Surviving as a Cult Leader in Another World (Going up)

"Those who have been affected by sorcery leave traces of magical power. Magical power is an evil energy. But Monk Hyde, you have no such traces."
The man with a leather bag over his face untied me from the chair. It seemed I was declared innocent, as if there were no aftereffects or side effects from being possessed by Lust.
Holy Knight Alter, who had been observing the situation, asked,
"Hyde, are you really alright? I heard Lust is a terrible demon. If such a being possessed your body, even for a short time, it must have affected you somehow."
Well, that would be the common sense assumption.
But Lust is me, and I'm Hyde, so what kind of effect could there be?
However, if I told them the truth, that inquisitor would surely tie me back to the chair and roast me with fire.
I put on a solemn expression and said,
"I'm fine because I'm a devout and faithful monk. Besides, I actually got the better of Lust."
"You got the better of Lust?"
"It wouldn't have been easy for him to take over my body. Lust is the one who'll be feeling the aftereffects, and he won't be showing his face in the world for a while. I'm sure of it."
Not just for a while, Lust shouldn't ever appear in the world again.
That's what I want.
How much crazy shit did I have to do while wearing that mask for the past few days?
Just thinking about it makes me dizzy.
I've committed too many sins.
As I was silently reciting a prayer of repentance, Alter patted me on the back.
"Pious Monk Hyde, is it? You seem like it. While you were being questioned by the inquisitors, I read the novel you wrote, "The Village of the Back Alley Nymph"."
"You read it?"
My masterpiece.
But for some reason, it only received negative reviews in Florence.
Psyche and her younger brother, Dihon, were crazy about it.
Feeling a bit discouraged by the recent criticism, I was nervous about what Alter would think of my story.
That's how writing is.
No matter how confident you are in your work, you're always nervous when showing it to others.
"It was very interesting. I liked the nymphs, too. I thought it would be nice to read it to the children in the youth ministry I'm in charge of in Baracan."
"Really?"
See?
True talent recognizes true talent.
Alter Archibald.
To be honest, he seemed like such a perfect person that I didn't like him a little bit – just a tiny bit – but that feeling completely disappeared at that moment.
This guy is a good guy.
Alter said,
"I especially liked the beginning, where the nymph tries her best not to lose hope in a strange world."
Oh.
This guy knows what's up.
"That's the part I put the most effort into! Alter, you have a better eye than the artists of Florence. I guess the title 'Holy Knight' isn't given to just anyone."
Alter.
He was a knight who fought against the cultists until the very end, just like 'Maiden Psyche'. Could he be considered someone trustworthy in terms of faith?
But he was a more humble guy than I thought.
"I don't think I'm that great. I really enjoyed reading it. Speaking of which, would it be okay if I showed it to His Holiness the Pope?"
"To the Pope?"
Pope.
It's a title similar to the Pope of the Vatican in the 21st century, but they are both similar and different. The Pope here is both the religious leader and the king of this United Kingdom.
The Unizer royal family was wiped out, but someone had to take the 'king's' place. Anyway, he was a great man.
Even I, who was called the Deadly Sin Lust, had never met Pope Gregory II.
Could I meet him in this life?
What if he summons me to Baracan because he finds "The Village of the Back Alley Nymph" so interesting? What if he appoints me to the vacant Archbishop position, left open by the problems caused by Coram Deo and Medici?
As I was leaving the Inquisition with those thoughts in mind, Alter put his hand on my shoulder.
"My friend Hyde, this is just a question between men, but what do you think of my sister Mili? I think it would be great if you married my sister."
"Really?"
"Hyde, the wooden plaque monk of Agarphe. When I heard about you, I wasn't very impressed, but now that I've met you, I understand. You're a trustworthy man."
"Of course."
"And the fact that you were able to regain your body after being possessed by that man Lust is amazing. Have you seen the artist Michelangelo?"
Michelangelo.
That guy was released without charge, but he's back in jail now, right?
Because he tried to set fires everywhere.
"That Michelangelo is a man who can cast such powerful 'hypnosis' that even he can't break free. I heard that even the knight of Divine Punishment, Galatea, is being treated after being affected by Lust?"
It seemed Alter knew Galatea.
She was a kind knight, even I had to admit.
If he had as good an eye as Alter, who recognized the true value of my novel, he would naturally have noticed Galatea.
"To be able to control people at will. It's an unheard-of power. And it's a dangerous ability. His Holiness Gregory even issued a decree himself."
"His Holiness did?"
What kind of decree did the Pope issue regarding Lust?
When I expressed my curiosity, Alter said,
"He said to kill Lust without question. Every sinner has the right to be forgiven, the right to defend themselves, and the right to a trial, but Lust doesn't."
Kill him without question?
Well, I was already expecting it.
It's the same as the past five years.
"Anyway, it was nice meeting you, Hyde. The Archibald mansion will be noisy for a while. Florence, no, Durgien and the kingdom will be noisy. I think it would be good for you to return to Agarphe."
I thought so too.
Nothing good would come from staying in Florence any longer.
I had already gotten everything I wanted.
I was promised the dispatch of one of the Six Knights and the Holy Knights.
"What about Milione?"
But I was worried about Milione.
Lady Milione Archibald was currently confined to the Archibald mansion, wasn't she?
"Damn it!"
Milione was annoyed.
One year.
That's how long she had to serve at the convent this time.
The convent was full of strict nuns, making it a boring and dull place.
'Why do I have to go to such a place!'
It was Alter Archibald's suggestion.
Lady Milione Archibald had caused a lot of trouble in the past, so it was certain that this incident would lead to gossip. It would be better for her to lie low at the convent for a year.
"I have to go back to that boring Grande Convent again?"
A place for female ascetics located in the Falkeia region.
Just thinking about going back to that boring place made her want to run away.
'If I had been sentenced to death, I would have just caused a scene, run away, and lived the rest of my life as Wrath.'
Milione wasn't attached to her name.
She wasn't attached to the life of 'Milione Archibald' either.
If she was going to be executed, she thought she would just let go of everything, wear a mask, and live freely, but that didn't happen.
A man interfered and ruined everything.
"Hyde, that guy. He actually overturned the verdict."
Of course, it wasn't Hyde who overturned the verdict, but the Pope's decree that her brother Alter brought.
'Dad must have pulled some strings. But it was Hyde who bought us time while Alter was traveling from Baracan to Florence. That guy, he's more capable than I thought.'
Milione decided to acknowledge Hyde's contribution with a pure heart. He was the only one who stood up for her when no one else would defend her.
Why did he do that?
Because he was a true clergyman who couldn't ignore an innocent person?
No, Milione didn't think so.
'No, there's no such thing as a true clergyman in this world.'
Medici's daughter.
Alter's younger sister, Milione, knew that better than anyone. Then why did Hyde do something so reckless for her?
The maid who was brushing Milione's hair said,
"Lady Mili, you're so beautiful. That's probably why Lord Hyde defended you even at the risk of his life."
Milione looked at herself in the mirror. She had taken three baths and her hair was styled by the maids, making her look very attractive and radiant.
"Lord Hyde was handsome, wasn't he? Tall, fair skin, and handsome."
"He's handsome?"
Milione frowned.
Hyde being handsome.
She had never thought about it that way.
The maid chuckled.
"Well, Lady Mili, you might not know because you've been around Sir Alter and Lord Medici, but he's considered handsome. He's a bit gloomy, though."
"Is that so."
As she was thinking about it,
Knock, knock-.
Someone knocked on the door.
━It's Hyde. May I come in?
"Oh my! Lady, I'll be going now!"
The maid retreated.
At the same time, Hyde entered.
"I didn't tell you to come in."
Milione whined slightly.
Hyde shrugged.
"You didn't tell me not to come in either."
"So, why are you here?"
"I heard you have to go to Grande Convent for a year. Just go and do your time. I'm going back to Agarphe now. I've been indebted to you. Our marriage talk ended up fizzling out, didn't it?"
That was all Hyde had to say.
As he bowed his head and turned to leave, Milione felt a strange, subtle emotion. She didn't know what it was, though.
"Ah, I almost forgot-."
Hyde turned around.
Milione was startled and sat up straight, asking,
"What? What did you forget? Do you have something to say to me?"
"Yes, I heard there's a letter from Agarphe. It must be from Psyche to me."
"Ah."
The maid, who had been listening quietly by her side, clicked her tongue, "Tsk-." She rummaged through the pocket of her apron and handed Hyde a red-sealed letter.
Monk Hyde sniffed the letter and was overjoyed.
"Psyche, you sent me a letter."
"…."
Milione thought it was the first time she had seen Hyde, who usually had a gloomy expression, smile so brightly.
Was he that happy to receive a letter from Psyche?
'He never smiled like that in front of me.'
Milione suddenly felt bad.
She didn't know why she felt bad.
Because it was the first time she had ever felt this way.
Anger?
No, it felt a little different.
So Milione blurted out the emotion she didn't understand.
"It must be divorce papers. Hyde, Psyche is dumping you. It's already been a month since you last saw each other. Out of sight, out of mind."
"I don't think so."
Crumple-.
As Milione frowned, Hyde opened the letter.
Hyde, how are you? I thought you might have sent a letter, but I haven't been able to read it. I'm currently in the Falkeia region with Lady Galatea.
As for why am I in Falkeia, I came to see my mentor!
The Abbess here is the one who taught me swordsmanship when I was young, and she's an amazing person who was called the 'Maiden of the Sword'!
 
My love Psyche.
Just looking at her handwriting makes me feel healed.
To think Psyche is in the Falkeia region.
Does this mean I won't be able to see her even if I go back to Agarphe?
I'm running out of paper and ink, so I'll get straight to the point. Hyde, do you know anything about possessed people? There's a possessed person in this Grande Convent.
I want to save this person, but what should I do?
She keeps saying things I can't understand, and she crawls on the ceiling every night!
Hyde, if you know a way, please send a reply to this address.
By the way, When will Volume 3 of Village of the Nymph be released? I can't sleep sometimes because I'm so curious about the next story.
 
Indeed.
There was a sister in need at the convent.
Psyche is so kind.
But if Psyche was away from the territory, wouldn't it be too vulnerable? Well, I guess it doesn't matter since Parmas and the Holy Knights will be dispatched to the territory.
As I was thinking about it,
Butler Fred entered the room.
"Lord Hyde! You're here! I just received a decree from His Holiness the Pope for you! Read it quickly! It was just delivered through Sir Alter!"
A decree from the Pope?
Is it a demand for a sequel to "The Village of the Back Alley Nymph" because he enjoyed it so much after Alter's recommendation?
Rustle-.

Appoint the itinerant monk Hyde as the priest in charge of Agarphe territory. And Priest Hyde shall immediately head to the Falkeia region and contact Abbess Midnar of Grande Convent.

That was all it said.
Butler Fred handed me a box, a beautifully lacquered antique wooden box.
When I opened it, I saw a bronze cross shining with a blue light.
Clank-.
"It's a bronze rosary."
"Oh, how wonderful, Lord Hyde! From a wooden plaque monk to a bronze plaque priest in an instant! It seems His Holiness the Pope has his eye on you! What a great honor!"
Fred.
The seasoned butler was as happy as if it were his own promotion.
I was also happy to be promoted to a bronze plaque priest, but I was also puzzled.
Go to Grande Convent?
Milione, who had been peeking at the decree next to me, said,
"It seems they're sending you to exorcise a ghost. Hyde, you're the man who exorcised Lust from your body, even if it was by chance. It's an amazing feat, even if it was a coincidence. Admit it."
"…."
"Lust is the most difficult demon to exorcise, the most wicked of all evil spirits. If you could exorcise such a spirit, wouldn't you be able to exorcise other ghosts as well- that's what they must be thinking."
"What do you mean?"
"Hyde, do you know why Psyche and I are called the Three Flowers of the Kingdom?"
I knew the reason clearly.
"Because people are mistaken. The only flower of the kingdom is Psyche."
"What the…!? Hmph, well, think what you want. Anyway, it's because there are three beautiful people like me, so we're grouped together. And one of them is in that Grande Convent."
The Three Flowers of the United Kingdom.
Does she mean the third flower?
I had never heard of or met this woman.
"What kind of woman is she?"
"She's a complete lunatic."
-Well, that's you.
"I caused a big trouble before, and Dad forced me into Grande Convent. I met her then. Wow, I've never seen such a crazy woman in my life. She's really possessed!"
For Milione to say that…
Is she really possessed?
"Her hair is even pink! How can a person's hair be pink!?"
A pink-haired woman possessed by a ghost.
I wanted to meet her.
-Exorcising a ghost from an innocent person-.
It's one of the things I'd like to try at least once if I dream of becoming a devout and outstanding clergyman.
Maybe the rumor of Priest Hyde, the ghost exorcist, will spread far and wide, and the Agarphe Church will be overflowing with believers!
"Milione, let's go to Grande Convent right away!"
I should drop Milione off at Grande Convent while I'm at it.
It was a perfect plan.
I'm so smart!