Chapter 177: Inquisition (4)
——Fasssht!
Afterimages scattering while floating in the air.
The deaths that had tried to reach Grand Duke Marchand were pulverized. By Gerhard's sword sweeping like a beast's claws.
'Well now.'
Gerhard let out a hearty laugh.
Thoom, and. The thick blade touched the stone floor. Had he cut down around thirty? He had not counted, so he did not know. Should he count them as thirty people or count them as thirty creatures. He exhaled while chewing over this worthless question.
'They keep increasing.'
Gwooo, and.
Space distorted as the deaths revealed their forms.
Sohow they seed to be growing stronger the more he cut them down. The deaths of Grand Duke Marchand, which had rely flailed their limbs, were now stirring with aberrant forms studded with tentacles. Surely the swarm would increase further, and their capabilities would rise further. Gerhard was rely enduring against the providence established by the God of the Underworld.
"I say, Abel!"
Ooooh——!
The roar of the surging deaths.
"I am grateful you let participate in such an enjoyable ti……."
Tadat, and.
Gerhard leaped.
As the blade swept the stone floor, sparks erupted, and,
"……Could you not finish this a bit faster!"
Gerhard narrowed his eyes.
He put strength into his shaking vision. The bundle of tentacles sweeping toward him. Grasping it in one hand and pulling it in,
"This feels rather unpleasant!"
Thoom, and.
He drove the treasured sword he held in his other hand into the ground at his feet.
It was to rotate using his own body as an axis.
"Squelching like kneading mud!"
The formation of deaths collapsed.
The deaths caught in Gerhard's grip swept through the air while floating. The force created through rotation. Gerhard relied on it to release the bundle of tentacles. The deaths that had been sweeping rcilessly crashed into the wall, and,
"There is no satisfaction at all in cutting them!"
Gerhard gripped the hilt with both hands.
For a mont, radiance seed to flash through Gerhard's gray eyes.
"My back hurts too!"
Bulge, and.
In an instant Gerhard's upper body swelled.
It was because he concentrated the muscle strength circulating within his body.
The gazes of the deaths focusing on Gerhard. The darkish eyeballs tilted toward Gerhard standing upright, while,
Swish, and. The bundle of tentacles extended swiftly.
"Look at this!"
——Pajiijit!
Gerhard's treasured sword swung horizontally.
While the deaths were swept away by the blade along with the sword wind,
"……It appeared."
Tsk, and.
Gerhard clicked his tongue.
"A scar appeared, did it not!"
A drop of watery blood.
It flowed down Gerhard's cheek.
It was because a tentacle had grazed past.
"When I was already this handso!"
Gooo, and.
The center of space began to distort again.
Gerhard rushed toward that place. Twisting his face covered in scars with mirth.
"What am I to do if I beco even more outstanding!"
"How nice for you."
Abel muttered in an indifferent tone.
He had no leisure to spare a glance at Gerhard. The fragnts of Grand Duke Marchand's soul were scattered before his eyes. He rely gazed at the fragnts and read the contents. He was peering into Grand Duke Marchand's mories through Divine Power.
"Please wait just a mont, Your Grace."
Abel swung his beloved sword toward his back.
Swish, swish, and. As if playing with his hands. That was sufficient. Thoom, thoom, thoom. The Margin-White Aura forming on his beloved sword swept the stone floor. Though he was not examining the situation otherwise, the aspect of the battle Gerhard was waging was obvious. While nurous deaths were swept up in Abel's Aura Blade,
'Did he beco quite absorbed in it.'
Abel thought calmly.
He gained insight after reading the soul.
Grand Duke Marchand seed to have regarded the leaders of the Parousia Denomination as political allies. With genuine sincerity.
For what reason? Had he been promised the throne of a nation or sothing? Abel swept away the fragnts of soul scattered like shards of glass with the back of his hand. Grand Duke Marchand's mories flowed into Abel's mind.
"Dauane."
Thus, he opened his mouth.
The report had begun.
"Grand Duke Marchand made contact with the Parousia Denomination at the border city in the west. It appears the administrators also cooperated. Furthermore, the nas of those who share intentions with the Parousia Denomination are……."
Iris narrowed her eyes.
Tap, tap, and. Iris's index finger tapped the armrest of the chair.
The quill glided and began to sweep across the parchnt. To transcribe the nas Abel recited.
'There are many.'
Iris thought while resting her chin.
The nas of nobles beginning to embroider the parchnt. She had anticipated this to so extent. The Parousia Denomination seed to be plotting political subversion as well as inciting war. Since the current emperor Luine was young in age and had ascended through civil war, it would have been the perfect opportunity.
"My, my."
anwhile, Christophe toyed with his staff.
A smile crossed his wrinkled lips.
"There are truly many nostalgic nas. Grand Duke Marchand was also one of my old friends. Though we have grown distant."
"You will have no leisure to indulge in reminiscence, Duke Sharma."
At Iris's words, Christophe shrugged his shoulders.
"What of it. Since they colluded with apostates, they must be eliminated as is proper. They are not even worth holding funerals for. So I wish to commorate them in advance."
"Save the chatter for later, old man."
Suddenly, Drogo opened his mouth.
Drogo had been watching the situation with a grimace.
"Did you just call old man, Duke Zylon?"
"Is it not the truth? Zylon does not trust Orléans or Sharma either. How do we know you are not colluding with the Parousia Denomination?"
"You remain foolish as ever, Zylon."
Huh, and.
Iris deliberately sneered.
"We gathered to prevent suspicion from spreading. This matter must be handled discreetly. What do you think will happen if the existence of the Parousia Denomination is made public in noble society? Needless to say, they will point fingers at each other. Denunciations and incitents will run rampant. The era when witch hunts were prevalent might return."
And in such a situation you deliberately solidify distrust.
Truly petty you are, and.
As Iris whispered,
"I know well enough too, Iris."
Drogo muttered while gritting his teeth, and,
"……No, Duke of Orléans."
He corrected himself while clenching his fist, and,
"Everyone be quiet."
Christophe diagnosed in a low tone.
Clap, clap, and. While clapping his hands.
"It seems to be finally finished."
Christophe's words were correct.
The inquisition procedure was concluding.
In the center of the blackout chamber, the deaths that had been bustling about were gathering at the core. Abel had long since withdrawn. Gerhard was panting while driving his blade into the stone floor. The mont the deaths touched Grand Duke Marchand's soul scattered into pieces,
A young voice spread through Abel's mind.
It was not difficult to identify. The spirit remaining in Grand Duke Marchand's soul had flowed into Abel. Inquisition was the process of directly reading another's soul.
The spirit of the deceased is composed of mories they clung to in life.
Whatever he had thought of it while alive, Grand Duke Marchand's spirit was being recited in the voice of a young boy.
At least when he was a boy he held such intentions.
In any case it has beco worthless. While putting strength into his beloved sword Abel thought. He stepped forward while hardening his expression, and,
'As expected, the procedure of inquisition is……'
——Swish, and.
He cut them down. Grand Duke Marchand's soul. The deaths that had been devouring it.
'……Quite unpleasant.'
Silence.
Stillness descended on the vast space.
The bustling procedure concluded, and the three dukes who had watched the interrogation closed their mouths. The heads of Orléans, Sharma, and Zylon were waiting.
For the mont the emperor would deliver his will.
Thus, Johanna whispered.
Shall I support you, and.
When Johanna asked,
"I am fine."
Cough, and.
Luine said in a voice mixed with coughing.
"You are the one who needs support."
After whispering thus,
"Everyone listen."
He declared while rising with difficulty.
"I will now issue commands."
* * *
First, do not divulge Grand Duke Marchand's inquisition.
Second, discreetly secure those recited during the inquisition process.
Third, Drogo von Babenberg le Zylon, Gerhard von Farenheit. The heads of the Zylon and Farenheit houses will search for and completely eliminate the strongholds of the Parousia Denomination within the empire.
Fourth, Christophe Jean-Jacques Saint-Sharma, Iris René von Orléans. The heads of the Sharma and Orléans houses will interrogate the Parousia Denomination's collaborators.
Lastly fifth, Abel Argento. The Sword Saint of the Papacy will……,
'Search Dauane, the border city where Grand Duke Marchand made contact with the leaders of the Parousia Denomination.'
Abel reviewed his mission.
Walking on the endlessly spread carpet in the corridor of the Brilliant Sun Royal Palace, he established plans for what lay ahead. He would have to head straight to the forr territory of the Kingdom of Vianchiel after searching Dauane. Because eliminating the Parousia Denomination's garrison would be more important than anything else.
"My wife will be pleased."
anwhile, Gerhard opened his mouth.
While walking alongside Abel.
"The scar I an. Both my wife and I like each other's scars."
Gerhard's right cheek.
A cut wound was inscribed there.
It was a scar created in the process of assisting the inquisition.
"Anyway, I was delighted. That you were truly the Sword Saint. Then does that an Demian has beco the Sword Saint's disciple? There is no greater glory for the house."
"Being a Sword Saint does not make one particularly skilled at instruction. I might even be clumsy."
"How amusing. Do you plan to be humble as well?"
"I told you the truth."
Abel answered with an expressionless face.
For a while he would have to be a knight rather than a professor. Thinking thus, he swept back his hair.
"So, will you head straight to Dauane?"
"I plan to depart after conveying the training policy to my disciples. Because supplentary lessons must also proceed smoothly."
"How thorough you are."
Anyway it was enjoyable.
If you need help, tell , and.
The mont Gerhard headed to the left at the fork,
"Thank you."
Abel bowed calmly.
Trudge, trudge, and. Gerhard's footsteps reached Abel's ears. Abel remained with his head lowered waiting for the sound to cease.
That being so,
From now on he would have to perform his mission as 'The Mother God's Left Hand'.
Abel raised his head.
Iris stood at the right side of the fork.
Though Iris's expression was stern as if frozen into an iceberg, the voice reaching him through the communication spell was gentle.
Abel stepped forward.
He advanced without words alongside Iris.
The search for the Saintess.
Regarding that, and.
Iris communicated so only Abel could hear.
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