Out of Necessity (3)
Leaving the frozen Bishop Andre behind, I quickly deactivated the halo of light above my head. Even after the halo vanished, Bishop Andre stared blankly at the empty space above me for a long time without blinking.
Blink, blink. It was only when the soup in front of me began to grow cold that Bishop Andre finally snapped back to his senses.
"I assume I was not seeing things."
Was it really that shocking? I shook my head, dismissing his doubts.
"You saw correctly. I passed the trial of the Crown of Thorns, and I have obtained its power. Of course, the vessel of the Crown itself was shattered, leaving only this mark above my head."
I tapped my index finger against the now-empty air above my head.
Bishop Andre clasped his hands together, letting out a sound that was half-gasp, half-groan, still unable to fully process what he had witnessed.
"It was... an incredibly holy sight. Any devout believer of the Holy Church would have reacted the same way. I dare say you looked exactly like an apostle of God from the ancient scriptures. After all, it wasn't just the halo appearing above your head that changed."
The bishop closed the wooden box and set it aside. He no longer seemed to care that the Crown of Thorns was broken. His attention was entirely consumed by what lay above my brow.
"When you mentioned knowing something about the Calamities, does that also happen to be related to the power you received from the Crown?"
The question he posed was the perfect springboard for me to spin an excuse.
"Yes. Though I didn't see everything clearly, I caught fleeting, prophetic glimpses of the Calamities manifesting."
In any case, they said no one before me had ever unlocked the Crown. That meant even if I exaggerated some of the abilities it granted me, no one could call me out on it. If anything, it would make them lower their guard and listen to me even more closely.
"[You used your head well,]" the Holy Sword said, her tone hovering somewhere between admiration and sarcasm.
Well, it was true that the Crown had shown me the image of the Giant. So saying I saw the Calamities manifesting wasn't entirely a lie.
Meanwhile, a troubled frown creased the bishop's forehead.
"Even so, the fact that the Crown is broken poses a bit of a problem. The Holy See of the Holy Kingdom made it explicitly clear that they were merely lending the sacred relic to you, not gifting it..."
Bishop Andre let out a low sigh and rested his chin in his hand. *Tap, tap.* His calloused fingers drummed against his temple as if trying to coax out a solution.
"It seems there is no way to return the relic's power. In truth, the Holy Kingdom valued its historical significance far more than the power of the Crown itself. If the physical Crown had remained intact, we could have swept this under the rug without a word. But now, a simple excuse won't suffice."
Bishop Andre placed his hand on the wooden box and straightened his posture.
"Since we cannot resolve this matter immediately, would it be alright if we moved on to the next topic?"
When I nodded, the bishop took a sip of water and cleared his throat. The topic he was about to bring up now would likely be the main purpose of today's meeting.
As I waited for him to speak, a mix of curiosity and apprehension swirling inside me, the bishop turned his gaze toward Marianne.
"To get straight to the point, I would like to temporarily recall Marianne to active duty."
It was an unexpected request. I blinked and turned to look at Marianne beside me. Her eyebrows twitched slightly in surprise, but she quickly regained her composure, showing no further reaction.
"Recall Marianne? Why?"
Though I was almost certain it had to do with her duties as a Heretic Inquisitor, I feigned ignorance and asked.
"Something rather troublesome has occurred within the Holy Church. Though, I suspect this is not a problem unique to us."
"Troublesome for the Holy Church... What exactly is going on?"
Bishop Andre fell silent, his face turning expressionless. The atmosphere radiating from him shifted. His presence, which had been almost imperceptible, thickened and settled heavily over the room. It wasn't the battle lust of someone preparing for combat, nor was it bloodlust. This, likely, was the true presence of Andre Zabin.
"Before I explain what is happening, I must first disclose my true affiliation."
Bishop Andre scanned our surroundings before releasing a sudden burst of mana. He was likely erecting a barrier to block out sound and presence.
"Though the Holy Church has deep roots, a single, unified faith cannot exist forever. After all, God no longer manifests before humanity. Consequently, the Church has fractured into various denominations based on how they interpret the teachings left behind by God and the saints."
The bishop extended his finger and traced a pattern on the table, mimicking the branching limbs of a tree.
"Yet, among those branches, there are always those who stray down deviant paths. Apostasy is not a punishable offense... but those who follow heretical teachings are a different story entirely."
Bishop Andre's voice grew infinitely cold as he spoke.
"Those who advocate for sects unapproved by the Holy See, those who follow them to preach bizarre doctrines. Those who lure the innocent down the path of corruption. Those who deny God and myth, seeking to blind the eyes of the world."
With each heretical sin he listed, the temperature in the room seemed to plummet.
"Marianne and I also hold the office of Heretic Inquisitors, tasked with purging them. I am sure you have heard of the title. We operate in the deepest shadows, working solely for the sake of the Holy Church."
"By 'purging'... you mean..."
"Our primary duty is to capture and interrogate those swayed by heretical temptations, then bring them to trial in the Holy Kingdom. However, if circumstances do not permit..."
"We execute the heretics ourselves." As Bishop Andre spoke, the faint scent of blood seemed to waft from him. I looked into his eyes. The smiling face from before was gone. Explaining his true duty, the bishop was shrouded in a cold, sharp aura, like a drawn blade.
"Are you saying an incident involving heretics has occurred?"
"Yes. It is quite a headache. We have tried our best to nip them in the bud, but they are like cockroaches in a kitchen—no matter how many you kill, they just keep crawling out from the floorboards."
Bishop Andre stabbed his fork into his salad with a sharp *clack*. A piece of cabbage crushed beneath the tines.
"Hero, have you ever heard of the Doomsday Cult?"
I frowned and shook my head. The Doomsday Cult? I had never heard of such an ominous name, even in the original novel. Perhaps it never had a chance to appear because Aryen had fallen out with the Holy Church.
"I suppose that is only natural, given how secretly and quietly they operate. It would be stranger if you did know of them."
The bishop rested his fork on the edge of his plate and let out a long breath.
"Just as the Holy Church is split into various denominations, the Doomsday Cult is comprised of those who worship the end of the world and the Calamities for a multitude of reasons."
The bishop opened his left hand and began counting on his fingers.
"Those who desire the destruction of the world, those purely infatuated by the terrifying power of the Calamities, those who harbor hatred for the Holy Church, mindless criminals... But the worst of them all,"
The bishop curled his pinky finger and clenched his fist tightly, as if crushing an insect in his palm.
"Are those who worship the Evil God of the mythical era."
Bishop Andre's voice was laced with cold fury.
"The way they view myth is entirely different from us. They interpret history and look upon the world through the eyes of the Evil God, who sought to destroy creation and shroud it in chaotic darkness. Existing since the age of myth, they are ancient and deeply wicked. The ones who lure the criminals and those infatuated with the Calamities into the Doomsday Cult are none other than these worshippers of the Evil God."
I glanced at Marianne. Her face was as rigid and solemn as Bishop Andre's.
"Even though the evil gods were all slain and vanished during the mythical era, their lingering regrets remain rooted in this world. The sprouting of those roots is what we call the Doomsday Cult."
Bishop Andre squeezed his rosary tightly before letting it go. His demeanor calmed slightly.
"We have recently detected movements from the Doomsday Cult. The Pope has ordered us not to stand idly by. As the leader of the Heretic Inquisitors, I will soon initiate a large-scale subjugation campaign."
He then turned his head toward Marianne.
"As you have seen firsthand, Marianne is one of our strongest Heretic Inquisitors. She is a vital asset to our forces and can play a crucial role in apprehending these heretics."
I looked at Marianne. Her expression was rigid, yet there was a tremor of hesitation beneath it. Though her lips were set in a firm line, her eyes were cold and conflicted.
"Therefore, Hero, would you allow her to temporarily return to our ranks?"
I furrowed my brow. Of course, I could easily grant permission for such a matter. However, the look on Marianne's face upon hearing the bishop's request kept me from speaking immediately. I could read her. Having spent more and more time with her, I had grown sensitive to even her slightest shifts in emotion.
"...I cannot give you an easy answer. She is currently a member of our party, and as I mentioned, we never know when or where we might be needed."
I gave a noncommittal response for now.
"It won't take long. It will be over before winter arrives. Since the location they were spotted is within the Kairos Kingdom, we can quickly return her to you should the need arise."
"I still lack too much information to nod my head right away. Since we have time to think, there is no need to rush an answer, is there?"
It was complicated. If Marianne's strength was truly needed at this moment, and if these cultists posed a massive threat to the world, I would likely have no choice but to let her go. Otherwise, I would have to resort to my final option.
Bishop Andre nodded slightly, as if he understood my hesitation.
"Marianne, what are your thoughts?"
"...I am fine with it. If the Hero permits, I will go to assist immediately."
Marianne spoke, her voice feigning composure. I reached out and placed my hand over hers, which was trembling slightly beside me. Marianne flinched in surprise, but the trembling soon subsided.
Bishop Andre remained lost in thought in the silence before speaking again. His gray eyes gleamed through his squinted lids, and I noticed a light in them that was different from mere trouble. It was a faint, subtle curiosity. At least, that was how it seemed to me.
"...Then, how about we do this?"
Bishop Andre said, resting his hands on the table.
"I will formally request the cooperation of the Hero's party in this matter. We have already received word that the Kairos Kingdom will actively cooperate, but I will discuss this further with the Royal Capital and the Holy Kingdom. This way, the Hero's party can move as one, and since it also concerns the Calamities... And..."
Bishop Andre cast a brief glance toward the wooden box beside him.
"We can naturally resolve the matter of the Crown as well."
My eyes widened. To think he would be the first to propose the very solution I had been keeping in reserve as my final option.
"What do you say, Hero?"
Bishop Andre asked, his usual smile returning to his face. I frowned slightly as I met his gaze. I could feel Marianne's golden eyes staring intently at me.
I told him I would think about it, but he must have taken it as a sign of agreement. Bishop Andre stood up and left the dining hall, saying he would first speak with the royal family. Not that I had much of a choice anyway; I would end up agreeing regardless.
"Why did you hesitate to let me go?"
Marianne and I were walking slowly through the streets of the Royal Capital, heading back to our headquarters. I glanced to the side. Marianne was staring at me intently. Her gaze was filled with incomprehension, yet it wasn't a look of displeasure. I met her golden eyes and shrugged.
"Just my stubbornness. I need you in our party."
Marianne did not look away, as if that explanation wasn't quite enough.
"...It is merely a temporary assignment. You do not need to concern yourself to this extent."
"Like I said, we still don't know exactly what's going on. This Doomsday Cult bothers me, and we might be able to gather some information regarding the Calamities."
Well, aside from that, I had also spoken up simply because I was worried about her reaction.
Marianne blinked as she looked at me. Seeing her expression, I let out a soft chuckle and turned my head. I began to walk forward slowly once more, and Marianne followed, her eyes still fixed on me.