured and twisted.”

“It’s not like that.”

“Are you not going to see him? Or were you planning to secretly ask the Healer Saint to fix your face but got caught by me? If you’re going, I’d like to tag along. Watching him heal might help with magical research.”

“It’s not like that! He’s probably a fraud anyway! I was just going to refuse him. If you’re so curious, why don’t you tell him yourself?”

Erfa, uncharacteristically, raised her voice.

“Now leave. I still have research to do.”

She slammed the door shut.

It was a cold dismissal, but the smile on Tudel’s face didn’t waver.

Tudel returned to the first-floor lobby.

Meeting the knight again, she said with a feigned regret, “I’ve checked thoroughly, and no witch matching that description resides in the Magic Tower. Perhaps you’re looking for a dark sorceress instead?”

“...I see.”

The knight’s disappointment was evident.

“I’m sorry for the trouble, Sir Knight.”

Feigning politeness, Tudel offered her condolences.

“Thank you for your help, Witch.”

The knight remained courteous as he departed.

Tudel stood there, watching his back disappear into the distance.

A crooked, sinister smile formed on her lips.