Paladin of the Dead God - Chapter 238



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Episode 238. When looking into the abyss (4)

Rumors of a monster appearing in the middle of Ultenheim Cathedral quickly spread throughout the capital.

The monster collapsed into white sand shortly after its death, but the rumor did not disappear.

Because it was such a large monster, there were more than a few people who woke up after hearing its roar. Furthermore, the traces of the cathedral that had been turned into a mess could not be erased.

As the dawn army was approaching, rumors of something sinister happening inside the Cathedral of the Code of Light spread like wildfire, and naturally, the events that occurred in the Cathedral of Ultenheim reached the Emperor’s ears.

“The priests call it the praying white tree.”

Baltsemer spoke with a strange expression that was half worried, half smiling. Isaac looked dumbfounded at the name that sounded much more plausible than ‘Old Town Monster.’

“It seems that the nickname was given to him because the priests of the cathedral were not allowed to speak about the incident. They say it was named after his appearance, but I’m curious about what he looked like. What was it like?”

Isaac was also at the center of this incident, and he was the one who solved the problem, so he had no choice but to accept the Emperor’s summons.

“It was just a hideous old hag with its lower body glued to the ground and many arms and legs.”

“Grandma? I guess it was a female form. I haven’t heard of that.”

Isaac changed the subject, feeling sorry for himself.

“But it’s surprising that the religious community is keeping quiet. Since it’s clear that the cult is committing terrorist acts, I thought they would be more heated and spread the word. They should also make some comments about the state of the capital’s defense.”

“Oh, that is a bit of an interesting story.”

Baltsemer continued, snapping his fingers in amusement.

“The identity of that monster was… … Cardinal Camille.”

“Huh, no, my goodness, how could that happen?”

Isaac looked astonished, as if he had never heard the most shocking story in the world before, as if he had no idea how such a thing could happen in the world. Baltsemer tilted his head, wondering if it was a bit too much, but continued speaking.

“I heard that several priests went missing during this incident, including Cardinal Camille. They say he wasn’t found under the rubble. In particular, they found several of Cardinal Camille’s religious instruments in the body of the praying white man.”

“No, how could that be… … Could it be that a priest from the Immortal Order attacked and took Cardinal Camille, or that he was corrupted?”

“Of course, that’s not impossible. But if the Immortal Cult has the ability to break through the capital’s defenses, the protection of the cathedral, the eyes of the Knights Templar, and the miracles and relics that protected the Cardinal, then I’ll give up the Dawn Army’s expedition. Fighting them is madness.”

Baltsemer did not answer seriously, as if he thought Isaac was joking.

“But the problem is something else. According to Inspector Isolde, a lot of materials related to the nameless chaos were found in Cardinal Camille’s room. It seems that Cardinal Camille may be a cultist.”

In fact, Isaac thought about going to Camille’s office and throwing out the materials about the nameless chaos. But he held back because it seemed too conspicuous, and as expected, the materials she had in her possession were not all that Isaac had found.

If Camille were alive, it would be unknown, but if she were dead, the other priests who were jealous of her and wanted her place would have revealed the secret. The reason the Order of the Code of Light hid this incident was not because a monster appeared in the middle of the cathedral, but because they were afraid that it would be revealed that the Cardinal might be a heretic.

Because this wasn’t an ordinary scandal.

“This is serious.”

“Yes. The corruption of the religious order has been going on for a while, but this has crossed the line.”

The emperor spoke with an expression that could not hide his pleasure.

Did Camille’s disappearance and death have a negative impact on the church?

Unfortunately for the enemies of the church, that is not the case.

The sect reverts to a strict hierarchy. Miracles are granted according to rank, and ranks are granted according to miracles. Personal faith only affects the degree of strength of miracles, not the number or variety.

Even a high-ranking priest like a cardinal can be replaced by a priest below him by promoting him. It is a problem that can be solved as easily as replacing a part.

A cardinal’s absence means a cardinal’s absence of power, and the order will rush to appoint a cardinal to fill the vacuum and end the affair.

This was the cause of the chronic corruption of the Church of the Light’s Code. But at the same time, it was also a source of strength and stamina. Thanks to this elaborate hierarchy, the Church was able to operate organically and reliably like a living organism even when a position was suddenly vacant.

“So it looks like the church will appoint a new cardinal soon.”

But the emperor intended to use the system against him.

It was cheaper and easier to fill the vacant seat with one of his own than to bribe a cardinal. Isaac was about to ask if anyone had anyone in mind, but decided not to. The thought of another Juan-like figure arising made him sick.

But a money-grubbing pig is better than a crazy fanatic who conducts experiments that could burn down the old city and put his own grandchildren at risk.

Isaac foolishly assumed that the Emperor would take care of it.

***

Although he never thought that the events at the cathedral would end like this, this incident had a great impact on Isaac’s mind. Up until now, Isaac had lived as inconspicuously, passively, and indifferently as possible.

It was to survive.

Until I met Camille, that tone had not changed. I thought that I could be a little angry and threaten her, but I thought that I would compromise and break up at an appropriate level. If someone had told Isaac just a day ago, “You will turn the cardinal into a monster and then kill him,” I would have thought he was crazy.

But Camille showed him that if he just went with the flow, he would eventually end up siding with a monster.

‘I have a faction within the church, that’s it.’

Camille may have said it to threaten him, but her words gave Isaac a hint.

Beware, there are many forces within the Code of Light that support Isaac’s ‘new doctrine’? The doctrine of the Owl is the root of an organization that serves the nameless chaos?

Unfortunately, that meant Isaac’s strategy was working.

‘I need to be more proactive from now on.’

Although it didn’t seem to have any notable organizational power yet, it meant that Isaac’s plan was working. It didn’t matter that it was based on the apocryphal teachings of the Owl.

This meant that there were forces within the church that would protect Isaac even if he went a bit wild.

Angels turn a blind eye to his usefulness. Young priests cheer him on. Nobles and emperors strive to win the rising divinity over to their side.

In this situation, it would be foolish to just stand by and watch the church fall into disarray.

Isaac decided to push the Order of Light a little further in the direction he wanted.

Camille was the beginning, the first.

And somehow the second one seemed like it would be the inquisitor in front of me.

“It is a simple ceremonial procedure, so I hope you do not take offense, Sir Isaacrea.”

The Order of the Code of Light naturally began to investigate the disturbances that had occurred at the Ultenheim Cathedral. Inquisitors dispatched from the Inquisition arrested and interrogated all the priests and paladins who were staying at the Ultenheim Cathedral at the time.

Isaac was no exception.

Isaac continued his conversation with the Inquisitor in a small room designated as a makeshift interrogation room.

“I heard that this happened because Cardinal Camille dabbled in forbidden knowledge… … .”

The scarred inquisitor looked at Isaac with gleaming gray eyes.

“Where did you hear that story?”

“I also know some priests at the church. Some of them are former members of the Inquisition.”

The Inquisitor clicked his tongue briefly, as if he was thinking of Isaac’s partner, Isolde.

“Hmm, yes. It is true that Cardinal Camille Sarea was dabbling in the nameless Mystery of Chaos. There were quite a few people who knew about it, including the priests. It is regrettable that he was using his position as a cardinal to carelessly look into forbidden knowledge.”

“Wasn’t there anyone who reported that to the Inquisition?”

Isaac asked, seeming genuinely surprised.

The Inquisitor licked his lips, but then answered calmly.

“The person in charge of compiling these reports and censoring the information that was banned was none other than Cardinal Camille. After all, cardinals have the highest level of access to knowledge.”

I thought so. If you want to pursue the teachings of the owl and approach the forbidden secrets, you must first obtain the forbidden secrets. In that sense, Camille’s position would have been optimal. Then, it would be natural for her to fall.

However, the Inquisition was not an easy organization. If a local priest could make a decision, there would be no reason for an Inquisitor to be dispatched.

“But, to that extent, he was the one who knew best how to handle the rain and was also the one who knew how to be careful. So, let’s put aside the easy judgment that anyone can make. Sir Isaacrea.”

“Go ahead.”

“On the night of the incident, Cardinal Camille’s personal secretary testified that you came to visit him in the middle of the night. However, when I checked the entry and exit records, there was no record of you coming in. That means you had secret contact with Cardinal Camille. Could you tell me why?”

Isaac wasn’t flustered. It was an expected question, and he had an answer prepared.

“I was on a mission given to me by Cardinal Camille.”

“Okay. Let’s see… … It was a request regarding the cemetery serial murders.”

“Yes. While investigating the case, I discovered a shocking secret regarding Cardinal Camille. As a knight of the Order of the Code of Light, I did not want false rumors to spread about my esteemed cardinal.”

“A shocking secret?”

“It was a secret that Cardinal Camille had been performing wicked pagan rituals in the catacombs, and that he was building up evil powers in his body through the rituals. I found traces of those rituals and summonings in the catacombs. If you go there even now, you will find a horrifying glimpse of chaos.”

Isaac shamelessly blamed Camille for Claire’s gang and everything that happened there.

The Inquisitor was puzzled by Isaac’s words and searched through his collection of materials. Studying forbidden secrets is a punishable offense, but practicing it and performing rituals is a completely different matter.

“I couldn’t believe that my esteemed Cardinal Camille could have done such a thing, and I thought someone was trying to frame him. So I contacted him secretly and warned him. But when I told him that I had ruined the ceremony there… … he seemed a little hurt and went to the backyard alone.”

“… … And then that incident happened?”

“Yes.”

The Inquisitor leaned back as if he was tired.

With his gray-white eyes, his scarred face, and his unwavering demeanor in front of Isaac.

All of this showed that he had not been a short-time inquisitor. And his long-accumulated intuition told him that Isaac’s words were a lie.

“Are you asking me to believe that, Sir Isaacrea? A story with so many flaws… … .”

Isaac smiled at those words.

“What if you don’t believe me?”

***

The Inquisitor’s expression hardened.

He sensed a completely different energy from the young Grail Knight who had been calmly complying with the investigation just a moment ago.

“It is true that Camille Sarea explored forbidden secrets, it is true that she performed rituals using the materials she collected in the catacombs, and it is true that she became a monster. If there is some more hidden truth here, don’t you think that a higher will is involved?”

The Inquisitor had already straightened his posture. Looking into Isaac’s purple eyes, the Inquisitor felt an inexplicable psychological pressure.

“Is it the role of the Inquisitor to find out the truth?”

It was an absurd statement that was hard to believe for an investigator who had come to investigate the truth of the case, but Isaac’s words hit the nail on the head.

The Inquisitor’s job is not to find the truth, but to create a truth that suits the sect’s tastes.

“no.”

“Then go about your business. The poor Cardinal has become a monster and is probably in hell. Maybe he will pray for the poor Inquisitor there… .”

The Inquisitor suddenly remembered that the Grail Knight in front of him had the power to defeat even angels, that he was a saint of resurrection, and that he was also a master and disciple of the recently newly appointed Cardinal Juan Riard. He had even been given a mission by an angel and had walked the battlefield side by side with him.

If Isaac was involved, it was the Inquisitor’s job to clear the ‘innocent’ Isaac of his charges.

“I made a mistake, Holy Grail Knight. After hearing you, I suspect the priest who caught sight of the heretic Camille’s ugly appearance but did not report it. We will take action to ensure that you do not experience any inconvenience.”

“Do whatever you want.”

Isaac stood up when the interrogation seemed to be over. The Inquisitor stood upright and greeted him politely until he left the room. Then Isaac asked as if a thought had suddenly occurred to him.

“Oh, by the way, there are a few things in Camille’s data that I’m interested in. Can I check them out?”

“Ah, that needs to be sent to the censorship office for re-examination… … .”

“Then, after I finish my business, I will pass it on to the censorship office.”

“… … We will send the materials to your place of stay immediately.”