Chapter 68

"Damn... I don't know the way..."

I managed to defeat Schpurr, but I had overlooked something important and fundamental. I don't know the geography of the North District. It's already night, and visibility is poor, so there's a real possibility I might get lost.

I don't want to end up in such a situation, but I can't just stand here forever. Hmm, I guess I have no choice but to move.

I start running in the direction that Bishop Leveos ran off to.

"Probably, he didn't go too far..."

When I caught up to him before, I noticed that Bishop Leveos isn't very fast. Given his build, he probably doesn't have much stamina for running.

On the other hand, Fissel is young and a seasoned swordsman and magician. I don't think Fissel would fall behind in terms of simple physical ability. Plus, she has sword magic, which is really convenient for long-distance attacks, allowing her to adjust the power as needed.

"...Ah, is that it?"

It seems my worries were unfounded. After running for a while, I spot what looks like Fissel and Bishop Leveos.

"Teacher, are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Fissel did a great job."

As I get closer, Fissel, who seems unharmed, expresses her concern for me.

Phew, Schpurr was a tough opponent. I think if I had just a regular longsword, it would have been much harder. Actually, I'm not sure if I could have won without a scratch. I really have to thank Balder; this sword is truly a masterpiece, more than I deserve.

"Schpurr... has he been defeated? Damn, what a useless man."

"..."

Bishop Leveos, seeing my arrival as Schpurr's defeat, spat out these words.

This guy has quite a character. I almost want to punch him. I wonder why Schpurr, for his part, tried to let such a man escape. If he were still alive, I might have heard more about it.

By the way, Bishop Leveos has his hands tied with ropes, looking every bit the part of a criminal. These ropes were probably prepared by Fissel.

In other words, she must have known from the start that the mission was to capture the target. Lucy, did you send Fissel with that intention? It doesn't matter much now, though.

"Teacher, where are we taking him?"

"Hmm? That's right..."

Fissel's question hits me.

Indeed, I was asked to capture Bishop Leveos, but I didn't ask where to take him after that.

I can't bring him to the inn where I'm staying. The most straightforward place would be the Reberio Knights' headquarters. It's almost midnight, but someone should be there.

"We'll take him to the Knights' headquarters. Can you guide us?"

"Sure. It's a bit of a walk, though."

"I know the general distance, so it's fine."

So, our destination is set.

Ideally, we would use a carriage, but given the situation, it's better to walk.

All that's left is to take Bishop Leveos to the headquarters and hand him over to one of the knights. Ideally, someone like Alyssia, who understands the situation, would be best, but it's unlikely she's still at the headquarters this late. Probably just a few on duty.

"You don't understand. The nobility of unraveling the depths of miracles."

"That's not something you should be preaching to me. Moreover, it doesn't absolve the victims of your ideology."

Bishop Leveos is still talking, but I don't care.

If he were just studying the miracles in the scriptures, no one would have a problem. Lucy herself is deeply involved in her research without causing trouble for others. Well, I did get a bit of trouble, but that's beside the point.

What's unforgivable is that he conspired with criminals and used innocent people for human experiments. If not for that, he could have continued his research.

No matter how noble the miracles of the Sphen religion are, they can't justify sacrificing human lives. Bishop Leveos misjudged that one point, and that's all there is to it.

"You'll regret this. For hindering our research."

"Is that so?"

Bishop Leveos continues to rant.

This guy is just wasting his breath. He seems to be delusional about his own righteousness.

If he were ever called in for questioning, he would probably just keep talking about his own righteousness. That's probably why he chose to run rather than face the questioning.

There's still something that bothers me: the origin of those knights.

From their equipment, they're clearly not from the Reberio Knights. But they were too well-equipped and skilled to be ordinary bandits or thieves.

Most likely, they are from the Church Knights of the Sphen religion, as Ibrui mentioned. I've never met any Church Knights, so I can't be sure, but it fits.

The Reberio Knights will investigate the scene, and that should clarify things. My job is to capture Bishop Leveos and take him to the headquarters. From there, it's Alyssia's or Hembritz's job.

"What's wrong with offering valueless people to the gods? You fools can't even prioritize the value of things...!"

"Say no more. If you don't want to get hurt, that is."

His words make me lose my cool. Before I know it, I'm grabbing Bishop Leveos by the collar.

"Teacher, calm down."

Fissel, who saw my actions, looks a bit surprised but calmly tries to reason with me.

"...Sorry."

This guy is despicable. There's no doubt about that.

But it's not my place to judge him. That would be vigilante justice. As someone who teaches the sword and the way, I can't do that. It's a matter of why we have a country and a judicial system.

I know this in theory, but it's frustrating to deal with such a scumbag.

I slowly release my grip.

"...Let go. You have no right to touch me."

"..."

There's no point in arguing with him.

Sigh, what am I supposed to do with this pent-up anger? Beating him up would be bad for my reputation, even if he is a corrupt bishop.

"Shut up. You shouldn't talk anymore. And your breath stinks."

"...Hmph, little girl."

Fissel's voice also carries clear anger and frustration.

I want to say, "Who do you think you are, being caught by a little girl?" but I manage to hold it back.

I don't want to waste my physical and mental energy on this. I'll just ignore him and hand him over quietly. That's the best course of action.

"..."

A minor conflict almost broke out, but I managed to control myself and continue walking down the night street. The three of us—me, Fissel, and the bound Bishop Leveos—walk in silence through the night.

Walking slowly through the North District of Baltrain at night is a rare opportunity, but unfortunately, the situation isn't conducive to a leisurely stroll. I'll have to come back for a proper tour when I have the time. I continue walking.

However, there's one nagging doubt.

Capturing Bishop Leveos—will that resolve everything?

It's probably beyond my understanding.

Oh well. I don't need to know the details. I'll just hand this over to Alyssia, Lucy, or Ibrui.

For now, I'll just get this guy handed over as quickly as possible.