Chapter 37 – New Job

Although he had officially become an inquisitor,

Rashid was still staying at the Great Monastery located on the outskirts of the capital.

Originally, he should have obtained lodging located inside the Basilica,

but because the rent was so expensive, he could not even dare to.

Usually, inquisitors received low pay, but because their family backgrounds were good, they did not have much difficulty in finding private lodging, so there was no special official residence for inquisitors in the Basilica either.

Thus, Rashid decided to remain in the monastery until the lodging issue was resolved, and because of this, only the abbot was put in a difficult position.

“O-Oh, you have come, Inquisitor.”

The abbot looked quite flustered by Rashid, who visited without reservation.

It was natural, since the clear hierarchical relationship had been reversed just the day before yesterday.

“Would you like to sit in this seat?”

Sitting there was like sitting on a bed of thorns.

As the abbot, who rose from his seat, tried to yield his place, Rashid sat in the guest of honor seat of the sofa prepared for receptions.

The abbot, who chased after him in a hurry, sat next to him, and Rashid called him comfortably.

“Abbot.”

“Yes, please speak.”

“What did you say your name was?”

“It is Albert de Reinhardt. Please call me whatever you like.”

The abbot probably had not known either.

That the person who was called the Honorary Cleric just a few days ago would suddenly appear as an inquisitor.

“I will have to impose on you for the time being. Since the lodging in the Basilica is so expensive.”

“Please do as you find convenient, Inquisitor. By the way, is it difficult even with your salary as an inquisitor?”

“It is an inquisitor in name only. It is next to a low wage.”

“Ah…”

Because the power of the inquisitor was so strong, it was a position that those from mediocre families did not even dare to dream of.

And since such families usually had good financial power, they had little interest in the low salary of the inquisitor, and the result was precisely this.

“That… Inquisitor. This is just my personal opinion, but…”

As Rashid cast his gaze, the abbot carefully continued his words.

“If you were to show just a little interest in marriage talks, many families would probably show interest. Since mediocre families would not even be able to speak, how about talking with one of those families? Then I believe various trivial problems, including the lodging issue, will be resolved in a flash.”

“To get married?”

“Yes, since a low salary cannot suddenly rise. How about thinking in that direction instead?”

Rashid tapped the armrest of the sofa with his finger.

After thinking briefly, Rashid shook his head with an unpleased expression.

“That is not important. Because there are many things to care about first.”

“Of course, as you are the Inquisitor, that is a natural thing to say. It was merely my opinion.”

“Abbot.”

“Yes.”

“I do not know how long I will stay, but I would like you to pay some attention to it.”

“Do not worry about that. I have paid attention to the room since the day you arrived, but I will pay a bit more attention. So as not to cause you inconvenience as much as possible… should I move your room at this opportunity?”

“It would be good if the room becomes larger.”

“Then… I will look for one as much as possible, and if there is none, I will yield this room to you.”

“You do not have to overdo it to that extent. I am not going to stay for my whole life anyway.”

“No. I will take care of it myself.”

Rashid looked down at his wristwatch.

It was a meager watch stamped with the Blood Cross logo, but there was no item more useful than this to check the time.

“I should head out soon. Well then, I am counting on you.”

“Yes.”

As Rashid, who rose from the seat of honor, departed, the abbot, who escorted him to the outside of the monastery, breathed a sigh of relief.

‘It feels like dying.’

Sleeping under the same roof as the Grim Reaper.

It was only natural.

Rashid headed straight to the monastery parking lot.

“In-Inquisitor!”

There were more than one or two people who were confused about the title.

Adjustment would be necessary.

“The one I use every day.”

“Yes, I left bike number three exclusively for you, Inquisitor. But do you plan to keep riding such a dangerous thing? If you wish, I will suggest it to the Abbot. Are there not comfortable cars as well?”

“Because this is fast.”

Rashid got on the bike and started the engine.

He did not know how long he would ride it,

but he had no intention of changing it right now.

* * *

The front of his office where he arrived was in chaos with congratulatory wreaths sent from here and there.

Starting with the Knight Commander, there was even a congratulatory wreath from some bishop he did not know at all.

Only one.

Only the Director of Palace Affairs’ was missing.

Having inspected this with effort, Rashid smiled faintly.

‘He certainly did not send one.’

Even though he could have sent one for form’s sake, there was surely a protesting nature regarding the fact that his biological younger sister did not become the inquisitor.

‘He is a fellow to be eliminated anyway, so it does not matter.’

When he entered the office, what came into view first was Inquisitor Ludrick’s desk located in the deepest part of the office.

The office itself was composed of an outer room and two inner rooms.

Of course, the largest inner room was the chief inquisitor’s place, and the remaining inner room was the deputy inquisitor’s place.

And in the outer room, space for the assistant and space for reception were prepared together.

“Have you arrived, Inquisitor?”

As expected, the person with the lowest rank in this space greeted Rashid in an extremely ‘formal’ manner.

“Sister Aria. You came out early.”

“Since my lodging is right in front of the gate, is there any reason to be late?”

“I said it so you would not be later than me.”

“There will never be a time I arrive later than you, Inquisitor. I am like a blade when it comes to work.”

“Come to my office in a little while. I have a request for you.”

“Is it work?”

“Of course. Do you remember what I said before?”

As if she remembered something, she wore a peculiar smile on her lips.

“I will visit after the Chief Inquisitor arrives.”

“Yes, you can look forward to it. I was sincere.”

She seemed to snort strangely, yet not quite.

Leaving a very ambiguous smile, she departed.

‘I do not know what she is thinking. She surely knows what I will make her do.’

A moment later,

the Chief Inquisitor arrived at work, and he summoned Rashid.

Rashid went and stood in his office, and Ludrick, who was organizing his outer coat, said to the visiting Rashid.

“I called you because I have a few things to say as we begin working together.”

“Yes, please speak.”

“As you know, my specialty is quite unique. Normally, I should go around with you and perform various tasks together, but unless it is an affair of Weiman’s scale, I have no intention of taking you along. Trivial demon hunting is enough for me alone.”

His words continued.

“To be honest, I believe having two inquisitors tagging along to catch a single demon is a huge waste of manpower. Thus, you and I may not go around together usually. Of course, that does not mean you will be idling. You handle other cases in my stead. If it is you, you will be able to resolve them without any issues. Have you not already proven your ability since your time as a cleric?”

“Of course.”

“Act on your own until I call you separately. And here, performance is also very important. It might not be immediate, but if you intend to rise to the position of director in the distant future, the performance you stack up in the meantime will be truly important. And there is an invisible prestige among inquisitors as well. To solidify that prestige, performance is indeed important. Since their family backgrounds are so good, political games do not work very well.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

“Then, start working.”

Returning to his office after the private meeting, Rashid sat in his seat.

Inquisitor.

It was the position he had wished for, but coming to this position was not merely for the purpose of rising in status.

‘Only by being in this position can I easily check or eliminate the Lazarus Villains.’

Ruin.

Even this world, which looked to have no problems right now, could never be free from the crazy deeds led by the Lazarus Villains.

‘Saintess Mariel Credo. She is no more, but if she had lived, she would have degenerated into the Witch of Pleasure and, together with Vane Sanctum, collapsed the sanctuary and manifested numerous archdemons. The demons would begin harvesting souls, and what remains in that land would be only corpses that lost their souls. Virtually, the world dies.’

‘Kaiser. Originally, Kaiser sweeps away all races other than humans with a massacre, and not satisfied with that, ruins the entire world through war with the allied nations. Furthermore, under the pretext of a Great Purge, he executes everyone who opposes him to complete his dictatorship. Needless to say about the massacre, the people who died in the Great Purge alone number in the millions.’

‘Professor Kane. A crazy bastard who tries to exchange everything unnecessary in this world with the truth of the world. He is out of his mind.’

Other than them, there were also the Symphonic Duelist who played the world’s funeral song, and various crazy villains.

Sweeping all of them away was Rashid’s goal.

And it was the true ending of this world he was possessed into.

‘First, it is Vane Sanctum.’

Because he was a Heresy Inquisitor belonging to the order,

Vane was the easiest enemy for Rashid to target.

‘He was a fellow who had incredible synergy with Saintess Mariel, but since that Mariel died, that level of synergy will not occur. However, I must prevent the order from falling into his hands. In the end, he will trade with a demon.’

Right on cue, someone entered his office.

It was Aria, his biological younger sister.

“You said to see you earlier.”

If it had not been for the words Kaiser spoke,

Rashid would have tried to eliminate her as well.

Since it was right to remove unnecessary threat factors.

However, because of the words Kaiser spoke, Rashid had no choice but to change that thought.

‘If that woman really catches Vane Sanctum, she will also carry out the task I give easily.’

He did not fully trust Kaiser,

but because there was no particular falsehood visible, Rashid decided to give her an opportunity for now.

“Personally, I do not think well of your elder brother.”

“I know.”

“This is not a personal emotion, but my intuition speaks from carrying out various tasks until now. If we dig, many things will probably come out. For example, wining and dining one of the inquisitors here to eliminate his political opponents. Or doing unclean things that are harmful to the order but beneficial to him without hesitation.”

“You really dislike him. But is there anyone from whom no dust comes out when shaken?”

“Are you defending him?”

“No. It is not to the point of defending him, but would it be possible?”

She asked back instead.

“The opponent is my elder brother, who is the influential power of the order. I do not know much about the affairs of the order also, but I heard there is no one with more power within the order than my elder brother. He is someone His Holiness especially cherishes, and he has very deep relationships with various high-ranking officials. If one had to find someone with that level of influence, there would be the Knight Commander, but as you know, the vampires’ position within the order is not that large.”

“I am an inquisitor. There is no cleric I cannot catch.”

“Theoretically, that would be so. But you know very well that is impossible without me having to waste my breath, do you not?”

She wore a clear sneer.

Since becoming an inquisitor, it was the first provocative smile she had shown.

“With a mediocre corruption, there probably will not even be a blow. Perhaps it will be quietly buried. Is there no external pressure here? I believe it will be even more blatant.”

“Do you think I will fail?”

“I also acknowledge Weiman’s affairs, but regarding my elder brother, your dream is far too big. Since it is an impossible thing that cannot be realized, I cannot help but laugh.”

With that level of provocation,

it would be normal to feel a stubborn competitive spirit, would it not?

“Even leaving that matter aside, what I worry about is you who will remain after eliminating that brother. If I eliminate your brother, will you, who are of his bloodline, indeed stay still?”

“So what are you trying to say?”

“If you cannot handle it, leave. You are going to resent me anyway. I do not want to work with an assistant next to me who resents me. I would rather kick you out. Why would I keep you?”

She snorted as if it was absurd.

“No. I will not leave. And I will not hold any resentment either.”

“What is the reason? He is a blood relative who shares blood with you.”

The reply that followed was something even Rashid could not expect.

“That is my elder brother’s failure. It does not become a reason for me to hate you. Rather, there might even be a positive side.”

“A positive side?”

“If my elder brother disappears, all the assets of the Sanctum family will be reverted to me. Since there is such a good point, why should I trouble myself to form a feud with the capable inquisitor who even caught my elder brother? Rather, I think I would feel interest in you.”

“Interest?”

“Because it means you are at least better than my elder brother. So is it not natural to feel interest?”

Her way of thinking

was truly an extraordinary woman.

‘I have nothing to say. She is truly a woman who would have eliminated her own brother, just as Kaiser said.’

Rashid, who had become dumbfounded, could not continue his words for a while.

Gathering his various thoughts, Rashid said.

“Fine. Then prove yourself. Dig up your brother’s corruption yourself. Then I will acknowledge it. That you are entirely unrelated to your brother’s affairs.”

She shook her head flatly.

“No. Watching the fight between you two is interesting, but I do not want to join the war and stand on anyone’s side. My only desire is to watch who among the two is more capable and competent. But are you sure that I will not inform my elder brother of this matter?”

That meaningful question

seemed to ask him to respect her intention to maintain neutrality.

“You are saying you will just watch?”

“I will just watch with popcorn. Instead, I will definitely maintain neutrality for you.”

Was this the best?

‘He said that woman will catch Vane Sanctum when she becomes an inquisitor. Then should I just wait?’

Just as Ludrick said,

she would become an inquisitor eventually.

And if what Kaiser said was true, she would catch Vane Sanctum with her own hands.

‘But I cannot simply wait. The one chased by time is me. To see the ending, I must absolutely charge ahead quickly.’

“Fine. I will take care of the affairs related to your elder brother on my own. Since the winner is already decided anyway.”

She was curious about the source of that groundless confidence he was showing.

If it had not been in the past, she would have openly sneered,

but her not doing so meant she respected him, even if faintly.