Chapter 60: CH 60

60 - The Old Man From The Countryside Receives A Request

“Wait, hold up,” I said. “Why are you asking me?”

I don’t understand this from start to finish.

The mastermind behind Twilight was the Bishop of Suphine. That I can understand. But why should I arrest him?

The flow of this conversation is jumping too much. Isn’t this the kind of matter that would end if Lucy goes on another business trip? Why does such an issue suddenly jump to an old man like me?”

“You are our only choice,” Ibroix said. “We are far too important to deal with it ourselves.”

“…”

I understand that the Faith values appearances. As with the Knights of Revelio, it’s unavoidable that such organizations attach great importance to things like external appearances and their reputation. This is because both the Knights and the Faith are organizations that have the support of the people.

However, I don’t understand the criteria for selection from that point onward.

“First of all, I can’t move,” Lucy said, sighing and grumbling. “Not without establishing a formal conflict between the Magic Divison and Suphinism.”

“… Well, I can understand that,” I said.

I know she can’t move. With regards to the magic division, it’s the Kingdom of Rebelis’s trump card, a perfect match with the Knights. If the Head Magus started a quarrel with the Suphine Faith, it would lead to a not-insignificant issue.

The Suphine Faith was the state religion of our neighboring country, the Supheniardvania Theocracy. It could also lead to an international incident.

“Alexia is now moving,” Lucy said. “The Knights are preparing to invite Lebios to give his statement as a witness.”

“Hmm… that’s the solution, isn’t it?” I asked.

I understand that it’s difficult to use the information from interrogating Twilight as evidence. Hence, the Knights moves are under the pretext of inviting him to make a statement rather than an outright arrest attempt.

But then, if you summon Lebios and get him to talk, wouldn’t that be the end?”

“Bishop Lebios is a Supheniardvanian citizen,” Ibroix said. “It would be easy for him to seek asylum from the Kingdom of Rebelis if he becomes aware of the trouble.”

I see, Lebios wouldn’t be a citizen of Rebelis, would he? He’s probably a man who traveled here for missionary work.

“Then, shouldn’t you be the one to talk to him, Mr. Ibroix…?” I asked.

The core of this discussion was that it’s an internal issue within the Suphine Faith, even though Twilight’s thieves were involved. I think it’s better for the Faith itself to move without involving me.

“I am a priest,” Ibroix said. “It’ll be difficult to detain a bishop without hard, physical evidence. And I can’t move the Knights of the Faith in Supheniardvania. When it comes to mobilizing them across international borders, it’s unreasonable. There needs to be extensive prep-work for logistics and above all else, we don’t have enough time,” he continued bitterly.

“The Knights of the Faith, you said…?” I said.

I only know the name of the Knights of the Faith. It’s like the Knight Order of Revelio here in Rebelis.

Since Supheniardvania was a theocracy, the military forces directly under its control are, of course, under the command of their religious organizations. At the top were the Knights of the Faith.

I don’t know the details about them, either. I only know the name of the organization that enforces its laws.

I don’t know how skilled they are but they probably aren’t a weak force. Even if you say it’s a theocracy, its inner workings are a political circus. It can’t be such a simple structure.

Supheniardvania has smaller territory and is not as powerful on the world stage as the kingdom of Rebelis.

However, don’t look down on it as a small state, any country still managed to unite a huge amount of citizens and their thoughts. The Knights of the Faith aren’t just for show, they’re the boots on the ground. No, I’m not even going to go up against them, but…

“… Twilight and Lebios operated on a contract,” Lucy said. “Instead of diverting shipments of magical equipment from the Faith’s military forces, they agreed to either recruit those with magical aptitude or those who are unlikely to be affected by death.”

“That’s…” I said.

I’m speechless.

This contract between Twilight and Lebios is obviously illegal. Even if it was a crime, it’s not something that can be revealed to the public. Should this matter come to light, the Suphine Faith, and by extension, the theocracy of Supheniardvania itself will come under severe fire.

“I can guess what their aim is,” Ibroix added. “It’s probably… a reproduction of Suphine’s greatest miracle.”

Revival of the dead, the most powerful miracle in the legends of the god Suphine.

Bishop Lebios was probably a devout Suphinist. It was another question entirely, whether this situation could be excused as his piety.

“But, but then,” I said, “you could also request it to non-state organizations like the Adventurer’s Guild…”

“Mr. Beryl,” Ibroix said. “Should we expose the shame of Supheniardvania to the Adventurer’s Guild, a large organization who straddles the borders of all nations? It’s a difficult matter.”

That means that relying on Adventurers is also useless.

He’s right, now that I’ve asked about it. Making a request to the Adventurer’s Guild inevitably means you’ll have to discuss confidential matters.

The administration of the Guild isn’t stupid, they’ll always validate the information surrounding a request. Then, as Ibroix said, it would expose the shame of the theocracy to the whole world.

“I don’t want to ignore wrongdoing inside the Faith,” Ibroix said. “We have no hard evidence but Twilight would not just randomly throw out the name of Bishop Lebios.”

For sure, it was strange that a mere leader of thieves would name the Bishop of Suphine. You’d think they wouldn’t be normally involved in the first place. Without some sort of connection, that name wouldn’t have come up in interrogation.

“Currently, Lebios is not a criminal but a presumed suspect,” Lucy said with a rare tone of frustration. “We have no evidence of wrongdoing. So the Knights can’t use hard-line tactics. At best, it’s just a summoning. In that case, the truth will be buried with Twilight.”

I understand her anger. She is the one who’s been more serious about magic than anyone else. Even if the miracle of Resurrection Magic was possible, it’s also fair that we can’t forgive anyone who tries to distort the facts and perceptions of magic as it should be in the present.

Personally, I’m not going to lift my hands for it, but I agree with her ideals.

However, there was a problem with their request I couldn’t ignore.

“I’m just the Special Instructor to the Knight Order of Revelio…” I said.

Yes, it’s a matter of my job title.

A while back, if I was just the master of a rural village’s swordsmanship dojo, the claim could still pass. However, this was no longer true. Now, I was the Special Instructor for the Knights.

Although it was a title I got because of Alexia’s recommendation, it may be difficult to treat me as a normal citizen so long as I have an appointment with the King’s Royal Seal.

That the Knights are now working to attract witnesses to come to give their statements is probably what they’re doing as formal activities. It feels bad no matter how I think about it, a special instructor like me moving independently of them.

“You’ve been appointed, haven’t you?” Lucy said. “Even though you’re only an instructor, you’re still a member of the organization. Besides, no one outside of the Knights will recognize you as just a special instructor.”

“Mmm, you’ve forced my hand, huh…?” I said.

It feels like that speech was insanely convenient.

No, well, I’m sure I haven’t been directly knighted by the King. So I’m not a Knight and I haven’t sworn my allegiance to the Order.

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It’s a claim that’s almost stretching the limits of being believable. However, it seems to be trying to find some sense, no matter how far-fetched. I’m not sure how I feel about that line of thinking ending at me.

“By the way, does Alexia know about this…?” I asked.

“Of course, she does,” Lucy said. “This idea was inspired by her.”

After trying to throw out Alexia’s name as a lifeline, it had no particular effect.

Well, it was the Knight Order that arrested Twilight. It would be strange if Alexia didn’t know about this situation. Did Lucy already speak with her?

“We’re not telling you to charge in and arrest him,” Ibroix said. “If anything, it’s more accurate to say that if he tries to flee, we want you to catch him. If Bishop Lebios complies with the invitation to testify, that would be for the better.”

Huh, are we working on the premise that he’ll accept the request? We haven’t talked about him complying yet.

Honestly, ever since I came to Baltrain, everything matter involving me progresses too far without my knowledge.

But, well, it’s still a little better because it’s not about attacking the Faith. The point was that I was to stake him out.

“Why don’t you stick your neck out for Miu’s sake?” Lucy asked.

“I think it’s unfair of you to mention her name…” I said.

It’s not fair to invoke the young child picked up by a good adult.

Now that she’s said it, I couldn’t easily dismiss it. As her sister tried, it’s important for Miu to be set on the right path to the future by eliminating all worries about her daily needs.

“By the way, does Miu know about this?” I asked.

“I don’t know,” Lucy said. “We can’t tell her right now.”

“Well, that makes sense…” I said.

“Your sister was sold to a vicious bishop,” it wasn’t good to tell her that.

“I’ll make sure you’re decently compensated,” Ibroix said. “Will that be agreeable to you?”

He changes his approach and asks again.

Well, what’s the matter? I’m not so interested in a reward. If anything, I’m more concerned about Miu’s future.

She belonged to the group, even though she helped capture Twilight and some of his minions. Unless you get down to the root of the problem, the worries will surely continue.

“Haah…”

It’s an operation I can’t take, but I can’t afford to refuse. Even if try to ask someone else, I don’t have the resources to get them to do it. I can’t even speak about this to others in the first place.

It’s no good. I’m boxed in from every approach.

Furthermore, I’m worried about what would happen if I decline a direct request from two big names, the Head Magus of the Magic Division and a priest of Suphine. No, I won’t be hurt, but as they say, if I’m the only one they can rely on, I can’t find a clue to a solution to this problem.

Strictly speaking, there is no all-encompassing solution. It will always cause a problem somewhere or the truth will die with Twilight.

Besides, the one who’s putting the most risk is–

“Still, I don’t think the impact of my actions can be ignored…”

From a third party’s point of view, I could be perceived as an old man who selfishly attacked the Bishop of Suphine on his own. I want to avoid any unnecessary damage from that at all costs.

Besides, so long as I’m going to abandon the Knights and move alone, I absolutely need a cause for it. I don’t want to give priority to self-preservation, but I think that this motive is too poor to call a piece like me to action.

“The Knights of Revelio are working to invite witnesses, while you’ll receive a formal request from a Suphinist Priest,” Lucy said. “That paperwork and authorization will cover you, yes?”

“I want to keep the evidence at all costs,” Ibroix said. “To do that, it’s most important to capture Lebios alive. I don’t want to give him any time to prevent that.”

Ibroix and Lucy team-up.

I think there are only problems with their thinking. In my poor imagination, it’s obviously unreasonable. I don’t think I was the right choice to begin with.

It’s a ridiculous bet. No matter how you approached it, you should feel like you’re putting your money down on the wrong horse.

I seriously want to go home. And I want to say that I didn’t know anything about this at all.

However, the beginning of the whole business was that I began to help Miu. In that case, shouldn’t I believe that it’s an adult’s duty to take responsibility till the end?

“Haa… I get it,” I said. “I’ll do as much as I can.”

“I see!” Ibroix said. “No, I meant, what a relief. Thank you.”

In the end, I was in no position to refuse.

As they said, if this request fails because Lebios complies with the invitation to give a statement, this case would be closed.

I’ve got no choice but to hope for that outcome. No, I think that this story came to me because the expectations were low.

“You can take this as a formal request from the Suphine Faith,” Ibroix said. “In the unlikely event something unfortunate occurs, I and Lucy both guarantee your safety.”

“Yes, we can’t directly assist you, but rest assured that we will,” Lucy added.

“Oh, is that so…?” I said.

For the moment, was it alright to say I was insured? Well, should I be relieved?

“So what should I do?” I asked.

Once I’ve decided to accept it, I can’t beat around the bush anymore.

I’ve decided I’m going to do it, so I want to know the plan then take a break for the rest of today.

“The day after tomorrow,” Lucy said, “the Knights are planning to invite Lebios as a witness. Considering that timing… the operation will be tonight.”

“Tonight?!” I yelled.

Isn’t this a hell of a blitzkrieg?

“I’m counting on you, Mr. Beryl,” Ibroix said.

“Yes, yes…” I muttered.

God damn it. I don’t even care anymore.

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