Dimona, the Heresy Inquisitor, cast a glance at the church.

"It looks neat. Although there are still some worn areas, it's different from before. How did you manage this since there's no apparent source of income?"

Dimona smiled warmly.

"Priest Mierkant, the church looks tidy."

"It's thanks to an increase in followers. The regular donations have gone up. I remember reporting it."

"Did you?"

"I told you to read the reports properly."

"But formal reports are dull. Besides, it wasn't under my jurisdiction anyway."

Dimona gave a signal to her closest aide, Radatok, a middle-aged man who was also a Heresy Inquisitor.

Despite his stern appearance, he nodded when their eyes met.

"I'll take a look."

"Take all of them."

"Still, we should leave a couple behind..."

"Oh?"

Dimona tilted her head slightly, looking up at Radatok at an angle.

"Come on. Did you forget I'm the strongest here? Without a single inquisitor, it's like having none. Take them all. I have to interview some of the pretty and cute juniors."

"Don't break them."

"How can you say break… When you say things like that, everyone gets scared of me! You know part of my bad reputation comes from being an inquisitor, right?"

"I'll pretend I didn't hear that."

Radatok immediately left the room, and his aides also disappeared without a trace.

With all the intruders gone, it's time. Dimona took a sip of the tea in front of her.

As expected, because it was cheap, the aroma wasn't quite there.

‘Ugh. It's tasteless.’

Dimona discreetly pushed the teacup away.

"Priest Mierkant still seems to like tea, doesn't he?"

"Drinking something warm helps organize my tangled thoughts, so I often enjoy it."

Mierkant.

The administrator of a fallen branch. A priest practically driven out from the Cult Headquarters.

There was a reason why this city's lord, Mamelan, kept him alive. His reputation was so high it couldn't be considered part of the Sun God Religion, with an impeccable record to boot.

He is clean. Dimona also knew this fact. But she also knew that being too clean could sometimes be a problem.

Integrity and purity.

At first glance, it seems like a good concept. But the world's perception is the opposite of what it means.

People in the world don't always like those who are completely pure. The more selfish and greedy a person is, the more they tend to look down on good people.

In a world where using and discarding people or naturally pushing them away is the norm.

Dimona knew that the cult had already rotted to its core. She understood that Mierkant's refusal to align himself or to leave this avoided branch and appoint himself as the administrator here stemmed from his steadfast heart.

However, unlike him...

She didn't particularly like the type of person standing before her. While she respected him, she didn't want him by her side.

People without ambition aren't interesting. They settle for an ordinary life.

"This is delicious. The refreshments are delightful. You didn't need to go to so much trouble..."

"Since you've come such a long way, this much is only natural."

"You're really kind. I hear you even take in all the orphans?"

Dimona sighed.

"I'm sorry. I couldn't lend strength to Ra's cause. There are so many places to spend money, yet it's limited. I heard you didn't receive the funding again this time?"

"It's not the role of an inquisitor to worry about that. I'm alright."

"Thank you for saying so. The funds allocated to the local branch are tangled in complexities… If you're going to get involved, you should do it properly. But there are too many opposing forces, so it's impossible."

"Who on earth?"

"As you know, I'm not particularly welcomed within the cult. An independent entity. Just at that level. I'm even shunned by the other judges. There was a time when I was told not to meddle so much."

Dimona stirred her teaspoon slowly.

"Even so, the reason I'm not completely cast aside is probably because I am still useful."

"...That's not true."

"Oh, Priest, it's just us, isn't it? You don't really need to worry about that much. You know the cult well, don't you?"

Clink.

The teaspoon made a clear sound as it struck the teacup.

"The Sun God Religion is different from the past. It's rotten to the core. Inside, it's full of people who want to stick straws into the dwindling assets, and outside, there are those desperately clinging to jobs that have vanished due to their incompetence. It's a mess."

"Is the situation really that bad?"

"Absolutely. The money coming into the cult is decreasing day by day. The facilities we operate are getting hit hard. We could endure to some extent by reducing our scale, but that would mean even less funding."

It's a vicious cycle. Dimona gazed at the surface of the tea.

If only it were this quiet inside the cult.

"On top of that, it's a complete mess because of the three people vying for the Cardinal position right now. But... since there's no need for you to worry about that, I'll stop here. I do have a question, though, Priest."

Dimona rested her chin on her arm.

"If it's the Mierkant Priest I know, I thought you would submit a request for the Holy Trial under your own name."

"......"

"There's no need to hide anything. I'm just asking. Not as Inquisitor Dimona, but just as a friend. Priest, why did you put down the name of the Apprentice Priest as the requester for the Holy Trial?"

"He wanted it that way."

"Regardless of his preference, you know, don't you? How heavy that name is. This is an internal revelation. It's basically stepping onto a trial platform that no priest would like. Whether you win or lose, only wounds remain from such a trial, right?"

"Despite knowing all that, he still applied."

"Why?"

"...He said to me."

Mierkant offered a small smile.

"He didn't want to entangle me or the young ones under my care."

"Ah."

‘Is that it? It feels like a student similar to their incorruptible master.’

Dimona puffed out her cheeks. She thought it would be something interesting, but it turned out to be just a mundane matter. Losing interest, she slumped down and lazily tapped the teaspoon on the desk.

It was the reckless act of a child who thought they were entirely righteous. She expected there to be a more complicated reason behind it.

‘Boring.

I hate it.’

"Well, if that's the case... but it's surprising. That the Priest took it so literally."

"I thought it would be okay to grant his request."

Mierkant sipped his tea.

"That child always exceeded my expectations."

‘Mierkant’s praise, huh.

He must really be just an unremarkable kid.’

Dimona forced herself to sit up. She knew the matter was boring, but she couldn't just sit still.

Time to work.

"I want to conduct an interrogation. Priest, let's start with Apprentice Priest Beverick. Please bring all the collected evidence as well."

"I'll bring them in right away."

"Just a heads up..."

Dimona smiled sweetly.

"No matter how much it's Priest Mierkant, if you're caught playing tricks, I won't let it slide, okay?"

"...Playing tricks on the Heresy Inquisitor known as Guillotine?"

Mierkant slowly stood up from his seat.

"I'd rather die."

I leisurely swung my legs. Waiting quietly was more boring than I thought.

Beverick, who went into the room first, hadn't come out despite a good amount of time passing. Occasionally, a frightened scream escaped through the door, but that was all.

"Don't be nervous. Just say it as it is. Inquisitor Dimona may be peculiar, but she's fair. She doesn't falsely accuse anyone. There’s a reason I called her."

"I'm okay, Priest."

I've cleared this game more times than I can count. Do you think I wouldn't know the personality of Dimona, one of the few key NPCs in the Sun God Religion?

An unpredictable personality. Moreover, Dimona's interest is solely focused on one thing. And I know exactly what that is.

The door creaked open, and Beverick walked out cautiously, with cheeks that seemed unusually sunken despite no visible injuries. He fell forward with a thud, collapsing from exhaustion, perhaps due to the mental anguish he had experienced.

"Apprentice Priest Jahad. Please come in."

It was my turn.

I got up and waved lightly to Mierkant and Irene, who were watching me with worried eyes.

"Go about your tasks."

Alright.

Let's go see what's happening.

I stepped over Beverick and entered what used to be Mierkant's room. It was a sparse space, cleaned and without any furniture except for a neatly organized pile of old books.

Dimona was sitting at the only desk in the room. Though she might be a bit eccentric, I had to admit she was quite beautiful.

"Apprentice Priest Jahad."

She smiled at me and gestured towards a chair.

"Please take a seat. It’s just a necessary procedure, so there’s no need to feel tense."

I sat down as she said. Dimona sifted through some documents, silently keeping me seated in front of her.

For thirty minutes, I sat there without moving. Although some things seemed to have changed, it appeared that Dimona's nature hadn't altered much.

She always liked to observe people's reactions by keeping them in front of her.

I gave a light yawn, and Dimona smiled warmly.

"I told you not to be tense, but you really don't seem nervous, do you?"

"There's nothing to be nervous about. I just reported a bad person."

"...Is that what you think?"

Dimona set her pen aside and brought her clasped hands to her mouth. As she leaned forward, her voice lowered as if she were sharing a secret.

"Apprentice Priest Jahad, do you know how significant this matter is?"

"I know. You're saying I'll be branded as a whistleblower."

"It seems the Priest informed you, but 'whistleblower' is not a term you should use lightly."

Dimona raised her hand. Her hands were pretty too, slender and white.

"Focus, please."

"Oh, yes."

"Well, I am quite pretty, aren't I? I hear that a lot."

"It's a bit off-putting when you say it yourself."

"...Off-putting?"

Dimona burst into laughter, "Pfft."

Dimona's shoulders shook with laughter to the point of tears.

"Let's get back to the main topic. First of all, I hear that all documents related to Apprentice Priest Jahad are being deliberately rejected. This includes requests for funding or missions. Everything is being turned down."

"Can the Cult really do that?"

"Officially, they might only say it's 'inappropriate.' But this is happening unofficially. And it's not the end of it."

"What else is there?"

"Secondly, there will be an audit coming to this branch. This is something Priest Mierkant will have to handle, right? Although I doubt he'll be caught for anything significant, they're going to poke around every corner. They'll try to find even the smallest issue to disgrace him."

"Is there a third issue?"

"There are many. Let's see... just to count the simple ones..."

Dimona folded and unfolded her fingers.

"There could be acts of retaliation... gossip among the nearby priests... pressure from the Cult Headquarters... and the amount of money collected monthly by the Headquarters might increase.

Social isolation is basic, and juniors who arrive later might ignore you... While Priest Mierkant wouldn't, the priests dispatched from the Cult Headquarters might treat you poorly."

"It's a mess."

"Yes, it is. It's the consequence for someone who requests a sacred trial against an insider. Eventually, they either leave the Cult sooner or later. Besides, the father of Beverick, the Apprentice Priest you meddled with, is Bishop Brody."

Dimona cleared her throat.

"To put it simply... Bishop Brody is closely aligned with Archbishop Dwayne. Archbishop Dwayne is even mentioned as a possible candidate for the next Cardinal. His power and accomplishments are tremendous."

"What about you, Inquisitor?"

"Me? Although my title is Heresy Inquisitor, in terms of rank, I'm similar to a Bishop. Under certain conditions, I even have the authority to threaten an Archbishop."

Dimona had a sly expression, raising her nose slightly. Typical of her. Exactly like the battle priest I know.

I crossed my legs and leaned back comfortably in my chair.

"So what are you trying to say, Inquisitor?"

"I'm offering you an opportunity."

"An opportunity?"

"An opportunity to undo everything. The most fortunate thing about your situation is that I came, not another Heresy Inquisitor. As you can see, besides handling these situations, I have many other responsibilities, don't I?"

She whispered like a snake, as if trying to tempt me.

"Even if I take on this trivial task, there's not much I stand to gain. But for you, it's different. With just this minor incident, you stand to lose your entire future in the Cult."

"...So, you're offering a chance to undo it?"

"It will just end as a simple assault case. Apprentice Priest Irene was almost raped, so we'll connect that, giving both Apprentice Priest Beverick and the other a mild reprimand and closing the matter. You can say the request for a sacred trial was just a mistake you made out of excitement from the fight. How does that sound?"

Dimona smiled slyly. It was a playful smile that accentuated her canines.

"For you and for Beverick, that would be best. Of course, it would be good for Priest Mierkant as well. What do you think?"

She's testing me.

She's watching my reaction.

I knew her. It would be strange if I didn't. She's the type to manipulate others at her whim, poking at an innocent person just for her amusement like a mischievous child.

But I also know how to counter that. Being like a child implies there's an unexpected innocence and boundless mercy toward those who pique her interest.

I smiled back at her.

"No thanks."

"...Pardon?"

"I said no thanks. I think you might be mistaken, Inquisitor. I didn't report Beverick because I thought he was in the wrong. I asked for a sacred trial for a simple reason."

"...And what might that be?"

"Because that bastard picked a fight with me."

I grinned widely.

"I'd rather hit than be hit, so let's proceed as planned."

"......"

Dimona's eyes widened as she examined me closely.

"Do you remember that I'm a Heresy Inquisitor? Are you sure you haven't lost your mind from the shock of what you heard?"

"No?"

"You're saying you initiated a sacred trial for such a personal reason? And you're admitting this right in front of me, a Heresy Inquisitor?"

"You're someone who holds the authority of Ra, after all."

I shrugged.

"What can I do if I don't want to lie?"

"......."

Dimona remained silent, then burst out laughing. She wiped the tears at the corners of her eyes with her hand before looking back at me with a sly grin.

"Interesting. Apprentice Priest Jahad. Very well. As you wish, we'll proceed with the sacred trial. Before we start the separate interrogation, is there anything else you'd like to say?"

"Please leave Apprentice Priest Irene's name out of it."

"...Pardon?"

I just want to avoid complicating matters further.

Hmm.

That's all there is to it.

"Beverick probably mentioned it, didn't he? That Apprentice Priest Irene was also involved in the assault."

"..Leave out that name? Even if you win the sacred trial, you'll still have to face separate disciplinary actions related to the assault incident. If you take the blame alone, the weight of the punishment will increase."

"If I'm going to get hit anyway, what's the point in bringing more into it? I'd rather just take it all myself."

"...Haha."

Dimona laughed heartily.

"I like you, Apprentice Priest Jahad. I can't remember the last time I laughed like this. I'm glad I came here. Alright then. Let's chat a bit more, shall we? Although I find you interesting, an interrogation is still an interrogation."

Dimona slammed down the evidence with a bang and brushed her long platinum hair behind her ear.

"We'll verify everything from the details of the assault incident, to Beverick's usual behavior, and whether this internal report truly came from the person involved. Any objections?"

"None."

This is the crucial moment. I know the word she likes.

"Anyway, Beverick, that bastard, is a damned heretic, right? I'll tell you everything. He deserves to die. Betraying Ra's name is unforgivable."

[Show that kind of respect more often.]

Whoa, you scared me. Give a signal before coming in, will you?

Dimona paused, looked at me, then licked her lips.

Her expression changed. From playful to a gaze that seemed almost unhinged and unfocused.

"...Indeed. If all of this is true..."

She gave a sadistic smile.

"I'll destroy him with my own hands. After all, I'm the Inquisitor."

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