"Hehehe... It is quite simple, really. We shall simply use that trust against him."
"Against him? How are you going to use the fact that Hero-kun is so well-liked?"
Even if they branded the Current Yugo as a Reincarnator, he wouldn't be cast out like the Former Hero Candidates had been. Unlike those failures whose reputations were already in the gutter, the Current Yugo was a pillar of the community, a man his companions believed in with all their hearts. That was why Dogma hadn’t bothered with the pointless gesture of outing him back at the academy.
As Dogma explained her intent to weaponize that very bond, Drop tilted her head, clearly struggling to grasp the concept.
Burn and Hypno both spoke up at once, their voices dripping with a contempt that suggested they couldn't believe she was being so dense.
"You’ve got it backward," Burn grunted. "Using it 'against' him doesn't refer to the trust the people have in him. It's about the trust Yugo has in them. Simply put, the brat cherishes his comrades."
"He has overcome every adversity since arriving in this world and built a circle of reliable friends," Hypno added. "He is a softhearted fool by nature. He values those bonds more than life itself."
"Hmm... so you're going to do something to the people around him instead of Hero-kun himself?"
"Ahahahaha! Drop, that is such third-rate thinking. Do you really believe we learned nothing from Abyss's failure?"
Drop had managed to guess the general outline of the plan from Burn and Hypno's explanation, but Dogma only laughed and mocked her for the follow-up question. Drop’s expression soured at the insult—one that implicitly dragged the deceased Abyss down to that same 'third-rate' level—but Dogma only continued with a wicked, predatory smile.
"Abyss’s fatal flaw was his loose tongue. You never explain a plan in detail to someone you don’t trust before it is executed. To do so is to invite sabotage from the very people you mistake for allies at the most critical moment."
"...Well, I suppose that's fair. So, does that mean you have no intention of telling me anything more?"
"My, how fourth-rate of you to ask, Drop. I thought we had already shared quite a bit of the plan... Or was your immature little brain simply unable to comprehend it?"
If we weren't on the same side, I would have slaughtered her by now, Drop thought, feeling a rare pang of regret for her position as a Mastermind.
Despite her inner fury, she masked her disgust with a sharp, sparking smile. "Well, if you're saying that, then you obviously don't think Drop-chan is a trustworthy enough partner to hear the details, right? So, then... I guess it’s already done."
"Yes, exactly."
Even though she didn't trust Drop, Dogma had hinted at the core of their scheme. Judging by the priestess's tone, the plan was already in motion. They had reached a stage where it could no longer be overturned, no matter what Drop did. That was why they felt safe enough to share this much.
Dogma’s smile was one of absolute certainty, and seeing it only made Drop’s irritation fester. Burn looked at her and spat out a warning.
"So stay out of it, Drop. Just sit back and watch. Don't go meddling or running your mouth like your friend Lost did. If you try anything like that... there'll be hell to pay."
"Phew... Fine, fine, I get it. Drop-chan doesn't want to receive a penalty either, so I'll listen to your 'request.' Though it really is a shame. I was actually going to offer a bit of advice to help mend our relationship."
"Advice? What do you mean by that?"
"To be honest, I already have a pretty good idea of what you're trying to do and how you went about it. On top of that... I was going to tell you that an unexpected problem has cropped up in your plan, but I changed my mind! You did tell me not to interfere, after all!"
Drop spoke with a playful, mocking lilt as she skipped toward the window with rhythmic steps. She looked back once with a meaningful grin, stuck her tongue out at them, and hopped out into the night.
"...An unexpected problem in our plan? What could she mean?"
"There is no need to fret over it," Dogma replied dismissively. "It is surely nothing but a lie intended to rattle us. More importantly... what of the Captured Reincarnators?"
"They're all gathered in another room. Shall we go speak with them?"
"Yes... the preliminary phase of the plan is over. Let us begin the main performance."
Dogma let out a soft, pleasant chuckle. As she envisioned the events to come and the image of Yugo writhing in agony, a glimmer of pure madness rose in her eyes.
"Just you wait, Hugo Clay. I shall grant you the greatest anguish... one that will drag you down into the darkness!"
As she whispered those words with a rapturous, ecstatic smile, Dogma did not look like a Priest spreading holy teachings. Her face was that of a demon, obsessed with scattering ruin and suffering across the world.