TRSDICI 18

Chapter 18

How Can You Be So Sure?

As soon as morning came, we followed Dominica into the forest.

Bella asked:

“Did you know my parents personally, Director?”

“Yes. I happened to meet them while wandering through the forest.”

“Then you also knew my parents were mages.”

“That’s right.”

Bella opened her mouth as if she wanted to ask something else, but then stayed silent.

She looked afraid to ask, so I spoke instead.

“Why did you never tell Bella the truth?”

“Because I could see what kind of future awaited her if I did.”

Dominica answered calmly.

“Bella had lost her memories from the shock, but if I told her about her parents, there was a high chance those memories would return.”

“……”

“Then Bella would have grown up consumed by revenge. Especially when the target was the bishop of this region.”

“You knew that as well?”

“I wasn’t certain, but I had my suspicions.”

“I see.”

“And if Bella had killed him herself, she would have spent her entire life being hunted by the Holy Kingdom.”

It was an accurate guess.

In my previous life, Bella truly had become the Witch of Envy, killing clergy until Rudian finally put her down.

“That’s why I told her to keep the mana stone necklace hidden inside her clothes whenever she was around people….”

Dominica looked at Bella.

Bella scratched her head awkwardly.

“Hehe, when I hide it under my clothes it touches my skin and feels uncomfortable…. But I only took it out when nobody was around. I guess someone still saw it.”

Dominica let out a deep sigh.

“Perhaps this was fate after all. A trial that had to be overcome someday, no matter how much we wished to avoid it….”

I answered her.

“Still, just as you hoped, Bella likely won’t be hunted by the Holy Kingdom now.”

“That’s true. And it’s all thanks to you, Inquisitor.”

Dominica smiled faintly and looked at Bella.

“And Bella… I’m sorry for hiding the truth from you all this time.”

“No, it’s okay. I’m actually grateful to you.”

“Grateful?”

“Yes.”

Bella gently touched the mana stone necklace.

“You knew I inherited a mage’s blood, but you still treated me just like everyone else. And not only that, you were even willing to risk your life to protect me.”

“……”

“So you don’t need to feel sorry for me.”

Bella smiled softly.

Dominica stared at her blankly for a moment before smiling as well and continuing forward.

“Many priests in the Holy Kingdom see magic as the demonic power that destroys everything. But I think differently.”

Dominica looked up at the clear sky.

“I believe magic is beautiful. Because I once saw their magic with my own eyes.”

“……”

“Of course, magic can be destructive. But humans are the same. Some people make others smile, while others drag them into despair….”

Dominica turned toward us.

“In that sense, I believe both of you are people who make others smile.”

I tilted my head.

“Bella, perhaps. But me too? You only met me today.”

“Yes. Your strength is certainly frightening, Inquisitor, but you used that strength to protect the smiles of my children.”

I thought for a moment before answering.

“But most people standing before my blade fall into despair. They either beg for their lives, run away, or charge at me and get stabbed.”

“……”

“Even so, your thoughts haven’t changed?”

Dominica nodded.

“Yes. Because I believe you were right.”

“I see.”

“But… may I ask one thing?”

“Go ahead.”

Dominica looked directly into my eyes.

“Inquisitor Kael… do you wish to live in darkness?”

“Darkness?”

“Yes. Somehow, it feels as if you avoid the light.”

I tilted my head, then nodded.

“Perhaps. Most insects hide in the darkness, so I usually go looking for them myself.”

“Ah….”

“But….”

I drew my sword and held it upright.

“I only hope that after cutting through the darkness again and again, when there is finally nothing left to cut… there will be a small light waiting at the end.”

In my previous life, I cut down countless insects, only to face the great abyss called the Demon God.

Even if the me from that life had defeated the Demon God, I could not confidently say light would have awaited me beyond it.

No, I was certain there would only have been an empty hell at the end.

“Is that greed?”

“No. I’m sure there will be light at the end.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because I will pray for you, Inquisitor.”

Her eyes were too sincere to be joking.

I chuckled and sheathed my sword.

“I see.”

Then I looked toward Bella, who was sniffling beside us.

“Why are you crying now?”

“…Because it’s sad.”

“Really? I think your situation is sadder since you still can’t sing properly.”

Bella immediately stopped crying.

“Why are you always like this?”

“Then why are you like that?”

Bella stretched out her hand.

“Want to make peace?”

“You should make peace with your vocal cords first.”

“Hey!”

“We’re here.”

Right then, Dominica stopped walking.

This area had clearly been burned once before. The grass and trees here were smaller than the surrounding plants, yet somehow greener.

“There should be a barrier hidden somewhere around here. Even I don’t know its exact location, so we’ll probably have to search for it.”

“The burned area is huge. It might take a while.”

“Yes, most likely.”

I stopped them before they spread out.

“Wait.”

“Yes?”

“Follow me. It’s this way.”

The two of them tilted their heads and followed behind me.

I stopped at a place where the grass was longer and less green than the surrounding area. It looked as though this spot alone had never burned.

Dooong….

When I lightly tapped the ground with my foot, the area rippled.

Soon, a square box covered in a magic circle appeared.

“You probably just need to place the mana stone necklace here.”

I pointed toward the rhombus-shaped indentation in the magic circle.

Bella blinked.

“How do you know that so well?”

“Because I’m taller than you.”

“Ahh.”

“Stop talking and place it already.”

“Ah, okay.”

Bella approached the barrier nervously.

Then she knelt down and placed the mana stone necklace into the slot.

Srrrr—

Bright light flowed out as the magic circle crumbled away.

Once the barrier surrounding the box disappeared, I spoke.

“Open it now.”

“Yes.”

Bella swallowed dryly and carefully opened the box.

There was nothing especially strange inside.

The box was simply filled with dozens of books.

“What are these?”

“Magic books.”

This amount was impressive even for the Empire’s Magic Tower.

It seemed Bella’s parents might not have been powerful fighters, but their magical knowledge had been exceptional.

Bella had probably discovered this place in my previous life and grown into the Witch of Envy from here.

Most likely, the dying Dominica had told her the location.

“Everything is neatly organized, but this one book is placed separately on top.”

Bella picked up one book.

Written on the cover were the words:

“Magic For Bella, And For Everyone”

As if enchanted, Bella immediately opened the book and began reading.

Her eyes moved rapidly while her hands flipped through the pages without pause.

Less than ten minutes later, she closed the book with a snap.

“Uh… I think I can use this magic.”

Even a genius mage could not master magic in ten minutes.

Bella might have been able to learn simple spells quickly, but the magic in that book looked far too complicated.

Which meant it was probably magic she had already known instinctively.

“Inquisitor, can I try using it?”

Bella looked up at me nervously.

She seemed afraid others might witness her magic.

“Yes. You already blew up the Diocese Office, so burning a forest wouldn’t make much difference.”

“……”

“I mean stop worrying about others. What will you do if even you fear your own magic? Magic reflects the caster’s heart and knowledge. So if you keep thinking like that, you might as well give up.”

Bella stood up slowly.

“Alright.”

Her expression instantly became serious.

“I’ll try.”

“Go ahead.”

I nodded.

Then I kicked off the ground and moved a hundred steps away from Bella.

She looked startled.

“Didn’t you go too far away?”

“There’s nothing wrong with being careful. Director Dominica, you should step back too.”

“Ah, alright.”

Dominica quickly moved beside me.

Bella smacked her lips while looking at us, who now appeared as small as fingers in the distance.

Then her expression turned completely serious.

“Then I’ll begin.”

Bella clasped both hands tightly in front of her chest and began gathering mana.

Sssssss!

As expected, the amount of mana was enormous.

Still, it was not as overwhelming as when she defeated Roselle.

‘Is she controlling it?’

It was unstable, but that seemed to be the case.

I thought controlling mana would take her a long time, but perhaps there was a reason she would one day become one of the Seven Deadly Sins.

And nobody had even taught her properly.

“……”

Bella continued manipulating mana while sweat dripped down her face.

Naturally so, since she had not fully recovered from yesterday’s mana exhaustion.

Just what kind of magic did she want to use so desperately?

I didn’t know yet, but I would soon find out.

Paaaat!

The moment Bella suddenly opened her eyes, all the mana around her vanished instantly.

Yet no giant flames appeared.

No freezing cold capable of turning everything to ice emerged either.

Everything simply felt peaceful and calm.

‘Hm?’

As I watched Bella carefully, I realized she was staring up at the sky.

So I raised my head as well.

Something enormous stretched across the clouds above us.

The daytime sky is normally blue.

Sometimes it turns red because of blood, but unless clouds cover it, the sky remains blue.

‘But this….’

Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet.

Seven brilliant colors curved beautifully across the heavens like a bridge of light.

“Ah….”

Dominica covered her mouth with both hands.

“This was it. I first met them by following this enormous rainbow….”

Even I was stunned by the sight.

Of course I had seen rainbows before.

But never one so massive it seemed to cover the sky itself.

This was a sight possible only through magic.

Bella was already on her hands and knees, breathing heavily.

I lightly jumped over and landed beside her.

“So this was the memory you carried.”

Bella caught her breath and nodded.

“…Yes. Back then, I watched this rainbow together with my parents. I thought it only looked huge because I was young, but now I realize that wasn’t the case.”

“Of course not. Even now, it’s still enormous.”

Bella let out a small laugh at my words.

Then she tightly grabbed the grass as though holding back her emotions.

“Inquisitor.”

“Speak.”

Her voice trembled as she spoke.

“Thank you.”

I ignored the strange insect-like noises coming afterward.

Instead, I raised a hand to shield my eyes from the dazzling light and looked up at the sky.

Bella’s rainbow was slowly fading away.

But whenever she wished, it would surely appear again.

“Good.”

The next day, at the Papal Headquarters of the Holy Kingdom of Ella.

Inside the meeting hall, numerous clergymen had gathered together.

“As everyone already knows, the Divinar Diocese Office was destroyed last night, and Bishop Roselle of that Diocese has died.”

The bald Cardinal Gregory spoke.

“And the one responsible was the newly appointed Inquisitor Kael, who recently killed Baron Skalen during the Inquisitor Examination.”

“……”

“What happened during the exam deserves praise, but this matter is somewhat troublesome.”

Cardinal Varun immediately objected.

“What exactly is troublesome about it? According to the report, Bishop Roselle ordered Inquisitors to murder innocent civilians.”

“……”

“And not only that. Roselle killed innocent mages and falsely reported them as demons in order to rise to the rank of bishop. If that isn’t heresy, then what is?”

“I do find those actions regrettable.”

Gregory replied.

“However, Inquisitor Kael’s methods are far too violent. Both of these incidents happened within less than a week. And neither of them are small matters.”

“That is not Kael’s fault.”

“Even so. The authority of an Inquisitor is extremely powerful. If he keeps swinging it around recklessly, it will eventually create problems. I believe some restrictions should be placed upon him.”

Gregory continued speaking.

“And from what I hear, the deacon can use magic. Rumors will undoubtedly spread.”

“Kheheh… so that was your goal.”

Varun laughed quietly.

“If you wish to restrain me for being friendly toward magic, then say it directly instead of using others to speak for you.”

“……”

“In other words, you’re being petty.”

Varun and Gregory quietly locked eyes.

The other clergymen did not dare interrupt.

“Now, now, everyone calm down.”

At that moment, all eyes turned toward the mediator’s voice.

“The Goddess is watching.”

An old man with a kind yet powerful appearance.

It was Pope Ventus Tellarion.

“We apologize, Your Holiness.”

“Please forgive us.”

Varun and Gregory bowed their heads, while the Pope simply laughed warmly.

Varun carefully asked:

“What are your thoughts on this matter, Your Holiness?”

“Hm….”

The Pope gently rubbed his staff before answering.

“The greater the trial, the stronger humans become. And it is through countless trials that heroes and saints are born.”

“……”

“At the moment, I do not believe Inquisitor Kael has committed any wrongdoing. If anything, his actions deserve praise. Though I cannot deny that his temperament is somewhat extreme.”

The Pope smiled faintly.

“So let us watch for now. Both Inquisitor Kael’s path… and the deacon who uses magic. It is still too early to judge whether they are good or evil.”

The other clergymen nodded.

Varun hid a smile, as though he had expected this outcome.

The Pope was never someone who rushed to judgment.

“Then let us conclude the meeting here—”

BANG!

Just as the Pope stood up, the meeting hall doors burst open violently.

A man rushed inside and shouted urgently:

“Your Holiness! You must come immediately!”

The clergymen inside frowned deeply.

“Brother, what is the meaning of this rudeness?”

“This is a Cardinal Council led by His Holiness himself. Show proper manners.”

The Pope raised his hand, stopping their criticism.

“It is fine. The meeting was already ending anyway. And surely he has a reason for acting like this.”

The clergymen let out uneasy murmurs.

Unless the Demon God himself had descended, none of them could understand such disrespectful behavior.

“So what happened?”

“Ah, yes.”

The man straightened his clothes and formally introduced himself.

“I am Marcel, the caretaker of the ‘Scripture of Origin.’”

The Scripture of Origin.

The very first holy text containing the teachings of the Goddess Ella.

The Papal Headquarters copied this scripture and distributed it to believers.

“Yes, I remember you.”

“I-It is an honor.”

“So what happened to the Scripture of Origin?”

“Yes.”

Marcel nodded heavily.

“For the first time since the record of Saint Eldoras 102 years ago… a new chapter has begun writing itself within the Scripture of Origin.”

The clergymen instantly burst into commotion.

Even the usually expressionless Pope widened his eyes.

“And in that chapter….”

Marcel took a deep breath before continuing.

“The name Kael Luminara has appeared.”

(To be continued)