Stereotypes were beloved by Gaia Humans. Unlike how Earthlings despised being fit into lackadaisical representations of people or ethnic groups, those of Gaia found their 'commonness' to be amazing~

It was a way of immortalising themselves through collectiveness, which was admittedly rather similar to how Earthlings immortalised themselves through individuality.

The only difference was that there were those who'd give up their 'freedom' willingly to become part of a system. They revelled in the thought of being needed, while also being intimate.

And what was more intimate than being in the same group? There had never been a problem before in this 'Ideal Utopia'. After all, everyone was already united in their stance against Beasts.

The constant attacks of 'others' was already a integral part of society. It couldn't be removed…

There was a clear 'us' and 'them'... No moral grey areas or unharmonious groups of Gaia Humans.

That was... until the populace became split when Drake Lancelot introduced a new state religion.

What happens when an large collective splits into two groups with opposing ideologies to each other? Well... Does that even need to be said? This incident was an ominous sign of what was to come.

There was a look of animosity in the eyes of many.

Those in lighter clothes looked at those with darker clothes and vice-versa.

In the streets of Northern District of the Ruling Kingdom, which was the central hub of all artist-related Classes, there was a group of Mirror Priests that were gathering at a certain rural area without any prior warning, looking over those who'd left...

The damages the Luminous Church had done to their image was significant, but it wasn't enough to fully tear them down. The believers who were left were devout enough and they were still the State Religion that had the backing of next Imperial Ruler.

In that gathering of Cultists walked out a classy man. One who looked like your average rich company president on Earth.

His sophisticated and elegant air was incomparable to that mere gentleman-like Mirror Priest, who was walking alongside him.

"Have you finished what I asked for?" The Demon Lord, who was finally deciding to prepare for his grand entrance onto the stage of the Ruling Kingdom, asked the Mirror Priest, who always tried mimicking his demeanour and sheer stylishness.

Compared to the ordinary-looking regular believers now wearing darker shades of clothing, the few Priests who behind him wore black suits that matched their nature as a kind of syndicate. The gentlemanly Priest he talked to was no exception.

"My Lord, our dear Elemental Master isn't really as competent as I. Let this Law Mistress tell you about her success!" There was a beguiling woman like that of appealing, yet staining, drawing of ink. She pushed the gentlemanly Priest aside and spoke up.

"Speak."

"We have found the location of the Grand Hero and have verified My Lord's assumption." Her face was filled with glimmers of while as she spoke to the Lord she so admired. Law Mistress was a woman with a pension for trying to seduce their leader.

She even went as far as making him sweets and showing off her 'pure heart'… despite the fact that their Lord was like an iron wall. Even though Alan couldn't read her heart the same way his believers could, he still didn't outright reject her advances.

The reason was because he liked being doted on by a beautiful woman. He liked how others would become jealous as they saw many beautiful women taking care of him like he was- No, the Demon Lord was 'God' in the eyes of his many believers.

It was only natural they would act like this...

"Haha, hahahahaha!" He burst into a fit of laughter.

The so-called 'Strongest Lord' wasn't able to use a particular Exclusive Skill he is supposed to have as someone who has been Blessed by the Holy Attribute. Things are easier if he doesn't have it.

The newcomer who arrived just as her Lord was laughing in mockery of the Grand Hero gave a look to the three Priests behind him. It was with the gazes they returned that she was filled in what the Demon Lord was laughing at... more or less.

She waited for her almost Chuunibyou-esque 'God' to finish his laughter before listening to him speak:

"Weapon Mistress, are you done with your personal matters? Did you get another believer for us?"

"I failed, My Lord..." She felt a little ashamed from having come back to him to report this failure.

"No matter." He brushed off her embarrassment.

"My Lord, why have you gathered us in this place in particular?" Jasmine gave a look to the old Beast Master. He'd arrived first with his unnaturally high speed. She felt envious that she came last.

"Do you know of that beloved Priestess of mine?"

"..." The generally heartless Lord using the heartfelt term 'beloved' caused a shiver down their spines.

They knew Alan was joking with them and what he meant, but that didn't make it any less disturbing.

"We are going to both search for her and test how coercion works on non-believers." The fact he didn't call those people who weren't worshipping the ground he walked on heretics was his version of 'mercy'. He hated how stereotypical they looked.

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Everyone had different names, yet these guys chose to give up their individuality to become machines of a system. They became cogs who knew not the dark natures of a human psyche.

"...Really?" Jasmine didn't know what to say as the memory of Fear's death had already been 'shared'.

All believers knew of what happened that day.

"Let me show you how. As the source of your 'reflections', it's only natural that I give you all a demonstration." He walked out the gathering of Cultists and towards a random Salesman.

The man seemed to be selling accessories on the streets.

His eyes seemed to see something deeper about the man though as he gave a sinister smile.

"Ummm... Are you here to buy anything here, dear customer?" The Salesman welcomed him.

The inconspicuous man looked as if he didn't recognise Alan. However, the Demon Lord's smile became even deeper as he noticed the sweat secretly forming on the Salesman over time...

"Sure, I'll have that one." The classy Lord pointed at a particularly sturdy necklace on the mat before the Salesman. The man immediately agreed to the transaction. He nodded his head like a chicken.

The Salesman grabbed the necklace and offered it up to the Demon Lord thoughtlessly. He was about to quickly close shop and leave. The man stretched out with his necklace in one hand and an open palm with the other, anxiously informing:

"The price of it is-"

"I already know it." The classy Lord interrupted him before reaching out towards his empty palm.

There was look of relief flashing across the Salesman's face before a crackling sound could be heard. His eyes widened as he suddenly noticed his thumb bent and broken in his own direction....

One whole second later, he registered the pain:

"AAAARGH!" The people who were passing by heard the scream and looked in their direction.

"What are you doing?! You're crazy!" The Salesman felt his emotion explode in order to suppress the fear that was gradually eroding his heart. He quickly looked up, only to be slapped by the Demon Lord who casted a shadow over him.

"You're quite soft for a Spy, and here I expected more." Alan sighed. He threw away the spotless glove was used to slap the suspicion individual like a dirty rag, then looked over him menacingly.

The Spy knew his cover was blown and quickly turned tail to run. His decisiveness was admirable.

[Light Spell- Camouflaged Escape!]

He also seemed to be a Noble Ranker as the light reflecting off his body was altered and allowed him to turn invisible. It was a simple trick, but even Earthlings hadn't figured out how to make it practical even in their Secret Martial Arts World.

However, the man's decision to run was too late.

Another slapping sound could be heard. The Spy's invisibility was immediately broken before it could be used effectively. He looked at the smiling man before him, who had moved at the speed of light...

This wasn't a metaphor. Alan literally moved at a barely discernible speed like a flash of light.

Mach speed, was what they called it.

He even had the time to wear a new spotless white glove before slapping the Spy, making the person who fell to the floor scared shitless. He then continued to bully the Noble Ranker with a smile.

"Hey, are you feeling angry?" Alan asked the man the lead up question he always gave his victims.

He seemed quite used to the man's reaction as he gestured to his believers to hold onto the guy.

"You...! The Church won't forgive this!" The man roared as he felt furious at their brazen actions.

Sure, he might have been spying, but that was just his role, and it wasn't as if he was doing a crime.

Those of the Spy Class like him were given both privileges and restrictions, but they essentially always turned into Nobles of the respective kingdom they were born in. On top of that, they were even let off from going to the borders.

The Noble Spy only had the duty of watching over the populace secretly and relaying any problems that might occur within the influence of Lancia's security. They were used when Warriors and Mages were too extreme to be sent out as well.

Reconnaissance and espionage was the lifestyle of the Noble Spy, so he felt no shame in doing his job.

"Think of this as your first lesson in 'teamwork'." A look of genuine enjoyment appeared on his face as he glared at the bystanders, who then hurriedly scurried off. The Cultists were becoming scarier by the second in response to Alan's words.

"Let go of me!" The man struggled from their grip before someone heavily kicked him in the stomach.

As someone who had lived a life away from fights and brawls, the Noble Spy was really sensitive to pain compared to the weapon-related Class combatants he worked with. That's why he felt the impact make him reel while scrunching up.

He tried to fight back, but was immediately stepped on by other believers and beaten up.

This lasted for some time before the spirit of the Noble Spy was gradually chipped away and broken by them. They even went as far as to step on his broken hand and spit abuses at him angrily.

"How dare you vermin glare at 'Our' Lord!"

"You're looking for death!"

"Beat him! Hit this ugly whippersnapper up good!"

"Make it so he can't walk straight ever again!"

All of their emotions resonated in unity...

Alan had already forgotten about taking them around to search for their 'Mirror Priestess'.

He was having too much fun here and felt it would be a waste to stop, even going as far as getting the guy fixed up by a Healer among his believers before continuing.

Even the believers forgot about finding Fear as they were outraged by the Noble Spy.

"Please... Please stop hitting me...! It hurts! I'm sorry! Forgive me...!" The man begged pathetically.

He looked up to see the 'Devil' who gestured for them to stop before asking him a certain question.

"Do you still feel angry?" The implications of what he'd do if the Noble Spy agreed was obvious...!

This wasn't because he was taking out his wife's death on others nor out of his maniacal craze...

Alan wasn't born a wicked individual, he was 'innocent' like other children after being born on Earth. However, that didn't mean it was a set of influences that made him the way he is. The petty and crazed Demon Lord chose to be who he is...

Even when redemption was around the corner, he rejected for the sake of continuing his resentment.

It was the 'bully' mentality... He knew full-well the tragedies he wasn't a sympathetic villain at all.

Well, he has a tragic backstory... Maybe that will be sympathetic in the eyes of you readers, right?

He picked up the sturdy necklace he wanted before and walked to the Noble Spy sinisterly.

The Noble Ranker closed his eyes, expecting to be beaten up harshly, the Demon Lord becoming a ghastly symbol of fear in his heart, which would lead to sleepless nights filled with nightmares...

His face darkened as Alan approached him while he was being restrained by the Cultists, until-

"Let go of him, heretics!" A manly shout could be heard before a band of knights under the banner of the Luminous Church arrived at the scene. Their speed in getting here was faster than he thought.

No, Alan realised he had miscalculated as the very same bystanders who ran off before were back in full vigour. They didn't seem to fear being implicated or marked after this incident. They proudly stood together while cheering the Knights.

"It was those guys! They beat up a Noble!"

"Please save that poor friend...!"

"They're crazy! All of them are crazy!"

"They beat up a Noble in broad daylight!"

A stream of accusations of a similar tune could be heard as they pointed at Alan and his believers.

He was wrong to think they all ran off from fear earlier.

Although they didn't personally help, that was only because it wasn't their 'Role'.

All of them had non-combative Classes and had no capability to fight.

That's why they called the authorities.

It wasn't their job to fight. They were Painters, Sculptors, Bards, and so on, but that didn't mean it wasn't their role to inform those who could. They had spread out as a collective for this one purpose.

'I really hate these guys...' Alan felt disgusted at the incoming crowd and gestured his people to stop.

He found it too demeaning to fight mere Knights personally, so he pointed at the incoming combat profession individuals before ordering the Cultists to gather like dogs... without a hint of respect:

"Sick 'em!"