Chapter 101

The Pope had many enemies.

To be more precise, there were many enemies inside and outside the Holy See.

It was due to the Holy See's geopolitical problem.

Currently, the location of the Holy See was very exquisite. If compared to a sandwich, it could be said to be the cheese between the bread. A soft and delicate cheese at that.

First of all, in the border regions near the Holy See, numerous city-states were divided into pro-Papal and pro-Elance factions and were fighting amongst themselves.

Levona, Ambrosia, and Florence were encamped in the north, and a new alliance had emerged in the south.

Beyond the Apennian border, powerful nations like Sierra, Elance, and Schwarzwald were covetously eyeing Apennia and the Holy See.

Although the papal authority had fallen and was no longer what it used to be, the symbolism of the Pope as the head of the Western Church remained. And his influence on people was just as immense.

To exaggerate a little, if the Pope so much as cleared his throat, the kings of various countries could face a rebellion.

Of course, such a rebellion was not of a significant level. If one had to make a comparison, it could be likened to a toothache or athlete's foot.

It was an apt analogy in that it wouldn't kill you, but it was excruciatingly annoying for the person suffering from it.

Moreover, Pope Astro had a fairly independent personality, so he often clashed with secular monarchs.

Thus, secular monarchs often felt the desire to interfere with papal authority.

For example, by secretly putting poison in the coffee the Pope drank.

So when Pope Astro spat out his coffee.

It was only natural for Bishop Rosanka to suspect poison.

"Poison! Get a doctor! The antidote!"

***

And now, Bishop Rosanka was apologizing to Pope Astro.

"I am deeply sorry. As you said, there was indeed no poison in the coffee."

"See, didn't I tell you? I just got too surprised, that's all."

"I am truly sorry."

The Pope suddenly spitting out the coffee he was drinking just fine?

It was natural for it to be mistaken for an assassination attempt and for a commotion to break out.

Fortunately, the scandal that could have shaken the Holy See did not reach people's ears thanks to Pope Astro's swift action.

However, the problem of how to explain it to Bishop Rosanka remained.

"So what on earth happened that made you so surprised?"

"Ceras' report was beyond my expectations. Take a look at this."

Pope Astro handed the letter to Bishop Rosanka.

After reading the letter, Bishop Rosanka let out a groan.

「As per Your Holiness' command, I have established a base of operations on-site and have commenced intelligence gathering activities by making contact with the target.

However, I have discovered a trace of evil locally and have met with fierce resistance from this evil. I have judged that it is impossible for me to resolve this issue alone.

Therefore, I hereby request reinforcements from the Holy Knights.」

It was a letter revealing the determination of the Holy See's legendary inquisitor to hunt down the red-eyed monster that had appeared in Fasa.

Rosanka dismissed that intention lightly.

"I see why you did that. It seems Ceras is doing something completely off-topic."

"Did I say something wrong to Ceras? All she had to do was meet Leon Gryph, build some rapport, say a few nice words, and drop a hint that the Holy See is interested. What on earth is she up to in Fasa?"

Pope Astro was a pacifist, but at the same time, he was also a realist.

Just as the scriptures said not to kill, but it was not followed at all in reality.

He knew well that while everyone knew peace was better than war, as long as people were alive, conflict would never end.

To maintain the independence of the Holy See, strength was needed.

What caught his eye at this moment was the Black Company led by Leon Gryph.

The Black Company had proven its military might by defeating Tospol and the coalition army.

Moreover, since they were far from the interference of other great powers, it was only natural for the Pope to consider hiring the Black Company.

That's why he had sent his closest aide, Ceras, to build some friendly relations with Leon Gryph.

He thought that since they had a common interest in military affairs, they would get along well, and it would also be a chance to judge the person named Leon Gryph.

But now she was requesting reinforcements of Holy Knights to hunt some unrequested monster, so Pope Astro couldn't help but feel frustrated.

The Pope's executive secretary, Bishop Rosanka, pushed up his glasses and answered.

"Hmm, isn't it true that Sir Ceras is carrying out the mission Your Holiness has given her?"

"That is true, but."

"Do you think Sir Ceras would send such a letter because she's distracted by a monster? She must be requesting reinforcements like this simply because the danger present on-site is threatening Leon Gryph."

"Is that so? That could be possible."

Pope Astro readily agreed.

Ceras was not the type of person to joke or whine about such matters.

Something must have really happened on-site.

As Pope Astro accepted it well, Bishop Rosanka went a step further.

"Perhaps this is a metaphorical expression. As you know, there is a famous person among the executives of the Black Company with red hair and red eyes."

"You mean Sir Eleonor of Aquitaine."

"Yes. She is, in fact, more famous for her historical records than for her original profession."

"I am aware of that. I sometimes read the journals Eleonor submits to the University of Bologna."

After Bishop Malone, who originally held the episcopal see of Fasa, retired due to illness, the Holy See's intelligence network in Fasa had been in disarray.

However, even with the shrunken intelligence network, they had grasped the fact that Eleonor was active in the Black Company.

It was partly because Eleonor was so famous, but it was also in stark contrast to the fact that most of the Black Company's executives were unknown.

Just looking at the resumes of the Black Company's executives, one couldn't help but wonder, 'Is this an elite unit or a motley crew?'

Because of that, the evaluation of Leon Gryph's personnel management skills had risen within the Holy See.

However, Eleonor was a vassal of the Duke of Aquitaine, and the Duke of Aquitaine was a vassal of the King of Elance.

The very Elance that the Holy See did not hesitate to detest.

So perhaps the hand of Elance had reached the Black Company. Bishop Rosanka had mentioned that very possibility.

"No matter how much of an inquisitor she is, she couldn't have used hostile expressions towards a foreign country in an official report. It could become controversial if it were to be revealed later."

"If that's the case?"

"I believe that the red-eyed monster written here is Sir Ceras' metaphorical expression for Sir Eleonor and the influence of Elance established within the mercenary company."

"If what you say is true, then Ceras has entered into a competition with Eleonor, and that's why she needs more people. Is that what you mean?"

"Doesn't that make sense, thinking about it logically?"

It was a complete misunderstanding.

Because Eleonor had appeared in Fasa alone.

But the Holy See, with its severed intelligence network, could not grasp that far.

Rather, thinking politically, Bishop Rosanka's opinion might be right. Pope Astro judged it so.

"Then it would be right for us to support Sir Ceras as well. Please find five people from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith whose faces are not known."

"Understood. Then I will select them from this year's graduating class and dispatch them to Fasa."

"That sounds good. Alright. That should work."

Pope Astro ignored the slight feeling of anxiety, an unknown fatigue, and a somehow felt appeal from his conscience, and answered.

Thus, the matter Leon had concocted began to roll in an unexpected direction. Leon had, without his knowledge, brought a disaster upon the city.

Of course, even if he had known, nothing would have changed.

***

A few days later.

Five young men of diverse racial backgrounds stood on the main street of Fasa.

They were the inquisitor apprentices dispatched from the Holy See of Ratio.

But they grumbled as they looked at the bustling scenery around them.

"I thought I'd be assigned to a better post, but to think I'd end up in a backwater like Fasa."

"It really is a shabby place. I should have told my uncle to bribe someone to get me assigned elsewhere if I knew it would be like this."

It was a relief to finish the arduous training and escape the fearsome bishop of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Unfortunately, the apprentices had been cut off from the world during their training, so they were behind on current affairs.

So they didn't even know what had happened in Apennia. To them, Fasa was still a backwater city.

"So where do we go now?"

"They said someone would come out to meet us here. They should have at least prepared a carriage."

A man in a dark cloak approached the grumbling apprentices.

The apprentices reflexively looked at the man with wary eyes, then were startled when they saw his face.

"Uh, aren't you Sir Eric?"

"Shh, be quiet. You brats."

That man was one of the priests who accompanied Ceras.

Although only a deacon, Eric was a renowned holy knight even in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

To the apprentices who respected their seniors, he was like a star in the sky.

But there was another reason why the apprentices were surprised.

"No, but why is your face so gaunt? Did something difficult happen...?"

"I told you to be quiet. There's a reason. The work is just too hard."

"The work?"

"Enough."

When Eric cut them off firmly, the apprentices were flustered but shut their mouths.

The habit of unconditional obedience from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith was ingrained in their bodies, and for Eric to speak like that, there must be a reason.

Eric looked around as if wary of his surroundings and then spoke.

"Are you all that came?"

"Yes, we are."

"Damn it, what is the higher-up thinking? Only five."

"Is something wrong?"

"Follow me for now. This isn't the place to talk."

"Understood."

The apprentices exchanged glances as they followed behind Eric.

When you go through hard training in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, you reach a point where you can read your peers' minds.

'This is it, right?'

'Yeah, this is it.'

'Our first mission!'

The apprentices, realizing that this wasn't just a work assignment, became excited.

It was the first mission that all the apprentices of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith had looked forward to, longed for, and wished for!

In other words, it also meant that the strict bishop of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith had acknowledged that they were finally qualified to do their part.

The apprentices, who had been full of complaints, suddenly became disciplined and followed Eric. They had gone through arduous training for this very day, this very moment.

Noticing the state of the apprentices, Eric smirked. It was something he had seen a lot, and he himself had been like that once.

'I was like that once too.'

However, it was uncertain whether this job would be as easy as they thought.

'But it won't be as easy as you think. It would have been better if the Bishop had sent more people. It seems the higher-ups have no idea about the situation here.'

Eric led the apprentices into the dark alleys of Fasa that spread out like a spider's web. And when he knocked on the door of a certain house, someone opened it from the inside.

The person who revealed himself was a holy knight of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and a deacon who had followed Ceras.

He spotted the excited apprentices over Eric's shoulder but paid them no mind, sending only a cold gaze.

"Any tails?"

"I checked several times, but there were none."

"That's a relief. Come in."

The apprentices grew more and more excited by the realistic conversation.

'This is the real field.'

'Those guys left at the Holy See will die of envy if they find out about this.'

However, the moment they witnessed the person waiting inside, the apprentices suddenly lost their heated excitement.

The legendary Inquisitor Ceras was there.

The apprentices' faces turned pale.

'My god. It's Sir Ceras. Just how difficult is this mission?'

'We're screwed. No wonder they picked us out after an interview with the bishop.'

'Can't we go back now?'