Marcel Koffman greeted me with a smile.

“You can’t help but be tempted, right? Opportunities to rise this quickly don’t come by often.”

“That’s not it. Since you made the offer, I thought it would be best to decline in person.”

He stared at me silently.

“Before that, could I ask you a question?”

“As many as you like.”

“Do the other clergy in your parish agree with you making me a priest?”

“Of course. That authority is not something anyone can interfere with.”

He squinted his eyes as he smiled, as if wondering why I was even asking.

“Is it because I’m a priest? I’m not like Gerda Asman, who was just ordained. I’ve been here for over ten years.”

“It’s not about that. So, does Gerda Asman also have the authority you possess?”

“Not yet. Why, did she offer to make you a priest herself?”

“It’s not that, but…”

Before I could finish, Koffman clasped his hands together with a smile.

“Do you want Gerda Asman to be the one in charge if you were to become a priest?”

“…Yes. I’m sorry to come all this way just to say this, but that’s how I feel right now.”

I responded with a serious expression.

“That’s not a very wise choice. For that to be possible, she would have to receive vitriol, spend time making various contributions to our church, and do you think you’ll remain a novice or layman until then?”

“Sorry, but I came here to directly refuse your offer. I’ll be going now.”

“Still, you must have come here with some thoughts. Just leave it to me.”

As I was about to get up, he spoke up again.

“Think about it. Isn’t it better to be with someone like me, who is already established, rather than waiting for someone who’s just become a Pleroma without any foundation?”

You’re supposed to be that foundation, but this bastard is more concerned about being overtaken by his subordinate after making them a Pleroma….

At best, he’s ambitious and greedy; at worst, he’s vile and irresponsible. He’s not the type of person you’d want to be involved with in any capacity.

Then, the man opened his mouth again.

“If it’s a matter of people, I can assign someone better than Gerda Asman. How about that?”

“If you’re going to make such suggestions, I think it’s best I leave now.”

*Crash—!*

Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through me as I clutched the back of my neck.

I must have hit the cabinet behind me. The candlestick on top of it toppled over, falling next to me.

*Clang—*

‘…I almost got my head bashed in.’

It wasn’t surprising that physical force was used. In a group where common sense doesn’t apply, this method is par for the course.

Koffman got up from his seat and approached me.

“After wasting my time like this, you think you can just leave?”

“No.”

I pulled the thin silver bracelet off my right arm and stuffed it into my pocket. When I reached inside my shirt, I felt a necklace that I usually didn’t wear.

Koffman raised an eyebrow, perhaps surprised by my response. I answered simply.

“I came because I have something to ask.”

“I already gave you an answer earlier, didn’t I? There’s no need to beat around the bush. Just leave it to me.”

“Sure, there’s no need to beat around the bush.”

I broke the necklace and stood up, grabbing the long candlestick that had fallen nearby as a substitute for my wand.

*Crash—!*

“Aagh!”

Koffman slammed into the opposite wall and collapsed. He grabbed his head and jumped up, shouting.

“What… a mage…! How did you…?”

He seemed to have more to say, but I didn’t have time to listen. I pressed my palm against his forehead and spoke.

―Enter through the narrow gate.

I considered continuing the incantation but decided against it. His pupils dilated in an instant.

“Phew.”

As expected, a priest is much easier than an archdeacon.

With Strauch, I had to finish the entire mind control spell, but this guy, a Pleroma, was dealt with in a single line.

‘I could have handled Gerda Asman this way as well…’

But as you can see, it’s too obvious.

If someone else were to encounter him in this state, they would easily notice that he had been brainwashed.

I grabbed Koffman by the collar and asked.

“Mr. Koffman, I’d like to ask you about the recent manpower issues. Gerda Asman has been selected as the manpower supplier for the Heiligenzi region, correct?”

He nodded with unfocused eyes.

“Were there others besides Gerda Asman and Arvin Asman who were also designated to become Pleromas? Do you have the sorted documents?”

Seeing him nod again, I smiled.

Of course, it would be. It’s not just Heiligenzi, after all.

From here on, this incident will unfold completely differently from the novel’s plot.

How far does their reach extend?

I looked into his eyes and asked.

“Then, does Mr. Koffman also have access to these documents?”

“……”

“Good. I’d like to have my name added to that list, if you don’t mind. This is the opportunity for me to become a Pleroma through you, as you wished, right?”

My head started throbbing.

Mind control spells also take a toll on the caster.

I noticed Koffman, even in his brainwashed state, nodding more vigorously than before. I tightened my grip on him.

“Alright, let’s go retrieve those documents now.”

Koffman, like a man possessed, got up and began tearing through the drawers. In the meantime, I asked another question for confirmation.

“One more thing. How many other areas within the Empire are targeted besides Heiligenzi? Answer with a number.”

He moved his mouth as if he had forgotten how to speak, then dropped the paper in his hand before finally forcing his vocal cords to work.

“47.”

For a moment, I was so shocked that I almost lost control of the mind control spell.

The unexpected number was so absurd that I burst out laughing.

Elias’s decision to expose and execute the Asman siblings was correct in the short term but wrong in the long run.

Only the powerless Pleromas within the organization were eliminated, and on top of that, it only provided the Pleroma leadership with more reasons to move cautiously and safely.

Of course, identifying and taking out those 47 locations isn’t a perfect solution either, but to completely eliminate the Pleroma, you’d have to wipe them all out, which isn’t a realistic task to consider right now.

‘I need to think of the most impactful way to strike with the tools available.’

I recited the unfinished incantation to erase all recent memories from his mind.

Then, I drew the symbol Gerda had explained on the floor, cut myself with a knife, and let the blood drip onto the ground.

―You will be like gods, knowing good and evil.

As I caught my breath, I heard a familiar voice from somewhere.

“Lucas!”

Pai landed on my back.

Earlier, I had given Pai one of the candies marked with a targeted curse.

‘I might get scolded by Narce for this…’

In any case, the summoning method had been simplified so even low-level Pleromas like Gerda Asman could use it easily.

The three hours spent extracting information from Gerda didn’t feel like a waste.

I folded up the paper and handed it to Pai.

“Here.”

“What about you, Lucas?”

“I’ve got some loose ends to tie up. I’ll follow shortly.”

“Hurry up!”

Pai, muffled by the document in his mouth, waved his paws.

Even though I hadn’t used the spell to send him back, Narce had apparently woken up and was doing something between the two worlds, as Pai immediately vanished before my eyes.

I stood up and looked around.

By tomorrow, the Pleroma will realize their entire plan has been foiled. The Empire will be filled with anti-Pleroma sentiment, and the Pleroma may even launch a retaliatory attack.

‘I’ll worry about what comes next when the time arrives.’

For now, I have to deal with Gerda Asman.

I’m not going to kill her.

There’s little practical benefit in killing a replaceable member.

And…

I picked up another paper that Koffman had dropped.

[November Report on Operations in Sector 1 (North) of the Archdiocese of Brandenburg]

The document I had Pai deliver was dated October 25th. However, the day the Asman siblings were involved in the accident and died was November 29th.

The overturned carriage in the rain wasn’t an accident.

It wasn’t a coincidence they were dragged into this after their deaths; it was a premeditated crime that started with murder.

Flipping through the papers, I found Gerda Asman’s name.

The intersection where carriages frequently passed, the location where accidents had occurred repeatedly over the past year, the daily patterns of the 60-year-old Gerda Asman and Arvin Asman, the ideological re-education direction…

“……”

I felt a twist in my gut.

Maybe it’s because nothing can be undone, but no matter how much I try to erase my emotions with logic, I can’t forget the two elderly people I met.

If none of this had happened, I would have forgotten about them quickly. But reality keeps pulling them back into my mind, unable to rest in peace even after death.

I reread the words written at the bottom of the paper.

‘Ideological Re-education.’

The meaning was obvious.

I don’t intend to defend the crimes committed by the Asmans just because they were under the influence of magic. Moreover, I think the very existence of this current Gerda Asman is an insult to the original.

But if you ask whether her choices were entirely her own, I don’t think Gerda Asman was the absolute embodiment of evil.

‘…It’s not too late.’

The kidnapped children, although brought here, are still in a sleeping state.

So, under the premise of returning them to where they belong, I have two options to propose.

‘Admit you were made wrong and accept death…’

Or live on, atoning for your sins and being different from the original Gerda Asman.

‘And.’

There’s one more headache-inducing matter.

If Asman chooses the latter, she’ll need to sort through her emotions.

I touched the inside pocket of my jacket.

Alongside the antidote, I found a vial containing a counteracting substance in case the antidote didn’t work.

Time to wrap this up.

* * *

When I returned to the cathedral, I found Gerda waiting for me, sitting in a suitable spot.

Unlike before, she had no expression on her face. Judging by the atmosphere, she seemed to realize, even without knowing the details, that I had done something against her interests.

“……”

I knew she had figured out something was wrong.

Since my proposal isn’t particularly favorable, it’s better that she has some idea beforehand.

Then Gerda quietly spoke up.

“Did you kill Koffman?”

“No.”

I sat down across from her and answered.

“Why would you think that?”

“Because the connection was cut shortly after you left.”

“So that’s a thing.”

“He won’t answer your questions anymore.”

“Right. I’m not here to ask any more questions either.”

I could feel a pain in my chest, likely due to the drug, as I continued speaking.

“I regret that I have to say this, but you need to make a decision now.”

“What kind?”

“You are the result of resurrecting the already-deceased Gerda Asman and reversing time to recreate her.”

“……”

“You’re well aware that you’re an unnatural existence. The original Gerda Asman wasn’t someone who handed over children to an unethical religious group like you did.”

Gerda just looked at me without saying anything.

I continued speaking as I watched her expressionless face.

“Make your choice. Will you let the real Asman rest in peace, or will you return to society, atone for your sins, and live on? If you choose to remain with the Pleroma, I can almost guarantee that you’ll be dismissed soon.”

“Are you someone important in that other world?”

“If you choose the latter, I can help during the investigation process.”

“Haha…”

Asman burst out laughing.

“You want me to choose death?”

“No.”

If I had taken the antidote, my answer might have been different, but that’s not the case now.

Even with a tinge of sympathy, the truth is that once the Pleroma’s brainwashing wears off, she’s of no consequence whether dead or alive.

At that moment, Gerda nodded and changed the subject.

“Let’s clarify this first. You used me, didn’t you?”

“……”

If I want to get her to take the drug, it would be better to concede on this point.

Just as I was about to open my mouth, my ears began to ring.

“…!”

It didn’t take long for me to realize something was wrong.

When I grabbed my head, my vision went black.

* * *

I nearly had a seizure as I rose from my seat.

Unwanted memories replayed in my mind, and I had to endure until the scene finally ended.

“You’re awake.”

So much for getting out of here…

I let out a breath, laughing bitterly.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep