It’s Not My Fault, So I Have No Reason to Suffer (3)

    It’s Not My Fault, So I Have No Reason to Suffer (3)

    As if the tragedy of last night was a lie, the sun was high and the sky was blue.

    In a vast meadow as wide as the sky where snow-white sheep clouds dotted about, Rubina was sitting on a bench waiting for Yona.

    ‘Why isn’t big sister coming…’

    Somehow, the church territory was very noisy last night.

    Rubina was scared because she heard the clanking sound of armor everywhere and people shouting.

    But Rubina didn’t cry.

    Because big sister Yona was there, because big sister Yona and uncle Alec were there. And because the big, scary-looking but actually kind lizard uncle was there too.

    Rubina believed and believed that those people would solve everything, that if she just stayed here quietly, nothing scary would happen anymore.

    But for some reason, big sister Yona wasn’t coming today.

    She thought maybe she wasn’t coming today, but on days when she couldn’t come, uncle Alec would come to play, but uncle Alec wasn’t seen either.

    So Rubina was endlessly waiting for Yona, looking up at the deep blue sky and snow-white clouds.

    ‘She’ll come soon… right?’

    “Do you think she’ll come? Do you think someone who has apostatized from the Celestine Church and chosen a demon would have any comradeship?”

    Those with black veils covering their helmet visors.

    There were four of them, even their armor all in black.

    There was a chair in front of them, and a water bucket with a bloody rag draped over it was placed next to it.

    Alec, covered in wounds, was sitting on that chair with his head drooping.

    Anyone could see that Alec was clearly exhausted.

    With all his armor removed and even his boots taken off, metal chains dug into his bare ankles.

    The chains dug into his flesh, causing fluid to seep out, and as soon as that fluid touched the chains, it sizzled with a small sound and turned into black smoke.

    “Tell the truth. You alone could survive, couldn’t you?”

    At those words from the Inquisitor, Alec raised his drooping head crookedly.

    His appearance was quite miserable, covered in wounds, with dried and whitened lips crusted with blood at the edges.

    Nevertheless, Alec’s expression was very calm.

    Despite his body being eaten away by pain, Alec even had a very faint smile.

    “What truth do you want me to tell? I’ve already told the truth.”

    “That your escaped companion is a filthy apostate who sold their soul to a demon— testify to this fact properly.”

    “Ah, that. If it’s that, it’s simple.”

    Alec gave a weak smile.

    With a small crackling sound, a piece of scab fell from the edge of his lips.

    “—Yona, absolutely did not sell her soul. I’ve said this many times, haven’t I? Far from apostasy, she’s a woman more befitting of a clergyperson than anyone.”

    “This bastard.”

    The Inquisitor who had been looking into Alec’s face straightened up and stood.

    Then he gave a look to those standing on either side of Alec, and they turned and picked up two long silver rods that were placed on the table behind them.

    Those rods were thrust between Alec’s thighs, crossing each other.

    The rods stuck in an X shape between his legs were pressed down with all their might—

    “Aaaaarghhhh—————!!!!!”

    Alec’s agonizing scream echoed.

    His leg bones twisted as if about to break, and just before they finally made a cracking sound and broke—

    Just before that, the rods pressing down on Alec’s legs stopped.

    “Tell the truth.”

    “Huh, huh, huh, huuuh…”

    Alec was breathing heavily with his eyes rolled back.

    Saliva dripped from between his parted lips, and seeing this, the Inquisitor frowned and lifted the water bucket.

    “Fainting, the nerve of an apostate.”

    And without hesitation, the water from that bucket was poured over Alec’s face.

    “Pukheok!”

    His consciousness that had been flying away suddenly returned, and Alec’s rolled-back eyes returned to black pupils.

    Just as the Inquisitor was about to signal those holding the rods again, the door of the interrogation room opened slowly with a heavy metal sound.

    “No confession yet?”

    “Sir Scarlet, isn’t it? What brings you here?”

    “I’ve come to interrogate.”

    Scarlet’s figure appeared under the shabby lighting of the interrogation room.

    As soon as his figure, wearing a helmet and silver armor, appeared, Alec also glanced up at him— her.

    “I’ve received permission from Elder Ceres Alkamain. Everyone, clear the room.”

    “…Understood.”

    A single document that Scarlet held out.

    The Inquisitors who looked at that document answered with voices clearly showing their displeasure, and left the interrogation room without making even a footstep sound.

    “—Apostate.”

    Alec tied to the chair, and Scarlet looking down at him from in front.

    Alec quietly looked at Scarlet’s figure.

    Through his blurred vision, he couldn’t make out Scarlet’s face, but Alec knows.

    That inside this helmet is her, Sekti.

    But now he had no desire to act like he knew her.

    He had called her name in the banquet hall, but that was just a mistake.

    The current Scarlet wouldn’t recognize Alec, and even if Alec told the truth, she wouldn’t believe it.

    Moreover, getting involved with the current Alec wouldn’t lead to anything good.

    Unaware of Alec’s inner thoughts, Scarlet spoke to Alec in a cold voice.

    “Let’s start from the beginning. You, what’s your relationship with Yona— that filthy apostate?”

    “…From the beginning again, huh. Yona is not an apostate. Also… kuk, kuluk—! Kuluk kuluk!”

    Alec coughed violently and spat blood.

    A handful of blood fell onto his pants and spread.

    “Dozens of people witnessed that scene. Dozens of people saw that apostate’s form, that demon follower’s appearance. I am one of them, and His Holiness the Pope directly witnessed it as well.”

    In fact, your testimony isn’t really necessary—

    Saying this, Scarlet picked up two stakes.

    Stakes like nails with one end sharpened.

    Their size was comparable to the hammer Alec usually used.

    “The Inquisitors are too soft.”

    In a case like this where everything points to one conclusion, confession wasn’t necessary.

    What was needed now was judgment.

    Judgment is like punishment delivered on behalf of the Celestial God.

    At least that’s what Scarlet thought.

    “You’re going to die anyway. In the trial that will open soon, you will die without a shred of doubt.”

    An ominous flame began to flicker in Scarlet’s eyes.

    “You shall taste the maximum pain. Apostate.”

    With those words, Scarlet drove the stake she was holding down towards Alec’s thigh.

    “Aaaaarghhhh—————!!!!”

    With a thud, a scream burst from Alec’s mouth.

    Somehow processed, despite the stake being deeply embedded in his thigh, blood didn’t burst out, let alone flow.

    “I’ll ask for formality’s sake. That woman Yona you tried so hard to protect is indeed an apostate and demon follower, right?”

    “N-No… No…! Yona isn’t like that…! Aaaagh!”

    Scarlet began to ruthlessly twist the stake stuck in Alec’s thigh.

    The holy power emanating from his hand shook Alec’s entire body through that stake,

    And eventually it stimulated even the holy power remaining in his lower abdomen, causing it to act up as well.

    Because of this, even the interdiction placed on Alec’s body was activated.

    Pain like his heart being torn to pieces and his internal organs being shredded.

    In the midst of pain that felt like his whole body was being torn apart, Alec heard the sound of his teeth cracking and breaking.

    You idiot, how could you not dodge that one thing.

    Come here, let’s treat you first.

    What would you do without me? Huh?

    A faint voice was heard beyond his fading consciousness.

    Yona, Yona.

    It seems you’ve escaped safely.

    If you had been caught too, they wouldn’t be beating me like this.

    So—

    That’s good, Yona.

    Don’t ever come back.

    Even if I die here, you must not die.

    Even if I die here.

    At least you.

    At least you, absolutely.

    Must not, come back.

    I was happy because of you.

    Now I hope you’ll be happy too.

    “This is the path for everyone’s happiness, Your Holiness.”

    “…I’m not sure. I wonder if it’s right to go this far. I’m not sure if the Celestial God will understand either.”

    Arczel IV closed his eyes while stroking his beard.

    Ceres, sitting in front of him, was smiling satisfactorily while looking at Arczel IV’s face.

    “Even so, Berbaria is merely an avatar. How could Berbaria dare to descend in its true form given how powerful our cathedral knights are? Moreover, as you saw that vessel, despite containing an avatar, it fled without being able to do anything.”

    “…Hmm.”

    Arczel IV didn’t give any particular answer to Ceres’s words.

    “It was the Dark Cabal that summoned Berbaria. It wasn’t us, Your Holiness. We’re merely talking about using Berbaria, which has already descended, to our advantage.”

    Ceres’s words flowed smoothly.

    Without any hesitation, as if reciting words from a predetermined script, Ceres skillfully unfolded her argument.

    “With this, news of a demon descending in the church territory will spread to each diocese. The bishops will start to set up defenses again, and they will become alert to the existence of demons that were only known from scriptures. Then once again, each diocese will unite centered around the church territory—”

    Ceres’s words continued on.

    Although her confident voice was pleasant to hear, Arczel IV was still not convinced.

    “If the church unites and prays this much, surely the Celestial God will respond and bestow blessings again. Don’t you know that the recent abnormal phenomena flooding this Kapatia Empire are because all of the Celestial God’s blessings have been consumed?”

    “…That is true.”

    There are times when you have to make a bad move even knowing it’s bad.

    Arczel IV knew this well from his long military career.

    There was nothing particularly wrong with sacrificing one nun.

    However, the fact that Johannes had to be sacrificed was a point of concern.

    “Don’t worry, Your Holiness. Everything is for the Celestial God, and you know well that the Celestial God’s blessing is absolutely necessary for the eternal glory and development of this Kapatia Empire. Everything is for humanity. Besides, don’t we have the Hero and the Saint? We can respond sufficiently.”

    Huuuu—

    A pale breath spread out.

    “…I understand. Necessary sacrifices must be considered.”

    “Thank you for your bold decision. Surely the Celestial God will respond without fail.”

    “I believe He will.”

    Arczel IV sighed deeply again with his eyes closed.

    And a chilling aura passed through Ceres’s eyes as she looked at him.

    0 Comments

    Heads up! Your comment will be invisible to other guests and subscribers (except for replies), including you after a grace period.
    Note
    // Script to navigate with arrow keys