Somehow, Living Life in Another World is Wrong, as I Expected Ch. 7.3

Natsuki was the first to move, bolting from his position and into the throng of Karsten's soldiers and villagers. I was following him soon after. Karsten similarly emerged from her tent, sword already in hand. She quickly fell into step, then passed Natsuki, to the front of the battle.

Me? I stayed in the back. I'm not stupid enough to get in front of an Archbishop. While yes I fought the Whale, that one was something that an army was going to fight anyway. Against a single target? With me not holding a grudge like against Granhiert?

Those damn battle junkies can have that fight. I'll do my best to support them, don't get me wrong, but I'd just get in the way at that point.

Though, saying that, I feel I should have stopped Natsuki from rushing in. He would most likely not be willing to listen to me anyway, knowing him. The villagers were all huddled together fearfully, as the soldiers moved to defend themselves from any Cultists that might approach. Like myself, they hung back instead of charging forward, knowing that they'd just hamper any real attempts at subjugation.

According to the tentative information from Romanée-Conti, the Archbishop should be traveling alone. I had made sure that I worded the question right when I asked, with Karsten confirming that yes, it wasn't just the Archbishop thinking something or the other. Rather, to the best of Romanée-Conti's knowledge, the Archbishop of Gluttony was almost always alone.

I remembered being suspicious at the 'almost'. I'm certain Karsten caught that as well. As untrusting as I was, I had still tried to get more information from Romanée-Conti. Sadly, it seemed that their little schism inside the Witch Cult made it so that the relatively sane Archbishop didn't know anything about Gluttony's abilities, other than the Sin they represented, as well as a connection to the White Whale.

That last one was worrying. From what I can tell, this meant that Gluttony, at the very least, could control where the Whale went, if not outright command it. Take it from me, I know I would have been pissed if my cat was hurt by anyone.

We went far and above just 'hurting' the Whale. We straight up killed it. In brutal fashion, might I add.

So now, we're not just dealing with an Archbishop. We're potentially dealing with an Archbishop whose pet we just slammed a tree into.

The thought sent a shiver down my spine, like someone trailing icy fingers along each vertebra. Those icy fingers turned into a hand around my throat as I finally made it to my vantage point, allowing me to see the battlefield for what it was.

On one side, Wilhelm Astrea was wielding his sword with grace. He was joined by Felix Argyle, though the healer was noticeably further back, his hands glowing with his signature magic. Natsuki was with the catboy, and I couldn't help but sigh in relief. At least he wasn't suicidal enough to launch himself at the opponent. Karsten was fast approaching them, weaving through the debris that had been kicked up by Wilhelm's attacks.

A warrior, a tank, a healer, and with me as a backline mage - and Natsuki I guess - this made for a standard isekai party if I've seen one.

The one - and yes, it looks like Romanée-Conti's information was right in this regard - Cultist against us fit the bill to the letter.

For starters, they looked like a child. If a child had an oversized head and had eyes that were nearly as big as their mouth, which itself nearly reached their ears. They looked supremely malnourished, which either boded well for someone who represented Gluttony, or utterly horrifying for the same reason.

Overall, they looked like how I would've imagined someone called an Archbishop of the Witch Cult.

Worryingly, they held no weapons, nor did they look like they were using any magic. None that I could feel anyway.

That either meant one of three things. One, they relied on hand to hand combat, helped by the naturally stronger bodies that people had over here. Two, they were using their Authority to attack, the nature of which could be anything when considering it was as vague as Gluttony. Or, the worst option, they were doing both.

The craters newly embedded into the ground supported the first, the wariness of Wilhelm supported the second. Combined, it painted a bleak picture of surprising competence from a Cultist, Archbishop they may be.

Oh, it looks like they've been talking. How long, I don't actually know. It could have been before we got here. What I do know is that Wilhelm was actively pressing for time.

Completely unlike the old man's usual method of calm and collected assaults. He wasn't known as the Sword Devil for nothing. Now though, while he held his sword in front, he was making sure to keep back.

Considering the blade he held was capable of cleaving through solid steel, it wasn't the lack of power from him. He was likely just as wary as myself with the unknowns.

Well, let me pull some weight around.

In between the inane rambling that the Archbishop was spouting, likely some villain monologue that I didn't care to listen to, I opened a portal right under their foot, letting it sink. An old, simple trick, and yet no less effective in giving an opening.

I expected Wilhelm to leap into action, maybe even Karsten to follow up with her sword.

I did not expect the Archbishop to somehow twist their entire body and lift their leg so that it didn't even come close to the portal.

I also didn't expect the Archbishop to turn to me, hidden behind the foliage, and punch the air in front of them, nor did I foresee the gale force winds that accompanied the punch.

A thunderous crack through the treeline as I dove into the dirt. Trees were ripped from the ground as the wave of force followed through. I scrambled to the side as what little battle instincts I had screamed at me.

"HIKIGANYA!"

Ah, no, that wasn't it. That was Argyle, of all people, screaming.

I rolled to the side just as a leg would have splattered my head into the ground. Another crater, as the Archbishop suddenly rushed right above me, their hideous grin stretching even more than previously.

It was then I noticed that they weren't as unarmed as I had initially thought. Blades, one tied on each limb, hidden by the ratty cloak that they wore, now peeked just outside.

"You know, it's rude to interrupt a conversation." He, and I could tell by now that they were a male, said casually.

I responded with a shout, "Shamak!" Temporarily, I had blinded his senses, which I quickly used to portal myself further away, right behind Karsten. The woman tried to help me up. I waved her away. We couldn't let ourselves get distracted.

That was too close. I can suddenly see why Wilhelm was so damn wary. Super strength, teleportation, and at least some form of danger precognition? Next you were going to tell me this guy climbs walls and shoots webs. None of those seemed like a good fit for the Authority of Gluttony, so they were likely just the Archbishop's own abilities.

This was going to be difficult. Whether or not it was more difficult than the Whale remained to be seen.

…

Wilhelm broke the stalemate, his sword arm swinging in a wide arm. Slower than normal, to be clear. I would normally start losing track of him when he started to fight seriously. Unfortunately, none of the heavy hitters in our group could afford to let loose. Not when there were civilians cowering right behind us.

The solution was simple. Wilhelm was already on it, swinging not to hit, but to drive back the Archbishop. With more force than his characteristic speed, the Sword Demon was now pushing Gluttony back. Karsten did the same with low-powered slices from her Lion Rampant. Slowly but surely, the Archbishop was being pushed back as the five of us - Natsuki had followed for whatever reason - engaged in a running battle deeper into the forest.

The issue? He wasn't attacking. He hadn't attacked since my attempt at an ambush. Rather, he was looking at all of us with a massive grin, dodging, and even parrying, all of the attacks thrown at him.

"Almost got me there, gramps!"

Yes, I can see the difference between Romanée-Conti and Gluttony as clear as day. Unlike the one we had imprisoned back in the mansion, Gluttony was the real deal. The moderate Cultist was focused, even as he attacked us. This one was practically toying with us.

If we don't do anything soon, we might as well give up now.

"Say, that woman said your name was Hikiganya, right?"

The Cultist was suddenly right in my face, staring into my eyes with a monstrous hunger. I knew I had to get away, and yet, I couldn't move. Flight or fight, and my body was stuck in-between. The Archbishop's pointed teeth were put on full display as his jaw pulled open.

Ah.

Gluttony.

"ASSHOLE!" A tree branch was shoved right between us, courtesy of Natsuki. It did not do any damage as Gluttony's mouth clamped on it, none that I could tell, but it was enough to snap me out of my frozen state. With a hasty portal, I found myself meters away, with another portal for Natsuki to end up on the opposite side of me.

Tempted as I was to portal him back to the mansion, knowing him, he'd still just rush back into the forest. Better to keep him in sight than to risk him encountering any possible collaborators.

The rest of the party had scattered without me noticing.

I found myself dizzy with confusion. It was as if we'd been scattered by the same gust that had almost flattened me earlier, the very one that had turned trees to toothpicks. A primal fear throbbed behind my temples, but I shook it off. There'd be time to process that - later, if I survived this twisted joke of a battlefield.

That was the second time the Archbishop attacked, and it was directed towards me, again. A coincidence? Maybe. As Karsten and Wilhelm engaged our enemy at the same time, I solidified a plan. The first instance was because I had attacked him. The second one? I was practically hiding behind our lines, and yet, he had leapt at me with more ferocity than he was showing against two of the greatest sword wielders in the entire kingdom.

Let's try this, shall we?

I opened a portal to exit just behind some nearby foliage, while another, one way portal was left for me to view the battle through. When I exited, I aimed my attention to the battle, and immediately, I could see that the ever present grin on the Archbishop's face faded somewhat. He was still lacking any real attacks towards the two, but was now actively scanning the perimeter. Sooner or later, I had a feeling he would abandon the fight just to look for me.

Dammit, I wanted to be wrong on that one. For whatever reason, he's focusing on me. I'm not the fucking protagonist, you know?!

No choice now though. I discreetly opened a portal to where Argyle had been standing, preparing to heal whoever got injured. So far, his expertise had been unneeded with how little Gluttony was attacking. The catboy was, for all that he was a knight, a pacifist. He refused to attack anyone, for whatever reason. His title of the Blue was borne of his frankly miraculous healing abilities.

He wouldn't dare hurt anyone. Other than members of the Witch Cult, whom he seemed to loathe.

Call me a villain all you want, I wasn't above using that loathing to my advantage.

…