Every second of waiting made the presence named Petelgeuse Romanée-Conti increasingly irritated.
He desperately wished to start the trial immediately.
As soon as he received the message about the silver-haired half-elf's trial, he had come rushing here with all his subordinates.
"How's the blockade going? How's the infiltration of the village? Has the news not spread yet? I'm truly slothful. Ah, forgive me for idly waiting..."
Each passing second brought Petelgeuse immense joy, because it meant he could soon repay the Witch's love.
The Archbishop of Sloth fervently prayed for the smooth progress of the trial.
Suddenly, his devout prayer was interrupted by an overwhelming killing intent from the darkness.
A cultist who shouldn't have been here suddenly knelt before him—that was the "Middle Finger" who should have sealed off the west.
"That beloved follower wants to see me? For the trial to go smoothly, huh?"
Understanding the message implied by those words, Petelgeuse excitedly stood up.
He had always believed that the favored one had a mission and would find him.
Petelgeuse had already prepared a welcome.
"Well then, well then, I suppose I have to go see him." —He must ensure the trial proceeds flawlessly.
With that thought, Petelgeuse left the cave.
Invisible hands lifted his body but soon set him back down.
Petelgeuse wept for his spiritual sloth and scolded himself for his physical laziness.
Then he had his strongest subordinate carry him forward at high speed.
The cultist advanced at inhuman speed.
Soon, Petelgeuse sensed the unimaginable favor of the Witch—almost equal or even surpassing the favor of the Great Sin itself.
Before him stood a fierce-looking young man with black hair, holding a strange book—was it a Gospel?
It looked like one, but not exactly. Behind him stood a person wearing a cognitive-blocking magical apparatus.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, beloved follower—" Fixing his clothes, Petelgeuse opened his arms and approached.
The favor was so thick, so overwhelming—why?
No jealousy, because favor belonged to everyone.
I have my own favor, and he has his. As long as the trial is completed...
"Thank you for such a warm welcome. The Sin Archbishop himself greeting me is an incredible honor... I never imagined I would have such value." "No need to be humble. Dense favor bursts from your body. You can't hide it, nor are you aware of it, right? The love entwining your body is enough to rival a Sin Archbishop!! The moment I sensed your presence, I thought... You are 'Pride', right?" "Have I really been sensed?" "Of course. If even someone favored like you cannot feel it, what laziness that would be." "Stop, stop! Honestly, I neither want nor need to listen to your madness. And I have no idea what this 'love' you talk about is..."
Suddenly his footing gave way—no, originally as an earth attribute spirit, Petelgeuse instantly felt bugs in the soil.
"This is... this is... such diligence, digging such a huge pit with such a small body, but it's meaningless, meaningless!!!"
Petelgeuse felt sharp pain in the soles of his feet.
How could he not notice the viscous liquid in the waist-deep pit? Then Petelgeuse noticed the fire magic stones around—the kind that explode upon impact.
"This is oil!!!" Instinctively trying to struggle, his body was too heavy.
Petelgeuse realized he'd been poisoned. Then he saw a burning matchstick fall from the sky.
—How despicable, how cruel...
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The scene then shifts to a memory from last night:
At the end of the strategy meeting titled "Witch Cult Hunt Even a Monkey Could Understand," Subaru was delighted that besides Beatrice, the entire Emilia faction had come.
"Oh! One important thing I forgot!"
Subaru clapped his hands and said this amidst the chaotic atmosphere in the hall.
He understood that suddenly announcing an attack by the Sin Archbishop, and giving the enemy's intelligence and plan, would cause confusion.
In fact, Rem's worshipful expression was the real oddity here.
That was why Subaru had to remind everyone carefully—after all, the enemy is a Sin Archbishop, and any mistake in critical matters could mean total annihilation.
"Though the Witch Cult Hunt is straightforward, the most important is the Sin Archbishop... I want to strictly select who will do the sneak attack, to understand your abilities." "Strict selection?" "Understand your abilities?" Looking at the questioning crowd, Subaru knew trust could not be built so quickly, but he still braved it.
"Yes. Whether we can take down the Sin Archbishop is the key to success or failure of this operation.
We want to select the most suitable people for the task.
I didn't expect Lady Emilia to come either. In any case, those confident in their hidden abilities, and who can endure severe headaches, please volunteer." "How mean! Isn't it natural for the lord to protect the people?"
Setting aside innocent Emilia, Subaru's conditions made the group frown.
Their expressions showed confusion, worry, and unease—but overall, they were unwilling to share.
—This reaction is natural, given that both sides are basically enemies.
"The powerful Invisible Hands and the unknown limit of the mental attacks? Indeed troublesome, and there is no qualified reference standard."
Otto summed up everyone's concern in one sentence.
Subaru could only shrug; everyone immediately looked troubled.
"It's not that we underestimate the other cultists, but the Sin Archbishop is too special, only he must be definitely eliminated." Subaru said seriously.
"Subaru, can you guarantee to lure the Sin Archbishop to the designated spot?" "With what I know about him, it should be no problem." "Then let's split up. Lady Emilia and Alva will raid the enemy's base; Brian, Otto, and Subaru will handle the Sin Archbishop."
Subaru looked at Otto in doubt; after all, he felt Otto might not be able to defeat him.
"If we can lure him, we can set traps in advance.
Rem, confirm the mansion's diesel situation.
Brian, check with Cyril about poison weapons—preferably fireproof ones. Alva, prepare the fire magic stones..."
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Back to the present moment: After a fierce explosion, fire pillars several meters high sent waves of heat rolling out. Poisonous iron fragments and pieces of Sloth's flesh rained down from the sky.