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The infamous reputation of the Inquisition is incredibly well-known among information officers.

In a world where countless mainstream religions and their intelligence organizations exist, the fame of the Inquisition is truly unparalleled.

They dispatch Inquisition officers under various pretexts like heresy investigation and demon tracking, and sometimes even demand the custody of perfectly fine foreign magicians, claiming they have uncovered intel about dark magicians.

But that’s not all.

They take advantage of the sensitivity around religious oppression to gather intelligence centered around the Church.

Moreover, there have been instances where an Inquisition officer, disguised as a chaplain, infiltrated military facilities and got caught.

Given the situation, you can’t blame the seasoned information officers at intelligence agencies for being wary of the Inquisition.

With their constant interference, flaunting the authority of religion, even diplomats can’t look upon them with favor.

In any case, the information organization represented by the Inquisition has earned a notorious reputation for its unimaginable misdeeds. They are often described as a gathering of the most arrogant and hubristic religious figures.

Just like now.

“What brings you here?”

I surveyed the Inquisition officers stationed in front of the Abas diplomatic residence. They hadn’t disclosed their identities yet, but they certainly didn’t look like ordinary priests.

Only the Inquisition could boldly engage in such antics, things even the Imperial Guard HQ wouldn’t dare attempt with a diplomat.

As expected, the suit-clad individual presumed to be the lead Inquisition officer spoke first.

“Are you Colonel Frederick Nostrim?”

“That’s correct.”

“We need you to accompany us for a moment.”

A distant priest swung the car door wide open. The suit man gestured politely toward the vehicle I was to enter.

“Let’s go.”

—

Episode 12 – The Strongest Magician of All Time

The Inquisition officers arriving at my lodgings in broad daylight was rather sudden. Their unexpected request to get in the car was quite bewildering.

Diplomatic immunity and the right to be free from arrest are matters guaranteed by international law. Security agencies, let alone intelligence agencies, cannot demand a diplomat’s investigation or cooperation.

To be precise, while they can make such requests, it’s nearly impossible for a diplomat to comply.

Initially, I tried to refuse the Inquisition officers’ demands.

However, upon hearing that someone was looking for me and learning their identity, I found myself sliding into the car before I realized it.

I felt dumbfounded by the Inquisition officers making unreasonable demands at my lodgings. Honestly speaking, it irritated and flustered me.

Yet, compared to the person who had come to see me in the Empire, it was nothing more than a lighthearted request.

“Please enter.”

We drove and crossed through Petrogard, arriving at the Cult Embassy in the Kien Empire.

The Inquisition officer who guided me through the staff corridor led me to a glass door.

I stepped through the glass door and onto the exterior of the building.

“…….”

The outside was incredibly mild and warm. It was incomparable to the snow that piled high to my thighs.

Inside the Cult Embassy’s garden. The garden’s modest size was surrounded by an odd power, either magical or divine, giving it a unique charm.

In the center of the garden, at an outdoor table laden with refreshments, sat an elderly gentleman whose appearance was strangely familiar.

I strode across the garden and approached the old man.

“It’s been a while.”

And I greeted him with respect.

“I hope you’ve been well.”

“Ah, you’ve come.”

“It’s an honor to see you again, Director.”

The old man, with a gentle smile, nodded in acknowledgment.

“Have you been well, Major?”

The eldest and head of the Inquisition,

Also an intelligence officer in the Military Intelligence Agency,

“It’s a relief to see you well again.”

It was Petrus.

—

Inside the garden of the Cult Embassy in the Kien Empire, a mysterious aura maintained a pleasant temperature, and a guest awaited me there.

“I heard the journey was quite tumultuous. My apologies.”

“Not at all, Director. I’m fine.”

The wrinkled-eyed Petrus lifted the teapot and filled my cup.

<Chururu.> A refreshing sound accompanied the well-brewed black tea presented before him.

“I’m sorry to trouble you when you must be extremely busy. Is black tea alright with you?”

I nodded affirmatively, and Petrus offered me a cup of black tea. He radiated a serene atmosphere while smiling, strangely relieved.

“I’ve heard the news. You’re staying in the North, right?”

“That’s correct.”

“And you were present at that location as well.”

Petrus murmured words that seemed like a question but weren’t, chuckling softly. Although it was a peculiar question, I understood what he implied, so I didn’t beat around the bush.

“If you’re referring to the Rift, then yes, I was there.”

“I thought so.”

I gently clasped my teacup and added,

“Not just me; everyone was there. I wasn’t alone.”

“Indeed. The Hero, the Magician, and Saint Lucia. No one is unaware of what transpired at the Rift and who accomplished what.”

The effort to fend off the monsters in the Rift was not solely mine.

As Petrus mentioned, Camila, Lucia, Francesca, the Knights Order led by Pereyti, and the magic battalion commanded by Martinez were present.

While Lucia joined us after the battle with the Giant Spider was concluded with the main force of the Knights Order, if she had been any later, I might have met my end. Despite an unfortunate incident that led to our separation for undesirable reasons, both the Knights Order and the magic battalion fulfill their roles admirably.

As I recounted that story, a slight smile appeared on Petrus’ face as he mused. It was a jest.

“Soon, there may be a medal awarded to you in the Empire, Major. Don’t you think so?”

“Oh, that seems a bit much….”

“Do you dislike medals?”

“I wouldn’t mind if it were from Abas, but the ones from the Empire… they just feel off.”

It’s not that I mind a medal from Abas, but receiving one from the Empire is not as straightforward as it sounds. Given the tense diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Abas and the Kien Empire, I could only expect trouble if I were to accept an honor from the Empire as a militaryman.

In truth, receiving a medal isn’t a problem in and of itself. But what benefit would it confer?

The award from the Abas government might offer a pittance of a pension, but the medals from the Empire come without such perks. Surely, the Empire would not grant a pension to me, a foreigner.

Of course, the medal itself is worth something for collectors. If there were an eBay, I could sell it for some cash. But alas, there’s no eBay around.

A decorative item that cannot be sold is just scrap metal. No prospect of use, and it might even be awkward to dispose of later. It might be more advantageous to just refuse the medal.

“Then how about from Abas? Since you protected the innocent from the beasts, they might grant you a medal.”

“I don’t think it’s the right time to discuss rewards, Director.”

The fact that the Rift had been assaulted by monsters has been classified as confidential.

The Imperial Ministry of Defense has suppressed information to prevent societal unrest, and Abas, as well as the Cult and the Magic Tower, have agreed to this. If the truth about a major national facility being attacked by monsters were to get out, who knows what kind of uproar could ensue internationally?

Given that it happened in areas under martial law, information control was likely very effective.

Thus, it’s natural that rewards would also be difficult.

For me to receive recognition for my accomplishments, the reasons must be disclosed, which would inevitably reveal the events that transpired at the Rift. In the worst case, the fact that Imperial Army Combat Magicians were killed could leak out.

This situation is reminiscent of the delays in awards related to the department store terror incident.

Once confidentiality is lifted, they’ll officially award the medals, and I’ve heard from Clevenz that they would offer some satisfactory compensation separately. Frankly, I still have no idea what they intend to offer.

Well, since I’m a noble, perhaps they’ll help me find a good marriage partner? I once heard from a professor in a general studies course at military academy that such occurrences were common about 200 years ago.

“It’s such a waste. Is Saint Lucia doing well?”

“Quite well. Given how busy she is, one might worry if she doesn’t get enough rest.”

“That’s just her nature; there’s nothing to be done about it. Even if I told her to refrain from serving too much because it wears her out, would she listen?”

“Haha… that’s true.”

After savoring the black tea, Petrus cautiously set down the cup.

In front of the cup he placed down was a dish of refreshments, alongside simple cutlery and a small scripture. The wear and tear suggested it was something he had carried for quite a while.

Seizing the opportunity during the brief pause in our conversation, Petrus started again with a light laugh.

“Is life in the North treating you well?”

“Things are bearable.”

“That’s a relief. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I’ll answer anything I know.”

Petrus’s invitation to ask questions made me pause in thought. It wasn’t so much that I was unsure what to ask – more that I was uncertain about what not to ask.

As the Inquisition Director, he would likely grasp most of the information. The Inquisition is adept at information gathering, after all. If I’m lucky, I might learn details about the investigations at the Rift right here.

However, asking such things felt inappropriate for the occasion, so I decided to resolve a simple curiosity that had just popped into my mind.

“Director, do you happen to know anything about the Ranieri family?”

“The Ranieri family?”

Petrus briefly set down his teacup and let out a hum.

“What kind of information do you seek?”

“In the past, my colleague, Administrator Ranieri, who was appointed by the Oracle, visited Patalia. He contacted a servant of the family there. I want to know what they discussed.”

“Hm, that’s not too difficult, but why are you curious about that?”

Francesca came to the Magic Tower under the condition of severing contact with her family. That was a contract she made with the National Security Agency.

Now, having met a servant from the Ranieri family, it’s only natural for me to grow curious. Since Sophia hasn’t informed me, I need to figure it out somehow.

I checked my surroundings to ensure no one was eavesdropping.

Noticing my actions, Petrus slightly nodded, and I leaned forward, lowering my voice to explain quietly.

“… It pertains to assets I’m managing.”

“Oh, I see.”

Petrus’s satisfied smile and nod suggested he understood without requiring additional words.

The old man cupped his chin in contemplation and, after a moment, turned his gaze toward me with one query.

“Do you know what having a lineage of great magicians means in the magical society?”

“A lineage of great magicians…? Are you referring to the descendants of archmages?”

“Correct.”

The Inquisition Director resumed speaking as he once again grasped his teacup.

“Descendants of archmages who led the Independent War of the Magic Tower possess culturally significant meaning in the magical society. Just as the Empire’s royal family consumes the blood of dragons, handling their mysteries, or how the saints of the Cult receive divine love, and the astrologers of Mauritania read the stars to predict the future.”

“I understand that.”

“For magicians, the descendants of archmages symbolize something. Just as the devout worship their gods and the martial artists venerate martial arts, magicians idolize the blue blood flowing in their veins.”

Though the blue blood he referred to, Francesca’s blood was red when I saw it. It’s probably just a metaphor. Or perhaps it speaks of magical traits inherited through bloodlines.

“What’s important is that sometimes that reverence can become twisted, like fanaticism.”

“Fanaticism? What do you mean by that?”

“Quite literally fanaticism. The archmage who founded the Magic Tower, and the descendant archmage who will bring about its revival. They see them as types of saviors. Thus, gathering information on the descendants of archmages is immensely challenging. Fanatics tend to flock around idols.”

Although his words were somewhat ambiguous, ultimately, he was saying that there’s a lot that remains unknown.

I sighed deeply. I had forgotten; the old man truly possesses a vexatious nature.

Seeing this, Petrus burst into laughter.

“Haha. Don’t be too disheartened. By the way, how did you acquire that information? Do you have a source in the legal department of the Magic Tower?”

“It’s from Patalia.”

“Must be from the National Security Agency or the Unified Intelligence Agency.”

Petrus casually remarked, but it was spot-on, so I decided not to deny it.

“Is that so?”

“Indeed, it is the National Security Agency.”

“What a good company. I didn’t know you had such a source there.”

“It’s not exactly an information source. It’s a friend of mine.”

Although it was a brief response, Petrus appeared to gather something from it. It was odd that he was unaware since I hadn’t been trying to hide it.

Petrus, acting as though he had stumbled upon an interesting tale, quietly smiled.

“A friend, huh? That means you are their information source.”

“…….”

“Of course, the situation may be fluid. There may be times when you become the information source for the National Security Agency employee and vice-versa. Isn’t that right?”

I nodded. Petrus pointed at me and chuckled heartily.

“A seasoned information officer doesn’t just handle information sources; sometimes, one must become another’s information source. One can’t solve everything alone, after all.”

“It’s not about becoming an information source; I just share information out of goodwill.”

“What’s the difference between that and an information source?”

“… You can think whatever you like.”

I sipped my black tea and shifted my gaze.

Petrus, still chuckling, laughed for a while before eventually regaining his composure and straightening up.

The enchanting aroma of black tea enveloped the table. As Petrus savored the delicate fragrance, he appeared to have suddenly remembered something and opened his mouth first.

“Ah, speaking of which, I forgot to relay a message to Saint Lucia. If you don’t mind, would you be able to deliver it on my behalf?”

“Please go ahead.”

“Recently, during the process of organizing the assets of the late Cardinal Raul, a majority of his inheritance, including his estate, has been bequeathed to Saint Lucia.”

“… An inheritance?”

“Exactly. An inheritance.”

Cardinal Raul had been Lucia’s guardian.

I couldn’t pinpoint the exact timeline due to insufficient data, but Raul had claimed the role of her guardian for quite a long time. Veronica mentioned that he sent Lucia to the Northern conflict area as a healing priest, so by that inference, it’s clear he had been her guardian for at least three years before his untimely death.

However, Raul has now passed away. According to the laws of the Cult, when a guardian dies, a portion of their estate is bequeathed to the ward.

And Lucia had been registered as his ward until shortly before Raul’s death.

“The court has ruled that, due to no remaining relatives of Raul in the Cult, the inheritance will be passed to Saint Lucia.”

“That’s wonderful news. I will convey it to her immediately upon returning to the North. The Cardinal would likely be pleased too.”

“Of course he should be. In any case, once everything concludes here in the Empire, do drop by the Cult.”

“You want me to visit the Cult?”

“You must attend the canonization ceremony of the Saint. After all, she is a colleague who fought alongside us; we should celebrate her.”

“Oh….”

I had completely forgotten about Lucia’s canonization ceremony. Everyone refers to her as the Saint, and the Cult has not particularly made any notable statement, so it slipped my mind.

Petrus encouraged me to partake in Lucia’s canonization ceremony.

“The crowning ceremony for the Pope will be held alongside Saint Lucia’s canonization. You’ll have plenty to look forward to. The canonization is set to take place after the coronation, so you might want to plan for a longer stay.”

“Oh, so the canonization occurs after the coronation?”

“The Pope is chosen by man, but a saint is granted by the Lord. How could a mere human receive a greater blessing than the Lord’s most cherished offspring? We plan to hold the canonization more grandly than the coronation.”

I nodded, contemplating Petrus’ statements. The saint… shall be the Lord’s most cherished offspring…

For a moment, I recalled the saints of the Cult that I had come to know.

Gambling, espionage, forgery of public documents, solicitation of murder, habitual negligence of duty, and Veronica, an alcoholic and a street dweller.

Lucia, who can lift a truck loaded with cargo with her bare hands and acts as if she’ll beat you up if you refuse treatment.

It’s clearly out of the ordinary.

“…Hmph.”

I don’t know if she’s the most cherished descendant of a divine being, but it’s clear that these folks are as extraordinary as Joan of Arc or perhaps even Captain America.

Alcohol and cigarettes are drugs when you think about it, and lifting a truck barehanded is “super strength,” so combining those two definitely makes her more like Captain America than Joan of Arc.

As I momentarily drifted off into pointless thoughts, I shook my head and snapped back to reality, questioning Petrus.

“So, Director, what brings you to the Empire?”

“I’m here on official business for a short trip. Confidentially.”

That meant he was here unofficially, possibly as a secret envoy or a confidential special envoy.

A few possible reasons came to mind: the identity of the monsters attacking the rift, investigating the murder of Imperial Combat Magicians and Magic Department Investigators, collaborating with the Empire’s investigative agencies, or obstructing the Magic Tower’s joint investigation proposal…

I couldn’t be sure, but the fact that the Inquisition Director had come out personally indicated that the cult was taking this matter very seriously. Veronica’s intel was spot on.

I quietly nodded while sipping my tea.

At that moment, Petrus, who had been drinking tea across from me, cleared his throat and opened his mouth as if he had just recalled something.

“I heard a story before coming here. It seems you brought a woman out of the diplomat’s residence, Major. Who was she?”

“…Um.”

“She had impressive purple hair, they said.”

“……”

“Is she someone I might know?”

As I momentarily spaced out, I barely managed to respond.

“…It’s probably the person you’re thinking of.”

“Just as I thought! No wonder you were asking about Ranie!”

Petrus started to laugh as if he found it amusing.

He laughed so hard that I, the subject of the conversation, felt embarrassed. After a while, Petrus, who couldn’t stop laughing, acted as if he’d just experienced an unbelievable twist.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen an employee dating a foreigner. It was common in the past, but these days, even diplomats rarely date foreigners while at their posts. Quite an interesting fellow.”

“…The administrator and I are not in that kind of relationship.”

“Oh, I see. I was just joking.”

Wiping something from the corner of his eye, which could have been sweat or a tear, Petrus quietly smiled, pulling the corners of his mouth up.

“As a word of caution, let me say this: I understand how you feel, but be careful not to get too close.”

He was telling me not to get too involved with foreigners if I wanted to maintain a long career in the Information Agency. It also meant I should behave myself.

It was such an obvious statement that I considered it a mere jab, but Petrus seemed to be much more serious than I had anticipated.

He spoke in a gentle voice, like a senior giving advice to a junior.

“There are many eyes watching you. More than you can imagine.”

“……”

“The Saint of the Cult, the high-ranking executives of the Magic Tower Secretariat, a noble from another world. Each one of them is a significant figure, and they’re all your colleagues. Yet, coincidentally, are they not all women except for you?”

Petrus said.

“So, be careful.”

The Inquisition Director said.

“It doesn’t matter if you just have a brief chat with a noblewoman in a public park, as rumors will follow a diplomat. Plus, you’re here as a noble; it’s not just about the Saint and the others.”

“……”

“From now on, be cautious. This isn’t just a warning from the Inquisition Director; it’s a piece of advice from an old man.”

There was so much I wanted to say, so many counterarguments to raise.

I knew the internal regulations of the Military Intelligence Agency.

I had received a lot of advice from my older sister Adela, who worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, about the behaviors diplomats should avoid.

Having been in the Information Agency for over a decade, how could I not control myself?

I had plenty to say, but I simply nodded without making any strong rebuttal.

“I’ll be careful.”

“Don’t take it badly.”

Petrus smiled warmly.

“Surely you wouldn’t actually do anything with them?”

That was a jab with a bone in it.

Most likely, he was right.

*

The conversation laced with jests didn’t last more than twenty minutes. After enjoying a leisurely tea time in the charming garden, we moved on to more serious discussions.

“This garden was established following the directives left by the former Pope during his visit to the Empire.”

Petrus shared the history behind the garden while surveying the surroundings.

“When the Pope visited the Empire after his death, high-ranking officials of the cult and the Pope discussed important matters here every day. The same went for foreign ambassadors when they collaborated.”

Petrus, walking slowly, turned back to look at me.

“Do you know why this garden was created?”

I answered without much hesitation. The Empire was both where Adela and I worked, and the secrets hidden within the cult’s embassy were such widely known stories.

“It’s because of eavesdropping, isn’t it?”

“Correct.”

The Imperial Guard HQ is a time-honored intelligence agency with a history spanning a hundred years.

A century ago, the Imperial Guard HQ had eavesdropped on the Pope during his visit to the Empire.

With insufficient technology, they couldn’t overhear conversations or communications, but they intercepted letters meant for the Pope and opened them forcibly.

As a result, several religious figures who had sent confidential letters to the Pope were branded as thought criminals, and the Pope, upon discovering the entire affair, was furious and demanded countermeasures.

That was when the garden was born.

The Inquisition Director, Petrus, added further explanation.

“Though it’s an old garden, it is more than enough to prevent eavesdropping. Thanks to continuous reinforcements over the hundred years, we can say that there is no safer place than here in the embassy.”

It wasn’t just safe; the scenery was exceptional. Outside, it was freezing cold, but here, it felt as warm as spring.

It was a fitting place to discuss uncomfortable topics that were hard to share with others.

The Imperial Guard HQ and no intelligence agency could eavesdrop here—a place that was the most secure, where even the Inquisition’s ears couldn’t reach, we began our serious conversation.

The first to speak was me.

“It’s clear that the spider’s attack on the rift was orchestrated. It was a meticulously planned assault.”

“Have you identified who is behind it?”

“I still don’t know.”

The attack by the corpse spiders that suddenly raided the rift was deliberate and systematic. It was clear that someone was orchestrating it.

But with a lack of intelligence, I couldn’t be certain about anything.

I, feeling a slight urge, asked the Inquisition Director.

“Have you found out anything at the Inquisition?”

Petrus shook his head.

“We don’t know either.”

Shadows fell across his wrinkled face. Perhaps due to the shadow, the wrinkles seemed deeper than before.

With a worried expression, Petrus continued.

“The Inquisition can’t know everything. What we don’t know remains unknown. The Lord may be omniscient, but we humans, as His creations, are ignorant. No matter how much we try to resemble the divine, we can never know everything.”

“I find it difficult to engage in spiritual conversations as I lack theological knowledge. Do you truly have no clue?”

“Well, not completely.”

Petrus lowered his voice and revealed some useful information.

“Based on photos of the corpse spiders found in the north, we’ve deduced that the ones discovered here do not belong to the species native to this continent.”

“Are you suggesting it’s an invasive species?”

“They say it’s a species that resides only on the Mauritania Continent. At least, that’s the opinion of the scholars who’ve seen the photos.”

Petrus sighed as he gazed up at the vast sky.

The Gloomy Sky hung over, contrasting starkly with the warm garden, mirroring his troubled heart.

“If we had secured a specimen, we could have obtained a more definitive answer, but…”

The Magic Department Investigators tasked with transporting well-preserved samples of the corpse spiders were all murdered. The military soldiers escorting them, along with the corpses of the Imperial Combat Magicians, had all been incinerated.

For now, they collected all the remains left at the scene, along with any intact corpse spider samples found in the mountains, but it was a fact that the quality was inferior to the initial samples.

“The ones we managed to procure are in relatively good condition, so there should be positive results.”

“Let’s hope so. It better be.”

The Inquisition speculates that the corpse spiders that raided the rift are invasive species. They are said to be from the Mauritania Continent.

The question that arises from this is:

“Then why is a monster that only exists on the Mauritania Continent being found here? Especially in the northern part of the Empire?”

To reach here, one must cross the ocean from the Mauritania Continent.

From the northernmost point of the Mauritania Continent, one can reach the southernmost Lushan Federal Kingdom, and with a slight detour, reach the western coast of Abas or Patalia.

The problem lies in the Kien Empire’s location. The Kien Empire is positioned in the northern part of the continent, and even from Patalia, it requires a long journey to reach the western coastal area. So why would such a thing suddenly appear in the northern part of the Empire, far from the western regions? It’s suspicious.

“I’ve heard the appearance of corpse spiders from the continent and those from the Mauritania Continent are nearly indistinguishable in appearance, making it hard to tell apart. However, the native spider in the north tends to be larger, while the ones from the Mauritania Continent tend to be relatively bigger. The scholars were convinced by that subtle size difference.”

“Is that so? Then what about the giant spider?”

“It’s also suspected to have come from Mauritania. We are still investigating, but it’s hard to deny a correlation. The troubling aspect is how they entered the Empire…”

Petrus trailed off, suddenly tilting his head.

“Recently, after tracking down smugglers, it has been determined that there are no merchants dealing with such spiders. Even among the monster collectors, the demand for spiders has decreased significantly, and they handle them with caution.”

When a creature unseen suddenly appears, it typically falls into two categories.

Either it escaped during transportation to a monster research facility, or it was brought back by collectors with eccentric tastes who then released them.

It’s quite common for a creature they feel attached to as a ‘pet’ to lay eggs and breed in secret places after being released.

“It’s neither of those possibilities.”

I dismissed all those possibilities.

Who would research or collect monsters in the north? With that kind of money, they could build a refuge or hoard food.

So neither escaping nor releasing could be the cause.

“That leaves only one possibility.”

“……”

“Someone deliberately transported the monster here, didn’t they?”

It was a question posed as a question, but it wasn’t really a question.

“I see you might have had some inkling.”

“Somewhat. Yes.”

The monsters from the Mauritania Continent were seen far in the north. If they hadn’t swum across the sea, the only explanation left is that someone transported them.

At least we understood the origin of the spiders.

“Any other information?”

“About the slain combat magicians. It has been confirmed they were killed by a cleric.”

Petrus dropped a bombshell with a calm voice. For a moment, I mistakenly thought the cleric wasn’t the murderer.

“Excuse me? What do you mean by that…?”

“Reports have come in from the Inquisition officers present at the scene. Even before the healing priest could lay hands on them, they already sensed the divine on the corpses.”

“Wait a moment. So the forensics have…”

“Correct.”

The Inquisition Director said.

“The forensics were accurate. It wasn’t tampered with.”

“Could it be that the cult was behind the killings…?”

“No.”

Petrus immediately dismissed the accusation. His tone was firm and resolute.

“Officially or unofficially, the Inquisition is not involved in this incident. While it’s true we have come to request a fair investigation from the Empire and share information, I was sent to the Empire to clarify the cult’s stance as the Inquisition Director.”

“……”

“If the corpses had been intact, we could have identified whose divine light it was, but… their damage has made it impossible to ascertain. As a result, the Inquisition has landed in a quagmire, with no way to distinguish whether a heretic or a cult cleric is the culprit.”

A plethora of questions was swirling in my mind.

Who is behind the attack and murder? Is the perpetrator behind both incidents the same person? Are there co-conspirators and collaborators? Who stands to gain the most from this incident, and what is the ideal outcome for the perpetrator? And who is set to incur the most significant losses?

Is the target the Empire, the cult, or the Magic Tower?

Or could it be something else…

“…Director.”

Though my thoughts echoed like a refrain, I pushed them all aside.

What was certain was that nothing was for sure.

But,

If there’s something that needs to be done, then it must be done.

“Who has the ability to kill combat magicians in close combat using divine power?”

“…Someone capable of killing combat magicians in close combat.”

Petrus looked up at the sky for a moment.

The Gloomy Sky was heavy with clouds. As he stared into the swirling snowstorm, he suddenly pulled something out of his inner pocket.

It was an envelope.

“What is this…?”

“A list of excommunicated or missing clerics. These are individuals the Inquisition is currently investigating.”

Petrus handed me the list.

As I received the documents and glanced at him, he slowly began to explain.

“In this world, apart from me, the Inquisition Director, there are only three categories of individuals who can kill using the divine. One is heretics from other faiths. The other is cultists worshiping false gods. And the last is…”

I muttered, entranced.

“…Excommunicated clerics.”

“Exactly. Those clerics who have been excommunicated from the cult.”

I looked down at the envelope that Petrus had handed over. Then I met his gaze as I lifted my head.

“Then why are the missing individuals included on the list?”

Petrus fell silent.

As he was lost in thought, a moment later, he suddenly flashed a bright smile.

“While God created man in His image, unlike the omnipotent deity, humanity is an imperfect creation. Even clerics who believe in and follow the divine are no exceptions.”

“……”

“Even spies who have been abroad for long periods can have their ideologies changed. Can clerics be any different? In the end, they’re all just people.”

The Inquisition Director let out a slight sigh. He took a breath slowly, very slowly.

“Faith is like a candle that flickers in the stormy wind. Belief is merely faith directed towards the divine.”

“……”

“Perhaps this old man’s delusions are unfounded, but I have a feeling that the name everyone is seeking lies within that context.”

Petrus’s bony fingers tapped lightly on the envelope.

“Take a good look.”

“…If I find it.”

I gazed at him.

“What do you hope to achieve if I do?”

Upon being asked, Petrus shrugged his shoulders.

His expression suggested, “What kind of question is that?”

“I’d just put a bullet in their head. Wouldn’t that be a thing you’re good at?”

“……”

“Then I’ll take my leave for now. Have a nice day, Major.”

“Don’t forget what I said earlier.”

 

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