Chapter 83
Chapter 83
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: Sixth Squad Captain
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A few days later.
Inside the church's conference room.
Esther attended the meeting and listened quietly.
“What do you think should be done with him?”
The “him” in question was, naturally, the noble at the center of the topic.
The pilgrim bearing the moniker of the Judge.
It was Kallias.
“Of course, we should appoint him.”
“But he’s still just a pilgrim. He hasn’t obtained a sword sheath, hasn’t united with his soul, hasn’t found his sword.”
An incomplete being.
To seat such a person as a Heretic Inquisitor—no, as captain.
“Appointing a pilgrim not only to the role of Heretic Inquisitor but to the captain’s position is unprecedented since the church was established in Carpe.”
“There has never been a single instance of a non-Paladin becoming a Heretic Inquisitor.”
Tradition was an important rule.
Creating a new precedent could disrupt discipline...
“But his status is that of a count.”
Albat, the leader of the moderate faction, responded while facing the hardliners seated across from him.
“A count becoming a Heretic Inquisitor... There’s nothing more appealing than that.”
“With the church’s prestige fallen to the ground right now, we can use him to uproot the filthy asses of those arrogant nobles.”
Albat’s head nodded along with the other bishops chiming in agreement.
“Already, many nobles including Altemion have died by his hand. Moreover, he possesses a judgment sword, just as the rumors call him the Judge.”
A sword that discerns lies.
With it, couldn’t they sweep away Carpe’s corruption?
Nothing was impossible.
“A sword that changes color when lies are spoken. With just that, we can root out the corrupt and save the diseased Carpe! Talk of precedents or traditions isn’t appropriate right now!”
“However.”
“However my ass—if it’s what he wants, what can we do! Kallias is on everyone’s lips. Even those mouths that always curse our incompetent church are now singing his praises!! Aren’t we done talking? The benefits the church gains from making him a Heretic Inquisitor aren’t just one or two. Approve it immediately!”
In contrast, the reasons not to appoint him were just tradition and precedent.
No losses, and plenty of gains.
“Then why not just make him a Paladin?”
“What did he say?”
“He said he can’t yet, since he hasn’t found his sword.”
“Such a stubborn ass.”
The discussion dragged on, tangled in endless back-and-forth.
Just as Esther, who had been silently listening, let out a sigh.
“Pontiff!”
“What brings you here...”
“Came to see my granddaughter.”
An old man sauntered in like he was just out for a neighborhood stroll.
Wrinkle-lined face and age spots.
His parched, leathery skin made him look like he was on death’s door, but his voice and movements brimmed with vigor.
The Pontiff of the Valterus Church.
Felice di Eberder Valus.
He gazed at Esther with boundless affection upon mentioning his granddaughter.
“Pontiff.”
“Call me Grandpa.”
“I cannot address the Pontiff representing the church with such a title.”
“If you’re Sulivian’s granddaughter, you’re my granddaughter too. Try calling me Grandpa.”
“...Sulivian told me not to.”
A heavy silence enveloped the room.
Pontiff Felice grinned broadly, as if his face had never hardened.
“...Hahaha! So bluntly honest—just like her!”
“Blood doesn’t flow between us.”
“Blood’s no issue. We’re all creations of the gods, so trace it back far enough, and we’re all the same lineage.”
The church’s pillar, its 12th Pontiff, was like a gruff neighborhood grandpa.
Though retired now, he had long held his place in the Master realm as Lutz the Paladin.
Thus, the bishops present never forgot to show him respect.
“So, what’s the problem?”
“Well...”
After listening briefly, the Pontiff furrowed his brow and stated simply.
“Do it.”
“Pardon? But...”
“Do it. What’s so hard about it? Slot him right into captain rank. He’s a northern hero, isn’t he? What’s the point of sticking him at the bottom?”
“Captain rank immediately? With no precedent for such a bold move...”
“That’s exactly the problem—no precedent. We don’t know if it’s good or bad. So let’s make one now and find out. Grown men racking their brains over something trivial. Is this a school!?”
“...”
“How long will you all keep growling at each other? Albat, do you think you’re the only one who doesn’t know why your head’s bald?”
“Why bring up my head all of a sudden...”
“Milliman! Trim that hair and beard! How long do you plan to tease Albat? Enough already.”
“...Understood.”
“Let’s go, granddaughter.”
“I am not the Pontiff’s granddaughter.”
“Haha, so cute. How’s Sulivian doing? Still telling me not to visit her sickbed?”
“Yes. She says not to come.”
“That stubborn old hag. But that’s her charm.”
The Pontiff rambled about how he could’ve won Sulivian’s heart if he were just three years younger.
Esther countered that she was no different three years ago.
The Pontiff chuckled and jumped to thirty years ago.
In the awkward silence left by the storm’s passage, Albat smacked his lips and spoke.
“Then we’ll give him the captain position of the Sixth Squad.”
No one objected.
* * *
A few days later.
“This is the insignia of a captain.”
A badge. A pure white cloak.
At its center, crossed swords.
The emblem symbolizing Heretic Inquisitors looked striking against his black hair.
With this, Kallias became captain of the Sixth Squad.
Heretic Inquisition Sixth Squad Captain.
‘I didn’t expect to become captain right away.’
He had ample strength and a flashy record, but there were procedures.
He’d planned to climb as fast as possible, but the Pontiff had shoved him straight up.
An unexpected gain.
“Congratulations, Kallias.”
“Thank you.”
A simplified inauguration ceremony.
At Kallias’s request, it was held briefly in Bishop Albat’s office.
They could’ve made it grand, but Kallias declined.
Time was precious, after all.
‘No need to create unnecessary hassle.’
To avoid the various events that came with a big ceremony.
Like sisters vowing to kill him, for example.
Of course, it wasn’t really because of them that he skipped the ceremony.
‘Albat du Vallus.’
Leader of the moderate faction.
A contender for the next Archbishop position, rivaling Milliman.
And.
‘The King’s mentor figure.’
The current king.
Mentor to Clara von Agatha Bright, and her ally.
It was good to build ties with Albat.
‘The king is essential for my goals.’
Naturally, he needed connections with those on the king’s side.
Carpe’s king was notoriously cautious, requiring a careful approach.
“I’ve wanted to see you up close myself.”
“Is there a reason? Perhaps the holy relic...”
“Not because of the relic. I don’t believe such nonsense.”
“Pardon?”
Pat pat. Albat looked at Kallias with warm eyes.
“How much you must have suffered. I know all about it, so it’s fine.”
“...Yes. Thank you.”
He had no idea what was known, but Albat teared up, claiming full knowledge.
‘What’s this about?’
It wasn’t tear-worthy.
A sentimental bald man.
“How much heartache you must have endured. Abandoned by your parents too! The power you protected while playing the wastrel has finally bloomed—what a...!!”
“...”
Whatever it was, he seemed to have a bizarre misconception.
It didn’t seem malicious, so no need to correct it.
“Ah, right. This isn’t the time. I’ve shown my embarrassing side.”
“No, it’s fine.”
“You were recommended, you wanted it, we wanted it—so you got Sixth Squad. But there’s one issue.”
“What is it?”
“The Sixth Squad’s vice-captain made a suggestion.”
“The vice-captain? What suggestion?”
“Well... he said that if he defeats you, he won’t have to obey your orders.”
Vice-captain of the Sixth Squad, huh.
Kallias roughly understood the situation.
A tradition within the Heretic Inquisition, or hazing, something like that.
Various reasons, but the main one: hard to believe.
Typical of the Heretic Inquisition—endlessly suspicious.
Their doctrine itself preached not trusting even those close.
“The Inquisitors of Sixth Squad are all suspicious. Wondering if you really killed Druma.”
Albat clicked his tongue at the absurdity, but since it was true, Kallias had nothing to rebut.
“So subdue them. Fight the vice-captain and win.”
“Must I?”
Honestly, annoying.
Better to catch Carpe’s spies faster than deal with squabbles.
『Kingdom Quest』
【Empire’s Spies】
◆ Kill the Empire’s spies to save the kingdom from the path to ruin.
◆ Number of spies killed: 8/?
<Reward>: 「Lord’s Banner」
Kingdom Quest.
The Lord’s Banner was a must-have. The Archbishop was a tough foe with near-Master strength and cunning.
For now, he was chipping at the edges, but confrontation was inevitable.
To seize and defeat him, he needed more power than now.
Swordsmanship growth was needed, but above all...
‘Sanctuary.’
Sanctuary.
But his current swords were spirit swords, unable to deploy Sanctuary.
With the Lord’s Banner, though, things changed.
Limited uses and high risk, but it allowed even a spirit sword to deploy Sanctuary once, soul be damned.
The sword would shatter, but a trump card to overcome power gaps.
An indispensable holy relic.
Only Sanctuary could break Sanctuary.
“Without subordinates under a captain, handling work would be hard, and performance would suffer. Plus, it’s a sort of tradition. Accept the duel, prove your ability, and they won’t complain. With your skills, it’ll be fine.”
* * *
Clack, clack.
Leaving Albat’s office, I pondered deeply.
How to catch all those rat-like spies at once.
Then, spotting a man leaning in the hallway ahead, I halted.
“Kallias von Jervan. Guess I should call you Sixth Squad Captain now.”
“Who are you?”
“Can’t tell by looking?”
Scar on his nose.
Among the four great nobles, nose scars meant the eastern house.
“Gradas.”
Only Gradas.
And only one Heretic Inquisition Captain from Gradas.
“Jenos von Gradas.”
“Yeah, yeah, you know me. Jervan pup.”
“I’ve heard of you.”
The man overseeing the Heretic Inquisition.
Captain Jenos.
True to his eastern house, he wielded swift footwork swords.
All houses had specialties, but Gradas was famed for speed.
Especially Jenos.
Whoosh—! Famous for fast, stealthy footwork. The moment his form blurred, I drew.
Clang—!
Jenos’s sword clashed with mine.
Screeech, sparks flew, and in an instant, Jenos retreated far.
“Thanks for the welcome.”
“But seriously, the informal speech... whatever. Age gap’s small, I outrank you but you’re a count, so here I’ll yield—since I’m the superior.”
Contrary to his flippant tone, the weight in his sword was exceptional.
Faster than expected.
Without immediate draw due to no killing intent, I might not have blocked.
‘Katar.’
An assassin’s sword.
He wore a hidden blade.
His spirit sword.
Katar.
An arm-mounted blade that emerges with force—an assassin’s weapon.
Katar’s ability was unremarkable alone, but with Jenos, synergy exploded.
Already fast-footed, paired with [Silence].
If he willed it, few could block his assassinations.
“A warning today.”
Swish.
One step, and he was ghost-like before me.
“Don’t get too carried away. It’d just annoy us both.”
“...”
“You work too hard, and paperwork piles up. Got it? Handle it neatly, with style. You know.”
Swish.
Gradas vanished after those words.
“One more annoyance.”
Cat-Step Jenos.
A moniker fitting his silent, swift steps.
Heretic Inquisition Captain, Jenos.
An eccentric, but Gradas footwork was intriguing.
Desirable enough to want it.