novelraw Chapter 133 : Chapter 133
Chapter 133 : Chapter 133
Chapter 133: Devil and Church (4)
The Gate of the North.
Compared to Premont, Ekampote was a rather unremarkable city.
More developed than the backward frontiers, but an ordinary land compared to the prime territories.
Perhaps for that reason, Ellen didn't look around as she had when she first arrived in Premont.
The captain of the guard, who personally opened the city gates, seemed pleased. It was thanks to the pure white habit Wimar wore.
I don't know what kind of magical beast it was, but it seemed to be a rather troublesome one.
It seemed that not only the church of Ekampote but also the knights had been unable to defeat it.
The captain of the guard said he would guide Harad's party to the castle, but Wimar refused.
He seemed to have no intention of meeting the Count or staying in the castle. True to his fundamentalist nature, he was an upright priest.
“I will conduct the search. I will borrow your strength after that.”
Wimar spoke to Harad and then to Ellen.
Because she was Harad's superior.
Wimar was treating Harad privately and Ellen publicly.
“Interrogation? Not subjugation?”
Ellen tilted her head.
Harad had the same expression as her.
Wimar was dispatched for the subjugation of a magical beast.
“It wasn't a simple magical beast subjugation, was it?”
“I don't know the details either. When dawn comes… are you planning to take Harad with you during the subjugation?”
“Of course. Harad will be helpful.”
Wimar looked at Harad.
It seemed to mean that he would help if he was being forced to go because of Ellen. Harad shook his head.
“There is no coercion. Our lady is not that kind of person. I want to follow.”
“I'll share it with you when we get inside.”
Wimar changed his words.
Ellen noticed that it was because of Harad.
In fact, he should have shared it on the way here.
But they had only exchanged trivial stories.
‘He was planning to leave him behind.’
Wimar seemed to have intended to exclude Harad from the magical beast subjugation.
Because Harad was merely an ordinary person with superior physical abilities.
At least, that's what Wimar knew.
That was the reason Wimar had changed his words.
Since he couldn't be left out, he would share the information to give him time to contemplate the magical beast.
The church of Ekampote was small compared to Premont. The number of people was even more pitiful. The interior was empty, and someone was sitting motionless on a pew.
‘A priest.’
The priest's eyes widened upon seeing Wimar. They were both wearing the same habit. It was the priestly garment of the sun.
“Wimar of the central church of Premont.”
“O light…”
The priest stared blankly at Wimar and then offered a prayer to the ceiling. Tears welled up in the corners of his eyes.
“I am Benach of Ekampote.”
Priest Benach introduced himself, caressing the area over his heart.
“Are you alone?”
“Yes.”
Harad looked around. There was a carving of the sun, but not the moon. It was a church of the sun.
Priest Benach seemed to be the sole survivor of the church of Ekampote.
“A survivor, I see. Is there more information?”
At Wimar's question, Benach shook his head.
“I am not a survivor. I was not qualified to be deployed.”
“You were not a combatant.”
That was the reason Benach had survived.
He was a priest, but his role was not to hunt devils or misfortune.
It was not surprising.
The Church had more priests like that.
That was the reason why the position of Inquisitor was a glorious one.
The Church preferred priests who fought for peace over priests who shared peace.
Wimar spoke with Benach.
There was not much nutritious content. Soon, Benach guided Harad's party to a place to stay.
It was a room where the clergy of the church had lived, and the rooms were next to each other.
The traces of life were still strong inside. Harad and Ellen gathered in Wimar's room.
“The magical beast is in a small forest west of Ekampote.”
Wimar immediately got to the point.
The west. It was the opposite direction of the Imperial capital, and further on was the Gildein front line.
“Since when has it been there?”
“I heard it's been a little less than two months.”
It was after Balbebron and Alena had passed.
“Two months, in that time, the magical beast has killed over dozens of priests.”
Including Holy Knights.
Because they were ultimately baptized priests as well.
“If it's that much, the main sanctuary should have stepped in.”
At Harad's words, Wimar's eyes momentarily glittered with light.
He didn't answer.
There must be internal affairs. The Church was ultimately a place where people lived.
‘Still, if they neglect it, their prestige will fall.’
As many churches had failed, the Church had to step in. But there was no sign of it yet.
‘Premont only dispatched one retired priest.’
Because all the other priests were away on missions?
‘Impossible.’
If it were a serious matter, they would have been recalled.
Eradicating devils is important, but maintaining the peace that has already been won is more important.
Because the former is the Church's achievement, while the latter is the Church's face.
The face mentioned here is not their face, but the face of God.
Achievements can be established slowly, but the face of God must not fall.
‘Wimar came without invading the night.’
It means that his face won't fall even so.
“The magical beast is not moving. Am I right?”
At Harad's point, the wrinkles on Wimar's face straightened out. It was a surprised face.
“You are not like your age. You know how to see through a situation. You are like my peer.”
Wimar gave praise like an insult.
“You don't look a day over forty.”
“Is that so.”
Wimar smiled faintly.
“Yes. Harad, you are right. The magical beast does not leave the small forest. Over dozens of priests have died in that forest.”
“Is the magical beast protecting the forest?”
“No. It is protecting its own wicked body.”
The magical beast simply stays in the forest.
The church attacked such a magical beast, and was killed in return.
“That forest. Is it an important land?”
“It is the land of Laan.”
The entire continent is so.
Harad let out a small, dry laugh.
Doesn't it sound familiar?
Even if you replace the magical beast with a Mage, the story is still natural.
As always, the church was just poking at something that was minding its own business.
To Mages and magical beasts, being alive was a sin.
“So that's why Bishop Magellan called it a bug's trick.”
“It is as you say. That magical beast must be the devil's trick.”
It doesn't leave the small forest, and it doesn't attack first unless someone attacks it.
‘It's not an animal, there's no way such a magical beast exists.’
The Church is convinced of that.
Because a magical beast is a minion of a Mage.
“A certain devil has released a magical beast in the forest. It must have been ordered to wait in the forest. There must be some scheme.”
To Mage Harad, it was incorrect knowledge.
There are magical beasts that follow people, but that is certainly rare.
Even for the regressed Harad, the Fireball was the first such magical beast.
“So you're trying to find the Mage first.”
“That's right. If the master, the devil, dies, the servant, the magical beast, will either weaken or reveal its true nature.”
If it's the former, they will kill it easily; if it's the latter, the main sanctuary will move.
Wimar's judgment was correct. But the premise was wrong.
Mages and magical beasts do not have that kind of relationship.
No matter how many Mages are killed, the power of the magical beast will not be diminished.
The Church is simply mistaken.
‘Though there is an Origin that can tame magical beasts.’
Perhaps they are mistaken because there is such a precedent.
“Is there any information about the devil?”
“The master of the magical beast has not been identified. However, there is information that there is a devil suspect in Ekampote.”
Instead of answering, Harad looked at Wimar. He shook his head.
“That's it. The priest who sent the information was killed by the magical beast.”
There is a devil hiding in Ekampote.
Wimar was guessing that the Mage was the master of the magical beast.
Even if not, the fact that he had to be caught and dealt with did not change.
Since the magical beast did not leave the forest, the first thing Wimar had to do was to identify the Mage.
“Rest with that lady. I'll investigate the surroundings first and come back.”
There was still time left before the sun set.
Wimar immediately stood up.
He was diligent, and did not pass his work onto others.
“I will help.”
Wimar looked Harad up and down without a word.
“I may look like this, but I'm an agent of the Intelligence Bureau. Finding or figuring things out is my specialty.”
Wimar looked pleased.
In the ten days or so, Harad had become able to read the emotions expressed by the wrinkles on his face.
“Identifying Mages is my job. You don't have to worry about it unnecessarily.”
But the stern Wimar didn't seem to want to be a bother.
What Magellan had asked of Ellen was the subjugation of the magical beast, not the identification of a Mage.
“I heard you came to meet a friend.”
Wimar said, turning to look at Ellen.
There is a friend in Ekampote. Ellen had said so to Bishop Magellan.
That was the reason he had to follow Wimar.
That friend was a Mage. The Mage who had told Balbebron and Alena about the sea route.
“The lady will also feel less unsettled if she sees him after everything is over.”
“That's right.”
Ellen chimed in.
“It's better to deal with it quickly and then meet. That friend will like that too.”
* * *
How does the Church find Mages?
Ellen knows that method to some extent. She experienced it through Seria.
First, it's that pure white habit.
Those who avoid it become suspects.
Because there is no reason for a person living on the continent to avoid the Church.
“Attire? The devils that are affected by this habit are low-level. No different from bugs.”
Wimar had said so.
The Church is skilled at deduction, threats, and surveillance.
These are actions possible only when there is a suspect.
To exercise their abilities, they first had to create a suspect.
That was the reason the Church suspected everything.
“Then how do they find them?”
“You have to walk around diligently.”
“And?”
“You have to look diligently.”
That's it. The Church's method was simple.
The white habit. It also expressed the Church's desperation.
Because otherwise, there was no particularly clear method.
The Church was in a position where it had to catch even the bugs that were caught in the habit.
However, there are no bugs in Ekampote.
The central part of the continent. In a land where the Church's power is strong, a clumsy Mage cannot survive.
“Only the most insidious devils live in the center.”
Wimar was looking for such a Mage.
An insidious or bold devil who would not reveal himself even while living in the midst of his enemies.
He walked the streets very slowly.
But his eyes never rested once. His gaze was endlessly sharp.
Harad and Ellen were walking behind him. From the side, Ellen nudged him with her elbow.
It seemed to be a question of what he was going to do now.
It was a problem if Wimar found a Mage, and a problem if he caught the wrong person.
Either way, if Wimar passed judgment, Harad and Ellen would not be able to contact the Mage who knew the sea route, even if he were there.
‘We would be perceived as being on the Church's side.’
Perhaps such a rumor had already started to spread.
Wimar had been exploring the streets for several hours already, and Harad and Ellen had been walking along with him.
‘If there is a Mage, he would have already noticed us.’
A Mage living in hiding is bound to be sensitive.
‘This is troublesome.’
In fact, the perception of the Mage who knew the sea route was fine.
He could explain it anytime if they met later.
Harad was a Mage.
This act of trying to hunt down a Mage couldn't help but be unsettling.
They might get lucky and catch a member of the Liberation Tower's Rebellion faction, but I wonder.
That was a bad thought. It was like hoping that a person you accidentally killed was a criminal.
“What do you think, Harad? Do you have any leads?”
“None.”
Harad shook his head.
Wimar was not disappointed.
He also had no leads.
“Do not be impatient. Patience is the most important thing.”
It was only the first day.
The sun was setting before he knew it.
“Let's go back for today.”
Wimar did not hesitate to stop the investigation.
If the devil was the reason, a priest of the sun could walk around at night, but Wimar did not have such flexibility.
Wimar went into his room as soon as he returned to the church. Not long after, the sound of low snoring was heard.
* * *
“Look, Harad.”
During the investigation, Wimar would often speak to Harad.
“Ordinary people welcome us. The moon is the same. Laan and Luan watch over the continent together.”
That seemed to be both a way to relieve his loneliness and to teach.
“That person is not. He is uncomfortable with me.”
“You mean he's a devil suspect?”
“That's not it. I'll have to watch him more. I just hold him in my heart. Then Laan will give me the answer. Whether it is right or wrong.”
The rumor must have spread as far as it could.
Wimar had already finished his investigation for four days.
Unfortunately for him, there were no results.
The people of Ekampote welcomed Priest Wimar and only offered prayers.
The priest did not have the talent to read their inner thoughts. They only suspected.
“See you tomorrow.”
Wimar was not disappointed.
He was like a hermit silently moving towards an invisible god.
The sound of snoring began from beyond the wall.
Not long after, Ellen tiptoed in and opened the door.
“Are we just going to watch like this?”
Ellen said in a whisper.
Her face was tired.
Seria was a novice. She would run around crying "devil" at random. In a way, they were ridiculous moments.
On the other hand, Wimar was very quiet.
He would sometimes speak to someone, but his voice was gentle. His gaze silently scanned everyone he saw. He was quite eerie.
He was a very skilled hunter.
In four days, Wimar had found out the names, attire, and family relationships of most of the people living in Ekampote.
He would soon place a suspicion on someone.
It could be the right answer, or it could be wrong.
“I shouldn't have talked about the Liberation Tower.”
If he hadn't, he could have insisted that one of the Mages they met on the way was the master of the magical beast.
“He's going to be like that until he catches someone and deals with them, isn't he.”
It was as Ellen said.
It was an investigation that would end only when someone was caught.
“Are you going to let it be?”
Ellen stared intently into Harad's eyes.
It was a problem if a Mage was caught, and a problem even if not.
Ellen was thinking like Harad.
It was for his sake.
“Are you worried? I've already killed quite a few Mages.”
“They were people who deserved to die.”
But what about the someone Wimar would find?
“How do you know what crime they've committed.”
Ellen considered Mages to be people.
She distinguished Mages by the presence or absence of a crime.
Just as Elaine of my past life had.
It was a reward of the regression.
Harad laughed lowly. Ellen's brow furrowed.
“Are you laughing right now?”
“I'm laughing because I'm happy.”
“Happy about what. That someone is about to die?”
“No, about you.”
“…….”
* * *
The next day.
Wimar moved exactly as he had for the past four days.
“Rosen.”
No, it was slightly different.
Wimar spoke to a man who was drawing water from a well.
It was the young man who had been uncomfortable with him yesterday.
“Rosen, who works at the northwest merchant guild building.”
Yesterday, Wimar had taken the young man to heart.
It seemed that the Laan in his heart had given him the answer last night.
“Can you come to pray for a moment?”
That it was the right answer.
Rosen's face turned pale.
He was so surprised that he couldn't even make a sound, only moving his mouth.
He had noticed that the prayer Wimar was talking about was not just a simple prayer.
There was only one case where a priest would single out a person on the street like this.
Ellen secretly nudged Harad with her elbow.
She seemed to have meant it to be gentle, but it was very painful. It was Innate Strength.
“A devil?”
Harad asked Wimar.
“I have a suspicion. I am going to find out now.”
Wimar said as if teaching.
His voice was quite gentle. It was like that when he was talking to Harad. He considered Harad to be quite special.
“If he is not a devil, he will pray; if he is, he will repent in the flames of purification.”
Even if he wasn't, he would be forced to repent.
That was how devil trials were. The Church had a knack for turning anyone into a devil.
“Wouldn't it be better to watch him more? He might not be.”
“That is why we are going to offer a prayer. If he is not, Laan will shine a light.”
It is not Laan who chooses, but Wimar.
The regressed Harad knew that very well. No great priest had ever heard the voice of Laan.
“You might be catching the wrong person.”
“Harad.”
Wimar said.
His voice was not gentle.
“Do not doubt the will of Laan any further. If you do, I will have to doubt you.”
Wimar's face was bitter.
At the same time, it was endlessly resolute. In his eyes, Rosen was already a devil.
It was then that a wind blew from the side.
It was enough to make his hair fly, and a rough sound came from below. Ellen had kicked a stone at her feet.
“……What are you doing.”
Wimar asked, growling.
To him, it seemed like a protest. If so, he had to be suspected.
“I suddenly wanted to kick it.”
“Are you doubting the will of Laan?”
To Wimar, it was a ridiculous excuse.
But Harad's eyes lit up.
‘Innate Strength.’
I suddenly wanted to kick it.
It was the same principle as being able to cut when you want to cut.
Ellen hadn't simply wanted to kick the stone.
She had wanted to kick the stone over there.
“I think there's something over there.”
Unlike Seria, Wimar did not get excited.
He stared intently at Harad and then slowly nodded his head. And so, he approached the place where the stone had flown with Harad.
There was blood. A little bit of flesh too. A carelessly kicked stone had pierced a part of a body.
‘It wasn't Ellen who noticed, it was Innate Strength.’
Harad and Wimar hadn't noticed either.
It was a secretive Mage. Only one thing came to mind. The archer Mage they had met on the way down to Premont, the devil who had killed his companion.
‘He was a madman.’
To follow them all the way to the Empire, and to the central part at that.
Harad laughed in disbelief.
He must be quite confident in his stealth.
Or he has a great interest in them.
“……Devil!”
Wimar, who had been surprised by the power of the stone, reacted to the blood.
Harad was also doing so inwardly.
The blood contained magic.
It was a Mage.
And one with an Origin related to blood.
“What do you think?”
It's an opportunity.
Harad did not miss it and opened his mouth.
“I think he's the master of the magical beast. He came to watch us.”
“…….”
Wimar looked back and forth between the bloodstain and Rosen several times.
“That's my deduction as an agent of the Intelligence Bureau. The Serzila Intelligence Bureau is very great.”
“……I think so too.”
Soon, Wimar affirmed.
He seemed to trust Harad more than the Serzila Intelligence Bureau.
“Is the one named Rosen cleared of suspicion?”
“That is not it. It must be another devil.”
Wimar did not doubt his judgment.
It was not his ability, but the ability of God.
“But his prayer will have to be postponed.”
However, he was relieved for a moment.
Wimar could not take his eyes off the bloodstain.