Chief Inquisitor Rugin
Chief Inquisitor Rugin
A day where I felt particularly unmotivated to work had passed.
In the dawn, bright with moonlight, I stepped out onto the terrace and lit a cigarette.
There are almost no perks to being a Heretic Inquisitor, but if there are a few, the existence of this terrace is one of them.
The Goddess Church Headquarters dormitory provided to the Chief Inquisitor is on the level of a decent-sized small mansion, and the terrace, in particular, is truly a work of art.
Located on high ground, you can see the entire view of the Goddess Church Headquarters at a glance, with a cool breeze, comfortable chairs, and a luxurious table. And above all, a holy-relic-grade water bottle that refills tea infinitely the moment the cup is empty.
All of this is the church's welfare prepared for the Chief Inquisitor, exhausted from work.
Some might say, "Is that it? Just this much?" but not for me.
If I didn't have this time to enjoy a cigarette with tea and savor the leisure, my body and mind would have already been destroyed...
Dwaaaaang─!
Dwaaaaang─!
Dwaaaaang─!
Just then, an unpleasant yet simultaneously holy alarm sound rang out from somewhere.
Looking down, the silver bracelet on my wrist was vibrating as if it were having a seizure.
"Fuck?"
A curse naturally burst out, and my brow furrowed.
It couldn't be helped.
Because this meant someone was hitting me with an emergency call via the communication paper.
"Who the hell is it, seriously."
I asked out loud, but in truth, I had a rough idea of who it was. There aren't many bastards who would make the Chief Inquisitor's bracelet ring like this at this hour of the dawn.
"You should at least have some basic manners, manners."
I stomped toward the study, fuming.
The only moment in the day that can be called closest to happiness is this leisure on the terrace. And yet, they're interrupting that precious time? Especially to someone who just got off work after rolling around like a dog from morning until dawn?
If you're an office worker, no, if you're a human being, shouldn't you have at least a minimum amount of consideration for the other person?
If you're in a position where you're part of an organization and living off a salary, especially for someone whose workload is hellish and who is dying of overwork every day, shouldn't you know to refrain from contacting them?
How can you contact someone from the company after they've clocked out! This is the same in my past life and my current life, fuck!
Feeling my anger explode like a volcano, I arrived at the study and roughly snatched the communication paper lying on the desk.
If this is just some trivial message, just you wait. I unfolded the communication paper, thinking viciously that whoever was responsible, I would drag them straight to the Heretic Inquisition stand.
However, the moment I saw the first sentence written, my anger vanished like melting snow. No, it didn't just get blown away by a strong wind; it evaporated entirely.
Only a chill that made my heart sink remained.
[Emergency Communication Recipient - Chief Inquisitor Lu Niginna]
[Communication Content: A summons from His Holiness the Pope. Proceed to the Pope's Audience Chamber at the Headquarters immediately.]
It was a summons from His Holiness the Pope.
I quickly threw on my robe embroidered with platinum thread and dashed out of the dormitory.
What on earth could it be? Summoning the Chief Inquisitor directly at dawn is never a common occurrence unless it's a truly serious and grave matter.
"Emergency summons? ... What is it? Seriously, what is it?"
My mind became complicated. What kind of massive incident could have occurred?
"By any chance... did they find out I did a half-assed job on an interrogation recently?"
+++*
Goddess Church Headquarters.
The Pope's Audience Chamber.
Deep in the dawn.
An elderly man and a young, beautiful girl were having a conversation.
"Saint-nim, must you really go?"
The young, beautiful girl was the Saint.
"Yes, His Holiness the Pope, I must go."
The elderly man was the Pope.
"Saint-nim's thirst for knowledge is like looking at the Three-Eyed Goddess exploring the vast universe above, but leaving the Headquarters is dangerous. Evil Gods, Demons, and wicked things called 'Monstrosities' are targeting you, Saint-nim."
His Holiness the Pope spoke with a worried gaze.
"That's right. I know. They would target my body, as I am the Goddess's representative and daughter. But I think that not going out into the world because I'm afraid of that is exactly what they want."
However, for the Saint, a fresh, enthusiastic girl who had just become an adult, that worry didn't reach her.
"Saint-nim... but..."
"I am not unaware of what His Holiness the Pope is worried about. Even how much my choice will trouble the people of the Goddess Church."
"..."
"But I must go out into the world. Only by going out, seeing the world the Goddess created, seeing those who suffer, and feeling the world can I finally achieve true salvation and realize the Goddess's will on this land."
She was even wise, so even if it had reached her, she easily brushed it aside.
"I simply cannot win against you, Saint-nim."
His Holiness the Pope gave a faint smile and shook his head gently.
Seeing that, the Saint smiled like a spring flower filled with anticipation.
"Then..."
"Yes, Saint-nim, carry out your will. Enroll in the Sepenteria Continental General Academy."
"Really! You promise! No take-backs, His Holiness the Pope!"
At that moment, she, who is called the daughter of the Goddess and the mother of all, jumped up and down with joy just like a girl of her age.
"Thank you so much...! Hahat! Hihi! Academy! Academy..."
"However. There is a condition."
Just then, His Holiness the Pope raised his index finger slightly, pouring cold water on the situation.
"Yes? A, a condition?"
At the word 'condition', the Saint stopped her dance of joy and looked at His Holiness the Pope.
So His Holiness the Pope smiled broadly and said this.
"Since I have conceded to you, Saint-nim, you must also concede to me. Isn't that right?"
His Holiness the Pope had clearly conceded. So now it was the Saint's turn to concede.
"Yes, yes... that's right. But what is that condition..."
His Holiness the Pope spoke with a look in his eyes that said he would not concede even an inch here.
"Take an escort with you."
Take an escort. At those words, the girl's stiff expression melted away.
That was nothing. She already had an escort who was so close, familiar, and practically her other half.
"Yes! I'll take Lesha! Lesha really wanted to go out too! She'll love it."
"Lesha, are you referring to Escort Adjutant Lesha of the Saint's 3rd Escort Unit?"
"Yes, that's right. That's the Lesha. We were in the same orphanage. Even though Lesha is young, she became an Escort Adjutant with incredible talent! She won't be lacking in escorting me. Right?"
His Holiness the Pope answered the Saint, who was asking with sparkling eyes. Very firmly.
"No. Escort Adjutant Lesha will not do."
"Yes? Le, Lesha is, she's really strong. There's no one in the Escort Unit who can be a match for Lesha. Probably even within the Goddess Church Headquarters, just in terms of skill, she'd be in the top... 100 or so!"
The Saint spoke passionately. But unfortunately.
"No matter how much you say, she will not meet the candidate I have planned. Saint-nim."
That passionate speech did not reach His Holiness the Pope.
"A, a candidate you planned? Who could it be... Hmm... Hmm... Then! Let's do that! Let's have Lesha and the candidate His Holiness the Pope has chosen spar, and the winner will take on my escort..."
"No. I do not recommend that. Saint-nim."
"Yes? Why, why? By any chance, are you not confident? His Holiness the Pope?"
A remark like a provocation from the young and fiery-tempered Saint.
To that, the elderly Pope said with a smile more relaxed than anything else.
"I am fine, but... Saint-nim, no, I'm not sure if your friend, Escort Adjutant Lesha, will be fine."
"Yes.?"
"The candidate I have chosen is Chief Inquisitor 'Lu Niginna'."
"Yeaaah?"
Chief Inquisitor Lu Niginna.
As soon as she heard that name and title, the Saint's face instantly turned pale.
"How is it? Will that be alright?"
"..."
The Saint could not answer. At that moment, an image of Lesha and Lu Niginna sparring was drawn in the Saint's mind.
The Holy Inquisition Bureau, an agency belonging to the Goddess Church Headquarters. There is one core military organization in this agency, which is dedicated to directly carrying out the Goddess's will.
The name of that organization is the Heretic Inquisition.
It is the spear and sword, the awl and teeth that the Goddess's enemies fear the most.
However, there was one department in this Heretic Inquisition that was treated very specially and evaluated as the strongest fighting force. It is the 1st~10th Special Inquisition Department.
They handle only very special heretics, and they are called the lethal wolves who, once they catch a scent, never let go and always bite the heart of the heretic; they are beings feared even within the Goddess Church Headquarters itself.
Born with a cruel nature, they not only have no qualms about killing but welcome it, and while they act in the image of angels, their actions are worse than demons, so even the believers of the Goddess Church do not think of them as beings who serve the same Goddess.
And. The best among them is the 1st Special Inquisition Department. And Lu Niginna is the Chief Inquisitor, the captain of the 1st Special Inquisition Department.
In short, it meant that Lu Niginna was not only one of the strongest people in the Goddess Church Headquarters, but also seen as a cruel and cold-blooded murderer.
Therefore, the sparring between Escort Adjutant Lesha and Lu Niginna that took place in the Saint's mind was... very gruesome.
When assuming Lesha is a strong person who barely makes it into the top 100 overall... or honestly, doesn't make it and plays around within the top 200. Chief Inquisitor Lu Niginna is a strong person who plays within the top five, or perhaps the top three.
The opponent is someone who it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call a mad murderer. It would have been stranger if Lesha in her imagination had been unscathed.
In the Saint's mind, Lesha had stopped breathing in a very cruel and terrible way...
Ttok-ttok─
Just then, along with the sound of knocking, a guard's voice was heard from the door.
"His Holiness the Pope, Chief Inquisitor Lu Niginna of the 1st Special Inquisition Department has arrived."
"Huuuh...!"
"Ahem, he has finally arrived. Tell him to come in."
"This is Chief Inquisitor Lu Niginna of the 1st Special Inquisition Department. I am entering now, His Holiness the Pope."
And now, that man has arrived here. So the Saint...
"Kyaaak!"
Felt like she was going to faint.