Fated to Be Loved by Villains

“What a fucking shitshow.”

That was the first thing that came to my mind the moment I stepped out the Gate from the Astral Realm back to the Material World.

I might have stopped their interference for now, but the forces that the pope has stashed away within the Holy Kingdom were still intact.

“...That shit could cover the whole whole continent, no?”

I said that while scanning the ‘synthetic organisms’ visible even from here. Their number was so dense they seemed to cover the horizon.

“Damn, aren’t all those chimeras?”

[...Those are chimeras?]

Caliban’s astonished voice came out.

When speaking about chimera, a certain synthetic life form created through alchemy with a laughable lifespan came to mind.

It was hard to believe that they managed to create something like that; something that could divide its own body while having a disaster-level combat power.

“You can make shit like that if you grind up high-level personnel without any restraints whatsoever.”

As I said that in a voice full of contempt, Caliban seemed to understand the gist of it.

‘Grinding up’ has a double meaning here.

Either they grind up their researchers, or grind up people as ‘material’. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

[Wait, wait, Dowd! Is this your doing?]

At that moment, Marquis Bogut’s voice came from the magic stone embedded in my chest.

[I was thinking about how to deal with this shit, and there are two strange...‘deployments’ that I didn’t order. This was your doing, right?]

‘Sharp, aren’t you?’ I answered with a wry smile.

“Yeah.”

[...Mind explain your intention?]

He asked in a slightly more serious tone.

[It’s not that I don’t trust you, but this ‘combination’ is a little...unconventional, you see.]

“You know, it’s exactly for times like this that I put them together.”

I said this while looking at the swarm of chimeras that covered the horizon in darkness as they moved.

To describe it in more detail...

It was like watching a dense swarm of cockroaches crawling on the floor.

Similar in that regard, both their actual vitality and their sheer numbers were disgustingly high.

Since that was the case...

“Leave dealing with those things to me. Focus on the other side.”

To catch a ‘swarm of bugs’...

I had exactly the perfect weapon that boasted both historical efficiency and tradition.

●

“...”

“...”

“...”

A strange silence surrounded the area.

It was because Faenol, Seras, Victoria, and Riru were standing around with blank expressions.

“...No, no, no. No matter how you look at it, we aren’t just standing around.”

Riru, who was stuck in the middle, said with a disgruntled voice.

Indeed, if anyone saw this, they’d wonder what the hell kind of pose this was.

Behind Riru, Seras and Victoria at the back were clinging to her with interlocked hands and blank expressions. In front of them, Riru was wrapping both her arms around Faenol’s waist, who had an almost zen-like expression on her face.

You know...

This reminds me of the train game we used to play as kids.

“...So.”

Faenol, who had been wearing an expression that said ‘Whatever happens, happens’, spoke with a resigned smile.

“With this number of people. In this state. Without any... additional support. We’re going to subdue the chimera situation that is pretty much a continental disaster?”

“Of course not. What kind of nonsense is that?”

I answered while scratching my head.

“We’re not subduing them, we’re going to kill every last one of them.”

“...Yeah right, shall we go?”

“...”

How should I put this?

Seeing Faenol moved her body with an air of complete acceptance, without any additional questions, gave me a strange feeling.

No, no, it was good that she acted this way, it just felt somewhat empty.

Even more so when I saw the rest of the members moving sluggishly with lifeless faces, as if they were all thinking the same thing Faenol asked earlier.

They moved in sync, all four of them, like they’re in a three-legged race at a sports day.

“Hey, hold the fuck up, you bastard! You’re too goddamn fast!”

“Quit pushing from behind, Woah, shit! I’m gonna fall!”

“...If you keep throwing me off balance like that, I can’t fucking walk straight!”

“...”

It seemed like some major trouble was brewing over there, but it didn’t matter.

While stumbling along while dragging these clunky Devil Vessels, I somehow managed to get ahead of the Chimeras’ parade route.

“Holy fuck.”

Up close, this shit was even more fucked up than expected.

Razor-sharp claws grafted onto artificially-made bodies, thick hides, a freak show of eyes and limbs.

The sight of these grotesquely shaped motherfucker, drooling yellowish slime, swarming like a goddamn plague, it was like a nightmarish painting came to life.

Now I understood why the pope spent all that time holing up trying to cook up this unholy ‘legion’.

But...

“Oi.”

I tapped Faenol’s arm, the one she was using to keep her balance.

“...Yes?”

“Spit it out.”

“...”

I’ve already explained more than enough on how to spit it on the way here.

Faenol made a face that suggested she was about to die of embarrassment, but since she was summoning her Red Demonic Aura, it was clear that she got the note perfectly.

The Karmic Fire, the Red Devil’s Authority, instantly engulfed everything around.

At the same time...

“...My fucking fate.”

“...I know right?”

Along with the weary voices of Riru and Evertrice sisters, Purple and Blue Demonic Aura flared into existence.

I’ve done more than enough experiments on synthesizing Demonic Aura back in the Magic Tower.

Especially with those two sisters, Riru and Victoria, their Demonic Aura had amazing synergy.

With that in mind, what if we sprinkle in a little... ‘spice’ into the mix?

-....

Black Demonic Aura flowed from my Fallen’s Seal, binding all those energies together.

A triple synthesis of Demonic Auras.

The Purple Demonic Aura that amplified the target’s abilities, the Blue Demonic Aura that turned everything it touched to dust, and...

The Red Demonic Aura—the Karmic Fire—which was especially effective at ‘area-of-effect’ devastation...

-...

A colossal pillar of fire like the one Faenol unleashed during the Crimson Night Incident was unleashed.

It was several times larger than that time, it came out of the magic circle she had casted.

-!!!

-!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Flames that could easily blind anyone who laid their eyes upon them spread out as if to change the entire landscape ahead.

Of course, it instantly turned all the chimeras in sight into piles of ash.

“...”

“...”

“...Huh?”

Even the ones who unleashed this hellfire are staring at me with stunned expressions.

Well, considering that they didn’t just violently spew out their Demonic Aura violently, and I just mixed the little bit they seeped out, yet it still had this much power, their reactions were justified.

“No, hold on a sec.”

“...What’s wrong?”

When I asked this to Riru, who was slapping her own cheeks while saying that, she answered with a resigned look.

“This level of shit is normal when you’re involved.”

“...”

“I almost got surprised like an idiot again. Jeez.”

“...”

“Were you guys surprised? When this guy’s involved, shit always gets resolved in such a retarded fa—”

Anyway...

The bug spray effect is definitely working.

As they said...

Back in the day, when it came to bug extermination, the best way was always a flamethrower.

●

“Didn’t someone scream, ‘What the hell are you going to do with those people’ earlier?

“...”

“Whoever said that, raise your hand. Don’t worry, I won’t curse at you. Honestly, I thought the same thing.”

“...”

Hmm.

Still no reaction, huh? Can’t be helped.

Bogut thought this while looking at the screen in front of him with narrowed eyes.

Watching those chimeras getting wiped out in droves by a single blast of flame combined with Demonic Aura, he couldn’t even feel dumbfounded anymore.

Perhaps it was because the guy handling this ‘job’ was carrying it out without showing any emotion whatsoever.

“Come on, come on, move in step. One, two. One, two.”

“...Do we look like fucking kids to you?”

In fact, he looked completely disinterested in the ‘battle’.

He seemed more focused on leading three women waddling in sync. Probably because that required more attention than the battle itself.

Indeed, he was just going through the motions—checking his watch, spewing fire, moving to the next location.

“...How many of them have been killed?”

In response to Bogut’s question, a staff member who looked like he was experiencing a serious case of post-nut clarity scanned the screen with a gloomy face.

“...Looks like about 70% incinerated in 10 minutes.”

“...”

Uh...

Yeah, sure, they’re the enemies, but...

The pope probably poured years, maybe even a decade’s worth of manpower and budget into making those things.

At this point, it’s almost pitiful...

[Ah, ah. Can you hear me?]

“Yes. Loud and clear.”

Of course, the man responsible for this spectacle couldn’t give a fuck about that.

His ruthless demeanor was evident just from how he was demanding information about the ‘next target already.

[The Pope’s location, you should have a grasp on it by now. Where is he?]

“...”

Fucking hell.

When he said he’d clean up the chimeras himself, and told me to use all the available resources to find the Pope’s location, I thought he’d lost his mind.

But seeing this performance, I think I did well obeying him without making much fuss.

“He’s not far. Should I send some backups?”

We still have several cards up our sleeve.

Like the Magic Tower, or the Saintess.

[No. Save those for the very end. We’ll definitely need them later.]

Yet, this man still seems to be on guard about something.

“...Then what are you planning to do with the Pope?”

In response to Marquis Bogut’s question, Dowd paused for a moment before answering with a smirk.

[He’s just a mid-boss anyway, that fucker.]

Before Bogut could ask what a ‘mid-boss’ was, Dowd continued in a nonchalant voice.

[You must have been working hard since morning. Why don’t you go and have a meal?]

“...Pardon?”

[I’ll kill him and be back by the time you finish.]

“...”

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The Prophet