What Did I Just Hear? (1)

Blackfield, the land of the demons.

The territory once ruled by the Skeleton Demon King was, for once, in an unexpected uproar.

"One of the Fourteen Six Demons is being executed... by humans?"

A mere 7th-tier demon was enough to make humans contemplate abandoning their capital; a small kingdom might as well have surrendered its entire nation. But a 9th-tier demon—a direct subordinate of the Skeleton Demon King, each one already a Demon King in their own right—executed by human hands?

This was a matter of pride and dignity. No demon alive could have ignored it even if they'd wanted to.

And so they had sent the Skeleton Demon King's avatar to the Holy Empire's Ordination Ceremony—to eliminate the Saint, the newest weapon of the human faction.

And yet.

"You're telling me you failed to eliminate the Saint?"

"Y-yes, milady..."

Ash frowned at the report from the demons returning from the Ordination Ceremony.

"Hmph. It hardly matters. Our true objective was to sow chaos anyway."

The member of the Fourteen Six Demons currently held captive by the Holy See had been part of the faction opposed to the current regime. Perhaps it was better for everyone if he was executed. Demon pride was a problem for another day.

"Besides, merely confirming the power of our great King at the ceremony was reward enough."

In truth, she was the mastermind who had smuggled the magical devices inside and thrown the Ordination Ceremony into pandemonium. Illusion magic was Ash's specialty, after all.

Ordinarily, slipping a magical device past the Holy Empire's barrier would have been impossible—but this time was different.

Ah, the King's power truly is magnificent. To think a mere speck of it could do all this.

The Skeleton Demon King had graciously bestowed a fragment of his own power upon Ash. That was how she had pierced even the impregnable barrier of the Holy Empire and deployed her illusions.

But something about the 7th-tier demon who had infiltrated the ceremony first felt distinctly off.

"M-milady Ash, the truth is... I felt His power there."

A demon whose body was made of mist cut in—none other than the very demon who had been driven out by Isaac's overwhelming presence.

"His power?"

"The great Skeleton Demon King's, milady."

"!"

Ash scowled in irritation.

"Why would the King's aura be in a place like— ah!"

But then, as if something had clicked, her expression brightened.

The Blue child!

There was talk of a demented little brat who had devoured the great Skeleton Demon King's flesh ten years ago! It had to be that child. There was no doubt about it.

Ash could not contain her laughter.

Good heavens, a windfall if ever there was one!

He'd been inside Eshua Territory, an absolutely impenetrable land—even the demons hadn't been able to lay a finger on him all this time!

And now that little brat had come out to the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠capital?

He'd even received his ordination, no less?

Which means he'll be taking the Gold and Blue trials!

The five virtues of the 'Pentagon' were already a hunting festival for demons—a perfect opportunity to prey on young priests. It was during those trials that the most novice priests got slaughtered wholesale.

They'd feasted merrily fourteen years ago, too.

And this time, the Blue child would be there as well?

A mere speck of his mana held that much power. How much stronger would I become if I devoured his flesh?!

Grinning wickedly, Ash set her plans in motion, determined to devour Isaac at the earliest possible moment.

"You're back again?"

Shuri looked at the attendant with weary disgust.

It was one of the Gold faction's attendants, come looking for Isaac.

"We have to prepare for the upcoming Gold and Blue trials, you know."

But the attendant's eyes bulged with the look of someone who absolutely, under no circumstances, could back down today.

"Absolutely not! His Eminence Cardinal Verith has ordered that Isaac Eshua be brought to him today, no matter what!!"

Seriously, why does that man keep looking for Isaac? He should despise Isaac more than anyone, given what happened to his parents.

Then again, honestly, the real marvel is that lunatic who treats a Cardinal like he's invisible.

Shuri thought of Isaac with a sense of exhausted resignation. Even after receiving a Cardinal's summons, Isaac hadn't so much as pretended to hear it.

Well, from the Blue faction's perspective that was convenient and frankly welcome—but a Cardinal was the head of all priests. Ignoring an order from someone of that stature would make the fallout a nightmare to clean up after... except, wait. No. This little bastard was the type who flipped off even the head of House Eshua's direct orders, come to think of it.

In the end, Shuri chased the attendant off.

"That's enough. Don't come back."

"Ah—!"

BANG!

Shuri returned straight to the dormitory, where he found Isaac by the window, looking entirely too pleased with himself.

"Do you have any idea why Cardinal Verith is hunting for you like this?"

"No idea. But I can tell he's ready to die to drag me off."

"Ready to... die?"

Instead of answering, Isaac pointed out the window.

Shuri looked—and nearly jumped out of his skin.

"There are more attendants coming!!"

Verith's attendant, once alone, had swelled to a party of four.

Delivering a message was a one-person job, at most. What possible reason could there be for four of them to show up?

"Don't tell me they're planning to haul you off by force?!"

The newly arrived attendants were all built like boulders, as if to prove the point. A scrawny kid like Isaac would be scooped up and carried away without a chance of resistance.

"These lunatics have lost their minds. I'm contacting the family right now—!!"

"Hold on, Boom-Boom."

"Why?! This is Gold strong-arming us no matter how you look at—"

Isaac pointed out the window again. Shuri followed his finger with his eyes—and recoiled in fresh horror.

"Niger Sephet?!"

Why is that bastard coming to the Blue dormitory now, of all times?

But Isaac merely snickered.

"Well, seems losing his subordinates knocked some sense loose in him."

Actually, this works out nicely.

That blockhead might just be useful.

Isaac moved at once.

That thieving little con artist!

Niger Sephet was grinding his teeth as he made his way toward Isaac, having lost his vassal to the boy.

His investigation had turned up a surprising fact: House Eshua had originally planned not to send Isaac to the Ordination Ceremony at all. The stated reason? 'Home schooling.'

Well, that was just the official line—everyone whispered that it was really because of the boy's stunted growth. Who knew?

Those eyes. That look he gave me.

"Before death, there are no deals, little one."

What part of that was the gaze of a priest? It was the look of a born criminal if there ever was one!

And then there was the time his younger cousin was ambushed in the Academy cafeteria. One of the apprentice inquisitors who'd been there had filed a report.

"Young master. Something is suspicious. Not only did a demon appear in the cafeteria, but Shuri Eshua also tried to evade me by taking Isaac Eshua with him."

It was only the word of a lowly apprentice, but what it meant was clear—

"He is hiding something. Something he cannot afford to have collide with an inquisitor."

I'll tear that mask off myself.

Reading the hearts of men—and especially hunting down heretics—was the specialty of the Red Faith, and his instincts ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠were ringing loud and clear.

There's something rotten in his faith, I'm certain of it. Test his devotion, and the answer will reveal itself.

And once his lack of faith was exposed, he'd use it as leverage to drag Blue down—and take back his vassal while he was at it.

But when Niger Sephet arrived at the Blue Living Quarters, he tilted his head.

What are those idiots doing?

Clearly suspicious characters were loitering around the Blue dormitory, fussing and stalling among themselves.

"Are you certain this is wise?"

"We have no choice. It's been seven days since Isaac Eshua ignored our master's summons."

"Exactly. If he doesn't come today, His Eminence said to knock him out cold and drag him here if we must."

They were, just as Isaac and Shuri had predicted, there to abduct Isaac. And just as they moved to go inside after him—

"Hey. Who are you people? You're clearly not servants here, so why are you lurking around someone else's dormitory?"

"Pardon? Ah, no, that is..."

The attendants nearly jumped out of their boots when they realized who stood before them: a pureblooded scion of the enemy Ducal House—Niger Sephet himself.

Damn it all, why did it have to be the enemy's ducal house of all people—!

The Five Faiths and Five Great Families were on such hair-trigger terms with one another that they wouldn't so much as step on each other's shadows. One wrong move and the faiths would be at open war.

Red and Gold especially ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠were bitter, blood-sworn enemies. They had to watch every word.

"W-well, you see, we have business with the young master here..."

"With whom."

"W-with Isaac Eshua, sir."

Blue wasn't Red's favorite either—an enemy, plain and simple. Certain that the name alone would earn a grimace of distaste and a loss of interest, they'd answered honestly. Instead, his eyes gleamed.

"And who are you lot? What house do you serve? What business do you have with him?"

The Cardinal's flustered subordinates rolled their eyes in a panic.

Th-this isn't right??

What's with him? The Red Chain crowd was never like this before.

Damn it. If word spreads that our master summoned an Eshua, this becomes a real headache for nothing.

Some bizarre rumor was guaranteed to spread now.

And at that very moment, the door burst open and Isaac Eshua himself appeared.

"They're the people I invited for a 'tea party.' So stay out of it."

"!"

The attendants stared at Isaac, flustered—and yet their faces lit up.

He's finally answering the summons! And he's even covering for us, knowing full well how Red and Gold stand with each other?

As expected of such a pu— no, so honest, this Eshua...!

So even though his house is at odds with Gold, he still honors the courtesies where it counts.

Relieved, the attendants had exactly one thing they could say!

"Th-that's right! We're House Eshua's people! We came for the 'tea party'—to deliver something the young master asked for...!"

They thought it a suitably plausible answer. But for some reason, the corner of Niger Sephet's mouth curled upward, and his eyes grew darker still.

"Ohh? Something for the 'tea party,' is it?"

They had gone and pulled out the one phrase they absolutely could not afford to touch. This was Niger—the man who'd lost his vassal to that very 'tea party' business. It would have been stranger if his eyes weren't spinning.

But Isaac paid it no mind and spoke to the attendants.

"In any case, we're using it for today's tea party, so have it here by tonight."

"Ah...! Yes, sir!"

Yes! Finally! He'll see us today! And he even dropped a hint—bring something worthy of a tea party and we'll be received!

The attendants rejoiced.

What a kind soul. It tears at my heart, luring such a gentle soul into a trap... but there's no help for it.

The sharp-witted Gold attendants nodded—and Isaac went back inside the dormitory first.

At the sight, Niger's dusk-colored eyes twitched with menace.

That little runt is giving me the shaft to my face?

"W-well then, we'll take our leave..."

The Gold subordinates bowed their heads and moved to slip away.

But in that instant, Niger Sephet snapped his fingers.

"GYAAH!"

With a flash of crimson, Cardinal Verith's attendants seized up and collapsed, paralyzed.

Having thus wiped out Isaac Eshua's hands and feet (?), Niger Sephet strutted triumphantly into the dormitory, thoroughly pleased with himself.

Moments later, a stir ran through everyone inside.

"Why is Niger Sephet here??"

"What's going on?"

At the same time, the novices flinched and shuddered.

They had, for all practical purposes, betrayed an enemy faction. It couldn't be helped.

Shuri outright panicked.

Oh God, he actually came IN?

Even after taking out Verith's attendants on the way?!

Isaac had assumed that thug would get tangled up with the Gold attendants and never make it inside!

Don't tell me his eyes have fully rolled back and he's here for a straight-up fistfight?! No! Absolutely not!

Does that bastard have any idea how massive the size difference between him and Isaac is?!

Niger, blessed with the Red Faith's naturally gifted physique and superb swordsmanship, was someone even the Order of Holy Knights had coveted. It wasn't for nothing that he'd reigned like a king among his peers.

Worse still, House Red possessed a technique that reflected holy arts back upon their caster! He'd beat poor little Isaac to a pulp without breaking a sweat!

I-I have to call the senior supervisor—

But Niger Sephet was smiling as he produced a sheet of paper.

"I brought this to test your faith, purely for fun. The higher your devotion, the better you look to the Imperial family and the central government, after all."

The frightened novices welcomed it as a splendid idea—but Shuri froze solid.

Damn it! Not this! Anything but this!!

Just punch him!!! You idiot! Beat him to a pulp instead!

Isaac shot Shuri an axe-eyed glare, as if to say he could see exactly what he was thinking, but Shuri was dead serious.

A faith test, that bastard says. Don't tell me... does he know something?

If it comes out, everything is over!

"Some of these react to the barest touch, so just relax and start with—"

But at that very moment—

"Is my order a joke to you?"

"Huh?"

Niger Sephet flinched violently at the icy voice behind him.

And at that man's entrance, no one needed to decide who should freeze first—everyone simply did.

They had no choice.

"To think you were loitering about playing games rather than answering a summons."

"???"

Standing behind Niger Sephet was none other than Cardinal Verith.

With the head of all priests appearing before them, the novices couldn't lift their heads; they could scarcely breathe. It was as if a general had materialized out of nowhere before a line of common soldiers.

He fixed Niger Sephet with a frigid stare.

"And here I didn't know you were on such friendly terms with Red. I hadn't imagined Red's own would strike down my attendants."

"......???"

Niger Sephet drew question marks all over his bewildered face.

"Wh-what do you... wait—?!"

Only then did Niger Sephet look at the attendants he'd felled.

Wait. You said they were Eshua's people?!

They were GOLD?!

His face screamed that ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠everything was royally screwed, but Isaac just smirked.

Apparently, after seven straight days of being ignored, Cardinal Verith had finally lost his patience and come in person.

Well, this too had been one of Isaac's calculated outcomes—but he hadn't expected it to go this smoothly.

Uncertain how to play it, Isaac simply beamed and bowed his head with perfect courtesy.

"I'm so sorry, Your Eminence. Young Master Niger kept holding me back, insisting I must never associate with Gold. That's why I couldn't come when you called."

"......?"

"......??"

What the hell, you little punk?!!

When did I EVER—!

No, wait, more importantly—why are you suddenly talking like a normal person?!

"Besides, a Cardinal personally summoning a novice priest? What kind of absurd nonsense is that?"

At the novice stage, before choosing a faith, no single faith was permitted to interfere. Any outside influence on the selection process would render it unfair—that was the rule.

Even the bishops of each faith kept their distance because of it. And the Cardinal—the supreme head of a faith—had come calling in person?

"A Cardinal would never stoop to something so cowardly—"

But Niger Sephet couldn't finish the sentence.

"Oh. Is that so?"

"?!"

Because the Cardinal's voice had dropped to a temperature below ice.

Cardinal Verith was terrifying enough at the best of times, a man utterly without humor—but right now, he was more frightening than ever before.

So this is what they mean when they say rage alone can let a man kill with his eyes.

"Right. You were Red's third son, weren't you? I take it your novitiate duties have grown so terribly boring that this is how you amuse yourself."

"Excuse me? N-no, that's—!"

"I deliberately set aside time so you could build harmony with your teammates."

No. No, I didn't.

This is a genuine miscarriage of justice, I swear??

"Out of consideration for your father, I had been letting it slide. It seems the Red team requires a special increase in their workload from the Holy See."

DAMN IT!

I DIDN'T DO IT!