Chapter 56: Status (3)
The continent is vast, and within it, numerous powers exist.
The Catacombs and Sanctuaries, the Cravassia Empire, and the Magic Towers scattered across the continent. In addition, there are also powers located in the Great Forest, the Cloud Mountains, and the archipelagos of the Stormy Seas.
But of course, there were also secret organizations that were not included in the list of places that anyone interested in this would have heard of, as mentioned above.
And the Black Dawn Society was one such secret society.
Approximately six hundred years ago. A group founded by the legendary black mage, Astrid Elliger.
As a group founded by a black mage, it was naturally in conflict with the Church, but they were different from the seven Catacombs that worship the Great Demons.
Although they once built up their power to a level comparable to a single Catacomb, after the death of the first leader, Astrid, they rapidly diminished, and now, five hundred years later, there are few who remember them.
“How on earth……!”
Words of astonishment flowed from Marchena’s mouth. Her face, already pale due to her vampire nature, became even whiter after hearing the words of the young Inquisitor in front of her.
The Black Dawn Society. And Rosalyn’s Nightmare.
Of course, it was surprising enough that he had figured out their identities. Most people didn’t even know the name Black Dawn Society, but the Inquisition’s intelligence network, located beneath Hesterica, might be more extensive than they thought.
Of course, simply knowing the name of the organization and recognizing that a stranger belongs to it are two completely different matters.
Even if we generously assume that it was a lucky guess, the words that followed went beyond that.
Rosalyn’s Nightmare.
These words could not be explained simply by intelligence or speculation.
Not only the Hesterica Inquisitors and the Empire’s Special Task Force, who were eager to gather information about heresy, but even the Catacomb High Priests, who were said to have reached the deepest depths of the Abyss, did not know these words.
Rosalyn’s Nightmare was a term referring to the secret place where the Black Dawn Society was founded and a word like a code related to the birth of the group.
Hearing the young man’s words, Marchena immediately understood.
‘This guy has been there.’
These were words that could not be uttered by someone who had not been there.
She quickly scanned the information she knew in her mind.
Luciel Lumineger.
Abandoned by his family as a child, he spent his childhood in a remote monastery located far away. Afterwards, he began to excel in all areas and recently joined the Inquisition.
And the subsequent outstanding performance of his duties, hardly befitting someone who had just become an Inquisitor.
From Mount Pehern, his first mission, to the Ashitan Kingdom.
It wasn’t a simple tracking, but they were able to come this far because they possessed extraordinary abilities in pursuing someone and digging up information.
Certainly, it was not something that could be considered ordinary. But nowhere in it was there anything that could link him to the secret society, the Black Dawn Society. Not even a little bit.
‘When on earth?’
Her mind raced. But naturally, she couldn’t even come up with a small clue.
But that wasn’t the end.
“How.”
The young man spoke calmly. There was even a hint of amusement on his face.
“Would this be an answer?”
Soon after, the symbol of the Black Dawn Society began to slowly intertwine over his hand. An inverted blue crescent moon and a black sun rising above it.
At first glance, it seemed simple, but there were secret letters hidden throughout, so if someone tried to imitate it clumsily, they would be immediately exposed.
“……Oh my.”
A short sigh escaped from Kazan’s mouth, who had not shown any change in expression until now. As if reflecting his flustered state of mind, the black shadow surrounding his sword wavered.
Whether to be surprised that he had grasped their identity at once, to be surprised that the Inquisitor was using Magi, or to be surprised that he had perfectly drawn the symbol of the Black Dawn Society with that Magi.
“Could it be.”
The three people in this room already knew. The fact that the conclusion to all those questions was only one.
“I am.”
The young man’s mouth slowly opened.
“The black mage Astrid Elliger.”
Marchena and Kazan’s astonished gazes gathered on him.
“His successor.”
🔹🔹🔹
It wasn’t an impromptu answer. I had anticipated that something similar could happen someday.
Proclaiming oneself as a successor.
It’s a much wiser answer than revealing all my hidden cards and revealing my true identity. Of course, unless it’s someone who has seen my past self in person, they wouldn’t believe me even if I said I was the revived Astrid.
Of course, the reason I said I was a successor was because they were very favorable towards me, or rather, the black mage Astrid.
Unlike the Church, which had designated the black mage Astrid as the worst villain, and some of the Catacombs with whom I wasn’t on good terms.
The vampire, who quickly regained her composure, narrowed her eyes and looked at me.
“……Successor.”
They would know best that it wasn’t a clumsy trick. The casually spoken words and the symbol representing the Dawn Society were not something an outsider could know.
However, knowing detailed information about the Black Dawn Society did not necessarily guarantee that I was the successor of the great black mage Astrid.
“That’s a hard story to believe.”
The surest way to confirm that someone is indeed a successor cannot be used. The person who would acknowledge him is already dead, five hundred years ago.
They know that too. And I already expected what they would say next.
Because there was only one way left.
“If you are truly his successor.”
The man with the calm impression, who had introduced himself as Kazan, opened his mouth. Unlike before, when he had been pointing his sword directly at me, he had now lowered his shadow-clad sword.
“Come to the Society. There, you will find the legacy left by the black mage who touched greatness. If you truly inherited his will, it will react.”
His eyes held not hostility but expectation. I looked at him and nodded.
“I’ll visit. After I finish my business.”
“……Business?”
A displeased expression. I continued speaking calmly.
“Yes. I have to go to the Holy See. As you heard earlier.”
“……”
He was silent for a moment at my words. He seemed a little dissatisfied, but it was their loss. After all, I held the reins of the conversation.
The man exchanged a brief glance with the vampire and then nodded. Then, with a heavy expression, he added a word.
“Don’t make us wait too long.”
“I’ll try my best.”
I shrugged, uttering words I didn’t mean.
Clang.
The man, sheathing his sword, slowly walked towards the shadow and spoke.
“You won’t need directions, will you?”
Obviously.
“Of course.”
At my confident answer, he nodded as if relieved.
“……”
I turned my head and looked at the vampire. She seemed restless, as if debating whether to say something or not. It was the complete opposite of her murderous demeanor from earlier. It was a little refreshing.
I decided to save her the trouble.
“Do you have something to say, Vampire?”
“……”
The vampire, staring at me with her red eyes, spoke in a small voice.
“……Marchena.”
The vampire, who had stated her name, then turned around and disappeared with a whoosh, along with red smoke.
The man, who had been staring at her as if watching something fascinating, also slowly disappeared, as if seeping into the shadows.
It was a departure as impressive as their appearance.
🔹🔹🔹
“The weather is really nice. Don’t you think so, Inquisitor-nim!”
“Saying that while shivering makes it quite unconvincing.”
“Hahaha!”
I turned my head away from Jerit, who burst into laughter excitedly. The surroundings were entirely a white landscape. Now that it was midwinter, it wasn’t weather you could call nice, even as a joke.
Nevertheless, Jerit was wearing a cheerful expression. Of course, he was wearing two thick winter cloaks.
“……”
I shook my head and turned my gaze forward again.
It wasn’t that he considered this weather pleasant because he had inherited the blood of the Frost Giants, or that he had gone mad from the cold.
The reason Jerit was in high spirits despite shivering in the cold was simple.
It was because he was finally on his way back to his hometown after a long and arduous journey, at least by his standards.
The place Jerit and I were heading to was the Holy See located in the Holy Land. It was the place where one of the five Sanctuaries was located and a place that was no different from the symbol of the Herentica Church.
“Inquisitor-nim. Have you ever been to the Holy Land,’Del’?”
Jerit’s question. His eyes held a hint of anticipation. He probably thought I had never been there and was preparing a lengthy explanation about the place.
I happily crushed his anticipation and said,
“I went there a few times when I was young.”
“……”
To be precise, it wasn’t when I was young but when I was old. Well, it wasn’t exactly wrong in terms of it being in the past.
Jerit looked disappointed at my words.
Of course, as a faithful Esquire, he didn’t doubt my words. I gave him some hopeful words.
“Of course, only to the outer parts of Del and the city surrounding the Holy Land. I haven’t been inside the Holy See. Only a select few among those belonging to the Church can enter there.”
“Ah……!”
Jerit’s face brightened again at my words. It was an expression of joy at finally having the opportunity to explain something to me.
He seemed completely oblivious to the fact that just a week ago, the terrifying individuals who could easily kill him had visited the monastery where we were staying.
The midwinter weather was still cold, but it was significantly better than a week ago.
This was because the Holy Land of Del, where the Holy See was located, was located quite south of the city of Hesterica, where the Inquisition was located.
Repetition of rest and travel.
After daybreak, we finished a simple breakfast in the snowfield and the horse, which had started running lightly, snorted.
“It’s that way.”
A gigantic fortress rising above the white snowfield. Solid walls and spires made of pure white carved stone were looking down at us.
The winter morning sunlight shining on the white fortress was subtly radiant. It looked as if the fortress itself was emitting light.
It was a sight befitting the name Holy Land. Jerit murmured beside me with an awestruck expression.
“Finally……!”
The Holy City. The Papal States of Delphaud.
I quietly looked up at the brilliantly shining city.
As expected, it had changed quite a bit from five hundred years ago. The size of the city surrounding the Holy Land seemed to have doubled.
We slowly slowed down as we rode towards the entrance of the city. We could see a long line from afar.
It was natural that many people would visit the vast city of Delphaud surrounding the Holy Land. Jerit and I dismounted without complaint and joined the line.
If I made a fuss about being an Inquisitor, I could enter immediately without queuing, but it wasn’t a very good method unless it was an urgent situation.
This was because there was an unspoken rule that everyone who wanted to enter the Holy Land, whether nobleman or commoner, had to wait their turn and pass through the gates in order, signifying that all are equal under God.
Not even a few minutes had passed since we started waiting.
A man in shining white armor, with an arrogant expression, was riding a horse and moving in the opposite direction, looking down at the people.
Is he a member of the Holy Knights?
The knight, who was casually looking over the people as if patrolling, was about to pass us when…
“……?”
The knight’s gaze turned towards Jerit and me. He tilted his head slightly after seeing us.
I calmly followed his gaze. His eyes were fixed on Jerit.
After a moment of contemplation, he slowly approached us. Then, he hesitated slightly and opened his mouth.
“Are you… perhaps Young Master Jerit?”
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