Chapter 297

Chapter 297 - Inquisitor

Listening to the approaching footsteps, Eugene fell into thought.

'How should I explain this?'

As for the Death Knights, their spiritual energy extinguished at the point they were killed, so there was no difference in traces from ordinary undead. However, even if there were many demons and Wights, there were far too many.

Furthermore, the method of killing was also a problem. Leaving aside the Wendigo and Leaper, how should he explain the bastards that were roasted whole by the Tormentor's flames.

"Your Excellency! We have arrived!"

"I apologize for being too late!"

"The Outer God! Where is the Outer God?!"

Summoners being carried on backs with expressions as if they were going to die, knights, Eugene's subordinates, and even Holy Warriors and priests. All of them discovered Eugene and ran over.

"I executed it."

Eugene pointed at Gaius's corpse.

The horns soaring splendidly like a crown were impressively incomparable to other demons. As if showing off that its root was different from mortals, majesty overflowed from various parts of the flesh.

The signet ring of the Aureus family and the signet ring of the King of Roman were worn on the large and elongated, mutated fingers. It was definite proof that the host was Gaius.

"I dare not doubt Your Excellency's words, but... is the corpse not too fine?"

"If this level of mutation has occurred, the Outer God completely dominated the host."

The Holy Warriors and priests were bewildered.

Gaius's mutated flesh did not simply mean corruption. Changing into a god's flesh meant taking a step closer to the realm of immortality.

Ordinary weapons would hardly work, and blows could only be dealt with silver swords or magic swords. Even then, it was impossible to kill it by stabbing vital spots once or twice like a human. It had to be hacked up close to a dismantling show.

If it was not definitely banished, it would become a potential disaster. As priests, they could not help but be cautious.

"Look here! Are you not being too rude?"

"Are you thinking the Castle Lord is lying right now!"

As their lord was doubted, the enraged subordinates acted out.

"We did not doubt the count, but are trying to prepare for any possibility."

"That is exactly what doubting is!"

"Oh my, why are you all acting like this!"

Allied knights arduously pulled them apart in the middle. Eugene sighed, raised his body, and stepped forward to mediate.

"Stop. I also understand what the priesthood is worried about."

He held up Last Autumn to show.

"The Outer God was banished to hell, and I also saw Gaius's consciousness return to meet its end. Its strength ran out and it could not even leave a last word."

"Ah!"

"..."

The Central knights bit their lips and bowed their heads. As expected of loyal subjects who followed until the end, their hearts were mixed at the king's miserable end. However, the situation was too bad. While expressing sympathy, they could accidentally be driven as pagan worshippers.

"No, these guys still have that expression?"

"It is a matter where there should not be even a 1% risk factor. Do not keep driving it as doubting His Excellency."

Furthermore, a war of nerves between Eugene's subordinates and the priests was in full swing right now. No one cared about the former Emperor's faction's expressions.

"Stop! The priests must also have their circumstances. Once they return to the Apostolic State, they will have to report whAether the Outer God was subjugated according to procedure, but it would be difficult to convey only my words as they are."

"Thank you for understanding. Your Excellency."

The priests were deeply moved by Eugene, who comprehended the system of middle management, and that of religious fOrces at that.

"The reason the corpse damage is small is simple."

Pwaaaa!

A dazzling golden halo gathered on Eugene's sword. The crystallization of Banas's favor and the believers' faith condensed. A radiance matching the blazing of the sun.

A miracle that countless Holy Warriors yearned to see even once before dying. It was Divine Smite.

"An iron mace sent down by God!"

The most faithful priest clasped his hands togAether as if praying with tears in his eyes.

"To think the smell of holy oil is this thick."

"O merciful Goddess."

Among the astonished priests, the converted Allied noble kissed his necklace. It was a rosary bearing the symbol of Banas.

In the Apostolic State, there are several high-ranking priests who have exercised miracles. Stopping droughts or curing illnesses, etc.

However, there is no miracle as intense and intuitively proving God's love as Divine Smite. Because in this world full of danger, there is nothing more important than the power to face wicked ones.

"Will you believe me now?"

"I have committed rudeness to the Inquisitor. Please forgive me."

The Holy Warriors and priests all togAether knelt on one knee and courteously expressed manners. It was a more cautious attitude than when treating the king of a nation.

Just then, Allied knights ran over from the slaughterhouse direction. All of them had dumbfounded faces as if they had seen something nonsensical.

"Your Excellency! Did you kill the countless demons and undead over th-there alone?"

"Well, there was no one but the count inside the barrier, so who else would have killed them?"

Everyone who saw the holy sword felt displeased.

"You are saying that because you all have not seen the battle scene laid out over there."

"I know the count is a great knight, but what we saw is really..."

The demons and undead scattered near the slaughterhouse were not on a scale that could be handled alone even if one was a great knight.

If they ignore whAether their allies die or not and form a wave of flesh to lung in? Eugene, trapped in a limited space, would have no choice but to be buried in that mass and weight.

'Giving an immediate answer here is not a wise choice.'

Since there were many capable in on-site investigation, he could be caught by the scruff of the neck. Eugene brought out a countermeasure he prepared in advance.

"Ugh."

He collapsed as if having reached his limit from battle fatigue and injuries.

"Castle Lord!"

"His Excellency has collapsed!"

"What are you doing?! Hurry and escort him outside."

Eugene's subordinates loaded him onto a stretcher they hurriedly prepared and moved him to the Mayer family's barracks.

* * *

While being carried, Eugene whispered that he was feigning illness so only his subordinates could hear. It was true that he was exhausted enough to want to lie down immediately, but he was not injured or hit by a curse.

However, as those who serve, they could not just accept their lord's words as they were.

"Valda? I said I am really okay."

"No. You fought alone against an Outer God's army. Self-diagnosis is forbidden! What meaning would there be if you do not use the best doctor while having her by your side at a time like this?"

"I am deeply grateful. Princess."

Eugene had to receive a meticulous diagnosis from Maria on a field medical bed. Compared to when he sprawled out exhausted in the past, he at least wore underwear now, so should he say it was a relief?

Maria checked Eugene's every single finger, joints, and even between his hair meticulously.

Meanwhile, Marbas marvelled while examining the Bloodletting Dagger nearby.

"Did that one really help?"

"Yes. I fought togAether with Kalash's three demonic beasts. I understood why the pagan magicians boasted so much. Since demonic beasts became an ally, it was truly reassuring..."

"Shh!"

Valda, who was stroking Eugene's cheek, hastily blocked his mouth. No matter how much help he received, speaking favorably of wicked demonic beasts was...

"There is no precedent of an evil god bestowing such grace to one who is not even a believer. Not even once since the creation of the world. To me, this seems more like a miracle than the holy sword you showed."

"Sh-should I step out? There is nothing wrong with the Count's body. Some slight bruises and muscle knots are all..."

Maria spoke with a fidgeting face.

Valda or Marbas were closest aides who were okay to know Eugene's most crucial secrets. However, Maria was an outsider. If it became known that Eugene received an evil god's support, it could spread into a considerable scandal.

"Are you going to go around saying it outside?"

"I bet my life I will absolutely not say it! Not even to my brother, I mean, to Count Marcus, absolutely!"

Maria replied immediately to Eugene, who asked playfully. Fear and joy simultaneously settled on her beautiful face. As expected of a brilliant mind, she knew. That speaking of secrets in front of her itself was expressing tremendous trust.

The most mysterious, noble, powerful, and wealthy gathering in the world. The feeling of being recognized as a member of it.

Maria's heart pounded. Even more than when Marcus read her fairy tales in her childhood. She felt like she had entered that fairy tale and was togAether with the characters.

"You probably will not have to worry about the demonic beasts' traces being discovered. I personally went to the site, and there was nothing conspicuous. Because it was an expedient summoning, all three shriveled terribly. They would just look like livestock swept up in the aftermath of the battle."

"The Wendigo caught in the Bonyard remained the same even after death, so it is peculiar."

"To say it, it is like a baby's hand."

Marbas spread his palm and showed it to Eugene.

"When you look at a baby's hands, they are round, right? That is because the bones are less grown and in a separated state, so fat is filling the empty spaces."

"Ho-oh."

Valda, who had a profound interest in babies, pricked up her ears and listened.

"It is the same for newly summoned demonic beasts."

"So over time and by consuming prey, flesh and bones fill the places where divine power had substituted?"

"As expected of you. If I explain one thing, you understand two or three, so it is very convenient."

'This bastard. Is he really a knight?'

It was not just about magic or biology. In many fields, if Eugene heard just one or two things, he foresaw the next step. It was unbelievable that he was of the knight class, where the majority were illiterate.

During that time, all sorts of rumors spread among the subjugation fOrces. Looking at the gruesome battle scene, discussions on how Eugene slaughtered the demons were the main topic.

"Trying to do something with numbers against that person is a pathetic act."

"He must have swept them away like a storm with two AAether Swords. Damn it, I should have seen that sight."

Those who saw the inside personally were a minority. Therefore, most simply accepted it saying, 'If it is that monster-like knight.' Their own guesses also came out regarding the burned corpses.

"His Excellency must have rushed at the Outer God with a desperate charge. And then the panicked Hellhounds spewed fire and roasted their own side."

"To say that, there were too many bastards turned into lumps of charcoal. I tell you it was not a scale a few Hellhounds could commit?"

When those who saw the site refuted, another argument cut in.

"Since it is a large slaughterhouse, would there not have been many buckets of oil squeezed from the beasts? Would he not have set fire with those?"

"With the count's monstrous strength, he is no different from a human catapult. Since he must have hurled them into the middle."

"...If it is His Excellency, he might really have done so."

Since there were so many people chatting away, a usable story naturally completed itself. To the point where Eugene would not need to personally explain anything after taking a full day's rest.

* * *

As the new seal on the dungeon was completed, mercenaries also laid aside a worry. Because they really wanted to avoid fighting the demon army. There was no loot to salvage, yet their lives were in danger every time, so the math did not add up.

"Captain. The war has ended too, so where do we go now?"

"What do you mean ended? It will be chaotic for another year going forward. There will be many places calling us saying they will catch bandit hordes."

Mercenary bands whose salaries were embezzled. Those who had built up grudges against specific families. Those who lost their livelihoods and took up weapons.

Elements threatening the weakened Central region overflowed. The mercenaries rested leisurely and discussed their future schedules.

Nobles laid down their swords and prepared for a battle of pens and logic. It was time to resume the negotiations that had been postponed due to the unprecedented situation of an Outer God descending upon the king. Coincidentally, the influential nobles of both fOrces were all gathered.

"To send the firstborn of the family as a hostage. It seems a bit excessive."

"Princess. It must be at least this much for the Allied nobles to be convinced. Because the emotional rift is deep and the situation is also advantageous."

"True. If anything, it would be sufficient to tear up the agreement and win what they want by fOrce."

Valda and Marbas conversed while looking at the draft of the agreement.

At the bottom left, there were the signatures of the two dukes, Leray and Robert, as representatives of the Allied fOrces. At the bottom right, there were blank spaces for the Central nobles to sign.

The reason the signature of Eugene, one of the three magnates of the Allied fOrces, was missing was because he was stepping into the conference as a notary. Eugene's signature space was placed in the center.

"I fought on the side of the Allied fOrces, so can I become a notary?"

When he first received the priests' request, Eugene was baffled, but everyone reacted as if it was natural.

"You annihilated the Outer God with holy power. Since you were officially recognized as God's great warrior, the qualification is overflowingly sufficient."

Valda hugged her husband's arm while smiling with a smile full of pride.

"There must be many priests who caused miracles of God in the Apostolic State too."

"Divine Smite is special even among miracles."

Marbas said while stroking his beard.

"If there are 10 priests who caused miracles, it is difficult for even 1 of them to be a Holy Warrior. Do you know the reason?"

"Is it not because they have more work to do than priests who only eat and pray? Since Holy Warriors also have to train as warriors togAether."

"Pursuing two paths simultaneously is difficult. Furthermore, a miracle of God is a response bestowed to a believer's longing. Divine Smite is a miracle permitted only to fighters rolling on the battlefield. Even in the current Apostolic State, there is not a single person capable of it."

As Divine Smite symbolizes the punishment of evil, it possessed an authority incomparable to other miracles.

"Come to think of it, there were people among the priesthood who called me Inquisitor."

"Is it not the power to execute evil by being delegated God's power? The category of evil naturally includes those who have committed sins as well."

Valda supported Eugene's right hand with both hands.

Mwah.

And she kissed the back of his hand with a reverent expression.

"Now your flesh is like an Inquisition in itself. This conference is not a place to deal with sinners, but it will be hard to find a figure greater than you as a notary."

"It is as the Princess says. Even if it was an ordinary war, you could have taken charge of the notarization, but since the descent of a wicked god was also intertwined."

Since he took on the role of notary, Eugene was also in charge of providing the agreement venue. He sent meals to the waiting rooms so both delegations could simply fill their stomachs and step into the conference.

"Your Excellency. To give such a feast to bug-like bastards."

An Allied noble who came out early to the conference room vented her anger looking at the food on the cart.

Pastries generously spread with butter, apple jam to dip in, fresh fruits, thinly sliced jamon, high-grade wine contained in transparent top-notch glass cups.

They were precious things that could not be eaten even by paying money on the battlefield. When she thought of this entering the mouths of those who had fought to the death, her face dyed with anger.

"Because they are enemies, we must feed them better food. This is also all applying pressure."

The Central region had been carrying out a long war while isolated and trade was also blocked. Thanks to that, the supply state was the worst. It was a situation where even fair-to-middling nobles made do with potatoes for meals. Soldiers and mercenaries steamed and ate material used as livestock feed.

"We have not signed a non-aggression pact yet, right. If those bastards reject our demands, the fight will resume immediately. Flaunting the supply state of this side will be good pressure."

"Your words are correct, but still those enemy-like..."

"Now, stop and take a bite!"

"Heup!"

Eugene directly put a piece of pastry into the mouth of the noble who could not stop her complaints.

Munch munch.

In her reddened face, the proportion of anger sharply decreased, and bashfulness and deep gratitude filled up.

* * *

As Eugene expected, the Central nobles stepped into the conference room having completely emptied the prepared food without leaving even a single piece.

"Did you all enjoy the meal?"

Duke Leray smiled and said.

"...It was a splendid treat."

"Direct your thanks to Count Mayer. Also, there are some crumbs on the corner of your mouth."

Some of the Western nobles sitting togAether bit their lips and held back their laughter. Headed by Duke Robert, the Southern high-ranking nobles had a momentum as if lasers would shoot out of their eyes.

"The former king has died."

Walther, the representative of the former Emperor's faction, said. In his heart, he wanted to say 'The Emperor has passed away,' but that was not an expression he could bring out right now.

"It was an honor that both armies could join fOrces and stand against true evil even at the last moment."

"Even while fighting demons, we never considered you allies. Put away the useless packaging."

Duke Robert's sharp voice. Walther also did not expect it to work from the beginning.

"Due to the long trade blockade, the situation in the Central region is unspeakable. There are areas where people starved to death from epidemics, and mercenaries who suddenly turned into bandit hordes make looting a daily routine."

"If you sign the agreement, we will also push aside the past and subjugate the bandit hordes with one mind. Of course, we will receive everything we must receive. You came having familiarized yourself with the contents of the agreement, right?"

Duke Leray presented the pre-prepared document. Walther, who received the agreement with a dying face, earnestly requested.

"Your Highness Leray. This agreement is too harsh."

"You are blocking a pot cracked everywhere with your hands. It is a situation where water leaks from another place if you block one place. If we erase an item you consider harsh, a more severe item will be added."

Duke Leray was resolute, and Duke Robert held out a pen.

"Do not talk back and just sign."

"Your Highnesses. Under these conditions, the Central people will live harboring suppressed hatred."

"So if given the chance, you will cause a civil war again?"

"Your Highness Robert. That is not what I mean..."

Snap.

As Duke Robert exerted strength in his hand, the pen broke and Walther fell silent.

Roll.

The Central nobles' gazes were nailed to the sight of the snapped shaft rolling over. It was not a coincidence, but because they deliberately set up a slightly tilted table.

"Sign."

This time, Duke Leray held out a pen. It was the last remaining pen on the table. It was also a threat that if even this broke, the battle would start again.

"..."

Walther accepted the pen with a trembling hand.

Scribble scribble.

As the 4 representatives of the Central nobles finished signing, the scribe carefully presented it to Eugene.

"Judge. The signature of notarization."

As Eugene's signature went into the notary space in the center, several sighs burst out. For some, with emotions of victory and relief, and for some, with emotions of frustration and fear.

Eugene's subordinates, with admiration for the glory their lord would newly obtain.

'Is it time to leave Roman now?'

'Where is the next destination...'

The subordinates possessed by the wandering spirit were already burning up one by one.