A Basement-Dwelling Loser, the Inquisitor – Chapter 257

Kkaang!

After smashing the Emperor’s head down in a last-ditch attempt to block my way, I grabbed the back of the Inquisitor’s neck again, who was tied up.

“Let’s go now….”

“Cough, cough… Of all the people, it had to be the silver-haired witch coming to get me. Guess I’m just really unlucky….”

“Haah….”

Only after the Emperor and his knight order had collapsed did the Inquisitor reveal his true colors, making me let out a deep sigh.

If he had just been straightforward from the beginning, there wouldn’t have been any misunderstandings, fights, or a need for these people to be lying down like this. Why did he hide his true feelings till the last moment?

Doesn’t he feel anything seeing his father, the Emperor, like that? What on earth…?

“But silver-haired witch, wouldn’t it be better for you to just leave me be? I may not look it, but I have a pretty good reputation in the Empire… If it gets out that I was dragged by you, it’ll surely become a huge problem. I’ll keep quiet for a while…”

What kind of nonsense is this Inquisitor talking about?

Thinking that, I tightened my grip on his neck and continued.

“…If I’m going to die anyway at the lair of that damn false god, then just kill me here.”

“I won’t kill you… You must repent…”

★

“…So you’re saying the Crown Prince of the Elkin Empire is the Inquisitor?”

“Exactly. I heard the Goddess Iah herself spoke about it, so it’s certain. Well, actually, Rene the Inquisitor already solved that part.”

There goes your name again.

Since joining the knight order, I’ve been hearing that name a lot.

Makes sense.

You spar with about twenty people daily, starting from the higher-ranking knights at the Pope Palace all the way to the order leader…

I have a long way to go before I even reach the Pope Palace, as I’m still trying to shake off my rookie status.

But I decided not to dwell on that, so today, I’ll just do my best in whatever position I’m in.

“However, the issue is that the Emperor of the Elkin Empire declared war because he couldn’t accept that judgment. Thanks to that, we, and even you little chicks, were called all the way here.”

The commander of our regional knight order, Heldaim Ideol, explained the situation to me as I was abruptly carted off.

That’s right.

I was heading to the battlefield.

Originally, the role of a knight is to signify the power of the order, maintaining a balance between religion and politics.

But when a specific group bares its fangs at the order like now, he explained to me, the task becomes to completely annihilate that group.

“Well… By ‘annihilation,’ we’re technically prohibited from killing, but…”

The location we arrived at was the Reitos Plains.

It was a necessary stop to reach Berten, the direct territory of the Iah Order.

And right at the northern tip of this Reitos Plains, 30,000 troops from the Elkin Empire were reportedly stationed.

“The Emperor is over there too? Just great. He means he won’t accept losing no matter what.”

Commander Heldaim chuckled and moved on.

…But really, why am I being brought along?

The other seniors and colleagues were told to rest for a moment.

“Commander, can you tell me where we’re going?”

“Oh, I didn’t tell you? That was close. To put it simply, we’re going to the headquarters.”

“…Huh?”

“What do you mean ‘…Huh?’ Right now, we’re on a battlefield. Surely, tactics would be needed, right? We’re heading to the command headquarters to formulate those tactics. Don’t act like it’s usual. Be polite, there will be folks you hardly see even with a lifetime of effort.”

Commander Heldaim looked at me as if I were hopeless and continued.

But what I didn’t understand wasn’t that.

Of course, it would be necessary.

After all, we were now in a battlefield.

“W-wait, why am I being taken to such an important place…?”

“I just brought you along. They asked for one aide, but the others looked like they couldn’t be bothered, so I brought the youngest, you.”

I knew he had this kind of personality, but I never thought it would be this bad.

What should I do?

Should I really go get someone else even now?

As if mocking that thought,

We had already arrived at the tent that served as the command headquarters.

“As I said earlier, pull yourself together and be sure to be polite. If you cause any trouble, I won’t be able to help you.”

“…Understood.”

The expression on Commander Heldaim’s face as he said that was entirely different from the playful aura I was used to.

“Commander Heldaim Ideol of the Renock Region and one other have arrived as summoned. May we enter?”

“Come in.”

A deep voice resounded from inside, and Commander Heldaim pushed open the tent’s door and stepped in.

I followed him inside as well.

And I was quite literally overwhelmed by the atmosphere of the people inside.

“It’s been a while, Heldaim. Enjoying that rest you wished for so much?”

“I’m grateful to be able to enjoy it. If possible, I’d like to spend my life in Renock.”

“Don’t worry about that. You still have no idea how hard I worked for that.”

“If you say that, I’ll be in trouble. They’ll call me a selfish man who let an old master do all the work.”

“Well, that’s not entirely untrue.”

It was hard to understand how Commander Heldaim, who usually laughed and joked around, could display such a demeanor.

The leader of the Central Knight Order protecting the Pope Palace, Dietrich Izak.

The head of the Board of Inquisition, overseeing the Inquisitors, Valdemar Norman.

The knight leader who was known to have defeated the most monsters, Sigmund Paul, etc.

All the figures who would treat ordinary knight leaders or high-ranking knights as ‘those kinds’ of people were gathered there.

Why on earth was I here in such a place…?

While my head couldn’t process it, escaping was impossible now that I was inside.

In the end, I had no choice but to follow behind Commander Heldaim, cursing inwardly.

“Well then, since the last person has arrived, shall we start the discussion?”

★

“…This should be enough of a summary. If there are any other opinions, feel free to speak up.”

What the hell is this?

What I heard when dragged into a place I couldn’t understand was a story even more incomprehensible.

So if I understand correctly, using the excuse of war, they plan to hand over Rene to that Elkin Empire?

Since it all started because of her, they plan to resolve it by handing her over… Is that what they’re saying?

How can people who believe in and follow the god arrive at such thoughts?

“If there are no other opinions, then this will be the end of the story…”

“Wait a moment…!”

“Bell…?”

Commander Heldaim was taken aback by my voice, looking at me as if to say what on earth I thought I was doing.

Come to think of it, he already warned me earlier.

If I mess up here, he won’t be able to help.

What that meant became very clear.

What could a mere knight leader do about a mistake made in front of such people?

However, I couldn’t stay silent right now.

“And you?”

“I’m a low-ranking knight who accompanied Commander Heldaim Ideol to assist him. My name is Bell Benedetta. I have a question regarding what I just heard…”

“Benedetta…?”

“I think I misunderstood your explanation. You’re suggesting to hand over the Inquisitor to the Elkin Empire and finish the situation, aren’t you?”

“…Hmm?”

Everyone frowned, not understanding my comment.

But even that seemed fake to me in this situation.

“How can you think of doing something so absurd…?”

“Wait a minute. Did you just say we’d hand over Selene the Inquisitor to the Elkin Empire? How on earth are you understanding the discussion as us sending the Inquisitor into enemy lines while the rest of us provide support? How does that even make sense?”

“Their forces are 30,000 men! Sending just one person against those numbers, what’s the difference from what I just said, um…?!”

“Everyone, I’m so sorry!!!”

As I tried to raise my voice, Commander Heldaim stood up, clamping my mouth shut, and bowed his head apologetically to them.

“I’ll explain it properly when I get back, so please forgive me just this once!”

“Wait a minute. Did you just say Bell Benedetta?”

The commander seemed to agree with that nonsensical thought, and I glared at him in fury, attempting to shake off his hand.

But before I could, a voice calling my name drew my attention, and there sat Valdemar Norman, the head of the Inquisition.

“Lord Bell. Are you perhaps from Bellata Monastery? Where Sister Lily and Sister Linne are?”

How does this person know that…

“Yes. I believe there was some misunderstanding regarding the story I just heard about Selene the Inquisitor, so could you kindly let it pass just this once?”

“Ah, I see. In that case, it’s understandable that there could be confusion.”

Confusion?

What on earth am I misunderstanding…?

“Lord Bell, I think you might not know, but Selene the Inquisitor is treated specially even within our Inquisition. She is the only Inquisitor whom we do not issue direct orders to. The reason being, she is stronger than all other Inquisitors combined, including myself.”

Wait a minute.

What is this supposed to mean?

If my knowledge serves me right, the head of the current Inquisition, Valdemar Norman, is one of the most talented among the Inquisitors…

“No. To be precise, Selene the Inquisitor could take down everyone here by herself. Am I wrong, Sir Dietrich?”

“I can’t deny that. Since six years ago, I’ve never been able to win a match against that girl. Well, it’s frustrating, but… I also feel grateful for all I’ve learned from her.”

…Huh?

No. I knew that.

I had heard how Rene spars against the higher-ranking knights in the Pope Palace, including Commander Dietrich…

But I just assumed she was in the position of receiving instruction…?

“Lord Bell, to put it simply, this operation is akin to dropping a meteor right in the middle of the enemy camp. While we transport that meteor, we’ll also be managing the damage it causes.”

…Huh?