A Basement-Dwelling Loser, the Inquisitor – Chapter 255

When did I really start to like you?

It wasn’t even necessary to say that.

From the moment I first saw you, I was definitely smitten at first sight.

But back then, I was too young to know how to express these feelings honestly.

I picked on you to get your attention.

After bothering you, I helped you out, hoping you’d think kindly of me.

It’s hard to understand now how picking on someone to get their attention makes any sense, but at least at that time, I thought it was the best way to show affection.

…No.

To be frank, I probably didn’t even realize back then that what I felt was a crush.

Anyway, I kept bothering you, and every time I did, you pushed back.

“Not weird at all….”

“Not weird….”

But at some point, you stopped reacting much when I picked on you.

“Rene will be living somewhere else from today. Everyone, please say goodbye.”

One day, so abruptly. You left in the arms of some guy, and it felt like a punch to my gut.

“Can’t you just stay…? Can’t you live with us…?”

“Yeah. I have to go without question; if I don’t, I might die.”

“…That’s a bit much, isn’t it?”

And it was probably then I started to realize my true feelings.

“Sister Linne, where did Rene go…? Are we not going to see her anymore…?”

“She went to the Pope Palace of the Iah Order. But you can still keep in touch.”

“Meeting her…?”

“…Considering that the Central Knight Order came to get her directly, it won’t be easy. It means Rene has exceptional talent.”

Iah Order. Pope Palace. Central Knight Order.

Thanks to studying with the sisters every week at the convent, I understood perfectly what all that meant, and from that day on, my dream was set.

“Sister Lily, Sister Linne, I want to become a knight.”

“Huh? Bell used to be a smith… Ah. I see.”

So, with the sisters’ help, I began training to become a knight.

I had no talent for knighthood.

The instructor who came to train us said multiple times that it was “meaningless to challenge this level seriously.”

But I didn’t think about stopping; I just repeated my training daily.

By the time I turned thirteen, I could barely join the knight order as a substitute, not even affiliated with the Pope Palace of the Bertten Principality.

All I received were cold gazes that held no expectations.

Receiving those looks made me feel a little bit of Rene’s pain, and it overwhelmed me with guilt.

Of course, the difference between Rene and me was on a whole different level.

And just a little over a year after becoming a knight… I spotted Rene in a war.

★

“Oh, the Crown Prince of the Elkin Empire. So he was an heretic?”

After my usual morning prayers and training with the knights, I was lying down staring at the ceiling when Iah suddenly, casually brought up that topic.

Well, that’s normal for her.

“The Crown Prince of the Elkin Empire…?”

“Yeah. It’s a level of heresy we should call dangerous. He started abducting the poor from the Erkin Empire and doing terrible things.”

The Elkin Empire.

Excluding Bertten, which was directly under the Iah Order, wasn’t that considered a pretty powerful empire in this world?

Even I, who almost always stayed indoors when not on heresy inquiries, could tell, so I was probably not mistaken.

“Right. To put it in your own words, it’s one of the top five great nations in the world.”

For a heretic to emerge from such an empire’s royalty, what on earth was going on?

Especially since it was Iah saying it was terrible…

“Can I count on you this time, too?”

Yeah. Obviously, that’s what she meant.

Bringing up the topic like that indicated it was a task even other heresy inquisition seniors would struggle with.

The Elkin Empire. I really hate it. Is there anyone who can go in my place?

“If you think it’s okay to sacrifice many, then I can send other kids.”

That’s not what I meant.

“Hehe… of course, I knew you’d say that.”

First of all, when a prince of a top-tier empire is labeled a heretic, it really means it’s a troublesome issue.

Official collaboration with the empire would be required, and if the representative of the empire…the emperor denies and refuses cooperation, the situation could become complicated.

Then we’d have to force our way through, but would the heretics sitting on their hands when they learn that an heresy inquisition was sent to look for them?

No way.

It was clear they would prepare for anything they could do.

Anyway, because of these reasons.

To put it precisely, it means that for nobles, especially high-ranking nobles, to turn heretic is a huge hassle.

But among them, the one who can be considered the highest, a royal, turns out to be a heretic?

I wish someone would just tell me it was a lie.

“That’s not the only reason, right?”

…Well, as Iah said, the main reason I found it troublesome, wasn’t that.

“If it’s the Elkin Empire, how long would it take from here to Bertten…?”

“Simply put, even if you travel by carriage without resting, it’d take about three weeks. Of course, using a carriage isn’t an option, so it’d take more than three months.”

Yeah. The biggest issue was that it wasn’t anything else but the time it would take to reach the Elkin Empire.

Three months spent outside continuously?

That’s complete hell, isn’t it…

In round-trip terms, that makes over six months.

Starting from not being able to use the carriage for fear of prying eyes.

Teleports from Bertten wouldn’t be possible unless it was an urgent situation for the same reason.

“Ugh….”

I don’t hate pretending to be an adventurer for the sake of the heresy inquisition.

If I had to put it, I prefer it.

In a place with no one around, camping, looking up at the night sky.

That never gets old; it’s a treasure feeling.

But there’s a limit to that; having to camp out for over three months?

No matter how much I love gazing at the night sky, three months is too much….

As a hikikomori heresy inquisition officer, Selene Benedetta, it’s really an outrageous thing for me…

…So is there no way out?

“Let me use the teleport….”

“What’s your reason? You know that you can’t use it unless it’s an urgent situation?”

“I heard that terrible things are happening to the poor over there…. Who knows how many people will be sacrificed over the three months it takes to get there, isn’t that enough of an urgent situation…?”

“Is that really the only reason? Is it not the six-month round trip that’s the problem?”

“That’s just a side note…. The most important part is that there shouldn’t be anyone sacrificed because of the heretic….”

“Shall we go with that? Alright. I’ll let Reinhardt know. So hurry up and prepare. You should be able to leave by tomorrow at the latest.”

“…Huh? I’m going to leave today…?”

At my words, Iah looked shocked, replying, “Oh dear!”

Even though she knew I was going to set off right away, why was she acting like that?

What I said about not wanting anyone to be sacrificed due to the heretic was sincere.

So, after changing into my priestly robe, I grabbed my partner, the warhammer.

“…Understood. I’ll get ready right away. Get ready, Rene.”

“Y-yes….”

Thus, I used the teleportation to the Elkin Empire… and with Iah’s help, immediately arrived at the place where the Crown Prince was.

Kwoosh! Crash! Clang! Boom!

Where I found myself was on an enormous table that was even larger than what I could deem proper.

It was clear, even without saying, that Iah had picked this spot for the purpose of teasing me later.

What a bad girl….

How could this be heavenly…?

Well, that’s not important right now.

“What the hell is going on?!”

As I slowly looked around, I realized I was in a lavishly decorated room where more than ten… maybe fourteen people seemed to be dining.

Since their outfits were also luxurious, it looked like… um.

This was it, wasn’t it?

The royal family of the Elkin Empire gathered for a meal.

I guess it was getting close to lunchtime.

In fact, this part might work out fine.

Since everyone was gathered together, I could handle this annoying business in one go.

Regardless, I had teleported onto a table.

Thanks to that, the table collapsed completely under the weight of my warhammer.

All the dishes shattered or were smashed, and the food tumbled to the floor.

The tableware used by royalty must’ve been incredibly expensive, right…?

Well, that’s not my problem to think about.

All the expenses will be covered by the Order.

Yeah. After all, it’s Iah’s fault for landing me in such a place. It’s not my fault.

Please let that be the case…

…But wait a minute.

What if they misunderstand that I collapsed the table because I was too heavy?

That could be a bit troublesome, huh.

Having those thoughts, as I examined their faces in panic, a man with greenish hair, looking utterly pale, caught my eye.

“Ah….”

…It’s you.

“This person… w-we’ll take the heretic away, right…?”