149

Hamel was suddenly struck by a question.

Was this truly a coincidence?

‘Not a chance.’

Hamel shook his head. Only now did he seem to realize the nature of the trap Leo Benedictus had prepared.

‘This was it.’

From the beginning, that man must have known what would happen. He didn’t know how, but Leo knew the Archbishop was Daniel’s sworn enemy. While it might have been hard to predict an immediate attack on the spot, the best possible outcome for Leo had occurred nonetheless.

Conversely, it was the worst-case scenario for Hamel’s party.

Now, all that remained was for the panicked Subdeacon to run out screaming that “Hamel and his companions murdered the Archbishop.” With that, the plan would be complete. Naturally, the Inquisitors would try to kill Hamel’s group, and they would be forced to harm them in return. At worst, the main Church and the Inquisition would end up at each other’s throats.

‘I can’t let that happen.’

Just as Hamel moved to quickly restrain Elizabeth:

“Uh, so, this is… what on earth is happening?”

“……?”

For some reason, instead of fleeing, Elizabeth was asking him for an explanation. She was cowering behind Hamel, clutching his robe in terror.

“…….”

Hamel stared at Elizabeth, hiding his bewilderment as she gripped his clothes. Then he realized: Elizabeth trusted him even more than he had anticipated.

‘……I was troubled by those songs, but I suppose they have their uses.’

Should he thank the Bremen Musicians? Even Leo Benedictus, the architect of this scheme, likely hadn’t seen this coming.

Hamel calmly turned around, placed a hand on Elizabeth’s shoulder, and spoke.

“We’ve fallen into a trap.”

“A-A trap?”

“I need your help, Lady Elizabeth.”

“H-Help? Doing what?”

“Can you help us ensure no commotion breaks out until we leave this place?”

Elizabeth’s eyes darted around frantically. But after a brief moment, she nodded as if she had made up her mind.

“I… I understand. Leave it to me.”

“I’m counting on you.”

Hamel bowed his head slightly. Then, he promptly tore down a curtain from the prayer room and handed it to Daniel.

“Wipe off the blood. Then, we are heading straight for the basement.”

Elizabeth asked back in a panic, “The… the basement? You aren’t fleeing immediately?”

“No.”

“Shouldn’t escaping be our priority? If we linger here…”

“No. We are going to the basement.”

Hamel remained firm despite the worried expressions of Elizabeth and his companions. If they didn’t check the building’s basement now, the opportunity would be lost forever. He had to stop by the dungeon and verify things—to see what hint Leo Benedictus was talking about and what secrets they were hiding.

“It’s done,” Daniel said, having wiped the blood from his sword and armor. He hesitated as if he had more to say. “Look, about this… I’m sorry…”

“Now is not the time for that,” Hamel replied flatly.

He glanced at the Archbishop’s corpse. It certainly wouldn’t take long before it was discovered.

‘It can’t be helped.’

What was done was done. There was no point in telling Daniel he was reckless or shouldn’t have done it here; nothing would change. Whether the dead man was truly the Archbishop or not, he was clearly Daniel’s enemy. Just as Daniel had decided to help Hamel with his goals, Hamel had decided to aid Daniel’s revenge. So, he said nothing more.

“Let’s go. To the dungeon.”

Creeeeak—

Hamel and the party stepped out of the prayer room as if nothing were wrong. The knights guarding the door stood motionless. As expected, they hadn’t heard the commotion inside. Just as the party turned to walk quickly away from them—

“Ah, finished already?”

An old man spoke to them with a benevolent smile.

“The Archbishop said he wanted to see you right away, so I thought you’d have much to discuss.”

Hamel quickly scanned the old man’s attire.

‘Darn.’

A shoulder cape attached to a cassock. He was a figure of Bishop rank.

Hamel chose his words carefully, then replied with a faint smile.

“What business would the Archbishop have with someone like me?”

“Hahaha, such excessive humility will get you cursed. You are one of the most influential figures in the Church right now.”

“I am merely grateful for the Bishop’s high praise.”

“No, no. What am I compared to you?”

The Bishop waved his hand, yet the corners of his mouth curled up as if he were secretly pleased.

“My, you are a bit different from the rumors. Haha.”

It was exactly as Hamel intended. The Bishop, now appearing much more friendly, pointed toward the prayer room and asked, “Is the Archbishop still inside?”

‘As I thought.’

Hamel quietly bit his lip. The prayer room was located in a secluded corner of the Inquisition’s top floor. If they ran into him here, it meant one of two things: he had come to pray, or he had come to see someone in the room. Whichever it was, it was bad for Hamel.

Hamel let out a low sigh and replied with a troubled expression.

“He is inside, but……”

“But what?”

Under the Bishop’s inquisitive gaze, Hamel swallowed hard. Lying was not his specialty. How should he answer?

Just then:

“That is……”

“……?”

Elizabeth stepped in and addressed the Bishop.

“The Archbishop said he would be praying and requested that no one be allowed inside.”

The Bishop recognized her easily and asked, “Subdeacon, what do you mean by that?”

“I’m not entirely sure either. He spoke with Lord Hamel for a moment and then said he felt an epiphany and wished to offer a prayer to God alone…”

Hamel flinched at Elizabeth’s response.

‘A greeting, indeed…’

The Archbishop might truly be seeing God by now. The problem was that it wasn’t happening in this world.

After a moment, the Bishop looked at Hamel with an amazed expression following Elizabeth’s answer.

“……The Archbishop did?”

His gaze was filled with curiosity about what they could have possibly discussed. Naturally, Hamel didn’t know either, since no such conversation took place.

“…….”

Hamel remained silent. But the image and rumors he had built up created an atmosphere even out of his silence.

“Ah, it seems the Archbishop gained a precious realization from his meeting with the Saint.”

“…….”

Hamel continued to offer only a faint smile. He felt like his mouth might start twitching, but he barely managed to hold it together. And finally:

“It can’t be helped, then.”

The Bishop eventually shrugged and turned around.

“I suppose I should head back for now. Though he really shouldn’t be too long.”

Hamel, naturally walking alongside the Bishop away from the prayer room, asked, “Do you have an engagement?”

“Yes. I’ve been invited to a meal by the Emperor.”

“……His Majesty?”

Hamel rarely failed to hide his expression, but this time he couldn’t. At his surprise, the Bishop laughed.

“You seem shocked. The Emperor often shares meals with the Archbishop.”

“I see.”

“I should depart in an hour at the latest, so I’m a bit concerned.”

Hamel nodded at the Bishop’s words, making appropriate small talk as they walked. Only one fact echoed in his ears.

‘One hour.’

That was the maximum amount of time Hamel had. If luck was against them, it would be even shorter.

“Ah, I have business over that way. Until next time.”

“Yes. Goodbye.”

The Bishop offered a farewell and walked away.

There was no time. The moment the Bishop was out of sight, Hamel dropped his smile. Returning to his usual expressionless self, he spoke in a low voice.

“We must hurry.”

Nod, nod.

The party members all nodded their heads vigorously in unison.

“Who are you……?”

“I am Hamel Saint Gilmore.”

“Oh! Y-yes, sir.”

The guard at the dungeon entrance shook Hamel’s outstretched hand reflexively. He blinked his wide eyes, looking as though he couldn’t believe the Saint of rumors was standing before him. Yet, despite his surprise and excitement, the guard did not forget his duty.

“But why are you here……?”

“The Archbishop requested that I guide him.”

Once again, Elizabeth stepped forward to answer. At this, the guard nodded and stepped aside.

“Ah, I see.”

Creeak, clank.

As the heavy iron door opened, damp air rushed up to meet them. The basement, lit by torches here and there, seemed to stretch on forever.

“We’re in,” Elizabeth whispered with a stiff face.

“Yes.”

Gaining entry to the dungeon had been surprisingly easy, thanks to the fame Hamel possessed. If Elizabeth stepped in and said, ‘The Archbishop ordered me to guide them,’ everyone simply nodded. The problem was that there wasn’t much time before that fame turned into infamy.

“Are you going to be alright?”

At Hamel’s question, Elizabeth nodded resolutely.

“Yes. I mean, Lord Hamel, you’ve been trapped in a scheme. The person who died upstairs wasn’t the Archbishop, but some demon mimicking him, right? It’ll all be resolved once the real Archbishop appears later. I’m not worried.”

“…….”

Something felt very wrong about that logic… but what could he do? There was no other way.

“If you happen to be caught by your colleagues, tell them you were threatened. Say we forced you to do it.”

“What? But……”

“Just do it that way.”

“……Alright.”

As Elizabeth nodded with a dark expression, Ono, who had been walking slowly, glanced at Daniel following behind like a criminal and whispered to Hamel.

“Are you going to be okay? I mean, with Haidern.” Ono asked with a worried look.

“I’ll be fine,” Hamel replied calmly.

But.

‘Actually, it’s not fine.’

He was worried about the estate. He was worried about his mother hidden in the mansion and the other demons. If the Inquisition accused him of murdering the Archbishop and raided the estate, they would be defenseless.

That was why he had to uncover the truth even more. If the Archbishop truly had slaughtered Daniel’s family, then he was a heretic. Daniel had said he saw the sacrificial brand on his mother’s body. Only by proving that fact could they remain safe.

‘Until then, Antonio will somehow hold out. Bishop Arsen is there too.’

Hamel wanted to believe that, but time was undoubtedly tight.

Ono, unaware of Hamel’s inner thoughts, said with a fed-up expression, “Ugh, is there never a day of peace? If I get caught, I’m saying I didn’t know anything either. That I was used.”

Just as Hamel was about to nod, a cold, sharp voice interrupted them.

“Coward.”

It was Lena. She walked past the two of them. A momentarily stunned Ono exchanged glances with Elizabeth and asked, “……Did I do something wrong?”

“That was Lady Lena just now, right? I heard she was mysterious and blunt. But mister, who are you? Was there someone like you among Lord Hamel’s companions?”

“…….”

Ono simply shut his mouth. He was aggrieved, but he knew well that the more he explained, the more pathetic he would look.

It was then.

Lena, who had been leading the way, came to a sudden halt. Hamel and the others steeled their expressions. It was exactly as they expected. Lena fixed her gaze on something and spoke.

“I found him.”

Hamel moved quickly to follow her gaze. At the end of her sight was a wretched old man imprisoned in a cell. On his bare torso, something familiar caught Hamel’s eye.

The mark of Ehursika.