Chapter 54 – Funeral Requiem

Because sorting out the messy situation was not his job.

Rashid, who decided to leave the scene, called Carl over and got into his official vehicle that Carl had brought.

Rashid spoke, conscious of her sitting next to him.

“You could go alone, so do you really have to hitch a ride in my car? I have a long way to go.”

“Are you telling me to walk from there alone? Even when I am dressed like this?”

“You can just walk, can’t you? It’s close.”

She tried to hide her expression, but a small hint of discontent was written on her lips.

“Chief Inquisitor. When I was your attendant, it might have been different, but since we are fellow inquisitors now, could you show some consideration? Besides, it’s not like the two of us are alone, so please consider my reputation as well.”

She was indeed a woman who said whatever was on her mind.

Rashid let her ride not only because of her request, but also for another reason.

“That attendant position you just mentioned. Since it is currently vacant, there is someone I want to entrust with that role.”

She looked at the cleric sitting in the driver’s seat and asked,

“Is it that knight? You two seem to have been involved with each other often since the count’s incident.”

Carl responded on his own.

“Carl Setier. I am a cleric.”

“He is from the same monastery. His track record has not been bad, and he took charge of the Sacred Sound Resonator in today’s incident. As you know, he handled the job well, and he sealed off the Choral Dome properly after it was over.”

“Isn’t the authority to choose an attendant yours, Chief Inquisitor? Why are you asking me?”

“Still, he is someone who will be staying in the same room, so I should introduce you to each other.”

“If you are asking for my opinion, I do not care who it is. Whomever you chose, you must have had a reason for choosing them.”

He liked how she immediately accepted it.

“Choosing an attendant is not originally my role. I still have a superior above me.”

“But won’t you become independent eventually? Chief Inquisitor Ludrick probably won’t say much either. Or he will just choose another attendant who suits his taste. There is no limit to the number of attendants, after all.”

“Carl.”

“Yes, Inquisitor.”

“Will you join us?”

“Yes, I would consider it an honor.”

“But there is one thing you must know.”

Rashid continued speaking.

“I cannot promise you the position of inquisitor. Unlike a certain someone, I am not a person who gives false hope. If you have any intention of becoming an inquisitor, it would be right to start as an honorary cleric first, just as I mentioned before.”

“I am well aware of that. However, rather than becoming an honorary cleric, I would consider it an honor just to be with you, Inquisitor.”

“You can speak honestly without walking on eggshells. If you truly desire to become an inquisitor, being an honorary cleric would be better than this position.”

“I have no great desire to become an inquisitor. I am content just to be under you, Inquisitor.”

“If you change your mind, let me know anytime.”

“Yes.”

The vehicle slid smoothly out of the Choral Dome.

Remembering what was said earlier, Rashid addressed her again.

“By the way, did your older brother really say that? To cut ties.”

“He did not say those words directly. But since he went as far as inviting me, it amounts to the same thing. My brother definitely tried to kill me.”

She glanced at him and said,

“I have also already hired a lawyer regarding the inheritance issue.”

Rashid laughed softly.

To think she was already preparing for his death.

When they had not even caught the guy yet.

“Does your brother know that as well?”

She did not hesitate in her response.

“Yes, he surely knows. In fact, there is almost no money in this household that I can use freely. Nearly all transactions are reported to my brother.”

“He is thorough.”

“My brother is originally that kind of person. He never leaves any gaps.”

“Then isn’t that a problem? Your brother would not fail to understand what it means to hire a lawyer.”

When Rashid looked at her, she also responded by glancing back.

“He must know. But since my brother declared war first, there is no reason I cannot do the same. Although my brother and I have not spoken of it, we are already at war.”

It was someone else’s family business.

Rashid turned his gaze forward and muttered softly,

“It is good that the distinction between friend and foe is clear.”

Then he called to the front.

“Carl.”

“Yes, Inquisitor.”

“Play the music I was listening to this morning where it left off.”

“Yes.”

Carl played some music in response to his request.

The sweet sound of the violin soaked the interior, and Rashid closed his eyes gently, losing himself in the music.

‘Indeed, the performance itself is top-notch. It feels like a piece imbued with some kind of demonic charm. I feel like I’m constantly being sucked into it.’

Aria expressed her curiosity.

“What performance is this? It sounds like some kind of violin.”

“You’re right. It’s Seraphine’s performance.”

“What?”

When he opened his eyes, he saw her flustered expression.

Rashid chuckled.

“It’s fine. It is just a recorded performance. Hearing it performed live is the problem; a recorded performance like this doesn’t mean much.”

“Why are you listening to such a thing?”

“Don’t you feel it?”

She listened to the music for a moment.

“It is good.”

“Putting aside what that woman did, the performance itself is flawless. It means the music itself is innocent.”

The performance, which had been cut short in the morning, was now playing Part 4, Funeral Requiem.

Originally, it was a song Seraphine composed with the purpose of sending everyone away and holding their funerals, but now it had become a funeral song for herself.

“I keep listening to it on my commute. Because no other music in this world could compare to her performance.”

“Did something happen inside?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Never mind.”

She suddenly remembered the congregation members who had come out of the Choral Dome and cursed her brother.

“More importantly, what will happen to my brother? Unlike usual, there were people cursing him. That should never be possible… Of course, they also cast unfriendly looks at me, his younger sister.”

With his eyes closed, Rashid replied while fully absorbed in Seraphine’s Part 4 performance.

“He will probably be cornered. Seraphine revealed all of those horrible pasts she had experienced to everyone in the form of a performance. Your brother’s ugly past is also connected to it. It will probably become quite noisy starting tomorrow morning. They will attack your brother from all directions. Being in a high position means having that many enemies.”

“Then is it over?”

“No, your brother won’t collapse that easily.”

Rashid already knew.

How he would overcome the situation after being cornered.

Due to a single upcoming event, everything would be overturned, and he would obtain absolute power within the Holy Order.

Perhaps there was not much time left to be this relaxed.

“He will use any means necessary.”

“He is indeed that kind of person.”

“We might not be able to talk leisurely like this for a while. Once your brother grabs absolute power, he will strike us first, as we are thorns in his side.”

“Absolute power? Would my cornered brother possess that much power?”

“The Director of Palace Affairs holds two powers. He oversees the administration of the Papal Court, but he also takes charge of acting on His Holiness’s behalf in times of emergency.”

The vehicle came to a stop near the Heresy Inquisition Bureau.

Her house was nearby, and Rashid offered a casual farewell.

“Inquisitor Aria. See you tomorrow.”

A strong doubt arose within her.

What on earth was he expecting when he said that?

He was definitely not a man to make empty remarks.

Curiosity welled up, and she wanted to stay, but she had no excuse to follow him.

In the end, there was only one attitude she could take.

“See you tomorrow.”

After dropping her off, they headed toward the Great Monastery located outside the capital.

On the way, Rashid spoke.

“Carl.”

“Yes, Inquisitor.”

“I am accepting you as my attendant, but for the time being, it won’t be a normal attendant role. At least until the matters related to the Director of Palace Affairs are settled, only then will you be able to perform that role normally.”

“Is the Director of Palace Affairs attacking us?”

“To be precise, he will target me and that woman from earlier. Even if they are blood relatives, since they fell out of favor, they must have become worse than strangers.”

“I do not understand well, but I will keep that in mind for now.”

“I won’t be at the monastery for a while. If I am there, the monastery will also be attacked.”

Rashid continued speaking.

“Even if the monastery is shaken, keep the abbot in check. Keep in mind the day I will return, even if I lose my title.”

Although they were incomprehensible words, Carl did not lose faith.

“Yes, you do not have to worry about that. If such a thing happens, I will keep the abbot in check.”

Carl did not forget to add these words either.

“And even if you lose your title, I will continue to perform my role as your attendant.”

“Thank you.”

* * *

[The Mad Violinist Who Targeted the Entire Capital -Holy Order Daily-]

[The Truth Exploded by the Melody of the Choral Dome -Imperial Capital Press-]

[Holy Order Enters Emergency Investigation into the Vocal Academy -Imperial Capital Press-]

[Director of Palace Affairs in Crisis After Performance Scandal -Empire Daily-]

[Successive Demands for the Director of Palace Affairs’ Resignation Across the Holy Order -Imperial Capital Press-]

These were the articles that poured out over the course of a few days.

Looking at the trend, it seemed as if the Director of Palace Affairs was cornered, but…

This met with a dramatic twist due to a single event.

[The Pope Suddenly Passes Away -Holy Order Daily-]

The entire world, including the Holy Order, fell into chaos, and there was someone who benefited the most from this…

It was the cornered Director of Palace Affairs.

[Director of Palace Affairs to Act as Pope Until the Next Pope is Elected -Empire Daily-]

Rashid read the headline article of the newspaper lying on his office desk.

[Cornered Director of Palace Affairs Regains Power After Pope’s Passing -Imperial Capital Press-]

He could not help but chuckle.

‘It’s flowing as expected.’

Finally, what was bound to happen had happened.

The passing of the Pope was something that could not be stopped.

‘No matter what I did, he was in a state where he could kill him whenever he made up his mind.’

The sudden passing of the Pope—no, his assassination—was a forced event that could never be prevented.

Thanks to this, the cornered Director of Palace Affairs was revived like a miracle.

Moreover, he became a monster wielding absolute power.

‘It’s about time it begins. His reckless, sword-dancing execution.’

The Director of Palace Affairs, who took on the role of acting Pope, virtually became the highest authority of the Holy Order.

Although it came with the condition of lasting until the next Pope was elected.

Considering his current circumstances, it seemed obvious that it would take quite a long time to elect the next Pope.

Knock, knock!

It was her.

“Chief Inquisitor, Chief Inquisitor Ludrick is looking for you urgently.”

“Did you read this article too?”

She reacted without even looking at the article he was pointing at.

“If you are referring to my brother becoming the highest authority of the Holy Order, yes, I know. Thanks to that, I have also ended up in a difficult spot.”

She continued speaking.

“His Holiness was surely assassinated by my brother, yet it is quite fascinating to see that not a single word is being said about it. I wonder where all those people went who were biting and tearing at my brother while bringing up the Vocal Academy.”

“Your brother is now the highest authority of the Holy Order. Even if assassination is suspected, who would say such a thing? Unless there is clear evidence.”

There was certainty in her voice.

“There won’t be any evidence. My brother would definitely never have left any. Perhaps he had been preparing for this for a long time. Otherwise, how could His Holiness the Pope suddenly pass away at such an opportune moment?”

She suddenly remembered the conversation she had shared with him.

“Did you perhaps expect even this? The conversation we had in the car back then definitely felt like it.”

Rashid substituted his answer with a light laugh.

Rashid went to find Ludrick, who had called for him.

Ludrick, who had been away for a long time due to an extended business trip, was sitting at his office desk, reading the newspaper articles with a serious expression.

Sensing a presence, Ludrick then looked at Rashid, who was standing in front of him.

“I heard that many things happened while I was away. Although I occasionally heard about you, since I was not in a position to do anything, I just left it be. First, congratulations on becoming a Chief Inquisitor. I heard about it from the Director.”

“Thank you. Did you return safely from the protectorate?”

“It was not a big problem, but they were troublesome tasks that required quite a bit of time.”

Ludrick put down the newspaper article.

“Didn’t you dig into the background of the Director of Palace Affairs in the past?”

“Yes, I took the lead in digging into his background. Thanks to that, I fell out of his favor.”

“Since His Holiness passed away, things have become quite troublesome. Originally, the Director of Palace Affairs was not someone who could interfere with the Inquisition Bureau here, but not anymore. Until the next Pope is elected, he is the master of this place.”

“Yes, I know.”

“I think such a thing probably won’t happen, but… we also have to keep in mind the possibility of the Director being suddenly replaced. If it is the Director of Palace Affairs I know, he is someone who would do anything.”

“He will probably replace him.”

A commotion arose outside the office.

To be precise, it was noise coming from the hallway.

“What is it?”

Since it should not be this noisy, Ludrick’s gaze went beyond the inner chamber to the hallway outside the outer room.

“Did someone come? Why is it so noisy?”

Rashid could vaguely predict what was happening.

How the Director of Palace Affairs, who regarded the Heresy Inquisition Bureau as a thorn in his side, would begin his surgical intervention.

‘He must have brought the magic division of the Magic Tower. To face the Holy Order’s highest elites, that would be the only way.’