Those who do not know what an Inquisitor does often start with curiosity.
There were times when I wondered when those admiring glances would change.
“That curiosity will turn quickly as they learn more.”
Do not take an interest in what an Inquisitor does.
The Church does not say this without reason.
The closer a priest gets to an Inquisitor, the faster their illusions about them shatter.
In the end, only those who maintain some distance can view Inquisitors favorably.
Because of this, I developed the habit of giving brief answers when conversing with others, ensuring the interaction does not last long.
It was better that way for both myself and the priest who would inevitably become disillusioned after learning the crimson truth.
Building unnecessary relationships would only lead to a greater sense of betrayal later on.
“This place is doomed from the start.”
I left the group of curious onlookers who, as always, greeted me with curiosity upon my arrival at the mission site.
Their admiration was a mirage that could disappear at any moment, so I paid it no mind.
Why bother with meaningless connections when I already knew they would end poorly?
“They said there’s a high chance heretics are lurking near the labyrinth.”
My mission was to eliminate the heretics.
It was said that heretics were likely roaming freely, both inside and outside the labyrinth.
Before officially dispatching Inquisitors, it was necessary for me to assess the external situation around the labyrinth.
However, the state of the labyrinth was more dire than anticipated.
“To think I’d encounter heretics on the very first day.”
The encounter was unexpected but unmistakable.
They were wearing necklaces marked with symbols of the evil god.
“To blatantly walk around wearing symbols of the evil god…”
It was baffling how heretics, supposedly suppressed, had grown so bold.
Naturally, I captured and tortured the man.
Having caught one heretic, I had to use him to trace the roots of the heresy.
Unfortunately, I lacked even a shred of talent for healing.
That was why incidents like this were inevitable.
“Hmm.”
The signs of torture I had painstakingly inflicted had faded, leaving only a few scars.
“A peculiar priest.”
They had shown the heretic undeserved kindness.
But I couldn’t stop them, knowing they were well aware it was unnecessary.
“Do I have to start over again?”
Though I was accustomed to torturing heretics, it was always grueling.
Having to redo it from the beginning made it even more so.
Still, I silently began preparing for the next session.
Since I couldn’t take the heretic back for treatment again, I resolved to be less lenient this time.
Although I had already extracted most of the necessary information, I needed to confirm every detail to the end.
First, I splashed cold water on the man to wake him up.
“Hrk! Gah! Cough, cough!”
The man awoke violently coughing as I drew a blade before his eyes.
There was no need for many words.
At the sight of the knife, the man let out a terrified scream.
Today, he would confess everything he knew, even without my interrogation.
Even if the only reward he could hope for was the mercy of death.
Regrettably, the temple priests failed to issue an apology for what had happened that day.
It wasn’t because they went back on their word.
It was because the Inquisitor did not give them the chance to receive an apology.
“I should at least try to have a conversation if I could see their face.”
Unfortunately, the Inquisitor disappeared after that day and did not appear at the temple.
It seems like they come in and out of the lodging early in the morning, but they’re only there to sleep.
“I wonder what’s so busy, but it’s clear they’re looking for heretics.”
If that weren’t the case, they wouldn’t have suddenly brought in a man to torture.
Thanks to that, as each day passed, the priests’ expressions grew more and more gloomy.
It seemed difficult to see the Inquisitor in the temple anytime soon, unless they made plans to enter the labyrinth.
“I had a feeling, but are there really so many heretics around the labyrinth?”
If word gets out that there is an altar to the evil god inside the labyrinth, wouldn’t heretics from all over the world come here to enter the labyrinth?
Of course, this isn’t entirely a bad thing.
The reason heretics cannot be eradicated is that they survive by hiding like cockroaches.
What if, this time, they spread rumors and lured the heretics into the labyrinth, then wiped them out?
“The Inquisitors might like that, but for priests like us, just knowing that heretics are nearby is disturbing.”
If they set their minds on it, they could even attack the temple, right?
Although knights are protecting the temple, considering the terrible things heretics do, even attempting an attack could be fatal to the temple.
“I think I need to find out what they’re doing.”
Since their face isn’t shown, I can’t interfere.
If necessary, I’d have to wait until late at night and visit her lodging to talk to her.
“I don’t think she’ll like that.”
I was at a loss as to how to resolve my relationship with this person.
While I was concerned about the Inquisitor, the moment for Princess Lasiell had finally arrived.
“That bastard has arrived.”
From early morning, Princess Lasiell came to the temple, grinding her teeth.
It was today that the prince, whom Princess Lasiell despised, arrived at the labyrinth.
“Shouldn’t you have gone to greet him?”
“Why should I go greet him?”
Princess Lasiell said sulkily, sitting with a very defiant posture, her feet swinging irritably.
She probably came to the temple instead of staying at the lodging just to make an excuse.
“You can’t use the excuse that you’re at the temple.”
“The gods will overlook my actions today. They’ll have no choice but to pity me.”
It seemed she really didn’t want to meet him.
I know it’s unusual for siblings to have a good relationship, but the feelings Princess Lasiell showed went beyond dislike and bordered on disgust, which was quite unsettling.
She probably didn’t hate him this much from the start; it seemed like the other party had built up enough karmic debt to deserve such treatment.
“I believe this is a situation you can’t avoid anymore.”
“Yes. If I’m not around, they’ll find a way to come and make trouble. They’re persistent, petty, and narrow-minded.”
Still harshly criticizing her brother, she suddenly jumped up from her seat.
“If it were a situation where you could escape just by avoiding it, it would be one thing, but there’s nothing more foolish than postponing something just because it’s troublesome. You didn’t expect me to act like this, did you? Right?”
She asked dramatically, like a general going to fight the enemy on a battlefield.
“If my words have made you uncomfortable, you don’t have to listen. If you’re tired, resting here for a while wouldn’t be a bad idea.”
I felt uneasy because it seemed like I had kicked her out.
But Princess Lasiell shook her head.
“No! You didn’t kick me out, you gave me courage. The courage to straighten my weak heart!”
‘When did I do that?’
Seeing me flustered from hearing such nonsense, Princess Lasiell walked toward the door and left without another word.
I couldn’t just sit there, so I followed her closely behind.
“Little sister!!”
“Ugh!”
While Princess Lasiell was walking, a man from afar spread his arms in joy and rushed toward her.
As soon as Princess Lasiell saw him, she recoiled in disgust, taking steps back.
She backed up right to where I was standing.
Seeing his face, I thought that Princess Lasiell wouldn’t be this crumpled even if she ate something disgusting.
“I heard you got suddenly obsessed with religion. I wasn’t sure when you didn’t come out to greet me, but here you are!”
“Ah… I suddenly feel sick.”
Princess Lasiell staggered and put her hand on her forehead, about to vomit.
It was startling to see such a sudden change in someone who had been fine just a moment ago.
“Are you alright?”
“Ugh, he’s getting closer.”
The reason Princess Lasiell was feeling nauseous was clearly because the man was getting closer to her.
As he approached, her complexion worsened.
“That person…?”
“Yes. That bastard.”
Princess Lasiell was so repulsed that I expected the prince to also dislike her, but when they actually met, the prince clearly seemed happy to see her.
“La-siell, I see you’ve been praying hard. You’ve lost weight!”
The man—no, the prince—approached Princess Lasiell, looking at her pale face with concern.
Despite the disgusted expression on Princess Lasiell’s face, she sharply responded to the prince.
“Why are you following me all the way here?!”
“Heh heh heh! I was worried because you lost weight, but your energy is still as strong as ever!”
Despite Princess Lasiell’s sharp outburst, the prince graciously accepted it, like a younger sibling’s tantrum.
Furthermore, the prince’s appearance was nothing like what Princess Lasiell had described.
‘From what Princess Lasiell said, I thought he would be unattractive and weird, but…’
The prince I met was tall, handsome, and even displayed a magnanimous attitude, despite his younger sister’s sharp responses.
The prince’s demeanor made Princess Lasiell’s sharp words seem childish.