‘Truly wonderful fair skies church’ was the largest religion in the world, that worshiped a god incarnate called Ubiquitous.
‘The children of our god incarnate, humans, are still imperfect beings, so let us follow the will of the perfect being Ubiquitous and strive to live a perfect life.’
That was the creed of the religion that touted human supremacy.
If said god incarnate allowed something through an indulgence but the law did not, it was said that the law created by imperfect people was in the wrong. That meant that through the will of god incarnate, it was all right to break the law.
But at this point, Qualia did not know gods or religion. And even if he did, he would have still shot the indulgence.
“Analyzing situation.”
As a result of Qualia shooting the indulgence, the whole place froze.
Ddos looked as though his soul had left his body, the crowd was still as if time had stopped, and the knights of Clearance stared at Qualia in mute amazement.
Meanwhile, the heat of the beam burned the indulgence, and by the time Ddos reflexively let go of it, it was already ash.
As he watched the ash flutter, Ddos finally expelled his fear.
“Do, you, have, any, idea, what, you, just, did?”
“Eliminated the indulgence that is presumed to have the effect of concealing your wrongdoings. It is assumed that now you won’t be able to do so.”
No, that was not it.
Everyone thought the same thing, except for Qualia, who had no idea why humans prayed to gods.
Verbal abuse started being hurled from the crowd, which seemed like a natural reaction to them.
“That indulgence is the will of god incarnate Ubiquitous…! You just destroyed a gift from god incarnate! You’re cursed!”
“Request explanation. What is cursed?”
Qualia’s expression stayed the same, even as he saw the mood in the crowd go up in flames.
“It means god is going to smite you from the heavens… In the near future, you will be doomed for your sin!”
“Understood. Then request explanation. Why is Ddos not ‘cursed’?”
Qualia pointed to Ddos, who staggered, but delivered a model answer.
“An indulgence means that even if an action would normally be damnable, it is allowed by the will of god incarnate!”
“Request explanation. Why does god incarnate Ubiquitous approve of your wrongdoings? In that regard, said god incarnate carries low credibility.”
It was as though Qualia stepped on a landmine of the highest disrespect.
“You… Queen Route, that is to say, the pope, won’t be quiet about this.”
“If god incarnate Ubiquitous is her master, Route shares the same low credibility.”
“Don’t you know the meaning of the word fear? If Queen Route so much as glares at you, you can’t live in this world!”
“That is determined to be a matter of low priority. The highest priority now is to stop the wrongdoing, and put a stop to the instructions embedded in magic dolls.”
The biggest religion in the world coming to attack was a matter of low priority.
Making an enemy out of Queen Route was a matter of low priority.
Not being able to live in this world was a matter of low priority.
Of course, there was the fact that Qualia estimated the god incarnate Ubiquitous and all involved with him to carry low credibility. But even if a real god did appear, that would not change Qualia’s priorities.
Basically, stopping Ddos’ wrongdoings and freeing Ace from her shackles was his biggest priority.
There was one who responded to this decision with applause, a cheerful looking Kernel.
“Sadly, dealing with the church isn’t as easy as voiding an indulgence by shooting it. In fact, you gave that witch Route a reason to go after you.”
He said, but did not stop clapping. He praised Qualia.
“But that makes this easier to say. Pull it out, Queen Route be damned.”
He said as he glared at Ddos. This was a clear sign of opposition to Route.
“Duke Kernel… What are you saying!? Don’t cry to me about the consequences.”
“Sorry to say, but I didn’t have the ‘rational’ upbringing that’d make me let that Route that is freshly adult and just growing some hair do whatever she wants to me and stay quiet. I’m not trying to deny that church, but I’m not letting you ignore the law because of an indulgence.”
“Duke Kernel! Are you also denying Lord Ubiquitous!? Cursed!”
“Yes, but isn’t dying by being struck by lightning by god an honor?”
A hundred angry roars flew towards Kernel, who simply blocked his ears with an annoyed look on his face. Qualia did not even do that.
Ddos looked at them and clenched his teeth, but not long after, he turned to the crowd.
“Everyone, should such an impious person be a duke? Surely not… But rest easy. Magic dolls function even in the face of such immorality… Which I am about to prove to you. Ace, start by teaching that immoral knight called Qualia a lesson.”
“…”
Ace simply looked at Qualia, almost as though she did not hear Ddos’ instructions.
“What’s wrong!? Didn’t you hear me!? I’m telling you to put the pain on that Qualia!”
“…Yes, master.”
Ace finally decided to punish Qualia, but her expression stayed the same. She approached Qualia with her face perfectly still, as if being controlled by strings.
But Qualia detected some very subtle values in her cheeks.
It was the same he saw in Spirito’s face, when she hesitated because she did not want to hurt anyone.
It was the same he saw in Mind’s face, when he repeatedly apologized to the girl he took hostage.
“That way is faster, so that helps. If we neutralize all the magic dolls, at the very least, Route won’t cover for that man. Let’s move, Clear…”
Kernel passed by Qualia to encircle Ace, but was stopped.
“The only method available to you is destroying the magic stone. That would make Ace unable to experience ‘tasty’ ever again.”
“You’re still saying that?”
“Qualia’s understanding has not changed. If asked, the answer will stay the same forever. Qualia will put ‘tasty’ faces on magic dolls.”
“…Fine, try it.”
In the end, Qualia was the only one to move forward, as he saw Ace enveloped in a green light after activating a skill.
But Qualia did not overlook the slight measurement error in her actions.
“Qualia, under my master’s orders, you will be neutralized.”
“…You will be hacked.”
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