Ch.209Heretic Inquisitor (1)

The bizarre end of that doppelganger, which had appeared strange in many ways.

Just when I thought it was transforming into me, it suddenly vanished into thin air as if being devoured by something, disappearing in a grotesque manner. My shock at this bizarre sight was short-lived.

“….It’s dead. The soul… was dragged away somewhere.”

“Thank you, Charlotte.”

After understanding the situation by having a soul magic user examine its flesh, we quickly moved to handle the aftermath of this incident.

And naturally, the first thing we needed to do was comfort Gretel—the greatest victim of this incident who must have suffered tremendous mental anguish.

“I… I was scared.”

“…Are you okay?”

“…I am when I’m like this.”

Lying together on the bed with Gretel held tightly in my arms, her trembling body gradually calmed down, and she burrowed even deeper into my embrace.

Considering that she suffers from what goes beyond mere shyness—a kind of personality curse that remains—I think she’ll need more intensive care for a while.

Anyway, after managing to calm down the shivering Gretel while hopefully leaving a good impression, I now needed to call in an expert to solve another problem.

“Hello, is this the Inquisition Office? I’m calling to report a doppelganger sighting.”

Using the direct communication device I received when appointed as an honorary priest, I informed them about the doppelganger’s appearance and that it had been eliminated.

[…Yes. An agent will be dispatched immediately.]

The weary voice on the other end conveyed this message, allowing me to calm my mind and happily collect the “spoils.”

First, the spiritual spoils—or to put it bluntly, the genes obtained from defeating the creature—came into my possession, perhaps because I was considered to have killed it, though I’m not entirely sure what happened.

However… even though I obtained these spoils, whether I should absorb these genes is another question entirely.

Especially since doppelgangers are notorious as vanguards of the Outer God “Creeping Chaos,” one of the unholy trinity. Because of this, most doppelganger genes are tainted with the malevolence of the Outer God.

“Memory Resonance,” which is almost invincible in information warfare, and “Mutable Body,” which can imitate and transform physical forms at will.

Even though the transformation ability was fragmented into separate genes, each piece was quite valuable. Unfortunately, most of the genes were useless due to being tainted with the Outer God’s energy, even in their fragmented state…

Very fortunately, one intact gene remained.

“Master of Mimicry.” This experience-type gene, likely formed from the doppelganger’s lifetime of transformation experiences, is literally the experience of imitating others.

Of course, this is just called an experience-type gene, but it would normally be considered a very peculiar gene that one would choose only when there are no other options…

Fortunately, I possess several elements that can bring out the full potential of this gene.

For an ordinary person, it would merely improve acting skills and observational abilities, but I’ve been focusing on copying others’ techniques based on the power of the “Sword Demon” gene.

To put it plainly, this means I can now use techniques commonly depicted in martial arts works—observing others’ techniques, copying them, or even improving upon them—fulfilling one of my bucket list items.

Meanwhile, the benefits—the spoils—obtained this time weren’t limited to the spiritual realm.

To be frank, the doppelganger was killed by some variable and most of its body was “eaten,” but there were still a few things left behind.

While flesh samples and clothing must be classified as “evidence” to be submitted to the Inquisition Office and thus can’t be touched carelessly, there was also a tool that appeared to be a magical device used by this creature…

An “Creeping Chaos” related polyhedral magical tool—anyone with even a little knowledge in this field would recognize what this combination means.

This tetrahedron is most likely a degraded copy or replica of the famous “Shining Irregular Polyhedron,” a magical tool.

In fact, the method the doppelganger used to transform recently involved this magical tool somehow, and it seems to be an extremely powerful device…

‘…Don’t horror movies usually start with someone messing with something like this?’

While the various functions it contains are very tempting, as I suspected, I can’t bring myself to touch it knowing it’s highly likely connected to an Outer God.

If I give in to temptation and tamper with it, it could become a seed of disaster, or worse, someone could be brainwashed by it and cause havoc.

To be honest, this polyhedron’s infinite (negative) possibilities are precisely why I contacted the Inquisition Office.

Even though it’s currently colorless and powerless, who knows when it might become a seed of disaster again.

※ ※ ※

After the incident was resolved, I spent some time handling paperwork regarding bringing new immigrants to the village.

If not for this incident, the new resident transfer project would have already begun, so it’s no big deal to quickly calculate planting times and adjust the retreat schedule.

So while I was immersed in paperwork and keeping the unidentified polyhedron thoroughly soaked in holy water…

“Greetings.”

“…Greetings to you as well, Inquisitor.”

Finally, the Inquisitor I had summoned appeared in the village.

Inquisitors. Selected and managed directly by the Pantheon and the high heavens to root out cultists, each one is armed with overwhelming authority that represents the rights of heaven.

They are fanatics who have sworn to dedicate their lives solely to hunting heretics and have actually devoted everything to it. They are considered the embodiment and limbs of divine will—frankly speaking, the Pantheon’s greatest zealots.

They wield the overwhelming power of “God’s will” to strike down cultists hidden in every layer of society, and they are better than anyone else in this world at detecting and eliminating them.

…However, in order to face those vicious cultists, they themselves have become monsters.

A religious inspection agency that would attempt to behead anyone suspected of being a cultist regardless of their social position—be they royalty or nobility—and that cannot be controlled even by the Unified Pope of the Pantheon without the common will of the Pantheon.

And their extremist tendencies reside in a realm too deep to be expressed in mere words.

Radical Inquisitors who burn first and ask questions later if there’s even a slight connection to heresy, and moderate Inquisitors who at least execute simple collaborators by beheading.

The fact that the difference between the two factions isn’t whether to kill or not, but how to kill, demonstrates the extremism of these Inquisitors.

Anyway, while I was trying to maintain my composure despite my pounding heart in the presence of such an Inquisitor…

“Lord Alzar.”

“…What is it?”

When he spoke in a deep, resonant voice, dressed in truly gothic attire that could appear in some Bloodborne-like setting, I couldn’t hide my tension as I replied with a trembling voice…

“A message from Those Above in the heavens.”

‘…What?!’

Startled by this unexpected statement, I raised my head.

From the Inquisitor’s low voice, which seemed unable to hide his excitement, I finally realized that his stoic demeanor was meant to conceal his elation.

“They commend your resistance to temptation and bestow upon you this bracelet engraved with a protective charm.”

“…This is.”

“Yes, ceremonial equipment of the Inquisitors. A charm that enhances resistance and immunity to ‘corruption.'”

As if to show that he wore one himself, the Inquisitor raised his hand to reveal his wrist, then very respectfully handed it to me…

“…Feel free to rely on the Inquisition Office whenever necessary.”

With these unexpectedly kind words that I never imagined would come from an Inquisitor’s mouth, he began leading his attendants into the village.