Now they could imagine the death of the world.

Born as members of a small village, throughout their lives until they dirtied their hands, they never dreamed the world could die.

Even if their entire village were erased, they couldn't imagine this vast and cruel world collapsing. Rather, it seemed strange to seriously contemplate the world's destruction.

The greatest threat they could imagine was a knight.

Having their evil deeds discovered by some righteous knight, and meeting death by beheading through unstoppable violence.

But little did they know that was optimistic.

The sky is no longer visible. They can't even be certain they're standing on solid ground. Though they seem to be moving their bodies, they can't find a single piece of evidence that they're actually moving.

"『Subtraction』."

It feels like something is being lost, but they can't tell what. However, they vaguely sense that they're being whittled away bit by bit.

At this rate, they'll be erased. Like crude drawings on a whiteboard after an eraser passes over them, leaving only unrecognizable remnants.

So.

To prove their existence in this pitch-black darkness.

"AAAAARGH!!"

"HUAAGH, HUAAAAGH!"

All they can do is scream at the top of their lungs so they can hear themselves.

But after a brief moment passes.

Now, no one is crying anymore.

===============================================================

"The human traffickers have all been swept away, and now there's just one left..."

"What do you mean? Are you going to spare this one too, claiming it's 'one more chance'?"

The holy knight gripped the handle of his greatsword tightly at the casual voices of a man and woman echoing around him. Though he couldn't see ahead, he focused on his other senses and maintained a defensive stance.

This too is a trial. It must be a trial arranged by the Goddess. Even if he should fall here, the High Priest would continue their great work.

The "Holy Liquid" they had discovered by chance in the shrine at Elmest Territory.

Led by its intense fragrance, the High Priest and the holy knight who had been hiding in their sanctuary resumed their activities. The holy knight went outside to gather humans for sacrifice, while the High Priest stayed inside to conduct the resurrection ritual for the goddess.

So.

If only She could be revived, everything would be fine. Even if he should perish here...!

Voices reverberated and echoed in the darkness.

"Look, he's entranced. I think he might be a pawn of the dead queen... If he's been living an honest life and just fell under mind control, we should let him go."

"Does that make his crimes disappear?"

"It's because he has sins that he needs to live even more. Instead of taking the easy way out through death, he should live and make amends. I'm saying this for you to hear too."

"Hmph, I have no intention of making amends. So... are you planning to crack open his skull right here? Wouldn't that take about three hours? I don't want our journey to drag on."

Creeping. Something was crawling up from the darkness.

The corrupted holy knight tried to identify what it was, straining his eyes, but peering into the darkness was no easy task. Only the lingering chill suggested that 'something was coming.'

A young man's voice rang out, carrying the same indifference as a teacher explaining an experiment to students before dissecting a frog.

"There's a quick and simple method. We dip him in evil nature. Just a little. Then the hidden wicked parts will be drawn out and revealed."

"Dip him in evil nature? You... your eyes... Ah, so instead of suppressing and denying the wicked parts implanted in your head, you're trying to use them and overcome them? You're challenging me head-on?"

"I'm trying to overcome it 93%, and you've already won. Let's be clear about that."

"My hope for escape is growing. I'll be waiting for you to trip over your own feet. Then I might give you a little guidance."

Black.

In a world of pitch blackness, an exceptionally black dot wavered.

First, a small but vicious dot traced a trajectory in the air, followed by another dot as quiet as an abyss. When the trajectory completed some kind of magic, a translucent mirror appeared in midair.

If one stares into it carefully, the black thing also stares back. And when one finally realizes that this is a mirror that taints the mind with evil nature—

"I didn't do anything wrong!"

It bursts forth.

Tightly closed lips open, and words pour out like vomiting stomach acid.

"I served the Goddess because they said I had an aptitude for divine power! They said it was enough to pray and believe every day, and though it was annoyingly tedious, I did it faithfully. That's how I became a holy knight."

"And then?"

"Then the Goddess appeared in my dream and said she liked me very much. She seduced me. I was a devout believer, so I couldn't resist that temptation! Think about it. To embrace a goddess? What man could possibly refuse?"

"Wanting to embrace the object of your faith... interesting. Tell me more. What did you do with that power?"

The holy knight couldn't stop talking. The blackness tainting his mind served as a primer, causing all the filth he had kept hidden deep inside to pour out.

The man who had adorned himself with words like goddess and faith, led by a subtle voice and color, revealed his true heart.

"I took women."

"Ah, you took women. What kind of women?"

"Priestesses from the cult, some of the living sacrifices who were brought in, sleeping people..."

"That's quite wicked. Why did you do that?"

The voice in the darkness asked lightly, as if scolding a close friend, or conversely, like a detective interrogating a criminal.

The holy knight shouted.

"The Goddess commanded it! She said I deserved it! She said it was fine! That even if I did as I pleased, she wouldn't take away my divine power!"

"That was clearly... the Succubus Queen pretending to be the Goddess. Did you never consider that that seductive voice wasn't the Goddess's?"

"I doubted it at first, but... my divine power didn't disappear. Even when I revealed my desires as they were, even when I killed people, my divine power remained!"

"Good, that's enough."

Clap.

The sound of applause rang out. So loudly it seemed to vibrate the entire space. The holy knight startled, somehow losing all strength and collapsing to the ground.

Then a young magician appeared before him. He pronounced judgment.

"Not strong mind control, but you fell for a few words of temptation. You didn't even pretend to resist. It doesn't seem like you gave it much thought either. When the opportunity arose, you just did it as if you'd been waiting for it."

"......"

"I'll give you the conscience you were born with, though it's rather thin. And a quest for you too. You will lead the people of that village across the continent, rescuing those endangered by people like yourselves."

Each word penetrated his brain like a probe, with whiteness digging deep into his core. The holy knight knew he would be unable to disobey this man's orders. Forever.

In a corner of his mind, he felt the weight of restraints. Unless he atoned for at least as much as he had committed, these restraints and commands would not be lifted.

In his fading consciousness, the holy knight thought:

What have I done?

It was too late for regret.

===============================================================

I've neatly stacked the corrupted holy knight and the villagers over in that clearing. In about six hours, they'll all wake up together and move according to the autosuggestion I've placed on them.

Go suffer and save people proportionate to the evil you've committed.

Feeling satisfied like I've just properly sorted the recycling, I dust off my hands when Little Evil God pokes my thigh and snickers.

"Controlling people like puppets with hypnosis, how are you any different from the Queen? You villain. Trash. Mad Magician."

"Shut up, will you? What's wrong with using a hypno-app to deliver justice?"

"That justice is just your personal—mmphf."

"I know what you're going to say. You're just trying to get under my skin. But should you be the one saying that?"

For a global troublemaker, she's all talk. I might take criticism about my morality from others, but not from her.

Maybe if Little Evil God's rehabilitation was complete, but until the flower of conscience fully blooms, she's not a person but a beast. That's what I've decided to think.

While grinding my knuckles into the top of her head, I turned toward the wrecked carriage.

"Tower Master, Pinvalez, are you both unhurt?"

"Mmm... I'm fine."

"The carriage is badly damaged. And the horses are dead."

"Oh dear."

It's a mess. The horses that brought us this far have already departed on a longer journey, and while the carriage maintains its shape, it's severely damaged in many places.

So this is how our journey on foot begins. Not exactly welcome.

"I'll try to fix it. There are plenty of trees nearby."

"...Even if we fix the carriage, what about the horses?"

"I can pull it."

"Ah."

Right, Pinvalez can pull it. Then there's no problem.

While lifting up Little Evil God, who was gnawing and clinging to my hand, I said:

"I'll take a quick look around the village to see if there are any captives or remaining criminals."

"Yes. I'll wait here."

"I-I'll come too. In butterfly mode."

Flutter. The Tower Master transformed into a butterfly and fluttered away.

She seems embarrassed and uncomfortable about firing Yuna-death-beams in front of me. I understand that feeling. It's like... I don't want to show Yuna the sight of me beating people like dogs.

Of course, I thrashed players like Roderus like rats, but that was a session, wasn't it?

I waved lightly to Pinvalez and headed toward the village.

It's a quaint mountain village. They seem to be trying to be self-sufficient with food, as there are several potato fields visible, and the wooden palisade is built thicker than I expected.

Just like when you do deduction already knowing the culprit, every little foreshadowing becomes clear.

Knowing these people make their living through human trafficking, all the peculiarities of the village become apparent. Like structures designed to prevent escape from the inside out.

Or suspiciously placed farming tools that could be used as weapons in emergencies.

"So... if you were the village chief, where would you keep your captured prey, Watson?"

"...What's a Watson?"

"Someone less intelligent than me."

Whoosh!

I jumped to avoid Little Evil God's incoming low kick. After huffing, she shared her deduction.

"If it were me, I'd hide them next to the food storage. It would look suspicious to carry food in and out all the time. It's better if confinement and feeding can happen in the same space."

"Then let's check there first. If your deduction is wrong, you're an idiot."

"And if I'm right?"

"Then my wisdom in employing a capable assistant shines through."

I dragged Little Evil God to what looked like a food storage building. Sure enough, when we entered, there was a secret entrance to a basement tucked away in the corner.

Before opening the entrance, I put my ear to the ground and concentrated my mana slightly. I could sense faint human presence from inside. There are people there.

They don't seem to be armed. Most likely they're the kidnapped victims. Now, what should my first line be? Ta-da, you're free?

As I was considering my concept while opening the basement entrance, Little Evil God grabbed my shoulder.

"Hey, MadMa."

"What... no, why are you calling me that? It's disconcerting."

"Remember our bet in the carriage? Get down—"

"Can't hear you, can't hear you."

I ran down the stairs leading to the basement before Little Evil God could state her demands. She's planning to ruin my social reputation from the start.

Is that how you play? Whoever is captive down there, I can't show them a Mad Magician in mount mode at first meeting. No way.

Bang, crash!

A brief chase began.

"Hey!!"

"Damn it, use it another day, will you!"

"I'm using it to mess with you, why would I postpone that? If you act this unconscionably, I'll cry! Should I go cry to Rorey?"

"Go ahead and try it! Then I'll take my special club and just—ack!"

Little Evil God's movement speed was faster than I expected.

I tumbled three times from her tackle from behind. When I came to my senses, I was lying spread-eagle with Little Evil God sitting triumphantly on my chest.

Finally having caught me, she excitedly and imperiously declared:

"You, be my mount! Get on all fours with me on top!"

"......"

I slowly turned my head and raised my hand in embarrassment. Then I muttered loudly enough for everyone around to hear:

"Look, I understand your feelings... but I can't accept your love. It's troublesome if you like me too much. You're not my type, and I don't have the courage to accommodate your sadistic tendencies."

"What kind of dog-like nonsense—oh."

Little Evil God, heated up, suddenly remembered what she had forgotten. Originally, she wanted to make me her mount to embarrass me in front of whoever was imprisoned here.

Her brain was turning with a creaking sound.

A blue-haired noblewoman in the cell was trying to make sense of the situation with a dumbfounded expression. After sorting things out in her mind, she carefully said:

"Um... should I look at the wall?"

"No, I mean... No! I don't like this guy at all! It's a misunderstanding!"

"They say strong denial is strong affirmation."

"You shut up!!"

It took some time for the excited Little Evil God to calm down.

===============================================================

Despite the awkward and confusing situation, the noblewoman maintained proper aristocratic dignity and greeted us respectfully.

"Thank you for rescuing me. I am Ervasilion Yulius, the first daughter of the Grand Duke Yulius family."

"Eek..."

"Oh my, such a high-ranking person. But how did you end up in a place like this... Tower Master, what's wrong?"

Yuna froze with a sharp intake of breath. She quickly gestured for me to come closer, to lend her my ear.

When I lowered myself, Yuna whispered the red truth.

"Huh..."

After hearing that truth, I too gasped for breath like someone stabbed in the lungs. As we both clutched our chests, Little Evil God showed interest.

"What's up, MadMa? Why are you trembling? And why is the Tower Master like that?"

"It's nothing. No problem at all. Really."

I desperately feigned calmness. This truth must not reach Little Evil God, of all people.

Yul-something.

My condition of not remembering people's names persisted, so I couldn't grasp the pronunciation, but I understood the title Yuna translated.

Northern Grand Duke.

So, this noblewoman's father is...

...the whale who supported me during my time as an isekai VTuber.