Me, a priest? How could that be!

Chapter 47 Oh no, I've become a substitute!

Charlotte's idea was simple.

When high expectations are placed on them, pretending to be cowardly is out of the question. That's why they put on a show of heroic sacrifice to provoke the adventurous spirits of the other adventurers.

After that, you just need to lie quietly to the side and get up when the final victory is decided.

I've already come up with an excuse.

It is said that the Headless Horseman was actually a good person and did not kill him, thus sparing his own life.

However, now all the plans have been ruined.

The silly goddess was a little confused and blurted out, "Charlotte, you're not pretending, are you—"

"Ahhh! Aqua, as expected of a goddess, your healing abilities are amazing!"

"Really!? Then you must have faith in me from now on and pray to me three times a day!"

"Yes, I will definitely pray for you!"

Charlotte's shouts sounded particularly fake.

Fortunately, Aqua wasn't very bright, so she simply praised Aqua's skills and easily brushed her off.

Kazuma Sato, standing in the crowd, couldn't help but mutter, "What an idiot."

"What an idiot."

Charlotte muttered the same thing.

Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at the adventurers at the town's main entrance and saw that they were still looking at him with great anticipation. There was absolutely no way he could lie down now.

What should I do? What am I supposed to do?

At this moment, Charlotte noticed that Aqua wasn't afraid at all, but instead looked at the headless knight with great interest. Suddenly remembering that there was a goddess on her side, Charlotte leaned in and whispered something to her.

"I have an idea..."

"...Is this really how it has to be?"

"You're an expert at this kind of thing, aren't you? You've really turned into a talent goddess."

"How is that possible!"

"Don't worry, if we successfully defeat the Headless Horseman, I won't take a single penny of the bounty; it'll all be yours."

"It's settled then!"

Aqua's eyes lit up.

Then, under the watchful eyes of others, she scurried to the side, crossed her hands together as if in prayer, and did something unknown.

Charlotte dusted herself off, stood up, and said to the headless knight, "As expected of a Demon King's army officer, you almost killed me with a single blow. In terms of physical combat, no opponent I've ever faced is stronger than you. I, Charlotte, acknowledge you as the strongest!"

"Uh-huh?"

The headless knight unconsciously looked at the greatsword in his hand. Just now, it was only a subconscious counterattack in a hurry. Was it really that powerful? Or was the high priest in front of him really too weak?

That's true. How many powerful figures have novice adventurers encountered while lingering in Axel?

he thinks.

Then he added, "Now you should understand, the gap between you and me is too big, so—"

"Therefore, we must give it our all!"

"...What?"

"Drink it all—!"

Just then, Charlotte suddenly shouted, her whole body bursting with intense magic power, which grew more and more intense as her shout became more and more passionate.

"Wow, so powerful...this magic!"

Huihui was shocked.

Kazuma Sato asked疑惑地, "What's wrong, Megumin? Didn't you see Charlotte's magic before? Why are you so shocked?"

"No, that's not how it is!" Huihui swallowed hard and said, "Charlotte's magic power is hundreds of times stronger than before! Impossible, it's too exaggerated for someone to have so much magic power!!!"

Her voice became high-pitched with shock, and the way she covered her cheeks looked somewhat like the famous painting "The Scream".

"Hundreds of times stronger!?"

Kazuma Sato's mouth dropped open.

In fact, no one, including Charlotte at the very beginning, knew the extent of the power of the "hundredfold magic".

Everyone assumed that it increased magic power with each level up, calculated as (1 x 100) + N; however, the actual effect is that each level up increases magic power by a factor of 100, resulting in (1 + N) x 100! (where N is Charlotte's current level).

The two are worlds apart.

Charlotte's hair stood on end, making her look like a Super Saiyan.

The immense magical power gradually emanated outwards, causing the air to become viscous and making it difficult to breathe. It gradually distorted space as if it were a tangible substance, and finally shot into the sky, a pillar of light disappearing into the clouds!

"...Look everyone, it's God."

Kazuma Sato was stunned.

Actually, when Megumin and Aqua first said that Charlotte's magic was very strong, he scoffed and thought the two idiots were being foolish.

But when he actually saw the magic materialize, he realized that he was the idiot.

Magic is power!

Charlotte firmly believed this.

The sudden burst of energy caused the adventurers of Axel to instinctively show expressions of fear, but this quickly turned into excitement and exhilaration. They shouted their support, believing that Charlotte would definitely be able to defeat the Headless Horseman.

At this moment, the headless knight, who was standing opposite Charlotte, also felt a chill.

He wiped the head he was holding with his hand.

"Hmm? Sweat? This suffocating feeling, like being coiled by a python, am I drenched in sweat?... No, it's just rain." The headless knight looked up at the gloomy sky where a light drizzle had started to fall, and said with relief, "You're overthinking it. How could I be drenched in sweat fighting an opponent like this?"

Kazuma Sato also noticed.

Just a moment ago the sky was clear and blue, but now it's raining in a very unnatural way. Only someone could do something like that.

Turning to look at Aqua, who was standing to the side with her hands clasped together, he saw that she seemed to sense something as well and gave him a smug smile.

That stupid goddess.

However, this rain brought a sense of dread. As everyone's body temperature continued to drop, goosebumps appeared on their skin, and their nerves gradually tightened as they focused their attention on the battlefield.

The headless knight stretched out his hand holding the head, looking at Charlotte seriously for the first time.

"Is it you, the prophet?"

"...What?"

Charlotte's breath hitched.

The headless knight stared intently at him and said, "Some time ago, an unusual light appeared in this town. The fortune teller said that this person would bring us great trouble, so the Demon King sent me to investigate this matter... So that person was you?"

Oh no, I've become a stand-in!

Charlotte knew, of course, why the Headless Horseman had come, and that the person he was looking for was actually Aqua, but now it seemed pointless to explain herself.

"Let me give you some advice first: I am very strong. The Demon King's army's officers will not go to the battlefield without being prepared to deal with the priests. Led by me, this legion of undead knights has been protected by the Demon King and has a very high resistance to holy magic—"

"What are you babbling about? Go talk to my explosion magic!"

"...What?"

Just as the headless knight was exchanging harsh words with Charlotte, Megumin, who was standing to the side, had already prepared her magic and then launched a fierce attack.

"————Explosion!!!"

"Eek! Ahh ...

The headless knight, completely unprepared, was struck squarely by the explosive magic that descended from the sky.

"...Huh!?" xN

Everyone, including Charlotte, gaped open.