Heart-Pounding Heresy Inquisition (1)
The auditorium chairs were swiftly cleared away. In the heavy atmosphere, the students lined up in groups of ten under the professors' guidance. No one put up much resistance—not even the nobles' children. After all, the Inquisition's witch hunts and interrogations didn't discriminate by status. Of course, the nobles weren't pushovers either. Once this was over, their families would rise up in arms, no doubt. But that was a problem for later. For now, fists were closer than pens, especially with that infamous Black Star Officer present in the flesh.
Most students were probably doing well just to avoid outright panic, let alone rebellion.
"Hm! It looks like things are finally in order."
Lesian Amalenu, the Black Star Officer, clapped lightly and flashed an innocuous smile.
"First, a little quiz for you all. Can you guess why we're here?"
"…"
No one answered, but Lesian seemed to expect as much. She didn't even glance at the students as she continued on her own.
"Correct—it's because of heretics."
She delivered the obvious answer with flair, then narrowed her eyes dramatically, tapping her temple and shaking her head.
"But unfortunately, it's not just any heretics. We've determined there's a high likelihood that a member of one of the three great criminal organizations, the Reverse Star Group, is hiding here."
"!"
The students' murmurs grew louder. The three great criminal organizations. How many students could stay calm upon hearing those names?
The Reverse Star Group, a terrorist collective centered around possessors. The Gray Garden, a cabal of black mages delving into forbidden knowledge and using humans as test subjects. The Cipher Society, an elite few rumored to include monsters on par with the Nine True Seats.
Each one was notorious enough to shake the continent. And now, one of them—the Reverse Star Group—might be lurking right here in this auditorium. Coming from a Black Star Officer's mouth, it was no wonder the students were thrown into chaos.
"My heart truly aches for you all."
Lesian placed a hand lightly on her chest, as if she were a cleric mourning a tragic fate.
"That's why the Inquisition will protect you from these heretics, no matter what."
She gave a casual flick of her hand. At the signal, some of the inquisitors pressed against the walls sprang into action.
Click. Click. Click.
Ten inquisitors moved with mechanical precision, marching right up to the front of the stage below.
The mood among the front row—right in front of me—darkened even further. The top-tier class students were packed into the first two rows, after all. They couldn't help but feel the pressure from the approaching inquisitors and the Black Star Officer on stage.
"Ugh…"
Skala let out a low groan beside me. Her usual cockiness was gone; her ears drooped like a soaked kitten's.
I gently took her right hand.
"It's okay. The professors are here, so nothing bad will happen."
"…I'm not tense or anything. This situation's just pissing me off."
Even as she said it, her faintly trembling fingers softly wrapped around mine.
"Is Runes okay?"
"Yeah. It'd be a lie to say I'm fine, though."
Runes took a short breath, then shrugged with a composed expression.
"I've been around this kind of pressure since I hung out with Dad for a few years."
"True, your father is one of the Nine True Seats."
"Yep. So don't worry, everyone. If things get real, I'll protect you all."
Runes grinned and flashed a thumbs-up. The girl raised under the Mercenary King was indeed different. Few could stay this level-headed in such a situation.
Then, Skala finally loosened her grip on my hand and murmured softly.
"But how are you so calm?"
"Me?"
Mystic Beauty Module: Unstable facial muscle movement detected. Auto-adjusting.
"My face just doesn't show it well, that's all."
"…I don't buy that anymore."
It's true, though. If I were a normal student, maybe. But as a pitiful possessor about to get swept up and killed because of the Reverse Star Group…
At that moment, the inquisitors below the stage pulled something from their pockets. Seven small silver bells hung from a silver ring, with a short handle beneath. It looked like a decorative keychain at a glance—but any possessor would gasp inwardly at the sight.
Skala's eyes narrowed as she recognized it.
"That's… the Inquisition Bell for detecting otherworlders, right?"
"You know about it?"
"Yeah, heard rumors. Only first-grade inquisitors and above carry them. Super rare."
Hm. She knows her stuff. And it's as powerful as it is rare. No possessor has ever slipped past it, from what I've heard.
In other words, any possessor hiding here was well and truly screwed. Surrounded by inquisitors. That Black Star Officer. Even the professors and assistants would turn hostile.
And if caught? The end was obvious. Dragged to the Inquisition headquarters' secret underground for a secret demise.
"Alright, front row—come forward one by one for inspection."
Before I could calm my nerves, our row of ten was called by Lesian.
The silver lining? Two professors flanked each pair of inquisitors, eyes sharp. That seemed to ease the students' steps; not much hesitation.
Ah, maybe it's because these are top-tier class kids.
The inspection didn't take long.
Ting— ting—
Clear chimes rang out from each silver bell, spaced apart. The inquisitors nodded and raised them high—passed.
"Good work. Once done, head to the wall for a quick black mana check and you're finished."
The students moved to the walls under inquisitor or assistant guidance. Soon, all ten were cleared.
Now, it was our turn.
"Next group? Come on down."
"…Let's go."
Skala and Runes exchanged quick glances with me. We stepped forward together.
"Whew."
Inquisitors lined the walls. Anxious stares from behind. That annoying Black Star Officer on stage.
Everyone watched us. My steps felt heavier for it.
I felt those piercing gazes on my skin as I slowly stood before the inquisitor.
He looked down silently, face solemn, and slowly brought the bundle of bells to my chest.
Then, he flicked his wrist faintly.
Ting…
A clear chime, no different from the others.
Ting… ting…
But the sound kept going.
The students beside me had already finished and moved to the walls. Yet the bells continued.
"…"
The inquisitor's brow twitched. He raised the Jugu again, shaking it more deliberately.
Ting… ting…
At first, nothing unusual.
…Clink.
…Clink.
Then the sound shifted—no longer pure.
"!"
A low dissonance. The surrounding murmurs cut off sharply.
Whoosh!
The inquisitor to my right moved first, drawing a mace and thrusting it toward me.
Clank! Thud!
The left one yanked out a chain flail; it hit the floor with a heavy thud, heavy enough to pulverize a person.
Click. Click. Click.
The wall inquisitors reacted in unison. Hands to weapons. Eyes on me. They crouched low, ready to swarm like a pack of dogs at a command.
Screams and chaos erupted from the students.
"Kyaa! All the inquisitors…!"
"The sound was off? N-no way…"
"…A heretic?"
Wow. Every eye in the auditorium on me. Their stares burned like fire.
And amid the spotlight, footsteps approached.
"Well, well. How intriguing. A heresy suspect already."
Lesian, beaming brightly, strolled to the stage's edge.
"You two ladies? Step back. I can't guarantee your safety."
"Harné!"
Runes and Skala—who'd moved to the wall first—tried rushing back but were blocked by inquisitors. Disbelieving expressions, yet they strained forward.
Seeing that, my fists clenched involuntarily.
"I'm fine. It's not what you think."
I gave them a brief message, then looked away.
Instead, I lifted my head, locking eyes directly with the Black Star Officer.
I wouldn't let them see me confused for even a second longer.
"From what I know, the Jugu makes a horribly grating noise in front of otherworlders. Not something ambiguous like this."
"…Hmm."
Lesian's eyes widened slightly at my words—a reaction to an unexpected counter.
"Correct. You're quite knowledgeable… Just about to mention that myself."
As if. She'd clearly planned to drag it out, savoring our reactions.
Lesian leaned into the microphone and announced loudly.
"No need to worry! It malfunctions sometimes. Just check again."
At her signal, the charging inquisitors stepped back. But the ones right in front kept weapons raised, even circling to flank me.
"Of course, the dissonance is real, so we stay on alert."
Just recheck, my ass. They eyed me like starving cats spotting a mouse.
"What is this? Ganging up on a student like that?"
Thankfully, the old professor who'd been watching intervened, stepping between me and the two inquisitors protectively.
Yeah, yeah. I get the Inquisition's excited, but this is overkill. With professors glaring from all sides.
"Exactly. I'm a student of this autonomous region. Nothing's confirmed yet—leaving me alone like this doesn't look good, does it?"
"Oh ho."
Lesian gave an inscrutable look, then nodded and waved the two inquisitors back.
"My apologies. We were just being cautious, but it seems we burdened you."
But only for a moment.
"Instead, for any surprises, I'll handle the recheck personally."
Grinning wickedly, Lesian leaped from the stage, landing right in front of me. Professors glaring? She ignored them.
She just eyed me up and down with satisfaction, meeting my gaze.
"Truly impressive."
Lesian gazed at my face with soulful eyes, like appraising a fascinating specimen.
"A normal student would be crying, shaking, or babbling nonsense. But you defied my expectations entirely."
"Is that a compliment?"
"Of course. I like you very much."
Lesian slowly curved her lips upward. Then added immediately,
"But that's exactly why you're more suspicious."
Her hand reached slowly toward my face. Gloved fingers brushed the ends of my hair softly.
"So please."
Lick.
She slowly wet her lips with her tongue. The bundle of silver bells extended before me.
"I hope you don't turn out to be a heretic."
Ting—