Chapter 44 – Artistic Activity

The method of massacring Count Gerard on the spot without a trial would surely bring about additional problems.

Since he was the lord of a great family who even commanded an autonomous territory.

However, it was a risk that had to be borne in order to catch Seraphine.

Because it was too much to deal with both of them at the point when the Sonata of World Demise was performed.

It was a sort of forced risk.

‘That was why this game was called a mental-shattering game. Because there were so many risks and variables to consider.’

Nevertheless, there was a good reason why he declared he would take full responsibility.

‘With the Sanctum family, it is fully possible.’

Rashid’s gaze was directed toward her, consciously or unconsciously.

In any case, he was a member of the order, and the power possessed by the order was incomparable to that of a mere count of the empire.

Because the order’s influence extended not only to the empire but across the entire continent.

Therefore, he calculated that if he received the protection of the order, he could escape the responsibility of massacring the count on the spot to some extent.

In any case, the ‘justification’ for killing him was clear.

‘If that woman does the killing, it will definitely blow over somehow. Vane Sanctum is still going strong, the empire’s power is not what it used to be, and lastly, we have a clear justification.’

She showed a figure of agonizing quite joyfully(?) in front of the armory she pulled out with magic.

The mounted weapons were chilling.

For among the typical types of swords, there were some with curved blades or serrated edges, and in one corner, things similar to torture devices were neatly arranged by type.

Just looking at the armory, it was at a level where it would not be out of place to view her as a weapons dealer rather than a sister.

“I present my greetings to the Inquisitor. Karl Setier. I am a cleric.”

The group of clerics who came to support Rashid approached.

Composed of dozens of people, they had shared monastery life with Rashid, so they had at least seen each other, but they had almost no friendly relation.

This was the result of Rashid focusing on individual missions rather than group ones.

“Are you the leader?”

Usually, there was no hierarchy among clerics.

All were called the same, clerics, and although officially there was such a thing as an honorary cleric,

it was literally an honorary position and there was barely even one person who held it, so it was meaningless.

Instead, there was secretly a position of leader among the clerics.

Because when carrying out missions as a group, they needed a leader to command the crowd.

At Rashid’s question, the man with a large sword scar near his left eye bowed his head.

“Yes, I am commanding the crowd.”

“We have met before, right?”

“Yes, I saw you often at the monastery when you were a cleric.”

“I also saw you several times. Although I was first in terms of achievements, yours also seemed to be exceptionally good.”

Since he was overwhelming,

he did not care much,

but Karl Setier was also a person whose achievements were good enough to receive the abbot’s favor.

“It is incomparable to you, Inquisitor.”

“Have you familiarized yourself with the precautions I informed you about?”

“Yes, you told us to pay attention to sounds. We will not respond, leave the place first, and notify you.”

“You have familiarized yourself well. If there is additional personnel, propagate it to all of them. Tell them to pay special attention to the sound of violin music.”

“Yes, I will propagate it to everyone so that there will be no problems.”

“Good.”

“Well… Inquisitor.”

“Speak.”

“Do we have to wear the restraints?”

Since he was a fellow cleric,

Rashid knew their difficulties better than anyone else.

“I permit it. Instead, make sure there is no setback in the mission.”

The group of clerics brightened up.

“Thank you.”

The conversation, which he thought would end like that, continued further because of him remaining in his place for a moment.

“Do you have more to say?”

“Inquisitor.”

As Rashid gave him a look, he carefully continued.

“Pardon my presumption, but I respect you, Inquisitor.”

He was sincere.

“Probably everyone is similar to me. You are like an idol to all the clerics, including myself, Inquisitor.”

A case of a dragon rising from a small stream.

That was Rashid, and having risen from a mere cleric to an inquisitor, he was already called a legend among the clerics.

Rashid showed a light smile.

“If you have the will, try to become an honorary cleric as well. Since I have paved the way.”

Karl politely bowed his head instead of answering.

Rashid tapped his forearm a couple of times.

“Go on.”

The clerics simultaneously showed courtesy and received his order.

“We will surely complete this mission bestowed by God.”

Together with the departing clerics,

she, who had selected the weapon to be used for the hunt, stood near Rashid.

“Inquisitor.”

Having agonized so much, all she brought along was a single dagger.

Seeing this, Rashid reacted disapprovingly.

“After agonizing so much, what you brought is a bit disappointing. Why didn’t you bring something bigger?”

“I plan to choose when I get there. Since I think I need to see the opponent first.”

She inserted the dagger into the sheath attached to the leather strap wrapping her thigh.

The inserted dagger blended in as if it were a part of her, and Rashid reacted half-heartedly.

“Well, do as you please.”

“More importantly, you must keep the promise you made.”

Rashid merely gave her a look instead of an answer.

“Those words that you will take responsibility for everything. I won’t be free from it either, but still, whether I can use you as an excuse or not will be the difference between heaven and earth.”

Although he would naturally take responsibility,

Rashid was worried about something else.

Because for now, this hunt was in the format of passing it off to her rather than doing it himself.

“Don’t worry about that. But is it possible? According to the rumors, the count is also Master level. If push comes to shove, he might wear his magic armor and attack. He might even overwhelm you, who were a conqueror knight.”

The corners of her mouth rose faintly.

“The more they resist, the more enjoyable the hunt is, Inquisitor.”

Dark Blood Ghost Executioner.

A named character he did not know.

‘I can test her to see if she is a useful blade.’

Since she had annihilated the branch knighthood single-handedly,

her combat power could be equal to or higher than the count’s.

Rashid gave additional instructions.

“Do not move alone; you must raid the scene with me without fail. Because while you handle the count, I must handle Seraphine.”

“I feel I would be enough on my own, but since it is an order, I will do so.”

“When there is an opportunity, kill the count without fail. Because if he is captured and stands in court, he will walk out alive as if boasting.”

She spoke flatly.

“That won’t happen.”

* * *

The surveillance net spread like a web throughout the capital

was waiting for the next incident the count would cause.

As if mocking this,

a luxury limousine left the count’s grand mansion without any escort.

Roaming the quiet streets of the capital where the cold night air had settled, Seraphine, who accompanied the count as he sat on the long seat savoring sweet music and wine, carefully spoke to him.

“Your Excellency, they say the order has even dispatched clerics to monitor the entire capital. It is probably because of the artworks you left behind. Perhaps surveillance has been attached since the moment we stepped out.”

The corners of the count’s mouth curved long.

“Has that ever been just once or twice?”

He did not show any signs of worry.

“It has always been that way, and yet my artworks were always completed.”

“Even so, I am somewhat bothered by that inquisitor. If it were merely investigators or clerics attached, I also would have ignored them. Since that is the normal reaction to the artworks you left, Your Excellency. But the opponent is an inquisitor of the order.”

Seraphine recalled the inquisitor who had visited the count and boldly warned him.

He was quite different from typical inquisitors.

“He also rejected all the gifts you gave him, didn’t he? I don’t know the reason, but he seems to truly intend to pursue you, Your Excellency.”

Gerard, closing his eyes and soaking in the sweet music, recalled the inquisitor he met at that time in his mind.

Even looking as a fellow man, he was young, full of spirit, and a considerably attractive person.

“They said he is an inquisitor who newly entered this time. He is a self-made figure who rose from a commoner cleric to the position of inquisitor. It is not very common, but occasionally there are such people among commoners. Shall I call him a beautiful flower blooming from low-class blood?”

How could he be so carefree?

Although she did not say much since he was her sponsor,

she sometimes could not understand the count’s complacency.

Are all the nobles of great families carefree like that?

Because she was someone who had survived while experiencing all sorts of hardships from the bottom of the gutter,

she was all the more bothered by such an inquisitor.

“I am saying this because I am worried about you, Your Excellency. How about postponing your artistic activity for the time being?”

“It’s the capital after a long time. And your performance is always perfect.”

The count looked at her with a deep gaze.

“If your performance remains as it was, what problem could there be, whoever the opponent is?”

“You are overestimating me too much, Your Excellency. My performance will always be perfect, but it is not a perfect weapon. As I told you before…”

“Enough.”

The count seemed to not want to hear more.

“Seraphine.”

The count, infatuated with music, was stubborn.

“Right now, nothing enters my ears. What I hear is only the sound of their screams to be used for today’s artwork.”

Knowing well that she could not break the count’s stubbornness,

she reluctantly decided to agree.

A moment later,

the limousine driver announced their arrival.

“Your Excellency, we have arrived.”

“Wait here, just as you always have. I will return by early morning at the latest.”

“Yes, I will do so.”

The limousine driver took a special drug and fell asleep as he did every time.

He was one who did not think.

“Seraphine. I leave it to you.”

To the words of the count standing outside the limousine,

she caught her breath and gently placed the violin on her shoulder.

As she grasped the rapier, the surrounding air began to quietly tense.

With a single bend of her slender wrist, the blade of the rapier touched the strings, and in an instant, a single cold and clear note flowed out as if cutting through the darkness.

As the performance continued, a delicate smile and cruel determination rose, mixed together on her face.

It was as if each tone flashed like a blade elaborately polished to manipulate, shake, and destroy someone.

The wave starting from her and extending outwards began to dominate the area.

It was not restricted only to humans.

It was definitely affecting sophisticated mechanical devices as well.

Crackle!

Beneath the CCTV sparking fire,

those possessed by the performance opened the doors themselves and walked out.

In their hands were kitchen knives or various other weapons.

Although it was chilling, fortunately, they had no hostility.

Listening to the most perfect performance under the night sky, the count began to lead everyone somewhere like the Pied Piper.

He was heading to the location where his artwork would be completed.

* * *

Knock, knock!

At the sound of knocking on the car window, Rashid, who sat in the back seat, opened his eyes.

The car was the abbot’s official vehicle, which Rashid had requested and borrowed temporarily.

Since there was no separate official vehicle provided until he became a Chief Inquisitor, Rashid intended to keep borrowing the abbot’s vehicle until he became a Chief Inquisitor.

As Rashid rolled down the window, a cleric with a familiar face delivered the news.

Karl Setier was it.

“Inquisitor. It has begun. They say the sound of a violin playing was heard just now.”

As expected.

The count was fearless.

“Fortunately, he didn’t hide.”

Rashid climbed down from the back seat and went to find his bike parked nearby.

Because for traveling, the bike was definitely faster.

“What about the other clerics? Are they all on standby?”

“Yes, all of them, including our clerics and the police forces, have retreated to a place untouched by the performance’s sphere of influence and are on standby.”

“Did you pursue the count?”

“Yes, this is the result of tracking the count.”

His boldness was truly remarkable, though it was something he felt every time.

Rashid, climbing onto his bike, asked Karl, who had also climbed onto a bike.

“Where is my attendant?”

“Sister Aria is on standby at the scene.”

“She is fast.”

“She had arrived before us.”

Rashid, laughing lightly, sped ahead first, and Karl quickly followed behind him.