Hunting Down Greed, Part Two

The church fell silent.

The women on the bench stood up.

Some were crying, some were laughing, some were covering their mouths, some were kneeling on the ground, and some were hugging each other.

"He... he's going to die..."

"Really... dead..."

"That person... will kill him..."

"We... are free..."

Higashino Makoto sheathed his spear, turned around, and looked at the women.

Golden eyes swept across every face.

"Are you his wives?"

No one answered, but some people nodded.

How many people?

A woman standing at the very front spoke up.

His voice was hoarse, his eyes were red and swollen, but his back was ramrod straight.

Sixty people are still alive.

"What about those who are dead?"

Two hundred and eighty-seven.

Higashino Makoto looked at her, his golden eyes devoid of any emotion.

"He killed him?"

"Most of them were... some... couldn't bear it... and committed suicide."

"What about you? Why aren't you running?"

The woman gave a self-deprecating smile.

"Run? Where can we run to? He killed our family, our friends, everyone we knew. We have nowhere to go."

"Besides, we can't outrun him; he's too strong."

Higashino Makoto fell silent, realizing he had asked a foolish question.

Indeed, the Bishop of Greed, who possesses Authority, is undoubtedly one of the strongest beings in this world.

He glanced at the guy who was still wailing, then at them, and asked.

Do you hate him?

The woman paused for a moment, then turned to look at the others.

Then, they spoke at the same time.

"I hate it so much."

I've always hated it.

He has mental problems.

"He's mentally ill."

Who would like that kind of person?

He just likes himself.

I've rejected him in my heart countless times.

I've been wanting to cry for a long time.

Why doesn't he just die?

"I hate it so much."

I hate the look in his eyes.

I hate the way he talks.

"I hate the way he walks."

"His personality makes him impossible to love."

"Even worse than yesterday."

Tomorrow will be even worse.

"Disgusting."

"Abnormal."

"His thoughts are like a child's."

Even an earth dragon is stronger than him.

"I don't even know who to compare him to."

"It's physiologically unacceptable."

I always feel like throwing up.

He's utterly rotten.

"I feel nauseous when I'm with him."

"He is the enemy who killed my family."

"I was forcibly taken away, how can I like him?"

"It's unbelievable that he didn't realize the malice behind it."

I really hope he's tortured to death.

"He talks a lot of long, rambling nonsense; every time he utters an unnecessary word, I wish he were dead."

"It would be better if his intestines rotted away."

"You despicable scumbag."

I hate him so much, I'll hate him forever!

"What woman in the world would fall for that kind of guy?"

"No man would like him either."

"No one in the world would love someone like that."

The sounds rose and fell in waves. Some were shrill, some were low, some were choked with sobs, some were filled with laughter, and some were as calm as chanting.

"Since that's the case, should we take revenge? This guy isn't dead yet."

"Want!"

With a unanimous answer, they stepped forward and grabbed and kicked the still-breathing Sin Archbishops, as if to vent all their grievances and pain.

Higashino Makoto stood there, listening to the sounds, his golden eyes devoid of any emotion.

Reisen stood behind him, her crimson eyes fixed on the women, her rabbit ears trembling slightly.

Then, the sound stopped.

The women looked at Higashino Makoto, waiting.

Higashino Makoto remained silent for a moment.

"Since you have nowhere to go, do you need work?"

The women were stunned.

"Work?"

"Yes, work."

Higashino Makoto took a silver-white badge out of his backpack and held it up in front of them.

The badge features a black cross engraved with burning flames, with a pair of pure white wings extending from behind the cross to encircle the main body.

My guild happens to need a maid.

The women looked at the badge, at the pair of pure white wings, at the burning flame.

"Maid..."

"Yes, maid. Room and board included, with a salary and generous holiday benefits."

"I can't guarantee you anything else, but at least it won't be worse than it is now. Of course, I won't force you. If you don't want to, I'll give you some travel expenses so you can settle down for a while."

The church fell silent, and the women looked at each other in bewilderment.

Then, the first woman spoke.

The woman standing at the very front, her back ramrod straight.

"Can... can we all go?"

"Can."

"Then I'll go with you."

She stepped forward and walked up to Higashino Makoto. Then came the second, the third, the fourth...

One by one, they stood up from the pews and walked from every corner of the church.

All sixty women chose to leave with him.

Hmm, more than I expected.

Higashino Makoto looked at them, his eyes devoid of any emotion.

Reisen.

"Exist."

"Record names, arrange accommodations, and train maids in skills."

"Yes, sir."

Reisen took out her notebook, opened it, and stared at the women with her crimson eyes.

Please state your names in turn.

"Lucia."

"Emily."

"Katrina."

Sophia.

Maria.

Anna.

Names were called out one after another, and handwriting appeared one after another in the notebook.

Higashino Makoto turned around and walked out of the church.

"I'm leaving now. Reisen, come find me when you're done with your work."

He stepped out of the church.

Behind me, inside the church, women were still calling out their names.

Reisen's voice mingled with the women's voices, echoing in the night breeze.

Novas Etier, Seventh Floor, Maid Training Room.

Sixty women stood in the room, all dressed in identical black maid outfits.

The skirt reached her knees, and a white bow was tied at the neckline. Her hair was styled into a neat bun.

They stood in front of the mirror, looking at themselves.

"This is... me?"

"It doesn't look like it..."

"I... think... I'm laughing..."

"Me too..."

Higashino Makoto stood at the doorway, his golden eyes watching the women smiling at themselves in the mirror.

Reisen stood behind him, holding a notebook in her hands.

"Master, the training plan has been arranged."

"How long?"

"One month of basic training: etiquette, cleaning, service... then job assignments will follow."

What about your salary?

"Five gold coins per month, including food and lodging. One day off, which can be spent in other worlds."

Higashino Makoto nodded.

"That's good enough."

He turned and walked deeper into the corridor.

"Owner."

"Um."

Why are you helping them?

Higashino Makoto didn't answer. He simply stopped at the end of the corridor and looked out the window at the artificial starry sky.

"Because they happened to have nowhere to go, and they were quite pretty."

"That's all?"

That's all.

Reisen looked at him, her crimson eyes flashing with a complex light.

"Master, you are so gentle."

"Stop yelling, stop yelling."

Higashino Makoto didn't turn around, but continued walking forward, his footsteps echoing in the corridor.

Reisen lifted her skirt and followed.

"Owner."

"Um."

Who is the next target?

Higashino Makoto thought for a moment, then took out the Tome of Wisdom from his backpack and opened it.

The pages turned automatically, making a soft rustling sound, and stopped at a certain page.

"Bingeing."

He stepped into the depths of the corridor.

Reisen lifted her skirt and followed.

And the maids' new lives are about to begin.