After Retirement, Living a Stud Life in Another World - 174

### Chapter 174: Being Called an Apostle

I thought I had handed down a cool ultimatum, but of course, the enemy had no intention of obeying. The middle-aged viscountess raised her eyebrows and shouted.

“What are you, a mere youngster! If I bury you here, there will be no evidence left! Do it, now!”

The wizards standing on either side of the viscount raised their hands, engulfed in flames, ready to attack. In that moment:

“Kneel!”

Ayaka’s voice rang out in a loud alto, different from her usual tone, and suddenly, my head and shoulders felt as heavy as if a child had sat on them. What was happening… I assumed it was the effect of Ayaka’s magic, but this amount of weight surely wouldn’t stop an enemy’s attack.

Just then, I remembered the wizards who were about to unleash their flame magic. I quickly looked up at the deck on the second floor, but there was no one standing there. Confused, I glanced around, and there was Ayaka, standing alone with a mysterious smile on her lips… But where had the others gone?

…They were all groveling on the floor, unable to move, suffering. Both the enemy and our allies—everyone except me and Ayaka.

“What… what is this?”

“Yes. This is the highest-level dark attribute debuff magic, ‘Intimidation.’ It’s said to be an ancient technique used by the Demon King. It not only binds everyone within range to the yoke of gravity but also strips away all their will to fight.”

Even if you tell me it’s some legendary Demon King technique… How can such a kind person like Ayaka use such a terrifying skill?

“Hehe, I’ve received Lutz-sama’s seed three times, and my magical power has surpassed SS-class. In that sense, I might be on par with the Demon King.”

That’s a terrifying thing to say. If someone told me my wife was like the Demon King, I’d be pretty freaked out.

“Well, I understand what you’re thinking, Lutz-sama. Even I feel a bit frightened by my own power at this point… But the most terrifying one here is you.”

“Me?”

“My ‘Intimidation’ should be as powerful as the Demon King’s. And yet, here you are, standing unaffected by the Demon King’s debuff, Lutz-sama. You are truly a monster.”

Now that you mention it… I did feel a slight weight on my shoulders, like a child clinging to me, but now it’s gone. Even though the dark clan, who are supposed to be resistant to debuffs, are all sprawled out and unconscious, I’m moving normally.

“Just as Margarete-sama said, your magic resistance ability, Lutz-sama, is quite strong. While it may not reach the level of the Demon King, it’s certainly comparable to his followers.”

“I’m a little happy you’re praising my strength, but comparing me to the Demon King is slightly hurtful.”

“Yes, but didn’t Margarete-sama’s light attribute lightning magic affect you a bit? My dark magic should be stronger, yet it barely had any effect. I think your magical resistance leans more towards darkness than light, Lutz-sama.”

I can’t deny it, but… since I’ll be dealing with the dark clan more in the future, maybe sharing similar magic will make them feel more familiar with me.

“Well, we can’t just stand around forever. Since it’s just the two of us who can move, let’s neutralize the enemy.”

Ayaka flashed another mysterious smile.

◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇

“Zeri, we’ve caused you so much trouble.”

“I’m just happy that we can meet again like this.”

“Sis, I heard you were expelled from the church because you tried to help us. Even though you admired the church so much… I’m sorry.”

Cecilia couldn’t even respond to the words of gratitude her family offered her. Tears poured endlessly from her purple eyes, suited to this fantasy world. Her mother embraced her, and her back trembled as sobs echoed around them.

“Now, Zeri, we’re safe. Please stop crying and let’s offer our deepest gratitude to the one who saved our family.”

“Y-yes.”

With that, Zeri and her family knelt down, not to Ayaka, but to me. They crossed their hands over their chests, a gesture of faith and worship reserved only for the Supreme God.

“No, Cecilia, treating me like some kind of god… really, it’s troubling.”

I was completely at a loss. Just moments ago, Ayaka called me someone close to the Demon King, and now here I am being treated like a messenger of the Supreme God. And though I might not want to admit it, I have a feeling there are already two other women treating me like some kind of religious leader…

“No. The power you showed in rescuing my family from the hands of dozens of bandits in the wilderness is beyond that of any mere human. And the compassion you showed in giving hope to a sinner like me, who almost took your life… Lutz-sama, you are undoubtedly an apostle of the Supreme God!”

Wait, an apostle? When you say apostle, all I can think of is the ones attacking Tokyo-3… No, now’s not the time for jokes. I don’t want to get involved in anything religious, but it seems like there’s no escape. And Zeri, with her tearful eyes, seems to be seeing the Supreme God standing behind me. Refusing would only make things worse.

I let out the deepest sigh of the day.