I’m an Immigration Officer!

Four hours after the success of the Pig Hunt Operation—
“Then that means the imperial decree will arrive tomorrow.”

Inside the meeting room of the Southern Border Immigration Office, I opened my mouth.
“Therefore, I will now explain what needs to be done.”
With tense expressions, the Sensory Inspectors and my direct aide nodded.

“Yes.”
“Understood.”
With the pig hunt complete, it was time to focus entirely on the trial.

Having heard their responses, I turned to the side and continued.
“There are a few tasks in the upcoming trial that the Saintess will need to handle. Please listen carefully.”
“I will.”

Erzena Seraff.
She responded while fidgeting with her sleeve, as though she still found being here a bit strange.
It had been four hours since the Saintess returned to her human form.

She had hurriedly borrowed the Gustatory Inspector’s clothes.
Since she had worn nothing while she was a pig, she returned to human form completely naked.
I still remembered it.

That dazzlingly beautiful, unclothed body.
Glimpsed between waves of sky-blue hair cascading like a waterfall—
‘No, not that. Focus.’

I quickly pulled my thoughts back.
What an impure fantasy.
‘Not that I could’ve offered her my clothes, anyway.’
A coat might have been fine, but giving her what I had been wearing would’ve been a serious breach of etiquette.

Especially a strange man’s clothes—it would’ve sparked all kinds of rumors.
Because of that, the moments right after her return had been quite awkward.
I mean, when would I ever again be alone in a sealed room with a woman wearing only a coat?

But there was something different about her now.
First and foremost, the ever-present golden haze and radiant aura that used to surround her were gone.
I wasn’t exactly sure what it meant, but I had a feeling.

‘Something inside her must have changed.’
When I asked if she was all right, the Saintess replied calmly.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s gone. Not for now.”

And then, she made a strange request.
“Please hold my hand. Just for a moment.”
So I took her slender hand, and at that moment, a faint warmth—divine power—flowed from her.

‘What in the world is going on…’
Even when I asked, the Saintess only smiled and shook her head.
“This is my trial. Chief Inspector, you don’t need to worry about it.”

She’d been like that ever since.
As if she had turned from foe to ally—eager to help me.
It was reassuring… but something about it also made me uneasy.

And that wasn’t the only thing.
“Good. Then, Saintess—”
“Please, call me Erzena.”

“…What?”
“Erzena.”
I blinked in disbelief.

What the hell is this woman saying right now?
Calling someone by their name—especially a title-bearing person—was only done in private or among those close.
And Erzena and I were on opposite ends of the social hierarchy.

‘That’s exactly the kind of thing that would get people talking.’
She must be tired.
“S-Saintess. We’re discussing serious matters right now, so let’s just—”

“I’m being serious, too.”
“…”
Another awkward silence settled between us.

She’s been acting strange ever since she turned back into a person.
Almost no sense of personal boundaries anymore.
Maybe she still retained some instincts or sensory impressions from her time as an animal.

I did my best to ignore it and returned to the matter at hand.
“First, Saintess, you’ll need to—”
“Er. Ze. Na.”

She was relentless.
“…”
“Erzena.”
“F-Fine… then… E-Erzena-nim.”

“Drop the ‘-nim.’”
She stepped forward with a single, decisive stride.
A powerful will burned in her golden eyes.

The will to make me say her name, unadorned.
The Sensory Inspectors glanced between us.
In the end, it was I who gave in first.

“…Erzena.”
“Yes, Chief Inspector.”
Only then did she turn back to the table, satisfied.

The Olfactory and Gustatory Inspectors leaned in and whispered to each other.
“…He actually said it.”
“If you call each other by name even in an official setting, that’s basically a couple back in my homeland…”

“I saw it myself. She was on top of the Chief Inspector, sobbing—”
The Auditory Inspector, with her excellent hearing, caught their conversation instantly and turned to me.
“Oh my…”

Wearing a lewd smile that looked hilariously out of place for an elf, the Auditory Inspector grinned.
“You scolded me for fooling around with men, but you caught yourself a big fish, didn’t you~?”
“F-Focus! Everyone focus!”

I redirected the conversation quickly—before the rumors got any worse.
“Now that Erzena has agreed to stand with us, we can expect strong opposition.”
The Saintess had agreed to testify on our behalf.

But to do that, she first had to formally express her intent to attend the trial.
She also needed to explain why.
The implications of that were obvious.

Erzena spoke.
“They’re going to try to stop me from attending the trial altogether.”
Correct.

They would try to stop her, no matter what it took.
‘I need to find a way around that.’
A plan that can be blocked from the first step is far too fragile.

‘I need another move.’
That’s when I remembered how Erzena came back to the Kingdom of Crossroads.
She was kidnapped.

And yet the Pilgrimage Delegation had been strangely quiet.
“Do they know you were kidnapped?”
“…I’m not sure. Not much time has passed, after all.”

She had told me she suffered for four days after I rejected her entry at the border.
‘Which means right up until a day before the decree arrives.’
I did the math.

If she had tried to cross the border immediately after being kidnapped, then not even ten hours had passed since.
‘Ten hours…’
It might seem like a long time for an ordinary person, but to clergy?

Not really.
Prayers to the divine are expected to take as long as necessary.
‘Especially someone known for devoutness like Erzena—they might assume she’s in extended communion with God.’

Even meditative prayer easily consumes five hours.
As if confirming my thoughts, Erzena added:
“The shapeshifter said she wanted to be alone, using my voice. That’s how Mohaim didn’t notice.”

That makes everything line up.
It was entirely possible the delegation still hadn’t realized what happened to Erzena.
“If that’s the case…”

This meeting was extremely dangerous.
Even if we revealed that she was kidnapped, it could easily be misconstrued.
‘In an already hostile situation, having the Saintess suddenly on our side?’

It would be the perfect excuse to attack me.
‘They’ll say whatever they have to.’
They might even claim we kidnapped her and are holding her prisoner.

In that case—
I fell silent, deep in thought.
Then I spoke slowly.

“Everyone, we’re changing the plan.”
“…Sir?”
“Saintess, you must return to the delegation immediately.”

Erzena’s eyes widened.
“What are you talking about? I agreed to be your witness!”
“That’s exactly why.”

I looked at her.
“You were not kidnapped and rescued by us from a shapeshifter.”
“What are you saying?”

“You came here to persuade me, Erzena.”
It was a lie.
She never did that.

“As the Saintess, you offered me one final chance to repent and open the border. But I rejected you.”
Another lie.
A very plausible lie.

“But such an act would clearly be controversial within the delegation, so you took it upon yourself. You pitied a non-believer. That’s all.”
We erase the fact of her kidnapping.
Instead, we make it look like she came here secretly, to offer one last chance.

That way, the delegation has no reason to question any change in her attitude.
They also lose any valid pretext to attack me.
Erzena, realizing my intent, slowly replied.

“…But the arrogant Chief Inspector, citing worldly law, refused me.”
“Correct.”
“So in the end, the Saintess gave up and returned to the delegation in frustration.”

The narrative locked into place.
It was a gamble—but even if they suspected a kidnapping, they’d just assume she stormed off.
And Erzena was known for being impulsive and emotional.

Now that the cause-and-effect chain was set, they’d have no reason to doubt she hated me.
And I knew exactly who would exploit that hatred.
“The Pope will likely ask for your support.”

“You really think so?”
“Yes.”
I nodded.

“I only spoke with the Pope briefly, but I understand what kind of man he is.”
A man of blind fanaticism. Not for God—but for his goal.
He hides behind tolerance and composure, but his intent is obvious: destroy me, no matter what it takes.

He’ll use every weapon at his disposal to crush me at trial.
“And when that time comes, offer yourself as a witness for the Queen.”
That’s the bait.

“W-Wait, you don’t mean—”
The Sensory Inspectors finally realized what this meant and looked horrified.
“Yes. You’re right.”

I said it.
“I plan to blow this trial apart from the inside.”
If they plan to break through with dirty tactics and collusion, then I’ll counter with precision and law.

“Every testimony, every witness, every statute—I will use them to shut them down.”
“And there's no need to reveal all our cards from the start.”
“Our trump card—the one that flips the board. That’s you, Erzena.”

And such a card?
Its true value only shows when played at the very end.
At the moment the opposition believes they’ve secured victory—Erzena will expose the truth behind the pilgrimage.

That’s what I’m aiming for.
“…Wow.”
The Tactile Inspector, having heard my plan, couldn’t shut her mouth.

“So let me get this straight. You want her to deceive the Pope, the Knight Captain, the Church—everyone—and in the end, testify on our side?”
“If this goes wrong, we’re finished.”
“If we get caught, it’s over. No appeal.”

I know.
This is a real gamble.
But it’s also the only move that gives us a chance to win.

I looked at the Saintess and asked:
“Can you do it?”
…

Erzena fell into silence.
What I was asking was to betray the Church—the institution to which she had dedicated her entire life.
Even if I had saved her life, it was a request that crossed the line.

I was asking her to abandon her faith.
But soon enough, she gave her answer.
“Yes.”

The answer I had least dared to hope for.
At that moment, the Gustatory Inspector raised her hand.
“Th-then what do we do about His Majesty’s decree?”

…
Even I had no countermeasure for that.
“As the Minister warned, we likely won’t be able ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) to block the pilgrimage delegation. We can’t go against the King’s order.”

A royal decree is absolute.
There is no twisting it.
All we can do is obey.

The Saintess stepped forward urgently.
“I’ll do something—”
“No. That’s not an option. It’s the King’s will.”

We could resist everything else.
Except this.
That’s what a royal decree is.

In the end, Erzena had no choice but to relent.
“…I’ll do what I can on the delegation’s side.”
“Your heart alone is enough. Thank you, Erzena.”

Just coming this far, standing on our side—it was already more than enough.
I gave her a grateful look. She smiled faintly in return.
Which prompted the werewolf and the nomadic girl to start whispering again.

“Honestly, this is past lover territory. This is full-on married couple energy.”
“Yeah. At this point, they’ve seen everything.”
Mad idiots writing fantasy novels mid-mission.

I ignored them and addressed the Saintess.
“Then go now. Time is short. I’m truly sorry, but I won’t be able to see you off.”
“I understand.”

And thus began the performance.
“I’ll leave the city gate slightly ajar. Go through it.”
The Chief Inspector who spurned her final offer of grace. The Saintess who storms off in fury.

We needed to sell that emotional fracture between us.
Understanding that, Erzena hesitated, then reached out and took my hand.
“…Stay safe.”

Warm.
Then she let go.
The faint golden light between us flickered and vanished.

She turned to leave—but right then, my personal aide came running in, panting, holding a sheet of paper.
“Uh, Saintess? If you have a moment later… would you mind signing this for me?”
“…Right now?”

He looked deeply apologetic—and desperate.
Come on, the mood was perfect just now.
“My wife’s a huge fan of yours. Just seeing you perform once is her dream… but even a signature would mean the world to her.”

“In that case… of course. I’d be happy to.”
And with that, Erzena signed a sheet for my aide—and left the border behind.
I didn’t watch her go.

I didn’t want to leave even a speck of suspicion behind.
From behind me, the Olfactory Inspector murmured quietly.
“…Will this work?”

“I don’t know. But it’s worth trying.”
If the Saintess openly declared she was testifying for us, the Church would block her by any means necessary.
And once she was blocked, that would be the end of our cooperation.

Better to slip her in through deception. That was the only way.
“The die is already cast.”
All we could do now was wait.

 
****
Morning came quickly.

Everyone—tense—kept glancing at the door.
Today was the day.
And at exactly 8:00 AM, my aide entered the building and announced:

“C-Chief Inspector. They’ve arrived.”
“Who has?”
Before he could answer, a massive shadow fell behind him.

“Pardon the intrusion.”
A man nearly as large as the werewolf Olfactory Inspector opened the door and stepped inside.
Easily over 2.2 meters tall.

His face was concealed behind a black veil.
It was only when I saw the horns protruding from behind the veil that I realized he was a Dragonoid.
And then I saw the ornate uniform, the badge, the emblem of the royal family—

Everyone inside the office, including myself, instinctively held our breath.
As far as I knew, there was only one Dragonoid who wore a veil and bore that symbol.
The King’s Proxy.

A being who moved only when commanded directly by the King now stood before me.
They were serious about this.
Truly serious.

“Let all be silent.”
That deep, resonant voice—uniquely Dragonoid—carried absolute authority.
He slowly pulled a staff and a sealed document from his inner coat.

“Chief Inspector Nathan Kell of the Immigration Office, the one entrusted with the Southern Border. Step forward.”
The moment had come.
The proxy slowly unfolded the decree.

“From this moment, I speak not as Dragonoid Incansus, but as the voice of His Majesty, King Rio Castor of the Kingdom of Crossroads.”
Everyone dropped to one knee, heads bowed.
I took a step forward and, performing the proper rites, answered with a trembling voice.

“Nathan Kell, lowly servant of the Kingdom of Crossroads. I await His Majesty’s command.”
The proxy remained silent for a moment.
I could feel his gaze through the veil.

Though it was the Dragonoid who stared, it was as if the King himself were looking down on me.
The pressure was suffocating.
I had anticipated this moment—but the weight of the decree was still beyond imagining.

The proxy conveyed the King’s will.
“You are hereby ordered to permit immediate entry to the full pilgrimage delegation—comprising the Saintess of the Holy Church, the First Knight Order, and 3,374 other members.”
As expected.

“You are to allow all of their possessions, equipment, and supplies to pass without restriction.”
Meaning I was to let them bring in military arms and war materials without protest.
“And the Chief Inspector—who rejected the delegation’s entry on personal grounds, forgetting his duties and obligations—is to report to the capital immediately upon their admission to face trial for diplomatic misconduct.”

The final paragraph of the decree spilled forth—a torrent of falsehoods and misrepresentation.
Behind me, the Olfactory Inspector bristled with rage, fur standing on end.
The Gustatory Inspector clenched her eyes shut, visibly shaking.

At least the Auditory and Tactile Inspectors managed to remain expressionless and silent.
“This is the decree of His Majesty King Rio Castor, rightful sovereign of the Kingdom of Crossroads, master of all roads, and ruler of the world’s thresholds.”
I answered as calmly as I could.

“…I accept the command.”
“Then act at once. Know that any delay shall be deemed defiance of the King’s will.”
With that, the proxy struck the floor twice with his staff.

Thunk. Thunk.
There could be only one meaning.
There was no turning back now.

I closed my eyes and murmured softly—
May this plan succeed.