Taming the Evil Saintess

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The existence of the Inquisition Officer of the Saint is a pure product of faith. Although they are criticized for advocating violence and their methods being somewhat extreme, their fervor towards the divine is undeniably rooted in genuine purity.

Thus, the Inquisition Bureau follows not just the Pope’s orders, but also their own intuition guided by God.

In this light, the Inquisition Officer Yurede, dispatched to the capital, could draw his own conclusions based on his instincts.

“It’s the worst.”

That was all he could utter.

Yurede sighed deeply, resting his hand on the doorway as he witnessed the heretical rituals taking place within the Cathedral of the Saint.

He had heard that the authority of the Saint was no longer what it used to be.

Saint Ophelia Meredein had applied for asylum, and the Hero publicly attacked the Cathedral, bringing its once-great authority crashing down.

“…”

It was largely a case of their own making.

Of course, it was a tragic situation.

But was it really necessary to abandon faith to this extent?

“The Inquisition Bureau is closed, weekly services are suspended. What reason could possibly remain for this city to carry the sacred name of the Cathedral of the Saint?”

Yurede sighed again, looking towards his companion, Hound Owen.

Owen shrugged, seemingly in agreement.

“Besides, what’s up with that demonic figure embedded in the Main Cathedral?”

In the heart of the Main Cathedral stood a statue of a man with four pairs of wings.

At first glance, it might be mistaken for an angel, but to someone like Yurede, who was deeply acquainted with faith, it was clear.

The taboo four pairs of wings, holding in its hand a half-bite apple.

Truly a symbol of evil, wasn’t it?

Coincidentally, there was a figure among the Demon King’s officers who bore a similar appearance.

“Hell Duke Derabilice.”

Hound Owen, who had been observing the situation, chimed in, and Yurede shook his head in exasperation while gazing at the elderly man standing before him.

“Archbishop, how could this have happened?”

Yurede received information about the situation in the Cathedral through his contact.

Archbishop Belwin. Not long ago, he had informed Yurede about this demonic pact and the current situation of the Cathedral, requesting assistance.

“Looks like we’re witnessing a truly unprecedented situation. A symbol of evil entering the Cathedral.”

Belwin offered a bitter smile as he gazed at the scenery of the Cathedral.

The Cathedral was a city adorned with buildings of pure white and gilded structures, regarded as the most beautiful on the continent.

But now, with the demonic schemes hidden in that purity revealed, Yurede could no longer appreciate its aesthetic beauty. The intuition of an Inquisition Officer couldn’t only detect heresy.

“Archbishop Belwin, has the Holy See shown no self-correcting measures until things have reached this point?”

“The Inquisition Bureau has been closed, and the Cardinals are composed of individuals loyal to the Pope. There’s little a mere archbishop like me could do.”

“Even so, forming a pact with the Demon King’s army?”

“That much shows how desperate the situation is.”

“There are plenty of desperate humans out there. If all of them join hands with evil, this continent would already be in the Demon King’s grasp. Yet, the continent still stands. What could possibly be the reason?”

“…”

Yurede slammed his fist against the window ledge.

“There are still many rational thinkers left. And to think that here in the Cathedral, which ought to represent the light, a pact with the Demon King is being made? Puh-lease, what nonsense!”

“Right. I expected you to say that.”

“You must have seen it too, Archbishop. The incomprehensible treatment directed at the Saint.”

At those words, Belwin nodded with a bitter smile.

“While one could understand it to an extent for the sake of convenience, the current situation is unacceptable by any moral standard or the values of an Inquisition Officer.”

Yurede’s next action was something both Owen and Belwin could predict.

He adjusted his clothing and stepped onto the window ledge.

He intended to jump down several floors.

“I must meet the Pope directly.”

“Yurede, that’s not a door.”

“Did you not know? A window is a door.”

“Stop it now. The Pope is…”

“Are you saying we should leave things as they are?”

Yurede’s face twisted in frustration, but it was Owen, not Belwin, who stopped him.

“It would be wise to halt. We are in a position of infiltration. If we’re caught, it won’t just be a simple mishap.”

“But…”

“Moreover, we just received intel.”

Yurede frowned and turned his head, just as Owen placed his hand on the mark on the back of his neck.

The mark of the shadows. That was the reason he was the continent’s top information-gatherer.

After skimming through the information via the mark, he sighed and shook his head.

“It seems the Cathedral isn’t the only problem.”

“What do you mean?”

“The Black Water Elgore’s pirate crew has appeared on the Eastern Coast of the Empire.”

“…”

“And it seems the Plague Lord Vermina is also on the move from the North.”

Yurede’s eyes narrowed, and Owen nodded, affirming his thoughts.

“Right. With the Hero having appeared, it looks like the Demon King’s army is planning to start a war.”

“So what should we do…”

“It would be better to head to the Eastern Coast. The situation in the Cathedral isn’t great, but it’s not an immediate threat. The Northern threat, well…”

Owen trailed off, chuckling softly as he added.

“Let’s hope the Hero and his party can handle it.”

“…”

The Hero.

At the mention of that word, Yurede couldn’t help but break into an awkward smile.

Warrior of God. To Yurede, the name Hero Elliot was one he could trust.

“Is that so? Is there something else we ought to be doing?”

And the name Elliot effectively served as Yurede’s anchor.