Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: Ruby
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: No Need to Worry About It
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Jephron, an Inquisitor belonging to the Oldrion Archdiocese, the capital of the Baltras Kingdom.
The reason I stiffened upon seeing him was because I knew his tendencies well.
This Saint Traval surprise invasion incident, which was a precursor to the Great Invasion.
This incident, in which tremendous damage erupted from the sudden attack by demons.
Was said to have been enough to change many people's thoughts.
Unlike the small attacks carried out by individual demons that occasionally occurred.
The Saint Traval surprise invasion incident was close to a massive terror attack against
human forces.
That incident was more than enough to awaken the cruelty and fear of demons that humans, who had been living immersed in peace for quite a long time, had been forgetting.
Due to the fall of Saint Traval, humans lost many things including family, loved ones, and the places they lived...
One of the biggest victims was precisely Jephron.
'Right now he looks so good-natured like this, but...'
After going through extreme despair, he transformed into an ambiguous person where one couldn't distinguish whether he was a demon or a demon judge.
It was understandable to some extent.
His wife and children.
The puppy he was raising.
And all his fellow clergy and friends he had fought with his entire life.
A few days from now, he would lose everything he loved.
In the midst of that, he survived alone and suffered from maddening guilt.
Eventually, he went insane in the end.
If you took it apart piece by piece, he was a human with quite a sad story.
That's why I had to prevent it even more.
The destruction of this Saint Traval.
Delaying the Great Invasion was one thing, but I could also prevent the birth of a troublesome villain in advance.
Given his personality, if he evolved into a villain, I would probably be on his execution list too.
'He tried to kill anyone who even slightly deviated from his common sense.'
Jephron's standards of judgment weren't in any other place.
It was he himself who was the standard.
That's why he was scarier.
'If something seemed strange in his eyes, it was just execution for everyone.'
And there was a high possibility that the multiple authorities I possessed would look strange in the eyes of him who had become a villain.
If he found out that I possessed more than two authorities...
'Nine times out of ten, he would attack to kill me.'
The current him seemed to still be in a state before becoming like that.
"Did you say you were Bishop Haint's successor?"
"That's right."
But he has a particularly strong reaction to the name Bishop Haint?
Was he actually a famous person?
Since he was a character who wasn't particularly highlighted in the original work, I had just been thinking of him as a common elderly cleric...
"...This is truly. Hard to believe."
"Just because it's hard to believe doesn't make the truth false."
"Yes. You speak correctly. Whether I believe it or not, truth is truth as it is."
Jephron nodded.
I changed the topic in case he asked me about Bishop Haint.
"I can roughly guess, but did these troops come because of the gravekeeper?"
"That's right. There was suspicion that he was a contractor who made a contract with a demon. But seeing you come out from inside, I'm curious too. Why you're coming out from there."
Although his words were gentle, Jephron's gaze was very sharp.
Since I didn't particularly need to lie, I told the truth as it was.
"I set foot in this Saint Traval today. But as soon as I entered, something unpleasant happened. Seeing a demon brazenly strutting around the city."
"......"
I added more strength there and raised my voice.
Because it seemed like it would become bothersome if I drew unnecessary suspicion here.
"So I'm on my way out after handling it! Where are the holy knights of this place? Why is the Black Iron Knight Order here but holy knight troops aren't visible? What on earth have the clerics of this city been doing before I, who came from another region, executed them!"
I started interrogating Jephron instead.
I myself was somewhat riding the atmosphere I had created.
Of course, I was also annoyed at actually meeting a demon contractor.
"Inquisitor Jephron. I hope you answer carefully."
"I apologize for causing trouble unintentionally. Actually, unpleasant incidents have been erupting one after another throughout the city, so the holy knights are in a state of extreme fatigue. So there's been a shortage in vigilance..."
"Then you should have gotten reinforcements from other cities! Or from anywhere else! That way you should have dried up the seeds of those demon bastards!"
"...I have nothing to say. I apologize."
Mmm. Did I come on too strong?
Since the opponent was who he was, I was a bit worried.
I regulated my breathing and calmed my anger.
"I'm tired today, so let's stop here. I'll visit tomorrow, so I'd like you to organize all the incidents that have occurred."
"Understood. Then I'll see you tomorrow."
I turned my body sharply and left that place.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
That dawn.
Saint Traval City Hall.
The Black Iron Knight Order Commander's Office.
There, Vincent, the commander of the Black Iron Knight Order, and Jephron were sitting facing each other organizing materials.
"Phew. Inquisitor Jephron. Isn't this a bit too much? That what's-his-name, Rohan, is also an Inquisitor, isn't he?"
"That's right. Haha."
"But there's no need to get that angry, is there? It's not like we were playing around."
"Honestly, I thought it was fortunate. That it ended at this level."
"...Pardon?"
Jephron continued speaking while organizing materials with his hands.
"Commander Vincent, have you heard stories about Bishop Haint?"
"I've heard he was a great person... but I don't know in detail."
"Actually, there are rumors that Bishop Haint would become the next Pope."
"To that extent?"
"Yes. The number of demons that person executed while active as an Inquisitor in the past is said to reach hundreds. So it means he's certainly not a person lacking qualifications. Nevertheless, there are actually quite a few who oppose him."
"Opposition... why is that? When he's someone who condemned hundreds of demons..."
"He's such a fiery person, you see."
Commander Vincent tilted his head.
"In personality?"
"That's right."
"Just because his personality is fiery, they oppose..."
"He was a bit excessive. Haha. Letting a demon escape in front of such a person? That's just, ugh. Even I get chills."
"But I've met Bishop Haint myself... I didn't get that feeling."
"Haha. Of course, he's become much gentler now, but he was originally a really frightening person. Once a scolding started exploding. Ah... you'd think it was divine punishment."
But Commander Vincent still didn't understand well.
"I understand that, but what does that have to do with the current matter?"
"Bishop Haint didn't have a successor for a long period. And today I finally met that successor... I think he probably chose someone with a similar disposition."
"...He certainly was fiery."
"Even that, Sir Rohan is much more gentle compared to Bishop Haint in his prime."
"Is, is it to that extent?"
"If you had met Bishop Haint back then, Commander Vincent would probably have the same opinion as me."
"......"
Jephron was slowly finishing up the organizing.
"Actually, there's really no particular hierarchy among Inquisitors, but there are differences that exist unknown to outsiders."
"Is that so?"
"The lineage continued by Cardinal Myers, my predecessor, is certainly not a powerless force either... but compared to Sir Rohan's lineage, it's lacking."
"What is Sir Rohan's lineage that makes you say that?"
"The Sword of the First Pope, do you know it?"
"...!"
Just six characters.
The weight those six characters carried froze even Black Iron Knight Order Commander Vincent.
"Don't tell me then..."
"Yes. It's that person you know."
"Ha, haha..."
"Those who usually follow that lineage have similar personalities. Remember well."
"......"
"So let's concentrate until the end. When tomorrow comes, Sir Rohan will personally check all these materials. I don't want to be caught."
"But can we find something with this information? Actually, haven't we already been stuck on this for half a year? We've been tracking with this information all this time, but we still haven't caught a clue..."
"Well. I don't think it will be easy either. But somehow I feel like Sir Rohan will accomplish something. It's just a feeling though."
"Is... that so?"
"I'm thinking probably. Hahaha."
Jephron laughed briefly, then continued with a sigh.
"What if. What if."
"Yes. Please speak."
"Really what if. If Sir Rohan solves this hopeless, maze-like case..."
"Would that be easy?"
Commander Vincent revealed a skeptical position.
But strangely, Jephron kept seeing Rohan's image flickering.
"Still, if Sir Rohan provides an answer. I think I won't be able to help but respect him."
"Haha. Then I would respect him too."
Commander Vincent laughed it off.
But actually, Jephron's feelings were a bit different.
'I can't easily say that I would come to respect him more than the Pope.'
But there was a fact Jephron didn't know.
Commander Vincent felt the same way.
"Come, come. Let's finish quickly."
"Yes, Inquisitor."
Like that, they spent the night with open eyes.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
As promised, I visited Jephron the next day.
"Is this all the content about demons?"
"Yes. Unfortunately, he seems to be quite cunning. First, there are sinister rumors circulating among the nobles. They say it enhances any desired ability in any direction... but the cause can't be identified. We're speculating it might be demonic power."
Is he talking about that contract the gravekeeper mentioned that unlocks potential and steals souls?
"And second, reports are also piling up that wraiths have been appearing recently. They seem to keep being observed at various cemeteries. For now, this has been pushed to a lower priority. The first one I mentioned earlier..."
I interrupted Jephron's words.
Then I swept the materials related to nobles to one corner.
"There's no need to worry about the first case."
"...Pardon?"
"The second one is the culprit."
"How, how do you..."
Commander Vincent, who had been listening from the side, was also standing with an expression of disbelief.
"We've been tracking for half a year... but in one day?..."
Jephron leaned his head in and asked.
"How did you find out?"
"I asked the gravekeeper."
"The gravekeeper, you mean... yesterday that..."
"Right."
"He... willingly talked?"
I only raised my eyes slightly and answered.
"That mere bastard dares? If he doesn't talk?"
"Th-that's right?..."
"But how did you also find out that he was connected to a demon? Actually, that was what I was most curious about. The time we spent catching that guy's tail alone took nearly two months. If we could learn the method, in the future..."
"I just saw and knew right away."
"......"
Jephron, who had been speaking, froze right there.
His expression asked exactly how I knew just by looking.
I had no way to explain to him either.
There was just the smell of a demon, so if you ask how I found out it was a demon, I just thought it was a demon because there was the smell of a demon...
What answer should I give?
"...You're amazing."
"Let's talk about the second case."
"Ah, yes. Let's do that. First, holy knights are being deployed to this side. According to reports, there are rumors that strange wraiths with mixed souls are wandering around."
'Hmm? I knew this already, but it's definitely a Horaicdon. I would have figured it out even without hearing it from the gravekeeper.'
But Jephron and Commander Vincent had expressions showing they had no clue at all.
"Prepare weapons made of silver. Silver swords. Silver powder."
"By any chance, have you found out who the opponent is?"
Since they seemed to be wandering, I immediately told them the answer.
"Horaicdon. A high-ranking lich."
"...C-can you tell from just this?"
"Is there anything more needed besides that?"
At my words, Jephron and Commander Vincent looked at each other.
"......"
"......"
After being quiet for a moment, Jephron opened his mouth with an awkward smile.
Then they whispered something amongst themselves.
"I was right. Commander Vincent."
"Ha, haha... Indeed. To think he'd really pull it off..."
Jephron turned to look at me and asked.
"We'll arm the troops with silver swords and silver powder bullets. Is there any special equipment you need, sir?"
I shook my head.
Because I already had enough power to face Horaicdon.
I decided to convince them by roughly showing lightning slightly wrapped around my arm.
Crackle crackle!
"Not necessary."
Jephron looked at me with incredibly sparkling eyes.
"As expected... the Sword of the Pope...!"
Hm?
'What's this about the Sword of the Pope? Anyway, that gaze is really burdensome...'
A person's heart seemed truly difficult to understand.