148

The capital of the Empire.

Figures draped in robes walked down the street, leading their horses by the reins. They stopped in front of an inn, and just as one of them reached for the doorknob to enter—

“Ah, the cave surrounded by demons. Their stench comes rushing in.”

“…….”

A singing voice drifted through the boisterous noise.

“Trembling hands. Shuddering breath. A moment of fear. Then a single streak of flame erupted.”

“Ohhh!”

“Blue flame. Priest of the Blue Flame. O Gods, protect him. Protect him.”

As the song ended, loud applause broke out. Voices shouted along to the final lyrics, followed by the clinking of glasses. The robed figures stood frozen, unable to enter the lively space. One of them pulled his robe down further and turned away.

“Let’s look for another inn.”

“Don’t bother. It’ll be the same wherever we go,” Ono replied, throwing back his hood.

The others flinched, but Ono spoke irritably. “Don’t worry. It seems no one recognizes me anyway.”

“Are you sulking?”

At Lena’s question, Ono snapped, “No, I’m just saying there’s no need for anyone to hide except for Hamel.”

“That’s true.”

Daniel agreed and rolled up his hood. For them to be suspected as Hamel’s companions, Hamel himself had to be recognized first. This popularity was entirely directed at Hamel.

“…….”

Hamel, feeling strangely like a criminal, quietly held his peace. Ono wasn’t wrong. From the estate to the capital, almost everyone recognized him. His plan to gather information discreetly had already failed. Just as he was wondering what to do:

“Excuse me, are you perhaps Lord Hamel and his companions?”

“…….”

They were caught immediately. Hamel turned his head, struggling to think of an answer. However, the person standing there was no ordinary citizen.

“Ah, I knew it! Greetings. I am Subdeacon Elizabeth of the Inquisition.”

The subdeacon’s eyes sparkled as she recognized Hamel. She looked about Hamel’s age. Gazing at her peer with eyes full of admiration, she addressed him:

“Would you grant me the honor of escorting you to the Inquisition?”

“Why the Inquisition…?”

Hamel asked, not hiding his suspicion. His plan was definitely ruined. It seemed the Inquisition had known of his visit for a long time. Regardless of that, he had no idea why they were calling for him.

Elizabeth looked surprised and asked back, “It’s only natural. You are a Saint of the Church, Lord Hamel. If we didn’t attend to you upon your arrival in the capital, it would be a stain on the Inquisition’s honor.”

“……”

“B-but if you are busy, it can’t be helped…”

Since when had they been on such good terms? Hamel looked at the subdeacon for a moment before nodding.

“Very well. Lead the way.”

“……Yes! Thank you!”

Elizabeth rejoiced as if she had received a great honor and took the lead. Watching her excitement, Ono whispered to Hamel:

“Is it really okay to walk straight into the Inquisition like this?”

“We have no other choice.”

“But what if it’s a trap…?”

“Even if it is, we have no way to avoid it.”

Ono scowled but nodded at Hamel’s words. Indeed, with them watching so closely, there was nothing they could do in the capital. Since it had come to this, they had to face it head-on. Hamel watched Elizabeth, who was humming the familiar song ahead of them.

Was that an act as well? Or… Hamel hid his suspicion and slowly followed her.

The Inquisition.

Technically, it is a judicial body that executes the laws of the Empire. However, it is fundamentally a sub-group of the Church. Its head is an Archbishop under the Pope. Thus, while it balanced itself between the Church and the Imperial Court, it was a group closer to the Church.

‘……At least, until now.’

Hamel looked around as he entered the Inquisition. This was his first time here as well. In the past, he had been obsessed only with catching demons, so he had no reason to visit this place responsible for the law.

Unlike the Church, the Inquisition had few flashy decorations. It was clean—to the point of appearing somewhat cold. The buildings had narrow windows and many floors. Its fortress-like shape gave it an eerie sense of intimidation.

“…….”

As a space that executed the law, more people of various kinds were coming and going than he had expected. Yet, it wasn’t noisy. Under somewhat dim lighting, the building carried a heavy atmosphere overall. Perhaps it was because soldiers with masked faces stood guard with iron-clad discipline.

“Now, just keep following me.”

Elizabeth led them with a smile. The atmosphere grew heavier the higher they went. The diverse crowds of the first floor were no longer seen. Only Inquisitors draped in robes moved through the hallways. However, the tension was brief.

“……It’s Saint Hamel!”

“……It really is him.”

The eyes of the Inquisitors went wide as they spotted Hamel and his party. Several whispered among themselves, unable to hide their surprise.

“Should we go ask for an autograph?”

“Stop it. You’ll be a nuisance.”

A strangely excited atmosphere. Hamel felt a bit deflated.

‘It’s… not a trap.’

If this were a trap, these people would have to possess god-given acting talent. They should be working in the theater district, not here. The heavy atmosphere of the Inquisition from moments ago had become as festive as a carnival. Elizabeth, who was guiding them, walked with a strangely triumphant air.

“……This isn’t the atmosphere I expected.”

As Daniel muttered, everyone else nodded. It seemed everyone in the party felt the same way. Bishop Arsen and Cardinal Eleora had told them that the Inquisition was currently distancing itself from the Church and following an independent path. Of course, “independent” was just a word; the Church was certain they had sided with the Imperial Court. If that were the case, he expected them to be hostile or at least wary…

But what was this? Everyone looked restless, as if they were dying to speak to Hamel.

“It’s no different than outside.”

“……No, it might be even worse here.”

As Lena and Ono spoke, feeling a bit put off by their excitement:

“You can wait here.”

Elizabeth said, showing them into a room. It was a well-furnished reception room. Hamel asked with a tilt of his head:

“Wait for what?”

“Pardon……?”

“……?”

When Hamel waited in silence for her answer, Elizabeth tilted her head and asked back:

“Weren’t you planning to meet the Archbishop?”

“……!”

Hamel and the entire party flinched. The Archbishop, all of a sudden? This was entirely unexpected. If this were a novel, it would be like meeting the final villain right at the start. Furthermore, the Archbishop was not someone you could meet easily just because you wanted to.

Hamel asked back, hiding his emotions as much as possible:

“Is the Archbishop willing to meet us?”

“Of course. In fact, the Archbishop was the one who sent me to greet you.”

“……Very well.”

Hamel nodded. He didn’t know the intent, but he couldn’t back down after coming this far. With the mindset that he would play along as far as they wanted, Hamel steeled his resolve.

“Yes! Then please wait a moment.”

Failing to notice Hamel’s inner state at all, Elizabeth left the room with a beam. The party merely exchanged glances and let out heavy sighs. Technically, they were in the middle of enemy territory. That meant it was difficult even to share words easily. Yet, the atmosphere was as relaxed as if they had returned to their hometown, making it hard to concentrate.

A short while after Elizabeth left, there was a knock on the door. Elizabeth reappeared.

“Are you ready?”

“Wait, right now…?”

“Yes, the Archbishop is waiting for you.”

No matter how fast, this speed was bewildering. Did the Archbishop have something he wanted to say to him? Hamel found it difficult to grasp the Archbishop’s intentions. After taking a deep breath, Hamel stood up.

“Let’s go.”

“Right.”

The party finished their preparations and followed Hamel. Had they ever come this far because their preparations were “perfect”? Now was the time to face it. Following Elizabeth, they arrived at the top floor of the Inquisition. It was likely a hassle to go back and forth, but it seemed there was no place in the building safer than this. On the way up, they had to pass dozens of guards. The path to the top floor was complex, making infiltration look nearly impossible.

While Hamel was thinking this:

Knock, knock.

Elizabeth knocked on the wooden door. A short answer came from inside.

“Yes. Come in.”

It was a more modest voice than expected. Elizabeth slowly pushed the door open. As it opened, a familiar sight came into view. Starting from the entrance, statues of the four Good Gods stood on both sides, and at the far front was a symbol blending the sun and the moon. These were symbols of the Great God Yan and the Good Gods.

And before them, an old man was kneeling in prayer. An old man with long hair, a mix of white and brown. The man finished his prayer with a low murmur and slowly stood up.

“Welcome. I am Andrea, the Archbishop of this place.”

He was a man as modest-looking as his voice. He wore few accessories, and his robes were plain. If you met him outside, you would think he was just an ordinary priest. Hamel bowed his head with a strange sense of impression.

“Greetings. I am Exorcist Hamel Saint Gilmore…….”

And in that moment—

Slice.

The unthinkable happened.

“……?”

At the sudden sound of cutting, Hamel couldn’t lift his head for a moment. It was ominous. Yet, he had to check. And…

“……What on earth are you doing?”

Hamel muttered in a low voice. He had no choice. The scene before his eyes was a prayer room drenched in blood. The Archbishop, spewing blood with his head severed. And…

“Sir Daniel Tyrian.”

It was Daniel, standing there dazed, holding a blood-stained sword.

“Uh……?”

Elizabeth, who had guided them, turned pale. Hamel’s face must have been just as bloodless. Hamel swallowed hard and asked back:

“Why on earth did you do this?”

“…….”

Daniel stood still for a moment, looking down at the corpse without a word. He looked as if he didn’t know whether this was a dream or not. At that, Hamel shouted coldly:

“Get a hold of yourself, Sir Daniel!”

“……!”

“I know you aren’t the kind of person to do this without reason. Explain yourself.”

At Hamel’s shout, Daniel finally met Hamel’s eyes. His pupils were wide with shock before the trembling slowly subsided. Then, he spat out the words:

“It’s him.”

“……Who are you talking about?”

“I told you. I have never forgotten his face for a single moment.”

“……!”

Hamel finally realized who Daniel was referring to. The brown-haired priest who had slaughtered Daniel’s family over ten years ago. That meant—

Hamel looked at the Archbishop in shock. Only then did he see the man’s brown hair again.

‘We’ve been had.’

From the beginning, this was the goal of that man, Leo Benedictus.