第６４２堀：ああ神よ と書いて 聞き飽きたと読む (Part2)
"We need to hold a proper meeting to discuss future countermeasures, not just talk here. But before that, do you have any idea where and how these Magic Gears are being produced, or why the number of Mad King cultists is increasing?"
"……No."
As the Archbishop began to answer, her eyes suddenly widened as if she had realized something.
"Could it be that the cause lies within the Church itself?"
"I cannot say for certain, but didn't the possibility cross your mind as well, Archbishop?"
"……Impossible. That is a divine artifact, a miracle performed by Hairen-sama."
Indeed. It was the Dungeon Core said to be kept here. In this Haire Church, it was considered a legendary treasure. However, since most of the key figures in Weed possessed spare cores, its rarity had plummeted. To us, a core was just like a wallet for storing our pocket money, known as DP. Oh, I don't waste it, of course. I know that some cores house powerful entities like Akiten, so I can't be careless. At most, I use it to get clothes or snacks from Earth that aren't available in Weed.
But my use of DP is irrelevant. I have Yuki's permission, after all. What matters now is the Dungeon Core kept in this headquarters.
"However, it was originally used by Demon Lords and the Mad King. It is possible that something Hairen-sama was able to suppress was triggered when someone touched it."
"……Indeed. Let us confirm it immediately!!"
With that, the Archbishop led the way to verify the stored core, but...
"I-it's gone!?"
"How can this be……"
"Who could have!?"
"Isn't it obvious!!"
The Archbishops panicked as they stared at the empty pedestal. It seemed it was already too late; the shattered core that had been stored and worshipped as a divine artifact was gone. Well, I already knew that. It was kept under heavy guard, but Steve and his team had already confirmed there was nothing inside. I had assumed the Archbishop kept it somewhere else, or that it had been stolen, but it appeared to be the latter. I was almost amused by how lax the security was.
"……Judging by what I hear, the divine artifact is not here?"
"A-ah, yes. Normally, only I, the Archbishop who holds this pendant, can open this, so why……"
She pulled a plain-looking pendant from her chest and showed it to us. Hmm, so that pendant was the key.
"I understand your feelings, but rather than standing there in shock, we should leave this place to investigate the cause. If those who abused the artifact are responsible, you must have some suspects, right? You should ask them."
"……You are right. We shall conduct the interrogation ourselves. Bring Ars, the personnel manager, to the front of the cathedral immediately!!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
And so, we moved back to the main cathedral in a flurry. As we waited, a middle-aged man with graying hair named Ars—the manager of the torture chambers at the headquarters—was brought in. Naturally, he was bound tightly in a straw mat.
"Ars, answer me. Where have you hidden the divine artifact?"
The Archbishop asked in a voice that was cold, chilling, and filled with the collective rage of the Haire followers.
"……Hehehe. Hahaha!! Only now do you realize!! You foolish Archbishop, worshipping a false god!!"
"So it was you."
"Yes. It was. Though, I must thank you. Because 25 years ago, on that day, you let me touch the divine artifact!!"
"25 years ago? Ah, you mean when you touched the artifact to offer your vows and prayers during your promotion ceremony? ……Could it be that long ago!? But five years ago, when—"
"Yes. I hadn't taken it out until five years ago, but that doesn't matter. On that day, 25 years ago, I received a revelation from Aquenos-sama!! That Hairen is a fake!! A lowly being who stole power!!"
"On what grounds do you—"
"Do you not understand? I can use the divine artifact!! Like this!!"
With that, Ars broke free from his bindings in an instant. Before anyone knew it, he was holding the cracked Dungeon Core. He poured his magic into it, the core began to glow, and a chimera appeared.
"What!? To use a divine artifact for such a thing!?"
"From the beginning, this is what the artifact is for. I have the important mission of resurrecting my god using this. It differs from the original plan, but that is fine. I shall slaughter these heretics who worship a false god right here, and proclaim to the world!! That my god, Aquenos, is here!!"
As the idiot made his declaration, the chimera roared.
*Gorgakaaa!*
The eerie roar from the multi-headed beast caused the Archbishops, who weren't even accustomed to seeing ordinary monsters, to collapse on the spot. Well, "lost their nerve" would be more accurate. Seeing this, the idiot laughed even louder.
"Ahahaha. Well then, goodbye. Do it!!"
The chimera lunged toward us...
"Honestly, I'm tired of hearing that line."
I said, slicing the chimera in two with my sword.
*Sigh.* It seems I, like Yuki, have some sort of connection to god-related troubles. Oh, is that what they call fate? Not with the gods, but with Yuki.
Oh, gods!
It’s a line that Yuki—or rather, the members of Weed—are tired of hearing. Usually, it’s the kind of thing said before the final boss appears, but in this world, "Type: God" is just another random encounter.
*Me, you, eat all up.*
Ah, well, if this were a "Goddess Reincarnation" series, I suppose it wouldn't be that strange.