Chapter 70

Chapter 6 In the Name of Glory

***

Let's simplify the situation. Let's see it from the perspective of the Church of Light.

Is the fugitive professor a different person from the Red Mute? - Yes.

It was all written in the research journal. It detailed how I fainted in Turan, how Charlotte carried me to the temple, and how Isaac took me to his mansion for experiments. First of all, I am human. At least, I'm not the kind of major named character like the Red Mute.

Then, is the professor a servant of the black mage, an underling of the Mute? - Surprisingly, no.

In fact, the more I dug into the prophecy, the more suspicious it became. The professor managed to survive and escape from a city infested with Mutes. I thought I had caught the right person, but apparently not. Even if I wanted to doubt him, he spoke under a truth spell, so he wasn't lying. His body is monstrous, but his soul still resists the Queen, remaining human.

From a religious perspective, where one would choose the soul over the body, I'm not a bad guy; I escaped the Queen's clutches with a will of steel. I'm actually a pretty decent guy.

So, should I let this guy live? - No.

Regardless, his body is close to that of a Mute, and he can still hear voices, so he might betray us at any moment. The Church of Light believes the voices he hears are the Queen's. I can't just leave him be. By the way, the prophecy also talks about the darkness that has infiltrated the city. It might be referring to this potential threat, the Church of Salvation. I guess it's best to just kill him! If he's a good boy, he can go to Ro-Haram's side!

- That was the conclusion. My innocence was proven, but the verdict was death. The only way to survive, aside from causing a commotion, is to prove my usefulness to them.

"Can you... understand the Queen's will? Is that true?"

And a communication device that connects directly to the Queen's channel should be quite useful.

'Of course, it's a lie.'

My goal is to create an atmosphere that 'seems' like that.

The professor nodded in agreement with Senadis's words.

"Although my soul has escaped the Queen's grasp, my body still belongs to them. Even now, the voices in my head provide me with information. If you keep me alive, I can help predict and counter the Mutes' movements."

The assistant bishop, Senadis, felt her expectations rising as she looked at the professor. He smiled slyly.

- Speed Wagon: Is that about us?

- Professor: Yeah. It's not wrong, is it? The dialogue window is a kind of system assist, so it can be seen as a conversation in my head. It's true that I receive information. I already know how the Mutes will move in the future because I peeked at the 'clear data.' Even if my seed is different, I can still predict 'to some extent.'

- Jokass: What a scam.

- Takealook: This guy is showing us how skillfully he can scam in real-time.

- NoruDrug: If BDSM comes, hide the women and children, and be careful not to be swayed by their words... Note...

- HeungAnMandu: It sounds like a guide on how to deal with a 3rd-form variant.

Hmm. It's definitely a scam. By spreading believable lies, he deceived them. But in exchange, my head is still on my shoulders. That's worth it.

"Then, the darkness that has infiltrated the city, as mentioned in the prophecy, must be the Church of Salvation. You must have learned this from the information you heard directly."

The professor nodded vigorously in response to Senadis's words.

"Yes. Although the Church of Salvation is relatively new, it is not a group of fraudsters taking advantage of the chaos. It is a terrifying seed planted by the Mutes, targeting the heart of humanity. They believe the Mutes are saviors and work to help them 'save' humanity."

"Such... despicable heretics. Even ignorant commoners believe such nonsense..."

"They must have tempted the young people with visible miracles. They likely told them that if they dedicated themselves to the Church of Salvation, they would be chosen as 'selectors' like the famous talking Mutes, and they could ravage the nobles who had been exploiting and oppressing them."

"....Do you know where in Tovrun the Church of Salvation has its base?"

Senadis, who had been suspicious until the end, asked this. If he had heard it directly, he should at least know the location of their meetings.

"At the place where ownerless horses gather."

"Where ownerless horses... gather?"

Of course, I had prepared this. To appeal as an informant, I needed to show some concrete results.

The professor answered with a smug smile.

"As you know, Rodric is famous for its knights. Many young people aspire to become knights, but only a few of them actually do. The young men who come to the capital with dreams of glory end up leaving in disappointment. And in this city, built by magicians who feel inferior to knights, there are facilities to hire such disappointed knights."

"Could it be... the 'Singing Helmet' tavern?"

"Yes."

'Singing Helmet.' One of the taverns in Tovrun, it's famous for being a place where many free knights who haven't found a lord gather. Among players, it's well-known as a place to find meat shields for the early game.

'The password was easier than I thought. After all, it has to be something that commoners can guess.'

Horses are basically ridden only by nobles or knights. Ownerless horses? Nobles don't have owners. So, horses mean knights. Ownerless means wandering or free knights. The only place in Tovrun where such knights gather is the 'Singing Helmet.'

Most of the young men who came to the capital to become knights without any real skills are just typical guys. They spent all their money, even selling the only working ox or donkey their family had, to buy cheap armor and swords, and strutted around as if they were already knights, only to taste the bitter reality.

The young people, who were ruminating on their inferiority, frustration, and anger at the nobles who didn't recognize them, would have easily fallen for temptations like 'You are the one who can become a savior of the world!' or 'I will give you the power to crush the capital's first knight!'

Because many people dressed awkwardly and came and went, outsiders could enter frequently without arousing suspicion. The 'Singing Helmet,' a tavern for disappointed knights, is definitely the base for the Church of Salvation in this area.

"Such a heinous..."

"We must take action. How dare they spread heresy in front of the temple of Ro-Haram."

"Every civilian in Tovrun, except for the believers, is a potential heretic!"

"Purification! This city needs purification! Request an inquisition from the main temple immediately to purify it as soon as possible!"

The quiet whispers turned into emotional debates, and the debates into heated arguments. The priests of the Church of Light, who had been good, were now blinded by the light, turning into fanatics.

'Hmm... Did I light the fire too much? If I leave this to them, they might burn down the whole city to catch one flea.'

A fierce wave of anger, different in quality from when I revealed I wasn't one of the Queen's followers. The Church of Salvation is a problem, but if I leave it to these guys, they might really destroy Tovrun.

'Sometimes, people think they can do anything under the name of belief. They see minor things as stepping stones toward a greater cause.'

I knew they were like that, but seeing it firsthand is quite disgusting.

At first, I thought I might be able to gently persuade them and get a position in the church, but it's not going to work. I can't stand these guys. I just need to take what I can and get out.

[...Are you angry?]

'A little.'

Hyde was silent for a moment, then snapped his floating finger and said. By the way, he now has a thumb. When did he get it? I can still feel it.

[You're a dom, aren't you?]

Hyde, I thought, frowned.

'How can you share my head and have no consideration at all?'

[Selfishness is a child's privilege. Or maybe you're not as good as you think.]

'Fucking hell.'

At that moment, a hazy mist clouded the revolting images from my past that were floating in my mind. Even though he says that, Hyde must have shown some 'consideration.' He could edit my memories from the moment we met.

'You learn fast, kid.'

[Kids learn fast, don't they?]

'But you're not a kid anymore, you twenty-four-year-old brat.'

Hehehe-

I could feel my memories of my mother naturally dispersing between the laughter. It wasn't that I had forgotten; it was more like they had naturally faded over time. Thanks to this, I could refocus on the game.

When I opened my eyes after my reverie, the priests and paladins had calmed down and become quiet.

'No, they haven't really calmed down.'

Their fierce gazes and tightly pressed lips. They haven't calmed down; they've reached a point of breaking through, just before taking action. They are ready, waiting for the bishop's command.

The assistant bishop, feeling the focused gazes on her, sighed and mentioned the holy name.

"Ratula."

"....Ratula, Ro Haram."

"Ratula, Ro Haram."

"Ratula, Ro Haram."

Senadis, who had been calmly closing her eyes, quietly reached into her white robe and pulled out a delicately crafted small glass bottle.

Drip. Drip. Drip.

With a devout expression, Senadis approached and looked down at the professor, who was still kneeling.

"I will ask you one last question."

A solemn, sacred voice. The light of sanctity emanating from her body was so bright that even if I lifted my head, I couldn't see her face.

"Professor. You have been given a body tainted by evil through the hands of wicked heretics, and your soul has been defiled by the Queen. Even if you wish to live a human life, your body will be abandoned on cold ground, and your soul will not reach the stars. Nevertheless, do you swear to dedicate your remaining life to humanity?"

'Really. These people are just as bad at hiding their true intentions as the one-year-old Hyde.'

I could feel that they were treating me as an outsider, not part of humanity, but were asking if I would serve as a tool, fighting against the Mutes and for humanity.

"Yes. I swear."

Although reluctant, the professor bowed his head and spoke the affirmative words. The oath was for me, not for them. I had planned to do my best here anyway.

But it seemed the assistant bishop heard it differently, as her face, which had been like a mask with a smile, softened slightly.

"....The Lord says that light shines equally on all people, and even the lowest place is illuminated by the dawn. This must be the Lord's will. I will render my judgment. Fugitive professor, you are not guilty."

'Great! I passed!'

Just as the professor was rejoicing internally, Senadis continued speaking, instead of ending the trial with the verdict.

"Furthermore, the fact that you knelt before Ro Haram and confessed your sins after enduring such hardships is clearly a sign of the Lord's will upon you."

Hmm? Wait a minute. Is there more? Didn't she just say I was defiled? According to the doctrine, they can't give me a position in the church.

As she spoke, she tilted the jar she was holding and slowly poured its contents over the professor's bowed head. A soothing fragrance that relaxed the tension in my mind. It was the effect of the finest holy oil, which the church dedicates to the gods.

"Professor, you who have been anointed with oil but cannot serve in the clergy. From ancient times, the church has entrusted significant missions to outsiders in times of chaos, under the name of the church. I hereby grant you the position of 'Hero' of the Church of Light and command you to be a torch that illuminates the future of humanity."

"Wh-what? Just, just wait a moment-"

Clank!

"Silence. This is a sacred ceremony. Do not speak out of turn."

As I opened my mouth in shock, a paladin standing beside the bishop placed his hand on his sword and growled quietly.

Drip. Drip.

When the last drop of holy oil fell on my head, Senadis smiled brightly, just like the first time we met.

"Professor, your defiled soul. Do you swear to accept the name of 'Hero' as a representative of the church?"

"Wh-what...?"

This is strange. This wasn't part of my plan!

In the solemn atmosphere, the eyes of the priests and paladins, who were waiting for his answer, began to flash with anger. If he said 'No' at this moment-

'How dare you refuse a sacred mission!'

'So you are a dog of heresy! You dared to speak lies in front of the holy image of Ro Haram, using the terrible magic of heresy!'

'Kill him!'

'Hang him on the highest tower and let him dry to death!'

Ugh.... It's obvious. How dare a sinner, defiled by the hands of heresy, refuse a sacred mission. The boiling anger in the hearts of the priests and paladins would all be directed at me.

- GanjangGayba: The assistant bishop suddenly stepped on the gas?

- Takealook: They were going to kill him, but now they want him to be a hero. This is like an illegal U-turn.

- HaiWeinaChom: Hero: Refusal means heresy. Anyway, he's a heretic.

- Jokass: Still, being a hero of the Church of Light isn't bad, right?

- Takealook: I don't know. It feels like he's being forced to sign a contract without even reading the terms.

The professor felt a cold sensation at the back of his neck and snapped back to reality. It's over. It's really over, but not the trial; it