I love time travel the most!

After all, it was Kobayashi who overthrew the corrupt empire, and it was Kobayashi who ended the internal strife in the capital and stopped the invasion of foreign tribes. Only someone like Kobayashi is qualified to be the supreme leader.

If he comes to power, wouldn't that be tantamount to stealing the fruits of victory?

"Alright, alright, don't say that!"

Kobayashi patted his shoulder gently, telling him to relax.

Then he added, "You are the leader of the church, and your management skills are quite good. You can also win over many believers. So please don't refuse the position of Pope, okay?"

"...I think Lord Kobayashi simply doesn't want to work." He immediately saw through Kobayashi's thoughts.

"Cough cough, how could this be..."

Kobayashi coughed lightly, his eyes darting around before suddenly lighting up, as if he had thought of something.

He said with great emotion, "Actually, I want to return to the Goddess's side. The Holy Kingdom has just been established, and I'm not comfortable managing it without someone trustworthy. You happen to have experience, so you are the most suitable candidate."

"Back, back to the Goddess's side..."

He heard some key words, and his eyes instantly lit up with a burning light. He grabbed Xiaolin's arm tightly, his strength so great that he couldn't break free.

With great excitement, a loud voice, rapid breathing, and a flushed face, she exclaimed eagerly, "Please take me with you! I also want to catch a glimpse of the goddess! Please, please take me with you!"

Kobayashi saw a resemblance to Darkness in him; both shared the same fanatical enthusiasm for something.

"No, no, no, there's no way I can bring it."

Kobayashi pushed away his head that was leaning towards him.

The cheat can only carry non-living objects, so it can't take him away at all. And even if it could, it wouldn't take Kobayashi.

Imagine having such a fanatical follower of Aqua serving by your side. How terrifying would that already arrogant and foolish goddess become? The two of them together would definitely cause Axel chaos.

Thinking of this, Kobayashi couldn't help but shudder. He absolutely, absolutely mustn't let him see Aqua!

"I know you're in a hurry, but don't worry yet."

Kobayashi coughed lightly and said, "Listen to me, the Theocracy has just been established. I need to return as soon as possible to tell the Goddess about this so that she can bestow blessings upon the Theocracy. Your task is to manage it well for me while I am away, and not let other forces take advantage of the situation."

"Aha……"

"Don't worry, I will convey your message. When the Goddess sees that you have restored the Holy Kingdom, she will surely reward you."

"Please do this!"

He was eventually persuaded by Kobayashi and decided to stay and manage the religious state.

but……

"I will not inherit the position of Pope. This position belongs exclusively to you, Lord Kobayashi. No one here, including myself, is qualified to inherit it. Please convey this to Her Majesty the Goddess so that she can choose the next position."

"Yeah...that's fine."

Xiaolin thought about it and agreed.

After all, the other party is a fanatical follower of Aqua. If he leaves without any checks and balances, he might use propaganda to expand the power of the theocracy.

If, like the Axis cult in Konosuba, it forces some powerful individuals to the point of desperation and choose to become demon lords, then Kobayashi would be a heinous villain.

"Then let's have him act as Pope, is that alright?"

"Yes, I'm willing to accept."

Kobayashi finalized his position and prepared to convey the appointment to his subordinates.

As soon as they stepped outside, they saw Night Raid and the Hunters waiting there.

"Everyone……"

"We heard what you just said."

Lubbock scratched his head somewhat awkwardly, then said regretfully, "We have to part ways, right?"

"Yes, just like I said, I really do have to go back to see the goddess." As if to increase the authenticity, Kobayashi said seriously, "I'm not lying to you about this."

"We had already guessed it."

"After all, he can control multiple Imperial Arms."

"And it also knows magic."

"It can even bring the dead back to life..."

"No matter how you look at it, Kobayashi, you're no ordinary person."

It seems they all noticed.

Leone stepped forward and put her arm around his shoulder, saying casually, "You must come back if you have the chance, and let's fight even more fiercely next time! ...The four of us together."

"Cough, cough, cough..."

Xiaolin coughed lightly to cover up her embarrassment.

However, the others already knew, and the strange looks he received made him feel ashamed.

Hill hugged him gently and said tenderly, "I'll be waiting for you to come back."

"I'll be back soon, I promise." Kobayashi affectionately touched her cheek, then said to Chelsea beside him, "You too, little wildcat."

“I’m not a wildcat,” Chelsea scoffed.

"Hey—, but the scratches on my back still hurt a bit. Who did this?"

"Hey! Don't tell anyone about this!"

Chelsea's shy demeanor made everyone burst into laughter.

After the laughter subsides.

"Okay, it's time for me to go."

Kobayashi held Ryuji's hand, took one last deep look at them, waved, and whispered:

"—Goodbye, everyone."

"I'll wait for you to come back, Kobayashi."

A purple light flashed, and Kobayashi and Ryuu disappeared.

Northern border

This place is covered in ice and snow all year round, and the revolutionary army was driven here by the theocracy after their defeat.

Kobayashi had said he wanted to eliminate them, but he didn't have the energy at the moment, so he temporarily entrusted someone to defend them.

That's right, one person, one city.

Only Esdeath could do that.

On the city wall, the two stood side by side.

Xiao Lin said, "Captain, I'll leave you with this task for now. You can return to the capital anytime once reinforcements arrive. I'm sure they'll all welcome you."

“I’m no longer your captain, just call me Esdeath.” Esdeath looked at the snow-covered glacier in the distance and said, “It doesn’t matter. I grew up here and never found it hard, and I don’t plan to go back.”

Esdeath loves war.

She always believed that the battlefield was the best place for her, so she often let her opponents off the hook to strengthen them, and then completely crushed them later.

The happy ending that Kobayashi created, where everyone is happy, doesn't suit her.

"But I never thought I would be resurrected one day." Esdeath rubbed her wrist, still feeling it was a bit unreal.

Kobayashi said, "Not only you, but also Rival, Seryu, Borus, Will, and Kurome, I have resurrected them all."

"...Really? Thank you."

Esdeath's thanks had two meanings.

One was to revive her subordinates, and the other was to prevent them from attacking her, since it would be too unsightly for a superior to be attacked by his subordinates.

Kobayashi understood.

However, he did not take credit, because all the hunters respected Esdeath, and not helping her was already the limit; it was impossible for them to gang up on her.

That's Esdeath's personal charm.

She paused for a moment, then asked, "Xiaolin, are you satisfied with what you've done?"

I am very satisfied!

Because this is what I've always insisted on!

Kobayashi gave her a thumbs-up and a smug smile.

Esdeath was startled, gently touched the brim of her hat and lowered her head slightly. Just as Kobayashi was wondering about this, she heard her question.

"You're the Pope now, aren't you? A person whose position in this country is comparable to that of an emperor?"

“…That’s right.”

"And then you beat me."

"It was just a fluke."

"Besides, Kobayashi, you're not from the capital, are you?"

"Well, the watchmaker in the capital is a fake identity... If I had to say, I'm not even from this world."

"By the way, Kobayashi, how old are you?"

"18!"

Both in length and age, she's 18!

……Um?

Why ask these questions?

Xiaolin blinked.

For some reason, he had a feeling that something bad was about to happen, and when he saw Esdeath's shy expression, his eyes widened, and his premonition of danger became a reality.

"Liu Zi! Imaginary number——"

"Mokobo Temo!"

The world was frozen again, becoming a world of ice, and this time, even Kobayashi was unable to move.