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“Anyway, the holy book we seized today is merely temporarily stored. Since the child is safe, it would make more sense to return the holy book to the priest soon, right?”

“Can’t we just get a new supply?”

“That’s not an easy matter. The process of creating the Inquisition’s holy books is complicated, and we must report in detail how the previous one was lost. It’s not something I should say, but I’m afraid the priest might be upset.”

“I understand. Saint Lucia.”

“Thank you. Still, I’m relieved it hasn’t escalated into a major incident. It just happened that the situation aligned perfectly. It could have harmed someone because of sorcery. That child might have been injured.”

“……”

“I don’t know if it was really just a coincidence.”

—

Episode 12 – The Strongest Magician in History

The incident triggered by the child’s clumsy use of sorcery and the Inquisition’s sudden outburst ended up being a minor happening. The child’s innocent wish to stop the blizzard was the simple motive for the sorcery, and since both the sorcery and the inquisition were attempted but ultimately failed, all of this would be deemed a passing commotion.

“That’s a relief.”

“Indeed.”

Regardless of who was at fault, what mattered was that it ended safely. Good is good, after all.

As Lucia took a sip of coffee in agreement, she asked rather casually to lighten the mood, “By the way, what brings you both to this town?”

“The administrator is here on official business. They need to repair the railway passing through the town.”

Francesca was just stopping by for work. I had come to help out after getting a contact from her.

Well, in the end, it all ended as a minor event, so I didn’t really need to step in.

“You really didn’t need to come. I feel sorry for stealing your valuable time.”

I waved my hand in response to Lucia’s apologetic words.

“There’s no need for the saint to apologize. I was planning to visit you both soon anyway.”

Francesca tilted her head in surprise.

“You mean the Colonel was going to visit the Saint and me?”

“Yes.”

Though Francesca still appeared calm, she couldn’t hide her confusion as she spoke.

“That’s an unexpected combination…”

All this time, Camila, Lucia, and Francesca had always moved together. It was common knowledge that companions chosen by the Oracle seldom allowed for questioning.

However, in reality, they had seldom been seen together. Gathering the administrator of the Magic Tower Secretariat and the saint of the Cult in one place was nearly impossible, mainly due to political reasons.

I nodded seriously.

“I understand what you mean by an unexpected combination.”

“Being a diplomat, I’m sure you know more than I do, Colonel.”

No matter how it’s packaged nicely, the Oracle ultimately comes from the Cult.

Given the thousands of years of history filled with antagonism between the Magic Tower and the Cult, it was impossible for there to be a complete absence of pushback even within the Cult itself.

Thus, the Cult and the Magic Tower desired to keep both individuals as separate as possible. They would interact as colleagues in official domains but could not get any closer than that. At least, for personal matters like breaks or vacations, Camila would join to maintain a neutral position.

This was an unspoken agreement that had formed shortly after Lucia declared her intention to visit the Magic Tower. Abas and Kien, along with surrounding nations, respected the wishes of both the Cult and the Magic Tower.

After all, gatherings between the Cult and the Magic Tower only led to conflicts, and Lucia and Francesca were both important figures each held dear. That which has been determined by the gods cannot simply be altered by humans.

Ultimately, the concerns and unspoken agreements of the Cult and the Magic Tower were something the surrounding nations could fully understand.

Thus, they respected it. At least, so far.

“But hasn’t the situation changed?”

The situation is fluid. No flower lasts in bloom for more than ten days, and even a massive rock can be split by a mere trickle of water.

So if the situation has changed, then responses must also adapt.

“I have something to say regarding the murder case.”

*

A brown envelope was tossed on the wooden desk.

“This is a document sent from the Imperial Ministry of Magic. It’s still warm, the ink’s barely dry.”

It was the autopsy report delivered from the Kien Empire’s Ministry of Magic to Abas’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

I opened the envelope and laid out each document on the desk.

“This is a report that has meticulously analyzed the bodies of the Ministry of Magic’s investigators who were killed during the transport operation. The contents indicate that the deceased investigators all suffered attacks by sharp weapons.”

The evidence illustrated the horrific nature of the crime. Long gashes across the abdomen, sunken flesh, and multiple stitched wounds.

The images of the murdered bodies captured without any filtration were certainly not pleasant for anyone viewing them.

“…That’s horrifying.”

Lucia quietly made the sign of the cross, shivering at the brutal scene.

“The Ministry of Magic believes they were all struck by a sharp object. It seems a blade of at least 30 cm in length was used as the murder weapon. A very substantial sword, too.”

“And do they know who the perpetrator is?”

“For now, the suspect is presumed to be a swordsman proficient in using blades. Just like the one who killed the combat magicians discovered previously in the Rift.”

Taking a sip of coffee, Francesca momentarily lost in thought, furrowed her pretty brow.

“Is it the work of the same perpetrator?”

“I’m not an investigator, so I can’t say for sure, but it looks like the Imperial investigative agency believes there’s a high chance it’s the same perpetrator.”

“Well, it’s not common to find an adventurer skilled enough to kill multiple combat magicians in a single strike.”

I waved the paper with my finger.

“The Ministry of Magic utilized specialized equipment to conduct a detailed examination, and they found traces of divine power left on the wounds.”

What that means is…

“This suggests that the suspect in this murder case is very likely a swordsman who wields divine power.”

“……”

“Coincidentally, this aligns with the characteristics of the existing murder case suspect.”

Lucia quietly lowered her head, then made the sign of the cross once again. Although she had not committed any sins, it seemed she felt a sense of responsibility knowing that someone among the Cult’s clergy had committed murder.

It would be understandable to feel wronged, but Lucia didn’t raise her voice. She didn’t dismiss the investigation results as unbelievable, nor did she outright deny the possibility of it happening.

“……”

She merely kept her head down in silence.

Ironically, it was the magician Francesca who questioned the test results.

“Colonel, can we trust the Imperial Ministry of Magic’s examination results?”

“This agency is notable in this field.”

The Imperial investigative agency possesses significant expertise in autopsies and crime scene investigations.

To be precise, they excel in autopsy results and analysis for those who have met with mysterious deaths, quite unlike the rest.

“The Empire promptly dispatched personnel as soon as the investigators lost contact. As a result, they managed to preserve the crime scene well, unlike the bodies of the combat magicians that had been left unattended for over a day.”

The Imperial Ministry of Magic conducted preservation magic on the bodies of the investigators and soldiers before hurriedly transporting them to the capital. They then gathered renowned forensic experts and magicians who frequently cooperated with the investigative agency to conduct the autopsies.

So, the autopsy results themselves are beyond suspicion.

“If, as Sir Martinez claimed, the corpses were transported to the Magic Tower for an autopsy, we could have seen different results…”

Francesca seemed a little regretful as she licked her lips.

Thinking about it, someone had said that the corpses of the Corpse Spiders and Giant Spiders during the Rift invasion should be taken to the Magic Tower for thorough analysis. That protagonist was none other than Juan Pablo Martinez, whom Francesca had just mentioned.

Both Francesca and Martinez seemed to think of themselves as superior to the Imperial Ministry of Magic, but unfortunately for them, this time they were mistaken.

“This autopsy, like the previous one, included the participation of the Inquisition officers. They confirmed the divine responses coming from the bodies and verified them with additional machinery.”

The Inquisition confirmed for the record that divine traces were discovered on the bodies of the Imperial Ministry of Magic investigators. Due to its sensitive nature, this fact was not communicated through the media, but both the Empire and the Cult were well aware.

For reference, I heard this information from Director Petrus before the findings were received.

“Of course, this is all just a possibility. A swordsman who wields divine power is a strong suspect, but it’s still unclear whether that divine power belongs to a clergy member of the Cult or another religion’s priest. The quantity of divine traces is too small to determine that currently.”

Lucia, who had been quietly listening, suddenly asked in a voice laced with despair, “Is that so?”

“Yes, Saint.”

No, it has been determined that the divine power used by the murder suspect closely aligns with the divine power dealt with by the Cult’s clergy.

Thus, Director Petrus chose to visit the Kien Empire as a confidential special envoy to resolve this issue. The Inquisition is making it clear that they have no involvement in this murder case.

However, this fact is not present in the documents, and if I were to spill this information I heard from Petrus in front of Lucia and Francesca, it could cause trouble. While Francesca might keep a secret as an information agent, I absolutely cannot disclose it to Lucia.

It’s deceitful to mislead an innocent person, but what can I do? This is my job.

So, I fabricated a suitable story to pacify Lucia. A well-intentioned lie.

“Therefore, for now, the Imperial investigative agency deems it necessary to conduct further investigation. As for the stance of the Cult and the Magic Tower… let’s skip that for now, you’ll find out soon enough. Saint Lucia?”

“…Yes.”

“I need your help.”

Lucia, who had been sitting like a sinner, lifted her head. I fixed my gaze on her blue eyes and asked for assistance in a soft tone.

“Currently, the only ones well-versed in divine matters in the Northern Regions are religious figures. While we could find knowledgeable magicians, they likely wouldn’t have as much expertise as someone who has dedicated their life to the faith.”

“That would probably be the case.”

“In order to properly investigate this incident and uncover the truth, we will definitely need the assistance of the clergy. There should also be a certain level of force provided just in case. And, most critically, they must be discreet.”

So,

“Please send Priest Rebecca.”

Lucia’s eyes widened slightly. It was evident she never imagined that name would come up here.

“Are you talking about Priest Rebecca?”

“Yes.”

Although Priest Rebecca is currently assisting Lucia, her original status was as an Inquisition officer.

Having been the secretary to the Inquisition Director, it’s likely she’s a remarkably talented individual based on both her own abilities and her surrounding evaluations. Naturally, she would also be discreet.

The secretary of the Information Agency Head has a greater obligation to confidentiality than any other employee.

I naturally assumed that Lucia would know that Rebecca is affiliated with the Inquisition too.

However, Lucia’s response was somewhat unexpected.

“Why?”

Lucia looked at me with a completely baffled expression.

The confused blue eyes made it instinctively clear to me that Lucia knew nothing about this. So, yet again, I crafted a story to excuse the situation.

“Priest Rebecca is the clergy member I’ve known the longest, aside from you. In truth… I have few acquaintances among the clergy, so she’s practically the only one I know.”

“But you just said that a dangerous situation might arise, right? Priest Rebecca…”

“Oh, that was just something I said casually.”

“How much investigation can I conduct without formal investigation rights? The mention of force is merely a precautionary discussion for potential situations. So, there’s no need to worry.”

I attempted to soothe Lucia, who was showing signs of anxiety. I wasn’t exactly sure why she was so concerned, but it seemed she was worried about Priest Rebecca’s safety.

Lucia opened her mouth, her voice tinged with concern.

“It’s not just the priest I’m worried about; I’m also concerned for the Colonel’s safety. He keeps getting involved in accidents and coming back injured…”

“This time it should be fine. Just relax.”

I calmed Lucia, who was anxious like a child looking at the water’s edge, and to lighten the mood, I briefly changed the topic.

“Ah, more importantly, Saint, there’s news from the Cult.”

“What kind of news?”

“It has been decided by the court that all the assets, including Cardinal Raul’s mansion, which has been registered as a ward since his days as a priest, will be inherited by you, Saint. We will need to discuss the details later with the officials from the Cult, but I’m conveying the information since we received it. Communication from the North has been poor…”

“Ah…”

Lucia blinked in surprise, clearly unaware of it before.

After discussing such a heavy topic for a while, it seemed like even though she didn’t show it, deep down her mind wasn’t at ease.

Lucia, who had been sitting there in a daze, eventually regained her composure and bowed her head slightly in gratitude while still seated.

“Thank you. It must have been troublesome for you…”

“Not at all, it was nothing.”

“Really, thank you. I will definitely invite you all to the mansion later.”

“If you need cleaning, just call me anytime. It’d be a good excuse to clean up the mansion and to visit the Cult.”

“If you wish, so shall it be.”

Throughout the conversation, Lucia had worn a gloomy expression, but she finally smiled softly. It was a long-awaited sight of her smile.

*

To ease the atmosphere, I added some light chit-chat and jokes. While Lucia had been uncertain amid the heavy mood, at the very least, she could smile as she left the room.

While Lucia led the priests into the city to care for the remaining refugees, I remained in the office to chat with Francesca.

I picked up the documents sent by the Imperial Ministry of Magic and handed them to Francesca.

“Can you burn this?”

Francesca shook her head.

“I can’t use elemental magic. To be precise, I can’t handle flames.”

“Oh, really?”

I took out a lighter and burned the documents along with the envelope. Watching the paper twist and blacken as it burned, I pulled out a cigarette from my pocket and lit it.

“Phew…”

I exhaled a cloud of pale smoke as I settled onto the desk. The envelope had turned into a small bonfire in the steel trash can.

The office was now left with just the information agent and me.

This was the real talk we were about to share.

Watching the thick smoke blend into the air, I said to Francesca, “The person who killed the combat magician, the magic department investigator, and the escort officer is indeed a cleric of the Cult.”

“Who did it?”

“Seems it was a heretic.”

Heretic: This term refers to someone who converts from their established religion to another or ceases to believe in any god. In most religions, heresy is regarded as a severe crime as it directly defies and challenges faith.

Whether in the world or here, heretics typically become targets of scorn within their religions. Excommunication is standard, and in some cases, it can even lead to execution.

Inquisition Director Petrus identified a heretic as the mastermind behind this incident.

Francesca, a high-ranking executive at the Magic Tower Secretariat, smirked.

“A heretic? Well, using that logic, couldn’t the Oracle just order anyone to be killed and then banish them?”

“The Inquisition confirmed it.”

“……”

As soon as I mentioned the confirmation from the Inquisition, Francesca’s expression shifted.

She inquired back in a noticeably lowered, usually rare tone. “…Is it true?”

I answered directly, “Why would I lie to you?”

“……”

“There’s no need for that. Regardless of what you say, you have to follow my lead anyway.”

Francesca’s eyes fixated on me.

With winter falling early, the office felt a bit dark. Sitting there in smart attire, Francesca stared at me silently and without flinching.

“Don’t take it the wrong way. That’s just how things are.”

The hierarchy between the information agent and officer was crystal clear.

To explain, I was Francesca’s superior, and Francesca was my subordinate. More accurately, it would be a relationship akin to a main contractor and a subcontractor.

If I applied a method I used frequently in the past, I could find some suitable weaknesses to make Francesca comply with my demands. Then controlling her wouldn’t be difficult, and she wouldn’t even think about defying me like she might now.

But that was a tactic for when I used and discarded information agents.

Coercing Francesca under the current circumstances wasn’t a good idea.

I shrugged my shoulders in jest while chuckling a bit.

“Don’t worry. I won’t ask you to do anything unreasonable. And yes, it’s true that the Inquisition confirmed it.”

“……Don’t doubt it?”

“If possible.”

Internal information from the Inquisition is provided by Petrus. He’s an information officer from the Military Intelligence Agency, who has successfully infiltrated the Cult to reach the position of Inquisition Director.

When compared to a Mossad agent, he’s the equivalent of Eli Cohen, truly a spy that will be remembered in history.

But considering that Eli Cohen, who infiltrated Syria, was captured and executed by the counterintelligence agency, Francesca’s suspicion about the authenticity of the information I provided is not a good sign.

Those who doubt the veracity tend to inquire into the truth. To uncover the truth, they often try to find out the source.

What if Francesca were to dig into the source of the information and ended up caught in the watch of another intelligence agency?

Then it would all go downhill. In the worst-case scenario, an unprecedented event could occur where the current Inquisition Director is executed by an Inquisition Officer.

“Francesca.”

I lounged in my chair, looking down at Francesca.

Francesca was blessed with a tall figure and good proportions. Her fashion sense was quite decent as she always wore fitting attire.

I hadn’t noticed it before, but now I saw that Francesca was much smaller than I had thought. Whether that was just how it appeared or if I was only just realizing it now, I couldn’t tell.

In any case,

“I’m not interested in your intentions for approaching me or what you want. To put it accurately, ‘I’m not concerned’ is the right expression. You know why?”

“…Well, no.”

“Because I know it won’t harm me.”

The reason an information officer complies with the demands of the information agents is twofold.

One, to maintain good relations with the agent, and the other is the understanding that the demands aren’t threatening.

“Whether you’re cursing the National Security Agency, seeking revenge against the Tower, or trying to revive your family, that’s none of my concern. If anything, I’d gain from it rather than lose.”

“……”

“But if you keep on doubting like this, it could lead to trouble. It does no good for either side to live in suspicion.”

“……”

I rubbed my eye with my finger as though to wipe away sleep.

“There’s a saying in Patalia.”

My fluent Patalian echoed in the dim office.

“‘A person should wear shoes that fit their feet.’”

“…….”

“Do you understand what that means?”

Francesca nodded.

“Answer.”

“I understand.”

“Good.”

Phew, I exhaled smoke I hadn’t even swallowed. I figured she must have gotten the point by now.

I continued in Abasian, Francesca’s native language instead of Patalian.

“Anyway, the investigation will now focus on the heretics. In the meantime, let’s seize the feast set up by those Dark Elves.”

I reviewed the plans I had made with Francesca over the past few weeks. In practice, it was just a matter of going over them and checking for any mistakes.

“When my friend brings the goods from the port, I’ll send someone to transport them to the North. You found the distribution route in the North, right?”

“I found it long ago.”

“Great! Now, let me explain the Northern black market. The largest organization is the Palm Tree Trade Guild run by Hormoz. The local black market operates through competition among the minor organizations…”

The briefing needed to be kept as short and straightforward as possible.

Since it was Francesca, not me, who would be primarily tackling the black market, I briefed her once and then had her summarize it back to me.

Why was Francesca taking the lead and not me?

That’s because I’m the information officer. It simply wouldn’t make sense for the main contractor to handle the tasks meant for a subcontractor. Furthermore, I had other duties to attend to.

“What if the Cult catches wind of this?”

“I’ll hold them back, so no worries for you, Administrator.”

“What about the Military Government?”

“The Military Government Headquarters is too busy preparing for the March offensive and maintaining order in the North. With the Rift getting attacked and a murder happening, there’s no way they can focus. Just disregard it. I have a plan.”

While the Cult wouldn’t have much reason to intervene in the black market, the Imperial Army was a different story. The Imperial Army, particularly the Military Government Headquarters, posed the most significant obstacle to establishing the black market.

With their numbers, arms, personnel, funds, and intelligence, the Military Government Headquarters currently holds a superior position compared to me. They oversee public order in the Northern regions, after all. It would be difficult to compete even with the Military Intelligence Agency’s Kien branch backing me.

Therefore, it made sense for Francesca to focus on this matter rather than me.

“Administrator, please concentrate solely on the black market.”

“And?”

“There will be competitors. There will definitely be locals who show territoriality. If you see them, notify me without delay. While focusing on the black market, please gather information about the railway and road networks in the North.”

Francesca wouldn’t have the luxury of working on anything else since we needed to focus on taking down the Dark Elves. The only reasonable approach was for her to gather intel while also engaging in her primary work of restoring the transportation network.

As I continued explaining, I added in a joke, thinking I’d lighten Francesca’s seemingly troubled expression.

“Don’t forget the dating roleplay either!”

“What will you do if that blocks my marriage path?”

“Shall I write a contract for that? It’ll renew automatically every two weeks, and if canceled without consultation, a penalty fee applies.”

“Will that even change my reputation? This isn’t insurance or anything…”

“If you don’t want it, then don’t.”

“Quite the villain, aren’t you, Colonel?”

Francesca muttered as she leaned back into her chair, feeling a bit lighter now.

“…Ah, maybe I should use my wish card instead.”

“Wish card?”

“You owe me a debt from long ago, Colonel.”

“Ah… Come to think of it, that does ring a bell. I remember.”

“Would it be possible to use that to stop this role of pretending to be lovers…?”

I smiled at Francesca, who was whining about wanting to stop the fake relationship.

“Absolutely not.”

 

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