Chapter 86

The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was a window barred with iron gratings.

The handcuffs and chains on my wrists were connected to the wooden wall, and though the floor was roughly covered with straw, it was painfully hard.

It was the second day since I’d been accused of heresy, and I was currently in the process of being transported to the main branch of the Church, locked in a prison wagon.

I rolled over—but my back ached.

“They’re really treating me too harshly.”

It was even more chilling that this was considered decent treatment for a noble, ‘a rotten sea bream is still a sea bream’ as they say.

“How did I end up like this?”

My only comfort was that I was completely innocent regarding the demon summoning incident in Viscount Belmir’s fief.

《You seem quite relaxed for someone who drank the poison cup yourself.》

I’m not that relaxed.

The biggest problem would be if they found out I actually made a contract with a demon, and the king of the ancient demons at that.

If that happens, it’s not just me who’s in big trouble; my father and the Lisitoel family would be ruined as a bonus.

“I sincerely want to avoid that, at the very least.”

《They will find out if they use magic to check for the existence of a contract.》

“I made a contract with Iris.”

It might be unfortunate for the people of this world, but modern magic hadn’t developed to the point where it could distinguish between a human-human contract and a human-demon contract.

“That human is useful sometimes.”

Goes to show you never really know with people.

《It is a relief that you are at ease.》

“I’m not completely without worries.”

They might be determined to screw me and my father over, so they could try to fabricate the incident.

“Still, Ferdiel would be fair.”

If he keeps his mouth shut as the price for his silence, that would also be fine in its own way.

In the end, the only thing I can do right now is fool the watcher’s eyes with my Writer skill.

《Wouldn’t that be impressive enough on its own?》

“Nah, not really.”

It’s just so inconvenient that I can’t move around freely and observe things myself.

I do plan to use my skill to escape and poke around here and there once I get to the Church, but for now, during transport, I have no choice but to appeal to their sense of helplessness by being locked in this prison.

《Do not be too reckless.》

“Still, it’s better than Lerwon’s secret being revealed.”

It didn’t take much time to persuade Fel, so thankfully, I was able to leave a letter for Lerwon.

I told him not to worry since it was my choice, and to just focus on becoming human again at the Academy.

Sunbae would have surely done the calculations and followed my wishes.

《In the end, it will be a race against time.》

“Correct.”

The best-case scenario is for everything to end peacefully without any painful arguments.

But, if that’s not possible.

“Should I reset?”

Ah, I really want to avoid that.

I blankly stared at the sky.

No, in the first place, can I even reset on my own whim?

Meanwhile, the system is completely silent.

《Reset?》

“Well, it’s something like that.”

Resetting might be easier.

I might be able to create a better present than the current one, but I wasn’t too keen on it.

“Well, it’s something like the end of the world.”

In the end, destruction is destruction, and everything that has happened so far would be undone.

I sincerely want to avoid that.

Because I don’t want a situation where I’m the only one who remembers everything that has happened.

* * *

“I really don’t have many friends, but this one is as good as an enemy.”

Zephyros, who had been forced to come to the Church as the accuser, let out a sigh.

“Is there anything making you uncomfortable?”

As Zephyros openly sighed, Cardinal Aurelio quickly approached and asked with a gentle smile.

Uncomfortable? This whole situation was damn uncomfortable.

Lucian knew Lerwon had committed a taboo, so he let it slide, but Evan was a different story.

Even though I’d told him that Theo had planned it all and not to worry, would a father really be pleased with the friend who accused his son?

“Professor Lisitoel, is there anything bothering you?”

Aurelio swaggered up to Evan, stroking his chin triumphantly.

Evan also had much to say, but he kept his mouth shut, worried that anything he said might negatively affect his son.

“Originally, the rules state that family members cannot attend a religious trial, but this decision was made in special consideration of the Count’s contributions.

You should be grateful for His Holiness’s grace.”

Whether he didn’t know he was fanning the flames of Evan’s rage, or knew and was teasing him on purpose.

Either way, at Aurelio’s behavior, acting as if he had multiple lives to spare, Zephyros decided to keep his mouth shut.

He could only pray that his name wouldn’t be on the kill list when Evan decided to kill everyone.

“So, very, grateful.”

At the words, which sounded like he was chewing on each syllable, Zephyros decided to leave the scene.

He slipped away to the back and approached Lucian, who was checking the back of the carriage.

“Hey—”

“What.”

“You seem to be in a really bad mood?”

“It’d be weird if I wasn’t.”

Lucian’s small mumble clearly drifted to Zephyros on the wind.

To think his so-called friends would both act like this. He should have gotten some stomach medicine from Lerwon.

“It’ll be okay.”

“…I’m not so sure.”

As if something was bothering him, Lucian firmly shut his mouth.

Just then, the clattering carriage came to a halt.

In the distance, a building that seemed to scatter a hazy light could be seen.

The main branch, situated at the highest point of the mountain ridge.

The heart of the Church of Light, Lumen Asteria, was not just a simple structure but a grand sanctuary in itself, a result of accumulated ancient divinity.

“If Lucian wishes, I can give you a tour of Lumen Asteria.”

At some point, Hartain had approached and spoken to the two of them in a friendly manner.

Just as Lucian was about to open his mouth to answer, Zephyros quickly clamped his hand over Lucian’s mouth. He had a bad feeling that words of disaster were about to be spoken.

“It is an honor for Sir Ignos to offer a personal tour, but we are fine.”

“The religious trial will take a week according to the rules anyway, so you will be bored. It is not a place you get a chance to visit often, so please do not refuse.”

Still, they were enemies in a way, so it was a bit much to get friendly.

Just as he was about to refuse with due courtesy.

[Accept it right now!!]

Theo’s voice rang in his head.

Momentarily stunned by the sudden voice, Zephyros quickly turned his head when he saw a look of puzzlement on Hartain’s face.

Damn you, Theo Lisitoel! So you were watching the situation outside even from inside the carriage?

If you have time for that, I wish you’d try to stop your father first.

…It’s pointless to expect something like that from him.

“If Sir Ignos insists so much, then with gratitude.”

He jabbed Lucian in the side with his elbow to stop him from protesting.

I don’t want to either. But what can I do? If the madman who accused himself under a friend’s name to protect a sunbae is ordering it, there must be a reason.

I’m the one who wants to refuse this offer the most!

“I’m glad we seem to be getting along. After all, besides His Eminence the Sword of Doctrine, all the Heretic Inquisitors are either old men or grandfathers!”

Hartain smiled affably, perhaps trying to lower their guard.

“It’s not like I can be friends with His Eminence the Sword of Doctrine, and he himself has been avoiding me for two years. I’m quite the loner.”

Hartain, complaining about his situation as if he were pitiful, seemed quite pathetic at first glance. But given the situation, instead of feeling friendly, it only raised their guard.

“I see. I suppose I understand how you feel, having grown up alone since I was young.”

Zephyros also replied with a casual smile.

Zephyros was also good at hiding his true intentions and building intimacy. In fact, Zephyros, who was educated in a duchy, would be more skilled at it.

Hartain had picked the wrong opponent, and badly at that.

‘Though I guess I’m his only opponent.’

Lucian was already so full of suspicion it was about to burst.

He would never have come along if it wasn’t for the chance that he could help as the Hero of the Holy Sword.

‘Seriously, what is Theo thinking?’

I don’t know what it is, but for now, I have no choice but to follow.

However, someday, you’ll have to pay the price for making me play along like this, Theo Lisitoel.

Zephyros smiled affably at Hartain.

* * *

Back in his room in the Church, Hartain took off his Heretic Inquisitor armor and flopped onto the bed.

“Wow, he’s really something.”

“Who?”

“I’m talking about Young Lord Zephyros Nevera. Why? Is there another amazing person?”

Hartain sat up to listen to Ferdiel.

“There’s the Hero of the Holy Sword, too.”

“That one’s… rather easy.”

All his emotions are written on his face.

Discomfort with the situation, worry for his friend, and at the same time, hostility towards the Church—all of it.

It was so clear that he reacted naturally every time he was poked, to the point where I didn’t even feel like bothering him.

In contrast—

“Young Lord Nevera’s expression is perfect.”

Even though the flow of his emotions should be similar to the Hero of the Holy Sword, nothing shows.

I was just going to test the waters to see how he’d react, but he tried to swallow me whole instead, which was a bit surprising.

“Wow, I never thought I’d be had like this.”

Shaking his head, Hartain got up and started to tidy Ferdiel’s clothes.

“You don’t have to help.”

Before, he had to accept help since he couldn’t see, but not anymore.

“There are just so many eyes around.”

The fact that Ferdiel’s sight had returned was a secret between the two of them, not yet reported to the Church.

It would be better to let the Pope be complacent, thinking he was still blind.

It was impossible to gauge whether the Pope would be pleased that the flaw in his tool was fixed, or feel threatened and seek to dispose of him upon seeing the sighted Ferdiel.

“He won’t run his mouth, will he?”

“The Young Master knows a lot of things. He won’t run his mouth easily. I guarantee it.”

He’s a human who threw himself into the tiger’s den. He must be confident he’ll come out alive.

“So, what are you going to do now, Captain?”

The Pope would surely use this opportunity to make Theo Lisitoel a heretic.

The Pope’s malice towards Count Lisitoel was clear, and his son, Theo, was his only weakness.

The reason he had the Count accompany them was probably part of the Pope’s thorough

calculation that he could create an interesting situation by holding the son’s life hostage.

The Pope they knew was more than capable of such a thing.

“Are you going to save him?”

Hartain looked at Ferdiel, his eyes shining straight ahead.

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