"Apprentice Priest Irene."

Irene stood up from her chair. This moment had finally come. She took a deep breath in, then exhaled deeply.

She hadn't forgotten what needed to be said. To tell the Inquisitor everything as it is.

‘It was all something I did on my own!’

"Apprentice Priest Irene is merely a victim, so we’ll just have a simple inquiry. Any objections?"

"...What? But I was also involved in the assault..."

"I have no idea what you mean."

The Inquisitor sitting before her gave a sly smile.

"The only one who committed the assault due to not being able to stand injustice was Apprentice Priest Jahad, right?"

"What are you saying..."

"That's how it’s been recorded. Apprentice Priest Irene."

Dimona, the Heresy Inquisitor, interlocked her fingers and her eyes sparkled as if she had found something entertaining.

"Regardless of the future of that branded child, I was quite taken by his honesty and boldness. To the point where I even wanted to invest in him. So, you are the grace I am bestowing upon him."

"No… I should..."

"No. You can't. Unlike Apprentice Priest Jahad, you are not amusing at all."

Dimona leaned back in her chair and gave a light yawn.

"Let's wrap this up quickly. Apprentice Priest Irene. I'm a busy person, as you know.”

Inquisitor Dimona left.

"I'll convey your stance. Just come up when I call you with the other Inquisitors. Radatok is a kind person, so get along well. Understood?"

"......."

A middle-aged man, with a stern expression, looked down at me. He was like a bear made of muscles. I shrugged my shoulders.

I know him too. How could I forget someone who sticks to Dimona like they're one person? Though not as important as the main NPCs.

But he's at least a supporting character.

Of course, I know how to get through to him. To win Dimona over, you have to get past this bear first, and I managed to do it, even though it seemed nearly impossible.

And the way to do it is by!

"Inquisitor Radatok."

"What is it?"

"Would you like some konjac jelly?"

"......"

Without a word, he quickly grabbed it. His stern look remained unchanged. But I saw it.

Hmm, the furrowed brow slightly relaxed.

Hmm. Good.

Favorability UP!

While diligently offering konjac jelly to Radatok, I also paid attention to the other Inquisitors in training. If the journey is to be comfortable, one must also care about his subordinates, not just the leader.

I deliberately showed them scenes of me praying. I also didn't forget to practice the holy spells immediately after learning from Irene.

Providing them with breakfast casually was a basic gesture. When I presented them with freshly grilled meat, the Heresy Inquisitors’ attitudes quickly changed.

"Quite kind, really."

"Seems devout too..."

"At least the surface appearance shows no issues."

"Has manners."

"The Chief Inquisitor will probably think well of him."

Thanks to Radatok's leadership, the origin of the funds being probed was not exposed.

As a result of my advance planning, Matier of Black Steel handled the matter neatly.

I talked to Hector's new group and discouraged the subordinates from speaking out. This city was never strongly influenced by the church. After an earlier purge, the Heresy Inquisitors couldn’t delve too deeply.

Watching the reactions of the noble here.

He doesn't like the Sun God Religion, so naturally, he's bound to be more reserved in his actions. If Radatok had decided to dig deeper, everything might have been uncovered, but since that was never going to happen, I felt at ease.

I've been in this game long enough to know the ropes. There's a way to handle everything!

As I spent my days chuckling and going about, Priest Mierkant called for me. He had me sit in front of his desk and brought out a warm cup of tea.

"Drink up."

"I can make it myself... but I'll enjoy it, thank you."

"Having received so much from you, can’t I at least offer you a cup of tea?"

Mierkant looked at me and smiled warmly.

"Jahad."

"Yes?"

"Is your unwavering sense of justice something you received from Ra?"

I sipped the tea and grinned widely.

"Of course! I got it all from her!"

[You could at least moisten your words with some saliva.]

Mierkant lifted his teacup. After taking a sip, he looked at me intently.

He didn't really say anything more. He just continued to observe. Eventually, Mierkant averted his gaze from me.

He inspected the room from corner to corner and then fixed his gaze back on me.

"You have given a lot."

"I’ve received much more from you, Priest. If you hadn’t taken me in, I probably would have been digging in the dirt outside."

"What I've given you is nothing compared to what you've done. A lot has changed since you arrived here."

Mierkant tapped his fingers on the desk.

"The old, broken furniture has been moved out. The once bleak room now has warmth flowing through it."

"Well, that's nothing..."

"The cobweb-covered ceiling corners are now clean. The hole under the door has been filled."

"This is a place where people live, so it's only right to take care of it. Honestly, the cold was largely because of those things."

"Is that all? The orphans have had enough to eat, learned how to work, and have begun to look up at me, whom they used to ignore. Thanks to you, we can now teach the children academics."

"Oh, you're praising me too much."

"Praising?"

Mierkant reached out his hand, clasped mine, and slowly looked into my eyes.

"It's not that. It’s only natural to express gratitude where it's due. Jahad."

His eyes looked straight into mine. I felt somewhat shy under his unwavering gaze and gently pulled my hand back.

Come to think of it, it’s always been that way.

This person always looked straight at everything and everyone.

He was someone who helped others without mixing in any selfish intent, solely focusing on aiding people.

A type I had never encountered before. A true priest who values others’ lives over his own desires.

The complete opposite of me.

"You really don't have to thank me."

I scratched my cheek.

"I did it out of necessity anyway."

"Such a stubborn one."

Mierkant took out a letter from his chest.

"There is a summons from the Cult Headquarters. Tomorrow, you'll be leaving with the Inquisitors."

"That's actually good news. I've wanted to get this over with quickly."

"Aren’t you afraid?"

"It's not fear; it's excitement. It means I get to deal with that troublemaker, doesn’t it?"

"What about being branded?"

"If I'm branded, so be it. I decide who truly understands me. As for others’ opinions, let them talk all they want. They'll only tire their voices out."

Mierkant laughed. He laughed heartily. After a moment, he wiped the tears from his eyes.

"Jahad."

"Yes?"

"I'm glad I met you. Without you, I might have given up on everything."

"Oh, come on. You're the strongest person I've ever known, Priest."

"I am weak. Even at the moment I met you, I was fragile enough to shatter at any instant. You helped with that. Not only that, you covered yourself in filth to protect Irene and me. You are the strong one. It's something I'm proud of."

Mierkant stood up and took a small pouch from his chest.

"This is all I can give you."

"...What is it?"

"Just like you learned from Irene, there was a time when I learned from someone too. At that time, I received this. To be precise, it's no different from a keepsake of theirs. We were like brothers, and we promised to protect each other’s belongings when the day of our death came."

What came out of the pouch was a small earring. I squinted my eyes.

It seemed like something I had seen somewhere...

"This is a keepsake?"

"Yes, it is. He said it had the power to protect people. I don't know how to use it... but I believe you can figure it out."

"You're giving something like this to me? It's precious, isn't it?"

"Of course, it's precious. But haven’t you already given me more than that?"

He placed the earring in my hand and wrapped his own hand over it.

"Take it. It’s yours now."

"...It's quite heavy, isn't it?"

"Remember its weight and shape. He would be delighted."

"I didn't do this to receive something like this. Just keep it..."

"As important as it is to me, you are equally important."

Mierkant’s hand patted my head.

"If I had a son, he would have been like you."

…Words I had never heard from anyone before.

I quietly tucked the ring into my pocket, casually wiping my nose.

"Oh, come on."

I smiled.

"He wouldn't have been as clever as me, right? You can't just find that anywhere."

"...Yes, you’re right."

Mierkant gave a light wink. It didn’t quite suit him, which made it a bit funny.

"You should leave now."

"But I haven't even finished my tea!"

"I'd like to wait until you finish, but I have another visitor, so I can't help it, can I? I can't hog the time of a popular Apprentice Priest all to myself."

"Another visitor?"

"You'll find out once you step outside."

Mierkant gave me a gentle push, lightly clenching his fist.

"Just for the record, I'm rooting for you two."

"What?"

The door, which hadn't been touched, opened. Irene, as elegant as ever, stood there.

Her silver hair glowed enchantingly in the moonlight streaming through the window. Uncharacteristically, she gazed at me silently.

For some reason, her cheeks were slightly flushed. Irene spoke.

"Junior."

"Yes?"

"Would you like to take a walk for a moment?"

She glanced away quickly.

"...I have something to say before you leave. I'd like to do it before it's too late."

"You're not going to scold me now, are you?"

"You really are..."

Irene sighed and gave me a slight glare.

"I'm going to scold you. So come with me. After that, I'll tell you what I need to say."

"Can't you just do it here?"

"No, I can't."

Mierkant discreetly stepped back.

"Go on, then. Oh, and there's no need to come back."

"Pardon? Did you two plan this?"

"I might not be the one doing the planning."

"What?"

"Go, Jahad."

Mierkant gave an unusually sly smile.

"Isn't your senior calling you? As a junior, it's right for you to respond."

Please support the series on NovelUpdates