How did things end up like this?
"Not only was the scarifies farm destroyed, but the soul stones were also stolen… Is that what happened?"
Sailo murmured with a disappointed expression.
:(changing zylo to silo)
One shocking news after another.
"Oh, no…!"
This can't be happening.
The church will never forgive him. Sailo reflexively clenched his heart where the stigma was applied.
He couldn't understand how this situation had come about.
The Chaos Church is an unknown church in the world. They even went to great lengths to conceal information about the scrifice farm.
But they were exposed.
And that's not all.
Immediately after the sacrifice farm collapsed and the soul stones were stolen, the Blue Shield Knights, no…,
"Master Setarim has moved."
As if anticipating this, he moved to block the escape route, leaving no room for response.
"…Damn!"
He gritted his teeth and glared at the Blue Shield Knights blocking the door of the mansion beyond the window.
Setarim, the commander of the Blue Shield Knights.
Behind him, knights stood in a row, ready for battle.
The Knights would not act on their own.
Then the one who gave this order is…
"Kyle Grave, how dare you…!"
Eventually, the current duke, Kyle Grave, was responsible for this.
It was unbelievable, but looking at the situation calmly, it seemed to be the case.
Thud!
"Commander Gual Sailo of the Mage Battalion, come out and obey the command immediately!"
Setarim spoke again.
"As the Imperial duke and owner of Grave, Kyle Grave, has issued a summons, do not delay and come out!"
"…I can't run away."
Escaping through magic would not matter. The problem was that fleeing in this situation would be tantamount to admitting he was a heretic.
Then he would be pursued by both the Empire and the church.
There was only one conclusion left.
"…I have to face this head-on."
And he had a corner of trust.
"The mark I received from the executor."
Unlike others, he received a special mark as the person responsible for Grave.
"As long as you wear this, even the most astute believer won't suspect you belong to the church you saw."
That's what the executor said.
Sailo's mind raced.
"I didn't know much about the orphanage, so if I say I didn't touch it directly, that should be enough. The final approval for the orphanage construction was given by the former Duke. This incident would ultimately be interpreted as disrespecting the achievements of the former Duke, leading to a decline in the current Grave Duke's authority."
Thinking like that, the current situation seemed a bit different.
"Maybe… this is just a whim of that scoundrel."
Whim.
Since inheriting the duchess, Kyle has wanted to demonstrate his authority in various ways.
If this situation is an extension of that 'whim'…
"Not to push me away, but to assert himself as the owner of Grave."
Thinking that way, surprisingly, everything looked bright and hopeful.
Moreover, many of the vassel had already been persuaded to his side, so why would he pretend to be against him?
It didn't make sense.
"Ha."
With that conclusion, a smile crept back onto his lips.
It's not over yet.
Thinking so, he got up. Once again, thinking about how to go along with that scoundrel's whim.
"Your Highness, you called for me."
Sailo responded confidently to my call.
Judging by his appearance, he didn't seem to think he was in the wrong at all.
"Well, I guess so."
His head still seemed to be the same incapable scoundrel.
Do people change overnight?
It's almost impossible, as everyone knows. Especially someone who has seen me by his side.
"Ah, yes. You're here?"
"Yes, it's an honor to be called by Your Highness."
silo bowed politely in response to my call.
I sat on the throne, and with a vague sense of memory, I spoke to silo in a carefree manner.
"I heard that the orphanage project led by you was mentioned. It was said to be a stronghold of heretics. Is that true?"
"… ."
Silo remained silent for a moment at my words. The sound of his eyes rolling seemed to be audible from here, but he didn't show any expression and quietly watched.
What excuse will he come up with?
Honestly, I'm curious.
And as time passed…
"Your Highness, I am ashamed!"
Silo immediately banged his head.
A faster and firmer response than ever…!
Indeed, a quick-witted bastard.
"I started the project under the order of the former Duke. I tried my best to manage the orphanage according to his will, but…"
"It didn't go well?"
"That's correct! I never expected it to turn into such a horrific state due to the cunning heretics!"
"You didn't expect that…"
I know it's nonsense, but I nodded roughly and scratched my head. In response to my reaction, Silo spoke again.
"His Grace, the former Duke, was a great man! I am only frustrated that the facility he intended has turned into such a horrific state…!"
Let's interpret Silo's words in a nice way.
If you blame me, you'll be blaming your father too, right? And your authority will be compromised?
So,he saying be careful how you handle this.
But who am I?
I'm not Kyle Grave, the legitimate son of the venerable Grave.
"Well, I guess so.
What just came out is Kelson.
Since it's the grass of Silo, who led the heinous act of sacrificing orphans.
"Do you know this face?"
"…!"
At that, silo hesitated for a moment, then suddenly twisted his face and shouted.
"Yes, you…!"
And then he immediately started hitting.
"How dare you, how dare you insult the name of the former Duke Grave!"
"Oh."
This is coming out like this again.
Should I say it's typical of silo?
Then Kelson, who had been quietly listening, suddenly twitched and began to accelerate.
"W-what are you…! You did not order me this plan!"
"W-what?! This, this guy…?!"
"…."
Interesting, isn't it?
It's quite exciting to see those who should be dead cursing each other and showing their neck veins.
Of course, it's interesting, but I have no intention of letting it go.
"Stop."
"….!"
The two who were cursing each other and pouring out swear words at each other looked at me and shut their mouths.
"It's about the heretics. So I brought someone suitable for this opportunity."
"Someone suitable…?"
"Is there anyone more suitable for killing heretics?"
I said that and flicked my finger lightly.
"You can come in."
Then the door behind me opened, and someone walked in. Silo's eyes widened at the sight of him.
"Heretic Inquisitor!"
"Yes, it's the illustrious Inquisitor of the holy church, known for exterminating heretics."
The Inquisitor of the holy church.
But a temple size of duchy , there are usually personnel stationed there permanently.
Kelso's face turned pale at the confirmation of the Inquisitor.
"Uh, uh…?!"
"Thank you for giving me the opportunity to confirm this, Your Excellency."
The Inquisitor, Cedier, said to me, bowing his head.
"I appreciate Your Excellency's wise decision to inform me so promptly."
Cedier said, flashing his eyes. Even madness could be seen in that look, and they unconsciously swallowed their saliva.
"Oh, uh, he is confirmed, so you can do whatever you want with him. I've drawn the perfect line to cut him, so you'll find it easy."
"Yes, I understand. Your Excellency."
"And there, that Silo is…"
At my words, silo shouted.
"I am innocent, Your Excellency!"
"Hmm?"
The guy shouted confidently.
"I am innocent, how could I avoid confirmation when I am innocent!"
"Oh, really?"
Well, I can say that…
"Can I try?"
"…Yes?"
"To confirm whether he is a heretic. I want to check for myself whether he is truly innocent."
After my words, he looked back and forth between me and Cedier.
Then he smirked and shouted.
"That's right!"
"Okay, okay."
He seemed to think that I had given him a way out.
Well, delusions are free.
"Cedier, Inquisitor, are you okay?"
"As you wish. Then I will 'interrogate' him here."
Said the Inquisitor Cedier, raising his stick and hitting Kelson's head directly.
Crack!
"Kheuk!"
Kelson fell to the ground with a scream.
At the same time, flames rose from the area where he was hit, starting to engulf Kelson.
Fwoosh!
"Kkuaaak!"
As flames engulfed his body, Kelson writhed on the ground, desperately trying to extinguish the flames.
But the more he struggled, the higher the flames around Kelson rose, and soon they completely engulfed him without leaving any traces.
Seeing this, Cedier laughed compassionately and said.
"Hehe, he was a heretic."
"…."
I've always felt it, but that blow feels insane.
But it's also very accurate.
The 'interrogation' of the heretics by the Inquisitor is known to not spare even the innocent.
Anyway.
"Kelson was a heretic. Is it now silo s turn?"
"Yes, Your Excellency."
Silo said to me, trying to hide his hesitation. I smiled broadly at him.
"Why are you so scared? Straighten your shoulders! There's no need to be so scared if you're confident, right?"
"Y-yes, Your Excellency."
"Okay, come on, shake hands. Shake hands."
I naturally took silo's hand. He looked puzzled, but he didn't try to avoid the handshake.
"So, are you innocent?"
"Yes, Your Excellency."
Silo said confidently.
"I believe Your Excellency will trust me. I am irreplaceable in the grave…."
"What nonsense."
I shook hands and said with a refreshing smile.
"Why should I trust you?"
"…Yes?"
Whooosh!
At that moment, golden light explosively burst from my palm.
A special blessing known to be usable only by those who have received the most valuable blessing from the successful god in the current era.
Ah, of course, it's not real, it's a replica.
It's like using mana to make it look like a blessing.
But it's so similar that even most priests would consider it a real blessing.
Anyway, what's the feature of this blessing?
When someone related to the Chaos church is hit directly by this blessing, they cannot regain their senses.
Just like now.
Suddenly, silo, who felt something belatedly, tried to withdraw his hand, but it was too late.
Fwoosh!
The golden flames transferred to silo.
"K-kuaaak!"
As flames engulfed his whole body, silo fell to the ground.
Of course, no matter how he struggled, the flames surrounding him did not go out.
Because that's how it was made.
"H-How…? Aaah! I-I'll never be exposed!"
Silo screamed in agony, shaking uncontrollably.
I can't understand his expression, but… there he goes.
"Szzz."
I laughed as I watched him struggling in pain.
"But there was no 'never,' right?"
Remember deep in your heart.
One of my life lessons.