Chapter 15
The woman who entered the garden wore a cloak embroidered with the insignia of the Order over her gleaming armor.
Strapped to her back was a massive mace that was, at a glance, anything but ordinary. While typical maces were wielded one-handed, hers had a handle long enough to be swung with both hands.
However, the head of the mace lacked steel spikes.
Despite her beautiful features, the brutal size of the weapon and the armor draped over her white robes made her presence all the more striking.
“It’s been a while, Sir Godfrey.”
“…I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“Nor I. In any case, Sir Godfrey, it seems I’ll need to take Sir Karl with me for a matter the Order must verify.”
While Karl remained silent, Godfrey and Isabel continued their exchange.
Isabel, despite her appearance, spoke in a cold, mechanical, and businesslike tone.
“I was in the middle of a conversation with him.”
“I am here on official business from the Order. Unless you hold a matter of greater importance, you are unnecessarily delaying church affairs, Sir Godfrey.”
Godfrey, too, seemed somewhat unsettled by her rigid logic and tone.
“The person involved hasn’t said what he wants yet, has he?”
When Karl finally cut in, Isabel’s stiff expression momentarily softened. The flicker of surprise on her face was brief—but noticeable, and oddly amusing.
“I am Isabel, Inquisitor of the Order.”
The West Continent, much like medieval Europe on Earth, was dominated by a single faith under one Order.
Besides clerical figures such as the Pope and bishops, the Order sought martial power to defend themselves in this harsh world—and at times, to project force outward. This led to the formation of the Holy Knights.
Once they had secured sufficient protection through the Holy Knights, the Order expanded its reach by establishing the system of inquisitors, otherwise known as religious judges.
In remote regions where most were illiterate, they guided social morality, restored order where unrest and confusion spread, and most notably, investigated, judged, and dealt with apostates and demon worshippers.
Though inquisitors often worked alone, they had the authority to summon nearby Holy Knights if needed.
And the reason they could operate solo in the first place was because they were individually powerful enough to do so.
“….”
Isabel gave a polite introduction and offered Karl a shallow nod.
Karl had met a few inquisitors before, but Isabel struck him as relatively well-mannered compared to others.
“What do you want to do, Sir Karl?” she asked.
Karl smiled faintly and turned slightly toward Godfrey.
“If it's urgent business, I’ll cooperate for a bit.”
Godfrey furrowed his brow slightly at Karl’s reply but stepped back without protest.
“I’ll wait and greet you again later.”
As Karl followed Isabel, Godfrey bowed deeply behind him. Isabel didn’t miss that fleeting moment either.
Though she had only come to investigate a case of beast transformation, she now found herself wondering why the captain of the Holy Knights would show such deference to a mere Free Knight.
Uncertain of the reason, she decided to remember it.
“If you came out of curiosity over the half-beast monster, I don’t know all that much myself.”
Isabel turned at Karl’s indifferent voice as they walked.
“Then speak only what you do know.”
At her blunt tone, Karl nodded lightly.
They walked a bit farther, entering one of the guest rooms in the lord’s castle. It appeared arrangements had already been made, as refreshments were set out in advance.
Trrrk.
The sound of pouring tea filled the air with its aroma.
Isabel, wearing a highly cautious expression, closed her eyes to savor the scent. After a moment, she muttered as if she simply couldn’t keep quiet.
“…This is truly fine tea.”
“?”
She took a careful sip, swallowed, and calmly set the teacup down before continuing as though nothing had happened.
“Is this your first time seeing a human undergo beast transformation?”
“If you’re referring to the half-beast monster, then yes.”
“In the Order, we call it beastification. These are abominations that defy both divine will and natural law. According to our understanding, those who acquire such foul abilities by turning into beasts do so through vile rituals, offering humans as sacrifices. That is why the Order calls them ‘beasts.’”
“I see.”
Karl remained expressionless, and so did Isabel. Maintaining her composure, she continued.
“How do you know Sir Godfrey of the Holy Knights?”
“We don’t know each other well. We’ve just heard each other’s names. You can confirm that with Sir Godfrey himself.”
After a few miscellaneous questions, Isabel moved on to her main subject.
“…Those who undergo beastification are not easy to find. Explain from the beginning how you came to encounter one.”
“You said you had a few questions, but this feels more like an interrogation.”
Her cold eyes locked onto him. Karl didn’t look away. His indifferent gaze met her chilly one, and the two stared at each other for a long while.
“Yes. This is an interrogation. And no matter what you say here, words alone won’t clear the suspicion. As an Inquisitor, I suspect you may be connected to those cursed beasts. If you want to clear that suspicion, you’ll have to accompany me on the next mission.”
So she shows her true colors now.
“I have no obligation to assist the Order.”
“I’m not asking you to fight. Only to accompany us.”
“As I said, I have no reason to.”
“…Do not challenge the authority of the Order.”
[Mission: Confirm the Darkness Lurking Behind the Continent. (Linked Quest; Progress: 5% upon completing first linked quest)]
Karl glanced briefly at the mission window in his peripheral vision before looking back.
The vague wording—“Darkness Lurking Behind the Continent”—clearly aligned with what Isabel had been talking about.
It was better for Karl to go with Isabel to advance the mission in this cursed game, but her attitude rubbed him the wrong way.
“In that case, you have even less authority to demand anything from me. Isn’t this token something the Order gave me as a sign of indebtedness?”
Ping!
Karl tossed the token he had received from Abbot Frederic into the air. Isabel reflexively caught it, and her eyes widened.
“This… Where did you…?”
“Abbot Frederic gave it to me.”
Isabel paused in thought, then narrowed her eyes and spoke in a calmer tone.
“If Abbot Frederic gave you this token, it could also mean he wants you watched.”
“By what right?”
“By the authority of God.”
Her voice carried no personal emotion.
How very medieval.
There was no doubt that something was going on between the Order and the group spreading beastification.
So far, Karl hadn’t had much direct involvement with the Order itself.
However, while operating alongside the Holy Knights—those who had marched on the East Continent like Crusaders in the name of divine will—he had occasionally crossed paths with their personnel.
What rotten luck…
Still, as a lone knight without any faction of his own, it wouldn’t be wise to make an enemy of one of the major powers on the West Continent.
He would demand something in return, of course—but now wasn’t the time to pick a fight.
“Since you’ve explained yourself, I’ll accompany you on the next mission—”
“That token, I can use it to ask a favor from the Order, right?”
“?”
“I’ll return it. In exchange, stop paying attention to me. That’s what I want.”
“…!”
For the first time, Isabel’s face showed a hint of emotion—slight distortion.
“That isn’t a wish-granting charm.”
“I don’t care what it is. I’m giving it back. So leave me alone.”
“….”
Isabel silently acknowledged that the man before her was no ordinary individual.
However, she herself was an Inquisitor—called the Blind Star of Wisdom for reasons layered in many meanings.
“That won’t be possible.”
“You mean the token isn’t worth enough?”
“Of course not. The token signifies a promise that not even His Holiness the Pope can take lightly.”
“And?”
“But Inquisitors also possess the authority to investigate even His Holiness if necessary.”
Karl had intended to tease her a little, but instead, he had simply confirmed that the woman before him was at least half a fanatic.
“Why are you so suspicious of me? I was the one who slew that beastified Dalton.”
“Yes. You slew him. And such a performance can certainly be used to plant spies within the Order.”
“?”
“That tactic has already been used several times.”
It was clear that the conflict between the organization causing beastification and the Order wasn’t some recent affair.
“I have no intention of joining the Order.”
“But you were given a token by Abbot Frederic. That means you’re someone who can enter the Order at any time.”
“That’s a stretch.”
Isabel had no intention of listening to Karl’s protests.
Glancing again at the mission window lingering at the corner of his vision, Karl decided to step back.
Either way...
“I only need to accompany you, nothing more?”
“That is correct. The Holy Knights will handle the fighting.”
Seeing the stubbornness in Isabel’s eyes, Karl gave a nod.
“Very well, let’s do it that way.”
“Thank you for your cooperation.”
As Isabel bowed her head in thanks, Karl turned his back to her, smiling instead of sighing.
[Sub-Quest: Illuminate the Darkness Within the Cave.]
Even if it hadn’t been for Isabel’s insistence, Karl would’ve had to go with them.
It was a chance to gain something without lifting a finger, so Karl had nothing to lose.
“….”
As she watched Karl walk away, Isabel suddenly realized she hadn’t returned the token to him.
***
After Isabel and Karl departed, Wooster—still in the garden—spoke to Godfrey.
“…Captain, who exactly is he?”
“Karl. In the East Continent, they called him the Ghost of Chevalier.”
“Th-The East Continent?”
Though part of the Holy Knights, the young and inexperienced Wooster had never even set foot on the East Continent.
“He’ll be staying here for a while.”
“What? I thought we’d return after verifying his identity.”
“It’s an order from the main division of the Holy Knights. If his identity as the Ghost of Chevalier is confirmed, we’re to observe him further.”
“….”
A moment ago, someone had quietly appeared, handed over an envelope, and just as silently disappeared.
As Wooster glanced at the seal on the document in Godfrey’s hand, he nodded in understanding.
Godfrey’s gaze remained fixed in the direction where Isabel and Karl had disappeared.
Isabel, the so-called Blind Star of Wisdom… Well, if it’s a beastification case, then of course the Order would be involved. It’s one of the things they detest most on the West Continent...
Even for Godfrey, who had only recently returned from the East Continent, beastification was something he’d only heard about in whispers through Order channels.
***
Karl quietly looked up at the sky.
The two moons still shone brightly above.
“This is irritating.”
Closing his eyes, he furrowed his brow for a moment, falling back into thought.
He had believed that coming to the West Continent would allow him some peace, unlike the war-torn East. But reality had proven otherwise.
Just then, the sound of small footsteps approached.
“We’ve located what we believe to be their hideout.”
“What about the Holy Knights’ reinforcements?”
“They’ll be arriving shortly.”
The hideout of the beasts was closer than expected.
Considering Dinston was a fairly large city, the fact that it was so near fit the old saying: It’s darkest under the lamp.
Still, the Order is the Order, I suppose.
Isabel had only just arrived, yet she had already found traces.
That was impressive.
“We can find them this quickly when we’re looking, so how is it they’re never found when they’re hiding?”
“Because the continent is far too vast.”
“Fair enough.”
“I am grateful, truly. Thanks to you uncovering that Dalton was a beast, I was able to act much faster.”
Isabel offered a pure and sincere expression of gratitude before continuing.
“We’ll depart shortly.”
“I’ll get ready.”
As Isabel left, Karl turned back toward the lord’s mansion to prepare his gear.
Baron Nopak had said he’d give Karl anything in his possession, so it was time to check the armory.