A Dark Fantasy Spy

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The infamy of the Inquisition is exceptionally renowned among information officials.

In a world rife with numerous mainstream religions and their intelligence organizations, the reputation of the Inquisition stands unparalleled.

It’s not uncommon for Inquisition officers to be dispatched under various pretexts, citing reasons like heretical investigations or demon tracking, and sometimes even demanding the custody of perfectly innocent foreign magicians under the pretense of intelligence regarding dark magicians.

But that’s not all.

Taking advantage of the sensitivity surrounding religious oppression, they often gather information centering around churches.

Further still, there have been instances where Inquisition officers posing as military chaplains infiltrated military facilities and got caught.

Given this situation, intelligence officials with a bit of experience tend to be overly cautious of the Inquisition.

With their penchant for meddling under the guise of religious authority, even diplomats do not view them favorably.

In any case, the intelligence organizations represented by the Inquisition are notorious for their unimaginable misdeeds, often regarded as a gathering of the most arrogant among arrogant religious figures.

Just like now.

“What brings you here?”

I scanned the Inquisition officers lined up in front of the Abas diplomatic residence. They hadn’t yet revealed their identities, but they certainly did not look like ordinary priests.

Only the Inquisition would dare to engage in such antics towards a diplomat, things that even the Imperial Guard HQ wouldn’t.

As expected, the suit-clad man who appeared to be the most senior among the Inquisition officials began to speak.

“Are you Colonel Frederick Nostrim?”

“Indeed, I am.”

“We require your cooperation, even if just for a moment.”

A priest standing at some distance swung open the car door. The suit man gestured invitingly for me to get in.

“Shall we go?”

—

Episode 12 – The Strongest Magician in History

—

The sudden arrival of the Inquisition officers in broad daylight at the inn was unexpected. Being told to get into a car out of the blue felt quite awkward.

The diplomatic immunity and inviolability of diplomats are guaranteed by international law, and neither law enforcement agencies nor intelligence agencies can demand interrogation or cooperation from diplomats.

Technically, while they can make such demands, the diplomat’s refusal is virtually guaranteed.

Thus, I intended to reject the Inquisition’s request at first.

However, upon hearing that someone was looking for me and learning their identity, I found myself sitting in the car without even realizing it.

I felt astonished seeing the Inquisition officers making unreasonable demands by suddenly arriving at my lodging. To be honest, I felt irritated and flustered.

Yet, compared to the person I was meeting who had come from the Empire, their demands seemed trivial to me.

“Please, step inside.”

After crossing Petrogard in the car, we arrived at the Inquisition’s embassy in the Kien Empire.

The Inquisition officer who had guided me through the staff passage opened a glass door.

I stepped through the glass door and made my way outside the building.

“…….”

The outside was very pleasant and warm, a stark contrast to the snow that piled up to my thighs.

In the embassy garden of the cult, enveloped in an atmosphere akin to magic or divinity, stood a somewhat quaintly scaled garden.

In the center of that garden, at an outdoor table laden with refreshments, sat an elderly man with a familiar appearance.

I strode across the garden to approach the old man.

“It’s been a while.”

And I greeted him formally.

“Have you been well?”

“Ah, you’ve come.”

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

The kindly smiling old man nodded.

“Have you been faring well, Major?”

The elderly Director of the Inquisition and the head of Military Intelligence, Petrus, had arrived.

—

Inside the Kien Empire embassy garden. In an area with an enchanting aura maintaining a deliciously pleasant temperature, a guest awaited me.

“I heard your journey was rather tumultuous. My apologies.”

“It’s nothing, Director. I’m fine.”

The wrinkled-eyed Petrus lifted a teapot and poured a cup of tea.

With a light clinking sound, freshly brewed black tea was prepared for him.

“I’m truly sorry to have troubled you given how busy you must be. Hope black tea is alright?”

I nodded, and Petrus offered me a cup of black tea. His demeanor emanated a serene atmosphere, and he wore a faintly relieved smile.

“I’ve heard the news. I understand you’re staying in the northern regions?”

“Correct.”

“And you were also present there.”

With words that seemed like questions but weren’t, Petrus wore a subtle smile. It was peculiar, but knowing what Petrus was hinting at, I avoided being verbose.

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

“I presumed as much.”

I gently grasped the teacup and continued.

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

“Yes. The Hero, the Magician, and the Saint. No one’s unaware of what happened at the rift and who did what.”

The efforts at the rift to fend off the monsters were not mine alone.

As Petrus mentioned, Camila, Lucia, and Francesca also fought there, as well as the Knights Order led by Pereyti and the Magic Battalion under Martinez, alongside the Imperial Army.

Although Lucia joined after the battle with the giant spider was finished, if she had arrived just a moment later, I might have been killed. Despite parting on unfortunate terms, the Knights Order and the Magic Battalion did fulfill their roles adequately.

As I recounted these events, Petrus chuckled softly.

“You might be receiving a medal from the Empire soon, Major. Isn’t that what you think?”

“No, I don’t think so….”

“So, you don’t want a medal, Major?”

“It might be different if it were from Abas, but the medals from the Empire are quite….”

While I have no issue receiving medals from Abas, it wouldn’t be so easy to accept a medal from the Empire. The diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Abas and the Kien Empire are rather strained, and as a soldier, receiving a medal from the Empire would certainly lead to rumors.

In truth, there’s no issue with receiving the medal itself. But what benefit would I gain from it?

The Abas government would at least grant me a pittance for a pension, while I am not expecting any such financial support from the Empire since they wouldn’t bestow pensions upon a foreigner like me.

Of course, the medals themselves have considerable collectible value. If I had an eBay, I could sell it to some collector for some money. The problem is that there’s no eBay here.

A decoration that I cannot sell is just scrap metal. It’s useless, and disposing of it later would also be awkward. In fact, it might be more beneficial to reject their offer of a medal.

“Then what about from Abas? Surely they would award you a medal for protecting the innocent lives from the monsters.”

“I think it’s too soon to discuss rewards, Director.”

The fact that the northern rift was attacked by the monsters has been classified.

The Imperial Ministry of Defense has controlled the information to prevent societal chaos, and Abas, the cult, and the Magic Tower all concurred with this. If the revelation of monster attacks on national critical facilities were to leak out, it might stir up trouble from foreign lands. I understand that the information control has been quite manageable since it occurred in a region under martial law.

Naturally, this made rewarding me difficult.

If I had indeed accomplished a noteworthy feat, I would need to disclose the reasons for it, which would in turn reveal what transpired at the rift. In the worst-case scenario, the fact that Imperial Army combat magicians had been killed could leak out.

Just like how the rewards concerning the department store terror attacks have been delayed.

I heard from Clevenz that once the classified information is properly cleared, they would ceremoniously hand me the medal, and in the meantime, they would provide satisfactory compensation separately. Honestly, I still have no inkling as to what that might entail.

Well, since I’m a noble, maybe the royal family or government would arrange for a good marriage partner for me? I once heard from a professor during my social discipline courses at the military academy that there had been instances of such cases around 200 years ago.

“What a pity. How’s the Saint doing?”

“She’s well. She seems quite overwhelmed with work, to be frank, and I worry a bit because she hardly takes a break.”

“That’s just how the Saint is; there’s little one can do about it. Even if we advise her not to overexert herself, she’s not one to listen, is she?”

“Haha… true.”

After savoring his tea, Petrus gently set the cup down.

On the table in front of him, pastries lay beside a small dish and a worn little scripture. Judging by its considerable age and the wear and tear, it appeared to be something he had carried for a long time.

With a brief pause in our conversation, I took the opportunity to survey my surroundings, noticing Petrus smile lightly before speaking again.

“How’s your stay in the north?”

“Not bad.”

“I’m relieved to hear that. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I shall answer if it’s within my knowledge.”

The prompt to ask arose, yet I hesitated, not due to uncertainty over what to ask, but concern over what not to ask.

As the Director of the Inquisition, Petrus would likely be privy to most details. The Inquisition is an intelligence agency adept at information gathering. With a bit of luck, I might get to learn about the ongoing investigations stemming from the events in the north during our discussion.

However, asking such matters didn’t seem right for the occasion, so I decided to resolve a simple curiosity that had just occurred to me.

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

“The Ranieri family?”

Petrus paused and set down his teacup, humming thoughtfully.

“What kind of information do you seek?”

“Some time ago, my colleague from the prophecy, Administrator Ranieri, visited Patalia. He came into contact with a servant of their family there. I’d like to know about the conversations that took place.”

“Ah, that’s not difficult at all, but what makes you curious about it?”

Francesca had come to the Magic Tower on the premise forbidding interaction with her family, as agreed with the National Security Agency.

Yet, if a servant from the Ranieri family approached, it would be impossible not to be curious. Since Sophia hadn’t informed me, I had to find out some way.

I scanned the area, confirming that there were no eavesdroppers.

Noticing my caution, Petrus gently nodded, and I leaned in closer to whisper my explanation.

“…It’s related to the assets I manage.”

“Ah, I see.”

Petrus smiled knowingly, as if he understood without further explanations.

The old man rested his chin on his hand in contemplation, then suddenly directed his gaze toward me, posing a question.

“Do you understand what a great magician’s family means in the magical society?”

“A lineage of great magicians… You mean the descendants of archmages?”

“Correct.”

Grasping his teacup once more, the Inquisition director began to elaborate.

“The descendants of the archmages who led the Magic Tower’s independence war hold significant cultural importance in the magical community. Similar to the imperial royal family, who are said to have slain dragons and consumed their blood, manipulating the mysterious forces, or the astrologers of Mauritania who read the stars to predict the future.”

“I’m aware of that.”

“For magicians, being a descendant of archmages is akin to a symbol. Just as a devout man reveres the divine, and a warrior esteems martial prowess, magicians honor the blue blood flowing through their veins.”

“But didn’t Francesca’s blood look red when I saw it before?” That seemed an overly metaphorical expression. Or perhaps it relates to the magical traits passed down through bloodlines.

“What’s important is that this reverence occasionally takes a path toward fanaticism.”

“Fanaticism? In what sense?”

“Literally, fanaticism. The archmages who founded the Magic Tower, the descendants of archmages who will bring about the resurgence of the Magic Tower; they are viewed as a kind of savior. Hence, collecting information regarding archmage descendants is quite difficult, as fanatics tend to gather close to idols.”

His words were somewhat ambiguous, but essentially, they conveyed a lamentable truth about the limits of knowledge.

I sighed deeply. I had almost forgotten; the old man had quite the unpleasant personality.

Witnessing my reaction, Petrus chuckled heartily.

“Haha! Don’t be too disheartened. But tell me, where did you acquire that information? Do you have an informant within the Legal Department of the Magic Tower?”

“It’s in Patalia.”

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

Petrus nonchalantly remarked. Since it was a fair assessment, I didn’t bother denying.

“Correct?”

“The National Security Agency.”

“A fine organization. I didn’t expect you to have an informant there.”

“Not an informant, just a friend.”

Though it was a brief response, it seemed Petrus gleaned something from the depth of my words. Since I had not initially concealed anything, it qualified as strange if he didn’t understand.

Amused by the entertaining conversation, Petrus quietly maintained a smile.

“Ah, a friend then. That means you’re the informant for that person.”

“…….”

“Of course, the circumstances can fluctuate. Sometimes you might be an informant for the National Security Agency staff, and at times, that person might be your informant. Isn’t that right?”

I nodded my agreement. Petrus exclaimed, pointing at me while laughing heartily.

“A competent information official not only manages informants but occasionally must be an informant for others. After all, one cannot resolve everything alone.”

“Being an informant doesn’t mean being generous. I only revealed this out of goodwill.”

“Isn’t that just semantics?”

“…Think as you like.”

I sipped the tea while averting my gaze.

Petrus continued laughing for some time, but soon after settled down, leaning forward to adjust his posture.

The fragrant aroma of black tea hovered about the table. As he savored its delicate scent, Petrus suddenly seemed lost in thought and spoke again.

“Oh! Speaking of which, I forgot to convey a message from the Saint. If it’s alright, would you convey it on my behalf?”

“Please do.”

“Recently, while sorting the estate of the late Cardinal Raul, the majority of his assets were inherited by Saint Lucia, including his residence.”

“…An inheritance?”

“Indeed. An inheritance.”

Cardinal Raul had been Lucia’s guardian.

While I could not ascertain the exact duration due to a lack of documentation, Raul had claimed that guardianship for a considerable time. Veronica mentioned that he had sent Lucia as a healer to the northern conflict regions, which implies that Raul had been Lucia’s guardian since at least three years ago.

However, Raul was now deceased. According to the laws of the cult, when a guardian dies, part of their assets gets inherited by their ward.

And until the moment Raul died, Lucia was still registered as his ward.

“The court determined that since Raul had no remaining relatives, his assets would be inherited by Saint Lucia.”

“That’s great news. I will inform the Saint immediately upon returning to the north. Surely the Cardinal would be pleased.”

“Naturally, he should be. Once all matters in the Empire conclude, you ought to visit the cult.”

“Me, visit the cult?”

“You must see the canonization ceremony for the Saint. After all, she’s a comrade with whom you fought, and you should offer your congratulations.”

“Ah….”

Now that I think about it, I had completely forgotten about Lucia’s canonization ceremony. Everyone was calling her a saint, and it slipped my mind that the cult had not put forth any significant statements.

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

“They plan to hold the papal inauguration ceremony alongside the canonization ceremony for Saint Lucia. There’ll be plenty to see, so you should look forward to it. The canonization ceremony will take place after the inauguration, so consider staying a while longer.”

“The canonization will happen after the inauguration?”

“While the Pope is elected by men, Saints are bestowed by the Lord Himself. How could an insignificant human receive greater blessings than His most cherished offspring? The canonization ceremony is set to be a much grander event than the inauguration.”

I nodded, pondering over Petrus’s words. The one whom the Divine cherishes most is the Saint…

For a moment, I recalled the saints I knew in the cult.

The fraudster, the spy, the forger, the mastermind behind murder, the habitual dereliction of duty, the alcoholic and layabout, Veronica.

Lucia, who lifts trucks filled with cargo barehanded and becomes aggressive if not treated, doesn’t seem normal either.

By any measure, they are far from typical.

“…Sigh.”

Whether or not she is the Lord’s most cherished offspring is debatable, but they surely resemble Super Soldier Joan of Arc, if not a Captain America.

Considering alcohol and tobacco are drugs, and lifting trucks barehanded is brute strength, combining those two seems to put them closer to Captain America than Joan of Arc.

While I was musing on fruitless thoughts, I shook my head to dispel my distractions. Regaining my clarity, I turned to Petrus with a question.

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

“I’m on a short business trip due to official reasons. Under the radar.”

Meaning it was an unofficial visit. So, he came here as a secret envoy or undercover special envoy.

A few reasons popped into my mind. To ascertain the identities of the monsters that attacked the rift, to investigate the killings of the Imperial combat magicians and magic department investigators, to coordinate with the Imperial investigative agencies, or possibly to hinder the joint investigation proposal of the Magic Tower…

I’m not entirely sure, but it seems the Inquisition is taking the current situation very seriously. Veronica’s intel appears to be accurate.

I nodded quietly, sipping my tea.

At that moment, Petrus, sitting across from me, cleared his throat and suddenly spoke up, as if he had just remembered something.

“I heard before arriving that Major Nostrim had brought a lady out from the diplomatic residence. Do you mind telling me who she is?”

“…Um.”

“She had striking purple hair.”

“…….”

“Is she someone I might know?”

For a moment, I was taken aback, then slowly managed to respond.

“…She’s likely the person you’re thinking of.”

“I knew it! No wonder you asked about Ranieri.”

Petrus began chuckling, clearly amused.

He laughed heartily for so long that I, the person involved, felt quite embarrassed. After some time of laughter, Petrus acted as if he had encountered a shocking revelation.

“It’s been ages since I’ve seen a staff member dating a foreigner! It was common in the old days, but nowadays, diplomats hardly ever date foreigners while on duty. Quite an amusing character.”

“…I’m not in such a relationship with the Administrator.”

“Of course, yes. It was just a casual remark.”

Wiping away a tear, which may have been sweat or laughter, Petrus quietly smiled.

“I say this out of good intentions, so for your sake, don’t get too close.”

That was the suggestion not to casually date a foreigner if I wanted to retain my position in the intelligence agency. It also implied I should be cautious about my conduct.

I considered it a normal piece of advice but was taken aback by how serious Petrus was about it.

Speaking in the soft tone of a senior guiding a junior, he advised me earnestly.

“There are many eyes on you. Far more than you can imagine.”

“…….”

“The Saint of the Cult, a high-ranking official from the Magic Tower, and a noble who has come from another world. Each of them is a person of notable significance in their own right. And coincidentally, everyone except you happens to be a woman.”

Petrus spoke again.

“So, be careful.”

The Inquisition Director warned.

“It’s a scandal for a diplomat even if they simply engage in brief chats with a noblewoman on a public path. And, here you stand in the Empire in your capacity as a Colonel. This isn’t limited to just matters concerning the Saint and the others.”

“…….”

“Take heed from now on. This advice comes from me, not just as the Inquisition Director, but as an old man.”

I found myself with many words I wanted to say, and plenty of objections.

I’m well aware of the military intelligence regulations.

I’ve heard ample warnings about inappropriate conduct from my older sister Adela, who works at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Certainly, I have been in the intelligence community long enough to manage my impulses.

I had many counterarguments, but I simply nodded without replying.

“I will be cautious.”

“Don’t take it negatively.”

Petrus grinned.

“Do you really think that you’d lay a hand on those women?”

That was a rather biting joke.

Indeed, it seemed likely that could be the case.

—

Our banter with its biting humor didn’t last more than twenty minutes. After enjoying a leisurely tea time in the quaint garden, we made our way to discuss matters in earnest.

“This garden was created under the directions left by the previous Pope when he visited the Empire.”

Petrus recounted the history embedded in the garden as he surveyed its surroundings.

“After his passing, whenever a Pope visited the Empire, high-ranking officials of the Cult and the Pope discussed major affairs here daily. It was the same for foreign ambassadors during negotiations.”

As Petrus strolled slowly, he turned back to me.

“Do you know why this garden was created?”

Without much thought, I replied. The Empire was the workplace of both myself and my older sister, Adela. The whispered secrets of the cult’s embassy garden were too well-known to miss.

“It was due to eavesdropping, as I hear it.”

“Exactly.”

The Imperial Guard HQ is a venerable intelligence agency with a century-old history.

A hundred years ago, they had once eavesdropped on a Pope visiting the Empire.

Due to limited technology, they were unable to overhear conversations or communications, but they managed to intercept letters sent to the Pope and opened them forcibly.

As a result, several religious figures who had sent confidential letters to the Pope, along with numerous other individuals, were branded as thought criminals, and upon learning the full turn of events, the Pope was furious, demanding measures be taken.

Thus, the garden came to existence.

Petrus added on to his explanation.

“It may be an old garden, but it’s more than sufficient to prevent eavesdropping. Thanks to a century of ongoing reinforcements, one can confidently say that there’s no safer place than here within the embassy.”

It exceeded mere safety; it was also visually stunning. Despite the fierce cold outside, this place felt as warm as spring.

It was an ideal location for discussing uncomfortable topics that one would find hard to share widely.

No intelligence agency, including the Imperial Guard HQ, could eavesdrop on me here, the most secure place at the Inquisition headquarters. Wandering through this secluded garden, we began our serious conversation.

The first to speak was me.

“The attack by the spiders at the rift was clearly a deliberate act. It was a meticulously planned offensive.”

“Have you figured out who the perpetrators are?”

“Not yet.”

The attack by the corpses spiders on the rift was calculated and planned. It was clear for someone had orchestrated it.

However, lacking in intelligence, I couldn’t ascertain anything with certainty.

Out of curiosity, I turned to the Inquisition Director.

“Do you happen to have any insights from the Inquisition?”

Petrus shook his head.

“We don’t know either.”

The shadows deepened across his wrinkled face. Whether it was the shade that deepened them, it seemed the creases grew less joyous.

With a somber expression, Petrus continued speaking.

“Just because we work for the Inquisition doesn’t mean we know everything. There are things we don’t know. The Lord is omniscient, but His creation, man, is ignorant. Even if we were made in His image, there are some things we can never understand.”

“I’m incapacitated to discuss spiritual topics, given I lack theological understanding. Are you truly at a loss for information?”

“Not completely.”

Lowering his voice, Petrus shared a valuable piece of information.

“Based on the photos of the corpses spiders found in the north, we’ve learned that the kind discovered here does not belong to any species native to this continent.”

“You mean it’s an invasive species?”

“They’ve determined it to be a species only found on the Mauritania continent. That’s the consensus of the scholars who’ve scrutinized the images.”

Petrus sighed, gazing up into the empty sky.

A gloomy sky cast its shadow upon his heart, starkly contrasting with the bright allure of the garden.

“If we had secured specimens, we could have provided a firmer answer, but….”

The magic department investigators transporting the spider specimens had been entirely murdered. The bodies of the accompanying soldiers and the slain Imperial combat magicians had all been set ablaze.

For now, they collected all the remains left at the scene, and after thoroughly searching the mountains, they retrieved some intact spider specimens, yet the quality differed significantly from those initially secured.

“Since the condition of the samples is relatively good, there is certainly hope for favorable results.”

“That’s true. It must be hoped for.”

Currently, it was presumed by the Inquisition that the corpses spiders attacking the rift were indeed of an invasive species from the world of Mauritania.

The question that arises then is,

“But why is a creature exclusive to Mauritania suddenly appearing near the Empire? In the northern regions, no less.”

To reach the Mauritania continent, one must cross the sea.

If departing from Mauritania’s northernmost point by boat, one could reach the southernmost Lushan Federal Kingdom, and with a slight detour, reach the western coasts of Abas or Patalia.

The issue lies with the position of the Kien Empire. The empire is located in the northern part of the continent, while the western coastal area is quite inaccessible unless one could sail from Patalia for quite a while. Thus, how does it appear not in the Empire’s west but straight from its north? That raises suspicions.

“As for the corpses spiders native to the continent and those from Mauritania, their appearances are said to be quite similar, making distinction a challenge. However, the existing spiders that reside in the north are relatively larger. Conversely, the specimens from Mauritania tend to be of relatively smaller sizes. Upon noticing that delicate size difference, even the scholars must have gained confidence.”

“I see. And what about the giant spiders?”

“It’s suspected they too originated from Mauritania. Current investigations suggest a connectivity is unavoidable. The real mystery is how they managed to enter the Empire….”

Petrus trailed off remarking in an unclear tone, suddenly tilting his head.

“Recent inquiries into smugglers have revealed that there is no dealer currently trafficking such spiders. It seems that collectors of monsters are hesitating as spiders aren’t in demand.”

Unexpected appearances by creatures generally arise through two primary scenarios.

As in, the first could be attributed to accidents occurring when transporting creatures as part of research facilities or institutions, or alternatively, collectors with peculiar interests bringing them in, only to release them later.

No small number of monsters have ravaged hamlets upon being allowed to breed after being freed, simply because their owners had grown too attached to kill them.

“Neither of those is the case.”

I refuted both possibilities outright.

What research would be conducted in the north, and who would be gathering monsters? If they had that kind of money, they would rather build shelters and hoard supplies.

Therefore, their escape or release cannot be the origin of this happening.

“In that case, there is only one possibility left.”

“…….”

“Someone deliberately brought those monsters.”

A query disguised as an interrogation.

“It seems you also had a hunch, then.”

“To some extent, yes.”

The monsters from Mauritania had clearly appeared in the north. If they didn’t swim over, the only possible explanation is that someone brought them in.

At least, I had identified the source of the spiders.

“Anything else?”

“There’s the matter of the slain combat magicians. They were definitely killed by a priest.”

Petrus dropped a bombshell of a statement nonchalantly. Given how calm his voice was, I initially perceived it as if the priest hadn’t committed the crime.

“What? What do you mean by….”

“The Inquisition officials who were present there reported back. Before any healing priests could intervene, signs of divinity were discerned on the corpses.”

“Wait a moment. Does this mean the examination is….”

“Correct.”

The Inquisition Director stated.

“The examination confirmed no discrepancies. It wasn’t fabricated.”

“Could it be that the cult did the killing…?”

“That’s not it.”

Petrus quickly dismissed the allegations. His tone was resolute and confident.

“Regardless of the circumstances, the Inquisition had no involvement in this incident. While I have indeed come here to request the Empire conduct a fair investigation and share information, I’m explicitly here as the Inquisition Director to clarify the position of the cult.”

“…….”

“If the corpses had been intact, it would have definitely been easier to identify. But now, due to their desecration, there’s no way to ascertain whose divinity they bore. Thus the Inquisition has fallen into a difficult position. We can no longer define whether a heretic or an official of the cult is the perpetrator.”

Countless inquiries crowded my mind.

Who orchestrated the assault and the murder? Is the backer responsible for the assault the same as the murderer? Are there co-conspirators or collaborators? Who stands to gain the most from this situation, and what is the ideal outcome envisioned by the perpetrator? Moreover, who suffers the greatest loss?

Is the target the Empire? The cult? The Magic Tower? Or perhaps…

“…Director.”

As my thoughts reverberated around, I brushed aside all fleeting interpretations.

Certainly, there’s nothing confirmed.

However,

There is something I must do.

“Who can kill a combat magician in close quarters using divine power?”

“…Someone capable of defeating a combat magician in close quarters.”

Petrus looked up momentarily to the sky.

The stormy clouds loomed. As the blizzard surged softly, he suddenly withdrew something from his inner pocket.

It was an envelope.

“What is this…?”

“A list of priests who have been excommunicated or are currently missing. These are individuals that the Inquisition is investigating.”

Petrus extended the list to me.

As I accepted the paperwork, Petrus stared at me, then slowly began to explain.

“In this world, without my command as the Inquisition Director, the only three classes of beings that can kill people with divine energy are as follows. One is the heretics of differing faiths. The other belongs to cults that revere an external deity. And lastly….”

I muttered as if in a trance.

“…Those excommunicated priests.”

“Right. The priests expelled from the cult.”

I looked down at the list Petrus had handed over. Then, meeting his gaze, I posed a question.

“Then why are the individuals reported missing included in this list?”

Petrus fell silent.

Pensive silence enveloped us until he suddenly wore a luminous smile.

“God created humanity in His image, but unlike the omnipotence of God, humans are imperfect creations. Priests who believe and follow Him are no exception.”

“…….”

“Even spies may change their thinking after long absence abroad, so tell me, wouldn’t priests be different? They are all just the same after all.”

Petrus let out a quiet sigh. His breath resembled a slow, lingering breeze.

“Faith is like a flickering candle, easily swayed by the harshest winds. Belief is merely that – faith towards the Divine.”

“…….”

“This may be an old man’s ramblings, but I get the feeling that the name all of us are hunting for lies amongst them.”

Petrus’s bony fingers tapped gently against the envelope.

“Be sure to search well.”

“…If I find them.”

I stared intently at him.

“What should I do if I found them?”

Petrus shrugged nonchalantly.

As if he were implying, “What more do you need to ask?”

“Just blow their heads off. It’s what you do best, no?”

“…….”

“Well then, I shall be taking my leave. Have a good day, Major.”

And remember what I told you earlier.