A New Encounter (3)
Master had been an inquisitor, and a highly active one at that. In other words, he was an inquisitor thoroughly steeped in the ways of the world. Soaked through and through, really. That was why I never considered him a proper inquisitor. So it was fair to say that the person arriving this time would be my first real encounter with one.
I wonder what kind of person they’ll be. Hoping for someone decent (please, let it be someone sane), I passed along the news that Princess Reciel had given her approval.
Ever since Priest Cardon returned to Bishop Haman, he seemed to have reclaimed his happy life—his condition improved with each passing day. It left a bitter taste in my mouth, realizing I could never ask him to look after the temple again.
Still, things are different now. With full authority over the temple in my hands, I could entrust a great deal to Priests Ando and Chillan. I coaxed them by saying that, at this point, even a little restraint on their part would be enough to satisfy outside observers, and suggested they gradually take on more temple duties again. They accepted the proposal with obvious delight. Of course, once we agreed they would only handle work when I was away—so as not to draw external attention—they understood immediately.
And it wasn’t just understanding; they were genuinely grateful. Apparently, the two of them had been devastated—beyond mere disappointment—when they heard the new bishop had been martyred on his way to the temple. They had been hoping the new bishop would accept their repentance. Even while still working at the temple, they hadn’t come here just to treat patients. Now that I had taken over full authority and accepted their repentance, both of them looked ready to agree to anything I asked.
“Augh—!”
“You handled the emergency care well. The aftereffects shouldn’t be too severe.”
“Oh, I tried following what was written on that paper you handed out last time. Did it help?”
“Of course. Even if it was a bit clumsy, there’s a huge difference between doing emergency treatment and doing nothing at all.”
“Thank you. Next time I get hurt, I’ll definitely do the emergency care first.”
Perhaps because the Labyrinth had been open for some time now, people were starting to pick up a few tricks. In the past, many patients came in with untreated wounds that had already begun to rot, which had been a real headache. These days, a surprising number arrived after having performed at least basic emergency treatment.
Honestly, telling them not to get hurt at all was unrealistic, but I figured anyone could manage simple first aid. So I’d been handing out papers with emergency treatment instructions to patients who came to the clinic, and it seemed to be working.
“Just don’t forget—the best thing is still coming in for treatment as soon as possible.”
“Yes!”
After sending off the fully healed patient, I began preparing to close up for the day. The sky had already grown dark. It was time to shut the clinic.
Up until that moment, I’d been thinking idly about finishing evening prayers after work and maybe grabbing a late-night snack. Tap, tap, tap—
“It’s raining?”
The moment I stepped outside, cold raindrops landed on the crown of my head. The rain had only just begun, so the drops were still light—small mercy. Just as I pulled up my hood, thinking I should hurry back, the bushes nearby rustled.
Rustle—
“Hm?”
Rustle, rustle—
An animal? The movement in the bushes seemed too large for that. And I could feel the presence drawing steadily closer. My guard went up, but before I could do anything, something pitch-black suddenly burst out from the undergrowth.
“!!”
Startled, I took a step back and squinted through the darkness to make out what had appeared. A figure in a black robe pulled low over their head, standing in the rainy night. If anyone had a weaker heart, they might have fled screaming about ghosts.
“W-who are you?”
“I’m looking for the priest.”
Fortunately, the black figure turned out to be human and answered my question. If they were looking for a priest, they were probably just a patient, so my tension eased. If it had been a ghost, I would’ve had to perform an exorcism rather than run away—but it looked like I wouldn’t be stuck with extra work after all. Their voice confirmed they were a person.
“Ah… Are you injured?”
Even if it was late, I had no intention of turning away a patient who had come all the way to the clinic. Treating the person in front of me came first, even if it meant my own departure was delayed.
“No. I’m here for the person in charge of this temple. I believe that would be Chief Priest Arthur.”
“…Why are you looking for him?”
“I’ve received orders.”
Someone suspicious who had received orders? For a split second, the ridiculous thought crossed my mind that Princess Canaby had sent an assassin because one princess wasn’t enough. Then I realized exactly who this person must be.
“Are you… the Inquisitor?”
“Yes. That’s correct.”
Just as I’d suspected, the mysterious figure who had appeared was the Inquisitor. They’re already here? Their sudden arrival was a little startling, but I couldn’t leave them standing out in the rain.
“I didn’t expect you so soon. I’m Arthur, the one in charge of the temple.”
“I see.”
Even after meeting the person they’d been looking for, the Inquisitor’s voice remained perfectly flat. That calm demeanor was exactly why I’d found them intimidating. And then—
From the voice, it’s clear. She’s a woman.
Whether the Inquisitor was male or female didn’t really matter for the job, but I couldn’t deny that having a man would’ve been more convenient. Life in the Labyrinth was never comfortable, so I’d hoped for a reliable male Inquisitor I could lean on.
Can’t be helped. I couldn’t send someone back just because of their gender after they’d come all this way. Standing under the streetlamp after emerging from the bushes, the Inquisitor was soaked to the bone. It was late, and I doubted they’d eaten, so I asked,
“Have you had dinner?”
“I have not.”
“Perfect. Let’s go eat. I’m hungry myself. It’s a bit late, but there’s still time. Right?”
“Yes, understood.”
The Inquisitor accepted my suggestion with surprising calm. There were bound to be restaurants still open. Since we’d be working together from now on, it would be good to get to know each other over a meal.
“What do you like?”
“Anything is fine.”
“How about noodles?”
“Yes.”
Walking alongside the taciturn Inquisitor, I headed to a nearby noodle shop I often visited—one that stayed open late and served good food.
“Oh my! Father! Come this way. Have you been working without even eating dinner?”
The moment I appeared, the shop owner greeted me with an enthusiastic smile.
“I had a light meal earlier, but I got hungry again.”
“It suddenly started raining—come in and warm up.”
“Two bowls of noodles, please.”
“I’ll have…”
At that moment, the Inquisitor raised a hand slightly and said,
“Make mine a large portion.”
“Don’t worry. Our shop has never been called stingy.”
The owner chuckled and disappeared into the back. As I removed my hood, the Inquisitor followed suit. Without the hood, their face looked younger than I’d expected—early twenties at most. I’d guessed they would be young, since this was probably their first assignment after receiving their qualification, but they looked even younger than that.
Pouring water from the bottle on the table into an empty glass, I spoke.
“I was quite surprised when I heard an Inquisitor would be dispatched to the Labyrinth to protect me. I never thought I was important enough to warrant one.”
“Yes.”
They weren’t much of a conversationalist, it seemed—more so than I’d anticipated.
“You’ve heard about the Evil God Altars in the Labyrinth, I assume?”
“I have.”
“Your mission is to find and destroy them, correct?”
“Yes.”
“I’m not sure how you feel about suddenly having to enter the Labyrinth.”
“It doesn’t matter. I simply carry out my orders.”
No matter how I looked at it, the Inquisitor didn’t seem like the best choice for casual conversation. Still, since we had to get along, I kept trying without showing my thoughts.
“Is this your first order?”
“I can’t disclose that. It’s classified.”
“……”
“……”
“Your noodles are ready~”
The awkward silence was saved by the timely arrival of our food.
“Please eat.”
“Yes.”
With the same impassive expression, the Inquisitor began eating.
“Does it suit your taste?”
Given their stoic nature, I couldn’t tell whether they were eating because they liked it or simply because it was there.
“Yes.”
I hadn’t expected a grand response, but as usual, only a single word came out.
“When did you arrive here?”
“I came straight to the temple to find you the moment I arrived.”
So they’d come looking for me right after reaching the Labyrinth. Whether that was lucky or just overly diligent, I wasn’t sure. Either way, it seemed I’d have to take responsibility for finding them a place to stay.
“How much do you know about the situation? You’re aware that I operate separately from the Holy Empire’s subjugation force, right?”
“…My name is Melody.”
“Pardon?”
“I’m telling you my name. Being called ‘Inquisitor’ tends to make people uncomfortable, so I’d appreciate it if you used my name instead.”
Even ordinary people sometimes grew tense at the word “Inquisitor.” It was like feeling uneasy in front of a policeman even when you’d done nothing wrong.
“Your name suits your face—it’s lovely.”
Melody. Honestly, it didn’t match the image of an Inquisitor at all.
“…Thank you.”
For the first time, a somewhat human response slipped out. Whether she was embarrassed by the compliment, her eyebrows twitched quite dramatically on her otherwise expressionless face. I wasn’t about to let the opportunity slip by.