Antagonist Protection Service-Chapter 134: Burn the Witch (5)

"Don't worry. So long as you are genuine in your guilt and in your repentance, you shall be forgiven... And now, to count the votes."

Then, approaching the apse's altar and positioning herself in front of that open book, she gently cleared her throat and continued with something she hadn't done in either of the previous Rounds.

"'Day 1: Philip names 「Judas」. Target - Lilliana Weiss.'"

"WHAT?!"

All of a sudden, but perhaps only naturally, the Protagonist's furious tone shouted out.

"What on Earth are you talking about?! That old fool?! Voted me?! On the first bloody day?! This--"

"Miss Lilliana. Please be quiet during the process. You may take all the time you like to voice any and all concerns after. If you can, of course."

"...?!"

Like that, Cecilia silenced her and continued.

"Mhm. Now then."

Ever-so-slowly, and one-by-one, she recited each of the votes that had accumulated thus far.

"'Day 2: Simon names 「Judas」. Target - Lilliana Weiss.'"

"'Day 3: Matthew names 「Judas」. Target - Lilliana Weiss.'"

"'Day 3: Thomas names 「Judas」. Target - Lilliana Weiss.'"

"'Day 4: Lilliana Weiss names 「Judas」. Target - Thaddeus.'"

"'Day 4: John names 「Judas」. Target - Lilliana Weiss.'"

"'Day 4: Peter names 「Judas」. Target - Lilliana Weiss.'"

"――This is just ridiculous! Answer me, what is going on here?!"

"Silence. Do not interrupt a divine trial. You will not be warned again."

Again, the Protagonist interrupted in a clearly subdued frenzy, and again, Cecilia shushed her firmly.

"'Day 5: James names 「Judas」. Target - Lilliana Weiss.'"

"'Day 10: Bartholomew names 「Judas」. Target - Lilliana Weiss.'"

Finishing with the final vote that I had made yesterday evening, Cecilia, with each of her hands on either side of the book, which should have been immovable, she effortlessly closed it shut in a single movement, raising it from the altar seemingly without any resistance whatsoever before facing us from the raised platform.

"All votes have thus been accounted for. The polls stand: one total vote for "Thaddeus", eight total votes for Lilliana Weiss."

"Farce! It's all a total farce! You're all in this together, aren't you?! Just to get me, just to gang up on me, just to ruin poor little me...! From the very beginning, you've all been acting strange, so very very strange, and in the end this is exactly why is it not?! Pretending not to know, pretending not to see what's going on, what you're doing, it's horrendous, awful, terrible, dreadful, heinous, an absolutely, undeniably, irrevocably abhorrent crime!"

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"Yes, cry as you might, weep as you might, whine as you might, this is the result. The prevailing truth, and by God the will of our Lord."

"SHUT IT! You psycho, you think you're so pristine, so perfect, so sublime and marvellous! All you are is a delusional bitch! All of you are filthy, mindless peasants with no will of your own! This--"

"The congregation has spoken. Lilliana Weiss has officially been declared 「Judas」."

Following that cutthroat declaration, silence immediately swallowed the church.

At the same time, all light vanished from the world.

Before anyone could rise into a panic, however, Cecilia continued, her voice echoing all throughout the hall.

"Hear my voice, My Lord. I ask you."

"..."

"Let 「Judas」 repent."

"..."

For just a moment, nothing happened.

But then.

"――KIIIIIIIAAAAAAAAEEEEEEEEKkh...!!"

Blood-curdling screams erupted as from within the darkness a burst of light sprouted.

Pure white fire, like that which was specifically designed to purge sin.

Emitting all the light that was visible, nothing else could be seen but the witch, engulfed in that snow-like inferno, burning endlessly.

Slowly, we waited, just watching as a seemingly innocent, young girl's harrowed cries echoed, the expressions of others only barely visible thanks to the intensity of the divine flames.

Having no choice but to watch it or close my eyes, I myself had mixed feelings about the scene.

On one hand, I was obviously relieved to finally be done with this, frankly, horrible Contract, and endlessly thankful to just know that I would soon be returning home after what turned out to be a full month stuck in this damned church...

...But of course, on the other hand, this was no less than a haunting sight.

I'm sure I wouldn't ever forget it, but I didn't think I could consider that as a good thing.

I don't know how long passed like that, but eventually, the Protagonist's body melted under the sheer heat of the purifying flames, liquefying not just her screams but her body into literal ash.

At some point, that was all that was left.

[The Protagonist, 'Lilliana Weiss, the Detective', has been dispatched.]

[Contract complete.]

[Yaay! Congratulations, Enki! I knew you could do it!]

"..."

"There are now no more sinners to confess, no votes to count, and no repentance to be made. Once again, you have all done well to confess, to redeem yourselves, and to become proper. Congratulations, sincerely. Let the conclusion of the Decalogue Trial thus be realised."

Following the final words of Cecilia, the loud creak of the door began to resound, flooding the hall with another kind of bright light.

The Third Round... was over.

Successful completion.

Just before I was forced to shut my eyes, however, I heard one last voice echo quietly.

"Pure stranger... thank you..."

Immediately after, my vision turned dark.