Chapter 26 – The Inquisition

It was Reinhardt Walter, the Director of the Heresy Inquisition Bureau, who first recognized Rashid as he approached.

If Rashid had been a mere cleric, he would have probably ignored him or felt displeased.

However, because he was the order’s one and only Honorary Cleric, Walter’s reaction also had to be different.

Thinking that it wouldn’t hurt to get to know him, the director naturally welcomed the approaching Rashid.

“I hear you are the newly appointed Honorary Cleric? Congratulations. I am Director Walter of the Heresy Inquisition Bureau.”

“Rashid Preston. I have become the new Honorary Cleric this time.”

“I hear you are Lion’s successor? I express my deep regret regarding Lion’s matter. He was not a shield of the order to crumble like that, but how did he end up getting done in by his subordinates with twisted ideologies…”

“I also feel regretful about that matter.”

“Although we won’t have much occasion to see each other often. It wouldn’t hurt to know each other, would it? At any rate, nice to meet you.”

“Director. If you are not busy, I have something to tell you privately.”

“Did you have something else to say to me besides a greeting?”

“What you said back then. I still remember it.”

“What I said back then?”

As Director Walter was puzzled, Rashid explained the situation from that time.

“Did you not come to the knighthood and say something like this? That you would give the opportunity to become an inquisitor to the one who finds the Arcane Flower.”

“Ah, I did say such a thing.”

Come to think of it, he was the very person who had found the Arcane Flower.

“I did hear that you found that Arcane Flower.”

“Yes, I found it. I went and stopped those guys who were trying to blow up the Papal Court.”

“But… were you interested in the position of inquisitor as well?”

Since it was originally meant for the knights,

Director Walter reacted as if it were unexpected.

“I thought you had no interest.”

“No. That position was one I truly desired. When I was a cleric, I only vaguely dreamed of it, but not anymore. Especially with what you said, and I think that as I am now, I am fully suited for that position.”

There were three things required to become an inquisitor.

Overwhelming military power that enabled summary judgment, the wisdom to lead investigations, and a solid background.

Since it was a position that allowed direct or indirect investigation of high-ranking officials of the order, if one’s background was humble or lacking, they could not become an inquisitor even if they were competent.

Director Walter stroked his chin, showing a look of contemplation.

“If you were a mere cleric, it would be difficult… but since you are indeed an Honorary Cleric, I must think differently. An Honorary Cleric becoming an inquisitor… this is the first such case. Normally, do they not settle for being an Honorary Cleric?”

“I have no intention of settling for just this position. I do not think there is anything particularly lacking in me. Or you may test me a bit more. I will pass any test.”

“No. Since you are an Honorary Cleric, it seems you already possess enough of two out of the three required qualities. Though your background is a bit bothersome.”

Walter knew how he had become an Honorary Cleric.

The first recommendation came from the commander of the knighthood, and the Director of Palace Affairs, the influential figure of the order, strongly rejected it, but it was the Saintess who participated in the coronation just now who blocked that rejection.

“It seems that is not the case either. I hear the Saintess strongly recommended you?”

He was a person with a more solid background than expected.

For if the commander of the knighthood or the Saintess stood as his backers, there was no room for doubt.

He did not know what kind of connection existed between them, but that was not for him to consider.

“Coincidentally, a position did open up. One of the existing inquisitors transferred to the Empire’s Internal Inspectorate. So one position remains, but…”

It was then.

The Director of Palace Affairs approached, showing friendliness, tapped Director Walter’s arm, and passed by.

“Then, I leave it to you.”

The director only bowed his head slightly, and the Director of Palace Affairs glanced at Rashid, who was with him, before leaving with a sly smile.

As the Director of Palace Affairs departed, Director Walter continued the words he had cut off.

“You might not know, but that Director of Palace Affairs also recommended someone just a moment ago. Apart from the Director of Palace Affairs’ recommendation, that person also had nothing to find fault with. So I was naturally planning to select them, but…”

In the midst of that, Rashid had appeared.

Director Walter thought about the order, which was currently divided into two factions.

Unless he intended to lean toward one side, it would be best to remain as neutral as possible.

Having finished his thoughts, the director spoke.

“If you bring a recommendation letter from the commander of the knighthood, I will consider it once more. Can you bring a formal recommendation letter?”

Rashid was relentless.

“Of course.”

“If my mind changes after receiving the recommendation letter, contact will be made with you soon. When contact is made, come find me at the Heresy Inquisition Bureau. We will discuss the next steps there.”

“Yes, I understand.”

The conversation ended with that.

Having finished his business, Director Walter left, and Rashid waited for the commander of the knighthood, who intended to stay through the coronation from start to finish.

Later, when the coronation ended and the commander showed himself again,

Rashid went to find him as if he had been waiting and spoke to him.

“Commander. I have something urgent to tell you.”

Rashid told him the conversation he had shared with Director Walter.

“You need my recommendation letter?”

“Yes. In my opinion, would it not be beneficial to you in many ways if I were positioned in the Heresy Inquisition Bureau, Commander?”

The commander smiled faintly.

“Indeed it would. But must you become an inquisitor from an Honorary Cleric? The position of Honorary Cleric is not such a bad position either. As you know from watching Lion’s Holy Blood Funeral, that position is also quite an honorable one.”

“In a way, an Honorary Cleric is an honorary post. Even if one receives the treatment of a knight, they are not a knight. But an inquisitor is different. The rank of an inquisitor is higher than that of a knight, and it has actual power.”

“That is why the background of the person to become an inquisitor is important. With an average background, it will be hard to even receive a recommendation for that position.”

“That is why your recommendation letter is absolutely necessary, Commander. If you make an effort for me, I will surely be of great help to you as well.”

“Is that so?”

The commander, who was thinking over this and that, began to nod his head.

“It would not be bad to have my person on the Inquisition Bureau’s side either. Since we do not know how that sly Director of Palace Affairs will act, it is better to plant my person in advance as a precaution. Very well. I will write a recommendation letter.”

“Thank you.”

The permission was granted.

Unless something unexpected happened, his recommendation letter would reach the Heresy Inquisition Bureau.

* * *

“An Honorary Cleric in this small monastery! You are the pride of this monastery.”

The abbot began to praise Rashid fiercely with a broad smile.

“Now, restrictions can no longer bind you. You know this, right?”

“Yes.”

“If you wish, you can have subordinates, and you can also wear magic armor. It is treatment almost equivalent to a knight.”

“I know all of this.”

“But has there still been no contact from the Papal Court?”

Usually, Honorary Clerics operated inside the Basilica rather than in the suburbs.

That was why he had asked.

“Yes, there was none. Therefore, I am waiting here indefinitely.”

“That is strange. If you are an Honorary Cleric, it should be natural for you to stay in the Basilica…”

“From what I have gathered, my treatment is mostly decided by His Excellency the Director of Palace Affairs, who oversees the administration of the Papal Court. Unless His Excellency calls for me separately, I suppose life here will continue for a bit longer.”

It was the Director of Palace Affairs who had strongly rejected him.

Thus, Rashid saw almost no reason for him to call him.

‘It would be different if I went and bowed my head, but I hate that.’

In the first place, the position of Honorary Cleric was just a temporary stepping stone to go to the Inquisition Bureau.

Having no particular attachment to the position of Honorary Cleric, Rashid was only waiting for another contact.

“Abbot. Has there been no other contact for me?”

“Ah, contact did come from the Heresy Inquisition Bureau. But I do not know why they contacted you from the Heresy Inquisition Bureau. Did you happen to commit some wrongdoing?”

“That is not the case. If there had been a problem, I probably would not have even become an Honorary Cleric.”

“I suppose so.”

As expected.

‘It seems the director’s mind changed after receiving the commander’s recommendation letter.’

“Was there any mention of by when you should appear?”

The abbot delivered the contents of the message he had received.

“There was a message to arrive at the main building without being late by noon today.”

“I see.”

“Since you were called by the Heresy Inquisition Bureau, absolutely do not be late. That is a place where you must never do anything to be caught out. It is a place that even creates non-existent crimes to frame you.”

Checking the time, it was exactly nine o’clock in the morning.

He thought he just needed to dawdle moderately and arrive on time.

* * *

Vreeeeeeeeeng!

“Dad! It is a cleric!”

Leaving his son who was completely excited in the back seat,

he, holding the steering wheel, watched the magitech bike disappear into the distance with a roar.

“How many lives do those guys have to act crazy like that? Son, you must never ride like that even when you grow up.”

“Why?”

“That is only possible because they are clerics. If an ordinary person rides like that, they will die. They go to heaven.”

A magitech bike racing fiercely along the road soon reached the imperial capital.

Arriving at the Heresy Inquisition Bureau,

Rashid got off at the place that might become his next workplace.

‘It seems to be my first time coming here since possessing this body in this world. Well, any normal person would hate to even come near it.’

The Heresy Inquisition Bureau located in the Basilica of the Holy Blood State.

The outer walls of the building, which was built more grandly than expected, were decorated with black marble, and the windows were sealed with iron grates and black glass.

Unlike other places that were always bustling with members of the order,

the air here was always chilly, and it was so quiet that not even a single mouse stirred.

This was indeed the iron hammer of the order that judged members in the name of God,

the Heresy Inquisition Bureau.

“Rashid Preston. I came upon receiving the summons from the Heresy Inquisition Bureau.”

As he spoke his name at the information desk,

the receptionist on duty informed him of a certain inquisitor’s room.

The place he arrived at.

A familiar person was waiting for him there.

Ludrick Jaeger.

He was one of the two inquisitors who had once come to interrogate him.

“They told me to select a new inquisitor, so I was waiting. Was that you?”

Rashid also recognized him without difficulty.

“You are that inquisitor from back then. I remember you.”

Ludrick hurriedly went to his seat and opened his file.

Although he had glanced over it earlier, he checked again just in case.

“Honorary Cleric? Back then you were just a cleric?”

“Various things happened after that.”

“In that short time, enough things happened for you to become an Honorary Cleric?”

“Yes.”

Ludrick smiled bitterly.

“Strange. You, who were once misunderstood as the assassin of the Saintess, are now visiting me as an inquisitor candidate. Come to think of it, did you not also receive an attendant recommendation letter back then?”

“Yes, I did receive it, but I just ignored it since there seemed to be no possibility.”

Rashid looked at his nameplate on the desk.

There the title ‘Chief Inquisitor’ was clearly written there.

“More than that, did you become the Chief Inquisitor?”

“Ah, do you remember? Sir Varasha, who was previously the Chief Inquisitor, transferred to the Internal Inspectorate.”

Varasha Swallow.

There was a good reason why Rashid had not recognized her when he first saw her, as she was quite a named figure.

‘The woman I know was originally an internal inspector. She was not a heresy inquisitor.’

She was a war hero from the Imperial Army,

and she was academy classmates with Ryden Pathfinder, another named hero.

And among their classmates was the representative of the current Golden Age Party and a Lazarus Villain,

Wolfgang Kaiser.

‘In any case, it seems she returned to her original place. Well, that woman was originally an internal inspector anyway.’

Thinking of her who had departed, Inquisitor Ludrick continued speaking.

“I thought there was a lot to learn from her… but she left suddenly just because a position opened up. Thanks to that, I became the Chief Inquisitor, and I came to select a new Deputy Inquisitor to help me. Though I do not know if that will be you.”

Soon,

the door behind Rashid opened, and a female knight in uniform showed herself majestically.

Even the lines of her neatly fastened uniform had no dishevelment.

The epaulets on her shoulders shone like a symbol of authority, and her footsteps, tailored within discipline, were short and resolute.

Her disciplined movement was perfectly calculated like a ceremony, and the cold eyes shining intelligently behind her glasses pressed down on the surroundings with force.

She glanced at Rashid and soon introduced herself formally in front of Ludrick.

“Aria Sanctum. Former Conquering Knight of the Imperial Army.”

Rashid had also heard that name for the first time, but the surname that followed was by no means unfamiliar.

Rashid sharpened his dagger inwardly.

‘I wondered who the other candidate the director mentioned was, and it turned out to be someone from the Director of Palace Affairs’ family.’

Not to be outdone,

Rashid also introduced himself formally.

“Rashid Preston. Honorary Cleric.”