Chapter 108 Crime and Punishment

After finishing sex.

I had several conversations with Min Jiyu. After moving to another room, of course.

"Whether Lucian was there or not, I found myself imagining being forcibly taken. Because of that, my lower body often got wet...."

"Hmm, I respect that."

Even though I said that, I was quite embarrassed. Whatever else, this was really hard to get used to.

Someone calling my name while masturbating, or masturbating while thinking of me without my knowledge. Hah, really.

I naturally hugged Min Jiyu. Min Jiyu also hugged me back as if welcoming me, letting out a short sigh. I caressed her chest.

"It was good doing it with you, Jiyu. It was hot."

"Really? Uheu... I’m embarrassed."

"You can speak more comfortably, you know."

"Eueung, I want to obey Lucian. I want to be a wise mother and good wife...."

It was unexpected. A woman who was so progressive and modern when she was working as a manager.

To change like this when we were alone. Is this... gap moe?!

Instead, Min Jiyu looked back at me, sending a subtle smile mixed with lewdness and innocence.

"I like you, my very own Debauched Hero♥"

"I like you too. My capable and beautiful Manager...."

We expressed our affection for each other.

"Being called that feels quite fresh, doesn’t it? Huhu♥"

"By the way, will the cafe be okay?"

"Tomorrow is a holiday, so it’s a day off, but I just hope it’s safe."

I shook my head. From what I saw earlier, it seemed difficult for it to be safe.

There were many fanatics, and above all, the longer the Imperial Palace delayed in subduing James, the greater the surrounding damage would be.

Worry was clearly etched on Min Jiyu’s face after she finished her answer. It was only natural, as it was her only workplace and a place where she could unleash her energy.

Let’s give her courage.

"Hmm, if anything happens to the cafe, tell me. I’ll help."

"Huhu, will you fix it for me? Or will you cross-dress and serve?"

"Keok, not that topic!"

Anyway, I really got a proper embarrassing past. I’ll cross-dress again, my ass, fuck.

"Huhu, then what? A cafe model?"

"Hmph, I’ll just buy you a new building, you know. I can afford that much."

At my words, Min Jiyu’s eyes widened in surprise. Even so, I liked how her sharp nose made it seem like she was posing for a photoshoot.

Of course, even though I said that, it would be tough. Even if you consider a Hero’s weekly salary, you’d have to work hard in dungeons or get a good number of Hero-related cases to be able to casually buy a building.

"Besides, opening a cafe on Sky Island wouldn’t even make sense."

She was surprised, then let out a chuckle.

"You’re so reliable, my Debauched Hero♥"

"Uhmm, rest."

I opened the door to go outside. Min Jiyu’s voice came from behind me. It was sticky, as if holding onto my lingering attachment.

"Next time... will it be possible?"

"If you want, anytime!"

I answered forcefully and left. I went to a nearby room, washed up, and changed into new clothes.

It was a good sex today too!

"Are you talking about outside? Should I go take a look?"

"I only deal with women... Oh, of course, he was my prey."

If the Goddess is this uneasy, then there must be something. Is it because of that ring after all?

"I should retrieve it before those Imperial bastards deal with it."

"I have invincible power, I’ll be fine! Invincible Golden Hero! Tadaaaan!"

Beastly big-dicked, she said. I couldn’t help but laugh. I lightly stretched my body and returned to reality through the ring.

I was under the clock tower. It was past night and into the early morning, but the capital still hadn’t been quelled.

"Unghh?"

What is this? It’s still like this? Shouldn’t it be stopped by now?

It was too strange.

Thinking I might have missed something, I traced back the original history.

"I know there was a subjugation of barbarians at this time, but it was only a discussion, and it would only properly begin three or four months later. What is it, then? Is there something else I don’t know?"

I looked around and moved forward. There were countless broken or half-destroyed houses, and the ground was full of unidentified corpses.

It was gruesome. It felt like I had come to some apocalyptic world.

"Kkeueu...."

Then I found a severely wounded soldier dying. His lower body was completely gone.

"Hey, are you okay? Hey!"

"Keoreuk... Who are you?"

"I am the Hero."

At my answer, the soldier was surprised. But soon he gave a bitter laugh.

"Keueuk, no matter who you are, that, that man... Uhhk."

"That man? James?"

"That man is no longer human, keuk... We can’t stop him, not at all... Euggk."

"What exactly happened?"

"Even the Guard Captain fell, and we, ahh, is this how this country ends?"

"Hey, what about the others? The Knight Commander?"

"Everyone is already on the barbarian subjugation...."

The soldier couldn’t finish his sentence and passed away. It was natural, given such severe injuries.

It was a miracle he had been alive until now.

I stood up, tilting my head.

"They’re already doing the barbarian subjugation?"

"Wait, the original timeline is the same. But there’s one variable. Haa...."

I recalled the events that originally happened, one by one.

The provocation of the northern barbarians, nationwide chaos caused by cults, a general meeting after suppressing the Heretic War, and then the barbarian subjugation.

"That’s right. Originally, the Heretic War itself happened three or four months later. Before that, the Black Army appeared everywhere due to Those Who Recite Sins Cult, and all sorts of side effects occurred."

I felt disheartened. So, the Heretic War happening too early was the root cause of all this?

"In the end, history changed, and this is how it turned out!"

This isn’t even an alternate history novel, and the butterfly effect of history changing is this huge?

I was appalled. Then this wasn’t the time to be standing around.

I ran towards the Imperial Palace.

"If so, James is aiming for one thing! Like Lao, the cult leader, he must be trying to take over a country. No, the world!"

I had to stop him. The world couldn’t fall into the hands of such a madman.

Even now, it was chaotic and disordered enough. But in this situation, a cult killing imperial family members and occupying the Imperial Palace?

It was a disaster. A disaster unlike any other.

I ran and ran until I was out of breath.

Everywhere I went, the scenery was similar. The peaceful and populous capital had instantly turned into a mess.

"Aaahhk!"

Screams could be heard chaotically not far away. The sound of metal clashing meant it was a fight.

I went to investigate.

"They’re having a grand time."

Those Who Recite Sins Cult had split into factions and were fighting among themselves. It was strange that those bastards were still around in the first place.

What is the Imperial Palace even doing? How much force did they pour into the barbarian subjugation?

"It seems most of the Master-rank powerhouses, including the Knight Commander and archmages, were deployed."

Of course, the Imperial Palace wouldn’t have known such a thing would happen. Even their current second-string forces are stronger than other countries’.

But this is too much!

"Should I stop them?"

For a moment, I wondered if I should stop the cultists. But I shook my head and ran again.

"If they listened to reason, they wouldn’t have become cultists, skip them!"

I ran towards the Imperial Palace. When I finally reached near the Imperial Palace.

I saw James looking up at a certain statue. He was gazing up at the statue alone, his ring glowing.

And as if to mark this encounter, a quest appeared.

『Urgent Quest - Uncertain Showdown』

-Objective: Defeat James Moonshiner.

-Reward: Trust/Affection UP! for all imperial family members of the Dharma Empire, your exploits will be known throughout the Dharma Empire

-Failure: Soul Annihilation, half of owned heroines instantly die

Tough, tough.

I called out to James.

"James, you cultist bastard!"

James slowly turned to look at me. His eyes were also tinged with pale crimson.

"Ah, another moth drawn to a flame, come to stop me?"

He mocks me as soon as he sees me, that bastard.

"Why are you doing this? Look around, you son of a bitch. Are you drunk on power? Are you?"

"Crime and Punishment."

"...What?"

"Do you know who this statue is?"

James turned the question back to me, who was seeking an answer.

I glared at him, dumbfounded. It’s truly cultist-like madness.

"You’ll tell me."

"He was a Hero named Yur Phoenixia. A Hero who would rise even if he died, and sacrificed himself to protect the world."

Was he?

"But what did the country actually do? Just one thing, one statue."

A single word, thrown out as if in futility. Yet, he was smiling.

"His eyes are already hopeless. If a cultist bastard isn’t strange, that would be abnormal."

"Souls...? Then who is that man...?"

I was flustered. Who is that, then?

I engraved the Goddess’s warning in my heart and glared at him. James continued to spout nonsense.

"This man committed a sin."

"A Hero committed a sin?"

"The sin of protecting humanity. The punishment, I will deliver it myself. Why? Because I am the incarnated... Messiah in this world!"

James twisted the corner of his mouth and looked at me. Then, with his right hand, he pointed at the statue.

He merely opened his mouth.

"Be severed."

The statue was diagonally cut in half. It fell weakly downwards and crumbled.

Indeed, that power doesn’t seem ordinary.

"Hey, James."

"What is it, Demon Hero?"

"But do you know something?"

"What?"

Me, a Demon Hero? To a body that is the embodiment of a lust demon and will become the strongest Debauched Hero of all time!

You bastard, summary execution!

I chuckled and continued speaking.

"You also have a lot of sins. Real sins! So, those sins, I’ll teach you a real lesson as a Hero. Many people would want that, wouldn’t they?"

I drew my sword. As soon as I drew it, a dense golden light, different from aura, began to shimmer around my entire body like smoke.

James clicked his tongue.

"Is that so? You have something interesting. For a Demon Hero."

"No need for words, full power deployment!"

Show and Prove!

Activating my aura and lightning aura, I shot forward like lightning.

Then James opened his mouth.

"Die."