Chapter 143 – New Inquisitor

New Inquisitor

If it had been the Inquisition Bureau of the Basilica, it would have been a dream he could not even dream of.

Because the Director would have known all the personal details of the inquisitors, and personnel movements would also be carried out under his overall management.

Thus, in the case of the Basilica, the proposal just now would have had no choice but to go through the Director’s approval.

‘It is truly fortunate that there is no Director here.’

Fortunately, there was no such position as Director in the Orthodox Inquisition Bureau.

The reason was that the Inquisition Bureau itself remained a subordinate organization annexed to the cathedral, not an independent institution.

Here, the appointment of inquisitors was done directly by the five Archbishops, and for personnel management, there was a separate person in charge of inquisitor personnel affairs under the Patriarch.

In other words, the person in charge of personnel affairs under the Patriarch took on the role of Director, his rank was the same as that of an inquisitor, and he was the key figure.

No matter who else he might run into, he had to avoid that man at all costs.

Since he would be the only one who knew Rashid was a fake.

“How about it?”

At Inquisitor Jason’s proposal, Rashid did not show the slightest hesitation.

“It is an honor for me. When else would I get to work with an inquisitor of the Jaeger family? If there is an opportunity, it must be now.”

Unlike in the Basilica,

the inquisitors here were divided into Orthodox and Dispatched forms.

Those appointed by the Patriarch who constantly resided in Saint John’s Cathedral were referred to as Orthodox, and those who came from other archdioceses were generally referred to as Dispatched.

Here, there was no hierarchy between the Orthodox and Dispatched inquisitors, which was because the status and authority of the five Archbishops who appointed the inquisitors were equal to one another.

The Patriarch was merely the first among equal archbishops.

He could not exert any influence over the dioceses ruled by the other archbishops.

“As you likely know, there is no particular discrimination just because one is a dispatched inquisitor. However, since you came from a distant place, there might be a bit of regional sentiment.”

“I am fully aware of that much. Since we are all inquisitors anyway, I do not plan to care much about it.”

The current conversation was possible because he understood the Inquisition system of the Orthodox Church to some extent.

If he had not known, his identity would have been suspected.

However, Rashid’s acting was as natural as flowing water.

‘Looking at this, if I am lucky, I might really be able to pretend to be an inquisitor. As long as I do not have the bad luck of meeting the person in charge of personnel affairs.’

Since his appointment was supposedly done by the Kiliman Archdiocese, there was no way to verify it here.

Meaning there was no way to know without inquiring directly to the Kiliman Archdiocese.

However, the person in charge of personnel under the Patriarch would definitely know, so he was the problem.

“I will speak to the personnel manager.”

Rashid reacted immediately.

“No. I will speak to the personnel manager separately. So you do not need to worry about that part.”

“You yourself? Still, it would be better for me to go and speak. You said it has not been long since you were dispatched? Then you must not be familiar with the internal layout either.”

Since he could not allow that, Rashid responded quite firmly.

“It is my business, so I will handle it myself. I am not the type of person who likes to leave my work to others. I am someone who only feels satisfied when I do my own work.”

“If you do that, it is fine by me. I will not have to go through the trouble of visiting the personnel manager. More than that, what a relief. Looking at that seat which is always empty, I was always wondering when it would be filled. Inquisitors of the Jaeger family are always rare, you see.”

“It will certainly be a good experience for both of us.”

“I think so too. At least my workload will be cut in half. Since I have a reliable ally.”

The official vehicle came to a stop.

Before they knew it, they had arrived at Saint John’s Cathedral.

Rashid kept pace with Inquisitor Jason and quietly followed him.

If they continued like this, they would reach his office located in the Inquisition Bureau.

Unless something happened, he would be reporting to work there starting tomorrow.

‘But it is somewhat funny. To think I would end up playing the role of an inquisitor here unintentionally. Honestly, I would have been satisfied just by reaching Do-jin.’

Although things were flowing differently from his intentions,

there was nothing bad about it.

If it was like this, he could approach Do-jin, who was held captive by the order, much more easily.

‘I only hope I do not meet the personnel manager.’

Rashid spoke to Inquisitor Jason, reminding himself of the purpose of his visit.

“Now that I think about it, I heard news that there is a player who was captured recently.”

“Ah, that story. I know it too. They say they will execute him publicly?”

“Did you know?”

“Is he not a player captured after a long time? Unlike other players, they said he did not hide his identity. It is a very strange thing. Normally, one would hide the fact that they are a player at all costs.”

Do-jin was an otherworlder player who had no connection to this place at all.

So he likely had no idea what kind of treatment players received here.

‘That must be why he was caught. Well, if he had known how players are treated here, he would have hidden it by all means. If he had known the truth, he probably would not have been caught in the first place.’

“Do you happen to know where he is?”

Jason expressed doubt.

“Why do you ask that? It is not our business anyway.”

“I was just curious since it has been a long time since one was caught. Has there not been little news of players lately? I thought all the players had disappeared.”

“True… I thought so too. I heard that an inquisitor on our side is holding him.”

“Here?”

“Since it is a matter of grave importance, of course we must take charge of it. Was punishing players not the duty of our inquisitors?”

“Indeed.”

How far did they walk?

Around the time they almost reached the Inquisition Bureau, three inquisitors walking out of the bureau recognized Jason.

“Jason, I heard Her Highness the Princess was critically ill because of a devil. Did you go to the royal castle?”

“I am already on my way back after resolving that. It was all thanks to this inquisitor.”

The three inquisitors turned their gazes to the inquisitor standing beside Jason.

Although it was said that there were many inquisitors belonging to the Inquisition Bureau,

for an inquisitor who solved such a critical matter, his face was one they were seeing for the first time in their lives.

“Who is he? An inquisitor I am seeing for the first time.”

Rashid acted as calmly as possible, and Jason introduced him instead.

“Ah, they said he was dispatched from Kiliman this time. It seems he is an inquisitor appointed there.”

“From Kiliman?”

“So I heard.”

A look of doubt emerged on the faces of the three inquisitors.

“A new inquisitor was dispatched? I did not hear anything. Did you guys?”

“Same here. I did not hear such a story either.”

“I also did not hear that a new inquisitor was coming.”

As if understanding their bewilderment,

Jason added a further explanation.

“The inquisitor His Holiness the Patriarch sent earlier because of a problem in the royal castle is this very person.”

“Ah, His Holiness the Patriarch?”

Only then did the three inquisitors stop doubting.

If he had been sent by the Patriarch, the supreme leader of the Orthodox Church who was directly involved in the appointment of inquisitors, there was no need for them to doubt.

Seeing this, Rashid laughed inwardly.

‘They fall right in line at the mention of the Patriarch. Indeed, even I would find it hard to doubt much if told they were an inquisitor sent by the Pope.’

Getting caught up in the royal castle affair earlier really seemed like a stroke of heaven’s luck.

Otherwise, his identity probably would have been exposed here.

“Since there are so many dispatched ones, I suppose that could happen.”

“Since the faces of the dispatched ones change every time, it is hard to memorize them. Staying put in one place like us is the best. Anyway, it seems you have newly arrived. Nice to meet you.”

“Well, it is not like we know all the faces anyway.”

One of them suddenly threw a question at Rashid.

“By the way, you came from Kiliman?”

Rashid spoke up.

“Yes, I came from Kiliman.”

“There should be other inquisitors dispatched from Kiliman. Have you met them?”

“I plan to meet them slowly.”

“Usually, one tends to look for people from the same diocese first, so you are a bit unusual. Which family are you from?”

Inquisitor Jason, who was with him, answered instead.

“He said he is from the Borcia family.”

“From the Borcia family?”

Then, one of the inquisitors stepped forward.

“I am of the Borcia family? Yet this is my first time seeing you.”

He wondered as he looked at Rashid.

It was because he was not someone he knew.

However, none of them, including him, seemed to think of it as strange.

This was also the reason Rashid had chosen that family.

“Are there only one or two people in the Borcia family? It is possible you do not know him.”

“That is true. Actually, even with Inquisitor Peter, we are of the same family, but we are practically strangers. We do not even speak to each other. If our regions were at least the same, it might be different, but our regions of origin are completely different.”

“More than that, what is your name?”

“I am Lycian Borcia.”

“Inquisitor Lycian. When you have time, why do we not have lunch together.”

“Sure, why would I refuse? We are of the same family.”

Tapping Rashid’s forearm with a friendly gesture, he spoke.

“I am not from Kiliman, but are we not of the same family? There is nothing bad about getting to know family members.”

“I think so too.”

After finishing their conversation, the three inquisitors departed, and Jason led Rashid again to guide him to his office.

“Here it is. This is my office, and the desk you will use is right over there.”

The size of the office was around the level of the private chambers Rashid used.

In this narrow space, there were as many as three inquisitor desks, and seats for attendants were also visible.

As it was an annexed institution belonging to the cathedral, it was unavoidable due to space constraints.

Satisfied nonetheless, Rashid gently touched the desk he would use with his fingertips.

‘I do not know how long I will stay, but I will be indebted to this place for the time being.’

“I like it. Can I use this place from now on?”

Inquisitor Jason, who walked over and sat at his own seat, asked again.

“Are you sure I do not need to speak to the personnel manager? As you likely felt earlier, the interior of the cathedral is quite complex.”

“I will handle that matter myself. What is the rush?”

“That is true.”

Looking at the desk of the inquisitor who was not present, Rashid asked him.

“Besides that, it seems there is one more inquisitor. Where is he?”

“Ah, he is out right now. They said a new heretical religion has emerged. He seems to be tracking it.”

“A heretical religion?”

“Something about flowers blooming? Have you not seen people on the streets suddenly kneeling and praying while speaking gibberish? It has been quite a headache lately.”

It was the story of the Flowering Cult related to Sayaka.

“Ah, is the inquisitor here in charge of that case?”

“So I heard. It seems to be quite a headache. I heard that its scale is fairly large, larger than expected. Moreover, it seems there are quite a few people involved in that heretical religion. The executioner knights also seem to be subtly involved. It is quite a big deal.”

Rashid nodded his head, then opened his mouth.

“That is a problem. I also wish to be of some help in that matter.”

Jason thought it was strange.

“Is that not your strength? You should be receiving the surrender of devils with me, so why are you interested in such matters?”

“I do not only hunt devils. I also hate heresy from the bottom of my heart.”