Ch.12Episode 2 – Heroes of the Continent

## A Mansion in the Heart of the Church

I surveyed the vast mansion from its garden. A well-groomed elderly man greeted me with a bright smile and a respectful bow, which I received with an impassive expression.

“It is an honor to meet a companion of the Hero. I am Cardinal Raoul.”

Cardinal Raoul.

The man who received the oracle from the Pope and personally delivered the letter to the kingdom. The author of the Cardinal’s letter in the game.

This elderly man was the owner of this vast mansion, and…

“It is an honor to meet you, Your Eminence Cardinal Raoul. I am Major Frederick Nostrum.”

…the person who would appear as the Pope in the middle of the game.

## Episode 2 – Heroes of the Continent

Cardinal Raoul.

A friendly named NPC appearing in “Heroes of the Dark World.”

The author and deliverer of the Cardinal’s letter. A fervent supporter of Priestess Lucia.

And the person who becomes Pope in the middle of the game.

That’s who Cardinal Raoul was in the game.

And according to the “Report on the Tendencies and Movements of High-Ranking Church Officials” that I saw at the Intelligence Bureau, he is described as “a very gentle, devout, and honest person.”

He doesn’t have the scandalous private life that religious figures might have, and naturally, he has no wife, lover, or illegitimate children. On the surface, he appears to be a devout cardinal who faithfully follows his vows.

Of course, considering that he owns a mansion large enough to be called an estate, I had some doubts about the “honest person” assessment. But for a character in a dark fantasy, this was relatively minor.

“How long have you been staying here, Your Eminence?”

“My father built this place himself. I was born and raised here.”

The elderly man smiled as he told me he had lived here his entire life. I matched his pace as I listened to the Cardinal’s continuing explanation.

“This is where I keep the art pieces I’ve personally collected. All purchased at charity events.”

“Impressive. It’s like having your own museum. Do you just keep these paintings here?”

“Occasionally, I open the mansion to the public for an entrance fee and donate the proceeds to the monastery.”

Cardinal Raoul proudly showed me around his mansion. From the garden to the gallery, his grand explanations seemed endless. I could feel his love for this mansion in his attitude and tone.

After touring the entire mansion, the Cardinal guided me to the reception room. Though he didn’t say it explicitly, I had a feeling that Priestess Lucia would be waiting there.

“Shall we go in?”

“Excuse me.”

I entered the reception room through the door the Cardinal held open. The first things that caught my eye were the luxurious furniture and tableware, and then a blonde, blue-eyed woman standing by the window, looking at me.

She slightly bowed her head and spoke.

“I am Lucia, a priestess of the Church.”

*

To be honest, while I knew a lot about Lucia as a character, I only had fragmentary knowledge about Lucia as a person.

I knew that she had served as a healing priestess in the Empire-Demon Realm border region, that she had come of age this year, and that she had been chosen as the Hero’s companion and nominated as a candidate for sainthood. That was about it.

So our first conversation was rather casual.

“I hear you’ve taken an interest in reading lately?”

“Yes. Since I can’t go out, my hobbies have become more limited.”

I didn’t ask why she couldn’t go out. With journalists camped outside the mansion, how could she?

“What were your hobbies before?”

“Physical activities like horseback riding.”

My conversation with Lucia was quite pleasant. Her attitude was confident, and she spoke without hesitation.

Perhaps it was because she didn’t mumble or stutter, but I felt we communicated well. However, there was one moment when her confident demeanor faltered—when Cardinal Raoul opened his mouth.

“Priestess Lucia, while I understand your enjoyment of exercise, engaging in such intense activities that result in injury is not advisable.”

“…I understand, Your Eminence.”

After admonishing Lucia, Cardinal Raoul turned to me with a slight smile.

I know that according to doctrine, unmarried men and women shouldn’t be alone together, but there was something unsettling about Cardinal Raoul’s attitude. It was, how should I put it, too controlling.

Honestly, putting doctrine and etiquette aside, watching someone being reprimanded in front of others made me feel uncomfortable.

I thought about the elderly men I had met at the Church.

Cardinal Raphael, who burned thousands of people alive and walked around with a smirk.

Inquisitor Pedro, who summoned people on a whim and toyed with them.

Cardinal Raoul, who deliberately reprimanded others in public.

“…”

Why do I keep getting involved with such people?

I mean, aren’t there any kind and virtuous elderly men around? Oh right, this is a dark fantasy world. I’m the idiot for expecting decent people here.

As I was merely wetting my lips with tea to maintain my impassive expression, Cardinal Raoul posed a question to me.

“By the way, I’m curious about why you requested this sudden meeting.”

I had anticipated this question and had a prepared answer.

“I would like to express my regret for the intrusion. According to the original schedule, the Hero should have been present as well, but due to an unfortunate incident, she is currently recuperating. That’s why I came alone.”

I was indirectly saying that I was personally making rounds to cover for the schedule disruption caused by the bomb that exploded in their territory.

A cardinal of the Church is someone accustomed to politics. Cardinal Raoul would certainly understand the meaning behind my words.

“That’s regrettable. Are the Hero and you alright?”

A quick mental calculation told me that depending on my answer, there was a high possibility of discussing either the resumption of official schedules or the Hero’s whereabouts.

From the Church’s perspective, they would want Camilla Rowell to either attend external events or stay at a location they provided, since she was currently holed up in the embassy.

But this was beyond my authority.

I had no authority to adjust her schedule or change her accommodation. Of course, I could resolve everything with one phone call to the Colonel, but there was no reason to take risks and do the Church any favors.

So I gave a strictly principled answer.

“Fortunately, none of our party was injured. I understand the Church’s concern about the Hero’s whereabouts after this incident. However, given that the terror suspect has not been caught and considering the possibility of another attack, I believe it would be inappropriate for her to attend external events at this time.”

We nearly died from a bomb blast, and now you’re playing games with me?

That was the implied message in my words. The Cardinal cleanly acknowledged it and backed down.

“I understand.”

Saying he suddenly remembered something to do, Cardinal Raoul hastily left. Priestess Lucia and I sat across from each other at the reception room table, silently exchanging glances.

I was the first to break the quiet silence.

“You look tired. Would you like to take a walk?”

“…Yes, let’s.”

*

In truth, this meeting itself didn’t have much significance.

It was more like reconnaissance to see how Lucia was living. I was also concerned after the terrorist attack. So we just exchanged trivial small talk about recent happenings before returning.

Of course, the meeting wasn’t entirely meaningless. What matters is not the messenger but the message.

What reaction would there be if a companion of the world’s most watched person took a walk with the Church’s candidate for sainthood?

-“Have you seen the article?”

“Yes, I’m looking at it now.”

I skimmed through the newspaper as I answered.

<Major Frederick Nostrum Visits Saint Candidate Lucia.>

<Unexpected Meeting: What Was Discussed?>

<A Meeting Conscious of Conspiracy Theories? Cardinal Raoul: “Just a Normal Meeting…”>

<Another Terror Threat: Is the Saint Candidate Safe?>

<Inquisition Announces Increased Security for Saint Candidate… Anticipating Terrorism?>

<Priest and Soldier: Secret Garden Meeting Captured.>

The last one was more like kindling for gossip. I didn’t bother reading its content.

“Meeting like this has definitely reduced the negative public opinion.”

-“Unless they want to antagonize the kingdom, there’s no reason to attack the saint candidate with conspiracy theories now. It should quiet down for a while.”

A soldier highly publicized by the kingdom met with a priestess plagued by conspiracy theories.

This fact alone visibly reduced the slander.

No matter how money-obsessed the bishops might be, they couldn’t attack someone being treated as an honored guest. Especially since I also held diplomatic status.

Attacking Lucia now would obviously harm me too, so everyone was backing off. And they actually were.

Moreover, public opinion was ablaze with the fact that a victim of terrorism had visited the saint candidate.

-“But isn’t it too dangerous? The terrorist hasn’t been caught yet. What if a bomb gets delivered to the saint candidate?”

“Well…”

The terrorist hasn’t been caught yet. In such a situation, a potential target of the terrorist visits the saint candidate?

If I was the terrorist’s target, then Priestess Lucia could now also become a target. The terrorist could strike while Lucia and I are meeting.

Of course, I wasn’t some madman who didn’t care what happened to Lucia.

“But now that the Holy Knights are protecting Priestess Lucia, isn’t it all’s well that ends well?”

-“That’s a results-oriented perspective.”

The original goal was to get the Inquisition to protect her.

By tying Inquisition personnel to Priestess Lucia, we consume their manpower and administrative resources,

-“You said it was done with Veronica the Saint in mind?”

“Yes.”

And it was to prevent any possible assassination attempt on the saint candidate.

This was to check Veronica the Saint.

When the Hero and a Cardinal suffered a bomb attack, what guarantee was there that Priestess Lucia would be safe? Currently, the Intelligence Bureau suspects either the Empire or someone from the Church as being behind the terrorism.

And Veronica the Saint, who is connected to both sides, is the most likely suspect.

Of course, there’s a possibility that Veronica the Saint is not the terrorist, but that doesn’t guarantee she won’t harm Priestess Lucia.

After all, in the game, it was Veronica the Saint who sent assassins after Lucia.

Anyway, I visited with the purpose of providing security personnel for Priestess Lucia, quelling conspiracy theories, and incidentally weakening the Inquisition’s power.

-“By the way, your proposal worked surprisingly well.”

And all of this was my suggestion to the Colonel.

“I learned by watching you, Colonel.”

-“I’ll take that as a compliment. Thanks to you, the friends analyzing information are happy that there are fewer variables in the election analysis.”

“If they’re grateful, tell them to buy me a meal sometime. It’s strange how seniors never treat their juniors to meals.”

-“With today’s prices, who can afford to eat out? Especially with trade routes to the Empire blocked and international trade struggling.”

Leaving behind the Colonel’s voice lamenting about raw material exports and imports and international trade difficulties, I began reporting on today’s events.

“After contact with Cardinal Raoul, I observed that he exercises excessive control over Priestess Lucia.”

-“Did the Cardinal manhandle someone in front of you?”

“He reprimanded her several times with me sitting right there. Considering that Priestess Lucia is already an adult and acts naturally without concern for others’ gazes, I think it’s a kind of habit.”

-“So it wasn’t like a parent scolding a child, you’re saying. How did the saint candidate react?”

“She appeared somewhat intimidated. Considering that the priestess consistently showed confident speech and behavior, it seems she doesn’t have a close relationship with Cardinal Raoul.”

The Colonel let out a brief sigh.

-“According to a report written five years ago, he’s described as having a gentle personality. It seems the report doesn’t match Cardinal Raoul’s actual demeanor.”

“Who wrote that report?”

-“A permanent agent in the Church. He was an instructor when I was in training.”

That means he’s a veteran.

To analyze and report on someone of a cardinal’s stature in detail, the spy the Colonel mentioned must be an elite agent who has been active in the Church for at least several decades.

If he’s still writing reports recently, he must still be active, probably infiltrated into the core of the Church.

A high-ranking position with access to Church officials, the leisure to transmit information without being caught by counterintelligence agencies, and at least 20 years of activity.

He’s a legend I can’t even compare to.

-“We need to reinvestigate Cardinal Raoul. I’ll handle this part, so you focus on matters related to the Hero.”

“Yes.”

Oh, right.

“Colonel, I sent you the materials I received from the Inquisition yesterday dawn. Have you received the report?”

-“I’m reading the report now. It seems more useful than expected.”

I could hear the sound of paper turning through the communication device.

-“The explosive used was mining-grade, but looking at its structure, it seems like it was made by people who don’t know much about bombs.”

“It seems certain that the terrorist doesn’t have specialized knowledge of explosives. Just looking at the bomb alone, I don’t think it’s the work of the Imperial Guard.”

-“If it had been their bomb, the entire street would have been blown away.”

The Colonel and I discussed who might be behind the terrorism for a while.

However, our inferences remained just that, and as the conversation was wrapping up, I revealed the source of the document.

“By the way, I received that report directly from the Inquisitor General.”

-“What? How did you end up meeting that person?”

The Colonel seemed quite surprised. He was shocked by the fact that I had a private meeting with the head of a counterintelligence agency.

-“…You seem to have more courage than I thought.”

“To survive in the field, you need courage, right?”

-“True. Just keep doing what you’re doing.”

*

After wrapping up the call, I entered the embassy.

I exchanged greetings with passing embassy staff, discussed future schedules with the ambassador, and skimmed through reports delivered by undercover agents. Before I knew it, it was evening.

“Aren’t you guys going to eat?”

I went to check on Pippin and Jake and found them rolling around on the bed with crumbs of snacks. It was almost dinner time, but they were filling their stomachs with snacks.

Jake patted his full belly and spouted nonsense.

“I’m full-full.”

“Bullshit.”

I took off my military coat and hung it on a chair, then settled by the window. I wanted to dive into bed because I was tired, but thanks to the mess the two had made of the bed, I couldn’t bring myself to do so.

“While the Major is out working, these guys are consuming food at the embassy. Is this what they call salary theft or whatever?”

“You’re the one who put us on standby, Major.”

“…Right, it’s all my karma.”

Jake rolled around as usual, looking annoying.

“Your blonde hair stands out too much. Wouldn’t it be better to dye it?”

“It’s convenient for disguising as a foreigner. Maybe not in the kingdom, but in the Church or Empire where races are mixed, it doesn’t particularly stand out.”

“I suppose. With all the pilgrims coming. By the way, Pippin, what are you doing there?”

“…Collecting information.”

Pippin crawled across the mattress and handed me a stack of papers. It was a newspaper.

“I’m collecting public information. This is a column analyzing terrorist incidents within the Church in recent years.”

“Hmm. This is the first bomb attack? And no group has been identified as being behind it.”

I looked at the neat charts and timelines while listening to Pippin.

“There are many secret societies and subversive groups that commit terrorism, but none of them are related to the Church. As you can see, most religious reform groups are moderate, right?”

Hmm.

“So it’s the work of an external force with no special connection to the Church?”

“There’s also the possibility that an insider who wanted to assassinate Cardinal Raphael instigated the terrorism.”

“What kind of person is that Cardinal? When I read the analysis report, he didn’t seem particularly problematic?”

“He was the Inquisitor General, so you never know. It could be revenge based on a grudge, or it could be a political operation to exclude him from the papal election.”

I knew that Cardinal Raphael was the former Inquisitor General from what the Colonel told me. But papal election?

“Who are the cardinals being mentioned as candidates for the next Pope?”

“Cardinal Raphael was the sole candidate, but recently Cardinal Raoul has rapidly emerged as a papal candidate. He has good public opinion, you know.”

In the Church, only bishops have the right to vote for the selection of saints, but for the papal election, anyone recognized as an official believer has the right to vote.

It’s a bit confusing, but it’s because a Pope with immense power in the past revised the law and fixed it, so it hasn’t changed until now.

Of course, this method allows other countries or powerful nobles to interfere in the papal election process, but thanks to several safeguards, easy interference is impossible.

What’s important is that the voting rights belong to the believers.

“Cardinal Raoul’s support increased because he defended the saint candidate who was suffering from slander?”

“Wouldn’t it be good to blow away a competitor for the papal position with one bomb?”

It’s a pretty good speculation. But Pippin’s logic was weak.

“If you become Pope by setting off a bomb, people would be suspicious. And it wasn’t just Raphael there; Camilla Rowell and we were there too.”

“…”

“It’s hard to believe that someone who came all the way to the kingdom to inform the Hero about the oracle’s content, and who personally stood up to support and protect the saint candidate, would make such a choice. You know that too, right?”

Pippin nodded.

Above all, Cardinal Raoul doesn’t have a strong motive to carry out a bomb attack. No matter how much he covets the papal position, if the Hero dies in a bomb attack, it’s impossible to recover from that.

The fact that a bomb was detonated in the middle of the street suggests that it was more likely an attack targeting both Cardinal Raphael and Camilla Rowell, rather than just one of them. Or it could mean they were targeting someone else.

“Pippin, how much sleep have you had?”

“…About four hours, I think.”

“Just go to sleep. Your brain doesn’t work if you don’t sleep. Just sleep now.”

I pushed her head down onto the bed.

It’s hard to return to normal just a few days after seeing a bomb explode right in front of you. Especially if you lost your parents to terrorism, you’d have trauma.

Jake silently brought a pillow to support her head, and I examined the newspaper to see if there was any useful information.

In the room that had fallen into silence, only the sound of turning pages could be heard.

“Excuse me…”

“Hero?”

“Yes, it’s me. …Oh, Major, you’re here too?”

Camilla Rowell opened the door and entered. She was holding a piece of paper in her hand.

“What’s the matter?”

“Um, the Kiyen Empire Embassy? Some empire embassy sent this, please read it.”

Kiyen Empire?

Why would they send an official document after staying silent for so long after the terrorist attack? I took the document she handed me and quickly read through it.

“What does it say?”

“…A party.”

“Pardon?”

“They’re inviting us to a party.”

It was a party invitation.