I may have been at a disadvantage, but it's time to take the kid gloves off.
The fog is rapidly clearing.
Those guys are dumbfounded, they weren't prepared for this.
While opening my foresight eye I confirmed the positions of the guys with the barriers, one shot, two shots, three shots.
I easily penetrated their defenses.
Then smashed them with the MK-I's shield.
Of course, I went easy on them.
I only knocked them out.
They probably aren't dead.
At the same time I took another three down with the Gatling gun.
I swung my left arm in a wide arc.
There was a sound like a loud hum as my Gatling gun spat out a stream of rock bullets.
The three folded like twigs as my rock bullets crushed their shins.
I took care not to blow their legs off.
I also avoided their vitals, they shouldn't be dead, just stunned.
But, just in case, I nailed each of them in the head with another rock bullet to make sure they were out cold.
Two left.
I took a step back before turning around, like Orsted taught me to.
If an enemy attacks from behind, you have to use quick footwork to avoid them.
I didn't feel an attack coming, but it was just to make sure.
When I turned around, Therese was in front of me.
Her eyes were wide, and her mouth was hanging open, watching me.
The one next to her started to unsheathe his sword to defend her.
But, too late.
You're too slow.
If it had been Eris, she would have cut him down ten times before he had drawn his sword.
With the MK-I I can easily deal with this level of speed.
These guys can't compare to my training.
Before he could unsheathe his sword, I swatted him away with my fist.
He was blown away before he could make a sound, and crashed into the wall of the headquarters, stunned.
Therese was still standing there with a frozen look of amazement.
She had a face as if she had no idea what had happened.
"W-, what..."
To her, I gave my minimum considerations, and knocked her out with a rock bullet rather than my fist.
Done.
After all, the MK-I can only be described as overwhelming.
I was able to finish off my opponents before they had a single opportunity to attack, and unceremoniously broke through all of their defenses.
I wonder if I'm being immature?
Therese, and the other Temple Knights, were scattered on the ground around me.
Nobody died.
Unless I find one of Hitogami's apostles, I'd like to avoid killing as much as possible.
That's my rule.
I was able to afford it this time.
"Haah~... I feel refreshed."
Recently, perhaps because I've had so much frustration accumulating, that was awfully refreshing.
After all, it's no good if you don't go on a rampage once in awhile.
At least according to Eris...
No, that's too violent.
However, what should I do now?
After all this, the Temple Knights will undoubtedly turn into my enemy.
To begin with, who was I betrayed by?
The only ones who knew about the kidnapping idea were me, Aisha, Gisu... also Cliff and the Pope?
What about that girl in Cliff's house?
First of all, it absolutely wasn't Aisha.
If she wanted to betray me, she wouldn't need to do such a thing.
It would be something like [Oniichan, give me a piggyback ride!] and then, while I was enjoying the feeling of her breasts on my back... she'd slit my throat.
Or she could just mix some poison into my drink.
Cliff and Gisu are also unlikely.
They're in similar positions.
They wouldn't need to use such a roundabout way to get rid of me when my back is exposed.
Then, is it the Pope?
Would the Pope try to kill me off with this timing?
What would he gain?
No, maybe it's the opposite.
Perhaps he simply wanted me to remove a few Temple Knights from the board.
From the Pope's perspective, even though I gave him my support, I never actually did anything to support him.
Perhaps this was his plan to put me to use.
And then, while I stall her escorts, the Pope has the perfect opportunity to kidnap the Miko...
Wait wait.
Therese said that the information came from a credible source.
For her, would the Pope be a trustworthy source?
The Pope is her enemy.
Above anyone else, wouldn't he be an untrustworthy source?
In the first place, there's also the possibility that accusing me of plotting to kidnap the Miko is just a coincidence.
Although there's a grain of truth, someone could have just made it up.
Wait.
Rather than thinking this is an accident, I should consider Hitogami's involvement.
Once again, it's possible that one of Hitogami's apostles is lurking behind the scenes.
Yeah, compared to a betrayal, it seems likely that guy was involved.
What is Hitogami's intent?
I can't see the future, I have no idea.
Everything bad happens because of that guy.