The Paramere Search Operation (1)
The Paramere Search Operation (1)
Dimona was furious.
"This is no different from openly shoving you off to die! Putting you in an Imperial search party?!"
"Isn't it just a matter of doing what we're told? The justification is on their side anyway. And it's an order from the Imperial Royal Family. The Church isn't what it used to be, is it? From what I understand, whatever they demand, we have to comply."
"That's right! It is right! But the fact that they singled out you and Rosemary specifically is absurd!"
I picked up a weapon. Hmm. The quality is good, but... honestly, I'd have to say it's a little lacking.
I need to hurry up and collect all the scattered bonuses. The top priority among them is Ra's Sacred Relics. Excluding Brionac, there are roughly four more in the northern part of the Empire...
Maybe I should grab one on the way back after this mission ends?
"No, Zahard! I said listen to me! Why are you so calm?! Didn't you hear? It's a brutal mission with a 0% survival rate even after five search parties have already been dispatched!"
"Well, that's..."
The Paramer Search Operation.
It's a tricky mission. You're entering a city that was annihilated for unknown reasons. But even so, it didn't bother me.
Why?
Because I've cleared it multiple times! I know all the strategy points inside and out!
"Because I'm a genius?"
"That's baseless confidence! Baseless confidence, I said!"
"Confidence with a basis?"
"Confidence without a basis!"
Dimona, who had been huffing, spun around.
"I'll formally petition the Holy See! I'll refuse this ridiculous—!"
"You can't refuse."
I took Dimona's hand.
"Dwayne will definitely find fault with it. He'll undermine the Fifth Inquisition Office's achievements themselves. Using this matter as leverage, who knows how he'll pressure the Inquisition Office. They might even be waiting for us to refuse. That could be their real aim."
"But are you saying we should just take it lying down?!"
"I'm not saying we should take it lying down."
Once this matter is finished, I'll make a name for myself as the paladin who led an impossible mission to success.
That fame would be more than enough to overturn the notoriety of being a whistleblower. Once public opinion shifts, the Holy See won't be able to ignore me so easily either.
Then, obtaining achievements, and of course, obtaining the Academy teaching position, would be a natural process.
"We just have to win, and show them. Right?"
"...No, I mean, there's no way that'll go as easily as—"
"Divine Judge Dimona. Who am I?"
I smiled brightly.
"Aren't I the person who succeeded at everything you said couldn't be done?"
"...If you were an enemy, you'd be terrifying."
Dimona relaxed her body. She leaned softly against the wall.
"You've already made up your mind to go, haven't you?"
"Of course."
"...Then I'll prepare accordingly as well."
Dimona furrowed her brow.
"Because I can't just send you off like this."
. . .
Dimona's platinum-blonde hair swayed. Once she set her mind to something, she handled matters with frightening speed.
"There's nothing for you to do. Just rest until you leave for the mission."
She tore through the paperwork, finishing it all in half a day, then made the rounds of the smithies.
"You have a Pocket, right?"
"The one I keep the Demon Sword in?"
"You'll need one more. I'll put in an order for two in bracelet form. Smaller capacity, but easier storage access would be better, right?"
"The money..."
"Not needed. I'll buy them with my own funds. And save your money. I don't just hand it out to anyone."
"Dimona isn't just anyone, though?"
She glared at me.
"You talk well."
The backpack Dimona had brought began filling up neatly.
"I put in three potions. Ten emergency rations. I packed tasty ones, so only eat them in a real emergency. They're fifty thousand Talent each."
"Dimona, who trembled even when buying a hundred-thousand-Talent fine liquor...!"
"Don't say weird things. Mission supplies and my entertainment money are different. A custom-ordered greatsword, axe, and spear will arrive separately. They're made from Dask, Imperial steel, so they'll be much lighter and harder than the greatsword you've been carrying."
"Did you buy those with your own money too?"
"Don't ask. It makes my stomach hurt."
She showered me with nagging.
"Got it? What I set down here is emergency water. Unlike regular water, it has a higher absorption rate. Don't drink this casually either. Only drink it when you need it. If you gulp it down because it tastes good, you won't be able to drink it when it really matters."
"What's this?"
"Bug repellent spray. I've used it once, and it worked well. It also masks odors a bit. You'll be in situations where you can't wash often, so spray it on your body occasionally."
"...And this?"
"Bandages. Using Sacred Power is fine, but for small wounds, just put on a bandage. If you overuse Sacred Power, there are times you won't be able to use it when you need it."
"I'm an Apostle of the Sun God... overflowing with Sacred Power..."
"Don't talk back. These are bandages... this is disinfectant to apply before the bandages... and these are dried snacks that taste sweet when you chew them..."
I looked down at the back of her head as she explained this and that.
"Got it. Wife."
"Wh-what?"
"Joke."
"Oh, seriously! Don't make weird jokes! Do you want to die?!"
Whoever marries Dimona will be taken care of for life.
Unlike this side, which was steadily preparing to depart, Rosemary sat in the office like a half-corpse. Ever since her pride had cracked, the inquisitors who had followed her were subtly avoiding Rosemary.
With the skill that had backed her high pride shattered and even her faction gone, Rosemary was now practically in a half-broken state.
"Hey, kitty."
"......."
"What are you doing?"
I went to check on her. Since we were going to leave together, I couldn't just let her die.
She's my pet, after all!
She glanced at me. Her eyes were unfocused.
Her head dropped forward with a thud.
"...Meow."
"......"
She is pitiful, though.
I met her lowered gaze.
"Frustrated?"
"......"
"Honestly, you're annoyed, right? Come on. Speak frankly. You should be honest with your master."
"......"
"You want to smash everything, right? But you're holding back because you don't think you can, right?"
"......"
"Hey, Rosemary. I'm curious about something..."
I asked.
"Can you actually beat Radatok?"
"......."
Focus returned to her vacant eyes.
"...What did you... just say?"
"I asked if you can beat Radatok. Rosemary."
"Of course... I...!"
"You can't."
Radatok couldn't use Shape Transformation either. Didn't we see it inside Vagueness? All he did was simply emit Sacred Power strongly.
In the first place, the reason Rosemary had been rated similarly to Radatok was mostly because she could use Shape Transformation.
But if she can't use Shape Transformation, well...
Her actual skill is probably far below Radatok's.
"You keep asking to fight because you want to win, right? But actually, you didn't really want to fight, did you?"
"Shut... up..."
"You were scared you'd lose if you actually fought, right? That's why you snap at him even more sharply. I can see it all—you bare your claws because you're weak, so why lie?"
"That mouth... shut... it...!"
"Oh dear. My prediction was right."
I smiled.
"You've been in this Inquisition Office far longer than Radatok, but you were afraid it would be exposed that you're more incompetent than him. Isn't that right?"
"SHUT UUUUUUP!!!"
A fist flew at me. But I turned my head to the side and dodged.
A gust of wind surged. The window rattled.
With a sharp sting, the skin on my cheek split slightly. I wiped the trickling blood with my hand.
"You want to kill me, don't you?"
"You... son of a bitch..."
"Good. This'll be fun. Then let's see... If Rosemary behaves, I'll give you a reward."
The Paramer search party.
Among them, Rosemary was probably the only one I could properly communicate with. Paramer search parties were usually filled with expendable types, or irrational lunatics brimming with ambition to earn merit.
"If you listen to me well during this mission, I'll teach you how to become stronger. Strong enough to defeat even Radatok—and even me. How about it?"
Rosemary raised her fury-filled eyes and stared straight at me. I lightly tapped her forehead.
"Answer."
"...I'll kill you. Definitely."
"Good. That enthusiasm! I like it. It's a promise, right?"
Yeah, yeah.
Acting broken works, I suppose. She's one of my precious assets, after all.
I kept clawing at her pride, leaving marks deep enough that she would not be able to erase them.
"I'm counting on you. Inquisitor Rosemary."
"...Grind."
She was a person of pride who never broke a promise once made.
With this, I won't get stabbed in the back.
. . .
Before leaving, I handed over the 90ml of Nectar I had drawn in advance.
"I might not be able to come back for a while. Isabel."
"Understood."
She let out a sigh as if sending off someone about to die.
"Just come back safely. Boss."
"You think I'll die?"
"Not exactly... but this job in particular is no different from a direct trip to the grave."
"Whether it becomes a grave or an opportunity is up to me."
I tapped Isabel on the head.
"Make a lot, and sell a lot. If the money isn't properly in my account, I'll hang you upside down."
"...Pfft. Yes."
I also contacted Matier. He shrugged when he saw me.
"You're going off to die, Priest."
"You already heard?"
"To survive in this world, you have to be faster than anyone. Birds hear what's said by day; I hear what's said by night."
"For someone like that, your faction is still small."
"I'm hiding my claws. I'm even paying protection money to Scorpion, one of the major powers."
"Why?"
"I'm waiting for the Five Claws to grow. They're our core combat force."
"...Five Claws? You mean the Hectors?"
"Correct."
"What a grandiose name. How are those guys?"
"They're becoming monsters by the day. Now, even if several of our people gang up on them, they can't even lay a finger on them. But it's still not enough."
Matier grinned.
"Since we've started this, shouldn't we see it through to the end? When you become the king of the day, Priest, I'll be the king of the night. I'll have a firm grip on the underworld's commerce."
"That ambition. I like it. As long as we each protect our own turf, there's no reason to interfere."
"That's also why I follow you, Priest."
There didn't seem to be a need to meet the Hector gang, the Five Claws, in person.
"Tell them to keep at it. And tell them to show me how much they've changed by the next time we meet."
"You don't need to worry, Priest. I hope nothing goes wrong."
"You know. I'm not the kind of person to die easily."
Matier nodded.
"I'll trust you and wait. Priest."