It was now completely spring. Soon, even that would come to an end. Summer, Ra's season, would arrive.

Dimona opened the window. The stagnant air was refreshed, clearing her mind. Someone knocked on the door. Hearing the rhythmic pattern, Dimona spoke without turning around.

"Come in, Inquisitor."

"Pardon the intrusion."

The door creaked open as Radatok entered, arms full of documents. Dimona, who had been blankly staring outside, turned around. She frowned at the enormous volume, but then answered with a deep sigh.

"Is that all there is to do today?"

"There is one more batch of this size."

"...Taking care of everything from trivial civilian requests to all kinds of paperwork, Dwayne is petty. It leaves me speechless."

"I'll assist you, Inquisitor."

"I would have normally declined, but not today. Inquisitor, could you handle this paperwork first?"

"Understood."

The pen moved. Dimona wiped away the nosebleed that had trickled down. With the increasing workload intensity, the days of staying up all night were becoming more frequent.

When was the last time she had a good night's sleep? Dimona wanted to rest. However, she knew that if she took a break, everything would fall into disarray.

‘When will it end?

When will I be free?’

The questions surfaced with her memories. They tightened around her and rose upwards. Old memories. The scent of the past.

When she first arrived here.

"...At that time, Radatok was very dependable."

"Pardon?"

"Oh, just talking to myself. It just brought back an old memory."

Dimona wasn't perfect from the start. In truth, she was merely an eager apprentice Paladin prone to mistakes.

"You know, when I first got here, I was really despairing, you know that?"

"I do know."

"What? Really?"

"It was written all over your face. Back then, you weren't too skilled at hiding your expressions, Inquisitor."

Rdatok reflected.

"You were much smaller back then."

"Hey, I wasn't that small back then!"

"Belstein even argued with the Papal Court about why they let a little kid like you in."

"...Did Belstein really say that?"

"He was a just person. He thought you'd die instantly if you went to the front lines. That's probably why he went to argue with the Papal Court."

Mentor.

Belstein.

He once served as an Inquisitor at the 5th Inquisition Office. Her former Inquisitor leader.

Dimona put down her pen, spun her chair around, and looked out the window.

‘The first time I met him, he was looking out the window just like this. He was dazed by the warm sunlight.’

"...Both of you are just tall and bulky."

Dimona puffed out her cheeks.

"I'm about average height for a woman, you know?"

"I believe Rosemary is over 170 cm."

"That's because she's tall! I'm not short!"

"I know."

"Your calmness is infuriating."

Belstein. Radatok. And Rosemary.

‘The only people I could trust at the 5th Inquisition Office.’

"...Genius."

Dimona glanced back slightly. Once, a woman who thought she was a genius stood there, stiff with conviction, believing she could do anything.

Back then, that woman stood proudly.

But...

Not anymore. Dimona has changed. She hides her former self and has grown up. Perhaps she didn't want to become an adult.

Yet the environment pushed her into it.

Yet her subordinates pushed her into it.

Yet what she held in her hands pushed her into it.

Dimona had to become an adult. Belstein's will and conviction—the unyielding conviction—were gradually damaging the 5th Inquisition Office. His good deeds, instead, turned against him, pressing down on the 5th Inquisition Office.

The actions committed by her current self mirrored those of Belstein. He embraced and protected the weak discarded by the Papal Court, which led to his slow downfall. Dimona was among those people. Despite her talent, she violated the Order's commands by saving a person.

Because he protected the weak, the strong collapsed.

That person, who helped others, was ultimately abandoned by everyone.

He was a genius. Just like her.

And when he fell, no one could help him. It was beyond their capability.

"...Radatok."

"Yes."

"Once this task is completed, another new task will come to us, right?"

"...Probably, yes."

"After that, will another new task come rushing in?"

"Yes, that's right."

"Is there an end to it?"

"..."

"Will I be able to handle all of this without falling apart indefinitely?"

Dimona flipped through the documents.

"If I ever collapse from exhaustion... will I end up like Belstein?"

"That won't happen," Radatok replied in a steadfast voice, and Dimona chuckled softly.

"It's okay. I was just venting for a moment."

Belstein once said that a priest should always be able to show Ra's mercy while embracing the weak.

Dimona thought it was just empty words. It wasn't much different now. Empty words remain just that—empty.

But still... at least to the people they decided to embrace…

"Just like Belstein did... even if it's just a little. Dwayne thinks he's underestimated me. I'm going to show him by handling everything."

"...Inquisitor."

"It's okay. I can do it. I'm Dimona, aren't I? The most capable person among the 5th Inquisition Office's inquisitors! Ah, the biggest shortfall is money, as always. Radatok, could you find some way to secure funds?

Spending would make things easier, but it seems the problem is that we can't even hire people. Maybe we should cut back on unnecessary parts... save a bit on the budget... perhaps even replace some furniture in the quarters while we're at it?"

"That would be indulgence."

"So what? Occasionally, it's good to indulge a little, you know."

Dimona rolled up her sleeves. Despite trying to appear strong, deep down she hoped for help.

‘If only someone would help. That would be nice.

...But that probably won't happen. I have to do it. Only I can.’

"I'll show Dwayne exactly who Inquisitor Dimona is!"

Creak.

The door opened. Dimona saw a priest enter without knocking. He was about a hand's breadth taller than when she first saw him.

Jahad, the apprentice Paladin.

Dimona yelled out.

"Knock! Knock!"

"Knock knock," he said playfully.

"With your hand, not your mouth!"

What should she do with this troublemaker?

Dimona sighed.

Jahad closed the door again.

A competent yet unpredictable priest. He was even wilder than when she herself was in that position, perhaps to the degree that even Belstein might have found him exasperating.

‘He is certainly helpful. But...

He's unpredictable. You never know what he's going to do.’

"...Jahad. I've heard the news. They say the results of the second unit have improved significantly?"

"That's because I, being so talented, took the time to teach them."

"But what exactly did you teach them? One handles an axe... one uses a spear... and I hear one is wielding a greatsword I've never even heard of before? These are weapon skills completely different from the Inquisition Office's manuals, aren't they?"

"I sifted through the Order's library and found some usable weapon techniques. I thought they'd be useful for those guys, so I decided to teach them, and they fit surprisingly well."

"Do you expect me to believe that? There's no way there are books in the library with useful weapon techniques..."

"Perhaps I found a hidden book. Who knows."

Dimona brushed her hand over her face.

‘This reckless guy. Well, it's a good thing. The weapon techniques used by the 2nd Inquisitors, which I checked on briefly, were certainly far from what we had before.’

They were so well-aligned with the holy spells of the Sun God Religion that they seemed original to our order. The sight of naturally emerging flames made the swordsmanship of other Inquisitors seem shameful by comparison.

"...By any chance, could you teach the 1st Inquisitors as well?"

"It wouldn't be difficult."

"...Thank you."

"Oh, come on. Between us, Dimona Inquisitor, what's the need for formality? Radatok. How have you been?"

"Well of course. And you, Brother?"

"Oh, I'm okay, just the usual. Wow. Why are there so many documents? If you turned them into firewood, it would burn for three days."

Jahad rummaged through the office, pulling out a document.

"Why didn't you approve this? It's a task well within our capabilities."

"Because we have no money."

"Are we short by a lot?"

"More than just a lot, we're significantly short. We're just barely making it work with the limited budget we have. Most requests get denied. Why? Are you thinking of running off to the Punishment Execution Center like last time?"

Dimona pouted slightly. For some reason, it was always difficult for her to offer warm words to the priest in front of her.

Dimona rarely met anyone on her level. She was always used to receiving help from others, leaning on them, or being protected by them.

She had almost never faced someone eye-to-eye among the capable. She never really made friends. It was always someone beneath her or someone far above.

Dimona sniffed briefly. The tissue was soaked with the remnants of a nosebleed. Sniffling, she reached for another tissue, but it was just out of reach.

Jahad swiftly grabbed the tissue, rolled it up, and handed it over.

"Here, blow your nose."

"...Am I a child?"

"Hurry up and do it."

‘Ugh, how annoying.’

Dimona huffed loudly. She made such a loud huff that it seemed like the whole office would echo with her annoyance. Jahad, who was wiping her nose, mischievously unfolded the tissue.

"Why are you opening that?!"

"Just teasing..."

"Can't you just stop?!"

Watching the two bicker, Radatok smiled slightly.

"You two look good together."

"What looks good?! Hey! Put it down!"

"Could it be that all your height went to your nose?" (saying she is lying.)

"You idiot!"

"Whoa, calm down. Dimona. Did you know this?"

Jahad threw the tissue into the trash and stuck closely by Dimona's side.

"As of today, I'm no longer an apprentice Paladin, right?"

"Go to the field and just drop dead."

"Oh my, how could you say something so harsh? I'm so sad that… It feels like I'm about to cry."

"Oh, really! I'm already busy enough!"

Dimona abruptly stopped mid-sentence and her eyes grew wide.

Jahad was sticking something onto the wall. It was a check. And the amount was no joke.

20 million talents. Dimona was taken aback, and her chair slid back, almost falling over.

"Wh-wh-wh-what?"

"Since I can’t exactly take back the tears I shed... ha..."

Sighing, Jahad casually handed over the check.

"Do you want it?"

"Wha, wha-what?!"

‘Could it be fake?’

Dimona hastily took the check and flipped it over. But the stamp clearly showed it was from the Imperial Bank.

Truly 200 million talents. Genuine money.

"Wh-wh-wh-what?!"

Dimona acted like a deflated balloon, seemingly malfunctioning.

"Wh-wh-wh-wh-wh."

"Hehehehehe."

"Huaaaang."

"Uheuheuheu."

Dimona's expression rapidly shifted from surprise to joy, then suddenly burst into tears, and finally back to laughter.

This is it. This is the feeling!

Pleased with the reaction, I shrugged my shoulders contentedly. This place sure has great reactions!

"Brother? Where did that money come from?"

"It's not dirty money. It’s money obtained legitimately. It’s officially recognized by the Empire bank, so there’s no need to worry."

"Jahad."

Dimona’s voice trembled, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Th-this... Can I really take it?"

"I brought it for you to have, didn’t I?"

"Why, why?"

"Why else? I noticed you've been struggling with money, so I got some for you."

"H-how?"

"The method is a secret. I sold something I had, so don’t worry too much."

"What, what did you sell?"

"Just..."

I can’t exactly say it was Nectar.

"Something reasonably expensive?"

"Oh... ahhhh..."

Dimona looked down at the money several times, hugged it, and rolled around. Then she suddenly jumped up.

She ran straight to me, hugged me, and rolled around again.

"With this money, we can do anything! Jahad! From hiring someone to help with paperwork... to fixing up the crumbling facilities of the 5th Inquisition Office... we can do everything!"

"Your excitement is quite infectious."

"Jahad... but this is your money, isn't it? Is it really okay for me to take it? Truly?"

"What do you mean my money?"

"What?"

I chuckled as I lay beneath her.

"It's money sent by an 'anonymous donor.'"

"Ahhh..."

Dimona sniffled.

Tears began to fall.

"Why, why are you helping us so much? What do you gain from this?"

Why, you ask? Because I've made you my allies!

I suppressed my true thoughts. Oh dear, how tough must things have been for her to be crying now. I reached out and wiped Dimona's tears.

"You helped me, Dimona."

"...Huh?"

"It's not fair if only one side does the helping. I’m not a fan of owing debts."

"But you... you helped the other Inquisitors as well..."

"I considered that covered by the Holy Tribunal situation. So, do you think you’ll regret it at all? Taking me with you?"

She beamed.

"There's no way I'd ever regret it! Really!!"

Knock, knock.

There was a knock at the door. Radatok winked at me.

"I'll go check."

"Hehehe. Jahad... Jahad... Can I use this to buy just a little bit of Myeongju (alcohol)? I promise I won't buy anything too expensive... Just a little bit pricey..."

"Spend it however you like. I'm sure you'll do well."

"R-really?! Yay!"

Dimona, her eyes hazy, nuzzled her face into my chest. She was completely disarmed now.

Dimona, the Inquisitor, is completely captivated!

Radatok returned.

However, for some reason, his expression had turned serious.

"Dimona, Inquisitor."

"Yes?"

"It seems you need to leave urgently."

"What's the matter?"

"There is some news."

Radatok spoke.

"The Snake Cult has reportedly submitted an application to the Empire Accredited Order. It seems... they intend to become an official order."

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