Chapter: 280
It was around that time when morning had passed and afternoon was approaching.
The inquisitor Nian had been training with his subordinates when Keddle, the Pope’s secretary, came to him with a command from the one who acts on the Will of God.
The content was as follows:
“Immediately head to the Burrow Ducal Family territory in the Soladin Kingdom and investigate the area.”
He needed to confirm if there were any unusual occurrences thoroughly, and if there were any officials from the Jushin Church or anyone who appeared to possess significant Divine Grace, he was to bring them to the Holy Land by any means necessary.
Though there were many unclear parts in the command given to Nian, he didn’t question it.
After all, the fact that an order was given to him meant there had to be a good reason. All he and his subordinates had to do was carry out the task.
Before even an hour had passed after the command was delivered, Nian along with his subordinates found the church’s teleportation circle.
“To immediately teleport to the church in the Burrow territory.”
“Um? I’m sorry, Inquisitor. It seems something is wrong with the Burrow territory’s circle.”
“If that’s the case, send me to the nearest location.”
“Yes, understood. I will prepare immediately… Huh? No. What’s this?”
But the process was not smooth.
All the teleportation circles near the Burrow territory were malfunctioning, as if someone had set it up that way.
This must be a problem related to the Pope’s command. It seems there’s been an issue in the Burrow territory.
After wasting quite some time, the place Nian could teleport to was far enough that it would take at least two hours by carriage to reach the Burrow territory.
The Pope issued an urgent command, yet they wasted too much time on unnecessary matters.
Normally, everyone would act after recovering from the effects of teleportation, but given the circumstances…
“I’ll head to the Burrow territory first. Once I’ve assessed the situation, follow me immediately.”
He entrusted the cleanup to a reliable subordinate and immediately cast Divine Magic on himself. He also empowered himself using the Fist Fighting Technique established by the great Holy Knight Ruel, who was once called a hero.
When all those procedures were finished, Nian was already in a state that was far beyond that of a normal human. The speed at which he dashed off was comparable to that of a warhorse running at full force.
How long did he run madly forward?
Upon reaching a village, Nian realized what was amiss in the Burrow territory.
The village was enveloped in the Evil God’s ominous and disgusting energy.
Seeing the sacrificial magic circle on the outskirts of the village, it seemed that the Evil God had been influencing this area for quite some time.
Moreover, judging by the fact that all the villagers were collapsed, the magic circle must have been activated but failed.
Hmm. Something like this is happening in the Duke’s territory, yet no one has noticed anything strange.
This means the threat lurking here is related to the Evil God Tariki.
Considering the scale of the incident, it seems at least the Apostle of the Evil God must be moving.
Having regularly confronted foul beings worshiping the Evil God as an inquisitor, Nian came to a conclusion from the small information he gathered, but his expression was far from good.
If the Apostle of the Evil God is hiding right in the center of the Burrow territory and growing stronger there, my subordinates and I have our limits.
This is a matter that at least the church’s knight order should dispatch, and in the worst-case scenario, the Jushin Church may have to mobilize all its forces.
If we all step into such a dangerous place, we might all end up dead.
That’s problematic. I need someone to report this situation.
I must give my subordinates the order to wait here.
If I don’t return even after half a day, I must instruct them to report everything to the church.
Completing all his tasks, Nian began to move toward the Burrow territory once again.
While charging forward without rest, Nian suddenly detected something strange.
If this were a normal situation, the Evil God’s energy would become stronger as he approached the center of the Burrow territory.
The further he got closer to where the Evil God’s Apostle resides, the more foul scent of the Evil God should be strengthening.
However, that was not the case. Strangely, the closer he got to the center, the more the foul scent of the Evil God gradually faded away.
What on earth is happening in the center of the Burrow territory right now?
At that moment, as Nian rushes desperately, the Evil God’s energy completely vanished.
And something else filled the space where that disgusting energy resided.
It was an energy Nian had felt long ago.
The moment he was newly appointed as an inquisitor.
The divine presence he felt at the inauguration ceremony presided over by the Pope himself.
So warm and cozy that tears almost came out, the Divine Grace of the great Lord.
From the moment he sensed that, Nian sprinted with all his power without thinking about anything behind him.
He wanted to see the person located in the Burrow territory as soon as possible.
Yearning to be buried in the increasingly potent Divine Grace of the Lord.
He dashed forward recklessly like a person with his wits gone.
When he finally arrived at the entrance to the city where the Burrow mansion was located, he was convinced that a miracle had unfolded here.
The warm divine presence filling the city could only be described as a miracle.
However, regrettably, fighting back the urge to sit down overwhelmed with emotion, the one who welcomed Nian into the city was not a person related to the great, divine, and benevolent Lord.
“Hold on a moment.”
Blocking his path was a man who gave the impression of having walked out of a sculpture made by an outstanding artist.
A low, compelling voice. An attractive appearance that no one could help but glance at. Even dressed in rags, he gave off an impression of freedom rather than ugliness.
Nian recognized this man. How could he not know someone who had traveled across the continent and made a name for himself?
Apostle of the Arts Church.
Prete.
The person who had been the cause of the Arts Church growing in power despite the Jushin Church’s surveillance.
“Could you reveal your identity?”
“Greetings. I am Inquisitor Nian of the Jushin Church, Apostle of the Goddess who governs Beauty and Art.”
Even when Nian showed him the cross of the Jushin Church from his bosom, Prete did not lower his guard.
“Looking at the energy you possess, you must be someone of quite a high rank. What brings you here?”
“I received an order to investigate abnormalities here.”
“In that case, it seems you can just go back. We have resolved all the issues already.”
Upon hearing Prete’s words, Nian raised an eyebrow.
He did not doubt that the problem had been resolved. It was unlikely that the Evil God’s plans would fall apart in a city where miracles resided.
What bothered Nian was something entirely different.
“Did the Apostle of the Arts Church resolve the problem?”
Prete said he had resolved the “problem.”
It meant he claimed to have thwarted the Evil God’s plans directly.
That was nonsense.
There was a great Divine Grace of the Lord in this city, how could an Apostle of the Arts Church dare lie!
“Yes, thanks to the Goddess guiding us.”
How dare someone who serves the Lord claim credit for the accomplishments!?
“Did you handle it all by yourself? Without any companions?”
“Is there a problem with that?”
“Here in this city, I feel the presence of the great Lord’s Divine Grace.”
“Hah. What nonsense. This is the result of the Goddess performing miracles on the land.”
Seeing Prete’s audacity, Nian ground his teeth inwardly.
The opponent was not someone to take lightly.
The man before him, who had achieved numerous feats under the Goddess’s guidance, was basically a symbol of the Arts Church.
He was not someone Nian could confront strongly.
“Aha. If that’s the case, it must be quite hard to handle the situation in this city by yourself.”
Nian, who struggled to hide his rising anger, spoke with a forced smile, but Prete shook his head before the words could even finish.
“I do not require assistance. Soon, people from the Arts Church will arrive.”
“However.”
“Please back off appropriately. Or what? Are you going to try and take away our achievements again?”
When Prete pointed out the mistakes made by someone from the Jushin Church a few years ago, Nian sealed his lips.
He had enough suspicion.
The scale of the incident was not something Prete could handle alone.
Having sensed the Lord’s Divine Grace in the city.
There were also a few other questionable actions, but he could not press further.
The issue was the lack of clear evidence.
Another issue was the formidable power of the Arts Church.
But most importantly, the renowned status and strength that Prete possessed surpassed Nian.
“…I’ll inquire about this through the church later.”
“Yes, please do.”
Politely bowing to Prete, Nian exited the city and stabbed a dagger into his own shoulder.
As punishment for his own incompetence and to confess to the Lord.
And to etch this humiliation into his body.
*
“Hey. Young Lady. Don’t be too gloomy. After all, the work itself went well.”
“Grandpa.”
“Huh?”
“Shut up. I don’t want to end up like that!”
The place I pointed to was where the Sloppy Fox was being punished.
The creature, wrapped in the clothes discarded by the soldiers of the Artea family after finishing training, was currently in the process of dying.
“Ch… kill me…”
The Sloppy Fox, unable to resist beautiful things, equally despises ugliness.
There was even an event in the game where it would expel creatures from the forest simply for breathing the same air.
So, keeping that thing trapped in a bundle of ugly men meant that place was worse than hell for the Sloppy Fox.
But I had no intention of letting that creature go.
The grudge of having my dignity trampled and sold to a disgusting pervert wouldn’t be resolved this easily.
“I’m sorry. I’ll stay quiet.”
Did the old man realize he might get thrown into the trash if he said the wrong thing? He hurriedly shut his mouth.
Sigh. Selling my dignity to that masochistic perverted fox was a huge decision for me, and now I have to be humiliated like this!
Isn’t this a bit too much?!
Of course, it was indeed my choice!
But at that moment, there was no other way!
It was either everyone dies or face this disgrace! How could I choose everyone dies!
Hey! You Shoddy God!
Honestly, say it!
You planned this, didn’t you!
You made the inquisitor move to mess with me!
There’s no way the timing is this perfect otherwise!
Gyaaaaaaaaaaa!
Just you wait!
You Shoddy Useless Masochistic Perverted Trash God!
One day, I will certainly expose your true nature across this entire continent!
— Ding!
While I was biting my lip and swearing revenge, the notification sound rang.
[You have successfully thwarted the Evil God’s plans!]
[You have succeeded in saving the citizens of the Burrow territory!]
[You have successfully neutralized the Apostle of Evil God!]
[Thanks to your achievements, Tariki has exhausted most of his power!]
…
[An astonishing achievement reached the ears of various gods!]
[The tally has been completed.]
[Quest rewards are now being dispensed.]
What? Are you trying to placate my grudge with some ridiculous reward?!
Hah! It’s too late for that!
No matter what you give, my ruined situation won’t change!
This is mutually assured destruction!
Since my dignity fell into the abyss, yours will correspondingly…
[Skill ‘Master of Shield’ has been granted!]
…Uh? This is a skill that rapidly increases shield proficiency!
A nearly final type skill that is normally hard to obtain! You’re giving me this?!
No. Wait. Calm down.
Am I going to be satisfied with this?
If that happens, similar events will occur again in the future!
So this time, I must warn the Shoddy Perverted God!…
[Skill ‘Unwavering Will’ is evolving!]
…Should I just listen a little bit?
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