To Burn or Not to Burn
To burn, or not to burn.
The place Roban led me to was a cathedral standing at the edge of the forest.
He was clearing his throat in front of the door, trying to put on a proper show of formality, so I stepped past him first.
“W-wait…!”
Kwaaang!
I shoved the doors open hard. Every gaze inside snapped toward me at once.
“I trust you’ve all been praying diligently? I was too busy swinging my sword to attend this little ceremony. My apologies.”
“…….”
They stared at me with blank, dumbfounded faces.
A plump cardinal spoke up.
“What kind of rudeness is this, young man? Even if you did save the examinees from the enemy, there is still such a thing as propriety…”
I drew a deep breath, then unleashed it with everything I had.
“O Goddess!!!!!”
My roar shook the cathedral to its rafters. The cardinal who had been lecturing me hiccuped in shock.
“I pray that the mastermind behind this attack is not among us. I’ve already stained my blade with enough blood today—I have no wish to see any more.”
I shut the doors and drew my sword.
“I beseech Thee… I beseech Thee…”
I muttered while glaring at the others. Cold sweat beaded on their brows.
“Keuheuheu…”
One of the cardinals let out a laugh.
“Does my prayer amuse you?”
“Ah, forgive me. If I’ve offended you, I offer my apologies. As I introduced myself earlier, I am Cardinal Barun.”
Barun rose from his seat and gave a light bow.
“First, allow me to thank you for stopping the enemy’s ambush. Without you, brother, many lives would have been lost.”
“Think nothing of it.”
“So I understand your anger as well. Feel free to ignore Cardinal Bianco’s words over there.”
“Yes. For Cardinal Barun’s sake, I shall.”
Just then, a woman with blonde hair and blue eyes approached me.
“I’m relieved to see you unharmed, brother.”
“We meet again.”
The Saintess held the rank of a priest among the clergy.
And since this was an official setting, I deliberately used formal speech—unlike before.
See? I can be a perfectly polite man when I want to.
“Yes. I never expected to see you again so soon either.”
Renika smiled faintly.
Truth be told, I hadn’t expected to meet her during confession either. I’d only heard the rumor that she would observe the exam when I submitted my application.
“Then I’ll leave the rest to you.”
“Of course.”
Renika nodded and turned to the others.
“As you are all aware, this attack was no ordinary incident. The location of the Inquisitor examination grounds is known only to those involved here.”
There was something devout in Renika’s voice.
“Of course, there are any number of people who would target our Holy Empire, and their intelligence networks are formidable. So it is possible they simply sought to prevent the birth of a new Inquisitor who would become the Church’s hammer.”
“…….”
“But it still doesn’t make sense that they would mobilize such a force just to eliminate mere examinees who aren’t even Inquisitors yet. If we assume our brother here hadn’t been present, the manpower would have been grossly excessive.”
Renika continued.
“In that light, this attack felt as though it had been planned in haste. As if someone here needed to make absolutely certain that a particular examinee died.”
Her blue eyes shone with quiet light.
“Therefore, staking the honor of the Saintess of Truth, I will now interrogate every brother present.”
The others swallowed hard.
A Saintess was a being chosen directly by the Goddess Ella.
That was why, despite holding only a priest’s rank, she stood in a position of greater practical authority than the cardinals elected by men in the Papal Court.
“By all means, Saintess. This attack is not a matter that can be brushed aside lightly.”
Bianco said.
“However, I believe it would be best if the knights—and that man—waited outside. This is a sensitive internal affair of the Church, and it would be problematic in many ways for those who are not formal members to be involved.”
The pig of a cardinal’s gaze landed on me.
The moment I opened my mouth, Renika stepped in first.
“This brother rendered the greatest service in this attack. He was closer to the events than anyone here, and he may even have gleaned information from the enemy along the way.”
“…….”
“Furthermore, I personally vouch for his identity. Is there still some issue, Cardinal Bianco?”
Faced with her calm gaze, Bianco faltered for a moment.
This time Barun interjected.
“I agree that the knights may leave, but I believe Young Master Cael should remain.”
Apparently he had checked my information on the application form in the meantime, for he spoke my name.
“Should any mishap occur during the interrogation, the young master’s martial strength will prove useful. And even if we did try to send him out as we wish, he would not obey.”
I nodded.
“Exactly so.”
Barun smiled faintly, then looked at Bianco.
“Cardinal Bianco, do you believe you can withstand that man’s wrath? At the very least, there appears to be no one here who could stop him.”
When I fixed him with a glare, Bianco averted his eyes and cleared his throat.
“Ahem. I suppose so.”
Once the matter was settled, I spoke.
“Then let’s get this interrogation started quickly. I’ll work on my patience while offering prayers to the Goddess.”
I clasped my hands and prayed—to myself.
In ordinary circumstances I would have pointed straight at Baron Skallen and dragged him out, but I had to wait in order to learn whether there were other ringleaders.
Patience. Patience. Patience. Like roasting a sweet potato…
A sweet potato roasting over the fire can also end up burned.
To burn, or not to burn, to burn, or not to burn…
“V-very well, let us proceed at once.”
Only then did the Saintess and the others quicken their movements.
They brought chairs and sat facing Renika. First up was Cardinal Barun.
“Cardinal Barun. Were you involved in this attack, of your own will or under another’s influence? And were you aware of the attack beforehand?”
“I have no connection to this attack. Of course I knew nothing of it either.”
Renika stared at Barun intently, then nodded.
“That is the truth.”
The rest proceeded in the same fashion.
There were four cardinals including Barun, and all of them passed the first question, so it did not take long.
Burning, burning… the sweet potato’s burning…
But to me, still praying, it felt as though an enormous amount of time had passed.
“All the cardinals are innocent. Then the remaining person is…”
Renika’s gaze settled on Mordin, who had remained silent the entire time.
“Baron Skallen.”
I snapped my eyes open wide.
The sweet potato had nearly burned—good thing I caught it in time.
“Haha, so it’s my turn after all.”
Mordin chuckled awkwardly as he sat across from Renika.
“You are also a party involved in this examination, after all, Baron.”
“Indeed. I had no intention of avoiding it anyway. I shall submit to the Saintess’s interrogation with full sincerity.”
Mordin observed the formalities lightly. His demeanor was thoroughly confident.
And I knew full well the reason for that confidence.
“Then I shall ask. Baron Mordin Skallen. You…”
“A moment.”
I walked calmly toward Mordin. Every puzzled gaze turned my way.
“A pleasure, Baron Skallen. As you already know, I am Cael Luminara.”
I clapped a hand onto Mordin’s shoulder.
“Given the circumstances, I hope you’ll forgive my rough manners.”
“Haha, Young Master Cael. Your speech, and the way you treat me in particular, seems especially rude. Frankly, I find it unpleasant.”
Mordin pushed my hand away with a sly smile.
“Step aside a little. I am deeply concerned that you might let your emotions cloud your judgment and make a mistake. Interrogations must always be conducted with a cool head.”
“Clouded by emotion, is it…”
I let out a short, contemptuous laugh.
“Don’t worry. That judgment belongs not to you, but to our Saintess. Who is in the wrong will soon be clear to everyone.”
“…….”
Mordin kept his smile as he asked,
“So what business do you have with me?”
“Ah, it simply seemed you were wearing something that doesn’t suit you.”
I reached both hands to his neck and pulled free the pendant he was wearing.
A pendant engraved with the twin-leafed sprout, the symbol of the Church of Ella.
I hung it around my own neck and showed it to him.
“Well? Doesn’t it suit me far better than you?”
“…….”
Mordin froze like a smiling statue.
“Y-you!”
Bianco sputtered.
“What do you think you’re doing?! Even you must observe a minimum of propriety!”
I simply turned my head in silence and looked at Bianco. Meeting my icy gaze, he sucked in a sharp breath.
Silence hung for a while before Mordin spoke.
“Young Master Cael.”
I looked at him.
“Speak.”
“If your business is finished, step back a little. At this rate I’ll be too tense to receive a proper interrogation.”
“Ah, of course. How inconsiderate of me.”
I retreated ten paces behind the Saintess.
“Is this far enough?”
“It is.”
Mordin smiled sweetly. I spotted a tiny crack in it.
This time Renika spoke.
“Then I shall begin the interrogation at once.”
“Yes.”
“Baron Skallen. Were you involved in this attack, of your own will or under another’s influence? And did you have prior knowledge of this attack?”
Mordin took a brief breath, then slowly opened his mouth.
“No. I know nothing of it.”
Renika pierced Mordin with endlessly deep eyes.
The scale-shaped Stigma etched on the back of her hand glowed faintly.
After gazing into him for a long while, Renika let out a sigh.
“…That is the truth.”
After a moment of silence, Renika quietly rose from her chair.
“Everyone, please step back. It seems there is no heretic here after all. I will request proper assistance from the Papal Court.”
Renika turned and walked toward me. I rolled only my eyes to glance at her expression for a second.
“Haha! Just as I thought.”
Bianco approached Mordin.
“I knew the Baron wasn’t involved. Pay no mind to that man’s rudeness.”
Judging by the atmosphere, Bianco had apparently been receiving Mordin’s patronage for some time.
Mordin had been using Bianco to expand his influence within the Church.
Grabbed a rotten vine, have you.
Out of respect for the Saintess’s face, I had given him a chance.
“Cardinal Bianco. Come over here.”
“Hah, now you’re going to hit me?”
I sighed and answered with dead seriousness.
“A rotten human who can’t even take a hint. Get out of there, you pathetic bastard.”
“Wh-what!”
The moment Bianco’s face flushed red and purple—
Kkudeudeuk!
Mordin’s bulk swelled in an instant, and the priestly robes he wore burst apart.
Before anyone could react he had grown to three meters, his head nearly brushing the cathedral ceiling.
Shwaaaaaak!
A massive fist shot straight for Renika’s back.
She sensed the killing intent and reacted quickly, but the speed was far beyond what someone not specialized in combat could evade.
Kwaaang!
That was why I lunged forward and blocked Mordin’s fist with my sword.
A thunderous boom, and a heavy force slammed straight through both my arms.
I spoke to the Saintess, who was swallowing dryly.
“Excellent reaction. Withdraw now.”
“Ah…”
Renika nodded.
“I’ll leave it to you. Please be careful.”
She leaped back lightly.
Only then did I let the force of the fist slide off and spun once, swinging my blade.
Whoosh!
Mordin opened the distance and dodged my strike. Then he simply watched me with a sticky, wary gaze.
“Cardinals, this way!”
The two knights remaining in the cathedral did not interfere; instead they helped the cardinals evacuate. Good that they knew their place.
I exchanged a brief glance with the knights, then looked at Mordin.
“So you drank demon blood.”
Mordin’s skin had taken on the ashen gray unique to demons.
Those who consumed demon blood mixed the demonic energy within it with the mana they originally possessed and wielded the result.
I had seen this form in my previous life as well; even half a year earlier than our last encounter, it seemed he could already use a demon’s power.
Mordin spoke while staring at the pendant hanging around my neck.
“How did you know that pendant could deceive the Saintess’s eyes?”
Because you told me in my previous life.
This pendant was a demon relic with the power to fool the Goddess’s gaze.
He had used it to climb all the way to the rank of bishop.
“Your underlings told me.”
“Impossible. No matter how much you tortured them, they would never have spoken of me.”
Of course not. That was how the Evil Book Society operated.
The Evil Book Society was a religious order that venerated the scriptures of the Demon God and stood in direct opposition to Ella.
Mordin was one of its Apostles.
“H-hurk…!”
Beside Mordin, Bianco had collapsed, his face ashen.
Mordin clicked his tongue.
“Useless fool. You need to be just stupid enough.”
He raised a massive hand. The shadow engulfing Bianco rushed closer.
“N-no…!”
Bianco’s words went no further.
With a wet, crushing sound, Bianco’s body was pulped in Mordin’s palm.
When Mordin lifted his hand, blood clung to it in sticky strands.
“As expected, you have no mercy.”
I furrowed my brow.
“Turning the man who served as your backer into a pancake, of all things.”
Mordin looked at me with a strange expression.
“Are you insane?”
“Who are you calling insane, you crazy bastard!”
“…….”
“Did our territory look that tempting? No—our land was nothing more than a stepping stone for you, wasn’t it? And once you stepped on it, where were you trying to reach? The world the Demon God desires, a world for demons?”
Mordin’s eyes sank coldly.
“You know far too much. Just what the hell are you? By my calculations, your strength shouldn’t have been at this level either.”
“If you’re that curious, it’s only polite to tell you! I am…”
Sharp wind coiled around my blade.
“The madman who came back from hell to kill you.”
Mordin sighed.
“I was a fool for wanting a proper conversation.”
“A pity you only realized it now.”
“…….”
Thick killing intent rose in Mordin’s eyes.
The next instant he kicked off the ground and drove a massive fist toward my face.
I bent my waist low and slipped into his guard.
Then I swung my sword at his chest.
If he still had his wits, Mordin would have stepped back to dodge the cut.
Whoosh!
But instead of retreating, he swung his other hand at me.
Watching that, I thought,
Does something hurt?
I slashed across Mordin’s chest, then quickly brought my blade up against his incoming fist.
Even so I couldn’t fully kill the monstrous power; I was hurled into the air and rolled across the floor several times.
It hadn’t been a direct hit, so no bones broke, but my body throbbed fiercely.
“To think you could even react to that… Honestly impressive.”
Mordin watched me rise with a voice full of interest.
“But in the end there remains an overwhelming difference between our races.”
He stroked the red blood dripping from his chest.
“A wound that would be critical for a human regenerates quickly with a demon’s power.”
Mordin bared savage teeth.
Demons far surpassed humans in physical ability and regenerative power. And the same was true of Mordin, who had ingested demon blood.
That was what made things even harder in my previous life.
No matter how many times I cut him, he regenerated as if nothing had happened.
In the end I had no choice but to keep cutting until his regenerative power reached its limit and he died.
“For the crime of ruining my plans, you will clearly…”
Mordin trailed off mid-sentence and suddenly widened his eyes.
“Huh?”
I smiled faintly at his flustered face.
“Something wrong? Need to take a shit?”
“Why isn’t it regenerating…”
Ordinarily the wound I had inflicted would already have closed.
Yet fresh blood still poured from Mordin’s chest.
“W-wait. This is… don’t tell me…”
Examining the wound, Mordin stared at me with pupils blown wide.
“Holy power?”
I cackled.
“What? Did you think I came to meet you without any plan at all?”