Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Public Security Activities (1)
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“Legion Commander.”
As Berhardt was handling paperwork in the Independent Knight Brigade commander’s office, his adjutant Gustav spoke up.
“Would it be alright to send Sion Aleyas to the Hermel region?”
“What’s the issue?”
“The Hermel region is a dangerous place. The Empire’s governmental control is weak there.”
“The Holy Spirit Church’s influence is weak as well.”
The continent was dominated by a unified nation called the “Holy Empire.”
However, the Empire’s governance was strong only in the central regions around the capital, growing weaker the further out toward the provinces.
It was merely a successor claiming the legacy of an ancient colossal empire from long ago, in reality just a “name-only Empire” with strong symbolic power but little else.
In place of this Empire’s government, the Holy Spirit Church wielded great influence across the entire continent. The Church’s history was several times longer than that of the Holy Empire, and it had an organizational network spanning the whole land.
In particular, the Paladin Order under the Holy Spirit Church played a major role as an armed force protecting the populace in the government’s stead.
But… even the Paladin Order’s protection couldn’t be counted on in the truly remote outskirts.
“The Hermel region has a thriving underground economy, and violent gangs control the entire area. Paladins have poked around there several times in the past, but…”
“No real results, right? The conclusion was that to seriously improve the state of Hermel, the Holy Spirit Church would need to commit a large-scale force.”
“Yes. So what’s the point of sending Sion Aleyas to a place like that? He’ll just come back empty-handed.”
“Hmm, I don’t really think so.”
“Pardon?”
In front of the puzzled Gustav, Berhardt fiddled with his papers and smiled.
“Let’s watch and see. What the youngest of the Aleyas family can do out on the frontier.”
* * *
“Holy Knights are coming to our Hermel region?”
“Yes, seems like the Independent Knight Brigade.”
“The knights who came last time didn’t do a damn thing and left. What’s this about now?”
Streng, the administrative officer in charge of the Hermel region, scowled as he listened to his subordinate.
“What’s so great about this backwater that they keep coming here?”
Hermel was located in the northeastern part of the Empire.
Just a short way north lay the massive “Winter Mountains.”
This meant it was close to the Dialogue Church’s territory—and that Hermel was one of the Empire’s most remote outposts.
As such, the Empire’s administrative power barely reached Hermel.
Streng, the current administrative officer, was a local notable who had long wielded power in the area, receiving almost no directives from the central government.
As long as he sent the legally mandated taxes on time, there was no interference.
“It’s a backwater, sure, but all sorts of industries have developed here independently.”
“But it’s also a lawless city where the Holy Spirit Church’s influence is weak. No resident Paladins or anything.”
The people here held no expectations of the Paladin Order.
They knew from experience that Paladins came, did nothing, and left.
“There’s not much a Paladin can do here anyway… Who is it?”
“Well… rumor has it he’s from the Aleyas family.”
“What? Aleyas family?”
“And he’s just a boy of fifteen… the youngest from the main Aleyas house.”
“…”
Streng fell into thought for a moment.
“Ah, I get the picture.”
“Pardon?”
“The Aleyas family sent their youngest here to pad his resume.”
“Resume?”
“Yeah, probably wants a record of contributing to public security in the northeastern frontier.”
People here didn’t expect anything from the Paladin Order.
So he could just kill time and leave without issue.
Then package it as “contributed to public security in the northeastern frontier.”
“Still just a kid, so he won’t accomplish much.”
“Probably the type to stay quiet and leave quietly.”
“Even so, just in case, let’s throw him a welcome party.”
“A welcome party?”
“Yeah, give him a hint about what kind of place this is. Tell him we’ll make sure he lives comfortably while he’s here.”
Streng was one of the figures sucking the sweet juice out of Hermel.
If some clueless Paladin suddenly showed up and started meddling everywhere without grasping the situation, it’d be a headache. Better to lay out the facts ahead of time.
“But he’s a kid, right? How do we welcome him? No booze or women…”
“Just in case, prepare everything. Don’t skimp on the costs.”
“Understood. Then…”
“Of course, we’ll need some pocket money stuffed in an envelope too.”
Paladins were supposed to be incorruptible and pure.
But not all of them were.
“Let’s stuff him till he bursts. Food, money, whatever.”
“Understood, Administrative Officer.”
A naive young fool like that could be bought off easily enough.
* * *
On a rainy spring day, we arrived in the Hermel region of the continent’s northeast.
“Bigger city than I expected.”
“I heard commerce and industry are developed in the urban areas.”
Edwin and Lieselotte looked around as they spoke.
“But the overall vibe is kinda gloomy.”
“Probably because of all the crime? That pleasure district over there looks flashy, but all the doors are shut since it’s still daytime.”
“P-Pleasure district…”
“What’s wrong, Edwin? Interested, by any chance?”
“N-No!”
Edwin yelled, his face flushing red, then turned to me.
“So, Sion. Where to first?”
“Hmm, well…”
Probably best to stop by the local administrative office first.
As I started to say that, a group of people approached from ahead.
“Are you Sion Aleyas?”
“That’s me.”
“I’m Streng, Grade 1 Administrative Officer of Hermel.”
A chubby middle-aged man bowed before me.
“We heard you were visiting Hermel, so I came out to greet you ahead of time.”
“I see. I was planning to head to the administrative office anyway.”
“Oh, no need to bother with our humble office. It’s fine.”
“But to conduct activities here, I need to go through the administrative procedures…”
“We’ll handle all that on our end. Don’t worry about it, Sir Sion.”
He rubbed his hands together with a fawning smile.
“You must be tired from the long journey. We’ve prepared a welcome feast. Allow me to guide you.”
“A welcome feast?”
“This way! Everyone, come on!”
Streng led us toward the city center, his belly jiggling.
* * *
“Eat up, everyone!”
The place Streng took us to seemed like a high-end tavern in the city center.
We were the only ones inside, of course.
“Quite the variety of dishes.”
“We have to do at least this much to welcome a Paladin from the Aleyas main house!”
I glanced over and saw Edwin seated at another table, swallowing hard at the sight of the delicacies.
Coming from commoner stock, he’d probably never seen food like this before.
Meanwhile, Lieselotte sat beside him, calmly munching away.
“This is one of my establishments. I cleared out the best ingredients from the warehouse today.”
“I thought you were just the administrative officer. You run taverns too?”
“My family’s been in trade around here for generations. The administrative role is just my way of serving the region.”
“I see.”
“Come on, the food’s getting cold. Dig in!”
I started eating as Streng urged, since I hadn’t eaten yet and was hungry.
“Hemel here is one of the most remote spots on the continent. That’s why it’s developed on its own.”
“Feels that way.”
“Even public security is handled entirely by the vigilante groups. So there won’t be much for the Knight Brigade Leader to do.”
“Is that so?”
“No telling how long you’ll be here, but take it easy. If anything comes up, we’ll take care of it for you.”
“I see.”
I gave half-hearted replies and sampled the food.
“And… Knight Brigade Leader.”
“Yes.”
“To make your stay more comfortable, how about we provide some support…?”
“What kind of support?”
“Living away from home, you’ll have expenses here and there. So… we could offer assistance.”
“Did the previous knight who came receive support?”
“Yes, of course.”
“I see.”
“Actually, we’ve already prepared an envelope today. Quietly, without the other knights knowing…”
“Administrative Officer Streng.”
I set down my fork.
“The truth is…”
“Pardon?”
I’d been speaking politely, but now switched to informal speech, startling Streng.
“I already finished the preliminary investigation.”
“P-Preliminary investigation?”
“Yeah, before coming here.”
Streng blinked, not understanding why I’d suddenly changed.
“My great-aunt is the head of the Heresy Inquisition. The Inquisition—you know it?”
“Ah, y-yes…”
Streng flinched.
The Heresy Inquisition had existed since the old days when the Paladin Order carried out “witch hunts” on the Holy Spirit Church’s orders.
Now it operated as an intelligence agency gathering info on forces hostile to the Holy Spirit Church, like the Dialogue Church.
“Th-The Inquisition—what about it…?”
“Don’t worry. They don’t investigate backwaters like this. Just some fragmentary info.”
“I-I see.”
“Just rumor-level stuff? Nothing of real intelligence value.”
“W-We haven’t done anything the Inquisition would suspect.”
“Of course. If there was solid evidence, Aunt Helena would’ve sent purge knights right away.”
“P-Purge knights…”
Purge knights.
Paladins under the Heresy Inquisition, the ones civilians feared most.
“Don’t be scared. Why would purge knights come to a place like this? Nothing’s happened so far, right?”
“Y-Yes. That proves we’re clean.”
Streng said, sweating profusely.
“Yeah, no evidence.”
“R-Right…?”
I looked at Streng’s face and picked up a nearby glass.
“Pour me some wine.”
“Ah, yes.”
Streng hurriedly grabbed the wine bottle.
“It’s top-grade wine imported from out of town. Nice and smooth—perfect for drinking.”
“I’m young, so I don’t handle strong liquor well.”
I took a sip of the filled glass.
“Definitely smooth. A bit of cherry flavor, and a rocky earthiness. Good wine.”
“You’re young, but you seem quite knowledgeable about wine.”
“Hmm… not really.”
“Pardon?”
“But I can tell where this wine’s from.”
“Y-Yes…?”
Streng flinched and checked the bottle.
It was labeled from a famous southern wine region.
“This is from the Gallos region…”
“Doesn’t seem like it.”
“Pardon?”
“Sorber.”
“…!”
Streng trembled like he’d been shocked upon hearing the name from my lips.
“The region beyond the Winter Mountains. Dialogue Church territory, of course.”
“N-No way. This is from Gallos…”
“Just says so on the bottle.”
“K-Knight Brigade Leader!”
How does this kid know this?
His eyes seemed to say.
“Th-That’s ridiculous! Don’t spout nonsense when you don’t know what you’re talking about!”
“I can tell.”
Indeed.
I could tell just from the taste.
I’d drunk Sorber wine like water back in the Dialogue Church days.
“One of the Inquisition’s rumor bits mentioned the Dialogue Church bribing the Hermel administrative office.”
“Th-That’s baseless…”
“Smart scheme. Sorber wine’s quality is good and similar to Gallos, so pass it off as Gallos and sell at a premium. Gallos wine’s pricey, after all.”
“Wh-Who would do such a thing! Don’t talk nonsense!”
“That’s the problem—someone is doing it.”
I’d heard about this method from another archbishop back during Archbishop Hausel’s time.
First time seeing it in action, though.
“There were rumors of bribes tied to child trafficking too, but that’s nonsense, right?”
“O-Of course. Utterly groundless…”
“I’ll confirm that myself later.”
“Knight Brigade Leader, if you keep this up…!”
Streng flushed red and shouted.
But I had no intention of listening further.
“Edwin, done eating?”
“Yes, Sion.”
Edwin, who’d been lost in the feast moments ago, now stood rigidly behind me at attention.
“Time to exercise the authority the Holy Spirit Church delegates to Paladins.”
In front of Streng, who gulped nervously, I said curtly.
“Summary execution.”
“Understood.”
Edwin drew his sword and unleashed his sword aura to carry out my order faithfully.