Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: The Bishop's Doubts
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Church of Balance, Empire Central Region, 5th Diocese.
Bishop Leviham's ecclesiastical office.
Knock knock—
At the sound of the knock, Leviham lifted his head from the pile of documents.
"Ah. Yes. Come in."
The door opened, and Hantarsin entered. Leviham set down his quill and smiled.
"You've just returned from the heresy interrogation. Well done."
"Not at all. It was simply my duty. More importantly, allow me to report."
"Yes. Was there truly heresy in the Deharm Viscounty?"
A brief silence. Hantarsin shook his head.
"No. It seems it was merely a misunderstanding. There are no heretics in the Deharm household. It was more devout than I had imagined."
"Hmm. I see. Understood. Is there anything else?"
"I have nothing more to report, Bishop."
"Very well. You must be tired. Best go and rest."
"Yes. My thanks for your grace."
Hantarsin bowed his head and left the room. Until then, Leviham had been smiling, but now his expression turned gravely serious as he turned his head.
'...The inquisitor is lying.'
The weary eyelids, the dry lips, the vacant expression, the exhausted gait, the subtly trembling tone, the inability to meet his gaze and the quivering pupils.
Everything screamed that the inquisitor was lying.
'An inquisitor, who treats lying as the gravest sin, speaks falsehoods?'
It made no sense. It was a phenomenon beyond normal reasoning. The only conclusion was that the Deharm family had psychologically broken the inquisitor.
Yet Hantarsin was a devout believer and priest, recognized even by Bishop Leviham himself. Such a man would not yield to a family's power.
If there was another reason, it had to be that the family head, Theerad, had done something to the inquisitor.
'But Theerad?'
What reason would a man of innate benevolence have to torment an inquisitor? Frowning in thought, Leviham pulled out one of the documents stacked on his desk and opened it.
It was a roster detailing the local nobles' profiles and their attitudes toward the Church. Flipping through a few pages, Leviham easily found the entry for Theerad Deharm.
『Theerad Deharm』
[Danger Level: Grade 6. Hesitates not to bestow charity. Extremely favorable to the Church. Gentle temperament, deeply trusted by his domain's people. No enemies even amid various political interests.]
This was a record left by the previous diocesan bishop during the time Leviham served as assistant bishop. Leviham had no reason to doubt it. The Theerad he had personally observed matched the description perfectly.
'It was about three years ago, wasn't it?'
It was a time when spring rain drizzled, soaking all things. Leviham, out on market business, had chanced upon Theerad in an alleyway.
He had meant to greet him warmly but hid upon sensing the unusual atmosphere. Theerad was speaking with a woman and child sitting slumped on the ground. An infant was clutched tightly in the woman's arms.
— Do you remember the robber's face? Didn't you say he killed your husband and burned your home?
— S-Sob, he wore a mask. I couldn't see. I'm sorry, milord.
— No need for apologies. Don't act the fool—tell me your name.
— H aria. H aria Darnil.
— Good. H aria.
Theerad knelt on one knee. The surrounding puddles soiled his fine clothes, but he paid it no mind. Compared to other nobles who would rage at a single speck of dirt on their garments, Theerad's actions were profoundly noble.
— While investigating this case, I saw your burning house and your dead husband. That means I believe you. No matter how many years it takes, I'll catch the culprit. And...
Theerad removed the brooch from his neck. The surprised woman widened her eyes, but he ignored it.
— Take this and sell it at a jeweler's to sustain yourself. You need the means to nurse your child, don't you?
— M-Milord! I can't accept it!
The woman waved her hands in panic. A single gold coin might be one thing, but that expensive brooch was worth enough for a commoner to live prosperously for three years.
Yet Theerad placed it naturally into the woman's hand.
— Take it. No regrets later.
— Someone like me could never...
— Noble and base are equal beneath life itself. I give it not because you're 'someone like that,' but because it's you. Repay the grace with survival.
With that, Theerad rose and left the alley. The image of the woman staring after him, murmuring thanks through her tears, was still vivid.
'A true saint.'
An act of kindness moving enough to touch even Leviham deeply. Back then, he had even felt admiration for Theerad.
'For such a man to torment the inquisitor...'
No matter how he thought about it, it didn't add up. Could it all have been an act? Had he known the assistant bishop was in the market and staged it for the Church's trust?
"Hmm."
He dismissed the idea, yet the suspicion lingered. Above all, the fact that the inquisitor had submitted to the Deharm family gnawed at him.
After a moment's deliberation, Leviham revised Theerad's entry in the roster.
『Theerad Deharm』
[Danger Level: Grade 4. Possesses cunning enough to subjugate an inquisitor. Motive unknown at present—requires caution.]
He resolved to visit the estate personally someday to uncover the truth. Closing the roster, Leviham returned to his duties. He had far too many responsibilities to fixate solely on Theerad.
This morning felt especially refreshing.
The birds' chirps formed a beautiful harmony, and sunlight filtering through the great tree's branches danced like a curtain of light by the window.
Borrowing a phrase from the bards: yes, the world shone in brilliant colors.
'The God of Light blesses me.'
The central courtyard visible through the window had never looked so beautiful.
The human-tended garden bloomed in every hue, bringing peace to the heart. Though remnants of the explosion lingered, still.
'Did you cough, Father?'
As I changed clothes, I gave a nod to my father standing stately in the courtyard's center.
Since realizing the elf's true feelings, I hadn't been able to face his statue-like visage properly, but now it was entirely different.
'Please wait a moment. The Church of Balance will soon dispatch knights.'
Hantarsin must have realized the elf's intentions and returned. He would have reported the elf's danger to the diocesan bishop.
The bishop, sensing my peril, would request aid from the Church, which would then consider sending knights.
And if, by some miracle, His Holiness the Pope or Her Holiness the Saint learned of my plight? Perfection! With the Church's might, I could expel the utterly depraved elf residing in my estate...!
'Truly, there's always a way even if the sky falls.'
This opportunity must be a gift from the God of Light. It felt like reward for living devoutly without breaking the precepts.
Knock knock—
Lost in pleasant thoughts, I heard a knock. Tilting my head that way, I rolled up my coat cuff.
"Speak."
"Breakfast is ready, Family Head."
"I'll be there shortly. Tell the head chef."
"Yes. Understood."
The servant's footsteps faded. As usual, I finished dressing, affixed my brooch, and headed to the dining hall.
Upon arrival, the first sight was the elf bowed low, exposing the back of her head. Right before her sat a dog bowl piled high with indescribable food scraps.
'...I don't get it.'
Why insist on eating garbage? Even if it's part of the humiliation, this is excessive. She's the one eating it, but it sours my stomach for no reason.
Approaching with distaste, the elf heard my footsteps and trembled violently, murmuring in a quavering voice.
"G-Good morning, Master..."
"Yes. It was good until just now. But seeing your state sours my mood entirely. There's a limit to unpleasantness."
"Y-You're too mean..."
Ignoring the elf's faint sob, I sat at the table. As I picked up my utensils, she naturally began lapping up the scraps from the dog bowl.
"Devouring it so greedily."
Forcing a chuckle, I turned to slice the perfectly grilled steak. Spearing a bite with my fork, the juices mingled with savory butter flavor filled my mouth.
The meat was tender yet chewy—not too tough. The head chef must have poured his heart into it, perhaps misinterpreting my words.
I felt a twinge of guilt, but it resulted in my enjoying a fine meal, so no harm done. After devouring about half, a retching sound came from nearby.
"Hurk, heugh..."
Choked on the scraps perhaps—the elf drooled with half-lidded eyes. Tears welled in hers, her slender frame trembling pitifully. Anyone would see she struggled with the garbage.
'Sshould I tell her to stop?'
Even for humiliation, toying with food is too much. Maybe even the elf hates it.
Deciding, I picked up my leftover steak, approached the elf, and knelt.
She who suffered looked up naturally.
"The punishment for breaking the expensive vase ends here..."
As I offered the steak, I noticed her face chill coldly. Inhaling sharply, I quickly adjusted.
"As recompense, a special treat."
I tilted the plate, dropping the steak atop the scraps. Only then did her expression brighten.
Good. I tossed the plate aside haughtily.