Chapter 33 – The Courage to Be Hated

In the diocese where he arrived vaguely thinking about the lunch menu,

Inquisitor Ludrick ended up surrounded by hundreds of clerics besieging him and the two candidates he had sent in advance.

Rashid, who was at the front of them, said.

“Do not argue and question first, just come with us. I will give you a separate explanation later.”

An incomprehensible turn of events.

Although it was unpleasant, because he was also curious about their intentions on the other hand,

Inquisitor Ludrick meekly followed them without resisting, and soon ended up imprisoned with all his armaments stripped away.

Beyond the iron bars stood the two candidates he had sent in advance, and Ludrick, hiding his discomfort as much as possible, asked in a low voice.

“Only the two of you are left now. It seems this needs an explanation?”

The three of them were all that remained in the place.

Wearing a cold smile on her lips, she stared fixedly only at Rashid, and seeing this, Inquisitor Ludrick also turned his gaze toward Rashid.

As if he had anticipated it,

Rashid calmly continued his explanation.

“His Excellency the Bishop here was targeting you, Inquisitor. That is why I stepped forward and restrained you first. This way, I can protect you safely from His Excellency.”

A fact already known.

She was curious about the truth he had hidden.

“That won’t be all, will it?”

Rashid, who did not even spare a glance at her, delivered the contents he had hidden until now entirely to the inquisitor.

Since it did not matter if he revealed it now.

“The bishop here has been got at by Scarver. To be precise, he is being manipulated. And he is preparing the archdemon’s descent by himself.”

As the completely unexpected words popped out, her expression momentarily faltered.

Hiding her bewildered look as much as possible,

she demanded.

“An archdemon? Was it not an archangel? As far as I know, it is Archangel Arkan.”

Only then did the corners of Rashid’s lips pull upward.

A winner’s smile.

“Everyone probably thought that way. Since they would never have known that the target of the summoning ritual prepared by the diocese is actually the archdemon. They were precisely caught in the archdemon’s tricks.”

Her expression turned freezing cold.

To think that the thing he was hiding was indeed that.

Of course, since it was something she had not known, she could not refute it immediately.

Instead, she found fault.

“What is the proof? It will be problematic if you just insist like that without evidence. The person you spoke of is the general person in charge of this diocese. Vaguely guessing…”

“You will know immediately once you look, Inquisitor. I heard that since ancient times, the blood of the Jaeger family displays absolute power in making demons surrender. I believe the power to distinguish evil will be the same.”

Only then did Ludrick, who had been listening quietly, show a reaction.

“The reason I was meekly dragged all the way here is that you are the only one not enveloped in demonic energy. Although it won’t be visible to your eyes at all, it is clearly visible to mine. How those toyed with by the demon are expressed.”

Although it would not be visible to the eyes of ordinary people,

it was clearly visible to Ludrick’s eyes.

That in this place where thick demonic energy had descended, those toyed with by the demon were enveloped in a dark and impure aura.

But Rashid was the only exception.

Even though such an aura was stretching toward Aria, who was sent together, without her realizing it, he alone was perfectly fine.

“So that was why. Otherwise, I would not have followed so meekly. What is the reason? Do you also possess the blood of the Jaeger family or a demon hunter?”

“The reason I am not swept up by the demonic energy is simply that I have escaped Scarver’s interest.”

“Escaped his interest?”

“Yes, to achieve his goal, he toyed with and drove wedges between everyone here. It is a format where he intervenes by any means if necessary. But is there a need to go out of his way to trouble someone who is meekly being toyed with? Since they do what he wants anyway.”

“Meekly being toyed with…”

Ludrick nodded his head.

It meant he acknowledged it.

“You might be right. There would be no reason for the demon to cling to you if it is not strictly necessary.”

“This is important. If I had protected you, Inquisitor, or offered even a small piece of advice to His Excellency the Bishop, who was toyed with by the archdemon, Scarver’s whispers would probably have kept ringing in my ears. Perhaps I might even have guarded against or suspected you, or that woman.”

Rashid turned that gaze toward Aria.

It meant she should engrave his words in her mind.

“I have never been exposed to the demon’s whispers like some people. In the first place, any act of trying to break out of this fixed framework is tantamount to touching the archdemon’s temper or scale. Thus, so as not to offend the archdemon, I quietly restrained you, Inquisitor. Even now, I probably won’t be in Scarver’s interest.”

That was the truth.

She tasted inevitable agreement along with a resentful mind.

Because he had led a splendid result based on what she had not known.

“Unexpected. To think you knew such a thing.”

Of course, that direct personality of hers was still the same.

“Then, is the fact that my sleep was troubled ever since I came here also entirely due to that demon? It was like that yesterday too. Whispering that the knighthood will interfere. So we must push them aside.”

Rashid cast a gaze.

“That is being toyed with. Since Scarver drives wedges in exactly that manner.”

Honestly, that talk was also hard to believe.

But seeing the unhesitating expression of Inquisitor Ludrick, she had no choice but to meekly acknowledge it.

“To think that was a trick.”

In this region where the demon’s clutches had stretched, only one thing,

the existence possessing the blood of the Jaeger family, was special.

Under any circumstances, the blood of the Jaeger family would remain robust, and it would always establish the truth even amidst the demon’s interference.

That was why.

The reason she denied the whispers of last night as they were.

Inquisitor Ludrick showed concern to her.

“The demonic energy enveloping you is not thick yet. But once demonic energy flows in, it is not easily repelled. So it would be best to be careful from now on.”

“Is there a separate method? Since I have something like a cleanliness obsession, hearing that demonic energy is attached to me makes me feel quite terrible. If it can be washed away, I want to wash it off quickly.”

“Leave this place. That is the sole solution.”

Inquisitor Ludrick gave advice that did not even sound like advice.

But those words were practically tantamount to telling her to give up the inquisitor position.

“I hate that. I admit my competence was lacking. But is leaving this place not equivalent to admitting my own incompetence?”

Although they probably had no interest,

she revealed her clear personality.

“Because I extremely despise being incompetent and useless. Thinking that I myself belong to that category is simply unbearable.”

“Or act as planned. Did you not say so? That you would sweep away the knighthood here by yourself.”

The unexpected words came from Rashid.

“To prevent that demonic energy from growing thicker and to hold out here longer, you have no choice but to act as if you were caught in Scarver’s tricks. Then you will naturally drift away from his interest.”

As Aria turned her gaze to Ludrick, he also affirmed it.

“Exactly right. Otherwise, the demonic energy enveloping you will grow even thicker. If you do not have the confidence to endure it, leave. It is better than remaining to be a hindrance.”

“No.”

She hardened her thoughts.

“I will visit the knighthood. Since I am already playing into the demon’s tricks, let him do whatever he wants to his heart’s content.”

“But what is this talk about the knighthood?”

The one who replied to Ludrick’s question was Rashid.

Rashid told him about the matters that had occurred here in the meantime.

Having heard the story, Inquisitor Ludrick knitted his brow as if contemplating.

“We were thoroughly played by the demon. Although the will of the Branch Commander here won’t be the will of the entire Conquering Knighthood, still, to declare war against the diocese. But they were merely toyed with, they are not our enemies.”

Rashid chimed in.

“Apart from our thoughts, because of the mess His Excellency the Bishop made, the knighthood will definitely invade. If we cannot block that knighthood, no one knows what will happen to the matters here. Perhaps the descent ritual carried out here will be blocked by the knighthood.”

“Then is that not good?”

At Aria’s words, Rashid openly shook his head.

“No, that is not the end. It will just start again elsewhere.”

Rashid’s gaze turned toward Ludrick.

“In any case, the archdemon’s descent is unavoidable. The Sanctuary Contamination Level is already high, and under this contamination level, he will descend in some way. If so, it is rather better for us if he descends within a predictable range. That way, it is easy to prepare, and I can respond smoothly with you, Inquisitor. Is that not so, Inquisitor?”

Inquisitor Ludrick, who had been listening quietly, agreed with Rashid’s words.

“Nothing wrong with that. The sanctuary is already too contaminated to do anything. In this state, the demon’s descent will be unavoidable. If so, sacrifices will also be unavoidable.”

“If that target is a branch knighthood, from our standpoint, it is rather better. At least it is not the diocese.”

“It would be better than the diocese here taking a hit. Although we must consider the political risk. In the first place, in a situation where everyone was toyed with by the demon, it would be a bit much to blame anyone.”

Inquisitor Ludrick turned his gaze to Aria.

“Although it is somewhat uncomfortable because of what you said, I will quietly condone what you were trying to do.”

Sunlight began to break into her face, which had been stiff the entire time.

“That sounds like you are saying it is fine for me to annihilate the knighthood branch here. Is that correct?”

“Indeed it is, but I am rather worried about you.”

“Worried? Are you worried that I will go and be defeated?”

“No, rather than that, are you not from the Conquering Knighthood? Can you strike with your own hands that knighthood, which might have been your fellow comrades?”

There was not a single moment of hesitation in her answer.

“Why should I feel hesitation in cutting down people from my former workplace? What meaning is there in that? I have already resolved to become an inquisitor. They are people of little significance to me. I have no problem cutting them down.”

“Even so, are they not people from your former workplace? Perhaps comrades-in-arms who would have stood back-to-back in the battlefield.”

“Still, that is no reason for me not to be able to cut them down. If it is only that reason, it is not a problem to me. Because it has no meaning.”

Did she have no affection?

Inquisitor Ludrick let out his thoughts without a filter.

“You look like someone who would say such words even if your family met with disaster.”

She did not bother to deny it.

Rather, she seemed to want them to know that she was that kind of person.

“I don’t particularly feel like denying it.”

Nothing special.

It was that kind of conversation reflecting her psychopathic personality, but

Rashid felt a lot from it.

If he became an inquisitor like this, he would target her bloodline.

In that case, she would become a potential threat.

However, looking only at the appearance she showed now,

she was also a figure with a question mark placed on her, just like Kaiser whom he had met earlier.

‘I thought she was a crazy woman, but she is far more out of her mind than I thought. Why does that sound so sincere?’

Inquisitor Ludrick did not seem to mind much.

On the contrary, he wore an expression showing it was well.

“Then there is no problem. But won’t it be overwhelming? Annihilating the entire branch knighthood alone. How about going together with the Honorary Cleric here?”

Rashid also had no particular intention to refuse.

Since he was prepared to sweep away the branch knighthood with her if necessary.

However, this was rejected by her.

“As I said earlier, I am someone who despises incompetence and uselessness the most. That standard is the same for me as well. I don’t need help. I will resolve it alone. Only then can I catch up to that person even a little.”

Her blatant vigilance reached Rashid.

To think she was still planning to catch up to him.

Rashid thought she was somewhat cheeky.

At the same time, a doubt arose.

Annihilating the branch knighthood alone.

‘It won’t be an easy task?’

Though he harbored doubts,

as expected, Aria Sanctum was not a figure Rashid knew.

So the judgment itself was not easy.

‘If she sweeps them away without issue, it means that woman’s skill is at least at the named level.’

One thing that was bothersome was

that she was a named figure he had never seen even once until now.

Because the Weiman Direct Domain was a region Rashid had always abandoned.

‘Since even if I skipped this region, there was no problem in viewing the ending anyway.’

She departed,

and Rashid and Inquisitor Ludrick remained in the spot.

“Then do I just have to wait quietly here?”

“Think of it as coming for a brief recuperation, and just wait here quietly until the archdemon descends. Until then, I will personally look after you. Since I also do not have the courage to be hated.”

“The courage to be hated…”

“I will look after you as much as possible. Oh, and a decisive weapon against the archdemon is needed. I am thinking of something like the Holy Blood Spear…”

Rashid’s gaze was seeking his permission.

“The blood of the Jaeger family is needed.”

“The Holy Blood Spear. Is that your idea?”

“Yes, such a thought just reached me. If it is an archdemon and not just a demon, I thought it would be better to prepare something like the Holy Blood Spear.”

“Very well. I will share my blood. To make the Holy Blood Spear, a lot of my blood will be needed. Since there is still time left, if we slowly draw it and make it, we can complete it without being too late.”