The Divine Trial (4)
The Divine Trial (4)
Beatrice surrendered. To be precise, she only agreed to talk.
【...Filthy turncoat...】
"Quit with the turncoat business and let's just talk."
【Fine. You're curious, aren't you? About why I was inside the Snow Demon's stomach.】
"No?"
【...Huh?】
"What I'm interested in is the current Saintess Beatrice."
The earring trembled violently.
【D-don't tell me...you feel sexual attraction to weapons...?】
"If you spout nonsense, I'll do that thing from earlier again."
【Then speak so I can understand. What is that supposed to mean?】
"It's simple. What I want is the 'Holy Arts' that you possess, Beatrice."
It was no exaggeration to say that Beatrice was the strongest of all the Saintesses of Fire in history. She was a lunatic who was utterly obsessed with fire, but her martial prowess alone was the real thing.
I spoke confidently.
"Teach me! I'll even let you do it for free!"
【Haaaaaaaaaaah?】
A spirit body popped out of the earring. It felt like a cute SD-style illustration come to life.
A doll-like ghost settled softly onto the desk. Flaming red hair befitting the Saintess of Fire, with elegant lines.
She wore clothes that exuded noble dignity. Her expression was somewhat arrogant. She looked down at me as if I were completely beneath her.
Still, something about her...
"You're pretty."
【Do you think I'd be pleased by a compliment from a turncoat!】
For all that, her chin rose just slightly.
I looked down at mini Beatrice. Beatrice, who had been growling, clung to me desperately. She stabbed at my skin with a tiny spear she had gotten from who knows where.
But a spirit body was a spirit body. It had no substance, so it didn't hurt at all.
【Grr...! If only I had my body, I would have burned a wretch like you to ashes long ago...!】
"Stop thinking about starting fires and listen to what I have to say."
【Do you think I would teach Holy Arts to a turncoat?】
She spoke with confidence and arrogance.
【I am Beatrice! In life, I was Ra's greatest source of grief! Just looking at you like this makes me want to throw you into a pit of fire!】
"You just want to see something burn, don't you?"
【E-everything is for Ra...!】
"You seem to have the most personal greed, though."
Beatrice bristled and fought back. But what could she do? She couldn't affect me.
【Why in the first place, when you have Ra's favor...! Are you entangled with the serpent!】
"I'm entangled with that side just as much as with yours."
【You turncoat! The worst! The lowest! Scum of humanity! Pervert! Molester! Trash! Garbage!】
"You're crossing the line."
I gathered Sacred Power into my hand. Then I poked Beatrice with it.
Roll, roll.
Mini Beatrice, who had rolled across the desk, sprang up. Her gaze wavered as if she couldn't believe what had just happened.
【H-how did you touch me?!】
"I put Sacred Power into it."
【I-I can't touch you, so why can you touch me?!】
"If you're bothered, try glowing on your own."
【Self-luminescence...?】
"It means you're just a simple weapon that can't even draw up Sacred Power on your own. Okay?"
Beatrice collapsed. She pounded the floor and wailed.
【What humiliation, being treated like this by a junior from generations later! Do you want to die?! I'll die!】
"You're already dead."
【It's a figure of speech! Aaaaaah!!! So annoying!!!】
I brought my face close to Beatrice. Startled, Beatrice fled backward.
【N-no kissing!】
"I never even tried to."
【No lewd things! I will never permit it! You turncoat! Vile pervert! Go die!】
"I said I won't."
I grabbed Beatrice with my hand. Beatrice, dragged over while thrashing, ground her teeth.
【Let go! I said let go!】
"Stop throwing a tantrum and let's talk. Saintess Beatrice."
【Do you think I'll submit just because there's a difference in power?!】
"...The conversation keeps going in circles, so let's make our positions clear first."
I pointed at myself.
"Who am I? I'm the one who killed the Snow Demon that even you couldn't subjugate, and the one who rescued you from that hellish stomach acid. Right?"
【......】
"You call me a turncoat, but you know, don't you? That I can also wield Ra's Sacred Power. I just showed you. You can tell I'm not just a simple turncoat, that there's something more, right?"
【I-I don't know!】
"Oh, really."
I tickled Beatrice's side.
【Kyahaha! S-stop it! You sadist! Trash!】
"Stop insulting me and look at reality. I'm practically your benefactor. Surely the great Saintess, the agent of Ra known as the strongest of Ra's apostles, can distinguish between favor and grudge?"
【O-of course I can do that much...!】
"If you've received a favor, you should repay it, right? Right?"
【W-well, that's true...!】
"The fastest way to repay that favor is to teach me your Holy Arts. Become my teacher. Okay? Understand?"
【B-but I won't give a turncoat anything...!】
"Turncoat this, turncoat that. Look here, Saintess. You saw me use Ra's Holy Arts. Didn't you?"
【E-even so...!】
"The fact that I can use Ra's Holy Arts means that she also believes in me. So...are you saying that her agent can't believe in me, when she believes in me?"
I grinned at Beatrice.
"Are you greater than Ra?"
【N-no...?】
"Are you more omniscient than her? Smarter than her?"
【Th-that's impossible! That's blasphemy!】
"Then should you believe in me, whom she believes in, or not? Say it with your own mouth."
【...I-I believe...?】
"Right? Then since I'm certainly a priest of Ra, there's only one thing for you to do, right? What is it?"
Beatrice's eyes spun round and round.
【Uh...uh...repay...the favor...?】
"Right? And you should also acknowledge me as your master, right?"
【I-is that so? Should I?】
"Of course. I pulled you out of there, and now I'm going to inherit your legacy, right? Right?"
【Y-yes.】
"Then since I'm the successor who inherits everything of yours, who should inherit the weapon you use?"
【Y...you?】
"Then what about the soul dwelling within it?"
【O-of course, your property...】
Beatrice's eyes snapped back into focus.
【Are you asking for a scolding?! What do you mean, your property! The only thing I'll do is teach you Holy Arts! This Brionac and I becoming your property is a completely different matter!】
"Tch. What a shame. Then at least teach me your Holy Arts."
【Yes! I will! I'll only teach you Holy Arts, so don't even dream of anything else!】
"As expected of the seasoned Saintess of Fire. I admit defeat."
【Hmph. Do you think someone like you could ever defeat me?】
Beatrice folded her arms triumphantly. Then, a beat later, she blinked.
【...Why do I feel like I've been tricked...?】
"Tricked? I'm the only one who lost anything here."
【H-hmph! That's only natural for a turncoat! This is my victory!】
Good grief.
That's why she charged Vagueness alone. Stupid bitch.
Anyway, I got what I could get. As for Brionac, it didn't matter since I could slowly tame it into my weapon. What I needed most, Beatrice's Holy Arts, was right within my grasp.
Good!
Very good!
Spending a month and a half was worth it!
"Heh heh."
【Hehehe.】
We both laughed.
. . .
The door opened. I had already changed into the clothes the attendant had prepared.
The person who opened the door was not Divine Judge Dimona. It was Inquisitor Radatok.
Seeing him after a long time, he bowed his head courteously.
"It has been a while, Brother."
"It has been a while for you too, Radatok."
He was a respectable elder. On top of that, he was a single-mindedly loyal bear, so there was no reason not to show him courtesy.
The two of us left the room. We walked slowly toward the Divine Court. Radatok explained the general procedure.
"As both a Divine Judge and the presiding judge of this Divine Trial, Dimona will be seated in the highest seat. You will not be able to speak to her separately or ask her to take your side."
"Then what about the accusation materials?"
"I have them all."
Radatok showed the documents.
"As the representative of the accuser, I will be conducting most of the trial."
"That's reassuring. Then who will appear for the other side?"
"A defense counsel will appear. Bishop Brody, the father of Apprentice Priest Beverick, will be defending him. There will be a fierce exchange. We will probably win in the end, but it is certain to turn into filthy mudslinging."
"Why?"
"Even if the charges are clear, they will not go down quietly. They will probably drag in all sorts of witnesses and struggle desperately. Bishop Brody is that kind of man. Someone who will fabricate evidence that doesn't exist."
Radatok stood before the massive doors. He turned to look at me.
"Are you nervous?"
"Why would someone who did nothing wrong be nervous?"
"...As expected, Brother, you are different from ordinary people."
Radatok smiled slightly.
"Let us go, Brother."
"Let's crush them all."
The doors opened.
The massive doors slid back slowly and silently. Countless seats and jurors. And in front of them, only two chairs sat alone.
There was someone already seated. Apprentice priest Beverick. He was already sitting in his chair. Bishop Brody, standing beside him, turned to look at me.
"......"
No words were exchanged. But the gazes were hostile. As if to say "what of it," I tilted my chin.
Twitch.
A vein bulged on his forehead.
Bishop Brody took a deep breath. The surroundings were noisy. So the high seat was over there. I looked upward. The only bright place was where the chairs for me and Beverick were.
Everything else was dark. I could faintly see many people coming and going, but I couldn't be certain who was who.
"...Internal...accusation..."
"Zaha...rd..."
"Eye...Demon..."
"How...could..."
Murmurs brushed past. I looked up higher. The highest seat among the high seats. Three chairs were placed there.
But two of them were empty, leaving only one occupied. The person seated on the far left was someone I knew: Divine Judge Dimona. I gave a small wave. When our eyes met, Dimona primly turned her head away.
The clicking of her pen was the entirety of her reaction. So she intended to maintain a completely official posture.
"Hey."
A voice came from above. I raised my head. I saw Fabian hanging from the railing, waving his hand lazily.
"Win and come back, Zahard."
"...Of course."
"Fabian. I believe I told you clearly. You must not speak to the accuser of a Divine Trial before the trial..."
"I know. Enough nagging. Anyway, see you later."
He winked and disappeared into the darkness. Divine Judge Dimona struck her staff.
"Silence! Everyone, be quiet! The Divine Trial will begin shortly! Please maintain decorum!"
The noisy assembly fell silent. I walked forward quietly. I sat in the chair meant for me and looked up at her.
Beside me, Bishop Brody whispered.
"That long tongue of yours ends today...!"
"Shut your trap."
"You son of a bitch...!"
"Private conversation during the trial is prohibited. Bishop Brody, please step back."
Under Radatok's gaze, Brody ground his teeth and stepped back. In the now-quiet atmosphere, Dimona opened her mouth.
"Before opening this Divine Trial, His Holiness the Pope, who was originally scheduled to participate, has withdrawn. I hereby announce in advance that I, Divine Judge Dimona, am the highest authority presiding over this trial."
The door behind her opened. Dimona spoke in a low voice.
"Her Eminence Cardinal Arpina is entering. Everyone, please rise from your seats and show respect."
The head of the church, who was practically the highest authority wherever the Pope was absent.
Cardinal Arpina.
I rose to my feet to see her, one of the key NPCs. Amid the utter silence, everyone who stood quietly placed a hand over their chest.
Click.
Footsteps echoed. I opened my eyes wide.
Radiant white hair. Half of her face was wrapped in a veil. But even so, her beauty could not be hidden.
A delicacy that seemed as though even moonlight might shatter against it. Skin more beautiful than any pure white snow. Long eyelashes and red eyes that coldly looked down at me.
It was a beauty that went beyond enchanting people, to the point of killing them. If that woman were an ordinary woman, wouldn't half the world be willing to shed blood to have her?
"...Good lord."
They said her in-game beauty rating was TOP, but...this is too much, isn't it?
Why did an angel descend upon the church headquarters that humans are supposed to manage?