บท 264: Chapter 264: Riesbyfe Stridberg
"Stop."
The sudden shout caused Riesbyfe, who was poised to attack, to pause.
"Do you have something else to say? Even if you're a heretic, the Lord will give equal opportunity for speech."
Shinji covered his face with his hand, silently ranting in his mind.
He had always thought this person might be a single-minded fool when he played the game, and now it seemed he was right. If God gives everyone a chance to speak, why didn't she say so earlier instead of charging straight at him? Ironically, she's a believer.
"Speak up, if you don't, I'll attack." Riesbyfe on the other side couldn't understand what Shinji was thinking and urged him impatiently.
"Fine, fine, I'll speak, I'll speak." Shinji sighed helplessly. "Do you know who I hung on the cross?"
"Who?"
"Hideo Hayama, the homeroom teacher of Class 4 of the high school division at Reien Girls' Academy, and the younger brother of Chairman."
Upon hearing this, Riesbyfe's body tensed once again.
Shinji quickly waved his hand. "Don't get agitated. Let me finish speaking—this person is a complete scumbag..."
Then, Shinji recounted the information about Hayama that Azaka had told him, including the reasons why he had acted the way he did tonight. Of course, he didn't mention the details of the suggestive magecraft, only using the reason of teaching the scumbag a lesson to prevent him from seeking revenge.
"Scumbag, scum, and those girls... to think they would do something like this here..."
The content of Shinji's words was too shocking, causing Riesbyfe to be greatly shaken. As a member of the clandestine department of the Holy Church, she had experienced darkness before, but she never expected such filth to be hidden in a school established by the Church, in what was supposed to be the purest place.
"So, do you still think I'm a heretic as a person?" Shinji spread his hands helplessly.
"I take back my previous judgment of you as a heretic, and I apologize for that."
Riesbyfe was straightforward and immediately lowered her head to apologize to Shinji.
"But I still consider you a heretic! It has nothing to do with whether Hideo Hayama is guilty or not. Your actions have blasphemed the Lord and desecrated the sacred chapel. I will crusade against you here!"
As she spoke, she was about to charge again.
Shinji shouted once more, "Stop!"
"Do you have something else to say?"
"Hey, listen. Stop labeling me a heretic with every other word. I know what I did was wrong. Can't I just go and repent before God? Why do you directly classify me as a heretic?"
This is the modern era, not a time when divine authority reigns. Even if he hung Hayama on the cross, he shouldn't be automatically deemed a heretic.
"Because I am the captain of the Vestel Shield Knights. If I don't classify you as a heretic, I have no reason to crusade against you in this holy place."
Riesbyfe's response left Shinji dumbfounded. He had considered many reasons, such as being a magus opposed to the Church or his problematic attitude, but he never expected it to be this reason.
To classify him as a heretic to crusade against him—what's the difference from simply saying, "I want to beat you up"?
But thinking about it, it also fits Riesbyfe's personality. Although she appeared righteous and resolute, without a trace of confusion, she was lazy, avoiding trouble, and indulged in the present without considering the future as long as it was interesting. Perhaps she instinctively sensed that Shinji was not ordinary and became interested in him—interested in fighting him.
"Are you just looking for a fight?" Shinji couldn't help feeling both angry and amused.
"No, I'm just crusading against heretics." - That's right, I'm just looking for trouble. (Shinji's auto-translate...)
It seemed like tonight there was no choice but to fight. However, Shinji didn't dislike Riesbyfe's straightforwardness. At least she was much better than those who beat around the bush.
"So, heretical magus, are you prepared to be crusaded by me?" - I'm going to beat you up, are you ready?
"I said I'm not prepared, but you won't let me off, will you?" Shinji's words were filled with helplessness.
"You're right—"
"Stop again! I'm not going to run away, so why are you in such a hurry?" Shinji interrupted Riesbyfe for the third time, halting her eager attack.
"What a bother, what else do you want to say?"
"I'm thinking of your best interest. Let me ask you, where are we?"
"The chapel."
Shinji sniggered, "Oh, you know, I thought this was my magecraft workshop, sturdy enough not to be destroyed by the aftermath of our fight."
Riesbyfe's expression immediately froze.
Shinji continued, "A devout believer like you, unexpectedly casually destroying the chapel where one prays to the Lord. Well, as a heretic, I don't mind, but if you want to fight me, I won't mind either."
"Oh Lord, forgive my sins." Riesbyfe made the sign of the cross with her empty right hand on her forehead, chest, left shoulder, and right shoulder. After her prayer, she also said "Thank you" to Shinji.
"You're welcome. If you want to thank me, do me a favor." Shinji waved his hand.
"I can't let you go." - What an unlikable personality indeed.
"I never thought of that. I just wanted to ask you where else on campus would be suitable for hanging someone. Since your esteemed Knight Captain is here, it wouldn't be appropriate to hang him in this place."
"A place for hanging, huh?" Riesbyfe thought carefully. "There's a bell tower near the main school building. That should work."
"Let's go with that then." Shinji grabbed Hayama, who had been hanging for quite some time, and said to Riesbyfe, "I'm not familiar with this place, so could you show me the way?"
"Sure."
Riesbyfe didn't refuse and casually jumped down from the nearly ten-meter-high rooftop of the chapel. The sound she made upon landing didn't sound like a human landing, but more like reinforced concrete hitting the ground.
"A humanoid Gundam, seriously?" Shinji muttered as he contemplated whether he should take the opportunity to escape. Regardless of the outcome, fighting against someone with that level of durability would leave him swollen all over for a while.
But in the end, Shinji gave up on the idea of fleeing.
It wasn't because he was afraid that Riesbyfe would come looking for him. Given her personality, she probably wouldn't be up to the task of searching for someone, as it was both troublesome and boring. The main reason Shinji stayed was to take this opportunity to assess the combat capabilities of the higher-ranking members of the Church.
So far, the only member of the Church's combat personnel he had encountered was Kotomine Kirei, who, although exceptional among the Executors, didn't rank high in a church teeming with monsters. The person standing before him now, as far as Shinji knew, had a combat power and several heretics slain that would probably place her in the top ten of the Church. Moreover, she was a Shield Maiden (Knight), a class known for high defense and low agility, making her the most suitable opponent.
Later, near the sports field close to the bell tower.
A knight wielding a shield, emanating a powerful aura, stood facing an assassin cloaked and devoid of any presence.
"Riesbyfe Stridberg, Captain of the Vestel Shield Knights, wielding the sacred shield in my hand—"
"An anonymous foot soldier hiding their identity, I humbly request—"
"—to crusade against heresy!"
"—to grant me enlightenment!"
The battle begins!
PS: Does anyone here play Melty Blood?
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