Chapter 83: Heretic? – 4

Chapter 83: Heretic? – 4

“……Honestly, I’ve got myself a high-maintenance little sister.”

“Huh? What did you just say…?”

“Don’t worry about it. I just remembered a place I need to go with the patrol units.”

“…For that, isn’t that a bit too much armament? Are you going to smash some crime syndicate?”

He was right. The defense force’s patrol units usually carried light armaments, suitable for dealing with petty criminals.

As the name ‘patrol unit’ suggests, their duty was to maintain public order, not to eradicate criminals.

…In other words, when a situation was ‘suspected’ of having a public order problem, even the defense force could only investigate through patrol units.

It was a measure taken because there was a risk that the defense force’s troops could collectively revolt in the middle of the capital.

In fact, one defense Commander harbored resentment towards the imperial family, gathered the entire defense force in an area where crime was ‘suspected,’ and started a rebellion.

“You’re quite talkative today, Administrator.”

“Well, Commander-nim has never mobilized the patrol units before, have you? …You always went alone.”

Another function of the patrol units was… that they were investigative troops that the defense Commander could always employ.

Their basic armament was light, and their maximum armament was limited… but it meant they were troops that the defense Commander could use when investigating an area or incident under the name of the defense force.

…To be honest, I had never used the patrol units until now.

Most problems could be solved by myself anyway.

However, this time, I couldn’t.

‘…She definitely asked me to bring the defense force.’

Lucia’s voice suddenly echoed in my head.

It could have been someone playing a prank, or using strange magic… but the content was the problem.

A request, no, a notification, to bring the defense force to her shop.

Unlike Lucia’s usual self, it wasn’t “Can you come?” but “You have to come.”

If it were anyone else, I would have dismissed it, or just gone personally for a brief moment… but it had to be Lucia.

Regardless of how much I cared for Lucia, that child was always getting caught up in things, always attracting trouble.

“Well, I judged it to be a situation that warranted it. Anyway, mobilizing the patrol units is my decision.”

“I wasn’t objecting. However, if there’s a problem, you might consider additional support from the defense force…”

“If I did that, I’d be perfectly set up to be called a traitor. Most families are treading carefully with the Duke’s appearance, but there are still opposing factions.”

“Ah……”

Saying that, I left the administrator, who didn’t know what to say, in the office and went outside the building.

…The patrol units were waiting for me, fully armed.

The level of the patrol units, armed with swords, shields, and lightweight armor supplied by the Imperial Family, was quite satisfactory.

“I apologize for calling you all out so late at night, fully armed. There’s somewhere I need to go urgently.”

“Not at all. You merely exercised your rightful authority.”

“I appreciate you thinking that. Then, let’s go.”

……And, as I approached Lucia’s shop, I knew.

Ordering the patrol units to be fully armed was the right choice, and anyone would think so.

Anyone hearing the booming sound, accompanied by a flash of light that momentarily banished the darkness of the night, would have thought the same.

***

‘…Why does it feel like the power has gotten stronger?’

*You haven’t just been playing around until now, have you? How many times have you used ‘Alchemist’s Treasury’? It’s natural for it to get stronger as you gain experience and get used to it.*

…Indeed, it would be strange if the level remained the same after all the potions I’d made through ‘Alchemist’s Treasury’ until now.

Swordsmanship, magic, and even potion making all improve with practice, so why wouldn’t a skill?

The problem was that my shop was the one being attacked by the strengthened ‘Alchemist’s Treasury.’

“Pursue that heretic! The noise has already spread! Don’t let her escape!!”

…And the problem was hearing that crazy inquisitor’s voice from behind,

and as soon as that voice was heard, the other inquisitors started sprinting towards me.

***

Late at night, when many people had fallen asleep.

Even in the imperial capital, it was quite quiet at night.

Most people had gone to rest for tomorrow, and only a few were out and about; it was that kind of time.

…Normally, it was that kind of time.

“What on earth is going on!”

“F-fire?”

“Thunder?! What crazy mage is doing something like that in the middle of the city!!”

The flash of light that echoed from the shop caught the eyes of those who were awake late, contemplating or preparing for tomorrow…

The subsequent roar was enough to awaken those who were resting in their sleep.

At least, the people in this vicinity were already awake, and some had come out to survey the situation.

“Get out of the way!! Do not interfere with holy work!”

However, most closed their doors again at the overbearing voice.

But, even in that moment, some saw.

Three armed men, using divine power, chasing a small girl.

***

Screech…!

An unpleasant sound, metal grinding against metal.

The girl, finally caught, drew her greatsword and began to resist.

At first glance, she seemed barely able to wield the greatsword, yet her speed was faster than that of the inquisitors.

Due to the nature of the imperial capital, there were, of course, countless alleyways and narrow paths…

While the girl could lightly twist her body and slip into places, the inquisitors had to take wide detours or resort to a bit of destruction.

Therefore, despite being three in number, when a real opportunity arose to catch the girl, at most only one could effectively move.

And, unfortunately, that one person couldn’t catch the girl, who consistently focused on defense and evasion.

Thus, the relationship between the inquisitors and the girl, which had clearly started as a battle, was gradually turning into a chase.

Against the heavily armed inquisitors, who were even faster than her in open areas, the girl not only hid in the gaps between buildings, but also on rooftops, and even utilized ice mist created by magic.

She even blocked paths with her greatsword and threw her unique potions, accumulating damage on the inquisitors.

Wherever they followed the girl, a cold mist always greeted them, reducing visibility and slowing their speed,

And if they cleared the mist or ignored it, the girl’s attacks would inevitably fly their way.

No matter how strong they were, being unilaterally hit by magic was quite a struggle for the inquisitors.

Magical attacks could be blocked with divine power, but the greatsword, which occasionally flew with monstrous strength unbefitting her appearance, delivered an impact that could never be ignored.

If they were officially on a mission,

If they had received permission from the Empire to capture a ‘heretic,’ it would have been a chase that ended with them simply pulverizing the city and everything in it…

Unfortunately, they had not received any such permission. Not even the approval of the Saintess, their escort target.

No matter how much the inquisitors were willing to endure damage and commotion, once people started waking up, it became a task to escape as carefully and quickly as possible.

“……Tsk. I guess I’ll have to use some force.”

“Huh? What do you expect to hear from the Grand Cathedral if you do that!”

“So, you two quickly go to the Saintess-nim and get permission to arrest the heretic! Once we have permission, we can argue with the Empire too!”

“B-but if that happens……”

“You frustrating idiot! Failure is sin, and success is salvation and glory! Isn’t it usually hell if you fail, and heaven if you succeed?!

To begin with, capturing heretics, that is our job! Do your duty!”

At the Commander’s shout, the two inquisitors finally set off to seek permission from the Saintess, and the Commander gathered divine power.

In the dark city and alleyways, an intensely bright light began to gather.

And that light was heading towards the girl who was desperately fleeing.

“…Alright, let’s see this through. It’s already too late anyway.”

Although he didn’t tell the two inquisitors, he had already sensed that the Empire’s patrol units were coming this way.

The patrol units, which he would normally ignore as just one or two people, were coming in a surprisingly large number, somehow knowing.

If he couldn’t capture this heretic now, not only would he face dishonor from the Holy Kingdom, but his own future was also becoming very uncertain.

And above all, for him, his mission and life were to eliminate the heretics designated by the church.

No matter how problematic the church might be, for him, the church was the church, and a heretic designated by such a church was a heretic.

But such a heretic even knew the church’s secrets? This was a being that absolutely had to be eliminated.

For himself, and for the church.

“As God wills it. All who insult the church and its will will……”

With those words, light gathered in his hand.

That light, filled with reverence, holiness, and intimidation, was very different in nature from the warm light usually used by priests.

“…Be finally caught and repent.”

And, the next moment, countless chains of light extended towards the fleeing heretic.