I’m an Immigration Officer!

My body moved before my mind could even react.
“I greet Your Holiness, the Pope!!!”
I abandoned the chair and everything else, dropping straight down onto one knee.

“It is an honor to stand before the most venerable and incomparable Saint of the continent, the one who embodies the will of the Lord!!”
— Haha. Such a spirited fellow.
Escabar III’s face lit up with a genial smile.
It was a kindly laugh, but to me, it sounded like the grim reaper chuckling.

The Pope.
His name carried more weight than gold and his presence was as overpowering as the sun.
If the Saintess was the face and symbol of the church, then the Pope was its king and spiritual anchor.

A person whose name was not even to be mentioned lightly had suddenly appeared before me without any prior notice.
‘What the hell is going on here?!’
My mind couldn’t keep up with the situation.

All I could do was mentally keep repeating question marks, desperately trying to hold on to my sanity.
— Raise your head. This isn’t an official audience.
“H-H-However, how could this humble officer dare to look upon Your Holiness as an equal?! I beg you to take back those words!”
— Haha, my goodness. As you can see, I’m currently on vacation. So, right now, I’m no different from some old man in the neighborhood.
He raised both arms slightly, showing off his shabby attire.

— Don’t be so formal with an old man in his pajamas.
Easy for you to say.
Who the hell would dare to look up in this situation?

Unless someone stepped in to help.
I remained frozen in place for a long time until Moahim finally stepped forward.
“Chief Inspector, His Holiness is feeling uncomfortable. You should stand up now.”
You.

You’re the culprit behind this.
I glared at him like I wanted to kill him and opened my mouth.
“...Then please forgive my rudeness, Your Holiness.”
— Hurry up and get up. Your pristine uniform will only get dirtier.

I slowly got to my feet.
I forced my legs to stay steady and said,
“Sir Espirence, thank you for granting me the great honor of meeting His Holiness in person.”

Of course, what I really meant was:
You crazy bastard.
If there’s a problem, handle it with words. Why the hell would you summon the highest-ranking leader of your church?!

“One day, I will surely repay this debt. Without fail.”
Just wait.
I will never forget this.

I will personally inspect all 358 immigration regulations just for you.
Sir Espirence smiled broadly as he nodded.
“I look forward to it.”

For a while, we exchanged the most insincere smiles imaginable.
The Pope watched us with a satisfied expression.
And then I spoke to him.

“It is a tremendous honor, but I never expected Your Holiness would personally grace such a lowly border station.”
— I made a small promise to Moahim. I said I’d help if a truly unsolvable problem arose.
“That is to say—”
— But before that, would you mind giving me a moment?
The Pope raised a hand, stopping my words, and then raised his voice.
— Erzena, are you there?

Moahim turned the crystal orb toward the Saintess.
From a distance, she cautiously approached, looking far meeker than before.
“Yes. I’m here.”

Gone was the defiant fury from earlier.
— If the Knight Commander had to activate the crystal orb, it must mean he couldn’t calm you down.
“Ugh...”
Erzena visibly flinched.

‘Yes! That’s right!’
I mentally cheered.
Feeling guilty, she rubbed at the red ink still smeared on her forehead.

— What kind of trouble did you cause this time?
“Well... I need to tell you something. Alone.”
— Oh? Then let’s hear it.
Erzena’s eyes sparkled.
Then, with shocking speed, she snatched the orb from Moahim and began whispering rapidly into it.

“Chief... Evil... Cult... Black...”
Like a kid tattling to a teacher, she kept mumbling at a frantic pace, cupping her hand around her mouth as if afraid I might hear her.
— Oh ho. Really?
“I’m sure of it! It was black! What else could it be but them?!”

Despite her confident tone, the Pope only smiled serenely.
— My, my. The Chief Inspector must have had quite a rough time.
“Huh?”
His tone was as gentle as a scolding.

— My dear child. Just because you can see and feel many things doesn’t mean that all of them are true.
“I-I don’t understand. I saw it with my own eyes!”
Erzena’s frustration was palpable as she looked at the Pope, seeking validation.
— The Lord often gives us unexpected gifts. Even if they seem like poison now, they may turn out to be great blessings when we look back on them.
“But some things are clear as day! Like that man right there!”
— Who knows? Even if he appears that way now, that Chief Inspector might turn out to be a significant asset to our church someday. Perhaps even to you.
“How could a heretic ever—”
— Erzena. Never make such decisions rashly. Always doubt, reflect, and truly consider whether we are seeing the essence of things.

The Pope’s voice grew more solemn.
— If your life has been filled with extremes, it doesn’t mean you should view the lives of others the same way. If you do, the world will end up as nothing but friends and foes.
“...”
Erzena couldn’t respond.

She just clung to the orb with trembling hands, staring at the Pope as if she couldn’t comprehend his words.
After a long, heavy silence, the Pope asked:
— Should our church consider everyone who is ignorant or misguided to be an enemy? Should all non-believers be sentenced to death?

The horrifying question made Erzena jolt.
“No! That can’t be!”
Her sharp voice echoed through the border station.

And the echo bounced off the stone walls, returning to her.
“That... can’t be. You’re right, Your Holiness.”
Her voice was much smaller now.

“I’m sorry. I’ll... think it over some more.”
With that, Erzena lowered her head deeply.
The holy power that had been raging inside her calmed to a mere flicker, lingering behind her like a faint shadow.

— I’m glad to see that you still have room to grow, Erzena.
The Pope smiled warmly, as if he truly understood.
Moahim, who had been silently watching, approached Erzena and took back the orb without a word.

The Pope turned to me.
— I apologize. I called you and ended up chatting about personal matters.
“No, not at all. On behalf of the Kingdom of Crossroads, this officer thanks you for your gracious words.”
I almost clapped.

To think he could subdue that bratty Saintess with just a few words.
Not to sound too cruel, but... it felt kind of good.
She was way too much to handle.

— Well, then. Let’s get back to the main issue.
“I am more than willing, Your Holiness.”
— Good, good. It was about entry authorization, wasn’t it?
The Pope cleared his throat a few times.
— But where is Gerard, the former Chief Inspector? I’d prefer to discuss this with him.

A name I never wanted to hear again suddenly came up.
My expression shifted for a split second.
I quickly covered it up with a polite smile, but my voice couldn’t follow suit.

“...Former Chief Inspector Gerard Monarch was executed four years ago.”
Gerard Monarch.
The man who caused the Southern Border Tragedy.

A piece of trash who sold out inspectors to criminal organizations.
Just saying his name made my stomach churn.
— ...Ah, that’s right. Apologies. Age has made me forgetful.
“No, not at all. It is an honor to know that Your Holiness cares for not only the believers but even lowly officers like us.”
— Then I suppose you are the Chief Inspector now. That will make things quicker.

Escabar III’s smile vanished, replaced by a stern expression.
— Chief Inspector. Would you open the way for our pilgrimage group — no, our Holy Army?
And at last, the real reason was laid bare.

Granting a direct passage for military action.
The answer came to me instantly.
“I sincerely apologize. However, this officer cannot give a definitive answer.”
— Hmm? Does that mean no?
“That is not what I mean. What I am saying is that this is beyond my authority to resolve.”

Now that the Pope had appeared, this matter was no longer within my jurisdiction.
This was no longer a border control issue — it was now a matter of diplomacy.
“As of this moment, I am temporarily halting all inspections. I will immediately connect you with the Minister of [N O V E L I G H T] Foreign Affairs of the mainland, so please wait a moment.”

This matter had to be reported as an urgent case and relayed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Until both sides coordinated and reached a consensus, I was not allowed to stamp anything.
If, even after all that, there was still no agreement, only then would I proceed with the formal denial of entry — a complicated procedure known as the "Temporary Border Control Protocol."
‘Which means from this point on, this is no longer my responsibility.’

This was now beyond the authority of the Chief Inspector of the border.
Matters between a nation and a religious order were no longer my concern.
And that meant...

I could step back and get out of here.
I didn’t waste a second.
I turned around and addressed the aide who had been standing there like a piece of furniture, trying to make himself invisible.

“Request an urgent audience with the Minister.”
But before the aide could even move to carry out my order, the Pope’s voice echoed through the room.
— No, that won’t be necessary. I am asking you personally, Chief Inspector.
“...Pardon?”

What... What the hell is he talking about?
 
****

I barely managed to speak.
"I'm sorry, Your Holiness. This officer failed to grasp your meaning."
— You heard correctly. I want this matter to be handled quietly.

The confusion didn’t last long.
Because I immediately understood what he was implying.
"Your Holiness, are you saying you don't want this matter to be known to the public?"

— Oh my. You really are the one in charge here. You got straight to the point.
He shrugged his shoulders as if he’d been caught red-handed.
— That's right. I want this crusade to be conducted as secretly as possible. That's why we disguised it as a pilgrimage.

A sincere confession.
But it made no sense.
‘If the plan is so grand, why does he want to proceed in secret?’

If they truly had such a great purpose, it would make sense to announce it to the world.
The purpose of a cult is to spread what they do, to expand their influence.
Seeing my expression, the Pope continued speaking.

— A crusade is indeed a glorious act, but it demands blood. And where there's blood, there are leeches.
He shook his head as if the mere thought disgusted him.
— Chief Inspector. What do you think will happen if blood is spilled in the name of our cult?

What if war breaks out on this continent, which has managed to maintain peace for ten years?
The answer was obvious.
"...Other cults or nations might also start desiring war."

— Exactly.
War is contagious.
Whether it’s for greed, revenge, or a noble cause — it doesn’t matter.

A civil war in one country can quickly escalate into a regional conflict, then a full-scale war between nations.
All it takes is for someone to strike the first blow.
Violence is like greed.

Once the fire is lit, it spreads uncontrollably.
That’s why we’re here, to prevent that fire from spreading across the entire continent.
That was the reason why the Kingdom of Crossroads maintained absolute neutrality and refused to let armies pass through its territory.

— If we try to handle this diplomatically, the news will inevitably spread. And that could become the starting point for an even bigger war. Is that what your kingdom wants?
Escabaor suddenly lowered his voice.
— But if you "don’t know" about it and let us pass, then there will be no problem.

At last, the Pope’s true intentions came to light.
— The crusade will be conducted in secret, and the world will remember it as just a pilgrimage.
He was asking me to "cooperate."

"...Your Holiness. Do you mean to say—"
— I understand. If you accept this, your position will indeed become very precarious. I hear that immigration officers are severely punished in the Kingdom of Crossroads, aren’t they?
The Pope lightly struck the edge of a flowerbed with his hand.

A small brick fell to the ground and rolled away.
We both knew what that meant.
— I will speak directly to the king, not the Minister of Foreign Affairs. I’ll ask him not to punish you.

"This... is not something you can resolve that easily."
My breath caught in my throat.
The overwhelming pressure of the situation made it increasingly difficult to keep my composure.

— The queen of the Kingdom of Crossroads, as it turns out, is a devout believer in our cult. If I speak to her, the king won’t be able to ignore it. After all, he’s a devoted husband, isn’t he?
The Pope smiled.
— You’re safe. I guarantee it.

A proposal that was impossible to accept and impossible to refuse.
And the Pope added one more thing.
— I also promise compensation. I swear before the Lord, you will play a vital role in this great cause.

Only then did I see it.
The Pope’s eyes were the same as the Saintess’s — gleaming with blind faith and conviction.
But unlike the Saintess, he wasn’t just a fanatic mindlessly proclaiming God’s will.

He was far more dangerous, capable of showing restraint and mercy.
— This is the will of God to erase evil from the world. This is not some worldly war.
A voice filled with power. Gentle, yet firm.

— Please, do not try to stop the wave. The more you resist, the more suffering awaits.
His words pierced me like a cold wind.
— Chief Inspector.

"...Yes."
He called my name as if he were calling out to his son.
— Are those whom you are inspecting right now pilgrims, or are they a holy army?

The final question was thrown at me.
"..."
I felt powerless.

No, it was more complicated than that.
It wasn’t fear. Nor was it anger.
It was a sense of sympathy.

‘The Pope might be right.’
This wasn’t my decision to make.
And I didn’t have the power to refuse.

A massive cult spanning the entire continent, and a small kingdom standing in its way.
And me — a mere immigration officer.
The power difference was too overwhelming.

There was nothing I could do.
How could a mere immigration officer block such a torrent?
And then, I recalled the words of the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

— Don’t let anything happen to the Saintess. Whether good or bad.
No matter what happens, don’t make trouble if it involves the Saintess.
There was no way out.

The path they had laid out left no room for escape or rejection.
I had only one choice left.
Not to resist the wave.

To walk the path they had laid out.
"...Understood."
I slowly nodded.

"Good choice, Chief Inspector."
Moahim exhaled in relief.
— Excellent.

The Pope smiled and gestured to my seat.
— Now, all that’s left is to put the final seal. It’s been an honor working with you, Chief Inspector.
As if under a spell, I sat back down.

Now that the decision was made, there was no reason to hesitate.
"Erezena Selaph. Moahim Espirence."
I called out their names.

"And the members of the First Holy Knight Order."
I pulled all the documents detailing their personal information and laid them out before me.
"I apologize for keeping you waiting. It seems this officer... had some foolish thoughts for a moment."

I took the [Entry Permit] stamp in my hand.
The words for the entry procedure flowed out smoothly.
"Your stated purposes for entry are consistent with your declarations. Therefore, as determined by this officer—"

I paused.
Yes.
All I had to do was confirm that their stated purposes for entry were legitimate, and it would all be over.

‘Just close your eyes, stamp it, and endure for three days. Then, you’ll get the bonus and keep the Day of Safety.’
I could give the other inspectors and aides paid leave, and maintain my status as their superior.
Is that all?

The cult also promised to prevent any punishment and even offered a greater reward.
A matter for which I wouldn't be punished. Even if it got exposed.
'Just once.'

If I just close my eyes one time.
Just once.
If I just remain silent and close my eyes for a brief moment.

Not just for myself but for my subordinates as well.
Thinking that, I raised my arm to stamp the seal —
[Chief Inspector... please, don't cry... this isn't your fault...]

The last words of the Visual Inspector resurfaced in my mind.
"...Visual Inspector."
I snapped back to my senses.

The reason she was no longer here.
The one time Gerard sold her out.
The one time her desperate plea for help was ignored.

The one time I bowed my head to Gerard's authority as the Chief Inspector.
I remembered it.
'Just once.'

Enough to change everything to its core.
"..."
I silently stared at the hourglass that had already run out of sand five minutes ago.

My reflection in the glass — no different from Gerard.
A compromising chief inspector.
An inspector who closed his eyes.

Rage boiled up inside me.
Nothing has changed since that day.
"Chief Inspector?"
"... Therefore, as determined by this officer—"

I opened my mouth again.
And declared my decision.
"Despite the presence of clear evidence, you continued to give consistent false testimony and attempted to influence the inspector through the use of authority."
"...!!! Chief Inspector, what the hell are you doing!?"

Moahim screamed in disbelief.
I raised my voice even louder.
"Under the guise of a crusade, you attempted to justify your military actions and execute them, endangering the peace of the continent!"

Loud enough to echo across the entire border.
Loud enough for everyone to hear.
"All of this violates the entry regulations, and thus, here and now, this officer declares!"

I raised the stamp.
And then,
"I hereby deny entry to the so-called pilgrims, who are, in fact, a crusader army."

I slammed the stamp down on the document.
— Thud.
A blood-red mark was imprinted on the paper like a bloody stain.

[Entry Denied]
I looked at everyone who was staring at it.
"There are no exceptions at the border."

I said it as if swearing an oath to myself.
"Even if they are the apostles of God."