Heresy Interrogation

How did they find out?

No.

It would be stranger if they didn't know.

When someone performs miracles on this scale without a trace of holy power, it certainly warrants suspicion.

I felt my heart drop into my stomach.

As I had told you before, I froze up completely when things like this happened.

And when I froze, my expression unchanged, Tudel whistled as if impressed.

"Not even a flicker of emotion. You've got nerves of steel, don't you? But standing there with a brazen face won't change a thing. A priest without holy power strutting around claiming to be a saint is a gravely serious matter. Try hiding it just as well in front of the Heresy Inquisition."

She laughed a haughty "hoho."

Looking at her again, it was both her face and the way she talked.

She really had a face that made you want to slap her hard, just once.

If it weren't for the menacing priests of the Silence Order standing behind her, I actually would have hit her.

Anyway, what was I supposed to do?

My cover was already blown!

Wasn't this the end?

I thought I'd avoided being burned at the stake!!

What the hell was I supposed to do!

While I was screaming internally.

In the distance, I saw the bald old man, Yodel, charging toward us with fierce momentum.

"What is the meaning of this! What business do the Silence clergy of the Pantheon have here?!"

At High Priest Yodel's question, the witch Tudel laughed "hoho" and pointed at me.

"Ah, High Priest. You've been deceived. A man with no holy power has been going around pretending to be a saint."

"I have known about his lack of holy power for some time. However, this person is indeed the saint of our order."

"I'm sorry, but I've already looked into this. According to the Pantheon's Heresy Inquisition protocols, even if an order internally recognizes a saint, the Pantheon retains the authority to conduct a heresy inquisition on that individual."

Tudel spoke with a triumphant air, but Yodel didn't simply back down either.

"You haven't read the protocols carefully. According to the Pantheon's protocols, the authority to conduct a heresy inquisition on said individual is limited to cases where it has become evident that the individual has caused trouble for multiple orders and for society. The Saint has never once caused social trouble. The Holy Knights of the Sun Order and the police, including myself, can testify to that."

"But does a saint without holy power even make sense?"

"It is true that he lacks holy power. Yet despite that, this person is indeed our order's saint. In the first place, if he were truly a fraud and not a saint, we would have reported him for falsely claiming the title of saint without the Pantheon needing to intervene."

As Yodel answered back point for point without yielding, the priests of the Silence Order standing behind Tudel carefully looked at each other and conferred for a moment before stepping forward.

"Do you truly believe this person is the saint of the Order of Grace, High ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Priest Yodel?"

"I swear on my faith. This person is without a doubt the Saint of Grace."

I thought he should throw away that faith, old man.

He really was a fraud.

I had no faith, and every miracle I'd performed was created using erotic-game abilities.

They were the kind of skills that would make you retch and run away the moment you read the first paragraph of the description.

Anyway, I was frozen stiff, just listening to the conversation.

Since Yodel put his foot down so firmly, the priests of the Silence Order also wore uncertain expressions.

"Ms. Tudel. While a saint without holy power is certainly an absurd concept, if the Order of Grace itself, the party directly involved, comes out this strongly, it becomes difficult for us to exercise a high-intensity heresy inquisition."

"Moreover, the fact that he hasn't caused any social trouble seems clear... I'm afraid a heresy inquisition will be difficult."

At the Silence Order's words, Tudel's face twisted in anger.

"Right now, I'm facing accusations that I tried to use the White Order to indirectly murder someone who wasn't an Abomination. I've been framed! That bitch Erpa is definitely an Abomination! And this so-called saint in front of us is clearly a fake sent to prevent Erpa's true identity from being exposed! He must be an Evil God worshipper!"

At Tudel's words, the slum dwellers who had gathered around me began to erupt with fury.

"Do not slander the Saint!! You witch!!!"

"What does that bitch know to run her mouth like that? The Saint is not that kind of person!!!"

"Do not insult the Healing Saint!! Insulting the Saint is no different from insulting all of us!!!!!"

Despite the pouring jeers and rage, Tudel didn't even blink.

Wow.

She was truly shameless and infuriating.

If this were a novel, she'd be the perfect extra for a villainess role.

"Isn't it the role of the Heresy Inquisition to doubt and doubt again? What would you do if he turned out to be not the Healing Saint, but a Demon Cultist or an Evil God Worshipper? What if all the countless miracles he performed were part of an Evil God's scheme? Does a saint without holy power make any sense? You must take him in for questioning! Surely some flaw will be revealed!! Think about it! The recent incident with the priest of the Sun Order being exposed as an Evil God Worshipper! I believe precisely because he is a saint, we must doubt him even more thoroughly and eliminate any questionable aspects."

"Ms. Tudel."

"I don't care if I'm punished for everything else, but I want to at least confirm without a doubt that Erpa is an Abomination! I've already been expelled from the Magic Tower; I don't want to be branded a heretic ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠by the Pantheon too!"

At Tudel's forceful argument, the priests of the Silence Order finally sighed.

"......She isn't wrong. In principle, when a saint appears, the Pantheon has a duty to distinguish whether he is an impostor falsely claiming the title or a true saint, and to either recognize him or punish him. High Priest Yodel."

"I cannot hand him over! Do you intend to insult the Order of Grace?! This man has never once caused social trouble! On the contrary, he has only ever saved and saved again the abandoned!"

"We fully understand the will of the Order of Grace. We also acknowledge that he has caused no social trouble. Given this level of good deeds, even if he were to be found guilty of falsely claiming sainthood, it would likely end with only about a year in the underground prison before his release. However, once an accusation has been filed, the heresy inquisition cannot be avoided. High Priest Yodel."

"I refuse!! I will refuse a hundred, a thousand times!! I will never accept the insult of putting our order's saint on the inquisition stand!......"

Cutting off Yodel's words, I rose from my seat.

I hadn't heard a single other word.

Just now, clearly!

Clearly, the priests of the Silence Order said that even if he was found to be a fake saint, it would probably end with only about a year in prison, right??

If I could avoid a direct hit of the Goddess's divine punishment square on the top of my head, at the cost of just one year in jail??

That was a bargain.

A hell of a bargain!!

If I lived quietly, like I was dead, in prison for about a year, I'd be ruled a fake saint by then anyway.

Wouldn't the Order of Grace then have no reason to chase after me using Tracking Miracles or whatever?

This was perfect!!

Suddenly, I felt grateful to that witch Tudel.

To think she would give me a way out like this!!

"Take me to the Heresy Inquisition. I will undergo the heresy inquisition."

At my words, Yodel jumped in alarm.

"Saint!! You mustn't!! You mustn't!! You are indeed the saint!!"

I'm not!!

I'm not!!

I'm someone who doesn't know the first thing about Lilia!!

Before my reincarnation and now, I lived my whole life without knowing the first letter of faith!!

I'm a faithless bastard falsely claiming to be the Goddess's saint!!

At this rate, I'm going to die!!

So, I needed to be dragged to the Heresy Inquisition and receive a guilty verdict for being a fake saint as quickly as possible.

After spending about a year in prison, I would use Body Modification on myself, completely change my face, and live quietly like a mouse.

No divine punishment from the Goddess.

No threat of being burned at the stake, just a quiet and ordinary life.

Ahh.

So wonderful.

"I will abide by the Pantheon's decision. Arrest me and interrogate me. In that place, I will reveal everything without hiding a thing."

"You mustn't!! Saint!!"

I glared at Yodel.

I had finally found a way to escape, so stop trying to interfere!

"It is my will. High Priest Yodel. This is the right thing to do."

At my words, High Priest Yodel hesitated for a moment, then stepped back.

"......If that is your will......."

It worked!!

So the unconditional yes-man does come in handy sometimes!!

I held out both my hands to the priests of the Silence Order.

"Take me to the Pantheon and begin the heresy inquisition. I will gladly accept it."

At my action, the slum dwellers around me collapsed, wailing in grief.

"Saint!! Do not abandon us!! Saint!!"

"Aaaah!! You mustn't! Saint!! We need you!!"

"Please don't go!!!"

The wailing was so loud I could barely make out what anyone was saying.

Even the priests of the Silence Order were visibly hesitating as they cast the Miracle of Suppression on me.

Was this right?

They seemed troubled, too.

Only Tudel wore an expression of sheer delight, as if she could die happy.

And I followed her lead, laughing inwardly along with her.

Thank you, Tudel.

Thanks to you, escape is now possible.

I'll just do my time.

Just one year, and I'll be out.

Then a reset becomes possible.

No more life worrying about the Goddess's divine punishment. No more life worrying about being burned at the stake.

Farewell forever now.

"Do not rely on me. I am simply someone who will be gone in a while. Absolutely!! Absolutely!! Do not despair at my departure, create chaos, or start a riot."

I was only going to do about a year and get out.

I didn't want to end up in a scenario where you people start a riot or something, and they say, 'Oh, so you caused social trouble, huh? A fake saint causing social trouble? You're getting burned at the stake.' I didn't want a crackling, blazing ending.

"Even after I am gone, carry on as you have been. Sweep the streets, feed the hungry, clean, and live caring for one another. If you do this, perhaps someday our paths may cross again."

That was lip service.

Our paths would never cross again.

I was leaving this place forever.

It was truly filthy meeting you all, and let's never see each other again.

As I was speaking to the people like that.

In the distance, I saw Jonathan Karma and his family running toward us, panting, having apparently heard the news.

"What is the meaning of this!! This man is absolutely not a fake saint!! He saved my family! This is tyranny!! He is no fraud!!"

So you came, Mr. Karma.

The core of the Lilia Order's bankruptcy plan.

But I didn't need you anymore.

Since I was going to be judged a fake saint, rot in prison for a year, and then quietly slip away anyway.

Until now, I had been aggressively pushing to bankrupt the order, but in a year, I would be someone unrelated to the Lilia Order.

Since I would soon have nothing to do with it, I should change my tune a little.

Still, the Order of Grace had treated me well.

Shouldn't I at least prevent it from going bankrupt because of my personal stubbornness, leaving an incompetent person at its head?

"Mr. Jonathan. Let me ask one favor of you."

"Anything! Please, anything!!"

"I can only feel sorry that you seem to have taken on a great burden because of me. Now that I, the one responsible, am disappearing, if things don't go well with the business, you may quit and leave immediately."

Knowing full well how horribly incompetent you are, I had politely expressed that he should cut his losses ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and bail out early if it looked like he might bankrupt it.

I figured he'd understand that much.

At my words, Jonathan Karma looked deeply moved, tears welling up as he took my hand.

"I will swear it!! I will wait for you here!! I will make the Lilia Order the wealthiest order in the Empire!! And in that state, I will wait for you forever!! Saint! I swear upon my soul and name, without fail!!! Every coin I earn will be solely for you and the order!"

Oh, hey. You don't have to.

I know you're incompetent, so if it looks like you're about to fail, just cut your losses and run.

I'd be someone with no ties to the Lilia Order soon anyway.

"I will trust you. Mr. Jonathan."

Since it was the last time, I gave him a rough smile and some lip service, then allowed myself to be taken away by the Silence Order.

"Saint!! Saint!!"

"Aaaah!! O Grace, protect him! Protect your apostle!!"

That burdensome cheering erupting behind me would also end that day.

Long live Tudel!!

Long live ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the Heresy Inquisition!!

Long live the fake saint!!

Now there was no longer any danger of the Goddess's divine punishment striking me on the top of my head!