Chapter 127 - 127 Heresy Investigation
The story of Steve creating gold from mercury reached the Fries Holy Church as well.
Eton, the bishop of the Kingdom of Cascade diocese, witnessed Steve's experiment with his own eyes and reported the results, which seemed like a miracle of God, to the Holy Nation.
Since past scriptures record the great feat of God creating gold from nothing, the recognition that Steve was an apostle spread, but there were those who opposed this.
They belonged to the most conservative department within the Fries Holy Church, the Inquisition.
The Inquisition's main tasks were investigating heretics who went against doctrine and warring with non-believers, and they possessed military power.
Sonne, the head of that department, gathered his subordinates.
Sonne was a middle-aged man with brown hair streaked with white, standing 190 centimeters tall and large in build.
As he commanded a department with military power, he was muscular and robust.
He spoke before his subordinates.
"God created gold from nothing. However, there is no record of an apostle having such ability.
Although it is said that the one currently certified as an apostle created gold from mercury, could this not be a demon deceiving the people?"
Sonne disliked Steve's attempt to change the doctrine and considered eliminating his existence.
Of course, he thought Steve could not possibly be an apostle.
"It seems we need to investigate."
One of his subordinates replied.
"Yes.
Our work is investigating heretics, non-believers, and demons.
Go to the Kingdom of Cascade immediately and investigate this."
Regarding the investigation of demons, the method was not established.
Simply put, if the Church designated someone as a demon, they became a demon.
It was like a witch hunt.
"Mercury is the suitable candidate.
Go to the Kingdom of Cascade with Jupiter and investigate the apostle immediately."
"Understood."
Mercury and Jupiter, who were nominated, bowed their heads.
Mercury was a young, cute woman with emerald green hair, while Jupiter had short brown hair and was tall in stature, fitting the description of a male role in an opera troupe perfectly.
Both were mages with the ability to destroy God's enemies alone.
That was the reason both were recruited into the Inquisition department at a young age.
In other words, although it was called an investigation, the premise was destruction.
The two prepared for their journey and headed for the Kingdom of Cascade.
Inside the carriage to the border, it was just the two of them.
Mercury spoke to Jupiter.
"He says the apostle created gold from mercury, but I wonder what trick they are using to deceive the people."
"According to Bishop Eton and the Saintess, they use Illusion Magic, so they are likely deceiving observers with hallucinations.
I am grateful they eliminated that gold-worshipping Pope, but I cannot forgive them for deceiving the Saintess and the current Pope to change the doctrine.
God's word will not change, yet they want us to review it, which I dislike.
I had been planning to finish them off with my own hands someday, so this is perfect."
Jupiter could not tolerate the movement to change the doctrine.
Even if presented with the logic that humans who convey God's words can make mistakes, he could not accept it.
So, he wanted to somehow dispose of Steve, but since the Church's upper echelons had certified the person, he had been enduring it, fearing it would cause trouble for the department.
This time, however, it had become a command from his superior, so he was internally excited.
"God's word is unchanging.
Those who deny it are demons."
Seeing Jupiter clench his fist tightly, Mercury became worried.
"Jupiter, please stop attacking without confirming first."
"Doesn't the situation already indicate they are a demon?"
"It is not a denial of God's word, but suspicion of fraud regarding creating gold from mercury."
"Mercury, your thinking is too rigid.
If you kill first and then look for evidence, the opponent won't be able to interfere."
Jupiter had a mindset similar to a foreign mafia.
A certain country's mafia, when robbing, first shoots the victim.
That way, they can survey the money and goods without resistance.
When stopping at a red light at an intersection, one receives a volley of gunfire from waiting mafias like Bonnie and Clyde, so it has become common sense to enter the intersection without stopping even at a red light.
His thinking was extremely similar to that and very aggressive.
In that regard, Mercury was still somewhat conventional.
However, the Inquisition department showed no mercy to anything designated as an enemy.
They had killed infants and pregnant women without hesitation.
But that was not pleasure killing; it was simply being faithful to the mission.
The movements of the Inquisition department were kept secret, and even within the Church, what was currently being investigated was not revealed.
This was because investigating heretics within the Church was also part of their mission.
Since even the Pope could not grasp their movements, no one knew about this incident.
However, Julia received a revelation, and thus she knew of the Inquisition department's movements.
She tried to inform Steve of this, but he spent most of his time in the Royal Capital, so they could not meet immediately.
Therefore, she first wrote a letter to send to the Royal Capital and asked him to contact her immediately when he returned to the mansion and the factory.
As a result, before the letter reached Steve, he received a message from Bella when he visited the factory.
"Steve, the Saintess wants to meet you.
It seems she has something to tell you directly."
"When was that?"
"Yesterday."
"I wonder what it is."
"Probably another talk about God again."
Steve had discussed God's teachings with Julia many times and had adjusted the doctrine so it would not clash with science.
Bella, from that, thought this time was the same.
Julia, for her part, did not want anyone other than Steve himself to know or spread the fact that the Church had sent assassins against Steve, so the message only said she wanted to meet directly.
"I see.
Well, I'll go then."
"Understood.
I'll keep it from Chris and Nancy."
"I have nothing to hide."
Steve smiled bitterly at Bella's strange consideration.
Then he teleported to the church where Julia was.
Julia and Camilla smiled brightly at Steve's visit.
Then, in a room deep within the church, they were told about the revelation.
"Actually, I received a revelation."
At Julia's confession, Steve's eyebrow twitched slightly.
"What kind?"
"That the Inquisition department of the church has moved.
And their target is you, Steve-sama."
"The Inquisition department?"
Steve, unfamiliar with the department name, asked for an explanation.
"It is an organization that investigates people or groups religiously unfavorable and, in some cases, eliminates them with force.
It was organized to deal with heretics, non-believers, demons, etc., and even I, the Saintess, or the Pope cannot grasp their movements.
They also employ multiple mages, and their power is immense."
"Is it different from a paladin like Camilla?"
"Yes.
Paladins do not take lives if one converts, but the Inquisition department takes lives without confirming whether one converts or not."
Camilla nodded at Julia's words.
Steve placed his hand on his forehead.
"That an organization is targeting me."
"Yes.
On the surface, it will be called an investigation, but the revelation is a message that you are being targeted."
Steve thought about the reason he was being targeted after being told that.
However, he could not think of anything specific.
"If it is about the Necromancy matter, the movement is too slow, and I wonder why they would target me."
"Perhaps it is the recent great feat of creating gold from mercury.
Since the scriptures contain a description of God creating gold from nothing.
Perhaps they have some thoughts regarding that description and the feat.
Especially since they are conservative and seem to not be happy about the recent review of the doctrine."
"Truly troublesome.
Wherever religion holds military power, it runs wild in the same way."
"To protect freedom of belief, they acquired military power, but gradually it has come to be used not for freedom but to protect the organization.
I am sorry."
Julia apologized to Steve.
"No, this is not your fault.
However, if they attack even non-believers, they are not recognizing freedom of belief, are they?
It should not be a privilege only for themselves.
Such an organization should be reviewed."
"Yes.
I will discuss it with the Pope, but since the power they possess is great, if we handle it wrongly, they might turn their fangs on us."
"Troublesome.
So, what scale is the opponent sending, and what abilities do they have?"
"I do not know their information myself, but according to the revelation, be careful of mercury and lightning."
"If they can tell me that much, they could tell me everything.
That God thing is stingy."
While saying that, Steve thought about what mercury and lightning meant.
Just now, mercury was the metal in the news.
Even if he tried to be careful, it was present in large quantities nearby every day.
If it attacked, there was no way to be careful.
"Thank you for the information.
Please convey my gratitude to God."
"That gratitude must have reached him already.
You have finally acknowledged God's existence, haven't you?"
"Well.
There is certainly a being releasing information through revelations.
Whether that is the God we recognize is a problem, but I think expressing it as God is most appropriate."
"You could respect God more straightforwardly."
Julia took Steve's hand and forced him to offer a prayer to God.
Her eyes were fanatical, and Steve became a little scared.
Camilla next to them was watching Julia and Steve with a bright smile.
Steve hurriedly left the church and returned to the factory.
"You were quick."
Bella spoke to Steve who had returned.
"Well.
It was just a talk to be careful of my surroundings."
He omitted the part about offering prayers to God afterwards.
Bella, who heard that story from Steve, smiled.
"Where is the enemy this time?"
"Why do you look so happy?"
"Look, recently Steve has been busy with work at the Royal Research Institute in the Royal Capital, and we haven't fought enemies together.
I was anxious that maybe my value doesn't exist."
Bella had been worried recently that Steve was not fighting with swords and magic and that she was not needed.
Upon learning that an enemy was targeting Steve, she was happy that she could show her value.
For Steve, whose life was being targeted, there was nothing pleasant about it.
"I don't really want to fight that much.
Even if I don't fight someone, it doesn't mean Bella isn't needed."
"Really?"
"Of course."
To Steve, Bella was an excellent retainer whom he could entrust with family protection, and she was not unnecessary even in peacetime.
However, since the only thing binding their relationship besides marriage and children was the master-servant relationship, Bella was just anxious.
In a good mood, Bella asked Steve again.
"So, who is the enemy?"
"The Inquisition department of the Fries Holy Church."
"Should I finish off that Saintess too?"
"No, no, no."
Bella pointed towards the church in Archibalt Land, so Steve hurriedly denied it.
"Surely you've grown fond of them?"
"It's not that.
This time it is a runaway department of the Fries Holy Church."
"Oh, what a pity.
I thought Chris and Nancy would be happy too."
Steve wanted to straighten his collar at Bella's statement, not knowing how serious she was.
Of course, he had not done anything like adultery or cheating.
"The problem is not knowing the scale of the opponent coming."
"Since their headquarters is in the Holy Nation anyway, shouldn't we just hit that place first?"
"We haven't decided to fight yet, so that might be too early."
"If we know the enemy is coming to attack, shouldn't we start it ourselves?"
Bella looked dissatisfied, but Steve thought there might still be room for discussion.
The revelation only said to be careful, not to attack first.
In reality, Mercury and Jupiter were heading with full intent to kill, but Steve did not know that.
"So, the revelation said to be careful of mercury and lightning, so we should be especially vigilant on stormy days."
"What if we get struck by lightning?"
"We'll make an iron box with magic and get inside."
"Is that okay?"
What Steve was saying was the same mechanism as when riding in a car and getting struck by lightning; the people inside do not get electrocuted.
The electricity of lightning flows only through the iron box to the ground.
Therefore, if you are inside the box and do not touch the iron, you will not get electrocuted.
"I'll tell Chris and Nancy the information too, and Bella, come to the Royal Capital with me."
"Understood."
Afterwards, Steve finished his work at the factory, told Christina and Nancy to be on guard, and teleported to the Royal Capital with Bella.
Bella had been given a special mission to monitor so that no new woman would appear from the two wives, but Steve did not know that.
Thank you always for your typo reports.