Chapter 103 – Leave of Absence

A brief silence fell.

Since it was the first time he had brought it up, and it was not something to be taken lightly, bewilderment bloomed on the faces of the two.

The first to show a reaction was Director Walter.

“What do you mean by that? Stirring up the Magic Tower?”

“Exactly as I said. A Magic Tower professor is suspected of blasphemy. If we touch him, the Magic Tower will naturally move as well. That is why I said we would stir them up.”

“Blasphemy?”

Rashid mentioned the cases related to Source Alchemy, including those he had succeeded in, and finally pointed out the act that could absolutely never be tolerated.

“He touched upon human alchemy. Whatever else may be, there is no compromise possible when it comes to the creation of life.”

It was a definitive declaration.

“It is blasphemy. The sin of touching the domain of God goes beyond heresy; it is an act that threatens the entire order.”

The Director, letting out a low groan, showed signs of deep contemplation, while Varasha, who had been staring intently at Rashid, spoke her mind frankly.

“You are fearless. To think you would touch someone from the Magic Tower.”

Even when she was an inquisitor, she had never touched anyone from the Magic Tower, nor had she even thought of doing so.

This was close to an unwritten rule that everyone in the order knew, even without anyone teaching them.

It was because they clearly knew the price for such an action.

Even so, Rashid did not bend.

“If you are scared, you can just remain as an inspector. Why think of it so difficultly?”

Provoking her, Rashid thought to himself:

Why did Ryden and Varasha not step forward directly to deal with the Lazarus Villains?

If they did, wouldn’t they be able to keep at least a few of the troublesome villains in check?

Aside from the pondering Director, she had no intention of rejecting his proposal, regardless of the gravity of the matter.

She had been humiliated earlier, and her pride would not allow her to back down like this.

“I will accept it. As long as the charges are certain.”

Rather, it was the Director who was reluctant.

To be precise, he did not seem to welcome what Rashid was doing.

Since it was an act that would break the tacit peace.

“Inquisitor Rashid. I understand your feelings, but surely you know what it means to touch the Magic Tower? If things go wrong, it could escalate into all-out war between the two factions. The reason we leave the Magic Tower alone, even though they are an eyesore, is because keeping them in check is practically impossible.”

“And the power they possess is at a level that even our order worries about. Even if there is a clear justification, the attitude they will show is only one. They will not tolerate it. And they will rise up like a swarm of bees in a joint response.”

Rashid did not deny it either.

If he did not have the firm purpose of executing the villain, he would have left the Magic Tower professor alone, even if he had committed blasphemy.

Because that was correct in many ways.

“So, I intend to stop this. I will not permit it.”

She accepted, but the Director blocked it.

Even if he had proceeded in secret, it was something the Director would have summoned him to stop anyway.

“It is not simply a matter of the sin of blasphemy. He is preparing a very despicable plan. A plan to exchange people in an equivalent trade for scraps of knowledge.”

“What is that story about?”

“As he dealt with the field of Source Alchemy, he became infatuated with equivalent exchange, and to touch upon a more fundamental domain, he came to think of people as the exchange medium rather than simple matter.”

The Director frowned.

“Is that true?”

“Yes, he views people themselves as a better exchange medium than substances like gold or mana stones. That is the kind of man he is.”

“But how do you know that? Did he go around talking about it?”

It was the excuse he always made, but…

There were no better words than this.

“He was someone I had been keeping a close eye on for a long time. I was also the first person to raise suspicions that he succeeded in gold alchemy. Ah, in case you do not know, I will tell you about gold alchemy as well.”

Gold alchemy.

There was a good reason why he succeeded in what everyone else had failed.

“Originally, gold alchemy was an alchemy started to exchange cheap materials for precious gold. It has been attempted since ancient times, and has been tried up until now, but everyone failed. However, Professor Kane succeeded. There was a good reason why he succeeded in that alchemy when everyone else failed.”

Equivalent exchange.

It literally meant exchanging for the same value.

“It is because he alchemized gold by paying a corresponding price. I believe you can probably guess what that price was.”

“Surely… you are not saying he used people for gold alchemy?”

“That is correct. Therefore, he is an atrocious criminal who can never be overlooked. He is useless trash in this world.”

“Are you certain?”

“Yes, I am certain. If we search through his research materials, traces of using human alchemy and people as subjects of equivalent exchange will be discovered.”

“Do the people of the Magic Tower know about this?”

“Even if they know, they will not care. Isn’t the Magic Tower originally that kind of place?”

Of course, they would forbid it in principle, but…

Using a small number of people as experimental materials was no big deal in the Magic Tower.

If it were the entirety of humanity or a somewhat large number of people, it would be a big deal, but…

At least, they would not discipline Professor Kane in the Magic Tower over sacrificing a small number of people for research or experimental purposes.

Rather, if the order executed Professor Kane because of that, they were a group that would run wild even more.

Thus, the Director remained unchanged.

“If it stops at simply that level, it is not our concern. Drop it. I cannot permit it.”

“Even after I have said this, will you still stop me?”

“Don’t you know the reason better than anyone? We cannot tolerate the entire order being put in danger because of the suspicion you raised. Furthermore, in chaotic times like this, I want to stop you even more.”

The Director proposed:

“Why don’t we discuss it again once the chaotic surroundings are stabilized first? At least right now is not a good time. A revolution has broken out in the Empire, and outside, the movements of the Allied Nations are unusual.”

In terms of stirring up the Magic Tower,

it seemed difficult to receive help from the order after all.

Since he had vaguely expected it, there was no great disappointment.

“Even if I force it, will you continue to stop me?”

“I will stop you unconditionally. Do not do something foolish. Even if it is you, there are things I cannot permit.”

“A justification won’t even be necessary, then. I will do this. I will temporarily strip myself of my status as a member of the order.”

The Director frowned.

“Must you really go that far?”

“If you do not permit it, I plan to handle it on my own outside the order. I have absolutely no intention of leaving that crazy professor, who tries to exchange people for scraps of knowledge, alone.”

At the same time, Rashid’s gaze landed on her.

“Of course, since that person is separate from the order, she will have to help me. That much is enough. As soon as the matter is concluded, I will return to the order.”

Was it because he knew he could not stop him?

The Director showed a look of displeasure.

On the other hand, Rashid was firm.

“It is an important matter. If it were something that could simply be postponed, I too would have waited for a good time. However, his movements are unusual. If my judgment is correct, he will commit an absolutely unforgivable act before long. I will deal with him before that happens and return.”

Rashid’s gaze was directed toward her.

She, too, did not bend her will.

“As long as the charges are certain, I will go with him to execute that Magic Tower professor. We can return to the Inquisition Bureau together then.”

There was only one thing for the Director to say.

“Do as you wish. Since you won’t even hold status in the order anyway, there is nothing for me to care about.”

Of course, he did not forget to add these words:

“I will keep your position vacant. So you can return at any time.”

* * *

Returning to his office, Rashid spoke to Karl.

“Karl, I will be away for a while.”

Karl seemed surprised.

“Yes? What do you mean by that? That you will be away.”

“The Director strongly opposed the matter regarding the Magic Tower professor. Thus, I decided to temporarily shed my status as an inquisitor. I am a civilian now.”

Since he had not held the status of an inquisitor when he captured Kane previously either,

Rashid did not think of temporarily putting down the title of inquisitor as a big deal.

Rather, he viewed it positively.

Because the title of inquisitor held little advantage when dealing with the Magic Tower anyway.

On the contrary, it would only arouse their strong animosity.

“Must you really go that far?”

“There is no time. The Director told me to wait for the right time, but Kane will cause trouble before then. It will be too late then.”

“What about me?”

“You stay here. I will call for you separately if needed.”

“Did you also tell Chief Inquisitor Aria?”

“No, she probably does not know yet. Explain it to her well when she comes. Tell her I temporarily went on leave due to the Magic Tower professor’s matter.”

He had wondered if she would go on leave due to the escalating tension of war, but in reality, he was the one taking a leave of absence.

“I will follow you as well, Chief Inquisitor.”

Rashid stopped him.

“No, you stay here. The reason I am throwing away my title is to sever all connections with the order. But if you follow me around, won’t that lose its meaning?”

“But… will you be alright?”

“I plan to call you if necessary, so do not worry too much.”

Packing just a few things lightly, Rashid walked out of his office.

As he did, he did not forget to say these words:

“Do not touch my room and leave it as it is. I will return when the time comes.”

* * *

That evening.

Sitting on a comfortable sofa at home and relaxing leisurely, Rashid came face-to-face with the subordinate inquisitor who had come to find him.

She stood in her outdoor clothes with a displeased look on her face.

“Did you quit without discussing it with me at all?”

“How did you get in here?”

It was his house, of all places.

“Did you break the door to get in? The caretaker must have already gone home by now.”

“Is getting in the problem? I have already come and gone several times.”

At the strange words, Rashid could not hide his puzzlement.

“You came and went several times?”

Of course, since it was a house where caretakers and cleaners went in and out, it was not entirely his house alone.

Since the house she lived in was also nearby, and her workplace was close as well, there was a high possibility that she had stopped by briefly for business.

However, there were certainly parts that were hard to explain with just that.

Thus, just as he was about to ask,

she beat him to it.

“More than that, what is the reason? I heard it is because of the Magic Tower professor, is that correct?”

Rashid, who was about to ask in return, answered first.

“Yes. I tried to catch that professor, but the Director opposed it.”

“I heard you decided to move together with Senior Varasha?”

“It seems you met the Director. Yes. Since that woman was trying to return to the Inquisition Bureau, I struck a deal using that. How could I leave her to return quietly when her intentions are so obvious?”

“You should have just done it with me. Why Senior? Furthermore, Senior feels almost like a spy.”

“It doesn’t matter who it is, does it? And surely you have other work to do?”

Her dissatisfied expression showed no signs of softening.

“Yes, I have work to do. But that was under the premise that you would keep holding your position, Chief Inquisitor.”

Thinking carefully about what she meant,

it seemed she too had some sort of plan drawn up in her head.

Sure enough, since she had a personality that liked everything to go according to plan, she would hate it when surrounding affairs went awry.

It seemed to be said for that reason.

“Don’t mind me and just keep doing what you were doing. And it’s not like I quit for good; I plan to return once I handle that Magic Tower professor’s business, so don’t worry too much.”

“Still, you should have had a basic discussion with me. You must not leave so suddenly like that.”

“Would there be any meaning in discussing it? And this was not something I expected either. It was a decision made on impulse.”

“I hate that word ‘impulse’ very much. I even wonder if it is necessary.”

Judging by her expression,

she seemed to despise the word ‘impulse’ immensely.

“Sometimes, there are many times when I do not understand your actions. Even if I try to guess that it is because of that, I cannot grasp a clue at all.”

“So you are dissatisfied?”

“I am just saying it is so. Anyway, I am a little, very disappointed by this matter. At least, I would like you to notify me in advance about such extreme actions as suddenly quitting your job.”

She showed a forced smile.

“Notification isn’t that difficult, is it? The decision is yours to make, Chief Inquisitor, but letting me know is just basic consideration.”

“How can I notify you in advance of a decision made on impulse?”

As her glaring gaze grew more blatantly intense, Rashid raised his hand to stop her.

It meant that was enough.

“More than that, about this house…”

“More than that, why did you drag in Senior Varasha? She is a spy. Even if the relationship between the order and the Empire is not bad and they cooperate with each other, they are strictly different factions and separate nations. In that sense, it is an undeniable fact that Senior is a spy sent by the Imperial military.”

Her words poured out like rapid fire.

“The Director seems to view her as a simple bridge rather than a spy. In any case, there doesn’t seem to be much good in accepting her, so why are you giving her an opportunity?”

“I was going to refuse as well.”

“And?”

“She is competent, isn’t she? And I share a similar thought with the Director. I know she is someone sent from the military. However, she is not at a level to be so guarded against. And depending on the situation, she could also serve as a bridge with the military.”

“Is that the only reason?”

“Is there any other reason besides that? Ah, since I plan to stir up the Magic Tower, there wouldn’t be a more reliable ally than her. I can use her well and discard her, right?”

“Must you really touch the Magic Tower?”

Since they were the root of all evil,

“I do not understand.”

Rashid had absolutely no intention of conceding on this point.

“Don’t understand it.”

At the simple and clear answer,

she had a face full of things to say, but soon softened her expression and showed a fabricated smile.

“I have been continuously managing the house.”

“Is there a need to go through such trouble? It is someone else’s house.”

Just as she had done in his office,

she moved along her set path, tidied up lightly, and stood before him.

“It is not for someone else’s house, but for myself. I absolutely cannot tolerate a messy state.”

“Don’t you think you are being too nosy?”

“Nosy? I am a person who does exactly what is necessary.”

She continued:

“As I told you before, Senior Varasha is someone I have personally respected since our academy days. Therefore, I hope you will refrain from rude behavior outside of official duties.”

It was a laughable threat.

“I will pretend I didn’t hear that. I do not show much consideration for people I use. If she is that dissatisfied, tell her not to join the Inquisition Bureau.”