Emi Becomes a Hostage

<......We were careless.>

Yeah, you're right, Omake-sama.

Careless. Careless. I was beyond careless.

Right now, I'm being restrained by a man in a black robe, with a knife pressed against my neck and one arm twisted behind my back.

“......Founder-sama.”

The man restraining me calls out to the bald old guy facing off with Master.

......Founder-sama?

“What is it, Priest Ogad?”

The bald old guy called the Founder asks back in a gentle voice.

But only the voice is gentle.

An absolutely insane amount of killing intent is radiating from his body.

That guy is dangerous.

He's not on Master's level, but with my current strength, I definitely couldn't win.

I could tell the difference in our abilities just by looking at him.

“I've caught a suspicious little girl. What shall I do with her?”

Old Guy No. 2, the one holding me...... a guy who's apparently named Ogad, gives that answer.

For some reason, this Old Guy No. 2 is breathing strangely hard; it's a bit creepy.

“............”

Master's face twists with worry as he looks at me being held captive.

The bald Founder didn't miss that.

“Black hair, black eyes. I see, I see...... Come to think of it, you were the same, weren't you? Is she your granddaughter?”

“............”

Master doesn't answer.

But the 【Intimidation】 pouring off him jumps up several notches.

“......! ......Hahaha! Struck a nerve, did I? I see, I see. Your granddaughter, then!”

Baldy keeps smiling, even as he breaks into a cold sweat from Master's 【Intimidation】.

Um, I'm not his granddaughter, I'm his disciple, actually!

Still, I never had a decent family, previous life included, so Master is the first precious “family” I've ever had; that doesn't change.

So, being treated as a “granddaughter” actually makes me a little happy.

<Is this really the time to be saying such carefree things!?>

You're right, it's not. My bad.

“......You shall come with us, the ‘Purple Dual Rings’. This is a divine command. ......Do you not care what becomes of your granddaughter?”

Baldy tells Master this with a smug, triumphant look, grinning all the while.

......This is the worst.

There's no ‘maybe’ about it: I've been taken hostage.

Geez~~~! How did it come to this!?

I mean, what is even happening!?

And who the heck is that baldy!?

Founder? Priest? Divine command? Some kind of religious organization?

And what does “come with us” mean? Are they recruiting me into a religion?

Recruiting people into a religion by taking a hostage? What a novel religious group!

What kind of cult is this!? I absolutely do NOT want to join!

<‘Purple Dual Rings’...... Ah! I remember now, Emi! I recall the name popping up briefly in a recent Isekai Reincarnation Broadcast I watched!>

Seriously, Omake-sama!?

<Yes! It's a cult of slaughter formed by assassins who worship Death God Alogoros!>

THE CULT LEVEL IS WAY HIGHER THAN I THOUUUUUUUUUUGHT!!

“......Is this, a job?”

Paying my confusion no mind, and after a long silence, Master puts this question to Baldy.

“A job!? How many times must I tell you! This is a divine command! As the guide for our Miko of Slaughter, you have been appointed to a duty by our noble god, Death God Alogoros-sama! You have no choice! You MUST fulfill this divine command!!”

Baldy screams hysterically, spraying spit everywhere.

The way he shoves it at Master, obey because the god says so, makes him a fanatic through and through.

But Master shuts up Baldy and his shrill, grating racket with a single word.

“SHOW ME!!”

At the sudden roar, Baldy freaks out and shuts up despite himself.

I freak out too.

“Huh? What are you say......”

“I obey, only those stronger than me.”

With that, Master slowly raises his fists toward Baldy.

The 【Intimidation】 rises even further; it almost looks like a storm is raging around Master.

And then.

“Show me, your worth.”

So he said.

Master's overwhelming, no-arguments presence pulls the quiet air taut with tension.

“......Kuku, hahaha! So that's how it is? If I want you to obey, I must fight you and win? ......Have you forgotten that we have a hostage?”

Baldy is still dripping cold sweat, but he sneers at Master.

Yes! That's right, Master!

Me! I'm the hostage here!

Don't forget about meeee!!

“......Try anything with that one. Your goal, goes up in smoke.”

“!!”

Baldy recoils under Master's glare.

Ooh......!

He's saying that if they hurt me, he'll never do what they say.

And by saying so, he's wiped out the whole advantage of their hostage in an instant!

<No, no, no! But doing something like that is just a provocation! What if he loses his temper!?>

Well, yeah, that might be true!

......Ah! Ow!

Hey, Old Guy No. 2! Don't put so much pressure on my twisted arm!

Ow ow ow ow......!

Aaah~~~~~~! Geez!

Somehow!

Can't you save me somehow, Masteeer~!?

At that moment, Master turns his face toward me.

A powerful, piercing gaze.

........................!!!

<Emi......? What's wrong?>

......It's a task.

<Eh?>

“Ku...... kukuku! Hahahahaha! Yes, very well! Understood. Truth be told, that was our intention from the very start! I shall bend you to my will by force! I'll take you up on it! Priest Ogad! Keep a firm hold on that girl!”

Baldy gives the order to Old Guy No. 2 and takes up a peculiar stance, like a conductor.

The killing intent of Master and Baldy collides, and the very air creaks, mishi mishi.

“This is a chance for me as well! To my noble god! That I am a being of far greater worth than the likes of you! To prove it!!”

Baldy throws away the smiling mask he'd kept up until now and glares at Master, eyes wide.

Perhaps he's steeled his resolve: the cold sweat he'd been shedding until now has already dried.

“Now, come! ......Allow me to subdue you!!”

With those words, the battle between Master and Baldy began!