Chapter 131 – Episode 130 – High Inquisitor (3)
The Tribunal del Santo Oficio de la Inquisición, commonly known as the religious court, was officially declared. Simultaneously, the appointment of seven High Inquisitors to lead the religious court was also made. It was quite unusual that all the people appointed as High Inquisitors were young, busty women.
Four beauties knelt before the chief cardinal.
Saint Diana.
Paladin Irian Light.
Imperial Regent Cha Hyewon.
Langa Taiga, the tiger beastkin chieftain of the Clan Alliance.
Standing at the end of the four cardinals behind the chief cardinal, watching the appointment ceremony was a feast for the eyes. These women are my people, it fills my heart with pride.
The assignment of the High Inquisitors was entirely my choice, made while locked away in my room. The cardinals passed the list I presented without even looking at it. As for the envoys from each country… they seemed to accept that the church only took two out of the seven positions as a concession, and there wasn’t much opposition.
The four here could be immediately appointed as High Inquisitors, but the other three, Ingrid Bjornsdottir, the Shieldmaiden of the Astru Kingdom, and Epiphania, the Winter Flower of the Northern Grand Duchy, had not even been contacted yet.
As for Kadagan, the Sword of Justice of the Nahara Kingdom, who is a fragment of Lilith… well, it doesn’t matter. Ingrid and Epiphania were not participating as envoys, so they were far away from Hespole in the Astru Kingdom and the Northern Grand Duchy, so of course, they couldn’t attend the appointment ceremony.
No… to be honest, I doubt these women have even heard the news that they have been appointed as High Inquisitors. There is a magical communication system, so they might have heard, but I haven’t received an answer on whether they accept yet.
That just shows how quickly this whole thing was done, or to put it nicely, how fast, and to put it bluntly, how hastily it was done. It’s embarrassing.
Since the cardinals stepped back and gave me full authority, this hasty administration is ultimately my fault.
“With this, the establishment of the Tribunal del Santo Oficio de la Inquisición and the appointment of the High Inquisitors who will lead it have been completed.”
A thunderous applause erupted at the chief cardinal’s declaration. There were hundreds of envoys and their attendants from each country, and if you include the citizens of Hespole who came to watch, the huge square was so packed that there was no room to step.
The citizens also seem to be satisfied with these beautiful ladies. All the men can’t take their eyes off them.
“For the three High Inquisitor appointees who could not attend, Ingrid Bjornsdottir, Epiphania, and Kadagan, Cardinal Yurian will hold the appointment ceremony on my behalf.”
Hmm. Hmm.
He’s doing a good job following the script.
It’s not like I assigned these seven people without thinking. I put some thought into it. You might misunderstand it as just a pretty girl collection… but that’s only half right.
I had to balance the church and secular power, and they had to be people with well-known reputations, status, and abilities that people could accept. And most importantly, they had to be beautiful women that I could make my own.
I spent so much time agonizing over the main heroines, the sub-main heroines, and other female characters I could potentially capture. The result of that careful selection is these seven. I’ve only picked the best of the best.
Diana, Irian, and Cha Hyewon are in because they are either my women or my companions. Langa Taiga is already somewhat captured, so I thought I could easily make her mine. As for Kadagan… I never even thought about her, but I found out by chance that she was a fragment of Lilith, so I assigned her.
The problem is Ingrid Bjornsdottir and Epiphania.
Ingrid Bjornsdottir, the Shieldmaiden of the Astru Kingdom, is a main heroine in the game. In my opinion, she is one of the two pillars of melee combat, along with Irian, and a superior version of Langa Taiga.
Epiphania, the Winter Flower of the Northern Grand Duchy, is also a main heroine and the pinnacle of magic-type heroines. Personally, she was always my first choice for party recruitment along with Diana… but somehow, I haven’t even met her yet.
Of course, the two main heroines are flawless in both appearance and ability. I need to use the High Inquisitor bait to approach these two women, seduce them, and quickly make them mine.
I told the chief cardinal that I would personally visit two… no, three, including Lilith’s fragment, to explain and hold the appointment ceremony.
The reason why I’m going through all this trouble… is obviously for the capture. To individually conquer Ingrid and Epiphania easily. And as a bonus, to travel with Diana and Irian and build a strong physical relationship… no, memories.
“Then I’m off.”
“Okay. I’ll head to the Empire after the appointment ceremony. Prepare well in the meantime.”
Unfortunately, Cha Hyewon decided to move separately as she said before. I secretly wanted to travel with her, but she insisted on moving separately, so I couldn’t help it.
But we promised to move together after the appointment ceremony when she goes to the Empire. I guess she’s trying to form her own party. There are still quite a few uncontacted NPC companions in the Empire, so she might be trying to recruit them.
I wonder what kind of expression she’ll make when I show up with Diana, Irian, Ingrid, and Epiphania. A party made up of top-tier companions in both looks and ability. Just thinking about it makes me full.
“It’s a shame. I can’t just leave as I represent the clan and the alliance.”
I had to part ways with Langa Taiga as well.
A person who came for official purposes can’t just join my side. Especially since she’s a representative, she has to report the results of this meeting to the alliance.
The brief results have already been sent through magical communication, but it’s different when the person who directly participated as a representative delivers it.
“Don’t make me wait as long as before this time? If you make me wait long again, I’ll just grab another man.”
“Hey, don’t joke around.”
“Does it sound like a joke? Really?”
“……”
This woman might be serious. I don’t particularly want to restrain Langa Taiga… but the thought of a woman I consider mine being held by another man was unpleasant just imagining it.
“Absolutely not. I’m enduring it well. That’s how I get rewards like this. You understand, bitch?”
“……Hmph.”
She’s pouting her lips, trying to manage her expression, but like a typical woman, her liking for it is obvious. After patting Langa Taiga’s butt to soothe her, I also returned to my room and started packing my bags.
A journey to the Astru Kingdom and the Northern Grand Duchy. Forget the holy war, just thinking about going to meet the heroines makes me excited.
As I was humming a tune and packing my bags in a cheerful mood, Karsilla, who had been sitting quietly on the bed watching me, approached.
“Why?”
“This.”
“What is this?”
“Wish ticket.”
Wish ticket? What’s that… Ah, the paper I gave her before.
It was the wish ticket I gave to Karsilla at the beginning of the journey. It’s quite crumpled after some time, but she kept it well.
“Why this all of a sudden? Is there something you want?”
Did Emily brag about a toy or something? Karsilla was a good kid who never asked for anything, but it seems like she wants a toy after hanging out with a kid her age.
As I was rummaging through my coin pouch, Karsilla shook her head and forcibly handed the wish ticket to me.
“Me too.”
“……?”
“I want to go too.”
“Go where?”
“I want to follow.”
…I knew it. I tried to swallow a sigh and led her to the bed. I sat her on the bed, squatted in front of Karsilla, made eye contact, and explained gently.
“Karsilla. You felt it during this journey, right? The outside is dangerous. It’s very hard, uncomfortable, and there are many dangerous things. You experienced something scary this time too. Remember?”
She pouted her lips, looking dissatisfied. Hmm… If listing the disadvantages doesn’t work, how about this?
“If you stay in the temple, you can sleep in a bed, take a warm bath every day, eat delicious food, and it’s very, very comfortable, right? And Emily is here too. Isn’t it fun to play with your friend?”
“Not a friend.”
“…Not a friend?”
“I’m the older sister.”
“Ah. Karsilla is the older sister? That’s right. Karsilla is the old… How old is Karsilla?”
“……!!”
Oops. I made a mistake! Her eyes widened in shock.
Oh my god. I didn’t even know Karsilla’s age. …But she doesn’t even know her own age properly. When I first brought Karsilla, she said she was an orphan and didn’t know.
“That’s too much.”
“Uh… S, sorry.”
“If you take me, I’ll forgive you.”
“That’s not going to happen.”
“Uuuu!”
Where did she learn these tricks? It’s cute compared to Diana’s tricks.
I poked her puffed-up cheeks with my finger.
“Puuu. Eek!”
“Anyway, no. It’s dangerous.”
“No! I’m going! I gave you the wish ticket too.”
I tried to soothe her several times, but Karsilla’s stubbornness was no joke. Why is she so disobedient? I’m doing this for her, but she keeps being stubborn.
I was sighing in frustration when Karsilla lowered her head with a dejected face.
“Karsilla. I’m not trying to scold you. I’m really doing this for you. I can’t guarantee that there won’t be any dangerous things this time either.”
“……You said it was for me.”
“Yes! Do you understand? I’m saying this all for you.”
Just when I thought she was finally understanding, Karsilla continued.
“No.”
“Huh?”
“It’s not for me.”
Tears were falling from Karsilla’s face. I was flustered because I didn’t expect her to cry. Was what I said so upsetting? Why doesn’t she understand?
“Karsilla. Don’t cry. Look at me.”
Sniff.
As I was wiping the tears from Karsilla’s face, who lifted her face while sniffing, my chest felt tight.
“I’m serious. I’m really doing this for you.”
“No. You said it was for me. I… I don’t want to be separated. I don’t want to be separated from Papa, Mama, and Unnie…”
“Haa. I told you it’s dangerous.”
“It’s okay even if it’s dangerous. Being left alone is scarier. I don’t want to. I want to be with you. Don’t abandon me.”
Karsilla’s words made my head go blank. Abandon? Me? Why would she think that?
I suddenly realized. Wasn’t I thinking too much from my perspective? From Karsilla’s point of view, wasn’t my actions, which I thought were considerate, actually hurting her?
I held Karsilla’s small hand tightly as she looked at me with teary eyes.
“Karsilla. Okay. I’ll take you.”
“…Really?”
“Of course. Daddy is sorry. I think I was only thinking from my perspective. I didn’t know Karsilla would take it that way. Okay, let’s go together. Diana and Irian will be stronger if Karsilla is there too. Right?”
“Yes!”
I chuckled at her bright smile, and after hesitating for a moment, Karsilla spoke again.
“Then…”
“Yes. Then?”
“I don’t have to use the wish ticket?”
“……Okay.”
A small hand was held out in front of me.
“……What.”
“Wish ticket.”
“……What?”
“Give it back.”
“……”
Her smiling face strangely resembles Diana’s.
