How a Reincarnated Warlock Lives – Chapter 6

Chapter 6: Inquisition (1)

The City of the Shining Sun, where the Hesterica Cathedral is located. And the city where God’s will is said to last remain.

Hesterica.

Despite the autumn weather that had arrived in full swing, the city was emitting a bright light like midsummer.

Yet it wasn’t hot.

As befitting the prestigious name of the City of the Sun, the brightly shimmering light from the tips of the spires installed throughout the city did not possess the heat of the real sun.

I looked up at the top of the spire with an intrigued expression. It’s not Holy Power.

Well, now that the connection with God is said to have become faint, they wouldn’t be wasting Holy Power like that.

A bright light with the heat minimized.

After carefully observing the tip of the spire, I soon discovered a faint echo of magical power, not Holy Power. I couldn’t see it precisely, but just by looking at the rough flow of mana, I could tell it wasn’t a simple spell.

Extremely difficult to implement but visually dazzling, I could guess where such a useless technique originated from without even looking.

‘The mages of the Magic Towers.’

To put it nicely, a pure pursuit of knowledge and scholarship. To put it badly, those who have made a lifelong profession of wasting time.

It wasn’t surprising that the elemental mages, who holed up in the Magic Towers and caused explosions all day long, had created such pretty garbage.

They were the same five hundred years ago.

‘About mages, Astrid. They must explore not only the essence of phenomena but also what lies beyond.’

Looking at that light, the words of an old friend suddenly came to mind.

I shook my head to clear the old thoughts and followed Anton, who had walked a little ahead.

‘At least one thing has changed in five hundred years.’

Five hundred years ago, during the time I was active, the Church also classified the magic of ordinary elemental mages as heresy. The reason being that magic, an act of miracles, was an act of arbitrarily shaking the original world created by God.

Of course, they didn’t antagonize them as fiercely as they did the Black Mages who had contracted with the devils, the enemies of God.

‘The magic of shining mages in the place where the Hesterica Cathedral is located.’

It wouldn’t be that they suddenly developed a tolerance and deep understanding of mages and the Magic Towers. It must have been to fill the lack of power as God’s response became faint.

‘Even though it’s bigger than five hundred years ago, the inside must be rotten.’

The sight of the power of mana, which they themselves had classified as heresy long ago, flickering high above the city was quite pleasing. Of course, most of the current believers, who blindly believe the words of the Church, wouldn’t even know that the Church had done such a thing in the past.

“It’s there, Luciel.”

Inquisitor Anton Lebecht said, pointing to a large building located ahead. Compared to the way he spoke to the brothers when he first visited the monastery, his tone was much softer and kinder.

‘It’s not bad.’

To penetrate the heart of the enemy and pick only the sweet fruits, one must first become an excellent Inquisitor. Naturally, the more people who trust me, the better.

“Now, let’s go in.”

A tall building rising in the center of the city. The symbol of the Hesterica Church was engraved in large letters on the wall of the building, and statues of griffins, the sacred creatures symbolizing the Sun God, spread their wings on either side of the entrance.

The statues were made to look several times larger and more majestic than their actual size.

Seeing that, the moment I fought those pesky Griffin Knights before briefly came to mind.

As I nodded and walked towards the grand entrance guarded by Church guards in shining armor, Anton stopped me.

“Ah, it’s this way.”

“……?”

The place Anton pointed to was not the large entrance at the front, but a small side path next to it, on the side of the building.

“……”

As if asking for an explanation, Anton calmly said to my expression.

“The Inquisitor’s headquarters is located in the basement of the building, and there are two ways to get there.”

He continued as he walked.

“Of course, it’s not absolutely forbidden to enter through the main entrance, but I recommend that all Inquisitors, including myself, use this entrance.”

Although I didn’t hear it, I could roughly guess the reason.

“To remind ourselves that the path we walk to reach the shining place is the darkest, longest, and in contact with the most vile beings.”

I knew it.

“Now, let’s go.”

So, instead of the grand and magnificent main entrance of the Cathedral, I walked towards the narrow and bumpy side path located next to it.

🔹🔹🔹

The way down to the basement of the Hesterica Cathedral was somewhat subdued. Unlike the outside of the building, the roughly carved passage was quiet, and I could hear a faint sound coming from afar.

“……?”

When I stopped and listened, the small sound became clear.

The sound of music.

Music I had never heard before in my life, or even in my previous life. It was pious, mysterious, and majestic, a music that made me listen involuntarily.

“Saint Iodex’s Psalm, Grissimo’s Miserere.”

Anton, who had also stopped walking, said in a low voice.

“It’s a song played to commemorate the monthly feast day. You’re in luck.”

The Inquisitor, who had stopped walking, also closed his eyes as if to appreciate the song.

Music played to celebrate a good day. I chuckled.

So that’s why I’ve never heard this music before.

Well, it wasn’t bad music to listen to. I was here as an Inquisitor Candidate, not the Church’s enemy.

It wasn’t like the song had a special power to change the phenomenon before my eyes, like the chants of the successors of the Eastern Coast Night Fog Archipelago, so there was no harm in listening to it.

As I was listening to the music, which lasted for a few minutes, it suddenly stopped. It didn’t feel like a natural and clean ending, but rather as if it had been cut off in the middle.

As if the latter part was intentionally not played.

“This song is played only halfway.”

“……?”

As if to answer my question, Anton slowly opened his mouth.

“When a more joyous day arrives, not just an ordinary feast day, then the whole song is played. Since it’s wartime now.”

“I see.”

They’re as needlessly picky as ever.

With the music stopped, we started walking again and soon reached the end of the passage.

And in front of it was a huge rock that seemed to be one piece, blocking the entrance.

“Herejia Cadiere (Destruction to Heretics).”

Rumble.

As Anton uttered a short phrase in the Holy Tongue, the large stone split in two, revealing a hidden entrance.

From within, an even clearer Holy Power than before was flowing out. Even those who weren’t as sensitive as me could feel it.

‘Is this it?’

With an intrigued expression, I slowly moved forward.

The hidden fourth room of the Hesterica Church and the place most feared by the minions seduced by evil.

To the Inquisition.

🔹🔹🔹

“Carry it carefully!”

Brothers in black clothes were busily moving around, carrying various items, and the thick voice of a large man echoed through the wide space.

There are various departments in the Inquisition.

The departments, divided according to their functions for the efficient activities of the Inquisitors, all had different duties, but they had one thing in common.

Besides the obvious fact that they fight against heresy under the glorious and shining name of God.

“Haven’t the holy waters from the Grand Temple arrived yet?”

“Not yet, sir!”

“Damn it. They’re always late.”

Being extremely busy.

The number of devil minions appearing throughout the continent was steadily increasing. And naturally, the number of ordinary farmers who felt anxious about this and claimed to be believers of the Church also increased exponentially.

Expansion of power.

This could be seen as the only benefit that heresy brought to the Church.

Although it was an unpleasant situation for the Cravassia Empire and other countries, who were wary of the Church’s growing power, it wasn’t all good for the Church either.

The expansion of the Church’s territory also meant that the battlefront had widened.

To deal with the minions of evil, who possessed power that transcended ordinary humans, professionally trained personnel were needed, and the number of such people was limited.

Therefore, outside, there were a plethora of farmers who weren’t protected despite faithfully believing in God and paying tithes to the Church.

“Brother Barok-nim!”

A brother called out to the large man, who was busily turning around and giving orders, as he ran up to him.

“What is it?”

“You…… you need to come out for a moment, I think.”

“Who is it? Tell them to wait.”

Another person spoke to the man, who was rummaging through the ledger without even glancing at the brother who had delivered the message.

“Ah, Barok. It’s been a while.”

A familiar voice.

“……Anton Lebecht?”

Only then, Barok, who finally turned his head, saw Inquisitor Anton Lebecht and an unknown young man standing next to him.

Barok averted his gaze from the boy who was looking at him with eyes that were unusually calm for his age and frowned as he looked at Inquisitor Anton. He didn’t seem very welcoming.

Swish.

Anton held something out to Barok.

“……?”

Barok, who had taken it in surprise, looked down.

In his hand was a 3rd-grade holy relic, the Eye of Kahadir.

Unlike many holy relics that lost their value after being used once, this one could be recharged, making it quite precious even here in the Inquisition.

Of course, the time and cost required to recharge it were considerable.

“Wait a minute, is this……?”

Outwardly, it looked no different than usual, but as the head of the Inquisition’s support division, Barok recognized the state of the relic at a glance.

It was completely empty, so much so that not even a tiny fragment of holy power could be felt.

“I’d like you to recharge this by the end of the week. As you can see, it’s completely depleted.”

At Anton’s nonchalant words, Barok’s expression crumpled. Even if he used all the manpower of the support division, it would be absolutely impossible to recharge it in a week.

Especially during these hectic days.

“Damn it, all of it? Did you kill a high priest of one of the Hell Cults or something?”

Anton, as always, made an impossible request with an indifferent expression. Barok, whose thick arms twitched as if he wanted to throw the holy relic at Anton’s face right away, was met with a small smile from Anton.

“Of course, I did use it a little to deal with heretics. But the main use was elsewhere.”

Barok, who saw the rare smile of Inquisitor Anton Lebecht, asked back with a bewildered expression.

“……Where?”

Instead of answering, Anton pointed to the boy standing next to him.

“Let me introduce you. This is Luciel.”

“……?”

Barok, who had a puzzled expression for a moment, made a disbelieving face as if he had remembered something. He then hurriedly took out a specially crafted monocle from his pocket and put it on.

Although he had retired from the front lines and remained in the support division to assist other Inquisitors, Barok was also a Brother who had reached a considerable level of expertise.

“Oh my God.”

After infusing the monocle with holy power and confirming the holy power residing within the boy named Luciel, Barok’s mouth fell open.

Translator’s Blog

Blog

• Why You Can Read Light Novels But Can’t Speak English: A Guide to Unlocking Your Inner Voice
• My Gacha Gaming Habit is Bleeding My Bank Account Dry: How to Stop Before You Go Broke
• Study Guide: Lofi or Punk Emo? The Soundtrack to Smashing Your Next Exam (Like a Boss)
• Demon Slayer: Tengen Uzui – The Ultimate Husbando?
• From Page to Screen: The Grim Reality of Novel to Netflix Adaptation