Chapter 298: Cultist Detector (2)
Chapter 298: Cultist Detector (2)
“Partner…?”
No, that’s what you’re surprised about? You should be curious about the cultist detection method!
Well, as absurd as it was, it was understandable. The Church of Righteous Light was a group that viewed fighting cultists as their destiny.
Everyone probably guessed they had their own ways of identifying cultists, and hadn't I just claimed to have received an Authority directly from Righteous Light herself?
They likely just took it for granted.
But a Saintess marrying a man who dragged a string of women around?
That was unheard of.
Even in a world where polygamy and polyandry were permitted, there were always exceptions.
If the woman’s status was noble enough, the man had to be mindful. He either wouldn't take other women, or if he did, he’d only take one as a concubine.
A Saintess was in a position where she could not only manage new women but even demand he sell off his existing female slaves, and no one would be able to say a word against it.
Yet, I had three slaves of exceptional beauty, not to mention Iona, who—while slightly lacking compared to the Saintess—was still someone who wouldn't be overlooked anywhere.
How the hell did he pull that off???
That was the only possible reaction.
However, it was impossible for me to be the first to answer. Iona had told me not to speak first and to just keep my head bowed; she said they would ask me eventually.
Following the etiquette I had learned in a crash course, I bowed my head respectfully. Before long, Rodrigo composed himself. He looked into the air as if recalling something and spoke.
“Yandel… yes. I have heard that name. You were the one who reported those rats a while back, the one who dealt a heavy blow to those cultist bastards recently, and the one who led the battle in Solaris to victory this time.”
“It is a true honor that you remember me.”
“…Come to think of it, when I first heard your name, I was told you discovered a hidden cultist while dueling because you couldn't tolerate an insult to your lover.”
“That is correct. However, she is an alchemist, so she could not join us in Solaris.”
“Splendid! I heard you were of common birth, but as a man, you are finer than most nobles! Yes! A hero of this caliber is entitled to such things! Hahaha!”
Rodrigo laughed boisterously, even clapping his hands. Fiona, standing beside him, covered her mouth and followed suit with a modest laugh. The couple seemed to have a good relationship.
…Everything was going well so far, but accusing Fiona was going to be difficult.
I let out a silent sigh and bowed my head even deeper, acting as if I were overwhelmed by the honor.
“Enough. I am curious to see your face. Yandel, raise your head.”
“I obey your command.”
Only then did I lift my head. Rodrigo, who was studying me intently, nodded with a smirk.
“I see. You’re not quite as handsome as I was in my youth, but you’ll do. Now then, since my curiosity is satisfied, let us move to the main point. Yandel, you said you have a way to identify cultists?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Is it the method using the Divine Object you used before?”
“That is one way, but since many spies have already been caught using that method, they must have prepared a countermeasure. This time, I intend to utilize a new blessing bestowed upon me directly by Righteous Light.”
In truth, it was the power of the System obtained through Fafnir’s arrangement… but Solari said I could use her name as much as I wanted, so I might as well.
I stole a glance at Fiona. Even though I mentioned a new blessing, she just stared at me blankly, showing no signs of suspicion.
Well, she wasn't so naive as to show a weakness over something like this.
Or, as I expected, she had already prepared a way to deceive the holy power of Righteous Light.
Unaware of my inner thoughts, Rodrigo let out a hearty laugh.
“Ho. I’m quite looking forward to this. Just what kind of blessing is it that both you and the Saintess are so full of confidence?”
“If I attack a cultist, I can inflict a slightly deeper wound.”
“…Hmm?”
“If I swing a blade with just enough force not to kill, and the person dies, they are a cultist. If they survive, they are innocent.”
I answered in a confident voice, but for some reason, the reaction I got was lukewarm.
“That… sounds like a witch hunt.”
Rodrigo looked skeptical. Looking closely, the other high-ranking officials and knights in the room also had disconcerted expressions.
Tsk. I guess I can't push through with momentum alone. Well, that makes sense. Even I think it sounds absurd.
But in times like these, one must act even more brazenly.
“It is the truth, Your Majesty. If you bring a cultist to me, I shall prove it.”
“Prove it… I see. How can a mere human fathom the miracles of a god? However, as a ruler representing humanity, I must ask. How is that any different from you simply attacking a bit harder? What if I suspect this is a ploy to frame someone you wish to harm as a cultist?”
“I understand that Your Majesty cannot trust me, having only just met me. Then, what about Sir Havel?”
“Are you asking if I trust the Sword Duke?”
Rodrigo blinked blankly, as if he hadn't expected Havel’s name to come up, but he soon nodded exaggeratedly, as if he considered Havel trustworthy.
“Of course, I trust the Sword Duke. Is he not the Sword of the Empire, its guardian deity, and the only Sword Master on the Eurelia Continent? But what does the Sword Duke have to do with this?”
“I need the discerning eye of a Sword Master. As Your Majesty said, we need someone to verify whether I simply swung harder or if the result was different despite swinging with the same force. Sir Havel would be able to see through everything.”
Rodrigo looked at Havel without a word. Feeling that gaze, Havel bowed his head slightly and replied.
“It is true. I can tell how much a blade cuts through flesh and whether it was swung with the same force as before, Your Majesty.”
“Is that so? It sounds like nonsense to me, but if you say so, Sir Knight, then it must be possible.”
Quickly accepting Havel’s word, Rodrigo raised his voice.
“Listen! Soldiers on standby, go at once and bring one cultist currently under interrogation and one suitable petty criminal. Make them kneel here.”
“Yes, Sire!”
With a thunderous reply, a knight in the corner hurried out of the Audience Hall.
*
After some time had passed, the knight returned, slightly out of breath, leading two tightly bound men.
“W-where is this… This is unfair! Please spare me!”
“Hehehe… When that day comes, all of you will be swallowed by His mouth! Slaves! Commoners! Nobles! Royalty! And you hypocritical clergymen too! You mages acting all noble! You ignorant knights! YouwillallmeltintomeatballswhyrejectHisblessing?Ah.Make me a part of You, O Confused Unity! Lead me to the Divine Throne!”
One was a man with a somewhat thuggish appearance, looking around frantically in terror.
The other was a madman, covered in blood, cackling and spewing curses at everyone around him.
Without even looking, it was obvious the latter was the cultist. He was openly exuding the energy of an Evil God and blasphemous words.
It was a loathsome feeling, as if insects were crawling over my skin and even laying eggs inside.
Usually, no matter how much of a cultist they were, they didn't break down that far. He had probably gone insane under intense torture.
Most people in the room frowned at the cultist’s words, but Rodrigo, who had made him that way, continued calmly.
“He is an Archbishop of Confused Unity. He was captured a few months ago for daring to commit an act of terrorism against the Imperial Palace.”
“Y-Your Majesty! This is unfair! I only took a few coins from the pockets of some drunks….”
“Silence. I did not give you permission to speak. If you don't want your head to fly off along with your tongue, follow my instructions quietly.”
“Hup…!”
Silencing the noisy man, Rodrigo looked at me with an intrigued gaze.
“Then, shall you show us? Ah, I will permit the use of magic. Or you may borrow a sword from the other knights.”
“Thank you.”
I gave a short nod and created a small knife using simple ice magic.
A translucent, sky-blue blade that scattered a chill into the air. Seeing it, the petty criminal began to tremble violently.
“H-eek! Please spare me! I’ll live an honest life from now on, so please….”
“Shh. Didn't His Majesty command you? To be quiet. And I have no intention of cutting your throat, so just hold out your hand.”
“Pardon…? O-oh, alright.”
Still trembling, the petty criminal held out his hand as instructed. I swung the ice knife at him without hesitation.
Swoosh!
“Gah!”
The startled criminal let out a sharp gasp, but while the strike was fast, it wasn't deep.
At most, it just nicked the skin.
A single drop of blood trickled down his palm. And that was it.
I grabbed the criminal’s wrist and showed it to Havel.
“What do you think?”
“Impressive. I heard you were a mage, but to think you could deliver such a precise strike with pure physical movement without any assistance.”
“Uh… not that part. I mean the wound.”
“Hmm.”
After peering at the criminal’s hand for a moment, Havel nodded toward Rodrigo.
“It is a wound consistent with the cut. If one can swing the same way, anyone could inflict the same wound.”
“Is that so? Then all that remains is the cultist….”
“IamHimandHeisMeandweshallbecomeeternalbeingsanddevourtheworld!”
“Hmm. It doesn't seem like he’ll hold out his hand quietly. Sir Havel, may I ask you?”
“Leave it to me, Your Majesty.”
With a nod, Havel instantly grabbed the cultist from behind and forced his palm open.
It was a rough method that utilized the full strength of a Sword Master. But for a cultist who had lost his mind and whose Authority was sealed by holy power, there was no method more effective.
As the man continued to spew blasphemous delusions, I swung the ice knife at him.
With the exact same posture, the exact same angle, and the exact same force as before.
“Huh?”
A glint appeared in Havel’s eyes as he watched from point-blank range.
Thud!
A massive spray of blood erupted from the cultist’s hand.