156

Surprisingly, the temple’s corruption could be vividly relayed through Those Who Can’t Resign.

“These days I really want to quit my job.”

He was a temple employee who’d recently become a regular. Whether a cleric, an office worker, or a cleaner, he cheerfully declared from the start that he worked at the temple. It was one hundred percent stagnant water.

‘What can a lowly employee like me do by whining here? If we’re not even allowed to do that, then the benevolence of those high up who serve the gods is lacking. Don’t people complain about the ruler where there’s no one? Of course, I would never do such a thing to Lord Lemer.’

I, used to only seeing stuffy central ministry officials, brightened at a customer with a more modern mindset.

“Of course, of course. Mr. Osori’s personal story will be kept completely confidential. Don’t worry and feel free to trash-talk your boss.”

“I guess I’m earning money to come here.”

Osori vented his desire to quit with gusto during the consultation, and through that I got a rough sense of the temple’s atmosphere. Priest Nora had told me some things too, but she was newly assigned and had limits.

“Divine power doesn’t suddenly increase a lot if you train. It’s all innate. In this regard it’s even more so than magic. Sometimes I wonder why Lord Lemer granted so much divine power to such a person. You can call it blasphemy if you want. Master Quokka doesn’t know who I am!”

“No. I think like you do, Mr. Osori. That’s why I run a place like this. Everyone has things they find hard to say out loud.”

He chattered away excitedly.

“Exactly. I thought working at the temple I’d be able to help many people in need. There are many who leave without receiving proper treatment even once. But when I actually got in, treatment was prioritized by power and money. Even someone affiliated with the temple using the physician—does that make any sense?”

“Indeed. They should at least provide staff welfare. Your motivation must be very low.”

“That’s exactly what I mean! You understand me, Master Quokka!”

As the consultation warmed up, I slyly asked a question on the off chance.

“I assume major temple affairs are decided by the High Prelate? His Holiness the Pope is so busy with public and private matters. He also travels abroad a lot.”

Mr. Osori nodded.

“That’s the case. Actually, it’s been a headache lately because the acceptance of treatment requests has become strict. I don’t know why it suddenly changed. Maybe they’ll even sanction nobles now.”

“Really?”

I already knew it all, but I listened to Mr. Osori’s story as if I were hearing it for the first time.

“They’re the second-highest authority after the Pope. Who could check them?”

“Outwardly, yes. Many people think that.”

I had a hunch something was up.

“But the real power lies elsewhere.”

“Elsewhere?”

Mr. Osori glanced around the empty room as if concerned about prying ears, then spoke in a low voice.

“The commander of the Holy Knights.”

“The knight commander is the power behind the throne?”

He nodded slowly.

“This is something you only learn after being with the temple for a long time. When he came in I ran a background check. He now goes by the name ‘Urael,’ but in truth… he’s the adopted son of the Count Cassius family.”

“…!”

I instinctively covered my mouth. Perhaps sensing my surprise, Mr. Osori grew more talkative.

“He renounced his noble name saying he had devoted himself to the god and wanted to live for the deity. But there’s something shady about him. When I talked to him he didn’t seem devout at all. Of course his divine power is strong and his swordsmanship excellent. He rose to knight commander in no time. The High Prelate seems flustered around him, though they must have a good relationship since he is often summoned. Anyway, it’s unsettling. Strange things seem to have happened since he arrived.”

“Strange things?”

I found myself increasingly drawn into his story.

“There were several times when young clerics or knights who went out with him disappeared; they called them work accidents, but there were deaths. There’s also a rumor that ghosts appear in the temple at night, and that kind of talk never used to exist. Ghosts in the temple—does that make sense? This rumor is still ongoing. Everyone says he looks benevolent, but I can read faces a bit, you know? It feels creepy~~~.”

Mr. Osori was a bit of a talker, but he provided quality information. As a service, I gave him a one-time free consultation coupon.

“Those Who Can’t Resign really… have to stay with me for life!”

He vanished like the wind after uttering a line that forcibly wrecked my plan to quit.

And a few days later. Late at night.

I, Len, Priest Nora, Marcella, and Prince Raven met on a side path a short distance from the temple. It was a secret spot Nora had discovered after thorough investigation.

“Chancellor, are you really going to be all right? I think it’d be better if I went in instead.”

Prince Raven was anxious. I gestured for him to calm down.

“I’m more worried that Your Highness came this far. I only asked whether you’d come rescue us if we didn’t return…”

“Hearing that, how could I not come? You know how important you are to me…”

Prince Raven’s excellent swordsmanship would be very helpful, but it would be problematic if someone of royal blood got injured. Especially since the Crown Prince might clean the place out on the spot.

“If we’re lucky we can leave quietly without anyone noticing, but if the temple guards chase us, please secure an escape from here. Still, somehow you’ve managed to deal with even the Second Knight Order. With Marshal Gerard at the helm, that wouldn’t have been easy.”

The Imperial Second Knight Order, which had been in the Crown Prince’s line, was promoted to the First Knight Order when Gerard became Marshal. Officially it was because their evaluation scores were higher. Thus the former Imperial First Knight Order was demoted to the Second.

‘No wonder the Crown Prince would hate that.’

At that moment a man appeared and greeted me and the group.

“Greetings. I am Girion, commander of the Imperial Second Knight Order.”

“…!”

“…!!!!!”

Yes. He was the man who asked me out at the imperial social—an otherwise very nice fellow whom I politely declined. To be a knight commander at that age—his superior hunting skills must have had a reason.

For a moment I remembered having to work overtime for no reason because of him, and when I glanced to the side I saw Ren glaring sharply.

“Please take care of things today, Commander Girion. Please protect His Highness well.”

“Don’t worry. I will do my best to ensure you get out safely.”

He displayed such a cool, composed demeanor that there was no hint he ever liked me. Seeing Ren soften slightly at that, I turned without further delay.

Ah, I had something to say to Raven.

“After this is over, I’d like to hear Your Highness’s thoughts.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Whether today goes smoothly or not, you’ll find out.”

Hearing about something and seeing it for yourself are worlds apart.

“Then, I’ll be going in.”

Priest Nora, who knew the way, led and we followed. We walked silently, holding our breath, and soon I no longer felt Prince Raven’s gaze behind us.

There was little wind and only the occasional magical streetlamp faintly lit the way. The route Nora had found used a side path beside the temple to move straight to the back, then to the relic repository. She said this way was simple and unlikely to confuse us.

‘Sigh, I’m really nervous.’

I had declared confidently that we must go, but actually infiltrating made my heart pound like crazy. It may be commonplace in web novels, but as someone who’d lived as an exemplary modern citizen, I’d never done anything like this.

‘To be honest, I’m more of an intellectual type.’

At least the High Prelate is similar to me—intellectual and passive—so it might be worth hoping for a blessing-chance, but the commander of the Holy Knights seemed like he’d cut us down in an instant.

Then Ren silently took my hand. The warmth he transmitted strangely eased my tension. Someone might call it lovey-dovey in a dangerous situation, but Len’s reaction was perfectly appropriate.

“We’re now at the back of the temple. A little further and we’ll reach the ‘Pope’s Mausoleum,’ where the relic repository is. There may be people around, so be careful.”

We paused to check the path once more, exchanged glances, then moved on. Thanks to Marcella and Ren sensing things keenly, we luckily reached our destination without being spotted.

After quickly knocking out the guard at the door, we slipped inside before anyone noticed. A huge space, dimly lit by small lamps, opened before us. A chilling atmosphere swept over us.

“This is the sacred space where past Popes are entombed. Rituals to honor them are held here regularly.”

Nora explained briefly in a low voice.

‘But why do I only feel discomfort?’

I unconsciously squeezed Ren’s hand tightly.