I Am an Inquisitor
I am an Inquisitor.
The moment we arrived in the Luminara Territory, we did not head for the mansion. Instead we made straight for the nearby fields that had been stricken by the plague.
After surveying the rotting fields for a time, Alturo came over to us.
“Hmm. Leave it like this and the plague will spread through the entire territory before long.”
“Can you handle it?”
“It will take some time to analyze the components thoroughly and gather the materials, but it is possible.”
Just as I expected.
In his past life Alturo had been called the “Viper,” yet he had also carried the moniker of the “Indifferent Physician.” The reason he had been named the Avarice among the Seven Deadly Sins was that he possessed knowledge capable of saving countless lives and yet never once shared it with anyone.
“But this is strange.”
When Alturo tilted his head, I asked,
“What is?”
“The plague in these fields contains toxic components that cannot occur naturally. It is not entirely impossible, but the odds are vanishingly small. Far more likely that someone deliberately manufactured the plague and spread it.”
He could tell that much from a single glance. I had never mentioned Baron Skallen to him.
“Exactly. This plague was deliberately sown to gnaw away at our territory.”
“Ah, so it was. Then do you happen to have a sample of the plague? With that alone I could have it solved before the summer sowing.”
“Unfortunately I never found one.”
Baron Skallen had cured the plague after seizing our lands. That meant a cure existed, yet no matter how thoroughly we tore through the Skallen mansion, nothing turned up. He had almost certainly outsourced the plague as well. Scriben had said there was a strong chance it had been spread through the Evil Book Society or some other channel.
I really should send Scriben to pay Baron Skallen a visit.
I spoke.
“We’re heading back to the mansion for now. Food first.”
“Very well.”
“Yay!”
Luminara Mansion.
Benedict was receiving an unexpected male visitor in the study.
“So what business brings you all the way out here?”
Benedict took the seat of honor and asked. The man answered,
“Ah, I heard the residents have been suffering from a plague that recently struck the fields. With the summer sowing season approaching as well, I imagine the Baron’s worries must be considerable.”
“Yes. That is true enough.”
Benedict gave a bitter smile. Word of the plague had already reached other places, it seemed. Displaying a weakness did nothing for one’s reputation.
“A truly lamentable situation. Especially since the Luminara Territory depends so heavily on its crops.”
“I appreciate the concern, but it is hardly a matter outsiders need to fret over.”
The meaning was clear: everyone already knew the problem, so there was no call for an outsider to dig into it. The man’s words had been little more than a sneer.
Realizing his intent, the visitor spoke as if he had only just remembered.
“Ah, my apologies. I should have introduced myself first. I am Srow, from the Flora Research Institute, which specializes in the study of plants.”
It was an institute Benedict had heard of a few times during his pilgrimages as a priest. They sometimes sold plants with unusual properties to fund their research.
“I see. Then what brings a man from the Institute all the way here?”
“By now you have probably guessed. We believe we can resolve that plague of yours.”
“The plague?”
He had suspected as much the moment the man claimed to be from a research institute, yet hearing it outright still startled him. The plague had tormented the people for more than half a year. Experts of every stripe had been brought in to examine it, and not one had uncovered anything useful. Now the answer had simply walked in of its own accord?
“Yes. As I said, the Flora Research Institute studies all manner of plants—and the plagues that harm them.”
“…….”
“After hearing the rumors I took a look at the fields myself. The plague is well within our ability to handle. That is why I sought an audience with the Baron.”
Benedict considered for a moment before speaking.
“You are certain you can eliminate the plague?”
“Yes. And if I may ask—was this plague deliberately spread by someone? Upon examination I found components that are extremely difficult to produce naturally.”
That Baron Skallen had sown the plague was a fact known only to the Luminara family and a handful of people within the Holy See. The fact that these men could even identify it meant their claim to a cure was almost certainly genuine.
“Indeed…”
Benedict nodded.
“But you did not come for charity, I trust? What is the price?”
“Haha, I appreciate a man who gets straight to the point.”
Srow smiled thinly.
“One thousand five hundred gold coins will suffice.”
“…One thousand five hundred?”
Fifteen hundred gold was nearly the annual operating budget of a barony. Cael had brought in enough money that they could technically pay it, yet spending that sum without Cael’s leave felt wrong, and the territory’s finances would be precarious for some time afterward. They would soon have to manage the Skallen lands as well; without funds that task would become impossible.
“That seems rather excessive. Is there no room for negotiation?”
Srow tilted his head at Benedict’s question.
“Excessive? Left unchecked, the plague will soon blanket the entire territory. A land that lives by its crops will find recovery extremely difficult.”
“…….”
“If a crisis of that magnitude can be averted with money, is it not a bargain? Do not stand by and watch disaster approach simply because you begrudge a temporary loss, Baron Luminara.”
“Ugh…”
Benedict pressed his throbbing temples. The man was right. If the plague was allowed to consume the family itself, fretting over present losses was folly.
“My lord.”
At that moment Scriben, standing nearby, spoke quietly. Benedict understood the meaning behind the call.
Come to think of it, Cael left this time precisely to deal with the plague.
In the past he would have dismissed the idea as fantasy, yet Cael had already proven himself changed. The family’s improved circumstances, the preemptive strikes against those who threatened them—all of it had been Cael’s doing. Waiting until Cael returned before deciding would not be too late.
“Give me time to consider. I must examine whether we can even prepare fifteen hundred gold at once.”
Thus Benedict offered a vague excuse.
“Haha, Baron Luminara.”
Srow kept his smile, but his eyes turned hard.
“I did not come for charity. I came because I need research funds immediately. If the deal here is delayed, I simply move on to another place that desperately needs our help. Why waste time in a place like this?”
“…….”
“I truly cannot understand the Baron’s hesitation. Or is the wealth stacked in this mansion more important to you than the lives of your people?”
When Srow grew openly insolent, Scriben, who had been listening, flinched.
“This bastard…”
“Enough.”
Benedict raised a hand to stop him. Scriben swallowed his anger and muttered under his breath,
“Goddess, grant me infinite patience…”
“Well, if you cannot yet afford the full fee, half will do for now. The balance can be paid once the work is finished.”
“Half…”
“I will give you exactly one day. If you cannot decide within that time, there is no reason for me to remain in a territory like this.”
Benedict clenched his teeth. Srow had softened the wording, yet it was still blatant blackmail and insolence. He ought to rebuke the man, yet no words left his lips.
Because right now we are the weaker party, pure and simple.
He had nearly forgotten that fact of late, thanks to Cael. The Luminara family had always been the weak ones. They were nobles, yes, but only barons, and their territory was large enough that others constantly eyed it with greed. Was it because he himself was soft from his years as a priest? Would things have been different if his elder brother still lived?
But those are empty what-ifs now.
Benedict clenched both fists. He had long since laid his pride in those hands.
“Very well. One day—”
That was when it happened.
—I will enter.
A quiet voice, and the door opened. Cael strode in, followed by Bella and a man no one had seen before.
Srow’s eyes narrowed as they raked over Cael’s black priestly robes.
“A priest?”
Cael’s gaze locked onto Srow. He rested an arm casually on the sword sheathed at his hip and answered,
“I am an Inquisitor.”
“Why would an Inquisitor suddenly appear here…?”
Srow continued as if the thought had just struck him.
“Ah, come to think of it, I heard the young master of the Luminara family had become an Inquisitor.”
That was a little odd. My appointment as an Inquisitor was not widely known; normally only those connected to the Holy See were aware. Still, rumors could have spread somewhere, so it was not a serious problem.
“Scriben.”
When I called, Scriben stepped close and briefly summarized the situation into my ear.
“He claims to be from the Flora Research Institute, come to cure the territory’s plague. That part is fine, but his manner of speaking was pure intimidation. It felt as though he already understood our predicament and was trying to force us into a hasty decision.”
“…….”
“And it is possible these are the ones who spread the plague in the first place. When I worked under Baron Skallen I recall seeing the name Flora Research Institute.”
“Why are you only mentioning that now?”
“How was I supposed to remember something that specific? It only came back to me when I heard the name today.”
“Fair enough.”
I raised my hand sharply. Scriben instinctively flinched and hunched, but I only clapped him lightly on the shoulder.
“Good work.”
“…Yes, Young Master.”
The man who had been watching us spoke.
“What are the two of you discussing so intently?”
“Matters of heresy. Forgive me if it offended.”
“No, it is quite all right. I am Srow of the Flora Research Institute. I came to resolve the plague here.”
“Oh? A man of importance, then. I failed to recognize you.”
I pretended mild surprise and looked toward my father.
“Father, may I speak with this gentleman for a moment? I will report the details later.”
Father studied me carefully, then nodded and rose from his seat.
“Do so.”
“Thank you, Father.”
As he left he paused briefly at my side.
“Cael.”
“Yes.”
“Handle it amicably. You understand what I mean?”
“Of course.”
I smiled faintly, yet Father could not hide the unease still lingering in his eyes.
“Come, my lord. We shall wait outside.”
Scriben escorted Father out. Only then did I take the seat of honor and face Srow.
“So you came to cure the plague in our territory?”
“Yes.”
“And the price?”
“One thousand five hundred gold coins.”
I nearly called him a madman to his face. He had to know a barony could not easily produce that kind of money.
“Does the Young Master also find the sum excessive?”
“No. Compared to the threat that is coming, it is not excessive at all.”
“Then—”
“However.”
I fixed Srow with a steady stare.
“We have no need of your help. We have already found a solution.”
“Pardon?”
Srow’s eyes went round; then he recovered and answered,
“Haha, Young Master. You do not seem well-versed in this field. It is not a problem that can be solved so easily.”
“That is for us to judge, not an outsider.”
“Yet the Baron did not seem to share that view.”
“He did not—until I arrived. Do you not understand why my father left the room?”
Srow’s brow furrowed slightly.
“Why treat me this way? I only came because it looked as though help was needed.”
“One does not usually demand fifteen hundred gold and then call it ‘help.’”
Srow regarded me for a moment, then heaved a deep sigh.
“The longer this drags on, the greater the territory’s losses will become. We, however, can supply the medicine within a week. Does the Young Master possess a method that is faster than that?”
Just as I was about to reply, Alturo cut in.
“You said within a week?”
“Yes. That is correct.”
“This plague was artificially created. That means no common remedy already exists. Even at the fastest it should take a full month. How do you claim to prepare it in a week?”
“Ah, so you must be the ‘method’ the Young Master mentioned.”
Srow gave a short laugh.
“The Flora Research Institute possesses a wide array of tools and vast stores of knowledge. A week is more than enough. Please do not compare an individual to an organization.”
“Hmm. I see.”
Alturo simply stared at me without another word. The look meant something was off. He had already accounted for the difference between one man and a group when he asked the question. In his past life Alturo had been skilled enough with poisons to earn the name “Viper.”
“Hmm…”
I folded my arms and considered.
I had strong suspicion that the Flora Research Institute had spread the plague in our territory. Scriben had seen the name before, and Alturo himself was already wondering whether they had prepared the cure in advance.
But I still lack hard evidence.
Then again, who am I? An Inquisitor who can interrogate on suspicion alone. A Holy Knight who purifies the world in the Goddess’s name. The office itself carries the necessary justification.
But how exactly do I extract the truth?
Ordinary questioning would likely yield nothing. And with family nearby I could not simply start ripping out fingernails…
Ah. That will do.
The incident at the Vaifer mansion suddenly came to mind.
—It is poison. Without the antidote every month, he dies.
Having decided on the method, I turned to Bella.
“Deacon Bella. We begin the conversation.”
“Yes, Inquisitor.”
Recognizing the cue, Bella drew up her mana and enclosed the study in a barrier of power—a sound-blocking ward.
I looked next to Alturo.
“Alturo. May I leave this interrogation to you?”
“How so?”
“In the same fashion the Vaifer heir once used on me.”
“The heir…?”
After a moment’s thought Alturo nodded at once.
“Ah, that. Leave it to me.”
Srow, who had been watching in silence, looked puzzled.
“Interrogation? What is that suppo—”
He never finished the sentence. Alturo kicked lightly off the floor, brushed past him, and came to a halt behind him. A thin scratch had already appeared on Srow’s forearm, purple liquid dripping from the wound.
“W-what do you think you’re doing?!”
Ashen-faced, Srow clutched his arm and stared at Alturo.
Alturo answered flatly.
“Poison. Without regular doses of the antidote, your life will be in danger.”
“Something like this can be cured at the Institute—!”
“You will die before then.”
Alturo allowed himself a faint smile. The villain of a past life never truly disappeared, it seemed.
I nodded in satisfaction and offered Srow a cold piece of advice.
“From this moment you will tell us everything you know. Bear in mind that I am by no means retaliating for anything you have said or done.”
Understanding the meaning, Srow bit his lip and glared at me.
“Is this a threat?”
At the question I could not help a quiet snort of laughter.
“What else would it be?”