Chapter 305 – Traces
“Hmm…”
Should I call it an achievement or a burden?
Or is it both? Come to think of it, I think the last one is correct. Wolfgang touched his chin for a while.
It’s just a habit that pops up when I’m worried about something, but thanks to it, it’s very convenient that I don’t have to shave every day.
—Ugh…
As he brushed his chin with high-density mana wrapped around his fingers, his black beard burned up and disappeared without a trace. It was a trivial privilege of a warrior who had reached the state.
The old man looked at the young man and smiled.
Even though he is old enough to have gray hair, he is taller than a well-built adult man, and his pale, thin face does not look tough, giving him a sense of fear.
The Grand Inquisitor of the Celestial Church, Cardinal Malleus Ordos.
He had a bloody impression that was just as bad as Wolfgang’s, but at this moment, he had a big smile on his face as if he were looking at his grandson whom he hadn’t seen in a long time.
— Squeak… !
He, who is highly religious and powerful enough to be considered as the next pope candidate, does not hesitate to go to the trouble of brewing tea for each individual. It is worth knowing what he thinks of Wolfgang.
The Grand Inquisitor, who burns the flesh and crushes the bones of heretics, opened his mouth like a generous priest listening to the confession of a young man in the countryside.
“Heh heh, his face looks troubled.”
“I’m sorry.
“No. For me, I’m grateful that you didn’t forget me and found me.”
It was as it was said.
It’s the same with Wolfgang or Cardinal, seeing each other’s faces after a long time.
Especially since it’s the first time we’ve met face-to-face since the flesh giant subjugation. It can be said that it has been almost half a year since we sat together and talked like this.
“Now, lift it. It’s the hibiscus tea you liked. I hope this will calm your troubled mind a little bit.”
“…Thank you.”
Wolfgang sipping tea with a slightly guilty expression.
It’s not that I haven’t had time at all, but I didn’t visit them at all on the excuse of being busy, and yet they were so welcoming to me. I couldn’t help but prick my conscience a little.
The last time Ophelia and he went missing due to witch Lilith’s machinations. Although Cardinal Malleus was the one who took responsibility for the incident and suffered the most than anyone else.
It was certainly not very desirable that he did not even ask for proper regards, except for a letter sent for ceremonial reasons, from a position of acquaintance to some extent.
Well, it looks like you’re still doing well.
If this is the case, doesn’t it seem like he only comes to me when he’s sad?
Cardinal laughs and jokes, probably guessing Wolfgang’s remorse.
“Yes. What is the reason the general, who is busy with construction, came to visit this old man? Did he come to see the saintess?”
Contrary to the fact that he seemed to pursue only fanatical piety, he was Cardinal Malleus, who was proficient in many ways in human relations.
Since the pope is an elected post, a certain degree of political power is essential to be selected as the next pope candidate.
Wolfgang thanked him for his consideration and brought out his serious business.
“Haha, no. Actually, I’m here to ask you to share information about the unrest in the Limbus Containment Camp.”
Then, the cardinal, who had been smiling kindly, suddenly changed his complexion.
—Kkuguguk… !
Did she say that if she looked into the abyss too much, the abyss also looked into him?
A body that resembles a dry tree branch, with bulging veins and bloodshot eyes. It was a terrifying expression reminiscent of a demon from hell. If it weren’t for the prestigious cleric, he would be suspected of being a blood-crazed madman.
He had a face like that when he held a war hammer the size of his body and smashed the heads of demonic monsters. Looking at the cardinal like that, Wolfgang recalled his old memories.
“Huh. I’ve heard of that. Devil worship… It’s a pity, a pity.”
“Hey, are you okay?”
“Grrrr… Celestial… It’s all right, I’m all right. It’s just that my hatred for evil has boiled over for a moment.”
After making a few crosses in the air, Cardinal Malleus, who was barely real, gulped down the hot tea.
The tea was still boiling, but compared to his hatred of evil, it was a very cheerful attitude, as if it were cold water.
Then he put his hands together and started praying.
Hot tears were dripping from the corners of the old man’s bony eyes.
“Oh, celestials! The Limbus Containment Camp. A re-socialization facility for poor lambs. Because of the reach of evil, several priests and deacons who worked there lost their lives. Several lamps shed light on a turbid world. May the souls of fallen heroes rest forever in your millennium.”
Seeing the scene, Wolfgang also quietly closed his eyes with his hands folded.
He wasn’t particularly religious, but how could he stay still after seeing that figure?
Even though the requiem for the dead must have been held a long time ago, they reacted so strongly. He probably had personal acquaintances with the priests who worked there.
It was unfortunate.
For soldiers and priests like Wolfgang, the freer the better. It is because the fact that the soldiers and priests are busy is tantamount to proving that the world is not so peaceful.
Cardinal Malleus, who had been praying for a while, wiped his eyes and said.
“I’m sorry. How can there be any weight to the weight of the souls of the martyrs who left after serving the Heavenly God until the end? This time, the old man’s second son also lost his life. Recalling that incident, my emotions intensified again. .”
“…”
Wolfgang responded with silence.
The Catholic Church does not prohibit priests from marrying. No, on the contrary, I highly recommend it. Therefore, high-ranking priests also often form families, and their children also follow their parents’ will and choose the path of the clergy.
In some ways, it is also a part of the military family.
However, the problem was that it was not so rare to encounter the death of a parent, child, or brother as much as they were engaged in difficult and dangerous work.
Of course, in the case of priests, they will not suffer such tragedies more often than soldiers, but in the case of special occupations such as crusaders and heretic questioners who directly engage in battle, the death rate is higher than that of soldiers.
How can words express the sorrow of a father who lost his child?
Even Wolfgang, who was accustomed to death, was not cold-blooded enough to refuse to suffer such pain before his eyes. The tip of his nose twitched a little at the sadness contagious through the air.
Doesn’t Wolfgang himself periodically visit the graves of his comrades?
“…Thank you.”
“No. Rest in peace for the deceased.”
The atmosphere became very gloomy because of that, but soon Cardinal Malleus looked at Wolfgang and smiled faintly.
Hope blooms in despair.
It was Wolfgang, a powerful knight hard to compare to in the Empire. Did he think that if he investigated this case, his son’s grudge would also be resolved?
“According to the circumstances, it seems that at least one Apostle-level person from Eclipse was involved in the incident.”
“…Sadora? Is the matter that serious?”
The information from Cardinal Malleus was more shocking than I thought.
The County of Fersen Incident and the Flesh Giant Incident. Both were events that occurred due to the intervention of the Apostles, and if left as it was without suppressing it early, it is an incident that would have caused chaos on an empire scale.
“Yes. To prevent the spread of meaningless confusion, the fact has not yet been widely spread. As far as this body has investigated, it is a certain fact. Also…”
Cardinal Malleus, who stopped talking, staggered to his feet.
Refusing Wolfgang’s help, he slowly headed towards the drawer and soon pulled out something from deep inside.
“This…!”
A dark, ominous fragment resembling the tip of a goat’s horn.
Seeing this, Wolfgang’s eyes widened.
“Do you remember this?”
“Of course.”
At the Grand Inquisitor’s question, Wolfgang swallowed his saliva and nodded his head.
How could I forget
At the time of the county of Fersen crisis.
The ominous black horn that became the spoils of the female demon he defeated and the material for his beloved sword, Demonbane.
It was only a trivial fragment that could be put in a drawer without being stored separately, but the vague traces of demonic magic left in that fragment were definitely the exact same kind as Wolfgang remembered.
“Did he reappear?”
“That’s right. According to the results of the investigation, it’s with a colleague of equal level.”
Wolfgang gritted his teeth.
This time, it seems that I will be reunited with a face that is not very pleasant.
