Then, Sensei. Did something happen when you reported to the king? After all, it seemed to have been a serious talk."
Shizuku's question made Aiko recall something and she made a bitter expression where anger and distrust mixed.
"... Officially, Nagumo-kun is branded as a heretic."
"!? That's—!... What do you mean? No, I somehow can guess it... but isn't that decision a hasty one?"
Hajime was powerful. With only several people, he repulsed more than 60,000 demonic beasts while using mysterious artifacts. Hajime's comrades also possessed unbelievable power. However, his stance was he would not cooperate with Church of the Saints and would even oppose them depending on the situation. It was true Hajime was a truly dangerous existence for the Kingdom and the Church of the Saints.
However, it was truly too hasty to brand him as a heretic so quickly. The brand of a heretic was given to those who disobeyed the teaching from Church of the Saints and became the God's enemy, and such branding would make it legal for anyone to subjugate Hajime any time, any where. And according to the situation, even the Temple Knights and Kingdom's army might move out.
Following that, by attacking Hajime because he was a heretic, they would receive the treatment of an enemy from Hajime, his merciless and severe attack. There was no way the King and Church people didn't know the danger. However, Aiko said they decided it right away. There was no way Shizuku would not be surprised by that.
Shizuku had guessed up until that point, which made Aiko nod in admiration towards the unchanging fast-learner.
"It is completely as Yaegashi-san said. Moreover, no matter if he has tremendous power and not following the church, he ended up saving Ul, but they ignored my protests. Nagumo-kun had expected this situation, so he bolstered by title "Goddess of Bountiful Harvest." Also, I heard from the bodyguards that the name "Goddess of Bountiful Harvest" and "Goddess Sword" had spread further into the other towns. So, by branding him as heretic, it is also means the church is denying "Goddess of Bountiful Harvest" who saved the people. Thus, they shouldn't be able to easily ignore my protest, or so it should be. But those people forced the decision. They were obviously being odd... also, I recalled that other than Ishtal and church's people, the king and other royalties' appearances were strange..."
"... That's troubling. Just what are they thinking... But the thing they couldn't help and think of now is "who" they should send to the powerful Nagumo-kun, right? And that's the point here."
"... It is so. Perhaps..."
"Eeh. There's only us... but I will absolutely refuse that, you know? I don't want to die. If I become Nagumo-kun's enemy... I don't even want to imagine it."
Shizuku shivered, and Aiko made a wry smile understanding what Shizuku felt.
Thus, before the Kingdom and Church told Kouki and the others to fight Hajime, Aiko decided to tell them about the things Hajime told her. About the Mad Gods and his purpose during his travels. She held no proof, so she didn't know whether Kouki and the others would believe it. Furthermore, up until now they did their best because they believed the God would return them to their original world as long as they won the war against Demon race.
In truth, the God takes delight in people's reaction to His doing, and the possibility of returning is extremely low. So let's look for the dwelling of those who rebelled against the gods in the old times and look for a way to return ourselves! No one would believe it if those words were said all of a sudden. After Kouki and the others heard what she told them, whether they would see it as nonsense and continued to fight like before, or believed her and looked for another way... That was not something Aiko could predict. However, she must nail it to them not to blindly believing the Church. Aiko convinced herself to do that now.