Dimona ground her teeth furiously. She checked the grade report multiple times before tossing it to the floor in frustration.

However, she was the type of person who always took responsibility for her words, just as high as her confidence.

"Ugh... Fine! Really! I get it! If granting it will do the trick, then so be it! Let me tell you upfront, from today, I am your superior! You need to show appropriate respect and manners!"

"Understood, Inquisitor Dimona. I swear to be your dog and slave. Shall I lick your feet too?"

"Oh, seriously! I'm so pissed off! Just act like you normally do!"

"Well, it does seem absurd for a genius who gets straight A+'s in a month to be under someone else's command."

"Aaaaaaah!!!"

Dimona, grumbling, led me to the Inquisition Office. Passing a place marked ‘1’, she brought me to a door marked ‘5’.

It was filled with the worst interior design. Noticing part of the door was rusted, I sighed deeply.

Why is it that everywhere I go, it's always the poor places?

“This is your new residence, the 5th Inquisition Office.”

“Inquisitor, don’t we have any money?”

“Didn’t I explain? The 5th Inquisition Office has fallen out of favor with the Papal Court. We’re subtly discriminated against.”

“That sounds pretty overt to me.”

“…The reason our funding is low is due to a lack of results.”

“Do you have fewer staff compared to other Inquisition Offices?”

“It’s not that…”

Dimona sighed.

“To be honest, we do have fewer people, but not exceptionally so. The issue lies elsewhere.”

“Surely they’re not just sending incompetent and useless people here, right?”

“That's right. The Inquisitors of the 5th Inquisition Office are divided into two groups: Group One and Group Two. Group One consists of veterans who are ready to be deployed directly to the battlefield. In contrast, Group Two is relatively weaker and can't be sent to the battlefield, so they act as reserve forces. These are the Paladins in training.”

Dimona leaned against the wall and slid down.

“We're seeing a daily decrease in Group One numbers. But there's an absurdly low number of talents in Group Two ready to move to Group One. The Papal Court mainly sends people who don’t obey or are incompetent here. This leads to a decline in performance... and when performance declines, the support funds decrease. When the support funds decrease...”

“There’s no room to train Group Two.”

“It’s a vicious cycle.”

Dimona smiled broadly and extended her hand.

“Welcome to the 5th Inquisition Office.”

“Just send me to the Punishment Execution Center.”

"Well, no. You’ve already caught Archbishop Dwayne's attention, so you need to stay here. I've decided to invest in you, so you can expect me to get everything I can out of you."

"What a mess I've stepped in."

I sighed.

"Inquisitor Dimona, let’s be honest. You’re competent, aren’t you?"

"That's true."

"Then why is it like this?"

"I'm competent, but I lack connections. There's no one backing me. It’s common for self-made people to be suppressed anywhere, right?"

"...Well, that’s true..."

In most scenarios, she would emerge as a politician swallowing up half of the Order!

"Don't you have any hidden funds? Like, being an Inquisitor was just a public title, and you're actually an Apostle..."

"Does it look that bad? Still, isn't it better than the Church you came from? Here, we don't worry about food, shelter, or rest. For now, we're fine. For now."

"Won't the Dimona of ten years later figure something out?"

"It seems more likely that the Dimona of ten years later will come to beat you up."

I anticipated some hardship, but the situation is more severe than I thought.

It reminded me of when I first fell into this world.

The Church was a mess back then too. How did I handle it?

I first secured a funding source, wasn't it?

"...Damn."

First things first.

Let's focus on gaining people’s trust. I need to understand exactly how this organization functions.

To build something properly, grasping the structure is essential.

"Inquisitor Dimona."

"What?"

"Please put the apprentice badge on me."

"...I was going to do it eventually, but why so suddenly? Is there a reason?"

"I want to avoid taking on any missions for about a month. Can you cover for me?"

"What are you planning to do?"

"What else?"

I rolled up my sleeves.

"I'm planning to completely overhaul everything."

These people will be the foundation for establishing my position within the Order.

Since Archbishop Dwayne is targeting me, I need to nurture them so they can at least serve as a shield.

If things continue like this, we'll all end up utterly ruined together!

Things got busy. Dimona felt her workload increasing.

Work started to flow in earnestly from other Inquisition Offices.

Using various excuses, Dwayne forcibly offloaded the work.

Most of it was trivial tasks. It seemed like it was a prelude to a full-scale bullying campaign. The pressure that must be coming from the Papal Court was so intense that it led to colleagues tormenting each other.

Dimona laughed. She had heard that true professionals smile in difficult times.

However, the number of empty bottles on her desk told a different story.

Radatok, who came with reports, covered his nose.

"...How much have you drunk?"

"Not that much."

Radatok casually picked up the empty bottles. Just a simple count revealed fourteen bottles.

Dimona can hold her liquor. But no matter how much of a strong drinker she is, drinking this much would make anyone tipsy.

"Inquisitor."

"Oh, stop nagging. Inquisitor, you don’t have to nag. My head feels like it's going to explode already. But I'm managing well enough, right? I'm handling most of the incoming tasks on my own. Whatever I can do from my desk, I resolve immediately."

"I'm not saying the Inquisitor is doing anything wrong."

Radatok sighed.

"Aren't you pushing yourself too hard?"

"What choice do I have? A troublemaker has joined our Inquisition Office; how could I not push myself?"

"That's not what I meant. Remember, Inquisitor, you are not alone. I'm here too."

"I know, I know, but what can I do? Radatok, if I pull you into paperwork, what do you think will happen? You’re the only one in the field who performs up to my expectations; I can't waste you on this."

Radatok knew she was right.

5th Inquisition Office.

There's a shortage of talent under Dimona. It's not that there are no talented individuals at all.

Rather, there are more who have talent but refuse to listen.

"...I'll somehow manage."

"It's alright. I will set a date to personally train the Inquisitors. If we do it half-heartedly, it's akin to handing over a weakness to the Papal Court or other Inquisition Offices."

Blood trickled down from Dimona's nose. She casually grabbed a tissue to wipe it away.

"It's fine. I can still handle it."

"...You don't look that way at all..."

Knock, knock.

There was a knock at the door. Radatok turned around. Despite not being invited in, someone was stepping inside.

A man with a dignified appearance.

The merit of the 5th Inquisition Office and the reason why Dimona was having nosebleeds.

Archbishop Dwayne stepped into the room.

"Inquisitor Dimona. You look like you're struggling with your duties."

"Why are you here when I'm busy?"

"I just wanted to see my esteemed sister."

"That's strange. I didn't think we were that close."

Archbishop Dwayne glanced around the room. He looked at the empty bottles that Radatok had tidied up.

"The room's quite messy."

"Did you contribute anything?"

"You've become quite sharp."

"I don't feel the need to hide it anymore."

Archbishop Dwayne signaled to Radatok. Radatok frowned, but Dimona gestured with her hand.

"Leave us, Inquisitor. I’ll be fine."

"...I'll wait outside."

The door closed. Archbishop Dwayne glanced around the room.

Silence settled. It was Dwayne who broke it first.

"Your pet is quite loyal."

"More of a bear than a dog. Do you know the difference between a bear and a dog?"

"I can't say I do."

"A bear tears people apart. So if you don't want to be torn, don't call Radatok a dog."

"......"

Dwayne opened a bottle of alcohol that had not yet been uncorked and poured a glass.

Dimona growled.

"Do you know how much that costs?"

"My apologies. Will this be sufficient for the drink?"

Dwayne took out his wallet. Dimona flinched at the check he placed on the desk.

It's an enormous amount. Far too expensive for just the cost of a drink. Equivalent to a year's budget of the 5th Inquisition Office.

"...Are you here to show off your wealth?"

"Not at all. It's just that I think it's time we firmly define our boundaries."

Dwayne took a sip of the drink.

"Inquisitor Dimona. It's clear you're very capable. I didn't expect you to handle so much on your own. Your skills are remarkable, even beyond just physical strength—enough to be worthy of entering the 'Priestess of the Day'. Such a case is quite rare."

"So, what do you want?"

"You have everything I want. Unlike others in the Inquisition Office who are incompetent, you're the 'real deal'."

"I'm not interested in the flattery of a fifty-year-old man."

"I'll be direct, Inquisitor Dimona."

Dwayne looked at Dimona through his glass.

"Don't you want to gain influence?"

"......"

"There is a position that matches your capabilities. If you just take my hand, you can rise to a place far higher than here. Power, money, honor—you can have it all. Within the Order, you could reach the highest position next to me. I have no intention of being satisfied just as a Cardinal."

"Are you aiming for the position of Pope?"

"Perhaps even higher."

"…Higher than that."

"I'll tell you more if you take my hand, Inquisitor Dimona. Honestly, doesn't it frustrate you? Aren't the people who follow you lacking, compared to your capabilities?"

Dwayne whispered.

"It’s the things you try to embrace that are burying your talent. They're holding you back, preventing you from advancing any further, keeping you nailed in place, Inquisitor Dimona. I don't believe your potential ends at merely being an Inquisitor. I also believe you think the same."

"......"

"What I'm offering you is an opportunity. I've never forgiven those who have opposed me. However, for you, I'd like to make a single exception. I'm very interested in your abilities. I'm confident that with your capabilities, you could elevate me to even greater heights."

"...Ha."

Dimona let out a brief laugh.

"So? Tell me more. What happens if I take your hand?"

"Starting with wholehearted support, I plan to change the opinion within the Papal Court. I'll discuss the competence of the 5th Inquisition Office and aim to establish you as the next Archbishop."

"Wow. That's a promotion. Not bad."

"Inquisitor Dimona. Please, don't speak playfully. Think seriously. This is the last lifeline I'm offering you. Are you thinking of rejecting it?"

The wine glass was emptied.

"Even knowing that there's only ruin at the end?"

Silence followed. Dimona sighed and leaned over the desk, nudging the empty bottle with her fingertip.

"...Indeed," she said.

"I do want to drink more expensive wine."

"It is a natural desire for any human."

"I also want to rise higher and command more people."

"It's the same for everyone."

"I hope people will revere me. I want to serve but also have their beliefs bend with a single word from me."

"That is power, and it's the reason we stand in this place."

Dwayne nodded in agreement.

"If you present Apprentice Paladin Jahad as a token of your promise, you can have everything you desire."

Dimona gestured, and the wine bottle toppled over, rolling across the floor.

"But."

Dimona smiled sweetly.

"But I refuse."

"Hmm?"

"I was wondering why you hadn't asked for Jahad yet. He's your real target, isn't he? I know you. You despise anyone who challenges your authority. Like a beast whose territory has been invaded, you want to tear them apart."

"......"

"I'm no exception, right? If I come under your wing, one day, you'll surely tear me apart too. There's no guarantee that someone who climbed up once won't do it again."

"Is that your decision?"

"Whether it's a decision or not..."

Dimona pondered.

Then she slyly extended her middle finger.

"If you come under me, you are my people. And I'm the leader of such people. You say those who follow me are chains? Screw you. What kind of chain is that? They are the pillar that supports me. And Jahad is now one of my pillars."

"…That’s a foolish choice."

"Foolish? That’s ridiculous. I’m a genius who graduated from Theological Academy in just six months. I've only met one person smarter than me, and that person is now under me. Do you know what that means?"

Dimona raised the corners of her mouth slightly.

"It means I have no reason to fear you, an old man blinded by power."

"......."

Dwayne stood up. Before leaving, he cast a glance back at her with a blank expression.

"My words were sincere, Dimona Inquisitor. If you had chosen to come under me, I wouldn't have bothered you."

"I was sincere too."

Dimona yawned.

"Screw you."

"You will regret it."

"No, you'll be the one to regret it."

Dimona waved her hand dismissively.

"He might lack manners, but he's competent. Maybe even more than me."

The door opened and then closed again. Radatok crawled back into the room, with tears slightly welling up in his eyes for some reason.

"...Inquisitor."

He, her apprentice and subordinate, sniffled softly.

"You've really grown remarkably."

"Don't be ridiculous. It's absurd, really."

Dimona wiped away the nosebleed that had started to drip again.

"Come to think of it..."

A week had already flown by since Jahad had arrived.

"What is that boy up to?"

"Well, that is..."

Radatok mumbled hesitantly.

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