Chapter 026: Witch Little Class Begins! (Patreon)

"If we're going to start from within, we need to be far more selective about recruitment — not demanding great ability, but requiring loyalty to the Witch Cult above all. As for the outside, we need to soften the public's dark impression of the Witch Cult, or we'll never be able to step out from behind the scenes and into the open."

As Geuse spoke, he quietly watched for the other two Archbishops' reactions.

After all — the Witch Cult's current tarnished reputation was, in no small part, "thanks to" Regulus and his fellow Archbishops...

"Huh?!" Regulus slapped the table and pointed at Geuse. "What on earth are you talking about? A dark impression? For the past century we've led the Witch Cult, helping people wipe out countless uncultured degenerates consumed by their own desires — how could anyone possibly think badly of us?! You're joking, right? Tell me you're joking! I'm warning you, this isn't something to joke about. It concerns something far too important — it's tied to our Witch Cult's ultimate goal. Could you not go spouting nonsense that has nothing to do with anything? Hm?!"

Whatever thought he'd had of slipping away was, for the moment, shoved aside. Right now all he wanted was to set this nonsense-spouting little elf's wildly twisted thinking straight.

He had given so much for the sake of world peace! By what right did anyone get to smear that radiant, glorious picture he'd painted?! If this sort of talk was ever accepted, wouldn't the whole of human history end up rewritten however anyone pleased?

But... Geuse only glanced at him and said nothing.

He had no idea how Regulus's mind worked.

"I'm asking you a question! When someone asks, you answer! This is—"

As he spoke, Regulus felt Pandora's gaze on him and fell silent on his own.

Fine... he gave up.

"I'll explain all this to you in a moment..." Pandora nodded. "As for what Archbishop Romanée-Conti raised, I've given it some thought myself."

Not that she'd only just thought of it moments ago, of course...

"It really is an important point. So I'd like Archbishop Regulus and Archbishop Lye to cooperate with Archbishop Romanée-Conti on this reform — after all, it's something that will decide the direction we take going forward."

Whether they returned to the old road or struck out on a new one — that was the crossroads before them.

"Is there anything else anyone wants to say? If not, this meeting is adjourned."

"None, my lady."

"I'm a little hungry, but I can't eat..."

"Uh..."

The three replies were each different, but each made its speaker's meaning perfectly clear.

"All right, that's it for today. Archbishop Lye, you may head out first." With that, Pandora declared the meeting over.

"Yes..."

With that acknowledgment, Lye rose to his feet, walked to the door, and opened it.

Click.

Bang!

Along with it came a tremendous crash as the wall was punched clean through.

"This—" Staring at the person-shaped gap now missing from the wall, Geuse froze for a moment. "Lady Pandora, Archbishop Regulus—"

"Hm? What about him?" Pandora simply smiled and waved a hand. "Isn't Archbishop Regulus sitting right here, perfectly fine?"

...

"I—" Regulus looked at the smiling Pandora nearby, then down at the sofa beneath him, and felt like crying with no tears left to shed. He gave up completely.

Honestly, once Geuse had learned what Regulus had done, he'd been furious too, but given his position he hadn't been able to show it. But now...

Seeing Regulus looking so utterly defeated — well, that was enough to cool his temper a little. And besides... he could share this with Fortuna later.

"Hm... would you mind waiting outside for a bit?" Ignoring the "dead fish" now slumped motionless on the table, Pandora turned to ask Geuse.

"Of course." Geuse bowed in reply, then stepped out of the room and shut the door behind him.

...

"All right, Archbishop Regulus, now..." Pandora settled back into her stone chair. "Let's begin!"

At those words, Regulus — a coil of dark dread practically visible above his head — jerked his head up at once, eyes going wide.

"Lady Pandora!" he said, pressing his palms together. "Please, spare me! I know I was wrong!"

If he'd known this was coming, he'd have skipped the book-tearing spectacle entirely rather than show up today! This was, without a doubt, the single worst decision he'd made in his entire life.

"No, no — why do you say you were wrong? Wrong about what, exactly?"

"I..."

"See? You can't say. Which means you don't actually think you did anything wrong."

"Uh..."

"Of course, that's just what you think — that you're not at fault."

"..."

"So, to point out your mistakes and help you correct them, let's start from the very beginning."

"..."

Start from the very beginning?! How long would that take?!

"You're just wasting time! I don't want to hear it... how about... how about we just forget it?"

He was making one last attempt. If Pandora dared refuse...

Pandora simply shook her head. "This isn't a waste. It's an investment that will save us time efficiently, in the future."

"You're the one forcing my hand!" Regulus shot to his feet and jabbed a finger at Pandora.

"Oh? Do tell, Archbishop Regulus — what exactly did you have in mind?"

"Heh heh... me? I..."

With that, he abruptly slumped back down onto the table.

If she dared refuse, he simply wouldn't cooperate. What could she do about that?!

"Hm... you seem a bit tired." Seeing this, Pandora sighed. "Maybe we should just leave it here for today..."

(Hm? An opening?) Regulus thought, hearing this. But...

Pandora's voice came again: "We'll pick this up again tomorrow."

"..."

That was brutal! Was she even human?! This was flat-out abuse! He was going to report her...

Well — except the person he'd report her to was, technically, herself, his own superior. So that plan was dead on arrival.

"That's more like it." Pandora nodded, watching Regulus — his eyes still glazed like a dead fish's, but at least his head was up now. "Though if you're going to listen in that state, I doubt you'll take in much of what I'm about to say."

At that, Regulus let out a hard breath through his nose.

"What is this even supposed to be? 'Listen'? Are you trying to be my teacher now? Let me tell you, that kind of—"

"Well, Student Regulus, that's an excellent suggestion. Motion accepted."