Grave Duchy.
Kwoong!
With a huge roar, the surroundings vibrated loudly.
Dust rose thickly, and as the dust settled, the interior was revealed.
A warrior of the immigrant race kneeling on one knee. And an inquisitor aiming a mace at that warrior.
"Uh, um…."
Cedier looked at the kneeling warrior with a slight sigh.
There was no trace of hesitation in the warrior's eyes.
"Why didn't you use all your power just now?"
"There is no need to be ashamed."
The warrior said to Cedier with a dignified look.
"I came here not for battle, but for the child who asked for help."
"That…."
Cedier's words were blocked, and he grimaced.
What on earth is going on?
To be honest, from Cedier's perspective, this situation was extremely embarrassing.
He had been dispatched here not long ago.
And then, suddenly, that immigrant warrior appeared in front of the temple, and he was asked to subdue him.
'What on earth is going on.'
He subdued him when asked, but he had no idea what was happening.
"The child who asked for help just now is…."
He was about to ask about the situation.
Clap, clap!
"Well done, inquisitor!"
With a loud applause, a priest with a heavy build squeezed in between them.
Bishop Bason, in charge of the Grave Duchy temple.
He wiped the sweat continuously flowing from his face and said to Cedier, "You are truly the proud inquisitor of Denver! To subdue such a simple cultist!"
"…Bishop Bason."
"Indeed, those chosen by Lord Denver are different, hahaha!"
After praising Cedier, Bishop Bason looked at the warrior with eyes full of contempt.
"Ugh, how can such a cultist dare to stand before us so confidently…"
Cultist
Naturally, from the perspective of serving Denver, they should be ostracized.
Cedier also thought it was only natural to punish the cultist.
However.
'Is it really true that this immigrant is a cultist?'
That fact is solely based on the bishop's claim.
He didn't hear the warrior's defense.
At that moment, the warrior stared sharply at the bishop and said, "I see. So you…"
"Take him away!"
Before the warrior could finish speaking, the bishop shouted immediately.
The priests dragged the warrior, bound in special restraints made by the Temple of Glory, away with force.
But even as he was being dragged away, the warrior showed no sign of confusion.
Cedier watched that sight with a complicated expression and asked, "What about him?"
"No matter how faithful one may be, proper procedures are necessary. After obtaining the necessary information, we will confirm his status as a cultist and judge him."
"…."
If it's a judgment, it will be an execution.
'But is this right?'
He believes in Denver.
Of course, he also believes in the temple that follows such a Denver.
Especially, he had the belief that even if an ordinary priest might not, someone as high-ranking as a bishop would not engage in such a despicable act.
But why?
'Why do I feel uneasy?'
Why does Cedier, from the bishop's claim that the immigrant warrior is a cultist, feel that the warrior is confident, and that the bishop is hiding something?
Cedier shook his head and moved on.
He thought it would be better to walk alone and organize his thoughts than to continue talking with the bishop.
"…."
How long did he wander aimlessly like this?
"So that bastard, like a fat pig, did that to your sister. Is that it?"
"Yes, y-yes…."
"What a bastard. I understand."
The voices of a boy and a girl coming from a dark alley.
For some reason, the boy's voice was very familiar.
Where did I hear it….
Cedier's body momentarily stiffened as he groped for his memory.
No way.
"….Your Highness?"
The boy reacted to that word.
His golden eyes, shining in the darkness, turned towards Cedier and drew a curve.
"Ah."
Kyle Grave, the duke.
A while ago, through Cedier, he had apprehended the cunning 'cultist'.
"Aren't you the inquisitor Cedier."
Kyle smiled slyly and said, "I was thinking of coming to see you myself, but this works out."
Seeing Kyle like that, Inquisitor Cedier chuckled.
"Why are Your Highnesses here…?"
"This is also my territory, is there any reason I shouldn't be here?"
With that, Kyle walked out of the alley with the girl.
"Rather, how about having a little chat since we've met like this?"
"What do you mean all of a sudden…"
"For example…"
Kyle chuckled and continued.
"About the corruption in the temple where the inquisitor is affiliated."
"….!"
The eyes of Kyle looking at Inquisitor Cedier were coldly shining.
* * *
One thing is certain for now.
Not all the followers or bishops of the holly tample are bad, but the bishop of my territory is clearly a bastard.
During the investigation into the whereabouts of Einherjar, a warrior of the immigrant race, what I saw was corruption within the Temple of Glory.
I couldn't help but click my tongue without realizing it.
'I really didn't pay much attention to my territory in my childhood.'
Could there be a normal temple in an abnormal territory?
Of course, it's stained with corruption.
I let the rotten sprout that should have been cut off early grow, and it has become so serious that it is spreading dung all over the territory.
'This is the result.'
I saw a girl under the shadow of an alley looking at me with anxious eyes.
It's the family of the woman who directly suffered from the bishop's actions.
Well, it's a typical story.
The girl's sister was quite beautiful, and she caught the eye of the bastard who exposes women.
And the one who responded to the request for help from such a girl was the immigrant warrior Einherjar.
Honestly, I didn't know that Einherjar was involved with me… But anyway, after explaining, Cedier asked me with a puzzled expression.
"Is it true that Bishop Bason… did such a thing?"
"That's right."
"He tried to forcibly take a woman in the territory, and Einherjar stepped forward to stop him?"
"You got it."
"But… Your Highness…"
Cedier grimaced with a look of incomprehension.
"I have not been dispatched to the Duchy for long, but Bishop Bason is a man of deep faith…"
"Inquisitor."
I looked directly at Cedier and said, "Being deeply faithful doesn't always lead to a morally correct conclusion."
"..."
"Why would someone knowledgeable act like that?"
Cedier didn't refute, but his expression wasn't favorable.
Well, it's not like it's pleasing.
But what can you do?
Before the regression, I hadn't seen many cases like this among the so-called 'faithful believers.'
"Isn't there such content in the scriptures handed down by Denver?"
Indeed there is.
Denver never wanted the current state of the church.
A true god wouldn't want their followers to abandon even the most basic morals and run wild.
But ultimately, those believers are imperfect humans, and their actions can't be fully controlled.
"Denver wants faithful individuals who watch over others, not just those who are faithful."
"That's..."
Cedier couldn't readily refute my words.
It's not a doctrinal dispute; it's a highly theoretical discussion.
After a moment, Cedier seemed to calm his complex emotions a bit and cautiously spoke to me.
"But, Your Highness, there is no evidence to support your words."
"So?"
"Of course, I don't doubt Your Imperial Majesty's words, but to be certain of the Bishop's denial based solely on Your Majesty's words…."
"So if there is evidence, does that mean the inquisitor can collaborate in condemning the Bishop?"
How would Cedier respond, indeed?
But the answer came unexpectedly soon.
"That would be the case."
"Oh."
A prompt response.
I thought he might hesitate, being a member of of holy Church and all….
"Is he really an inquisitor?"
In other words, Cedier means to punish even if the culprit is the Bishop of the holy Church .
In that case, it's simple.
"I understand."
I nodded with a smirk.
Evidence? I can show it if needed.
But isn't there something more effective than that right now?
"Let's switch positions."
"…Pardon?"
I snapped my fingers lightly.
"From now on, let's speak from Denver's perspective."
At that moment, the magic I had prepared was cast, and the surroundings darkened in an instant.
It wasn't ordinary magic.
Using Abel's power, I cast a limited spatial magic.
It creates a temporary space where only Cedier and I can see and hear each other, excluding external interference completely.
"Your Highness, what is this…?"
"The inquisitor mentioned it before. He said I undoubtedly received immense blessings from Denver."
"Yes…"
Cedier nodded.
His reaction was fervent when I mimicked Denver's power to punish Silo and his faction.
At that time, it was false.
It was not the real power of Denver; it was just an imitation.
"But not now."
Now, as Abel's representative, I have truly received the highest mark of stigma from Denver.
It's not false anymore.
"So behold."
There's no problem convincing Cedier through the stigma.
Kaboom!
As I spread my hand, a bright light filled the palm.
The mark of the heavens.
The most noble and powerful type among the stigma of favor that Denver can give, as Abel declared.
Naturally, the sacred power latent in this mark cannot be expressed in words.
"…!"
The moment Cedier saw the light, his eyes widened.
Cedier is a faithful believer.
There's no way he wouldn't understand the significance of the mark I'm showing him.
"Ah…"
As he felt that light, tears welled up in his eyes.
The doubts in his eyes washed away with tears.
"The mark…! The most vivid grace of the one I have never seen before, more than anything else!"
Cedier said so and knelt down, clasping his hands together.
As if receiving a god.
Of course, would Cedier react like this just because of the mark?
Unlikely.
There was some additional help.
I expressed my gratitude to Abel in a whisper.
"Thank you, Abel."
– …Well, it's like preparing for surgery to remove a tumor.
Abel said so, looking at Cedier with a complex gaze.
– Is that child the one you chose for that purpose?
"Yes."
Inquisitor Cedier.
He'll continue to be my ally.
He also has considerable potential among the inquisitors.
Thump!
Cedier banged his head on the floor and exclaimed with emotion.
"Speak your will, O great messenger of Denver!"
"As I said before, Denver desires not only faithfulness but also morality."
I helped him up and looked him in the eyes.
"It's time for proof, my believer."
This time, we'll eradicate the tumor rooted within the Church.
Definitely.