English Dub Review: I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince so I Can Take My Time Perfecting My Magical Ability “The Church’s Secret”

Overview (Spoilers Below):
After Babylon’s brutal defeat by the mysterious pastor, Lloyd’s friends search for clues to his identity.

Our Take:
This unknown pastor certainly means business regarding his unusual abilities.  This was the case when he brutally defeated Babylon in a one-on-one match in last week’s episode.  Upon viewing that ending, we would assume that we would get our first casualty of the new season, raising the show’s stakes regarding its mysterious antagonist.  However, that doesn’t appear to be the case, as Babylon survived using his ultra-flexible body. Still, even with that and his purification magic, the pastor proved to be more formidable than anticipated.
While Babylon’s death could’ve injected more excitement in the season’s church arc, it showcased the pastor’s capabilities that could challenge Lloyd’s unlimited power in later episodes.  This week’s episode also revealed that the pastor’s presence holds more significance than we initially assumed, as he arrived at the church for a specific reason.  This prompted Lloyd and the others to investigate the church garden, where they uncovered a hidden basement that’s untraceable by anyone with mana.  Of course, like many other churches packed with haunting secrets, this seemingly harmless “Lord’s House” contains a lab full of failed experiments, prompting the question of why it’s housing such a horrific secret.
It’s no secret that “The Church’s Secret” unravels the House of God further upon the characters’ shocking discovery.  Unsurprisingly, it’s not without its amusing moments, which provide levity to its given tone, including a puppet show recap reflecting what happened after Babylon passed out.  Although some of its humor may not excuse its tonal shifts, the puppet show recap sequence was admittedly adorable.  I would also commend Whitney Rodgers for conveying Escher’s emotional conflict through her vocal performance regarding her bravery amidst her faith in God.  Of course, that belief would surely be tested upon seeing the horrors that her church has kept hidden.