Chapter 195 - Chapter 194: I Won't Forget, I Will Forget
The top floor of the tower.
Mika and a man faced each other across the window.
Mika was inside the room, while the man was outside.
If his grip slipped, he would fall straight down from dozens of meters, yet the man showed no sign of caring at all.
Listening to the man's words, Mika murmured quietly.
"...Heretic Inquisition, huh."
Based on information gathered by the Information Broker Guild, the most likely current scenario is that Mika will be subjected to a Heretic Inquisition.
It seems the specific suspicions are still unknown, but the general intent appears to be a flow leading from Heretic Inquisition, to Heretic Certification, to execution by fire.
(...I can't argue against this.)
Listening to the explanation, he couldn't help but agree.
If they called Mika a "Heretic," it would be true.
He didn't believe in the gods of the Church of Light even a single fragment.
From the Church's standpoint, Mika was nothing less than a pure 100% "Heretic."
"I'm not saying this to scare you, but I think you'd better run away quickly."
Seeing Mika show no signs of panic despite hearing the news, the man spoke up.
"They are following the proper procedures so they can claim they judged fairly. It's just a trial held in a sealed room. Probably, the result was decided from the very beginning."
"Probably."
Even so, Mika kept a cool face.
"If you're going to run, I can tell the people outside to guide you? ...Yaroibarov said you could escape alone if you wanted to..."
"Yes, if it's just running away, that's true. If I don't think about the consequences, leaving this place isn't a problem. ...But if I run, I'll be living in the shadows for the rest of my life, right?"
"Well, yes, that would be the case..."
A life as a fugitive.
Turning an organization with influence throughout the country into an enemy.
It would be quite a tight squeeze.
Just thinking "that might be a little interesting" — is that because I've watched too many dark hero movies?
"So, what are everyone else doing?"
If the Church's target is a Heretic Inquisition, how are they planning to respond outside?
He asked with that thought in mind, but it didn't seem very promising.
"The Church is originally closed off. The lower ranks are waiting with open doors, but the upper echelons are full of secrets. They use their secrecy as an excuse to do whatever they want."
"...But you can't grab their tail?"
When Mika asked, the man nodded.
"The Church itself is absolutely 'Good.' Everything is built on that premise. No one has imagined that premise crumbling."
That oracle from over a hundred years ago being valid even now is a perfect example.
The ramblings of just one insane Pope still bind both nations.
Even the Kingdom of Ektrem, which was explicitly told to "perish," still sees the Church running rampant.
"Thanks to that, we have no moves for now. Apparently, two noble houses are moving. Do you know them?"
"Nobles? Two?"
Since Cleiria is involved, the Leventein house is understandable.
But what about the other one?
"I understand the Leventein house, but what about the other one?"
"The Segerbaum house."
"Segerbaum...?"
Who?
(Ah, Stellan's family had that name, didn't they?)
Maybe Cleiria asked for help out of friendship with her classmate.
"The Segerbaum house seems to have connections with the Magic Academy and the Court Magic Institute. They seem to be applying pressure from that angle."
"Heh, Stellan had such connections."
If the Academy knows the situation, he won't get in trouble for unexcused absence.
That thought crossed his mind, and he almost laughed at his own carelessness.
Although, if he were executed, that worry wouldn't be necessary anyway!
"The Leventein house seems to plan to move their home base."
"Home base?"
"Yes. Apparently, that young lady is heading to the territory right now."
"Wow. Not a messenger, but she's returning herself."
Cleiria seems to plan to persuade the Marquis and get him to do something.
Will it be in time?
But even if the Marquis gets involved, can't the Church do anything about it?
"Everyone is moving around for me."
"Yes. Honestly, it's surprising. How many people are moving for just you?"
"Ahaha... thinking about it, it is surprising."
It's wonderful.
He truly felt that way.
Even having just one person reach out a hand when in trouble is enough to be grateful for.
(Returning the favor is going to be tough, this time.)
He murmured that in his heart.
If push comes to shove, he could force his way out.
Knowing that, Mika himself could remain relatively carefree, but those around him must be on edge.
Even so...
(Just knowing the target isn't Nerisfeene but me is a harvest in itself. ...I can't let my guard down yet, but if I can get information from outside, maybe I shouldn't make big moves right now?)
For now, he would borrow everyone's strength.
Escape was the last resort.
"...By the way, I should thank you too. What about the reward?"
Mika asked, but the man shook his head.
"I've already discussed the reward with Yaroibarov."
"Then I can double-dip."
Of course, returning the paid rewards to Yaroibarov was natural, but Mika also wanted to express his gratitude.
Mika smiled brightly, but the man made a grim face.
"I don't need it. Rather, just forget about me."
"Then my feelings won't settle down."
"I don't care. You better not do it, okay? Later you'll say 'I saw you and spoke to you' or something."
It seems he has no intention of getting involved ever again.
He was a bit dejected.
"Is that no good?"
"............I'm telling you to stop coming?"
"Ah, it's a lie, a lie! I'll forget, I'll forget! By the way, who were you again?"
As Mika lowered his voice and panicked, the man laughed mockingly.
Right now, this man was Mika's lifeline.
He also brought information from the outside.
If he offended the man, things would end quickly.
Well, ending quickly meant he'd have no choice but to force an escape, but still.
"That's fine. Well, see you tomorrow."
"Yes, thank you very much. Take care."
After the man disappeared through the window, Mika also let go of the window frame.
Then he took a bite of the bread that had been passed in.
"Really, one meal a day is tough..."
It's a rather difficult environment for a growing boy.
"Still, everyone is here."
He still couldn't see the path to resolve things.
Even so.
"I shouldn't complain, right?"
Mika murmured that, then took another bite of the bread.
■■■■■■
Month of Water, Week 5, Day 6. Late night.
Fourth day since Mika was captured by the Church.
Cleiria had arrived in Sarbengeal.
One could say it was an incredible speed.
Cleiria had left the capital just before dusk on the Day of Water.
She had covered a distance of over four hundred kilometers in two and a half days.
It was impossible under normal circumstances.
There was no horse that could run at such a speed.
Of course there wasn't.
If it was just one horse.
Cleiria had fully utilized the relay stations for fast horses scattered along the road, switching horses constantly to reach Sarbengeal.
She didn't use a carriage; she rode a horse herself.
However, with Cleiria's riding skills, she couldn't run that fast.
Therefore, she chose six knights with light body weight, had them remove their armor, and they came riding two-to-one on frequently switched horses.
They rotated riding the horses of three knights between relay stations. Upon reaching a relay station, they swapped horses.
Naps were taken at the relay stations, so there was no need to post guards.
Thanks to the soldiers stationed at the relay stations acting as scouts, they could always use the stations in a state of ready reception.
"It's almost there. Do your best."
While hiding her own exhaustion, Cleiria spoke to Nerisfeene riding behind her.
Even Cleiria, who had trained at the Academy, was nearing her limit.
For Nerisfeene, she had long since surpassed her limit.
When Nerisfeene heard Cleiria was going to Sarbengeal, she insisted on going too.
"I'm sorry, but that is impossible. There is no time, so I intend to march with extreme force. It will be riding a horse, not a carriage."
"It is not impossible. No matter what trial it is, I must accomplish it. Even if this life of mine comes to an end."
Nerisfeene said it quietly and solemnly.
She seemed to be wearing the atmosphere of the solemn sanctuary itself.
Cleiria, overwhelmed by the sheer presence radiating from Nerisfeene, almost faltered.
At this moment, Nerisfeene was thanking the gods for this trial, for this hardship.
Her faith was being tested.
She felt she was being asked: "Do you have the resolve to die for the 'Apostle' sent by the gods?"
(Ah... all gods, please look upon this. My body, my life, everything. I will offer it up without spilling a single drop.)
Life with Mika and Kistil had been peaceful and happy.
Days shining brightly, calm, and overflowing with joy.
But somewhere in her heart, she had always thought this.
Why... was... I... li...ved...?
There were times she received a terrible curse and thought, "When can I die?"
To such Nerisfeene, the gods sent messengers of salvation.
Since then, Nerisfeene had begun to consider the meaning of her being kept alive.
(Using this life for Mika-sama [Apostle] is the will of the gods. That is my mission.)
Nerisfeene was convinced of this.
Parting ways with Cleiria, who was heading to the Leventein mansion, Nerisfeene headed for the Great Cathedral.
It was late at night, so naturally, the cathedral doors were closed.
The knight who had brought Nerisfeene dismounted and helped her down.
Nerisfeene was so exhausted that walking on her own was difficult.
Even so! She spurred herself on, scolded her trembling legs, and took a step forward.
The knight knocked repeatedly on the large doors of the Great Cathedral: Bang, bang, bang.
After knocking for a while, a smaller door set beside the large doors opened.
It seems they enter and exit from there during late hours.
A man who looked like a member of the Church Knights Order [Temple Knights] peeked out from the door.
He had a face that looked extremely annoyed.
"What are you doing in the middle of the night? If you have business, come tomorrow morning—"
"Get me an audience with the Archbishop immediately."
Before the Church Knights Order [Temple Knights] man could finish speaking, Nerisfeene unilaterally made her demand.
But the knight from the Leventein house standing next to her knew such a thing wouldn't pass.
"Hey there—!"
"Wait, wait, I understand what you want to say."
The knight stopped the Church Knights Order [Temple Knights] man from raising his voice.
"I am a knight of the Leventein house. I fully understand that asking for something unreasonable at an unreasonable hour is absurd."
Upon learning the knight was from the Leventein house, the Church Knights Order [Temple Knights] man looked surprised for a moment.
He then looked at the knight's left chest emblem with his lantern.
It was indeed the Leventein house emblem.
"...A knight of the Leventein house, what business do you have at this hour? Did the Lord send a letter?"
The Church Knights Order [Temple Knights] man asked, though suspicious.
Naturally, if it were an urgent letter from the Lord, there would be no questioning.
It would need to be relayed immediately.
"That is not the case. But there is a possibility it will become so. Could you relay it for me?"
The knight was asking politely.
But even so, the time was absurdly unreasonable.
"If it's an urgent matter from the Lord, I will naturally relay it, but if you say it's not, then it's impossible. If I allowed that, the Archbishop would collapse from overwork."
No matter that they are clergy and treat people with generosity, there is a limit.
Everyone needs rest.
Even if that someone is the Archbishop.
It is natural for a human being.
Normally, it would end there with "Well, see you tomorrow."
The Church Knights Order [Temple Knights] man thought so.
The Leventein house knight naturally thought so too.
But unfortunately, there was one person who did not think so.
Nerisfeene.
"You have no business here."
As soon as she said that, Nerisfeene pushed past the Church Knights Order [Temple Knights] man and tried to force her way into the Great Cathedral.
By becoming friends with Kistil and learning various things, Nerisfeene had learned many things.
And while her somewhat unreasonable thoughts and actions had been largely corrected, it was only because the fundamental problem hadn't surfaced yet.
The main axis of Nerisfeene's life used to be the gods and faith.
Now that axis had shifted to Mika, and the gods and faith had changed into things that reinforced that axis.
It was natural that few problems arose with actions like "for Mika's sake" at Mika's house.
But such actions were only permissible within a very narrow world.
"Huh!? What are you doing, missy! This isn't a joke!?"
"Really, that's bad! Let's pull back for now."
"Let go! I am going to the Archbishop—!"
Late night.
The voices of the three echoed loudly in the silent Great Cathedral.
More Church Knights [Temple Knights] arrived upon hearing the commotion, but the noise did not subside—
"What is all this racket?"
After pushing and shoving for a while, a man's voice came from inside.
"W-we apologize. Priest-sama."
The Church Knights Order [Temple Knights] men stood at attention, and the commotion subsided for a moment.
Seeing the priest who peeked out from the door, Nerisfeene raised her voice.
"Kararebas!"
"............? S...eh!? Nerisfeene, sa...!?"
Kararebas, eyes wide with surprise, almost called out "Saintess" or "Sama," but managed to hold it back.
"H-how did you get to Sarbengeal!? What is this?"
"Kararebas, please! Relay this to the Archbishop immediately!"
Seeing Nerisfeene's desperate expression, Kararebas made a difficult face but nodded.
"For now, come inside. I apologize, but could you explain the situation?"
The Church Knights Order [Temple Knights] men were surprised by Kararebas's attitude, but they did not disobey.
Nerisfeene and the knight were guided to the second floor of the Great Cathedral.
However, Nerisfeene, who had no strength left even to climb the stairs, was supported on both sides by Kararebas and the knight to reach the second floor.
Even using [Heal], the accumulated fatigue was too great to yield significant results.
They were guided to a room used by clergy when consulting with believers.
Five rooms called "Small Talk Rooms" were lined up.
"Here, no one else will hear. I would like to relay this to His Eminence Wagnare, but I cannot relay it without knowing the reason."
In the "past when I was the Saintess," barging in like this would have been allowed.
But now, she had resigned as the Saintess.
Behavior like before was no longer permitted.
Just listening to the situation like this was an extraordinary treatment.
"—That boy!?"
With Nerisfeene's explanation and the knight who knew the situation adding a perfect supplement, Kararebas smoothly understood the situation.
Kararebas had also heard that the upper echelons of the Church were in a terrible state.
Sometimes Cardinals came to Sarbengeal, but Wagnare handled all responses.
Kararebas had also heard rumors that several Cardinals appeared, with talk like "that person is the Pope's faction" or "that person is anti-Pope."
"But, why is that child subject to a Heretic Inquisition...?"
Groaning in pain, Kararebas asked.
Nerisfeene sharply cut him off.
"There is no meaning in thinking about such things. It won't have any decent meaning anyway."
Indeed, thinking about the meaning might be pointless.
They remove him because he's in the way.
If they remove him, they gain something.
At best, that is the extent of the reason.
"By now, Lady Cleiria is probably persuading the Marquis. Please lend your strength to the Archbishop, matching the Marquis's movements."
"The Marquis...?"
Indeed, it would be natural for Cleiria to move for the sake of the boy named Mika.
They knew that from the time of the engagement contract.
Normal nobles would not move so earnestly for normal commoners.
What existed between the two was likely not an ordinary bond.
Kararebas closed his eyes for a moment, hesitating and thinking.
But when he opened his eyes, there was a strong light there.
"I understand. I will relay this to His Eminence. Let's go."
As Kararebas stood up, Nerisfeene suddenly smiled brightly.
"Thank you, Kararebas. Really, thank you."
At Nerisfeene's words, Kararebas nodded silently.
And thus, Nerisfeene climbed the stairs of the Great Cathedral again, supported by the two of them.