Inquisitor Dimona came over.

"What are you doing right now?"

"Can't you tell by looking?"

I pointed to the mop I was using on the floor.

"I'm mopping."

"No... That's not what I meant..."

Dimona pressed her temples with her fingers. A stream of blood, a nosebleed, trickled down.

I hurriedly handed her a tissue.

"I just cleaned this!"

"You fool! Worry about yourself first!"

Dimona weakly sank into an empty chair.

"Why... why are you mopping up? You spoke so confidently about turning things around... why are you just mopping?"

"Because the floor is dirty?"

"Do you think I brought you here to watch you mop?!"

"My ears are going to burst. Calm down a bit. Should I get you some water? Or, I'm in the middle of making a special drink. Would you like to try it?"

"A special...what?"

I changed into an apron as Dimona held the back of her neck.

"I didn't bring you here to...help with chores..."

"My creations are quite popular. Give it a try."

"...Why does it taste so good?!"

"Right?"

Hmm. Maybe I have a talent for cooking.

After downing the drink in one shot, Dimona melted into a puddle. She collapsed onto the table, sniffling.

"I... I… I said I'd try to endure... I'm making an effort... but the troublemaker I brought in... is just doing housekeeping..."

"I didn’t add any alcohol. That’s strange."

"I said it so you'd hear! It’s not because I’m drunk!"

"Okay, calm down."

I put the mop aside and took off the apron.

"Why did you come looking for me when I was handling things just fine?"

"Why do you think?! I heard you were wasting your time! Aren't you the Apostle? Weren't you chosen by Ra?! And yet all you’re doing is household chores?"

"Who said I'm doing all the household chores? Who exactly?"

"But... that's what it seems like you're doing..."

"Dimona."

I looked at her with a sympathetic expression.

“Do you really not know what I'm doing?”

“...Oh, no way!”

Dimona suddenly stood up.

“I thought as much! You must have something in mind, right? Well, you might be a bit rude, but you're definitely smart!”

“I'm also working on a new beverage recipe. Would you like to try it?”

“Hey, you jerk!”

Maybe I should stop joking around here.

“Our capable Inquisitor Dimona.”

“What.”

“Do you know there's a faction forming in the 2nd team of the 5th Inquisition Office?”

“...What?”

Of course.

How could a proper 1st team Paladin be trained if she doesn't even know what's going on?

"Take a look."

I handed over the simple notes I had organized during that time.

"What is this?"

"What do you think it is? These are things I've recorded while disguised as a harmless little creature."

I hadn't only been responsible for cleaning and meals. While handling trivial tasks, I discreetly observed the internal dynamics.

My reputation had spread extensively. It was natural for me to be met with suspicion by Inquisitors who didn't know me.

But what if I intentionally took on the role of a menial worker?

Gradually, the suspicious glances disappeared. Those who tasted my cooking and were impressed even praised me as they passed by.

Gaining trust.

That was the first thing I did. Since all the Inquisitors I collaborated with were from the 1st team, it wasn't particularly challenging. The praises for me were abundant.

The issue was the 2nd team Paladins, who represented the future of the 5th Inquisition Office and were like freeloaders.

"The 2nd team has quite a track record, don't they? They seem to accept everything entirely, from a group of barbarians from the north… The beastman... the money-loving nun... and some truly incompetent outcasts, is that right?"

"You figured out all these traits in just a week?"

"It was easy, really."

"A true monster, indeed..."

As Dimona flipped through the notes I'd organized, her eyes sparkled.

"Then? What's next?"

"There's only one thing to do."

I promptly took off my apron.

"There are three factions in total. You could say they're the troublemakers of the 2nd team. The first is led by Nord, who's from the northern barbarians. The second is Isabelle*, who came up from a Cult Branch. The third is headed by Austin, who, despite being an incapable outcast, has a high reputation." (*Isabella os snake cult one.)

"What are you going to do with them?"

"What do you think?"

I grinned.

"I'm going to give them what they want."

Nord, hailing from the northern barbarians. He was the typical strong type but not the brightest.

He was considered a problem child in the 2nd team because he went around punching fellow Paladins. Though he was warned several times, he never changed.

Believing violence to be the ultimate way, he was easier to handle.

Overpowering with sheer force is my specialty!

“What’s a kitchen wench doing here?”

Nord asked. I replied.

“Bring it on, you brat.”

“...Oh. Are you challenging a warrior’s duel?”

“What nonsense.”

I clenched my fist.

“It's insubordination!”

It took less than a minute for Nord to fall. When blood splattered and bones were broken, Nord cried out.

"Stop, stop! I give up!"

"Give up? You’ve broken over 300 bones of fellow Paladins! Let's at least settle for breaking 150 today!"

"I don't want to be half-dead!"

"Then I'll just leave you a quarter dead!"

"Are you out of your mind!? This is madness!"

Nord surrendered to me. The fist was closer than the law, and my kicking was even closer than my fists.

Nord clung to my leg, sobbing with blood streaming down.

"Please... spare me..."

"Fine. I’ll spare you."

I glanced around. Nord's gang flinched when our eyes met.

“Anyone else have something to say?”

“W-We’re not afraid of someone like you…”

Crunch!

“We'll follow you!”

It took less than half a day to absorb Nord's faction.

Isabelle, who came up from the Cult Branch, was a nun with a strong attachment to money. Those who followed her were often entangled in financial relationships.

Even if they were secondary troops, they still received a salary. Using that as capital, Isabelle devoured part of the secondary troops.

“I like money. Money can solve anything.”

“So, you’re saying you love money.”

I casually slid a document over to her. Isabelle squinted her eyes and looked over the document.

"...What is this?"

"What else? It's a business proposal."

The sound of paper rustling was audible as Isabelle's eyes widened.

"This... What is this... Something like this is... No, from the start! There's no way this is possible, right?"

"Why wouldn't it be?"

"To make this possible... you'd need an enormous amount of raw material... But such raw material couldn't possibly exist in this world..."

"It does."

I beamed confidently.

"For me, it's possible."

"......"

Isabelle looked at me.

Her face showed she was considering the possibility. I leaned back slightly in my chair.

"If you're not interested, let it go."

"...What do I get out of this?"

"It's simple. I value your skills highly. Just like how much you love money, you have a keen eye for business too, right? To be honest, most priests aren't really great at commerce."

"...Even though other priests have called me vulgar?"

"Who said that? The more money, the better. I like you, Isabelle. I couldn't ask for more than having a capable woman like you working with me."

I extended my hand.

"So, what do you think? Business partners. We can make a fortune using my capital and your skills… You'll be bathing in piles of gold... So, are you still not going to follow me?"

"...W-Wait. It's tempting... very tempting... but where's the proof that you have this item?"

"I'll show you, so don't doubt. All we need is to get our hands on it somehow, right? You just have to sell the item once I hand it over to you."

"......."

Isabelle gazed at the documents again as if entranced.

"Alright..."

She took my hand.

"I'll work under you. Money doesn't lie. And... also..."

Isabelle fidgeted with her hands.

"The first person to tell me I have abilities... is you."

"That's an excellent choice."

Absorbing Isabelle's faction took less than half a day.

At times, the Cult Headquarters would take in children. However, not all of them would become high priests.

There were those with mediocre talents. People whose abilities were not quite good enough to be kept, yet seemed too valuable to discard completely.

That was Austin's reality. He came up with middling talents and his faction was almost abandoned when he proved unsuitable for any specific role.

"...I've heard the stories. But why have you come to see us?"

"I need you."

"We are incompetent. We lack any power. We're not the brightest, and our physical abilities aren't remarkable either."

Austin smiled bitterly.

“There’s nothing you can gain from bringing us in.”

“Why would you say there’s nothing?”

I ignited the Holy Fire. Austin stared at the holy spell as if mesmerized.

“That’s...”

“It’s the advanced version of Ember. But if it’s just Ember level, you can do that too, right?”

“But there’s a difference between being able to do something and doing it skillfully. We’ve been sidelined because we couldn’t manage it well.”

“Well, at least you seem to view yourself objectively. Your personality passes too. Great.”

Among the three factions, they’re the easiest to handle. Aside from lacking motivation, they’re quite useful.

“Don’t you want to become stronger?”

“...I’ve already given up on that hope. Even when we put in the same effort as others, we only achieve half of what they do.”

“There's no such thing as giving up. Grab the opportunity right now. Are you really thinking of not seizing the chance that's right in front of you?"

"A chance?"

"I'm the chance, and your savior."

I intensified the Holy Fire, wrapping it around my arms like a serpent. Austin was startled.

"My gosh... How on earth? Even the teachers I've seen couldn't handle such a sacred flame like this!"

"Do you realize who stands before you? A rare genius who completed the Theological Academy in just one month."

I extended my hand to Austin.

"I'll personally teach you. Take my hand if you don't want to stay curled up in the shadows."

"I... even someone like me..."

Austin murmured quietly.

"Even someone like me… Could I become a great priest?"

"You can. If you're ready for it. Of course, it won't be easy. There will be more days you'll wish you were dead."

I gave a sly smile.

"But if you're ready to risk everything, then why not?"

"...Do you believe in me?"

"If you believe in me."

"......"

Austin, crying, took my hand.

"I... I..."

Austin knelt down.

"I want to become a capable Inquisitor!"

"Alright."

The preparation is complete."Let's give it a shot."

"What is this..."

Dimona panted as she pinched her cheeks several times, looking at the second squad lined up for training.

"How on earth... I mean... damn... how could you achieve something I've been thinking about for months..."

"If you weren't an Inquisitor, Dimona, it might have been possible."

"What do you mean..."

"There's a saying that status shapes people, right? Ultimately, status affects the person in that position, whether for better or worse. It's uncomfortable if someone of higher status approaches you, isn't it? It's natural to hide your true feelings behind a mask."

I pointed to myself.

"But what if someone who was just dealing with mundane tasks talks to them? Naturally, people tend to open up more to those below them."

"Ah... Ahaha..."

Dimona brushed her hand over her face, trying to suppress a grin but failing entirely.

"Hehe... I was right... I made the right decision bringing you here."

"You're not crazy, right?"

"Who's crazy?! So, what do we do now?! Should we train these ones as the first squad?"

"They'll listen well. I've already discussed everything with them. Just refine them properly."

"And what about you?"

"I..."

I need to get back to some postponed work.

"I'm going to secure some funding."

One of the reasons I came here is to stealthily take one of the hidden relics.

Just wait right there! I'm coming!

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