That old geezer finally stabbed me into the Inquisition.
But honestly, even I think it was deserved, so it sucked.
If there’s anyone in a group that represents God who is capable of voting for the Pope and drops a kick to the head of that person, it would be more illogical to not suspect them of heresy.
Yeah, so I can understand why Andrea Bernar, head of the Inquisition and leader of the subordinate knights of the Inquisition, came to see me. The Inquisition sounds terrifying by name, but it’s actually a very reasonable place, and as long as you’re not thinking about climbing up the ranks, it’s not a problem to come and go there… that’s how it had been set up.
Seeing that a funeral—something only mentioned in dialogue in the main story—actually took place, the Inquisition must be similar.
With shimmering blonde hair, a tall figure, slightly sharp features, and a body that seemed to fit perfectly in thick gauntlets and slender legs, not to mention the modern fantasy-like rolled curls that seemed more suited to the villainess of a villain romance story, it was a character that screamed, “Ah, this must be the knight commander!”
It wasn’t like she was wearing plate armor, but that was just expected in this world where knights don’t really wear actual armor.
Andrea was a woman, but she wasn’t in a nun’s outfit. The top was more like a priest’s robe and the bottom was closer to a nun’s outfit, allowing her long legs to be clearly visible. The outer coat resembled a cloak that draped down a bit, fluttering whenever she moved, thanks to her proud chest.
Right. Andrea’s character was heavily filled with my personal preferences. Why didn’t I utilize this character in the main story?
Honestly, she was so much my type beyond what I had imagined that I momentarily lost my words, but it seemed Andrea mistook my speechlessness for fear.
“It’s fine. There shouldn’t be any significant issues. A sister with at least this level of holy power cannot be a heretic. So, I just need you to provide a simple testimony about what happened afterward.”
Her voice was slightly lower than typical for a woman, but it wasn’t unpleasant; rather, it had a commanding and trust-inspiring quality that made me feel her words were anything but false.
The problem was—
“We have many questions about what happened afterward.”
There was a person gallantly sitting beside her, lazily propping their feet on the desk in a very casual manner.
Miracle Investigator Matthew Turner.
Why the hell is he here?
*
Normally, the principle is that whether it’s a miracle investigation or an Inquisition, one would go to the Central Church. Of course, in the main story, neither the Inquisition nor the miracle investigators actually appeared, leaving it as just a concept, but that’s how my setting was.
Moreover, the Central Church is quite far from the 21st District. It’s located right in the middle of the 1st District, like a government building, and it took at least six hours by air to get there.
Inevitably, reports of heresy or requests for miracle investigations would almost always start from the west, and it would naturally take two to three days to get there.
Yet these people suddenly appeared in the cathedral almost five days after I drop-kicked the cardinal!
If they hadn’t set off immediately after receiving the report, there’s no way they could have arrived in time.
……Why?
Interestingly, the earlier arrival belonged to the Miracle Investigator side. Maybe it’s because they have fewer people?
“I have something I want to ask, is there a place where just the two of us can talk…”
“It’ll be three, right?”
As Matthew opened his mouth, a nun who looked to be around my age (as in, a teenager) standing behind spoke sternly.
“……Is there a place for the three of us to talk?”
Seeing the emblem of the Miracle Investigators on Matthew’s priest robe, the priest immediately smiled brightly and guided us to the reception room.
While I was still bewildered trying to guess why, suddenly the door burst open and in came Andrea.
Matthew, who turned at the sound of the door slamming open, froze for an instant. Andrea did the same.
Something’s there between them.
……That was the setting, anyway. The problem was that I hadn’t decided on what that something was, though.
I thought it would be interesting if they had a mix of feelings akin to love and aversion, but I hadn’t fleshed out the details, so I didn’t even know how that setting would fit together. Am I the creator, so will it fit together as I envision?
But contrary to my expectations, Matthew immediately turned to look at me, and Andrea ambled over, not bothering to ask, and plopped down in the remaining chair. For some reason, the young attendant who followed Andrea and Aurora, who came with Matthew, seemed to be exchanging glances with each other, but I had no idea why. I hadn’t thought that far.
“I’m the head of the Inquisition, Andrea Barnar. Ah, no need for self-introductions. I’ve already received paperwork stating your name is Clara Anderson.”
Andrea said while raising a hand to stop me as I was about to stand.
“This is the first time we’ve seen each other, so it might not be the best time for this, but may I ask you to demonstrate your holy power first? The documents mentioned you possess extraordinary holy power.”
I was momentarily taken aback by this gorgeous woman suddenly asking me to show my holy power, but I glanced at Matthew, who had approached before Andrea.
“I’d like to see that too, sister.”
While he seemed to use polite language, the way he leaned back with his legs propped up on the desk and nodded with his chin lacked any sense of etiquette. At first glance, you might think he was the one conducting the Inquisition.
“…….”
What can I do? Having just drop-kicked a cardinal and now being interrogated, I can’t just ignore them.
I silently clasped my hands together as if praying.
A brilliant light flowed from my clasped hands—exactly the same ability I had shown in front of the priest and the mother superior when I first entered the convent.
“Ooh.”
“Hm.”
On Matthew’s side, his response was one of keen interest, while Andrea seemed to have anticipated it, both expressing their awe in their own ways.
Honestly, I felt a bit anxious.
Even if I had created these characters, I hadn’t actually made them appear in the story yet. I was unsure how the characters that existed purely in concept would behave. If they were characters I had never introduced, I would feel less about it, but Andrea was later meant to be wielding a sword and charging out to slay beasts and demons, and Matthew would be wielding two swords to shoot them all down.
It meant either of them could easily take me down if they wanted to.
Noticing my expression, Andrea chuckled lightly.
“It’s fine. There shouldn’t be any significant issues. A sister with this level of holy power can’t possibly be a heretic. So, just provide a simple testimony about what happened after that.”
“And we have many questions about what happened afterward.”
Matthew picked up on Andrea’s statement.
Then he pulled out a smartphone from his pocket.
A smartphone?
“Here’s a video of what happened that day…”
“Eeek.”
Upon hearing that, I couldn’t help but squeak out in horror, and Matthew snickered. He laughed?
This bastard is laughing?
“Ah, don’t pull that serious face.”
Ah, judging by his actions, he must have already seen it. He knew exactly what was on that smartphone. Meanwhile, Andrea sitting next to me seemed to find my reaction amusing.
“Oh, does that mean it also has a scene of the sister drop-kicking the cardinal?”
“Drop-kick?”
Matthew muttered vacantly at Andrea’s words.
Gyaaaah!
As I writhed in embarrassment, Matthew’s expression suddenly shifted as if he realized something.
“Ah, does that mean you drop-kicked him for punishing the cardinal?”
“Ugh!”
In the end, I could not hold myself back and leapt up.
“Uh, no! Well, I mean, technically that’s correct! But it’s not so much that I intended to drop-kick him! It’s more like I have this condition where if I hear nonsense, I can’t help but drop-kick!”
“……”
“……”
Andrea and Matthew stared blankly at me. The reception room felt eerily silent, like a bucket of cold water had been thrown over us.
“No, um, you see, well…”
I was searching for something to say, but soon realized there was no way out and plopped back down in my chair.
“I will exercise my right to remain silent.”
“No, saying that now…”
Andrea muttered in disbelief. Matthew looked like he wanted to burst out laughing but was holding it back for the sake of decorum.
“Don’t worry, sister. There’s no part of the video where you drop-kick anyone. It’s all just about the miracle.”
“The miracle?”
“A miracle?”
And within less than 30 seconds, I had no choice but to break my silence.
“Yes, the priest here requested a miracle investigation. He said you were chosen as a Saintess by Goddess Ariel.”
Before I could respond, he quickly tapped the screen of his smartphone.
On the screen was me, covered in galbi jjim sauce from my head to my toes.
“Ah, ugh,”
I wanted to protest vigorously, but I couldn’t articulate my words properly.
[……Therefore, a sacrifice must be noble. It shouldn’t be as a mere livestock dragged out against one’s will, but rather, it should be the choice of those fighting for justice, for the smiles of countless people.]
“Uh, …Eh?”
In that video, I was speaking words I had never uttered before. The ‘me’ standing there, though a sight for sore eyes, seemed different from how I usually presented myself. Something about me seemed more… mature?
No, this isn’t a joke; an adult with a twenty-something essence inside—it’s unfair if that essence looks more grown-up than the appearance outside! What the hell is wrong with my embarrassment just now?
……Well, honestly, I could understand the situation.
The voice heard on the recording wasn’t mine; it was Goddess Ariel’s voice.
‘Even if a goddess descends, she cannot be seen by human eyes, nor can she be captured by a camera.’
It was indeed a portrayal faithful to the setting I had created. People probably couldn’t see me as I truly was.
But the voice is recorded even though the appearance isn’t visible— isn’t that a plot hole? Maybe I didn’t think that far ahead.
“Well, this is what it is.”
Once the video ended, Matthew nonchalantly turned off the screen and stuffed the phone into his pocket.
“The report stated that there were observations of the radiance enveloping the sister and a change in hair color, but such signs aren’t visible in the footage. So, I must ask,”
Matthew leaned forward slightly, finally placing his feet down from the table.
“Could you show us that once more here?”
“Father Turner.”
As Matthew made that request, Andrea’s eyes narrowed a little. I couldn’t tell if she believed there was a genuine miracle or suspected it to be a fabrication by a heretic. All I knew was I had a very unsettling feeling that they’d both present me with a wheelbarrow of trouble.
“No.”
So I resolutely refused.
“Am I someone who shows up when called by a goddess?”
Being outright shameless.
No matter how much Andrea started to suspect me, a person who wields holy power wouldn’t label me as a heretic. She was reasonable. Conversely, I knew Matthew Turner absolutely despised getting dragged into tedious matters. If he thought the process would become incredibly troublesome, he would likely opt to just give up.
In that sense, it would be in my best interest to close off such potential outright.
“True enough~”
Matthew said in a lazy tone while slumping back into his chair. Then he paused for a second as if deep in thought and finally said,
“Well, if that’s how the sister feels, then I understand.”
Then he sprang up and strode out of the reception room as if nothing had happened. Aurora, who had just been squabbling with the Inquisition, looking puzzled, gazed between the two of us, then suddenly gasped and dashed after Matthew.
I mean, even so, just leaving like that is sooo impolite, isn’t it?
“Hmm.”
Andrea gazed contemplatively at the door Matthew had exited through.
“I’m glad that you’re not a heretic.”
Now that I think about it, her speech was overly reminiscent of a military drill sergeant. Then again, she was the knight commander, so it made sense. She also had the setting of a rather strait-laced demeanor.
Well, it was a relief she realized I wasn’t a heretic. It didn’t seem like she had come here with the mindset that I was one in the first place.
Just as I was about to let out a sigh of relief,
“But attacking the cardinal is indeed a fact.”
Suddenly, she made a foreboding statement.
“Pardon?”
“No matter how much he’s a narrow-minded individual, a superior is still a superior. If I merely let it slide, it might unexpectedly invite severe backlash, putting your position in jeopardy.”
“Pardon?”
There wasn’t even any position at stake. I’m a mere nun who, once I turn 20, can just walk out without a second thought. Sure, there’s the academy entrance thing, but that’s because I’ve proven my qualifications…
“Linea.”
“Yes!”
Responding with more ‘Yes’ than a quick ‘Okay,’ a girl who had been standing rigidly beside Andrea swiftly approached her.
She had short hair and brown skin, a healthy-looking person. Though she seemed somewhat flimsy, she also looked sturdy, making it hard to tell if she was a girl or a boy.
“Even though sister Linea hasn’t been knighted yet, she can still hold her own as a member of the Inquisition.”
Ah, she’s a girl after all.
I didn’t realize that due to her pants. Looking again, it seemed that outside those pants, her outfit resembled more of a nun’s outfit.
“And she’s around the same age as you.”
“……?”
Showing my confusion plainly on my face, Andrea smiled gently.
“So, I was thinking, how about I assign this child to the convent for a while? By keeping her near you as you undergo the Inquisition’s investigation, it creates the appearance of ‘just going through the motions.’ Ah, of course, this child will be living with the nuns in the convent. I’ve heard something about you living alone, so there should at least be some space left, right?”
Back when I was living in the convent, four of us shared a room, and as I stared at Andrea’s grinning face, I felt something was going drastically wrong.
“Uh… but I’m about to enter the academy soon.”
As I stuttered out that line, Andrea simply smiled wider.
“Interestingly enough, this child has just enough ability to barely qualify for the academy. I promise it won’t interfere with Anderson sister’s condition or schedule.”
Ah, come to think of it, didn’t Andrea have a setting of being quite greedy?
I think I might be in big trouble now.
The convent was like a ‘military camp,’ but the knight order was a ‘real military!’
I’ve been there once in my past life!
I don’t want to go even if it kills me!
I trembled in fear, staring at Andrea, who looked like a lion poised to pounce on a delicious meal.
*
“Father! Matthew!”
As I strode away, Aurora’s voice called out from behind.
“Aurora, a nun must be graceful and quiet.”
“When have I ever said that?”
Panting with her breath rushed, Aurora didn’t give Matthew even a single word.
“What are you doing suddenly leaving? The verification isn’t even over!”
“Hm? Wasn’t there nothing more to be done there?”
Matthew thought of Clara Anderson’s face. She was flustered by every action and perspiring profusely, but as soon as the name of the goddess came up, she turned serious. She seemed to think the problem wasn’t that her capabilities were being doubted, but that it was a matter of underestimating the goddess.
Without a doubt, among every clergyman Matthew had encountered, his faith was the most steadfast. After all, if not, she wouldn’t be able to demonstrate such holy power at all.
For a person who sincerely worships God, a miracle that happens has profound value. If someone tries to judge and evaluate it on their own terms, naturally they would feel anger. Even if it was canonization or praise, that wouldn’t matter.
After all, the essence of faith itself lies in merely expressing gratitude towards God, not in seeking the rewards that come with it.
With such a fundamental perspective, trying to probe further would yield no meaningful answer.
“Ugh!”
As Matthew suddenly halted in his tracks, Aurora bumped into his back and was flustered.
“Hmm.”
He ignored such minor issues and looked up at the massive building before him. It might be a ten-minute walk. It was closer than he thought.
Anyway, they’d both be going together.
“This is the academy, isn’t it?”
Aurora looked up at the skyscraper with her neck craned back. Rather than a school, it felt more like a multinational corporation utilizing the whole building, also serving as a command center to direct the surrounding forces in times of crisis.
In a way, it resembled an officer school.
“Aurora.”
“Yes?”
“You should attend here.”
“Eh?”
Aurora’s eyes widened.
“Uh, but I’ve never even taken the test, and I don’t even know if I qualify to enter here…”
Caught off guard by the sudden proposal, Aurora tried to decline, stammering a slew of responses.
“I’ll write you a letter of recommendation.”
“Really?”
Her eyes grew even wider than before. Matthew thought to himself, “What if she falls in over excitement?” just then,
“Wow, so you’re saying I can really attend here? Is that really okay?”
Aurora, filled with excitement, was bouncing while gazing up at the building. Though people walking by looked at her strangely, Aurora never cared what others thought.
“Yeah. But you’ll be living in the convent we visited earlier.”
“Of course!”
Aurora vigorously nodded her head. She resembled a puppy eagerly anticipating a walk, Matthew thought. Actually, on second thought, maybe there wasn’t really a difference.
“We’ll share a room with sister Clara Anderson. Besides that, we’ll have a mountain of things to check.”
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