I'm being Mistaken for The Mastermind

Chapter 18

Five sins.

The worst villains who will either destroy or rule the kingdom in the future.

Arrogance, greed, envy, wrath, sloth.

These five sins become villains who contribute to the destruction of the world and are enemies the player must defeat.

Key figures closely tied to the game's ending.

As such, they were impossible to meet under normal circumstances.

Unless the main episode started and the progression was forced under the guise of 'coincidence,' meeting them was practically impossible.

Unless you were born with bad luck or good luck.

'But why do I keep meeting them?'

Is my luck bad?

Should I have asked the Dark King to read my fortune?

'No, fine. Let's say we met.'

Why, of all places, are they with that group of bandits?

Evan looked at the sin among the bandits with a complicated expression.

Arrogance.

Compared to the game, where it reigned like a king, it looked utterly shabby.

Whether a prisoner or a slave, its body was tightly bound with ropes.

It would make no sense if it were the leader.

This was even more dramatic than my first meeting with Lapis.

"Hey! You! Do you want the carriage to be wrecked?"

"Are you not coming out immediately?"

Thud, thud.

Evan couldn't focus on Arrogance for long.

The bandits, clashing their weapons and equipment, were threatening Evan.

Perhaps because of Number 5, who was pulling the carriage, they couldn't easily approach, but how long would that last?

Meanwhile, they were muttering something while clutching their necklaces and praying, excessively devout.

As if they were worshippers serving a god.

'......They don't seem like bandits. Aren't they heretics?'

Why do they look like bandits?

The reason was simple.

Half of it was true.

Fallen believers.

How would those who had to hide from the eyes of the Empire behave in their daily lives?

Beggars, bandits, thieves, pirates, and so on.

They had no choice but to engage in illegal activities.

Not being fond of the sea, they mostly stayed in the mountains.

Robbing passing travelers or nobles, occupying villages.

That was the best they could do.

Hence, heretics and bandits were almost synonymous.

In fact, in areas where the bishop resided, they were called the leaders of the Green Mountain Stronghold.

The problem was that there had been no reports of them appearing in this area.

That's how it was in the game...... but since this is the past, things seem to be different.

'My luck is seriously terrible.'

Why, of all people, do I have to meet these kinds of guys?

It was when Evan sighed deeply to himself.

"Evan, Evan."

Crunch, crunch.

Lapis, who was munching on cabbage, tugged at Evan's sleeve.

"Should I kill those people?"

"......Kill? Please don't say such violent things."

"Okay."

Ugh, that's chilling.

Evan patted Lapis on the head to calm her down.

Lapis squinted her eyes and looked outside, seemingly annoyed.

Hmm.

At this rate, the heretics might be annihilated.

'It would be troublesome if they all died.'

The heretics are more important than they seem.

Not to the player.

But to Arthur, who is an important ally and needs the experience points.

Arthur is a Holy Knight who follows the will of the moon.

There's a reason for following the moon's will.

Arthur's only blood relative.

His younger sister was the priestess of the Moon Church.

She had been suffering from an illness but was saved after receiving a divine revelation from the moon god.

A knight who wields his sword solely for the moon, repaying the grace his blood relative received.

Arthur Modritter, the Knight of the Full Moon.

However, it was said that even after receiving the divine revelation, the priestess continued to suffer.

Whether the vessel was too large even after receiving the god, other gods kept coveting her.

That's why Arthur had to kill all the heretics.

To save his younger sister.

'I guess leaving isn't an option?'

Bang, bang!

"Hey!"

"Fine. Maybe the carriage has to move to get that heavy backside going?"

That doesn't seem likely.

The Sin of Arrogance among the heretics.

Is there no way to extract just that one?

"Hmm."

There is an easy way.

Wipe them all out.

A few golems and Lapis could take care of it in no time.

If there were someone of bishop level, they would've overturned this carriage by now.

However.

'I don't want to see it.'

Watching them get killed right in front of me is terrifying.

Not because I'm a coward, but just because my stomach hasn't been feeling well today.

Really.

"Evan. If you're really reluctant, I'll quietly take care of it."

Lapis made swishing sounds with her mouth as she adorably swung her fists.

"I can handle it in a snap!"

"......Calm down, Lapis."

No matter how I look at it, Lapis isn't the right choice.

She'd probably go straight to killing instead of subduing.

This is valuable experience points for the main ally who will take over the story progression in Evan's place.

Let's just subdue them for now.

Swoosh.

"I'll handle this."

To be precise, my golem will.

Evan swallowed the rest of his words and tapped the ground with his staff.

Number 5, which received the signal, began to move.

Following that, the golems composing the staff split apart.

Small Golem.

It was not simply for moving cargo; it could also exploit the opponent's weaknesses.

It was at that moment.

Roarrrrr!

A grotesque scream that made the entire body freeze in place.

Fear.

When I looked out the window, a grotesque monster that seemed like it shouldn't exist was standing there.

"It can't be helped. We don't have much time."

"By the grace of God."

"May He grant us abundant bread and provisions."

The heretics offered their prayers.

Among them stood a blood-red creature.

'Ah...'

Its size was larger than most adults, and its thickness seemed several times greater.

Insane.

What is that?

An intestinal monster?

Ugh!

Disgusting!

Bones overlapped on top of its intestines.

It looked like an orc with its skin peeled off.

'Oh, crap. This is disgustingly terrifying.'

If I'm not careful, the golems might get dirty.

Evan quietly took a seat.

For now, that thing can't be taken down with a golem.

No, it could be taken down, but it would likely get incredibly messy.

If we were to take it down, disposable items would be best.

For example, grenades or Magical Threads.

"......Lapis."

Evan spoke, fumbling with his face out of nervousness.

"Could you please help me?"

"Yes."

Lapis smiled brightly.

Her eyes shone redder than the blood-red monster lurking outside.

......Should I not have asked?

"I've been waiting for those words."

Swishhhhh!

As Lapis spread her hands, Magical Threads burst out in all directions.

Silver threads spread out like a spider's web.

At the same time, the door gently opened, and Lapis stepped out of the carriage.

"W-What is that?"

"It's just a little girl! Kill her!"

"I will lead you to repent in the embrace of God, little one!"

-Roarrrrr!

The charging heretics and the blood-red monster.

Evan silently offered his condolences.

After going through all the trouble to capture Sins, they now dared to attack Sins.

Honestly, shouldn't this be considered natural selection?

***

The fallen heretics.

Still, they were somewhat famous figures within the empire.

Of course, in a bad way.

-Believing in a god that no longer exists? It's already laughable to believe in a god that does exist.

-Might as well believe in superstitions.

A declining power that, instead of growing stronger, became more pitiful and even lost its divine power as their numbers dwindled.

That was the current state of the heretics.

Still, there was hope.

Bishop Blake.

Known as the Master of the Green Fortress, he was a bandit who dominated a region and one of the few remaining leaders of the heretics.

They believed he could revive their history.

However, even that reputation crumbled.

Just a few days ago.

Arthur, the Knight of the Full Moon.

That blood-crazed Holy Knight had wiped out the fortress.

-My son, run. Only you... only you are our hope.

The bishop perished while confronting him, consumed in a blaze.

Only his heart remained, barely sustaining his life.

The remaining forces scattered in all directions.

Some fled to other kingdoms,

Others to the empire,

And some to the 'corrupted ones' who began worshiping different gods.

Bishop Blake's son, Drake, decided to stay on the continent and dream of resurgence.

Thus, he sought cooperation from the Blue-Bearded Count and the Alchemists' Tower.

He even handed over several rare artifacts.

A skull that emitted 'Eternal Night's Smoke,' which only those with exceptional curse resistance could endure,

The 'Insects of Greed,' which devoured remaining flesh and grew rapidly,

And the 'Fragments of an Undying Corpse,' which maintained a skeletal state and continuously emitted a foul stench.

While waiting, they coincidentally discovered an outsider visiting.

Though they couldn't identify the person, seeing the bizarre creature pulling the carriage suggested wealth.

So, they decided to attack.

Their plan was to quickly take any money or valuables and escape.

If necessary, they even considered killing the slave they had captured by chance.

"Aaaagh!"

"M-My God! Why have you forsaken us!"

Until the brutal scene unfolded.

It was a perfect plan.

As the little girl swung her hand, threads slashed like claws.

Those who had enhanced their bodies with divine power and used magic were indiscriminately cut down by a single thread.

"Aaaaargh!"

One heretic, his entire body stained with blood, stepped forward.

His two eyes gleamed crimson.

The result of consuming a potion imbued with the power of Wrath.

In exchange for a drastically shortened lifespan, it was a unique ability that grew stronger with anger.

Against ordinary enemies, it might have been effective.

However, the opponent was a girl destined as the Sin of Wrath.

Swoosh...... Thud!

The charging momentum was rendered powerless as one of his legs was severed.

The heretic collapsed helplessly, sprawling on the ground.

'Th-this can't be happening.......'

Drake looked down at them with despairing eyes.

Comrades who had been with him for a long time.

Those who had barely survived even Arthur were dying in vain.

All because of just one person!

"Why isn't God saving us?"

At that moment, a bound slave spoke up.

"Didn't you say God would save you?"

"......Yes. God will save us."

"Really? Why?"

"Shut up, Super."

Super paid no attention to Drake's sharp rebuke.

"To God, aren't you just small fry? Would God care about small fry?"

"......."

"If God cared, wouldn't you have escaped long before it came to this? Or grown stronger?"

"......."

"Believing in something without substance leads to this kind of outcome."

"You insolent brat, how dare you."

"What you've been using all this time is just magic with a different name, isn't it?"

"Gah!!!"

Drake ruffled his hair wildly in confusion.

Super's words, spoken like whispers.

They pierced him like thorns, continuously planting the disease of 'doubt' within him.

Oh! My God!

Why do you bestow such trials upon me!

"I don't believe in something without substance like your God. Instead, I can become something real and give you strength."

"......What nonsense is that?"

"Untie my ropes. Then I'll show you. The power to defeat that devil who has come for you."

Sin of Arrogance.

A child who had not yet awakened their power.

However, the seed was not rotten at all.

It was ready to bloom at any time, requiring all kinds of nourishment.

Drake's expression grew conflicted at Super's sweet tone.

It was at that moment.

"So noisy."

Swoosh! Thud!

"Guh, guh!"

Magical Threads wrapped around Drake's neck and pulled him straight up.

Drake dangled like captured prey.

Though he clutched at his neck, he was hoisted up and tied in a way that prevented suffocation.

"Oh? What is this?"

Super's eyes widened.

"You, you have such incredible power......."

"Shut up."

Whack!

"Ack!"

Super clutched his forehead.

Lapis had flicked his forehead hard.

It hurt immensely.

"That hurts!"

"I hit you so it would hurt."

Lapis said as she shrugged.

Super glared at her.

The moment their eyes met.

They both realized instantly.

'......Ah.'

'......Ah?'

That they were destined by 'Fate.'

One as the Sin of Wrath,

And the other as the Sin of Arrogance.

Destined to destroy this world.

'What? I had a comrade?'

While Super's eyes widened in surprise.

Lapis was thinking something else.

'Is this, a coincidence?'

No way.

Just as Evan had found her (albeit unintentionally), had Super also found her in the same way?

Once could be a coincidence, but twice was not.

This was inevitability.

Perhaps it was destiny.

'Did he foresee all of this?'

Coming all the way to this distant territory?

Shiver!

Chills ran down her entire body.

It was closer to pleasure than fear.

'Evan, you're truly amazing!'

In Lapis's mind, the word "correct" burst forth in joy.

'You planned all of this!'

As expected of Evan.

The sole savior for Lapis, who had stopped the endlessly rolling fate.

She looked at the carriage.

The gaze watching her from within the carriage.

It was like the gaze of a god bestowing their will upon a follower.

'Yes, I understand. Evan, your will.'

Lapis stepped boldly toward Super.

She knew what to do.

'I must also show this child what true destiny means.'

Playing atop the fate destined to destroy the world, Evan's grand plan.

A massive flow of destiny that even Lapis had yet to fully sense.

She decided to grant the honor of joining it here.