Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Inquisitor's Doubt
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A flicker of suspicion entered Hamtarshin's eyes. It was fine to harbor doubts, but expressing them right in front of the elf was never a good look.
*It's not just your life on the line—I'm in danger too...!*
I screamed inwardly and turned back to the elf. Seeing the moisture gathering in those beautiful crimson eyes stirred an unwelcome pang of guilt, but in this moment, there was no other way to dispel Hamtarshin's suspicions.
"You insolent wench!"
I scowled and slapped the elf across the cheek. *Slap!* Before she could even recover from her reeling head, I barked at her again.
"You dare act like a fool in front of a guest in my manor, no less a heresy inquisitor chosen as a servant by the God of Light himself? There's a limit to how worthless you can be! How long do you intend to keep humiliating me, you bitch?!"
The elf, her head still turned away, stared up at me in a daze for a moment before realizing this was part of the act. She dropped to her knees and clutched at my trouser hem.
"Hieek...! Sowwy, Mastah! I was wwong...!"
"Hmph. Useless trash like you. I'm the real idiot for paying good money to buy garbage like this."
"Sowwy...! Fow being a witwle-headed idiot who only knows how to get knocked up with Mastah's seed, sowwy...!"
"...What?"
No, why are you making shit up, you crazy bitch?! Flustered, I glanced at Hamtarshin, only to find him staring at me with utter disgust. A chill ran down my spine for no reason.
"Hamtarshin, priest. It's not what you think. There seems to have been a misunderstanding..."
"No need for excuses. As long as sexual acts with slaves don't exceed a certain level of debauchery, we don't bring them to religious trial. If our order rounded up every lecherous noble, there wouldn't be any left in the empire."
"No, I really..."
"Enough. We'll turn a blind eye to this matter, so no need to worry. More importantly, there must be a reason the Family Head summoned me to the manor."
I wanted to explain, but I'd save that for later. As Hamtarshin said, there was a specific reason for calling the heresy inquisitor to the manor (though I hadn't called him).
Of course, I had no desire to voice that reason aloud. With the elf watching, I had to beat around the bush as much as possible.
"Indeed. If there's anything you need related to this, I swear on the honor of the Viscount Deharem family to assist with all sincerity. Just say the word."
"Something I need? This heresy trial only involves detecting lies and forcing out the truth, so I don't require much. Family Head, just prepare two things for me."
"Two things?"
"Yes. First, gather all the suspected individuals in one place. Second, prepare a space where I can speak with them one-on-one."
"I know just the place..."
There was a perfect spot.
"My ancestors built a chapel on the manor grounds. It even has a confessional prepared for the sacrament of penance, so how about conducting the interrogations there?"
"Oh ho. I would be overjoyed as a servant of the God. To have a chapel on manor grounds—your ancestors must have been men of great faith, Family Head."
"We've served the God of Light for generations."
I returned Hamtarshin's smile with one of my own. But I couldn't make it entirely natural, feeling the elf's grip tighten on my trouser hem.
*
The Deharem family's modest chapel.
"Is that the heresy inquisitor? First priest I've seen carrying a sword."
"Yeah. He looks kinda scary."
"But he can't be a bad guy. He serves the God of Light, after all."
The servants the steward had brought sat in the chapel's long pews, whispering among themselves.
I sat at the very back, where I could see all their backs. The elf boldly took the seat right beside me, making it feel like I was sitting on pins and needles.
"I am Hamtarshin Rabel, dispatched from the Order of Balance, which serves the God of Light."
Hamtarshin's voice echoed through the chapel, silencing the murmurs. He basked in the attention of the room, wearing a benevolent smile.
"I've gathered you all here to foster understanding among yourselves. Lies in speech deceive others and hinder true comprehension, do they not? That violates the God of Light's commandments and strays from human decency, so I shall correct it in His stead."
As Hamtarshin narrowed his eyes, his benevolence took on a solemn air. He scanned the faces of the servants and continued gravely.
"Thus, please enter the confessional one by one, in the order I instructed the steward. If your heart is pure and free of sin, you shall receive a blessing. But if you've sullied your life with deceitful intent, divine punishment awaits."
He was dressing it up in fancy words, but it boiled down to: lie, and you're screwed. I coughed awkwardly out of guilt but was relieved when Hamtarshin ignored it.
"Then I'll go in first. Please enter one at a time."
Hamtarshin entered the confessional with a smiling face. Harbid took measured steps to the altar before the cross, unfurled a sheet of paper.
"From now on, enter in the order I call. Once your interrogation is done, leave the chapel and return to your duties. I'll call the names now. First, Karasin! Next, Maltao! Then Airan..."
Harbid rattled off the names. Naturally, mine wasn't on the list. The steward had insisted to Hamtarshin that I, the Family Head, couldn't possibly be the culprit, and after shooting me a displeased look, Hamtarshin had nodded in agreement.
So, Hamtarshin would learn nothing here. No one could have witnessed the elf pissing on my father's statue that day.
The elf wouldn't confess to it either. She seemed plenty satisfied with her current life of being humiliated by me—why ruin a good thing?
In the end, this would all blow over as a mere incident. But to prepare for the off chance it didn't, I now had the activation slate for the "Great Beast-Hunting Weapon" hidden in my bosom.
If I used it cleverly as evidence, I could easily prove my innocence.
"Yawwwn. I'm sweepy, Mastah..."
As I mentally calculated my options, the elf leaned her head on my shoulder. Her gleaming silver hair cascaded down my arm.
I tensed, wondering if she wanted more humiliation, but her half-closed eyes suggested she was genuinely sleepy.
Well, she'd been out in the front yard since early morning, tending the garden under the blazing sun. Though I questioned if hacking at my prized shrubs counted as "tending."
Fairy tales always said elves loved trees. Was the fairy tale wrong, or was this elf?
*Whatever. Ignore her.*
No need to react and stir up trouble when she wasn't even asking for it.
I casually pulled out a book and immersed myself in reading. Meanwhile, the elf nodded off, then fully drifted into slumber.
Her soft breathing blended faintly with the servants' murmurs. Above it all, sunlight filtered through the stained glass, painting everything in auroral hues. It was warm and serene—a truly peaceful scene.
*This is exactly what I wanted.*
A peaceful life with an innocent slave who relied on me. Not one who woke up every morning craving humiliation...
A wave of resentment washed over me, but spilled water couldn't be gathered back. I let out a quiet sigh and focused on my book.
About three hours passed. Revera, the last on the list, emerged from the confessional. She shuffled past without looking up and left the chapel.
*What?*
Revera was a good kid. She'd usually greet me before leaving.
*Bad mood today?*
I didn't know, but something must have happened. Anyway, with the heresy trials done, there was no more business in the chapel. As I closed my book to praise Hamtarshin's efforts, he emerged from the confessional first, brushing off his clothes.
"I think I know who the culprit is."
His low baritone voice resonated in the now-empty chapel. He strode toward me, hand on his sword hilt, and looked down at me arrogantly.
"Not content with using a slave to tarnish your father's honor, you lie about it too? Have you no shame before the heavens?"
Uh...? What? How the hell did he know I made the elf piss on my father's statue? As cold sweat beaded on my brow and I hesitated, Hamtarshin spoke again.
"I cannot overlook this. As a heresy inquisitor, I must presume you are a heretic and proceed with your interrogation, Family Head Teorad."
"Ah. W-well, you see..."
The realization that I'd been caught made my shoulders twitch. The elf's eyes fluttered open. I instinctively glanced her way and saw her lips moving beneath an expressionless face.
No sound came out, but I could read her lip movements clearly.
*Annoying prick, keep it up.*
Realizing it was aimed at Hamtarshin, not me, I couldn't shake the fear that he might become the first heresy inquisitor to die in a chapel—at the hands of a slave.
I didn't know exactly why the elf was so furious, but if I couldn't calm that rage, a murder would stain the chapel of the prestigious Viscount Deharem family.
A slave killing a heresy inquisitor in the Deharem chapel? That absurd headline would spread like wildfire, becoming gossip fodder for noble ladies.
I absolutely couldn't let that happen! It would dishonor my ancestors and hasten the family's downfall!
Moreover, no murder born of mere emotional clash could ever be justified.
*But how...?*
Did I have the key to resolving the conflict between the inquisitor and the elf? Even ransacking my mind for ideas, nothing clear emerged.
My mouth went dry, my face paling. Hamtarshin misinterpreted it, opening his mouth with smug satisfaction.
"You seem crushed by the weight of your own sins. I understand, but I lack the authority to pardon you. Resign yourself and confess. Then, Her merciful Grace the Saint might show compassion."
*If I give up, you'll die, you moron!* My boiling anger was aimed at Hamtarshin, but he was too full of himself to notice.
That left only one option. I resolved to brazen it out and stood from my seat.
"Ha. I wonder who's worrying about whom here."
A noble must never lose composure, no matter the situation. Recalling that timeless precept, I turned to Hamtarshin with deliberate calm.
"Did you say I was guilty? Heresy Inquisitor."
Hamtarshin's eyebrow twitched at my changed demeanor. But he showed no sign of backing down, standing ramrod straight and meeting my gaze.
"I've heard testimony from a witness. The circumstances clearly point to you as the culprit, Family Head Teorad."
Damn it. A witness? Of all things.
"Who witnessed what, exactly?"
"I cannot disclose that. All testimonies from interrogations must remain strictly confidential."
"Not even to me, the Family Head?"
"Unless the God of Light permits it, I would protect the witness's identity even at sword's point. This is not my will alone, but the will of the entire Order of Balance. Please understand that."
His paternal tone bristled with thorns. He clearly resented my meddling in church affairs.
Sorry, but that was exactly what I wanted. Feeling the elf's glare boring into my back, I lifted my chin arrogantly.
"The Order of Balance has truly become pathetic."
Hamtarshin ground his teeth. He was openly furious with me now.
"Family Head Teorad. If you cannot justify your words to me, I will fulfill my duty and bring you to religious trial."
"No need to worry. That won't happen. I merely spoke because I believe you—a priest of the Order of Balance—are disregarding the order's teachings."
"*I* disregard the order's teachings?"
"Of course. As I understand it, the Order of Balance never brands anyone a heretic without clear evidence, no matter how suspicious they seem. Am I wrong?"
Hamtarshin fell silent. Even he couldn't find a flaw in my logic.
"But what are *you* doing? Treating a witness's testimony as if it's divine revelation from the God of Light? Spouting nonsense about presuming me a heretic and interrogating me."
"...I was rash."
"Better late than never. I forgive you with magnanimity. Additionally, I'm willing to submit to your interrogation."
I couldn't give the elf an opening to intervene. I walked slowly past Hamtarshin toward the confessional. He followed behind me.
"You'll submit to interrogation?"
"Like everyone else, I'll enter the confessional and answer your questions. Wouldn't that be fair? I can't receive special treatment."
"That's not wrong."