Ch.10Episode 2 – Heroes of the Continent

The weekend guard at the Inquisition Office smoked his cigarette intermittently, killing time.

Honestly, there was nothing to do.

Although there were more people coming in and out because of yesterday’s terrorist attack, paradoxically, his duties as a guard had decreased.

It made sense, of course.

Everyone entering was either an Inquisitor or someone affiliated with the Inquisition Office. If he tried to stop these busy people to ask for ID or inspect their belongings, he’d end up getting maced and carried off to the nearest infirmary.

Anyway, journalists with press passes weren’t leaving the building as they were staying in the duty room for meals and lodging. They couldn’t risk missing an emergency briefing by stepping out even briefly.

For these reasons, there were no outside visitors to the Inquisition Office. The place itself was surrounded by ominous rumors, so nobody would visit voluntarily. The few external personnel who did come and go regularly were mostly high-ranking officials who used private entrances.

So here he was, smoking cigarettes and killing time.

Isn’t that what religions teach? That after working hard, one deserves a day of rest. Though he wasn’t a religious man himself, he felt this was one of those moments when taking it easy was perfectly fine.

-Knock! Knock!

But someone interrupted his happy time by knocking on the window. The guard irritably stubbed out his cigarette and poked his head out.

“Ugh. Who is it?”

A soldier was standing there, smiling. His uniform was unfamiliar. The rank was Major. He appeared to be a foreigner.

Startled, the guard hurriedly adjusted his hat and asked again with a more respectful attitude.

“W-who are you, sir?”

“Ah! Thank you for your hard work on the weekend. I’m Major Fredrik Nostrum! I’m from the Kingdom of Abas. Where can I get a visitor’s pass?”

Major Fredrik Nostrum. The name sounded familiar. The guard pondered as he opened his mouth.

“Visitor passes aren’t issued here but at the information desk. I’ll guide you there, just wait a mom-“

The guard, about to leave his post, noticed the newspaper on his desk. A person who looked exactly like the Major was smiling brightly in a photograph. He shifted his gaze to read the headline.

<Promising Young Soldier and Hero Who Will Save the World!>

He assessed the situation quickly. The guard hastily shoved his feet into his shoes and ran outside to stand before Major Fredrik Nostrum. The Major was extending his hand, and the guard wiped his sweaty palm on his pants before shaking it.

“H-hero’s companion, w-what brings you here?”

“I’m here to file a report.”

“Pardon?”

“A report. To report something.”

Episode 2 – Heroes of the Continent

The Inquisition Office.

An investigative agency that identifies and “punishes” heretics designated by the Church.

In the past, it was an institution that carried out inquisitions and marriage-divorce rulings. These days, the Inquisition Office is responsible for maintaining security and counterintelligence within Church territories.

It’s a massive extra-constitutional organization encompassing police, family court, and counterintelligence functions. However, since the Church’s jurisdiction isn’t very extensive, the headquarters is relatively small compared to its actual duties. Heretics tend to operate in other countries anyway, so there’s no need to erect an imposing building in the heart of the Church’s territory.

In fact, the Inquisition Office headquarters was only slightly larger than its branch in the Kingdom.

I came here to pass on information about the terrorist attack. Terrorism falls under the jurisdiction of counterintelligence and investigative agencies, after all.

I entered the Inquisition Office with a somewhat clueless guard leading the way. Despite his demeanor, he seemed sharp enough. He provided me with an unmarked visitor’s pass and guided me through a secret passage. I had already shaken off some tails on my way here and didn’t particularly want to leave a record of my visit to the Inquisition Office.

Honestly, it was surprising that I was allowed to use the secret passage supposedly reserved for high-ranking officials. Being a companion of the hero was certainly impressive, but in this religious neighborhood, being designated by divine prophecy carried more weight than most rank insignia.

Just look at me now—a mere soldier using a passage normally reserved for cardinals.

The guard led me to a room where I refreshed myself with a drink while waiting. The room was cozier than I expected.

After waiting for some time, about halfway through my tea, someone who was clearly a high-ranking official entered the room.

“Pleased to meet you, Major Fredrik Nostrum! I’m Bernard, Security Director of the Inquisition Office.”

“It’s an honor to meet you, Director Bernard.”

A director, huh. In police terms, Bernard would be equivalent to a high-ranking superintendent general.

I wasn’t sure what the Security Department of the Inquisition Office did, but if a high-ranking official held the director position, it must handle important matters. Something like counterintelligence investigations, perhaps.

I accepted his handshake while pondering.

The name Bernard didn’t appear in the game. Only one recruitable Inquisitor was named in the game. To be precise, most were treated as mobs or NPCs, so countless Inquisitors remained unnamed.

Although he wasn’t even a named character in the game, Bernard was someone worth remembering. He was a high-ranking official, after all.

With a smile on my face, I began with some pleasantries.

“You must be working hard in these difficult times, Director. I’m worried I might be wasting your valuable time when you’re so busy.”

“Not at all! Time is never wasted for a companion of the hero chosen by God.”

He prepared a cold drink from the refreshment corner while speaking to me.

“What kind of tea would you like, Major?”

“I’m fine, thank you. I already have one here.”

“Ah, I see.”

He seemed quite practiced in dealing with people. More precisely, he seemed accustomed to flattery. Suspiciously so.

What kind of person was he?

“You said you came to file a report?”

“Yes. Well, not just for that reason.”

“Ah, I understand completely! Would you mind waiting a moment?”

Bernard hastily put down his paper cup and left the room.

I watched the door close softly, feeling nothing in particular. Honestly, it was a bit bewildering.

Why was he leaving so soon after entering? Judging by his attitude, he was excessively deferential. If someone who was hospitalized yesterday after a bomb attack came to visit in person, the least you could do was prepare some kind of explanation. I couldn’t understand what important matter required him to leave the room.

From his manner of speaking, he seemed to grovel excessively to foreigners, even for a hero’s companion.

He must have obtained his director position through political maneuvering. Or maybe by playing poker.

By the time I had emptied my paper cup, Director Bernard returned to the room.

“Sorry to keep you waiting!”

“Not at all, Director Bernard.”

He placed a thick stack of documents on the desk with his pudgy hands.

“Here, take a look!”

I froze when I saw the paper documents.

Wait, what the hell? These are internal documents. The security mark ink isn’t even dry yet.

That means these documents were just printed.

“Um, Director Bernard? These are clearly investigation materials related to the terrorist attack.”

“Yes! You have a good eye!”

Showing ongoing investigation contents to an outsider? Suddenly, I found myself missing the bureaucratic systems of 21st-century advanced societies.

I gently pushed the documents away. Not to play hard to get, but because I didn’t want to be arrested for leaking internal documents when I hadn’t even left a record of my visit.

Even with diplomatic status, this would constitute a security breach. If I got caught up in a leak here, my diplomatic status would be revoked, and my name would end up on foreign ministry blacklists worldwide. The hero’s journey would be over before it began. I’d just be stuck in the kingdom counting days until my discharge.

I couldn’t let that happen.

“I’m sorry, but I’m an outsider. Even as a companion chosen by divine prophecy, I don’t have the authority to view internal documents as someone not affiliated with the Inquisition Office.”

Director Bernard blinked in apparent confusion.

“Oh, no. You’re a direct victim of the terrorist attack and an honored guest visiting the Church.”

My blood boiled at Bernard’s brazen attitude. The reason was simple. I used to handle military secrets in intelligence, and I came here to file a report, only to witness internal documents being shown to an outsider.

I had an immediate gut feeling that any information passed to these people would be 100% leaked.

I tapped the desk and reprimanded Bernard.

“Does the Inquisition Office leak documents to honored guests? Isn’t security paramount in terrorism investigations?”

“W-well, of course security is important, but—”

“What could be more important? What if I were a spy? Why would you carelessly show such documents? Are you trying to get someone thrown in jail? Is that it?”

Director Bernard pressed his lips together. People usually shut up when hit with facts.

The atmosphere in the room had long since soured. Director Bernard silently stared at me, and I hastily rose from my seat and moved toward the door.

“Let’s forget about the report. Goodbye, Director Bernard.”

He didn’t try to stop me as I left. Honestly, given how obsequious he had been, I expected him to grab my pant leg and beg me to stay, but he surprised me.

I wonder on what basis Colonel Clevins claimed the Inquisition does good work. It makes me suspicious.

I ignored the secret passage and took the elevator. I did this because I was a bit angry and worried I might trip going down the stairs. There were surveillance cameras inside, but I could delete the footage later. Or ask the Colonel to have it deleted.

-Ding!

As soon as the doors opened, I entered the elevator with my head bowed.

“Welcome.”

“Gah! You startled me.”

“What is the purpose of your visit?”

A priest greeted me with a bright smile. An elevator attendant? Come to think of it, I remembered that such jobs existed in this world. Calming my startled heart, I answered that I had come to file a report but was now leaving.

As soon as the doors closed, the priest pressed a button.

Not for the first floor, but for the top floor.

“Excuse me? Father? I was planning to exit the building.”

“…”

The priest didn’t answer. Sensing something strange about the situation, I fidgeted with the inside of my sleeve.

That’s when the priest spoke.

“Please don’t take out the knife in your sleeve.”

“…Who are you?”

There was no need to wait for the priest’s answer. The doors opened, revealing a massive office. A figure stood backlit by the window, gazing outside. The priest stepped out of the elevator, approached the desk, and bowed his head.

“Grand Inquisitor, I have brought Major Fredrik Nostrum.”

“…”

Now I understood the situation.

The Inquisition Office.

An agency that identifies and punishes heretics designated by the Church.

Related duties: Maintaining security and counterintelligence activities within Church territories.

Upon reflection, this was a counterintelligence agency.

A place that catches spies.

The backlit elderly man smiles faintly as he addresses me.

“What are you doing over there, Major?”

“…”

“Come here.”

Apparently, this had all been a surprise show.