Chapter 94

“Sister, this gentleman here is Investigator Ian from the Security Bureau.”

First, I introduced him.

Though Ian was a spy, it didn’t really matter. Still, he was trying hard to maintain a smiling face, but his fingers couldn’t stay still, indicating his unease.

Seeing him react as I expected, I smiled inwardly with satisfaction.

“Oh, I see. So you’re an investigator with the Security Bureau, Brother Ian. Thanks to people like you, the citizens can live in peace.”

“Haha… that’s too much praise.”

“May you continue to live a fulfilling life under God’s grace.”

Marianna clasped her hands together and continued.

“I heard you were looking for a drink earlier. Would you like me to bring you some warm tea?”

“I’d be grateful if you could. That would be wonderful.”

I answered immediately.

“It’s my pleasure, so don’t worry about it.”

With a smile, Marianna went to get the tea.

As soon as she left.

“What are you doing?”

Ian’s expression changed from relaxed to serious as he protested.

“What do you mean?”

“Is it okay to reveal someone’s identity like that?”

“Is that a problem? Someone called me to a place like this.”

I returned the sentiment, indicating that I was displeased about being summoned to a heretical stronghold.

If you keep giving in, they’ll see you as a pushover.

No matter how much of a priest he was, I had no intention of giving up the upper hand.

Ian’s eyes wavered slightly, perhaps surprised by my strong stance.

“…Let’s confirm things quickly.”

Ian decided to verify the evidence right away.

He seemed to think that only after confirming my true identity could he deal with me properly.

“Absolutely.”

To be clear, Ian’s current mindset was leaning more towards believing that I was a follower.

Why?

Because I had decoded the message he sent and showed up here.

That meant I had the Debedia, the symbol of the Dark Church.

However, he couldn’t be 100% sure with just that.

There was still a chance that I might have obtained the Debedia through some means to set a trap, whether I was from the Church or another organization.

So he needed more definitive proof.

A prayer that only a true follower would know.

“The Prayer of Descent.”

As expected, he recited one of the many prayers of the Dark Church.

I glanced around.

There was still no one around, and Marianna hadn’t returned yet.

But I had to be careful.

Walls have ears, even during the day.

I took out a prepared piece of paper and a pen.

“Better safe than sorry, right?”

“You’re well-prepared.”

“Isn’t that how we should be?”

I chuckled and quickly wrote with the pen.

Scribble, scribble, scribble.

‘I firmly believe that the Father of Darkness is the only true god in the world. Even though wicked people are gaining power by promoting false gods, on the day of judgment, the Father of Darkness will descend…’

It was a long prayer.

Of course, he had chosen such a lengthy prayer on purpose.

But there was no problem.

I had it memorized.

Before long, I had finished writing the prayer.

“Here.”

I handed the paper to Ian.

He quickly checked the writing.

After confirming it, he crumpled the paper and stuffed it into his mouth.

Crunch, crunch.

…Watching him chew the paper made me feel a bit queasy.

“It’s definite.”

Ian nodded.

“But… it seems we have a lot to discuss, don’t we?”

He had a look that said he wanted to lecture the presumptuous follower as a priest.

Oh, look at this guy, trying to assert dominance now?

I can’t stand that.

“I don’t think there’s much to discuss.”

Just as Ian’s eyebrows started to furrow at my response, we heard footsteps approaching from behind.

Ian quickly composed himself.

“Have you been waiting long?”

“No, not at all. Thank you, Sister. I’ll enjoy this.”

“…Thank you.”

Unlike my natural expression of gratitude, Ian still looked somewhat awkward.

Marianna seemed to interpret his awkwardness as simply being due to their first meeting.

“Well, have a pleasant time. I’ll take my leave.”

“I’ll visit again, Sister.”

“Haha, anytime.”

Regardless of Ian’s reaction, I exchanged warm farewells with Marianna.

I made sure he saw it clearly.

Ian, who had been quietly sipping his tea.

The moment he was sure Marianna was far away, he spoke to me as if he’d been waiting for this.

Of course, in a low voice.

“Didn’t you just complain about calling someone to a place like this?”

“I did.”

I answered quietly.

“Then what are you doing now? Why are you exchanging such warm greetings with that ominous woman? And what’s with saying you’ll visit again?”

Ian questioned me, almost accusingly.

But I remained calm.

“Ominous? Are you talking about the Sister?”

“Why are you pretending not to know? Can’t you feel it?”

It seemed Ian instinctively sensed that Marianna was no ordinary person.

I deliberately responded ambiguously.

“Oh, really? Hmm, now that you mention it, it does feel that way.”

“I’m advising you to stay away from her for your own good…”

“Hey, that’s not right, is it?”

I saw an opening and went in for the rebuttal.

“What do you mean?”

Ian looked at me directly, as if to say he wouldn’t tolerate nonsense.

“No matter how much of a priest you are, you shouldn’t say such things in someone else’s territory.”

“What, what?”

Ian was so taken aback that he was at a loss for words.

It was only natural for him to react this way, as it was probably the first time he’d heard a follower claim such a thing about a heretical stronghold being their territory.

I clicked my tongue and spoke again.

“Don’t you get it? Surely you don’t think you’re the only one doing undercover work?”

“Undercover work…? What nonsense…”

Ian’s face was filled with disbelief.

He knew that there were many Dark Church followers living undercover all over the world.

But that was just to survive.

There wasn’t a single follower who would confidently talk about undercover work in a heretical stronghold like I was doing.

It was a shocking statement, even for Ian, who lived boldly as an investigator in the Holy City.

I spoke in a tone that suggested he should get a grip.

“How can you say it’s nonsense? Don’t you know that to win a battle, you must know both yourself and your enemy? I’m risking my life to work based on that principle, and instead of praise, I get this?”

“No, who… who ordered you?”

Ian asked, bewildered.

Ian, flustered, asked, “Whose orders are these?”

“No one’s. It’s my own judgment.”

Once again, let me emphasize that the Dark Church operates in strict cells.

Therefore, there are more individuals who operate independently, hiding their true identities.

Unless there are direct orders from the high priest, this structure will continue to be maintained.

“Hah, you expect me to believe this…”

“The groundwork is already well laid. They think of me as a devout believer. I’ve poured enough donations for that.”

“…”

“If you have doubts, go ahead and verify.”

My confident demeanor made Ian flinch.

After a moment of hesitation, he seemed to decide that he had no choice but to trust me here and spoke again.

“So, what are you planning to do…”

Suddenly, Ian’s words were cut off.

Footsteps were approaching the conversation room.

“Let’s move to another place.”

Ian nodded at my suggestion.

* * *

We sat on a bench in an empty, secluded area.

I stared into the empty space and spoke first.

“You asked what I plan to do?”

“Yes.”

“I’m thinking of establishing a connection with higher-ups. That way, I might access important information.”

“That ominous nun seemed high-ranking enough.”

“Well, I didn’t get that impression.”

I shrugged, pretending not to know.

Even if it meant gaining trust, I couldn’t sell out information about Marianna.

She was my important first connection to the Church, and I couldn’t treat her that way.

It was also my duty to a good person.

“So… what do you plan to do with the information you gather?”

“I’m not the one to decide that. I’ll give it to you, and you can use it as you see fit.”

“What?”

Ian’s eyes widened.

He hadn’t expected someone who moved so proactively to just hand over information and let him handle it.

But there was no need or reason for me to take more initiative here.

If I overstepped, it could disrupt upcoming plans.

Planning was for Priest Ian and the other Dark Church members.

I just needed to hand over roughly 80% useless information and 20% somewhat credible information to gain their trust.

As long as I had their trust, my connection to the Dark Church through Ian would remain.

This way, I would be informed whenever the Dark Church made a move.

That was one of my main objectives in baiting Ian.

“Let’s decide on a method.”

“A method for what?”

“To exchange and receive information.”

“Are you really going to hand over information to me?”

“Of course, I am. What do you take me for?”

“…”

So we decided on a method to exchange information.

We chose letters.

It might seem flimsy, but sometimes the most natural methods are the most secretive.

Unless someone deliberately intercepted and opened them, there was no risk.

And neither Ian nor I were in positions to draw such suspicion.

“Alright then. Let’s wrap this up. I’m quite busy.”

“…”

Ian looked like he had a lot on his mind today.

Well, it’s not every day you meet such an audacious follower.

But even amidst all this, he didn’t forget to ask one crucial question.

“Now that I think about it, how did you figure out my identity?”

Ian’s eyes had turned investigative.

I pointed with my finger.

“The relic.”

“…”

“That necklace around your neck is a relic.”

I was pointing at the gold necklace around Ian’s neck.

* * *

In a secret room of the cathedral.

“Another curious moth has come.”

A man with pale skin, like a patient, spoke.

His eyes were clouded, giving him a somewhat eerie appearance.

“Don’t say that. He’s a brother who received a revelation.”

It was Marianna who responded.

She seemed to firmly believe that Max had received a revelation.

This was proof of how convincing Max’s acting was.

“Does God give revelations to go die in a forbidden area?”

“How can humans fathom God’s will?”

Marianna clasped her hands together.

“Hah, you always think in such a straightforward manner.”

The pale man scoffed.

The forbidden area beneath the Holy City.

It was a place sealed not by God but by humans.

Specifically, by Saint Lepheria.

At that time, it was undoubtedly a necessary measure.

However.

While she had left instructions to ensure that anyone who approached the forbidden area, which should be forgotten forever, would be eliminated, she had made an exception for students of the academy.

It was incomprehensible.

What had the saint seen back then?

“Anyway, have you found anything about those guys?”

The pale man changed the subject.

He was referring to the monster who committed the massacre at Mount Harkin and the necromancer who revived the corpses.

“No, not yet.”

“Damn, is the world coming to an end? Even in the Holy City, all sorts of scum are running amok.”

“…”

“I thought I’d retire without any trouble, but it seems that won’t be the case.”

The pale man clicked his tongue and walked out.

Left alone, Marianna silently prayed.