Chapter 16 – Preparation

The probability of a cleric becoming an inquisitor?

It was close to zero.

No, it was no exaggeration to say it was impossible.

‘That was why I turned down the position of attendant that the inquisitor offered.’

Attendant in name only.

It was a position of false hope that would only end after taking charge of chores.

Therefore, I had rejected it from the start.

However, another route had opened here.

It was a position directly announced by the Director of the Heresy Inquisition Bureau, who had absolutely no connection to that inquisitor.

‘That will be difficult too. The limitations of status cannot be easily overcome. But it might be different after becoming an Honorary Cleric. Being an Honorary Cleric itself is the highest honor a commoner can reach, and in a way, it’s like being a minor noble.’

Since the Director also had his own words to uphold,

even if the person in question was an Honorary Cleric, he would keep his word to some extent.

‘That is how important the matter regarding the Arcane Flower is.’

In the Revolutionary Party, there was one famous villain.

A revolutionist who would later overthrow the Imperial Family and establish a republic.

And the protagonist of the massacre who would become an iron-blooded dictator and exterminate all races other than humans.

Wolfgang Kaiser.

‘The Arcane Flower is something he developed. For the Revolutionary Party.’

The mana bomb they developed went over to some believer.

Since it was said to not be unrelated to the current Saintess candidate incident, the culprit’s aim was clear.

‘To warn the Holy Order. Even if the method is somewhat wrong, he is a guy who thinks it is better than vampires defiling the Holy Order.’

Therefore, this incident meant

it was something committed by a certain villain commissioned by Lazarus.

‘Who is the culprit this time?’

There was no shortage of believers who harbored a grudge against vampires.

Even now, the anti-vampire faction dominating the Holy Order was not small, and among them, many were armed with strong grudges and twisted beliefs.

‘Still, the number of people who would go as far as using the Arcane Flower to commit this act is somewhat limited.’

Although complete specification was impossible,

a few people came to Rashid’s mind.

‘It must be one of them.’

Akard, who was beside Rashid, let out a short sigh.

In front of them was the agitated knighthood.

The atmosphere was stirring as everyone listened to the words of the Director of the Heresy Inquisition Bureau.

“The atmosphere is unsettled. Well, they would surely covet the position of an inquisitor.”

The Commander sorted out the cluttered atmosphere, and once the situation was settled to some extent, Akard led Rashid.

“Let’s go too. Our priority is to find the kidnapped candidate.”

As the situation was what it was,

Akard thought he should put on his magic armor first.

“I need to put on my magic armor first. You too…”

Magic armor was the exclusive property of knights.

Since he was not even an Honorary Cleric, it was not something Rashid could wear.

“Have you ever worn light armor before?”

“If it’s light armor, I have worn it exactly once before. It was before a dungeon exploration with Her Holiness the Saintess, but the knights opposed it, so the wearing fell through.”

“Is that so? I apologize for that incident.”

“I understand. Magic armor is the exclusive property of knights.”

“But light armor is not. I will permit that much.”

Akard handed over a light armor fitting Rashid’s body type from the armory located at the knight headquarters.

It was a simple light armor protecting the upper body and one shoulder, a protective gear usually worn by apprentice knights for training.

“Wear this.”

“Is it possible to replace the mana stone in this training light armor too?”

“Of course. But did you have a mana stone?”

If it was a supported mana stone, it might be different,

but there was no way a mere cleric would carry such expensive mana stones…

“I have some. I got it from the last duel.”

Rashid pulled a bloodstone out of his leather pouch.

Seeing this, Akard was puzzled, but soon thought of Heimdall.

“I see. Is it the one Heimdall had?”

“Yes, it is the spoil obtained from the duel.”

Rashid showed him the jingling mana stone pouch as if provoking him.

“Thanks to that, I am using it well.”

Since it was a product that had already left its owner,

he had no intention of saying anything about it.

After a moment,

Akard, who had finished putting on his magic armor, stood in front of Rashid.

Worthy of the Vice Commander, the magic armor he wore was extremely splendid, like ceremonial armor.

“Isn’t the difference too much?”

“But I can’t just hand over the magic armor that knights wear. Be satisfied with that.”

Of course, making Akard’s magic armor pale in comparison,

Rashid possessed a better and more cheating magic armor,

but the problem was that he couldn’t wear it openly.

‘It would be best to avoid it if possible. Unless it’s certain.’

Before the work of finding the candidate,

the two began to exchange opinions.

“The preparation seems finished, so where do we start?”

“Actually, it is somewhat overwhelming for the two of us to solve this matter.”

“Are you saying we need more people?”

“Rather than that, we need external advice to help us.”

“External advice?”

“Did you not feel anything at the scene of the incident?”

“Not particularly.”

“Then we need it even more. Those with professional magical knowledge can read the lingering mana, patterns, and various other things. We need someone with that power. Only then will we discover something at the scene.”

Akard wore a displeased expression.

“Are you suggesting we send an official request for cooperation to the Magic Tower?”

“Is it not allowed? Even when the situation is like this?”

“…”

Akard showed a moment of contemplation.

“Nothing is impossible, but it will be uncomfortable. An official request for cooperation to the Magic Tower… as the Vice Commander, it is not something I am inclined to do. As you know, the Holy Order and the Magic Tower are archenemies.”

“It’s fine as long as we solve the matter. If we only find the candidate, no one will say anything.”

“But even if we send an official request for cooperation, will that proud Magic Tower help us?”

At the time of the Dungeon of Oblivion,

the Magic Tower’s teaching assistant coming to the dungeon exploration must have been largely due to mutual help between Lazarus villains.

But Saintess Mariel had disappeared, and the Magic Tower no longer had any reason to cooperate with the Holy Order.

‘But connections do not exist for nothing.’

“There is a teaching assistant I happened to get to know during the previous dungeon exploration. If we cannot expect the Magic Tower’s cooperation officially, going to ask personally is also a way. We have a friendship, and if she wants compensation, we can just give it.”

Akard agreed, and the two immediately headed to the Magic Tower.

* * *

The entrance of the Magic Tower Academy.

When a luxurious vehicle marked with a Rose Cross stopped, the guard knocked on the rear window.

The window rolled down, revealing a face of a man handsome enough to make one swoon, and the guard, confirming he was a vampire, was startled.

“V-Vamp… no, what brings a knight of the Holy Order all the way here?”

“Personal business.”

“Could you please tell me the name of the person you are visiting? We also need to verify it. Even a high-ranking person of the Holy Order cannot enter the campus without permission.”

The one who answered that question was Rashid, who was next to him.

“Luna Maxion. She is a teaching assistant here. We explored a dungeon together before, so if you tell her it’s the monk who was with her then, she will probably know. Tell her we visited to ask a few questions related to that matter.”

The guard went to verify immediately and returned to them before long.

“You are verified. Since it is personal business, I won’t ask for details. Please go in.”

Having passed the simple verification, the vehicle slid into the Magic Tower Academy and soon caught the attention of all the undergraduate students.

“Look over there. It’s a vehicle from the Holy Order. If it’s the Rose Cross… isn’t that the knighthood of the Holy Order?”

“Rosenkreuz? That’s a flower boy party! Wow, what brings them all the way here from such a place?”

Since a visit from a knight of the Holy Order was a very unusual occurrence,

they could not help but receive attention, and the two, drawing everyone’s gaze like that,

were soon able to face a teaching assistant who came out after receiving guidance in the first-floor lobby.

An spectacle-wearer with curly, short hair.

Seeing the monk who had visited her and the vampire knight who followed him, Luna’s pupils dilated greatly.

“Wow…”

At first, she questioned why they had visited,

but seeing the two who actually came, Luna could not easily close her naturally opened mouth.

To be precise, it was a reaction caused by seeing Akard, who followed him, not Rashid.

‘He is ridiculously handsome.’

Did she drool by any chance?

Wiping her mouth with her hand, Luna greeted them immediately.

“M-Monk! Hello. What brings you all the way here? Isn’t that matter already completely finished?”

While saying so, she kept glancing at Akard, and Rashid, not caring about that at all, spoke.

“It was an excuse that I came to ask about the matter back then. I just came to ask for a personal favor.”

“A favor?”

“Because I didn’t think we could get the Magic Tower’s help through official channels.”

Whether she was listening or not,

Rashid thought as he saw her who had swooned upon looking at Akard.

‘She is a girl through and through.’

“Of course, I intend to compensate you.”

When Akard cast a dry gaze at her, Luna gulped.

“Ah… Ah, I see. No wonder you visited so suddenly, I was a bit puzzled.”

“Is it possible?”

“T-That… the professor gave me so many assignments, and I also have to write a thesis…”

Akard cut in abruptly.

“I will compensate you sufficiently.”

That single phrase moved the girl’s heart.

“C-Compensate? Well, then. Ah… it really shouldn’t be allowed, but… I’ve been short on money lately…”

“I need your help.”

With just those two words,

it was over.

“Where do we need to go right now? I’ll get ready and come out immediately!”