The Right Way to Use One’s Power
The lecture was the same as always—utterly boring.
“So… there’s only one thing I’m going to teach you all. Stand tall before the name of God!”
Yet every student loved hearing their mentor’s teachings. As the grey-haired young man listened, a mischievous glint sparkled in his grey eyes and he opened his mouth.
“I see.”
He was an exceptionally handsome young man. With striking, well-defined features, he could only be described as a playful beauty. Smiling brightly, he asked the priest,
“So, Father Nicolas, are you standing tall yourself?”
Even at the cheeky question, the priest kept his gentle smile and answered with dignity.
“I’m trying my best to do so, student Herman Bullshake. You should live that way too.”
“Yeah, yeah. By the way, what’s today’s lecture? Medical arts? Theology? Or is it exorcism?”
Herman asked with a sly grin, and Nicolas replied,
“Are you the only one attending? You’re the only one talking.”
At that moment, all the classmates around them burst into laughter. Herman shamelessly shrugged his shoulders.
“I’m just overflowing with the spirit of sacrifice. I’m stepping up for my poor, speechless friends.”
“Well, that’s what he says. So what are we really learning today?”
At Herman’s words, a woman with dazzling silver hair and a serious expression asked the question. She was truly beautiful. Even in a slightly loose shirt, her alluring curves were impossible to ignore. Her red eyes sparkled as she waited for an answer.
“Tina. He’ll explain it himself, so why bother asking?”
The same man who had just been asking questions now spoke with feigned innocence. At that instant, the woman called Tina furrowed her brows deeply.
“My name is…!”
“Now, now, no fighting. Today’s lesson is medical practice. Everyone prepare and follow me.”
Nicolas responded as if he were used to the pair, but Herman grinned again.
“This looks like someone’s going to die. Shouldn’t we excuse Tina in advance?”
“What did you just say, you scoundrel?!”
The two had naturally begun bickering again. Nicolas simply ignored them with practiced ease and started walking.
“Let’s go, kids. Looks like the married couple is about to start their usual fight.”
“Who are you calling a married couple?!”
“Who are you calling married?!”
Hearing them speak in perfect unison, Nicolas could only shrug.
If they weren’t a married couple after that…
At that moment, Herman complained with a displeased expression.
“Tina! Stop copying me.”
“What are you talking about? That’s called having an inflated ego. And you should at least get my name right! I’m not Tina, I’m—”
They had started fighting again. Nicolas responded with familiar indifference.
“Alright, alright. Since the married couple has begun their quarrel, let’s leave them to it.”
“Yes, Father.”
It was such a common occurrence that Nicolas simply ignored the two and led the rest of the students away. It was always like that. The pair fought at every opportunity, and their classmates had grown used to it. Their kind-hearted mentor always slithered his way out of the situation like a cunning snake.
How nostalgic.
But… precisely because of that, it was a time that could never return.
Now an adult worn down by society, Herman still dreamed of those days.
“Your Eminence…?”
At the voice calling him, Herman woke from his slumber and opened his eyes.
It was nice back then.
He had been young, full of youthful vigor and confidence that he could accomplish anything. But… that wasn’t true. Against that monster, protecting even a single friend had been his limit.
In that sense…
We might be a little alike.
Herman smiled at the thought. That guy really did resemble him. Which was exactly why he had to walk this path.
His power was not meant to be wasted on investigating adultery. Killing devils. Reducing the number of victims. That was the right way to use that power.
Herman believed it with absolute conviction.
“What’s so amusing?”
Lina couldn’t understand why Herman had suddenly woken up and was chuckling to himself.
“Heh, indeed. I wonder what was so funny.”
“...?”
At Herman’s abrupt remark, Lina tilted her head in confusion. He didn’t bother explaining. Even thinking about it again, those days were so dear to him. Just remembering a time that could never return was enough.
Because it made Herman happy.
“He still calls me Tina. It never gets old for him.”
Silvestina grumbled quietly. She still clearly remembered the first time she met that guy. The moment he heard her name, he started shortening it however he pleased, and it had continued to this day.
At her blunt disciple’s response, Silvestina felt a little hurt, but since she knew this was just how he was, she didn’t show it.
“Anyway, is everything going smoothly in Giner? You might end up crossing paths with him.”
At Silvestina’s words, Jenkinson answered calmly.
Smooth, then.
Silvestina gave a short reply and continued.
“You’ve been pushing yourself lately. Take some time to rest properly in your hometown.”
The reason she had deliberately assigned this mission to Giner in Rucella was to let him rest comfortably in his own country after all his hard work. It was the Holy See’s way of showing consideration, but…
Typical workaholic answer. No wonder his reports were always so densely packed. He could afford to loosen up a little… Yet Jenkinson’s reports were always at least twice as long as any other Inquisitor’s.
Reading them is exhausting for me too.
At this volume, even the person reading them was doing heavy labor. On top of that, she had to compile a separate report for the Pope every time she finished reading his, which made it even worse.
It would be nice if he rested a little.
But of course he wasn’t that kind of person. Thinking that poor Asa must be suffering because of him, Silvestina couldn’t help but smile.
“Oh, right. Sir Yusuba has joined the Pope’s personal Holy Knight Order.”
Silvestina spoke as if she had just remembered, but Jenkinson didn’t seem surprised.
Still as cold in his evaluations as ever.
Silvestina smiled at the harsh assessment. She still remembered it clearly—the way he had returned carrying the unconscious Ilaina with eyes even colder than his current tone. His gaze back then had been so icy that it felt like he would slaughter anyone who dared touch him.
Well, to us it was simply losing a comrade to the devils.
Silvestina was fine with that. As long as all the blame could be placed on the devils, she could endure the pain. But what about him? He didn’t even have anyone to resent. The ones who had killed them… were the wounded soldiers they had been treating.
Who was he supposed to blame? A priest who had been taught to protect the weak had been killed by the very weak he protected. Who was the survivor supposed to resent and hate?
In that sense, that guy was truly remarkable. Even after experiencing something like that… he had returned to the battlefield and continued treating the wounded.
What kind of thoughts allowed him to do that? What was he thinking as he lived his life now?
Silvestina couldn’t tell. She couldn’t tell, but…
“He really is amazing. Father Jenkinson.”
Silvestina honestly thought the man was incredible. So when she muttered those words quietly, an immediate reply came back.
“...In that regard, you really are like Herman. Seriously. Disconnect!”
Click!
Silvestina cut the connection with the pigeon without permission and closed her eyes. Even now, when she closed her eyes, those good old days came back to her. She had always fought with that guy, but the reason she didn’t hate those times… was probably because of the people she would never see again.
Thinking that, Silvestina busily moved her birds. Her duties didn’t end with managing Jenkinson and the other Inquisitors.
“...She just cut me off without warning.”
I smiled, thinking of my pathetic master and superior who had suddenly severed the link with the pigeon.
“Her Eminence Silvestina is… a bit different from what I imagined.”
Asa looked slightly disillusioned. Seeing her expression, I felt a little sorry—not for my master, but for shattering a believer’s fantasy.
More importantly… did that mean there was a chance I might run into that annoying man?
That would be a bit troublesome…
Meeting Archbishop Herman Bullshake was always burdensome. When someone so far above you spoke to you so casually, it actually felt uncomfortable. Honestly, I didn’t want to get involved with him at all.
“Now that I think about it, I’ve come home too.”
When Asa murmured with a nostalgic face, I brightened up.
“That’s a rare welcome remark. This country is my hometown as well. Where are you from?”
“I’m from Brahms. You’re from… that place, right?”
Brahms, huh. A peaceful land. I nodded at the thought.
“Abnaigel. Correct.”
The Abnaigel region on the border of Rucella was my hometown. And… it was a place I would one day have to inherit.
“I see.”
“Well, if I ever quit being a priest, feel free to visit. For Sir Asa, I could at least treat you to a piece of bread.”
“...Do I really have to travel that far just to get one piece of bread?”
Asa asked, looking dumbfounded. I laughed. She was a woman who was fun to tease. Which was why…
“If you would just grow stronger, I’d have nothing left to wish for.”
If only her skills would improve… I grumbled inwardly. Asa blushed with embarrassment and lowered her head. Still, her raw combat ability wasn’t bad. Once she gained more experience, she would become a rather useful holy knight.
Therefore…
“Grow quickly. That way, you can be used by people who need you more than I do.”
Because that was the right way to use one’s power.
I smiled at the thought. At last… I felt like I could understand a little of my mentor’s heart from those days.