Ch.253Episode 12 – The Strongest Mage in History

# The Heresy Inquisition. The Church’s only intelligence agency and an investigative body with a long history.

As the name suggests, the main enemy of the Heresy Inquisition is heresy.

However, if you were to ask, “Is heresy the only main enemy of the Heresy Inquisition today?” even the inquisitors themselves would tilt their heads in uncertainty.

The Church’s enemies aren’t limited to heretics alone.

Throughout thousands of years as the mainstream religion holding hegemony, the Church has accumulated many enemies, as extensive as its long history. In the past, it was wizards; now, it’s spies, terrorists, black magicians, other races, industrial spies…

But,

Since the creation of the world, through thousands of years, there remains one unchanging enemy of the Church.

## Episode 12 – The Most Powerful Magician in History

When I opened my eyes, the sun had already set.

The world outside the window was dark. A soft glow illuminated the room, perfect for sleeping.

The sensation of the blanket against my fingertips was vivid.

The soft fabric and comfortable bedding were so soothing that they made me forget even the pain, and somehow, the agony from my rotting flesh had subsided.

While absently surveying the room, I sensed someone beside me. Turning my head, I met Lucia’s blinking eyes.

She was looking at me with drowsy eyes, as if she had just woken up.

“Holy Maiden?”

“You’re awake.”

“…When did I fall asleep?”

“You closed your eyes about three hours ago.”

Lucia brushed her hair back with her hand. Her golden hair, as if molded from melted gold, flowed along her shoulders and collarbone following her touch.

After tidying her disheveled hair, she rose from the bed and headed toward the table.

Though she was wearing underwear, she was still half-naked, so I averted my gaze from Lucia and looked out the window.

Swish. I heard the sound of fabric brushing against skin. I kept my eyes fixed on the window.

Since sunset comes early in the north, it was difficult to gauge the exact time, but judging by the occasional voices from the street, it seemed curfew was still a while away.

However,

“……”

Several crows were perched on a branch in the cathedral courtyard.

While there are cultural differences, there’s no disagreement that crows symbolize bad omens.

Although I don’t believe in superstitions, the sight of five or six crows lined up on a branch staring at me was a bit…

Eerie.

“Are you alright?”

“…Ah.”

Lucia, now fully dressed, was looking at me with a concerned expression.

“It’s just…”

As I pointed to the crows outside, Lucia’s expression subtly changed. She strode past me to the window, looked outside, frowned, and then drew the curtains.

Swoosh!

With a somewhat irritable, seemingly angry manner, Lucia pulled the curtains and then turned around without hesitation to open the door.

Before leaving the room, with her hand on the doorknob, Lucia asked me a question.

“Can you move?”

“Ah, yes.”

“Follow me. We have somewhere to go.”

*

The place Lucia led me to was Archbishop Theodosius’s office.

Located in St. Basilius Cathedral, the tallest building in the city, and situated on the highest floor, the Archbishop’s office was more modest than I expected. It was hard to believe that the Church’s Archbishop resided here.

In this office overlooking the city, with the fragrant scent of burning logs and the scratching sound of a fountain pen.

The elderly cleric welcomed Lucia and me with a friendly demeanor.

“Welcome, Holy Maiden, and Brother.”

Archbishop Theodosius smiled gently, tilting his glasses.

Seeing him wear glasses that he normally doesn’t use, it seems his eyesight must be quite poor, to the point where he can’t read without them. The Archbishop’s desk was covered with documents and letter papers, filled with elegant handwriting in cursive.

Lucia exchanged brief greetings with the Archbishop, who had been her professor during her theological college days. Then she abruptly said:

“How did it go?”

“I sent word to the State Council at dawn, and received a reply around noon, Holy Maiden.”

Archbishop Theodosius handed her a letter.

Lucia immediately began reading it. The letter, written in elegant cursive, was quite lengthy, but compared to the scripture she usually carries under her arm, this was nothing.

The papal seal on the wax was clear. After quickly scanning the contents, Lucia frowned before even speaking.

“…They can’t send an exorcist priest? What is the meaning of this?”

“It’s as you’ve heard.”

“Is His Holiness unaware of the situation here?”

“The State Council is well aware of the northern situation. After all, the bodies of four heresy inquisitors have been delivered. However, there are no exorcist priests available to come north immediately, and those already in the north are finding it difficult to operate.”

Lucia and Archbishop Theodosius exchanged heated words.

From what I could gather, the papal office had refused to send support, and Lucia was objecting to the State Council’s decision.

The two continued their conversation in a calm atmosphere.

“As you know, Holy Maiden, exorcist priests are few in number. Even fewer than heresy inquisitors, who are already scarce.”

“But this involves demons.”

“They say they can’t be certain whether a demon is involved or someone is borrowing demonic power. Captain Peter insists that without specific information, he cannot dispatch exorcist priests.”

“Is fact-checking that important? People have died.”

“Because people have died, we need to be more certain. Don’t you know, Holy Maiden? There’s no one more dangerous than the first exorcist priest sent.”

“……”

Lucia bit her lip tightly and averted her gaze. She seemed to have something to say but found it difficult to express.

While Lucia remained silent, Archbishop Theodosius turned to me and asked about my well-being. Though we had exchanged eye contact upon entering, there hadn’t been time for greetings as he immediately engaged in conversation with Lucia.

The elderly cleric rose from his desk and walked over with heavy steps.

“Brother. How are you feeling?”

“Ah… yes. I’m a bit better now.”

“Hmm. May I check your condition briefly?”

I agreed, and Archbishop Theodosius carefully examined my wounds.

With eyes full of vitality between his sunken eye sockets, the elderly cleric examined my wounds, letting out a sigh-like groan and clicking his tongue softly.

“The wounds haven’t improved. It’s fortunate they haven’t worsened.”

“Um… Archbishop.”

“You seem curious about something. Feel free to speak, Brother.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t quite understand. What have you two been discussing?”

“Is that what you’re curious about? There’s no need to hide anything from you, the person directly involved. You could have asked more comfortably. Haha.”

With a good-natured laugh, the Archbishop walked toward a bookshelf in the corner of his office and posed an unexpected question.

“Brother. Do you believe in the existence of demons?”

“…Demons?”

“Ah, my question was a bit philosophical. Let me rephrase. How much do you know about demons?”

Demons. I briefly pondered what I knew about demons.

Always taking notes. Constantly losing jobs. Always applauding and giving standing ovations. Sometimes crying. Red-faced with horns on their head. The demon boss, Lucifer, runs a club in LA and is a major shareholder in a tobacco company. He even flipped off Constantine.

“……”

No matter how much I thought about it, these were the only images of demons that came to mind. Maybe I’ve watched too many dramas and movies.

“I don’t know much, Your Excellency.”

“That’s understandable.”

Archbishop Theodosius smiled faintly. He ran his fingers along the thick volumes on the bookshelf.

The bookshelf was filled with religious texts. They looked more like self-produced books rather than commercially available ones, seemingly bound by hand.

“Evil entities are called differently across regions and religions. Demons, devils, ifrits… In the Church, we generally refer to such beings as demons.”

While searching through the books, the elderly cleric suddenly began explaining his past.

“In my youth, I was an exorcist priest. I mainly worked to find demons inhabiting human bodies and expel them through exorcism rituals.”

“You were an exorcist priest, Your Excellency?”

“Don’t I look like one? Well, it’s been over ten years since I retired, so I suppose that’s understandable.”

Smiling as if he had made an amusing joke, Archbishop Theodosius pulled out several books with a childlike smile.

“The common people often call the main enemy of exorcist priests ‘demons,’ but in reality, the enemies exorcist priests face aren’t demons themselves. It’s the minions controlled by demons that we exorcist priests actually confront.”

“Minions… Do you mean demon-kind?”

“Demon-kind is just one type of minion.”

Thud. The Archbishop set down the heavy books with effort and exhaled a heavy sigh.

“In practice, exorcist priests most frequently deal with necromancers and demon contractors. Do you know what necromancers and demon contractors are, Brother?”

“I know about necromancers.”

Necromancers.

Also known as necromancers, they perfectly fit the concept of ‘black magicians.’

Necromancers resurrect the dead from their graves and control both their bodies and souls.

The necromancers of the Magic Tower also summon and communicate with the souls of the dead, sharing some commonalities with necromancers, but if you call a necromancer a “necromancer” to their face, they become extremely offended.

This is because necromancy is recognized as a formal school of magic, while necromantic arts aren’t even acknowledged as a legitimate field of study, but rather as dark arts. To be precise, necromantic arts are a form of black magic.

Honestly, from the perspective of someone not particularly interested in magic or from a religious standpoint, both seem to be doing similar things, both are fewer in number compared to other schools, and both exude a gloomy aura, making them appear not much different. But magicians affiliated with the necromancy school consider being compared to necromancers an insult equivalent to insulting their parents.

To practice necromantic arts, one must make a contract with a demon, but necromancy can be practiced without such things, making it supposedly more ethical and a more impressive field of study.

Despite being recognized as a formal school, considering that necromancers serving in the military were prominently featured on the Military Intelligence Bureau’s watchlist in Clevins’ office, I honestly don’t find it particularly impressive.

“Then you must also know the difference between necromancers and necromancers.”

“Yes.”

“The monk who harmed the heresy inquisitors and you is likely either a necromancer or a demon contractor. Personally, I suspect it’s someone connected to necromancy. But considering the use of divine power, it might also be a cleric possessed by a demon.”

“By demon contractor, do you mean what the Holy Maiden mentioned yesterday? Someone possessed by a demon?”

“That’s right. You remember well.”

Lucia, who had been sitting quietly listening, added that she remembered it well.

I looked back and forth between Lucia and Archbishop Theodosius, then asked them a question, indicating my lack of understanding.

“But why is the topic of exorcist priests suddenly coming up? I understand that the monk is suspected to be a necromancer or demon contractor…”

“You should know this well, Brother?”

Archbishop Theodosius pointed to my chest area.

“Your flesh is rotting away.”

“……”

“Demonic power cannot be easily explained by science, magic, or even the Church’s knowledge. It can instantly give a healthy person cancer, make them suddenly cough up blood, cause skin to rot… These are phenomena that exist but cannot be explained by medicine or healing arts.”

“Is it like a curse?”

“It could be seen that way. Since curses are closely related to sorcery, primitive sorcery can create phenomena similar to what you’re experiencing. Of course, scholars have differing opinions on how this is possible.”

Suddenly, I recalled an explanation about religious sorcery that Francesca had told me long ago.

Wasn’t there something about a child who got caught using sorcery and received knowledge from a monk?

“……”

Just as I was trying to organize the information that seemed about to surface, Lucia spoke to Archbishop Theodosius.

“By the way, I’m curious about something, Your Excellency. Have you found a way to heal the wounds?”

“It hasn’t even been a full day since we sent word, Holy Maiden. But the scholars and priests of the archives are searching through ancient texts for a solution.”

Lucia and the Archbishop engaged in a heated discussion about finding ways to heal my wounds and bringing in an exorcist priest.

“We need to call an exorcist before there are casualties.”

“I would like to do that too, but the opponent is dangerous enough to kill four heresy inquisitors in one strike. Even if we bring in exorcist priests now, there’s no guarantee they won’t be in danger as well.”

“What about asking the Imperial Magic Department for help?”

“The activities of the Heresy Inquisition are politically sensitive. In principle, exorcism rituals cannot be disclosed to outsiders. If the Magic Department gets involved, we would have to reveal the ritual, wouldn’t we? Beyond that… the Grand Duke of the North is a Grand Magician. The activities of exorcist priests could provoke the Grand Duke and potentially become a political issue.”

“But there are heresy inquisitors and holy knights here.”

“If not for the special circumstance of the demon-kind invasion, the Grand Duke would never have allowed the Heresy Inquisition to set foot in the North.”

Lucia and Theodosius faced off against each other. In truth, it was more of a constructive discussion than an argument.

However, Lucia’s expression remained unusually serious throughout. Always showing a positive demeanor, Lucia now engaged in conversation with the Archbishop with a rigid face.

“Are you saying there’s nothing we can do right now, Your Excellency?”

“…Regrettably, yes.”

“……”

Lucia stared at Archbishop Theodosius with an expressionless face. It was a cold gaze that seemed unbelievable coming from someone looking at a former mentor, and her tone had a strangely sharp edge.

The Archbishop tried to persuade Lucia in a gentle tone, as if soothing her. It resembled grandparents calming a grandchild.

In the end, it was Lucia who backed down.

“…If that’s the papal office’s decision, then there’s nothing to be done.”

“I appreciate your understanding, Holy Maiden.”

Archbishop Theodosius looked at Lucia once, then at me, before cautiously advising:

“The State Council has entrusted this case to Captain Peter. Instructions will be given to the heresy inquisitors as soon as the autopsy is complete. For now, please trust the head of the Heresy Inquisition and wait. I will send word to the exorcist priests. If they have no urgent matters, some will gladly come to the North.”

“I’ll leave it to you, Your Excellency.”

“In the meantime, what do you plan to do, Holy Maiden?”

“I…”

Lucia’s gaze shifted slightly to the side. She glanced at me from the corner of her eye and then said to Archbishop Theodosius:

“I plan to focus on tending to the injuries for now.”

“Would you do that?”

“Someone needs to continue the treatment at least until the holy relic that can heal the wounds arrives, don’t you think? I’ll do it.”

“……”

Archbishop Theodosius met Lucia’s gaze. The sunken eyes and blue irises intertwined in the air.

Various emotions crossed the elderly cleric’s face as he looked at Lucia. He seemed both sad and worried.

The Archbishop stared at Lucia silently for a long time, then lowered his head with a faint sigh.

“…I would be grateful if you would, Holy Maiden.”

“……”

“Just promise me you’ll be careful.”

He bowed to Lucia.

Even after a considerable time had passed, the Archbishop showed no intention of raising his head.

How much time had passed? Finally, the Archbishop who had been bowing his head for a while completed his greeting. Raising his head, he turned his gaze to the side and stared at me.

Then he conveyed an ambiguous message whose meaning I couldn’t understand.

“I entrust the Holy Maiden to you.”

Though I couldn’t grasp the meaning, I replied that I would do so.

The Archbishop nodded heavily, and Lucia led me out of the office.

*

I’m not sure what’s going on, but things don’t seem to be going as planned.

The monk suspected of heresy turns out to be either possessed by a demon or a black magician practicing necromancy. This monster, who can chew through bullets, killed four heresy inquisitors, and I was severely injured by him.

Archbishop Theodosius delivered the bodies to the Church and requested support from the papal office. However, Peter, the head of the Heresy Inquisition, firmly refused to dispatch exorcist priests without concrete information.

I don’t understand how things are unfolding. I was suffering in pain, and when I woke up, everything had progressed rapidly.

I first contacted the embassy.

I called Pippin and Jake to send a brief report to the embassy, which was then forwarded to the Military Intelligence Bureau. Now the bureau will mobilize their informants within the Church to gather internal information, which will then be relayed to me.

After finishing that, I intended to find Priestess Rebecca.

But Priestess Rebecca was receiving treatment in the infirmary, possibly injured. Seeing the healing priests in sanitary clothing, her injuries must be quite serious. In the end, I had to turn back without meeting her.

Although I couldn’t get information from Priestess Rebecca, there was still plenty to do.

First, I needed to check through Francesca if there was any intelligence from Hormoz, and confirm if the Magic Tower’s personnel could track the culprit.

I had memorized the monk’s appearance, so I needed to check if he was on Camilla’s list of apostates and missing persons. I’m not entirely sure, but since he clearly wielded divine power, there might be clues there.

I lay in bed making various plans.

But before I could put those plans into action, I encountered an obstacle.

“…Wait, what did you say?”

Lucia said:

“Guide me.”

“…Pardon?”

“No one knows the way to the village. All the heresy inquisitors are bedridden. I’ll help prevent your wounds from worsening, so please guide us by the quickest route. We need to go as soon as possible.”

I looked at Lucia with an incredulous expression.

Suddenly asking a patient to guide her through the cold winter day. Is today April Fool’s Day or something?

But Lucia’s expression was deadly serious. She put on a thick fur coat, recited a prayer, and then practically pushed me toward the side door of the cathedral.

“Wait, where are we going?”

“To the village where the monk was encountered.”

“Why are we suddenly going there?”

“Why? What do you mean why?”

Lucia answered:

“We need to find the monk.”