Chapter 9
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Infidel or Saint
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"Saintess!"
Mohaim noticed the shift in the atmosphere around him, but it was already too late.
The warm, cozy air suddenly grew heavy, like a sticky swamp pressing down.
"Kuh...!"
His breath caught in his throat.
It felt disgusting and horrific, as if his face had been shoved into a pit of mud, the sensation assaulting him from all sides.
"Such arrogance. You think you can refuse me when even the Empire dares not?"
The saintess's faint golden glow began to dim.
"Unbelievers who don't even know His will..."
Her voice sank low, and the tent let out an ominous groan, as if it might collapse at any moment.
"Gah...! C-can't... breathe...!"
The maid standing nearby collapsed to the ground, unable to withstand the corrupted holy power that had already permeated the surroundings, gasping for air.
Mohaim quickly changed the subject before the saintess could crush the maid in her deepening negativity.
"A-among them, there's one person in particular Your Holiness should watch out for."
"...Me?"
"Yes. A man called the Central Officer. He's in charge of the entire southern border."
"Central Officer... What a strange name. Sounds heretical."
"There are rumors he's a Talent Manifestor."
The saintess's distorted eyes suddenly widened round.
"Huh? A Talent Manifestor? For real?"
"It's just a rumor, but given how he became a top examiner at such a young age, I think there's some credibility to it."
"If it were true, our side would know about it."
She was right.
The church detects Talent Manifestors, so that information inevitably reaches the order.
But as far as Erzena knew, there was only one Talent Manifestor in the Crossroad Kingdom—and she was a woman.
'I've never heard of a male Talent Manifestor in the Crossroad Kingdom.'
In other words, what he was saying implied one of two possibilities.
Reading her expression, Mohaim continued.
"The information might have been blocked for some reason, or it could just be baseless gossip."
"...Understood for now. So, do you know what his ability is?"
"Nothing specific has been reported. But they say a few days ago, he single-handedly calmed a raging fire spirit."
"Single-handedly? By himself?"
Erzena tilted her head.
Only spirit mages could tame an enraged spirit.
Without them, spirits usually rampaged until they exhausted themselves and vanished or were exterminated.
She'd never heard of anyone calming a natural disaster like that—especially a fire spirit.
"Is that even possible...? Ah, maybe he just doused it with water?"
Mohaim's expression turned grave at her words.
"That would burn the one splashing it alive."
"Then it's probably just exaggerated rumor, like always."
"I'd like to think so. But the eyewitness accounts all match up perfectly, so it doesn't seem like a lie."
Her eyebrows furrowed again at Mohaim's words.
But this time, it was curiosity, not anger.
'A mere individual, not even a spirit mage, calming a spirit. The only thing that fits is Talent Manifestation.'
Talent Manifestations came in many forms.
If it involved soothing spirits, it was likely something to do with mana manipulation or spirit contracts.
But that raised the biggest contradiction.
"Hmm... Can a heretic really be a Talent Manifestor?"
"According to doctrine, no. Talent is the blessing bestowed by the Lord God."
Occasionally, the Lord God packaged His overflowing love into a gift for us.
Countless miracles, wondrous phenomena, or holy relics were just that.
And the most unique form of His love was Talent Manifestation.
Not an object or phenomenon, but love granted directly to a person.
It was a great grace reserved for those who served Him most faithfully.
In short, clear proof that one belonged to the church—something no unbeliever could ever receive.
"Then he's one of ours! What was I worrying about?"
Erzena finally relaxed her expression, having reached her conclusion.
At the same time, the oppressive air around them instantly warmed back to a gentle embrace.
"If he's not a heretic, it's fine. If he serves the Lord God, no problem. He'll understand our purpose the moment he sees me."
Mohaim, flustered by the sudden mood shift, asked,
"Uh, Saintess? What do you mean by that...?"
"Talent Manifestation is a blessing given only to the most faithful among the devout. That means he's on our side. He'll welcome us with open arms when we say we're going to purge the Evil God Cult—"
Seeing Mohaim's expression harden, she quickly corrected herself.
"—er, visit the north to offer encouragement, just like you said. And it's not a lie, right? We're going north to encourage them."
"That's true, but..."
"Our paladin captain worries too much. Everything will be fine. Who knows? This might all be part of the Lord God's plan."
Mohaim sighed, watching her revert to her innocent girl persona, on the verge of saying something but holding back.
"If Your Holiness says it's fine, then it is."
"Exactly!"
After all, the opponent was just a mere immigration examiner.
'He wouldn't have the guts to pick a fight with our pan-national order.'
No sane government employee would defy international politics for kicks.
Even if he feigned madness and denied entry, a formal church protest would force the border open eventually.
A few days' delay was entirely predictable.
No individual could block the tide of the world.
Especially when it aligned with the church's mission.
No matter how he looked at it, things would go smoothly, just as the saintess said.
"Then promise me just one thing. No matter what, please state that you're visiting to offer encouragement, as I suggested."
No need to stir up unnecessary trouble.
Erzena nodded reluctantly at the captain's persistent request, making a face.
"Fine, fine. You worry too much. I won't pick a fight. Happy now?"
That settled it. Having gotten his desired answer, Mohaim moved to leave before her mood could flip again.
"I'll head out now. Time to meet the envoys we're sending to the border ahead of time."
"Perfect timing. I wanted some alone time anyway. Call me when it's time to depart."
"Th-then I'll take my leave..."
The maid, catching the hint, followed him out of the tent.
Erzena waved them off until they were gone, then flopped fully onto the sofa once silence fell.
"Phew, finally gone. Mohaim worries way too much."
That old paladin captain had a bad habit of always assuming the worst. With the Lord God watching over them, what was there to fear?
Shaking off the thought, Erzena turned her attention to the man he'd mentioned earlier.
"Central Officer, huh..."
What an odd name. Probably a title rather than a real one.
She smiled faintly.
"Fate's funny. We're destined to meet like this."
Talent Manifestor.
A rare blessing, and he's an immigration examiner of all things.
Good news.
To Erzena, it even felt like a divine revelation.
'In the one country we must pass through, right at the place that could block our path, a Talent Manifestor bathed in God's love happens to be the top examiner? Is that even possible?'
Too perfect for coincidence. Exquisitely so.
The Lord God might have planned it all, placing him in our path.
After all, He bestowed blessings in unexpected ways and places.
"But if... this is all pure coincidence and lies?"
Exceptions and clever schemes were always possible.
Erzena wasn't naive enough to blindly trust this fateful encounter.
History was full of blasphemers masquerading as recipients of His grace.
This Central Officer could be one of them.
Maybe a heretic cunningly planted by the Evil God Cult.
'Those heretics always try to corrupt us with the vilest means. This could be part of their plan.'
With that thought, she murmured a maxim she'd recited endlessly.
"Doubt leads to unbelief, yet it's also the shortest path to conviction."
Curiosity piqued, she slowly raised her hand toward the sky.
"Unbeliever? Heretic? Or a corrupt official bribed by the Evil God Cult?"
The possibilities were endless.
Without meeting him, the Central Officer's true nature remained unknown.
And there were endless ways to deal with such scum.
Either way, it didn't matter to Erzena.
If the rumor was false, he was a heretic—no need for guilt or respect toward an unbeliever.
She could just crucify him for the crime of faking a Talent Manifestation.
'Even if he really is a Talent Manifestor, no issue.'
That would mean the Central Officer was favored by the Lord God.
As a believer, he couldn't refuse.
I am the voice of God. His mouthpiece.
"I'll find out when I see him."
Ultimately, she'd have to meet the man herself to confirm.
Erzena clenched her fist in the air.
As if snapping a sly serpent's neck.
A drum announcing the envoys' departure echoed from afar.
*****
"Alright, let's deal."
It was the third day of our group stay at the Immigration Control Office, and we were about to start our 298th round of cards with the sensory officers.
"Hold on."
The Auditory Officer's long ears twitched.
She glanced south and set down her cards.
"Hmm. Time to get ready, Central Officer."
"Huh? Ready for what?"
"Some extremely noisy guests are coming soon. In about two days."
Extremely noisy, huh. Who could that be?
'Not the pilgrimage group, surely?'
Nah, pilgrims were usually quiet, just praying.
I shrugged and refocused on the cards.
"Two days is plenty of time, so let's finish this first. Last round, right?"
"Loser here is dead last."
This mattered more right now.
The bet was night shift duty tonight.
"Good. Let's begin. Final round—focus up."
The Olfactory Officer nodded at my words, shuffling the cards with flair and dealing.
"Eyes sharp, everyone. First to Central Officer, one to Gustatory Officer. Tactile Officer too—one—"
"Freeze."
-Grab.
Just before the last card reached the Tactile Officer, I snatched the werewolf's wrist.
This damn mutt pulling tricks again.
"Olfactory Officer, bottom-dealing to the end?"
"Gasp! How did you...!"
You're on night duty tonight.