How a Reincarnated Warlock Lives – Chapter 19

Chapter 19: Nightmare (1)

In most cases, dreams tend to be a slightly altered reproduction of one’s experiences.

Of course, it was possible to make someone dream the kind of dream you wanted with a simple spell or curse, but naturally, that didn’t apply to me.

Mental strength is proportional to the quality of the soul, and I’m confident that I’m second to none in that regard.

Therefore, unfortunately, the nightmares I sometimes have stemmed from my past experiences.

From past experiences that I don’t want to recall, but have never forgotten.

Of course, I wasn’t the type to dwell on the nightmares that occasionally visited me. After all, what matters now is not the past, but the present and the future.

“Pardon? Am I talking to myself?”

I asked again, with a dubious expression, as I accepted the report containing the mission.

The headquarters of the Inquisition.

A new mission dropped right when the rather long break was starting to get boring.

While there were cases where Inquisitors arbitrarily explored specific areas, in most cases, it was common to investigate the place assigned to them.

Who knows, countless requests and petitions probably pour into Hesterica every day.

Like the last time, when I was allowed to investigate the place I wanted, it could be considered a special consideration from the Inquisition.

A kind of privilege, you could say, for someone with the talent to pass the exam with the highest score.

“Yes, it seems the church has decided that you can handle this problem sufficiently on your own.”

The eyes of the Brother who spoke to me were filled with trust. It seemed that the incident at Mount Pehern had spread throughout the Inquisition.

“Well, what could go wrong? Some say you’re already as skilled as Inquisitor Lephra, haha.”

I laughed off the old Brother’s words. Maybe in a few months, but certainly not right now.

Anyway, it was good news that I could embark on the mission without having to worry about anyone else. Even though I don’t know how the Inquisition assesses my current abilities, they wouldn’t have given me an unreasonable task.

“The details of the mission are all written there. Depart as soon as you’re ready, Brother Luciel. May God’s blessings be with you.”

“Understood, I’ll prepare right away.”

After a short reply, I greeted the old Brother who was making the sign of the cross and turned to leave. Or rather, I tried to.

‘Lephra?’

I stopped when I spotted Inquisitor Lephra walking from the end of the hallway and gave a slight nod in greeting.

“……”

Whoosh.

As always, she was wearing her robe pulled down low, and she passed by quickly, completely ignoring me. Somehow, she seemed a little offended.

‘Ah.’

I chuckled as I watched her retreating figure.

Rumors about me, who single-handedly defeated all the Black Mages before the veteran Inquisitor Lephra could even swing her sword, had spread rapidly throughout the Inquisition.

Naturally, there would be whispers about her skills as well. Especially since she doesn’t mingle with others and always keeps to herself in a gloomy manner.

Well, it’s not something I need to go out of my way to worry about.

‘She has a strong sense of pride.’

Remembering another piece of information about her, I turned around nonchalantly and started walking. Before heading out to tackle the new mission, there was a place I naturally had to stop by.

🔹🔹🔹

For an Inquisitor, experience is separate from inherent talent. Or perhaps, it could be said to be even more important.

The schemes devised by devils themselves, or those who worship devils, often went beyond the usual expectations.

Whether an Inquisitor or a Black Mage, this was a field where even those with exceptional skills could lose their lives in vain.

Despite that, being assigned a solo mission meant one of two things.

Either it was a task that could be easily handled alone, allowing for easy experience gain.

Or.

‘They couldn’t grasp the situation any better than that.’

I’ll know for sure when I get there.

I shook off my thoughts and shifted my gaze to the large figure in front of me.

“So, what are you here to break this time, Brother Luciel?”

Barok said, looking at me with a skeptical gaze, his arms crossed.

The dark circles under his eyes were deep, suggesting he had been working day and night if he hadn’t had a nightmare.

And perhaps, some of the excessive work he was given stemmed from me.

Basically, all items provided to Inquisitors embarking on missions are loans, not gifts. Of course, you didn’t have to pay for anything if you broke it, but it was good manners to return it in good condition if possible.

Each and every item was of considerable value.

“How can I hold back when facing wicked heretics?”

Barok looked at me with a dumbfounded expression as I answered with a grin.

“Huh, you sound just like Anton.”

“At least I didn’t damage any holy relics.”

“……That’s true.”

I let out a sigh and shook my head, then slowly began to recite the list to him.

“A sword plated with Holy Silver, sturdier than the last one, a consecrated rope, Cadalan’s Powder, and……”

“Damn it. This is going to be a headache to restock.”

I gave a small smile to him as he grumbled and handed over the items, and offered words that weren’t truly from the heart.

“This time, I’ll try my best to return them intact.”

🔹🔹🔹

The destination, Browell Village, was located in the corner of a local noble’s territory, far away from the Inquisition headquarters in Hesterica.

It was quite a distance, but fortunately, it didn’t take too long. The horses assigned to Inquisitors weren’t ordinary breeds.

The horses assigned to Inquisitors were offspring of exceptional warhorses, blessed and trained by priests, boasting remarkable speed.

The weather, entering late autumn, was quite chilly, but it wasn’t cold enough to require a camping tent with a warming enchantment, so there wasn’t much discomfort in sleeping outdoors.

I continued my journey, eating dried meat and hard bread dipped in sour wine, and after about a week, I finally arrived at the entrance to the noble’s territory that owned the village.

“Halt!”

As I slowed down and reached the gate, several soldiers holding spears stopped me.

Neigh.

I pulled the reins, and the horse stopped with a stomp of its front hooves. The soldiers seemed to flinch slightly at the sight of the large black horse, a rare sight.

“D, Dismount and identify yourself and your purpose!”

A mysterious man appearing on a horse of an uncommon breed. The soldiers, recognizing that I was not a commoner, used honorifics while diligently carrying out the entry procedure.

Still, they seemed to have some discipline.

Without dismounting, I pulled out the Inquisitor’s emblem issued by the Inquisition from my pocket.

A black cloak, a large black horse, and an intimidating emblem depicting a crossed sword and the flames of a pyre.

The meaning of all this was crystal clear.

“I am an Inquisitor of Herentica. Step aside.”

The soldier’s eyes widened as he heard my low voice.

“I, I apologize for not recognizing you! Hey, get out of the way! It’s an Inquisitor!”

“Quiet.”

“Y, Yes, sir!”

I tried to pass by the soldiers who hurriedly began to open the way as if they had been burned. Then, the man who appeared to be the guard captain came running up to me and grabbed me.

“I, I don’t know your destination, but I’ll inform the lord immediately so you can have a meal……”

Inquisitors are fundamentally a symbol of the Church’s power. Regardless of their status before becoming an Inquisitor, they were not someone a rural noble could look down upon.

On the contrary, many wanted to build connections with them in advance, just in case.

“No need. I will pass through here and head straight to Browell Village.”

I said briefly to the flustered guard captain.

“B, But……”

“I would appreciate it if you would step aside.”

There’s no time to waste on unnecessary things. Or rather, I had time, but there was no reason to. The soldier, meeting my gaze, flinched and stepped aside.

I could read the fear and dread in their eyes.

Unlike in a large city like Hesterica, in rural areas like this, Inquisitors were objects of fear not only to heretics but also to innocent people.

As they looked at me, refusing to stay and be treated, a faint sense of relief appeared in their eyes.

Whoosh.

I passed by the soldiers and headed towards my destination, Browell Village.

🔹🔹🔹

It had been a long day.

Wilson, yawning widely, pushed open the creaking wooden door.

Despite the arrival of autumn, a season of joy for farmers, his expression was not bright. After paying taxes to the lord and offerings to the Church, he was barely making ends meet for the coming winter.

‘God’s will, my foot. Damn those greedy bastards.’

The reason Wilson didn’t mutter the curse that naturally came to mind wasn’t just because of the fear ingrained in him.

There was a rumor that if you uttered blasphemous words too often, a devil lurking in the shadows would hear them and come to the village.

From a magical perspective, it wasn’t a very credible claim, but Wilson, who had spent his entire life tilling the land, had no way of knowing that.

It’s better to be safe than sorry.

Especially these days, with unsettling rumors circulating about a small village not far from here being destroyed by wicked Black Mages.

It was an era of grim news coming from all directions, but the people of Browell Village weren’t too worried.

Because there was a priest from the Church residing here.

While he was called a priest, in reality, all he did was pray a little and collect money from the villagers.

Indeed, strange things had been happening in the village lately. Nothing that would directly lead to death, but enough to stir up an unsettling feeling.

But it probably wouldn’t be anything too serious. Probably.

Creak.

Wilson forcefully closed the thick window he had made himself and fastened the latch, yawned loudly again, and limped towards his bed.

“Haah.”

He just wanted to forget about his complicated problems for a while and lie down in that comfortable bed.

‘Lately, no matter how much I sleep, I feel more tired.’

Thud.

Wilson threw himself onto the bed and soon frowned at the strangely irritating sound.

Rustle.

Did a rat get into the room?

He thought it might be because of the grain crumbs that had gotten on his clothes while threshing the grain earlier.

As he was about to get up, despite his fatigue, Wilson realized that his body wasn’t moving as he wished.

“……?”

The surrounding air felt strange.

Warm and cozy, yet cool at the same time.

A vague sensation that made it difficult to distinguish between dream and reality.

‘Did I fall asleep?’

The question that naturally came to Wilson’s hazy mind soon melted away like snow at the sensation he felt from below.

“……!”

A ticklish feeling.

A feeling of all the strength draining from his body, yet his toes curling involuntarily. A gasp escaped Wilson’s lips without him realizing it.

A dizzying yet thrilling sensation.

‘W, What……!’

And it seemed like he could faintly hear something giggling. A sharp laughter that made his hair stand on end, but somehow, he didn’t feel afraid.

The pleasant drowsiness was vivid enough to overshadow his fear.

Whoosh!

At the same time, something whizzed past his eyes.

‘A ghost? A devil?’

No, it was someone dazzlingly beautiful.

“……!”

Simultaneously, his body, which had been motionless until then, moved.

As he sat up abruptly, Wilson forgot why he had gotten up in such a hurry.

What happened?

His mind was hazy, as if shrouded in fog.

Chirp, chirp, chirp.

The sound of morning birds, signaling the start of the day, reached Wilson’s ears as he sat on the bed, dazed.

He stared blankly at the morning sunlight streaming through the window.

“……?”

Already?

It was already morning?

Thanks to the diligence ingrained in him, he had never slept in before.

It seemed like it had been daylight for a while now, and he could faintly hear the conversations of the villagers heading out for their morning work from beyond the wide-open window.

“……Did you see him? The one who arrived earlier, the Inquisitor─”

“He looked younger than I’d heard. What’s he doing here, making us uneasy?”

“Shh! What blasphemous words are those!”

“Maybe it’s because of that woman─”

Did I fall asleep with the window open?

The words of the people carrying their farming tools and heading towards the fields brushed past Wilson’s ears.

His mind was filled with the hazy something from last night. Wilson frowned and fell into thought.

‘What was it?’

He was sure he had a very pleasant dream, but.

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