### Chapter 493 – Room 207, The Gate Room – Second Trial ‘The Witch’ (1)
—
– Elena
Ernhheim is a trade city located in the southern part of the Castilla Union Kingdom.
In simple terms, it’s a port city in the southern region that will be known as Spain in the future, and it serves as the backdrop for the second trial.
The historical setting is 1382, during the Reconquista in Spain.
I am Elena Gray.
Within Ernhheim, I’m essentially the pampered daughter of the Gray family, who rules like a king.
But I’m a bit startled by this whole scenario.
Did a city named ‘Ernhheim’ even exist in Spain?
And what’s up with the ‘Gray family’?
Well, trying to trace the names of cities or families here seems pointless.
Because I am someone who possesses a “talent” recognized by the church, a blessed daughter.
In simpler terms, I’m akin to a saint acknowledged by the church.
This is medieval Spain, where saints performing miracles truly exist.
*
As per the trial’s setting, the blessing I received is called ‘Judgment’.
It’s the power to uncover the truth of sins, locating the sinners, and passing judgment.
Basically, it’s like the blessing of justice known as ‘God’s grace’.
There were no explicit settings about ominous imaginations, but shortly after the trial began, an alert for ‘inheritance seal’ popped up, which gave me a hint.
“The inheritance is sealed, and you can only use blessings….”
I couldn’t help but make an educated guess.
Having just obtained a blessing boost right before entering Room 207, it feels a bit unfair if my blessings get sealed in the next trial.
But my concern is for Eunsol.
Wealth is basically useless inside the trial, right?
Doesn’t that essentially leave her ineffective?
“Sorry? Blessing?”
“Valentina, don’t mind what I’m mumbling to myself.”
Right, focus on my situation.
‘Elena Gray’ holds substantial authority as a saint or judge in this city.
While I generally don’t meddle in trivial matters, if there’s a major crime threatening the city, I’m expected to step in, find the perpetrators, and deliver justice.
The hotel surely has its reasons for assigning me this position.
Something must transpire that will threaten the city, and there’s likely a ‘boss’ behind it.
*
What comes to mind when thinking about pre-modern medieval European society?
Generally, one would conjure up a very patriarchal atmosphere.
For a young woman in her early twenties like myself, going against my father, the Duke Gray, just wouldn’t fly.
Isn’t it the fate of most noble ladies to marry whom their father chooses?
That’s a tale far removed from my own.
Even in such times, let’s not forget that Joan of Arc led the French army into battle.
The authority of my father, Duke Gray, exceeds even that of Juan I, the ruler of the kingdom, in this era of ‘God’s authority.’
And here I am, a blessed daughter acknowledged by the church.
“Elena, I received an unsettling letter yesterday.”
“A troubling letter?”
The ever-proud Duke Gray has suddenly become as frail as a teenager caught in a storm.
“Have you heard of Tomás de Torquemada?”
Of course, that’s the first I’m hearing of it.
But in this situation, I should act surprised.
“Yikes! That, that man!”
“Hmm… It seems his notoriety has reached your ears as well.”
“Of course!”
So, who is he, exactly?
“The Inquisitor Tomás. The purest of the pure, the faithful sword of the Papacy, a steadfast will—”
Tomás de Torquemada.
Just hearing the word ‘Inquisitor’ is enough to make me uneasy.
“- And others call him this as well.”
“…”
“The lord of the pyres. Slayers of witches.”
“Oh my.”
By now, I have a pretty good sense of what kind of person this Inquisitor Tomás is.
“He wants to meet you.”
“…”
“Be cautious.”
*
The next day.
Through the torrential downpour since the morning, that man finally appeared.
Tomás de Torquemada was a gloomy and foreboding presence, much like the dark clouds covering the sky.
“Sir Tomás, welcome to the Gray family.”
“Thank you, but I doubt I bring good news.”
“…”
Tomás immediately had everyone feeling uneasy from his opening line.
“Duke, since you’ve likely received a letter already, I won’t waste time and will get to the point.”
“… I’ll hear you out.”
“I have received intelligence regarding a witch’s existence in Ernhheim.”
“…”
“I request full investigative and punitive rights over Ernhheim.”
To request complete investigative and punitive rights means effectively asking for judicial authority itself.
Even if he’s an Inquisitor sent by the Papacy, asking ‘yes’ in this situation isn’t exactly easy, right?
“Sir, uhm, Tomás the Judge. Let’s stay calm and discuss this a bit more. Suddenly witches? There hasn’t been any unrest in Ernhheim in the 24 years since I’ve ruled.”
“That’s likely because you’ve had your eyes closed during those 24 years.”
“…!”
In that instant, both Duke Gray and I were shocked.
Naturally, all the surrounding retainers were stunned too.
“Judge! Mind your manners with the Duke!”
“Do you think you’re safe here—”
“Hey!”
My father is not some village mayor; he’s a high-ranking lord ruling over Ernhheim. How dare he put on such a show?
“I apologize for my rudeness, Duke. However, I possess clear evidence of Ernhheim’s corruption.”
“… Speak.”
Clear evidence of corruption.
Soon, the Inquisitor gestured for his aide to bring forth a ‘box’.
— Bang!
“What is this?”
“It’s evidence of heresy.”
“So, what’s inside it—”
“See for yourself.”
“…”
“There shouldn’t be any dangers just from opening the box.”
The box rattled continuously, as if something alive were inside, making the Duke wear an anxious expression as he opened it.
And then, everyone gasped in horror.
“Ughh! W-What the hell is this!”
“Ahhhh!”
“What a dreadful sight!”
“Oh Father in heaven, have mercy on us—”
“Tomás! Explain what this is!”
Inside the box, there was something constantly writhing, grotesque flesh.
At first glance, it appeared to be a hunk of meat suffering from rigor mortis, but upon closer inspection, it resembled a heart.
The exterior of the heart was lined with prickly, needle-like protrusions, and the veins were twisted haphazardly.
It seemed like an unknown, sinister force had mercilessly mangled the human body—
“… Are you alright?”
“Hmm?”
Suddenly, I sensed the surrounding quietness and lifted my head.
Retainers, and even my father, were staring at me wide-eyed.
“…”
A hideously deformed mass of flesh twisted by evil power.
Someone had certainly died to make this heart, yet it still beat in its twisted form.
Even someone with a strong stomach would be overwhelmed by the sight.
As a young lady of blossoming age, staying calm is hardly warranted, and observing the heart’s shape is even more preposterous.
Before I could muster an excuse, the Inquisitor smiled softly.
“Indeed, a blessed one like you is different from ordinary ladies.”
“…”
“What do you feel?”
“Well, I’d like to hear more of your explanations, Judge Tomás. How does this serve as evidence of Ernhheim’s corruption?”
“Certainly. Originally, before I set out, the church had dispatched a temple knight to Ernhheim.”
If there’s a blessed daughter like me, then there must be a son as well.
I’ve heard that many men recognized for miracles by the church become ‘temple knights’ who wield the church’s power.
“And?”
“Two days ago, the blessed son of the Lord, Cha Jinchul—”
“Whaaat!”
Cha Jinchul, suddenly?
“Why the shock?”
“… No reason.”
“…”
“…”
“Knight Cha Jinchul was horrifically murdered. This heart was found to be the ‘most intact’ piece of flesh from his body.”
Oh, no, no, no!
This series of questions that had confused me for days suddenly all made sense.
Two days ago was exactly when the second trial began!
Jinchul died right after the trial commenced.
The realization that some mysterious force had twisted his flesh into this state hits me hard.
Something, something’s coming to mind.
If I could use the blessing, the ‘Egyptian party’ before me may have been able to utilize the inheritance.
Did Miro summon Jinchul from some time warp?
And Jinchul tried to use a star fragment without blessings and ended up twisted before death?
“Ugggh…”
Finally.
This entire sequence of events might have been foreseen by Kain, who left that letter for me.
“Sorry. It seems the second trial must be conducted by Elena and Eunsol. Let’s do our best!”
How cruel.
Jinchul is cruel, and so is Miro!
If one of three starts to waver immediately, what are Eunsol and I supposed to do?!
Kain should have at least foreseen this and made preparations—
Suddenly, my complicated feelings overflew, and those around began to react as well.
“…”
“Elena, seeing something horrible doesn’t seem to sit well with you. Care for a glass of wine?”
“I’m okay.”
Fortunately, since the situation itself made it hard to maintain composure, no one found it odd.
Calm down.
No one wishes death upon themselves, right?
There’s a good chance a massive crisis hit during the first trial, and Jinchul faced it head-on, leading to this unfortunate incident.
It’s already happened.
No matter how much I resent it, my fallen comrade won’t come back, so I must accept it.
…
For whatever reason, the horrific sight shown by Tomás just now struck shock in everyone.
“Duke, I hope you now understand my words?”
“… I understand.”
“I would like to hear your response to my request.”
The Inquisitor’s request.
To transfer all judicial authority over Ernhheim, governed by Duke Gray.
Earlier, it felt ludicrous, but now the atmosphere has shifted.
Everyone has witnessed the ‘evidence of evil power’ with their own eyes.
“…”
While it seems like a ripple effect of the events that transpired in ‘Ancient Egypt’, that’s just my conjecture.
For the people of this era, everything they see would likely point to divine intervention.
“Judge Tomás. I grant you the authority to investigate and penalize over all of Ernhheim.”
“Thank you. Your active cooperation is—”
“However!”
“…”
“Would the Gray family stand idly by in the face of such evil?”
“…”
“Elena!”
“Yes?”
“I ask you. Go together with the Inquisitor and punish the corrupted witch to restore peace to the city.”
“I will.”
The Duke’s wish is simple.
Having found proof of corruption, he accepts the request, but he wants my daughter, blessed by the Lord, to act alongside him.
The Inquisitor nodded as well.
“I consider it an honor to protect the city alongside your blessed daughter.”
Here we go.
But before that, there’s one more thing to do.
“Valentina, I have a favor to ask.”
“Speak away.”
“I’ve heard there’s a ‘strangely named immigrant lady’ near the port.”
“Oh, you mean ‘Lee Eunsol’?”
“Could you deliver this letter to her?”
“No problem at all. But how does the lady know such an odd woman—”
“Just deliver the letter without asking.”
I need to share what I know with Eunsol.
*
– Lee Eunsol
“…”
Thanks to the information in the letter, my head is spinning.
Alright, let’s understand the general background first.
What does it mean that Jinchul, who once served in the position of a temple knight, died right at the start?
Let’s think calmly.
We have the hints we got at the dinner party.
This stage is not the ordinary Spain I know.
It’s a world where Elena, blessed by God, and Cha Jinchul are accepted as no-brainers.
If God’s grace exists, then the devil’s curse might too.
In the real world, witch hunts are merely a dark chapter in humanity’s history, but the witch hunts in this world may be entirely different.
If witches truly exist, what if they’re plotting something evil somewhere in Ernhheim….?
Thinking this way, insights naturally arose within me.
Regardless of Jinchul’s death, it seems the Inquisitor Tomás arrived without question.
He must have found evidence of witches through a different route dispatched by the Papacy.
If so, what did the death of temple knight Jinchul bring about?
It likely made Tomás’s attitude far more extreme.
“Mom, Mom!”
“…”
“I’m hungry….”
“Alright, Sophia. Just a moment.”
“Okay!”
As I pat the head of the girl cast in the role of a ‘daughter’, Sophia, I ponder.
What’s my situation like in the second trial?
According to the setting, the husband I’m said to have died 11 years ago was a wealthy merchant, someone I’ve never even seen.
I’m playacting as the daughter of a Ming Dynasty merchant whom my husband met during a deal, hence I’m of eastern descent.
In summary, I am a wealthy widow and an immigrant.
“Oh.”
“Mom?”
I’m in just the right position to be accused of being a witch.
Is this condition ridiculously perfect or what?
Feeling anxious, I unconsciously placed my hand inside my pocket and touched the beautiful blue brooch.
It’s a precious treasure created from the greedy hands of four episodes, a legacy in a way—my trusted tool even more so than the Silken Flute of Rest.
A not-so-subtle, ever-present nightmare butterfly, capable of intimidating humans and giving hallucinations, as well as possessing the ability to turn invisible.
Who could say this isn’t a witch’s tool!
Look, even reflect on the mirror showing my eyes.
“… Even I could come off as a witch.”
“Mom?”
I steeled my resolve.
But who is the boss of the second trial?
*
In a dark private room.
With pious demeanor, the kneeling Tomás finished praying and stood up.
One of his aides, Santiago, cautiously asked.
“Sir Tomás, may I ask a question?”
“Ask away.”
“There are witches in this city. That much is clear.”
“Indeed.”
“However, how do we distinguish between the corrupted and the innocent?”
At those words, Tomás couldn’t conceal his disdain and glared at the aide.
“What a foolish question!”
“Forgive me.”
“Santiago, listen closely.”
“Yes!”
“In a corrupted city, there are no innocent people.”
“… Yes?”
“A witch is a witch and thus a sinner, and a non-witch is also a sinner for hiding a witch.”
“If someone didn’t know a witch existed—”
“The Lord has said that ignorance can never be an excuse.”
“…”
“Remember this! How dare a mere human discuss judgment? Judgment belongs solely to the Lord. Our task is merely to send them to the judgment seat.”
“What do you mean….”
“Anyone with doubts should be placed at the pyre. The innocent will be separated by the Lord, and the flames will spare them.”
My site has received a lot of DMCA notices, lol. From now on, I will update the MTL on https://darkmtl.com/.
The site is fast and lightweight because there are no ads yet. However, the theme is different from Cybor-TL, so take some time to familiarize yourself.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.