The Inquisitor Must Sometimes Go Undercover
The Inquisitor must sometimes go undercover.
"My name is Rick Getter. I've been newly assigned as the gardener here. It's a pleasure to meet you, my lady."
The newly hired gardener was a friendly, exceptionally handsome young man who introduced himself as Rick Getter.
What is this about?
That rigid man always prioritized skill and experience when hiring people. Naturally, most experienced candidates were older. Yet here he was, choosing such a young gardener.
As she strolled through the garden, the young gardener approached her with a warm, pleasant smile and struck up a conversation. She answered him.
"Oh, so you're the new gardener? Hmm, how old are you?"
"I turned twenty-six this year."
He's younger than me.
About two years younger, perhaps? That pleasant smile of his was quite appealing. So was his glossy brown hair that swayed gently in the breeze, and those kind-looking green eyes that gave off a soft impression. And... that solidly built body of his.
She found her gaze drifting toward it without realizing.
"What's your experience like?"
She had grown interested in this man. That's why she questioned him so persistently while studying him closely, but Rick simply smiled calmly in the face of her gaze and answered smoothly.
"It's only been two months since I started working as a gardener... but fortunately, it seems the master took a liking to me."
That man?
He hired a complete novice with only two months of experience? At first she couldn't believe it... but it didn't take her long to understand why Gilbert had chosen this young man.
One day... two days... almost every single day she met with the new gardener and talked with him...
"Oh my. Is that really true?"
Before she knew it, she had begun looking forward to the time she spent talking with him.
"Yes, it is. If you come see it once, you'll witness a truly beautiful sight. Of course, it might fall short in my lady's eyes, but in that case, please blame this humble one's poor taste."
He was genuinely enjoyable to talk to.
For one thing, this man was very good with words. Or more precisely... perhaps it was his voice. Listening to him somehow lifted her spirits. His humble way of speaking that still managed to elevate the other person was quite pleasant to her ears, especially since her self-esteem had plummeted while living here.
"Oh dear. It's already this late. Shall we continue our conversation tomorrow?"
When she checked the time and spoke with a gentle smile, Rick nodded.
"Please call for me anytime. I'll come right away."
It was quite pleasant to see that handsome face smiling so softly. Feeling that tomorrow couldn't come soon enough, she walked away with light steps.
"You seem to be in a good mood."
A shiver ran down her spine.
It was then. At the low voice coming from behind her, she felt a chill spread across her entire body.
"...Have you returned?"
When she turned around, the sight of that arrogant face made her think how much she hated looking at it. Confirming that her husband—who had recently left to inspect the front lines again—had returned, she forced herself to maintain composure and greeted him.
"I heard the newly hired gardener has done quite well with the garden, so I came to check."
At those words, she realized why this man had returned to the castle earlier than expected and nodded inwardly. As expected, he was the type who couldn't rest without confirming things with his own eyes. He was a man who felt satisfied only when everything remained strictly within his domain, and who had to make every decision himself. That was probably why he kept going down to the northern front—where only small-scale skirmishes occurred these days—to check on those barbarians. Truly a relentless man.
The man looked at the garden that the young gardener had newly arranged and smiled.
Good heavens.
She was shocked at the sight. So that wooden man could smile after all. It was surprising.
"Not bad. By the way, it seems you quite like Rick as well."
She flinched! His words felt as if he had read her inner thoughts. She flinched but answered anyway.
"Well... after talking with him, I found we could communicate fairly well."
What was the intention behind those words? She answered curtly while watching his expression. Gilbert stroked his chin and said,
"Gardener. If you want him, I'll give him to you. The garden is to my liking now, and that gardener isn't bad either... but if you wish, I can assign him separately as your personal butler."
"...What wind has blown in to make you say that?"
She was surprised by the offer. She couldn't understand this kindness, and honestly found it suspicious, but...
"Well, I won't refuse it."
When that man's gentle green eyes came to mind, she found she didn't want to refuse. So when she agreed, Gilbert smiled with satisfaction.
"Good. I'll assign him starting tomorrow."
Why is he acting like this?
She looked at the strangely satisfied Gilbert with suspicion as she slowly walked away. A butler, huh... It was ridiculous, but she already found herself looking forward to tomorrow.
--
This is harder than I thought. Being a gardener.
I muttered to myself as I plucked a bug off a rose with tweezers.
I had spent two whole months learning the job. Thanks to that, I had become fairly skilled, but honestly, it wasn't up to my standards. I had only memorized about a hundred types of plants so far, and my proficiency with the various tools was far from satisfactory.
Well, it can't be helped.
It was a shame that I had to dress up this garden I wasn't entirely happy with... but still, managing this much in just one week was something I could proudly say I'd worked hard at.
However...
"Starting tomorrow, you will serve as Orvia's exclusive butler."
I felt rather downcast at Duke Gilbert's sudden summons and order.
"Perhaps... my landscaping skills..."
Considering my true purpose for infiltrating this place, it was good news... but I had taken some responsibility for this new job, so thinking I'd essentially been fired for lack of skill hurt my pride.
"Not at all. Your skills were solid. However, the renowned Looprick has offered to take care of the garden here."
At Gilbert's gentle reply, I thought it couldn't be helped. If the famous Looprick across the continent had offered to become the exclusive gardener, there was truly nothing to be done. There were even stories of nobles lining up with sacks of gold coins just to secure a one-year contract with him... so a newcomer with only two months of experience being pushed aside was inevitable.
Besides... considering my infiltration objective, this wasn't a bad development at all.
"Therefore, please carry out your 'mission' well."
What was that? This sense of unease?
I felt something off in his words. This man...
"Understood."
He already knew who I was.
So when he said to keep it secret, he actually meant to treat it as if he knew nothing?
In that case, it was probably this man who had assigned me this task in the first place. Honestly...
He's still as mischievous as ever.
He was probably also the one who had reported her deviation to the Emperor. If so, then her infidelity was all but confirmed. But... why had this man—who knew even that—specifically called for me? Just what did he expect me to do here?
Hmm...
I left the room after receiving his permission, thinking. It seemed the Empire's renowned archmage had certain expectations of this insignificant servant of God.
--
After firearms became widespread, cold weapons were largely phased out... but mages still held their value. Mages with outstanding unique magic were more threatening than guns, and even ordinary magic could create variables on the battlefield.
Among such mages... there existed about three monsters against whom even guns and blades were useless.
Duke Gilbert was one of those three.
Each of the others were equally beyond common sense. They were monsters who had transcended human limits, each capable of handling at least an entire division alone.
"So that's why you sent that child?"
Henry asked leisurely as he moved a chess piece.
At that move, Silvestina—who had been staring intently at the chessboard—nodded.
"It was that side's request. By the way, could you take back that last move..."
"Unfortunately, Bishop Silvestina, I have no intention of doing so. In any case, even for him, it's taking quite a while."
Indeed. If Gilbert was indirectly requesting help from the Church, it couldn't possibly be a simple adultery investigation. Since he already knew the truth, if it were a simple matter, he would have handled it himself easily.
One of those three, after all...
He was that kind of man. Duke Gilbert Rel Logan, the hero of the Empire. Along with the Guardian Deity of Rucella and the Giant of the Yura Kingdom, he was one of the three greatest monsters on the continent.
"Speak honestly, Your Holiness."
Silvestina, who had shown proper courtesy to Henry—this time visiting in his official capacity as Pope—asked with a serious expression.
"Does Your Holiness believe this matter might also be connected to the devils?"
In Lemore, a major devil uprising had recently occurred, dragging people into the chaos. As a result, thirty civilians had lost their lives at the devils' hands, and the Order of Charity had to sacrifice much to burn ten of the cultists at the stake. Two paladins who had fought the cultists, three Inquisitors who had been investigating the site, and three more paladins accompanying those Inquisitors had all returned to God's embrace.
Henry...
"I believe that devil is connected to this salon gathering."
He was convinced the devil was hiding somewhere in Logan, which was close to Lemore. That was why Henry had already stationed a unit of paladins in Logan.
"It's only a possibility... but it would be best to prepare countermeasures, even for Priest Jenkinson."
"Hmm, I'm not sure if that guy even needs that level of support. By the way, Your Holiness..."
Henry looked anxious, but Silvestina—his direct superior—didn't seem worried at all. She genuinely thought worrying about that monster would be a waste of effort. What she was actually worried about... was something else entirely.
"?"
Silvestina bowed her head to Henry, who tilted his head in confusion while looking at her.
"By God's mercy, could you possibly take back just one more move..."
"How unsightly, Bishop Silvestina."
Henry made a fed-up expression at her shameless request, but he still took back the move.
Of course... even if he did, Silvestina still couldn't beat Henry.