The Monster Has Arrived
In a lawless land like this, I wondered if there was any point in hiding my identity now that everything had already been exposed. Still, I changed out of my black priestly robes into a thick shirt and leather pants. Yoqheim was an incredibly cold place. The chill meant nothing to me personally, but if I went outside without a heavy coat, it would only draw suspicion. I had prepared an overcoat just for that purpose. First, I rolled up the sleeves of my shirt.
Even as I listened to His Excellency’s sarcastic remark, I checked on the other two holy knights. They had changed well. After silently giving them both a passing grade, I began lightly cleaning the church. I gathered the scattered iron scraps from the floor and piled them in a corner outside, then organized the empty liquor bottles. Once I wiped away the dried blood and cigarette ash stuck everywhere, the church actually looked somewhat decent.
His Excellency asked with a worried expression as I cleared away the barricade that had been blocking the front of the church. It was true… we couldn’t completely rule out the possibility of them attacking. However…
"They won’t come. Not if the man who rules this place is as cautious as the rumors say."
His Excellency didn’t bother hiding his hostility toward the man. That made sense. After all, it was probably that man who had been relentlessly attacking this church. The one who reigned over Yoqheim like a king. Bane Kirkes was a notorious criminal known even across the continent. Rape, murder, robbery, fraud—he had committed every atrocity without batting an eye. No country had ever managed to capture him, and he had killed at least three inquisitors. It went without saying that the holy knights assigned to protect those inquisitors had met the same fate.
"A criminal who has killed over three hundred people on the continent alone isn’t going to be stupid. On the contrary, he’ll be cautious and intelligent."
His Excellency muttered, though he didn’t deny it.
I answered while still cleaning.
"Hmm, it’s not under my jurisdiction. But…"
I smiled and glanced at the gaze watching us from this direction.
"If it becomes my jurisdiction, the story changes."
Was it possible that man had gone his entire life without causing a single family problem? Well, an investigation would reveal everything. Therefore…
"If they investigate their side, we’ll have to investigate ours as well."
?
Seeing His Excellency’s puzzled expression, I decided it was about time to get some sleep for the day. Cleaning the church alone had already taken us well into the night.
"Yes… brown hair and green eyes. I remember now. It’s Jenkinson Beckett."
Bane pondered the report from his subordinate and recalled a certain monster. Jenkinson Beckett. Though his divine name was Beckett, his real name was Jenkinson Abnaigel. The son of Greg, whose entire body was said to be a weapon, and an inquisitor evaluated as an even greater monster than his father. The incident where he stormed the royal palace alone, dragged the king out, and burned him at the stake had properly imprinted his madness across the continent. Considering that the palace had been guarded by one of Yura’s giants, the man’s individual combat prowess was already at least legion-level. He could be considered a walking army.
‘Is the church declaring war on me?’
To send such a monster here… The old man already stationed here had been nothing but a reckless fool with more guts than brains, but this man was different. The current situation could only be interpreted as the church sending troops to wage war against him. In that case, the two holy knights also warranted suspicion.
"Take that out and install it here."
If that was the case, all he had to do was prepare for war as well. Bane spoke with an icy expression. His subordinate looked flustered.
After snapping at his subordinate, the man felt a surge of anxiety. If they came before it was installed, there would be trouble.
‘Will he come? When is he coming?’
He was no longer in the position to attack. He had become the defender. Attacking that monstrous man? It would be pure insanity. He had to make full use of the advantages of defending a fortress. After all, considering the sins he had committed throughout his life, there was no reason for that man to overlook him.
‘That man called Rumel really makes all sorts of things.’
In that sense, this prototype would definitely be useful. Bane thought so and let out a sinister smile. If he succeeded in killing that man… then truly, no one would be able to stop him.
"Haaaam…"
Yusuba woke up at dawn, stretched with a big yawn, and stepped out of the church room.
‘Is the priest… already awake?’
It was still dawn, so probably not. Just as Yusuba was about to offer his usual early morning prayer, he paused.
"Oh…"
Two people were already kneeling before the goddess statue in the church, deep in prayer. As expected of the bishop and the priest. Seeing them like this made Yusuba truly feel that they were genuine clergy. Even to his eyes, the sight of the two praying so devoutly looked sacred, naturally stirring his own faith.
Quietly. Yusuba knelt behind them and began his own prayer. After about five minutes, when he finished, the two had already stood up.
Hearing their praise, Yusuba scratched his head in embarrassment.
‘We won’t need to keep an eye on Sir Yusuba for long.’
Watching him, Jenkinson made his evaluation. He was already excellent. All he needed was real combat experience. With a little polishing, he could be sent back to the Holy Kingdom and assigned to a more necessary inquisitor.
Having thought that, Jenkinson decided which holy knight to take on today’s reconnaissance.
When Yusuba naturally tried to wake Asa, Jenkinson shook his head.
‘That makes sense too.’
Yusuba nodded in understanding. So he had been chosen? Wondering whether he should be happy or sad about it, Yusuba strapped a sword to his waist, hid a pistol using invisibility magic, and stored extra ammunition with spatial magic before finishing his preparations.
‘He even knows how to conceal his weapons.’
Jenkinson’s evaluation of him rose a little higher. At this level…
The fact that he didn’t get excited by the praise pleased Jenkinson. It proved that this one definitely possessed talent worthy of the Pope’s attention. All that remained… was that woman.
"So we’re doing reconnaissance like this."
Yusuba answered while crunching on the snacks I had bought him. As we walked around, I realized that Yoqheim wasn’t quite the lawless zone I had imagined. There were rules of a sort, and even a functioning market. The problem, of course… was Bane and his gang, who could ignore those rules whenever they pleased. Bane ruled this place with his infamous notoriety and his subordinates. If a woman caught his fancy, whether she was married or a virgin didn’t matter—she would be dragged away. In fact, it was easy to hear stories of married women being taken by his gang, their husbands killed, and the wives committing suicide not long after.
"...Well, that settles it."
A man who would be considered a heretic by any inquisitor, no matter their field. Well… if a heinous criminal didn’t act like one, that would be even stranger. Thinking that, I gently touched the inverted cross rosario in my pocket.
When Yusuba bought two skewers and offered me one, I took it and answered while chewing.
Even at those words, Yusuba didn’t look surprised. Instead, he responded cheekily.
At his cheeky remark, I laughed. Yes, we would need quite a lot of firewood. There were quite a few who would die this time.
Asa, who had just woken up, was shocked to receive standby orders. Only Yusuba was taken? Why? She couldn’t believe the current situation.
Hendrick spoke gruffly to her and immediately handed over a broom.
Asa felt depressed that as a holy knight she had to stay behind at the church and finish cleaning, but the other party was a bishop. Moreover, he was the high-ranking figure in charge of this entire diocese. So she took the broom, went outside, and began sweeping the piled-up snow. All while suppressing her dissatisfaction deep inside.
"Do you have experience with women?"
As we moved toward Bane’s stronghold, Yusuba asked with a mischievous tone, perhaps to ease his tension.
"More than I can count. What about you?"
At Jenkinson’s cheeky reply, Yusuba looked slightly surprised but soon laughed.
While saying that, Yusuba proudly shared his experiences, and Jenkinson listened, sometimes laughing, sometimes offering empathy. Yusuba thought that this priest was surprisingly easy to talk to and quite an interesting person. If he had said something like this to Asa, she would have blushed furiously, calling it unbecoming of someone serving in the clergy and lecturing him. But this priest empathized and even shared some of his own experiences.
When Yusuba grumbled while thinking of Asa, Jenkinson laughed and nodded.
Ultimately, gaining experience and using it as a foundation to build a family, raise children, and teach them properly was more important. The reason Goddess Yuno forbade adultery was because forming a family through marriage was a promise and a contract. The goddess strictly prohibited breaking such contracts and promises, which was why adultery was also forbidden.
The fact that he didn’t call him “priest” since they were outside earned him extra points internally. Jenkinson pondered the answer. Originally, he hadn’t thought about it. But lately…
"I might."
His thoughts had changed a little these days. Getting married wouldn’t be so bad. The partner would be…
Jenkinson answered and arrived at their stronghold, whose entrance was solidly blocked by a thick barricade.
When Yusuba marveled at the sight, Jenkinson nodded while looking at the barricade. It was certainly an incredible defensive wall. However…
Jenkinson wasn’t particularly worried. After all… they were already rats trapped in a poison jar.