The Hero Party Couldn’t Kill Me

Chapter 2: Mistakes of the Warriors’ Party (5)

The magic truth game begins with two wizards exchanging white orbs called ‘Spheres of Truth’.

At this time, the wizards can take turns asking questions and hearing the answers.

If you lie, the sphere of truth turns black.

If you do not answer within the time limit before the game starts, the orb of truth explodes and the game is over.

As the name suggests, it is a magic created by wizards’ drinking game, but the accuracy of this Sphere of Truth is very high.

To the extent that, in modern terms, the result of reading the Sphere of Truth can be submitted as a legal basis.

That’s why it is the most commonly used magic when interrogating opponents in the Empire.

“Okay, then I’ll ask you first. First question. Why did you come to Speth?”

“… Because they were kicked out of the empire. Now let me ask you. Edmund-sama, why did you come here?”

“Because the warrior party betrayed me.”

Of course, there are limitations. There is no obligation to tell the whole truth to the other person’s question, so it is possible to hide the really core information and go around.

If you use this for interrogation, it will be accompanied by torture, but otherwise you have no choice but to choose your questions carefully.

“Why were you kicked out of the Empire? Tell me the exact crime the person who got you kicked out said.”

“… ….”

Just like now. Raphaella, who was properly caught off guard, was silent for a moment.

“… I have done a great wrong to the empire.”

As she struggled to get her words out, the color of her orb changed to black.

I laughed when I saw that. If you think one-dimensionally, you might think that she was a lie because she hadn’t committed a major crime against the empire.

But not necessarily. Such an ambiguous reason may have come out because it is not an answer to the question I asked for.

“What exactly was the reason for betraying Edmund-sama, according to the warrior party member?”

“Because I judged myself to be in danger.”

As evidence of that, the color of the sphere changed to black after I spoke vaguely like this.

Rafaela, who saw that, laughed dejectedly.

“You don’t have to hide that from me. Whatever the reason, it wouldn’t be Edmund-sama’s fault.”

“That’s what I want to say too.”

“… ….”

From now on, it’s actually psychological warfare. Who will stop hiding first.

“… Promise me one instead. Whatever the reason, please don’t judge me based on that alone.”

“I promise.”

Once again, the orb of truth I held turned white. Seeing that, Raphaella opened her mouth with difficulty.

“I was kicked out because I cooperated with the demons.”

Certainly, by Imperial standards, it’s a felony. To the extent that it is not strange to be sentenced to death.

On the contrary, the fact that he ended up in exile for such a crime meant that Raphael also had something to say.

“Then did you cooperate with the demons?”

“… Yes. I had no choice but to cooperate with their threats.”

“How exactly did you cooperate?”

“I had to treat injured demons during the battle. I healed 3 orcs in total.”

“Is there anything else?”

“No. That’s all.”

As expected, the reality was too trivial compared to the crime. No matter how strong the hatred of demons is in the empire, at least that much would be tolerated.

“A sentence of deportation, where did you get off?”

“In Grenouville.”

“As expected… ….”

However, things are a little different in pro-Calia cities. If you get involved even a little bit, you will be immediately accused of being a traitor.

Once again, I realize how unanswered Calia is.

But there is something I still don’t understand.

“Who accused you of helping the demons?”

“I heard that the wizard who was imprisoned with me made a complaint. I’m not sure, but if I’m right, it’s probably a wizard named Godfrey.”

“Are you talking about the wizard who entered the Rogue Mage Tower?”

“… I heard he got an offer to join Rogue Magic Tower. After that, I don’t know.”

“Did he cooperate with the demons too?”

“Yes.”

A rough picture is drawn. He sold his fellow wizards to make a living. Maybe it covered the sins of the wizard Godfrey.

When she learned the inside story, she felt a sense of sympathy for her. As a result, she too, she was betrayed just like me.

“Edmund, do you think I am innocent?”

Rafaela asked cautiously.

“Of course not. I don’t usually punish that much. You were just stabbed in the back of the head.”

“… Thank god.”

Raphaella then puts on an expression that something has been released. There were tears of joy in her eyes.

I honestly couldn’t understand her like that.

Why did you try to hide something that was unfair to anyone?

“Then I will ask you now. What exactly was the reason you betrayed Edmund-sama, as the brave party member said?”

That wasn’t the point. Now it’s my turn to tell the truth.

“According to the saintess, the goddess gave a revelation. That I would be a great threat to the Empire.”

“… What exactly is the big threat?”

“I don’t know. Because I didn’t tell you until then.”

“Then, when being questioned by the warrior party, did Edmund-sama ever think of anything that could harm the empire?”

I burst out laughing when I heard that question.

f*ck, yes.

I wouldn’t have come this far if those damn b*tches had asked with the orb of truth like this.

There was even Pesima. But why didn’t you try to do that?

“Exactly! I had no intention of doing so. In the first place, I had no intention of participating in the power struggle they were concerned about.”

Unsurprisingly, the orb of truth glowed white, and Rafaela nodded her head.

“You must have felt very unfair.”

“Yes! Damn, how devoted I was to the warrior party! I, how sincere I have been!”

And with a single word comforting Raphaella, the emotions she had been enduring all this time surged up.

Belatedly, I wondered if my emotions had become too strong, so I hesitated and looked at Rafaela.

A tear flowed from her eye.

“… Sorry. I got emotional at the moment.”

“No, I’m fine.”

Rafaela said as she gently grabbed my arm.

And then she removed the Orb of Truth that I was holding.

“Tell me more.”

“… ….”

“It’s okay, you can tell me everything. I will understand everything.”

Rafaela was still holding the orb of truth, so she knew full well that she meant it.

But even so, I couldn’t get the words out easily.

I don’t think it’s because she doesn’t trust her. She was just afraid of her.

To tell someone the truth. To believe in people

Above all, I wasn’t simply betrayed by the warrior party. I was betrayed by the goddess who believed that she had given me the power of a person from another world, so I truly believed in her.

“… Are you alright?”

“Yes?”

“Anyway, the goddess gave me a revelation. That I would be a great threat to the Empire.”

“So what?”

“I was excommunicated. I’m a sinner. Does it matter anyway?”

“I was also branded a traitor in the Empire.”

Raphaella smiled slightly. She looked at me with angelic eyes.

“… And, I hope that Edmund-sama will become a great threat to the empire.”

“Huh?”

“The warrior party members. I wish I could make you pay for your sins. The emotions you are holding right now, anger. Please give it to them too.”

“… ….”

“I will give my all to help.”

Rafaela said with her lovely smile.

I could tell without looking at the Sphere of Truth.

That what she said was the truth.

***

“Holy Lady! You’re back!!”

The next morning.

The saintess returned to the Etoile Cathedral in the imperial capital.

She The first person to greet her is the Holy Knight Joan.

Then other priests came like a cloud and surrounded the saintess.

“Holy Lady, I am glad you are safe!”

“You have worked hard for 3 years! Wasn’t it difficult?”

“The goddess is always with me. I was fine.”

As always, the saintess was consistent with textbook answers.

The priests admire her exemplary appearance.

They praised her saintly faithfulness like her one until her mouth was dry.

“I want to see the chief priests. Are you all gathered inside?”

“Yes, everyone is here! We will guide you right away!”

The saintess followed her priests into the garden of the Great Sanctuary. The first thing that caught her eye was that construction was still taking place on one side of the temple.

“The pace of reconstruction is slower than I thought.”

“Yes, Her Highness, the princess, is not able to quickly send the funds to rebuild the Grand Sanctuary.”

“This is disappointing.”

Once these words came out of the saintess’ words, the other priests were at a loss.

3 Years ago. When the Demon King invaded the capital of the empire, he also plundered the Etoile Grand Sanctuary.

No, on top of that, he tried to destroy the Great Crusade.

After the restoration of the capital, the saintess and her chief priests had a meeting about this incident, and it was decided that the reason the Grand Sanctuary went through such an ordeal was because the Goddess was not satisfied with the current appearance of the temple.

So she said that she should build a grander grand sanctuary to please the goddess.

But, does the princess continue to neglect this sacred mission?

‘I don’t like it.’

Her antipathy towards the princess built up again. Of course, it was difficult to declare excommunication with just this, but soon the saintess and the princess became annoyed.

But apart from that, it’s dangerous for the reconstruction work of the Great Sanctuary to be prolonged like this.

Especially now that Edmund may still be alive, we need a way to quickly relieve the goddess’ wrath.

“Sin… sorry! We fell short!”

At that time, the priests knelt down and apologized. Only then did the saintess wave her hand and say.

“No, I didn’t mean to you. By the way, we need a way to make up for the lack of funds. Have you talked to the other nobles?”

“As you know, it is a difficult time, so not everyone is recklessly trying to open their property.”

“Do you not understand how important it is to rebuild the Great Sanctuary?”

As the saintess’ voice rose slightly, the other priests looked at her. At that time, a priest said.

“Then how about this one? As much as you send her donations, you are absolved of your sins.”

At this, everyone’s eyes turned to the saintess, and the saintess smiled and said,

“That’s a great idea. Do it immediately.”

“Yes, I will!”

“What a smart idea!”

“But isn’t that unfair?”

At the moment when the other priests were all arguing, someone raised a dissenting opinion.

It was none other than Joan, a paladin who escorted the saintess and her priests.

“Yes, man! How dare you question the words of the saintess!”

“No, let’s listen. Why did you think it was unfair?”

The saintess asked Joan, quelling the backlash erupting from all sides of her.

Joan was relieved to see her saintess looking at her with her gentle smile.

“So… Shouldn’t the poor also be given a chance to be indulged?”

“… That’s a good point. So what about this one? Those who are unable to pay donations receive indulgence through labor instead.”

The saintess who suggested a solution.

“You are indeed a saint!”

“As expected, the saintess is wiser than anyone else!”

At the same time, words of praise for her holy woman burst forth from everywhere. The saintess just smiled and walked on in silence.

And just before entering her temple, the saintess secretly whispered to her priest next to her, Joan.

“Get rid of that paladin soon. You know what to do?”

***

“Holy Lady, are you here?”

Upon entering the large conference room in the Grand Sanctuary, all the chief priests who were sitting in her seats stood up to greet her saintess.

A total of 31 regions in the Empire. Correspondingly, there were a total of 31 chief priests.

“Thank you all for gathering in the midst of your busy schedule.”

As the saintess smiled and beckoned, her priests sat down. The saintess sat in the most splendid chair and looked at her chief priests.

“Edmund ran away. It’s unlikely, but he might still be alive.”

At the saintess’ words, her chief priests sighed as one.

“It’s too early to despair. Goddess told him what he was going to do. So you can still stop him.”

“Don’t worry. We will further strengthen the boundaries around the Grand Sanctuary. We will also hasten the reinforcement of the temple.”

“You know that is not enough, right? Edmund will surely charm the people. So he will try to justify his actions.”

“Who will believe the words of someone who has already been excommunicated?”

“Edmund has the ability to charm people. Right now, if it hadn’t been for the revelation of the goddess, he would have been unaware of his dark intentions.”

The saintess looked at the reaction of her chief priests. Still, some of them seemed dubious, so she seemed to need to emphasize the revelation of the goddess once again.

“Let me say it again. Edmund will bring chaos. He will make you die at the hands of people. And he. He’s going to bring down this Etoire Grand Crusade.”