-Whoosh!
A dark space echoed with the sound of air tearing apart, resonating from all directions.
The moment a whip was swung, it broke the sound barrier, producing a deafening sonic boom. The sound itself was menacing, but those who were struck by the whip endured an even greater threat to their lives.
Those who were hit by the whip, which tore flesh apart, could not even scream if the pain was too severe.
A person slumped, exhausted after torture.
Looking at the state of people who could not be identified as alive or dead, Olivia saw that several of them, trapped behind iron bars, had already stopped breathing.
"Over here."
Olivia was led by someone wearing the Inquisitor's uniform, heading somewhere.
The underground of the Holy Knights' headquarters.
There were more people than usual in the enormous interrogation room.
Olivia had been there a few times before, and she had even been on the verge of being thrown into this place by her foster father.
But now, Olivia was present in her capacity as a special Inquisitor.
"What have they all been arrested for?"
In response to Olivia's question, one of the inquisitors leading the way clicked his tongue.
"In these suspicious times, not only the Demon God Cult but also strange folk magic and idol worship are occurring everywhere. Cases where people believe in legends passed down in various regions or those who worship heretical cults that are unheard of and unrelated to Demons..."
"Are there followers who believe in Ragan Artorius, the Heroic Faith?"
"They're the biggest headache. They're definitely heretics, but..."
"A difficult issue to handle, I see."
"Yes, we can't intervene yet, not until a conclusion is reached after a papal conference. It's a situation where we cannot act."
Amidst the spread of anxiety and fear, not only the Heroic Faith and Demon God Cult, but numerous folk beliefs were also emerging.
Among them, the Heroic Faith was the largest heresy, which required swift action; however, mishandling it could result in a large-scale massacre of civilians.
If that happened, not only would they have to consider a clash with the empire, but the people might also turn their backs on the Five Great Divine Churches.
Ragan Artorius' name carried immense weight. It was said that he had saved humanity and ascended to sit by the side of the gods. Even if that was not true, who would dare to boldly claim otherwise?
In the current situation, a single misstep could lead to the Divine Church being seen as humanity's enemy, resulting in a farcical turn of events.
That's why, while minor heresies were captured and brought to this interrogation room to demand repentance and extract information about other heretics, the Heroic Faith followers who could be seen on the streets remained untouched.
Olivia found the situation amusing.
Following the outbreak of the Demon War, the Holy Knights, representing the entire Divine Church, had united to form a powerful organization.
It turned out to be quite effective. Although they had always had a symbiotic relationship, the creation of an institution representing their collective will had led to a fivefold increase, or even more, in the influence, power, and authority of the united believers.
Even the commander of the Holy Knights had come to possess power and influence on par with the pontiffs of the five major theocratic orders.
Originally created with the purpose of defeating the Demon King, the Holy Knights now remained in existence despite the disappearance of the Demon King.
Thus, the former commander of the Holy Knights, Riverrier Lanze, had even devised a plan to establish a Holy Empire.
However, the situation was turned upside down due to the reappearance of the Demon King.
It wasn't that the Demon King had done anything directly.
People driven mad by the fear of the Demon King created a fictitious faith called the Hero's Religion, which now posed a threat to the five major religions.
Far from launching a Holy Empire, the five major religions now had to worry about their existence being threatened by the Hero's Religion, a faith without substance.
Ironically, the prestige of the Hero's Religion grew even larger due to the existence of Ellen Artorius and the new owner of Alsebringer, Reinhardt.
Hadn't it been said?
That the hero would return.
That the reincarnated hero Reinhardt, and Ellen Artorius, a descendant of the hero, would save us.
Since religion tends to conform faith to reality, those who believe in the Hero's Religion will propagate the emergence of these two as the fulfillment of the prophecies taught by the Hero's Religion. The influence of the Hero's Religion will expand.
It has no doctrine, no hierarchy, no diocese, no temples, no pontiffs.
An epidemic named the Hero's Religion, like a wildfire, will engulf the continent.
The five major religions.
They might meet their end at the hands of the masses, not the Demon King.
Did the Demon King foresee this situation when he attacked Riverrier Lanze?
If he knew that this would happen and killed Riverrier Lanze, then the Demon King would be something more than just a genius.
Because he even took into account human madness and fear.
In that case, after killing Riverrier Lanze, he may have sensed the signs of the Hero's Religion and attacked Rajeurn to amplify it.
The fuse ignited by the assassination of Riverrier Lanze.
The explosive that was the first Rajeurn raid.
With the recent raid on the Holy Knights, it all exploded.
The Hero's Religion's revival has been forced upon the five major religions through a few guerrilla battles.
Could the Demon King have really known this would happen?
Olivia couldn't know that far.
However, Olivia decided to do what she had to do.
It was okay if she wasn't chosen.
It was fine as long as she could see a smile.
It was good if there was happiness.
She would protect Reinhardt.
If she had to become a monster to do so, she was prepared to be one.
"This is the place."
Unlike other areas, there were no iron bars allowing a clear view inside.
A massive cell, blocked by a thick stone wall.
Numerous magic circles and protective wards on the outside prevented interference from the outside and escape from the inside.
It was a cell designed to imprison important figures among the heretics.
-Kurliung!
As the interrogator manipulated something, the stone wall opened, revealing the cell.
A battered heretic, head bowed, lay unconscious in the cell.
"It's not a fake, is it?"
In the provinces, people were already attempting to hang those who weren't followers of the Demon God Cult, and Olivia had seen instances where actual priests had cooperated in creating unjust victims. This question was extremely important to her, as it was not her place to interrogate innocent people.
"I'm certain. This is a priest who can wield the divine power of the demon, not a mere impostor among the townsfolk. However, they refuse to speak. It seems they have received some special training, as befitting a priest."
From what Olivia could see, it was clear that the usual methods of torture hadn't been employed, given the traces of it on the prisoner. It seemed that the prisoner possessed a strong resistance not only to anti-magic but also to mental spells.
"Alright. Everyone, leave."
"Excuse me? They're dangerous. Leaving just the two of you alone..."
"Do I have to tell you twice?"
As Olivia silently stared at the escorts, they swallowed nervously.
Her expression, though mild, seemed to hide a chilling sharpness like that of a blade.
She was already renowned as a Saint of Eredian, and despite her sudden abandonment of her faith, she was an apostle of Tu'an who had returned with the Tiamata. To oppose her will was considered akin to going against the will of the divine. Even the Pope and the Grandmaster of the Holy Knights couldn't easily confront a champion chosen by the sacred relics.
"Yes, if it becomes dangerous..."
"I know, so just leave."
At Olivia's terse command, the stone door closed, and darkness filled the chamber.
-Hwoong
With a wave of her hand, Olivia conjured light to illuminate the stone chamber.
The torture of a heretic inquisitor was not something ordinary people could endure.
The torture of priests stemmed not from the pain itself but from their ability to harness the power of healing.
Even if they felt as if they would lose their minds, even if their limbs seemed severed, even if they were on the verge of hemorrhagic shock, priests could restore their bodies to their original state and begin the torture anew.
Thus, most victims would eventually confess the truth, or at least say what the inquisitors wanted to hear, even if it was a lie.
However, this priest of the Demon God Cult had yet to break.
Olivia dragged a chair over to the side of the unresponsive, limp prisoner and sat down quietly.
"If you're conscious, why don't you lift your head?"
"..."
There was no response from the prisoner.
"I have neither the talent nor the skill for torture. If a stone-thrower like me were to torture you, you might even die."
At Olivia's casual yet brutal words, a hoarse voice emerged from the prisoner with their head bowed.
"Kill me..."
It was a simple response.
Death was not a freedom granted here. Taking one's own life was incredibly difficult, and in a bound state, even more so. Even if they tried to die, the priests would forcibly heal them.
Torture that didn't even permit death.
That was the true heretical inquisition, unlike the botched trials that took place in Rajeurn.
"How easily you speak of death after enduring such terrible torture. How pitiful."
Olivia gazed quietly at the heretic with their head bowed.
"Still, I am different from the inquisitors who have come before me."
In the Light
Olivia extended her right hand towards the heretic, who bowed his head.
Shooooooo
"I know how to wield the power of the demon. Quite well, in fact."
From Olivia's right hand, a dark and dense energy flowed, distinct from the white light filling the room.
"We are on the same side."
The heretic, lifting his head, looked at Olivia as if he couldn't believe it.
The power of the demon and the power of the gods have the same origin.
Olivia was saddened by the countless conflicts, pain, and death that occurred because people did not know this or did not want to acknowledge it.
Olivia would use this knowledge.
Olivia was both a priestess of Tu’an and a priestess of Kier.
Therefore, she could easily open the door that would never open unless one was an ally.
"Are you willing to talk now?"
Olivia, who had illuminated the room with the power of purity, stared intently at the heretic, who was draped in the power of corruption.
"Oh... my lord..."
To the heretic, it must have appeared as the form of a god.
—---
Late at night, after enjoying a small feast with three others at midnight, Harriet returned to her room, washed, dried her hair, and sat on the bed.
She had realized that she couldn't hate Reinhardt more than she liked him, so Harriet had clung to him recklessly.
Was that okay?
While it was true that she couldn't hate Reinhardt, Harriet also felt that she would ultimately be in the last place.
She knew that her heart, relationships, and connections with others were deeper, and she had to circle around them.
How long should she endure the misery of squeezing in between them?
For now, talking to Reinhardt, eating together, and sharing stories was enjoyable. It was so delightful, comfortable, and happy that she didn't even feel the swamp of depression that engulfed her when she was alone.
But when she returned to her dorm room like this, she discovered her own pitiful self again.
Was this right?
Was it right to accumulate her current feelings, enjoying the moment, finding comfort and happiness, only to suffer greater pain later?
Perhaps it would be better to hurt now.
Maybe it would be better to hurt a lot now.
Then, it wouldn't hurt later.
If she endured this pain now, it would eventually turn into a scar.
Once it became a scar, it wouldn't hurt anymore, at least.
Wasn't that the right thing to do?
But tomorrow, Reinhardt would calmly strike up a conversation, as he always had.
Telling Reinhardt to stop pretending to be friendly while giving him a cold look would be a ridiculous act.
Most of all.
She didn't know the specifics, but Reinhardt had a deep relationship with Charlotte. It seemed that Reinhardt had even saved Charlotte's life when she was in danger.
Ellen and Reinhardt had risked their lives together, fighting in the Darklands. And, in truth, Ellen and Reinhardt had spent the most time together.
In Olivia's case, Reinhardt had cleverly rescued her from her confinement and threats by her stepfather. In a way, he had saved her life.
Reinhardt had at least one significant event with everyone else, excluding herself.
But what about her?
'Something seems too trivial. No matter how much I think about it….'
Even in her own thoughts.
She felt wronged and frustrated by constantly being pushed aside.
Upon serious consideration, she was objectively insignificant.
"..."
Of course, going through hardships wasn't a good thing. However, it seemed oddly different that Harriet hadn't experienced such events.
The Archduchess of Saint-Owan, Harriet de Saint-Owan, was insignificant.
Now it was impossible to say that she, an archduchess, was on the same level as mere commoners. After all, Reinhardt was the undisputed champion of Als.
What about today, even?
In reality, nothing had happened, but she had almost collapsed in front of Reinhardt as if she had been stalked, and remembering her trembling made her feel so embarrassed she wanted to die.
It wasn't as if they had a tremendous fight and then had a grand, tearful reconciliation.
This situation had just happened without any proper conversation.
Harriet couldn't believe that she had ended up having something like a reconciliation with Reinhardt just because she was scared of something so trivial.
Wasn't even the event of their relationship returning to normal too insignificant?
The next morning at dawn.
"Archduchess of Saint-Owan, we need your cooperation for a moment."
It wasn't until two magicians, who introduced themselves as investigators from the Royal Magic Department, knocked on her door at dawn.
She had definitely thought that way.
Seeing the two men who claimed to be investigators from the Royal Magic Department and had come all the way to the dormitory, Harriet had no choice but to be taken aback.
They couldn't be fake. Otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to enter the temple in the first place.
"Me... why?"
"Last night, a murder occurred in the Royal Magic Department's research archive. You need to be investigated as an important witness in connection with the case."
"Yes... What?!"
A murder.
At that word, Harriet felt her head spinning, and at the same time, she was engulfed in an inexplicable fear.
Even if one had done nothing wrong, even if it was the highborn Archduchess of Saint-Owan, hearing the word "crime" made her freeze.
Moreover, it was a murder that took place within the royal palace.
Harriet turned pale as she looked at the courteous but imposing investigators.
It was dawn, so her classmates would be asleep. However, it was also the time for those who had morning training to wake up.
"...Uh, what's going on?"
For example, someone like Reinhardt.
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