Hero’s Downfall Report

33 – Devotion With a Sword (8)

The corridors of the Tribunal were long. So long that it seemed as if they were under an eternal curse, stretching endlessly. Heinrich occasionally looked back with a tired expression, as if to confirm that Cain was keeping up.

“This place was originally one of Magdeburg’s defenses. After it became the property of the Order, the building was expanded to create the Tribunal.”

Somehow, it sounded like an explanation tinged with excuses. Cain took a sharp breath. Beside him, Lily was incessantly wiping the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand.

“It’s awfully long.”

Nevertheless, Cain diligently scanned the corridor and examined the doors they had passed.

The Religious Tribunal is on the 6th floor. It seems that the offices of high-ranking inquisitors are concentrated on the 4th floor. Plaques indicating whose room it was were attached next to the doors, and among them was the name of Father Haspel.

The 25th door on the right side of the central corridor. Cain remembered.

“We’ve arrived. This way.”

The door was locked. Heinrich pulled a large key from his pocket at the waist and unlocked the mechanism. Fortunately, it seemed to be an ordinary lock, not one that required memorizing secret spells or opened only at specific times.

The spacious room was ordinary. Bookshelves on both walls held scrolls of annals, precedents, and interpretive doctrines. Behind the desk, there was a balcony leading to the central garden.

Judging by the elongated table that seemed to be used for meetings and eight chairs, it appeared that there were many investigators. The priest sat on his side of the desk, and Cain and Lily took chairs on the opposite side.

“At least have a cup of tea for now.”

The priest pulled a rope hanging by the desk. The investigator entered from outside. After receiving the priest’s order, he placed fragrant teacups in front of Cain, Lily, and Heinrich. It was a drink with honey and a slice of lemon floating on top.

“When I went to the main office of the Inquisition, there were quite a few people. Seems like trials are frequent?”

“Indeed, these days.” Heinrich answered Cain’s question as he placed the teacup down.

“The Religious Tribunal is, as the name suggests, a place to judge religious disputes. In the past, it was a place that rigorously interrogated heretics.

Heretics often formed formidable forces and even managed to influence nobles. It wasn’t something that a couple of priests could handle casually. Naturally, we had to strengthen our own force. Also, dealing with numerous individuals in trials led to the need for such a large building.”

Heinrich sighed softly and took another sip.

“In truth, the reason the building is unusually large and imposing is for ‘intimidation.'”

“Intimidation?”

“Yes. Heretics have a strong support base, and wherever they stay, they receive a warm welcome. If we can’t offer a convincing and tempting allure, they might just be deluded visionaries rather than heretics.”

Inside their minds, they are the ones who fill the gap between fantasy and reality with bizarre logic and fanaticism. To them, the imposing structure of the religious tribunal serves as a reminder that this is not the playground they’ve been frolicking in.

A completely unfamiliar place. In a location devoid of allies, filled only with adversaries who sacrificed their lives for the cause of heresy, the heretic finds themselves under the pressure to prove and defend their own existence. Just that alone breaks the momentum of the heretics by half.

Of course… these days, rather than such heretical trials, trials related to witches and sorcerers are more frequently held. It’s a sad affair.”

Taking a sip of tea, Heinrich clapped his hands together.

“That aside, I really appreciate what you did earlier. It could have been a major accident. You handle the staff quite skillfully, don’t you?”

“It was an impromptu action.”

“Ah.” Father Heinrich chuckled as if finding it amusing.

“Raising your chin on an impulse is one thing, but you accurately shot down the wyrm. Was that also an impromptu action?”

“It just felt like I wanted to smack it.”

Cain shrugged, and the priest burst into laughter, shaking his head.

“I also felt like hitting it.”

“Leaving that aside, I was impressed. How did you deduce everything? Hey, weren’t you surprised too?”

“Yes. Wow, listening to it, I couldn’t tell if it was a university professor’s lecture or a trial.”

Cain and Lily praised Heinrich’s acumen for quite some time. It might have seemed a bit awkward to anyone listening, but the priest smiled warmly, tilting his head.

“I didn’t do it alone, of course. Each inquisitor is accompanied by investigators who assist in the investigation. They play the role of bodyguards and help in various ways.”

“They even have separate bodyguards? Surprising.”

“Inquisitors often go on business trips. Sometimes, among peculiar groups, there are those who fear their conspiracies being exposed, so they send assassins. Though these days, cases of charging with a sword have decreased, it has transformed into attacks disguised as accidents, like dropping rocks while passing below a cliff.”

Cain thought about the documents Heinrich had brought out. Considering the reaction of the sinister brothers on the manuscript side, those documents were undoubtedly authentic.

If the guy had a sound mind, he wouldn’t have left such documents just anywhere. If Heinrich had sent a pre-investigation notice, he might have hidden them in advance.

Knowing about the vow probably came from the testimony of the Countess. But knowing where that vow specifically is and retrieving it is a different matter altogether.

“The detectives are exceptionally skilled,” Cain said, a hint of suspicion in his voice. Father Heinrich rested his hands on the desk.

“Anyway, both of you. I heard you are here on business. Where did you say you came from?”

Cain and Lily locked eyes. Cain nodded slightly, indicating that he would speak.

“Father, to be honest, this is important. We have come from the Otranto Enclosed Abbey and we bring testimony from Father Haspel.”

Father Heinrich straightened his back. He hesitated for a moment, then restrained himself from raising his eyebrows.

“Testimony. From Father Haspel to me?”

“Yes.”

“That’s strange. I don’t have any particular closeness with him…”

It was a lie. Cain could tell right away. Father Heinrich’s eyes wandered to the ceiling, his hands tapping the desk, sending subtle but powerful vibrations through the cane to Cain’s palm.

“He must be calling the guards.”

Cain placed the torn flag of Haspel on Father Heinrich’s desk. The priest’s lips seemed to dry up as he carefully picked it up, as if it were a death notice.

“He said the matter is not yet finished. And he asked me to give this to you. I heard it’s the insignia of the 5th Crusade. It’s the same as the one on your robe, Father Heinrich.”

“Indeed, you are not ordinary merchants.”

The head inquisitor’s head tilted slightly.

“Who are you? Where do you come from?”

“We have come from the Empire. I and my colleague are agents. We are investigating the attack on the knights.”

The exact department was not disclosed. Trusting Father Heinrich was only Haspel’s assessment. The details had to be confirmed by Cain and Lily’s own eyes.

Father Heinrich seemed to have understood Cain’s intention. “Just a moment.” He pulled a cord next to the desk. The door opened, and the short-haired, golden-haired nun from before entered. She looked expressionless, but her eyes were fierce.

“What on earth is this?”

Cain’s attention continued to be drawn to her.

She was a woman he had never seen before. Moreover, Cain had never been involved with a nun. Yet, his gaze kept going to her. Like a human-shaped statue among people, she exuded a strange aura and awkwardness.

“Is it because of her hair?”

She had golden-red hair, similar to Heinrich’s once golden locks, but their personalities were completely different. If Heinrich was close to blonde, the nun’s hair was closer to a shimmering red. It was a common color in the Empire, so there was nothing particularly unusual about it.

“Have you found them?”

“Summon all the high inquisitors to my room. Including the magistrate. It’s important; they should ring the bell five times.”

“I understand.”

The nun left the room. Cain doubted whether he had any paranoia. It was because of her footsteps.

Her steps were steady, her posture upright, but there was an inexplicable gentleness. An excess of softness and naturalness.

Even if she were a dancer, her way of walking on stage and when going to the market was different.

After the bell rang five times, inquisitors in red attire entered the room. There were both men and women, but they all appeared older. Magistrate Malachai, rubbing his sleepy eyes, was among them.

“Heinrich brothers, what’s the matter?”

“It’s important.”

“Important enough for us to sit down?”

“Yes.”

“You look like you were about to take a nap.” The magistrate grumbled.

Guards and investigators brought chairs. About twenty inquisitors took their seats. Cain stood up.

“Welcome, everyone. My colleague and I have traveled a long way from the capital. We apologize in advance for not being able to disclose our exact names and affiliations due to security regulations. However, we would like to make it clear that we are ‘agents,’ that we work for the Empire and the Royal Family, and that we have come from the Otto Ranto Secluded Monastery.”

The inquisitors didn’t make much noise. They expressed their surprise by clenching their fists, pinching their thighs, or shifting their gazes. Magistrate Malachai seemed wide awake now.

“Let’s hear it, then.”

Cain briefly recounted the events that took place at the monastery. Lily, too, briefly shared the findings of her investigation.

However, both intentionally avoided mentioning the tragic fate of the aspiring knights of the Order of Mercy and the peculiar dragon formed from their bodies.

They also refrained from discussing what Haspel, the Paladin of Purity, had left as a testament or the testimony given to Sister Heinrich.

Having conveyed it to the parties involved, there was no need to speak of it to others. Instead, Cain presented his emblem.

“Paladin Haspel instructed us to consider this as our mark. Thus, I present it to you all.”

The inquisitors exchanged glances as they examined the emblem. Those who had the crusader insignia compared it to their own. Even those without it concluded, “We can’t be certain it’s Haspel’s, but the crusader emblem is definite.”

Judge Malachia, representing the inquisitors, responded.

“Thank you for the brief yet detailed explanation. However, if I understand correctly, it seems you haven’t disclosed everything. I’m curious about the reasons for your silence.”

“That’s correct.”

“There seem to be crucial parts missing. I’m intrigued by your reasons for not speaking.”

“We are conducting an investigation into this matter. However, what we know is based on information collected by the Empire and what we’ve discovered with our limited perspective. We do not know what the Order has not told the Empire, what they haven’t explained.”

It meant, ‘If you want to hear more from me, you should also provide information.’ Smiles appeared on the faces of the inquisitors. Malachia also smiled as if finding it amusing.

“I apologize. As the matter is sensitive, we must handle it cautiously. Therefore, we need to first confirm whether you truly came from the Otranto Blockade Monastery. It’s a tedious procedure, but necessary.

As we haven’t had any contact from Haspel, there was a moment of anxiety. So, we reached out to the Order of Mercy, but they replied that they haven’t received any communication either.

We urgently dispatched a follow-up investigation team. Considering the timing, it seems to be after your departure. The timelines don’t match.

However, there were no traces of people left in the monastery, except for the destroyed buildings, equipment of the Order of Mercy, and the monks’ clothing. Except for one thing.

If you truly came from there, witnessed the destruction of the monastery, and thoroughly explored the area, you should be able to answer about that too. What was it?”

“There was a novice knight lying in the mortuary within the Monastery Morgue. He seemed to be sleeping as if in a miracle. The mark of a clear knife wound on his neck, not too large but not long dead.”

“Why did that happen to him?”

“The novice knight believed in miracles. At the last moment, when his throat was pierced by a sword, he healed his own neck wound with his hands. My colleague and I placed him in a coffin. Is that explanation sufficient?”

“Who stabbed him with a sword?”

Cain remained silent.

“I did. He was ‘possessed’ by the shadow of a sword and tried to kill me and my colleague.”

Laughter vanished from Judge Malachiah’s face.