Ch.53Report on the Downfall of Humility (1)

    Nicopolis, meaning “City of Victory,” is an imperial direct-rule city located in the southwestern region near the western desert. This glorious name was given to commemorate the conquest of this former western pagan holy site by the combined forces of the Empire and the Southern Kingdom during the Third Crusade.

    Regrettably, most imperial citizens, even public officials, still refer to this place by its old name, “Emmaus.” This appears not only in daily conversations but occasionally in official documents as well, which should be recognized as not merely incorrect but an act that disgraces the Empire.

    First and foremost, the word “Emmaus” itself is blasphemous, originating from the western pagan language. In that primitive and vulgar tongue, it means “warm spring” or “clear water.” The name was given because water flows in Nicopolis.

    The southwestern region of the Empire has a dry climate with little rainfall, and groundwater is scarce, making it difficult to dig wells.

    However, Nicopolis has not only wells but also a spring the size of a small lake where groundwater emerges. There are hot springs with warm water and even springs of natural carbonated water, which can be considered a divine blessing.

    (Footnote: Imperial decree absolutely prohibits the distribution of carbonated water outside Nicopolis. This measure is intended to stimulate the local economy.)

    Even the most ignorant and dull-witted pagans understand the value of water. For them, “Emmaus” was a holy site and a center of transportation and commerce.

    The fact that some people still cling to the old name even after 30 years of conquest demonstrates how significant this city is to both the Empire and western pagans, while simultaneously highlighting the Empire’s brilliant achievement in conquering this great city.

    Therefore, any person of proper judgment should use “Nicopolis,” the “expression of victors,” rather than “Emmaus,” the “expression of the defeated.”

    – Excerpt (draft) from the “Incorrectly Used Place Names in Imperial Official Documents and Their Correct Forms,” entry “Emmaus→Nicopolis,” edited by the Imperial Treasury.

    – Warning: This publication is valuable property of the Empire and the Treasury; unauthorized use, citation, mention, reproduction, sharing, copying, reprocessing, redistribution, or re-citation without paying the appropriate usage fee is strictly prohibited. Each imperial official must “purchase at the proper price” one copy per person.

    * * * * *

    For three hours inside the carriage, Maria, dressed in a nun’s habit, stared intently at Kain.

    It wasn’t that she was pretending to be distracted or looking elsewhere—it was literal observation. Her concentration was similar to that of a painter studying a landscape before painting it.

    “I think you’ve looked long enough by now.”

    Kain pointed out politely, but Maria showed no sign of having heard him.

    “I just don’t understand. What could possibly be so appealing that you lose your mind just by looking at him?”

    The second comment was clearly directed at Liliana. She responded with an expressionless face, as if exchanging sword strikes.

    “It’s better that you don’t know.”

    “Why?”

    “Because once you know, you can’t help but like it.”

    Liliana spoke as if stating the obvious. Maria was momentarily at a loss for words, and Kain seriously considered going outside to sit with the coachman.

    “…Hey. I’m sorry. It was my fault.”

    Despite her words, Maria clearly looked displeased. Liliana had changed since the incident at Masada. She openly followed Kain around and became anxious whenever he was out of sight. Maria described it as being like a mother who had left her child by the water’s edge, and Kain couldn’t find any words to refute that.

    The Shadow draws out the images a person fears. These range from things they want to avoid, ignore, or forget, to things they find repulsive.

    As darkness deepens, the Shadow reveals more intense images. Kain had indirectly asked what she had seen that night, but Liliana only trembled and drew closer to him, unable to even speak of it.

    These were typical symptoms shown by agents who had experienced something terrible. Kain recognized these signs of anxiety from numerous case studies.

    Though it was said that every agent experiences this at least once, Kain thought it had come unusually early for Liliana. If she were still a trainee, it would be reasonable to order immediate rest and stability.

    But Liliana was now an official agent. Even though Kain’s action bordered on overstepping his authority, he had already submitted the report, making it a fait accompli. Now, whether he liked it or not, only Grandfather Verneith had the authority to issue a leave of absence to Liliana.

    Knock, knock.

    The coachman knocked on the compartment.

    “Kain. Once we turn that corner, we’ll be at Emmaus. If you want to get off, we should do it here.”

    While Emmaus wasn’t exactly the Empire’s frontline, it was the most important supply base and logistics warehouse in the southwestern border region, as well as a major city with many civilians.

    Pagan caravans or imperial merchants wishing to cross the border region had to undergo thorough searches and cargo inspections at both the border and Emmaus. Even the imperial mail coach was no exception.

    That’s why the three of them had decided to disembark at a suitable location before entering Emmaus. The modified mail coach with only the coachman would pass through customs without issue and properly arrive at the Security Bureau branch disguised as a post office.

    Instead, Kain and Liliana would operate as “secret investigators” employed by Maria, the Inquisitor. This utilized the Inquisitor’s immunity privileges and confidentiality authority.

    Inquisitors operate in secret as a principle. If they were to move around openly, heretics and pagans would know in advance and flee.

    Therefore, Maria could briefly show her Inquisitor’s ring and the miracle of sacred fire, then threaten, “If rumors spread that an Inquisitor has come to the city and heretics escape, you guards will also be judged as accomplices.”

    The three gathered the luggage that had been prepared for them. Since they had sent the report on the Fall of Chastity and the obscene diaries volumes 1 and 2 to Anna, Kain’s backpack was quite light. Of course, diary volume 3 was still inside.

    The carriage departed, and the group set off on the road. The southern highway wasn’t used exclusively by carriages. Travelers on foot could be seen quite frequently. Most were pilgrims trying to retrace the journey of Magdeburg and the Third Crusade.

    Kain was even using a walking stick, and Maria was wearing a nun’s habit, so they appeared to be ordinary pilgrims. The disguise was perfect, and there should have been nothing to worry about.

    However, the group was caught at the checkpoint, quite conspicuously.

    * * * * *

    As expected, carriages were lined up at the checkpoint. Imperial soldiers and Emmaus officials were busily moving about, inspecting cargo.

    But it was unexpected that the Holy Grail Knights had set up a separate checkpoint. Even when told they had already passed through the imperial checkpoint, they remained unmoved. They didn’t even explain why. They simply ignored complaints.

    “Hey. Security Bureau agents. Do you know anything about this?” Maria whispered in their ears, considerably perplexed. But neither Kain nor Liliana had heard anything about it. Even the coachman seemed very surprised.

    The fact that a “coachman from the Security Bureau’s Southern Branch” was surprised could be evidence that something had happened in the city either yesterday or this morning. Otherwise, such an urgent change wouldn’t have occurred.

    They passed through the imperial military checkpoint without much difficulty. Behind the guard post, Maria snapped her fingers to create sacred fire at her fingertips and showed her Inquisitor’s seal.

    The guard captain, who seemed to have experienced such things several times before, readily let them pass after receiving both a request for confidential cooperation and a threat.

    But when asked what had happened that the Holy Grail Knights were conducting searches, he showed reluctance. He made excuses that it would be better to hear directly from them than to rely on his poor speaking skills to avoid misunderstandings. Since other people were also waiting in line, Maria decided to let it go for now.

    And after a long wait, during which her face turned red and pale several times, Maria and her companions finally reached the Holy Grail Knights’ checkpoint.

    Male and female knights with shaved heads worked in pairs, searching people’s bodies and luggage. There were various travelers from those on foot to expensive merchants, but the knights showed no favoritism. They intimidated and bullied civilians.

    “Look at those guys?”

    Maria removed her ring and put it in her pocket. Kain looked at Maria with bewilderment.

    “Why did you do that?”

    “Just watch what they do to me.” Maria, in her nun’s habit, growled.

    Finally, it was the group’s turn. A weasel-faced young man, barely an adult with no beard, looked them up and down.

    “A nun.”

    Maria forced a smile. She seemed to be suppressing her anger.

    “Go to that tent over there and take off your outer garments.”

    “I find that difficult to understand, Sir Knight.”

    Maria answered politely. To Kain, it sounded like a cat purring before a mouse. The weasel-faced knight shoved Maria hard.

    “I said go.”

    Kain had to suppress a laugh. Maria did indeed lean her body sharply as if she had been pushed hard, but she had actually tilted herself backward like a reed before the knight even touched her.

    “No. You need to explain. I have never encountered a case where the knightly order conducts such searches…”

    “Oh, for fuck’s sake! Get lost!”

    The fellow tried to push Maria again, even spraying spittle. Kain intervened. The knight pushed Kain’s chest with his gauntleted hand as if to say, “Who are you?” But Kain didn’t budge an inch.

    “Is it the Holy Grail Knights’ standard procedure to curse at nuns?”

    “You bastard…”

    “Hey! What’s going on there!”

    From behind, a man with short hair and a long scar on his face approached. With thick eyebrows that protruded prominently and vertical lines between his brows, he looked like someone with a quick temper. The weasel-faced knight briefly grimaced, confirming this impression.

    “Didn’t I tell you to just move on to the next person if someone doesn’t comply? You people cannot pass, so come back tomorrow. Next!”

    “Just a moment. You need to provide an explanation that makes sense.”

    Liliana politely objected, unable to stand by any longer. The scarred man frowned intensely.

    “What does a wandering vagrant need to know for! It’s nothing good for you to know.”

    Ping.

    Something glittering flew from Maria’s hand in a parabolic arc toward the man. The motion was slow, high-arced, and dramatic, allowing the scarred man to catch it without difficulty.

    “How dare you throw such trash…”

    The scarred knight’s face turned deathly pale as he slowly examined the Inquisitor’s seal ring.

    “Hey.”

    Maria scratched the back of her head.

    “Bring me the highest-ranking bastard.”

    * * * * *

    Kübler, a female knight in her mid-to-late thirties and the detachment commander, was visibly anxious. “Well, you see, Inquisitor…”

    She glared at her subordinates with resentful eyes. The weasel-faced man and the scarred knight were doing push-ups on the command tent floor with their packs still on their backs, so they couldn’t see how angry the detachment commander was.

    “I’m disappointed, Detachment Commander. Has the Holy Grail Knights’ standard always been this low? Is it normal to curse, push, and spit at civilians, soldiers, or even nuns?”

    “I apologize!”

    Kübler stood at attention, but Maria didn’t seem impressed in the slightest.

    “You’re sorry? Saying you’re sorry means you know what was wrong. That makes it even more vexing. Why deliberately commit wrongdoing? Tell me straight. Was this your own initiative, or did someone higher up give the order? If you lie, I’ll have you sent to the Magdeburg headquarters on charges of perjury, so be aware.”

    “It… it was orders from above.” Kübler broke into a cold sweat. “But please forgive me for not telling you sooner.”

    Kübler looked back and forth between Kain and Liliana as if begging for help. Kain nodded as if to say it was okay to speak.

    “As you may know, Nicopolis is the source of reliable drinking water in this region. There are places where groundwater springs forth, but to avoid recklessly disturbing the water veins, water can only be drawn from designated wells under control.”

    “And?”

    “This morning, a person was found dead in one of the wells. There was a dagger pierced through their heart.”

    Maria leaned forward sharply, looking as if she might grab Kübler by the collar.

    “The identity? Has it been confirmed?”

    “…Yes.”

    “Who is it?”

    Kübler closed her eyes tightly, as if about to tell a bad joke.

    “Rabbi Shajar al-Durr. The former western pagan general also known as the Sword Dancer…”


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