Regressor of the Fallen Family novel Chapter 271

Chapter 271

These fools have gone mad. The audacity of a small kingdom on the border daring to obstruct the temple’s event in broad daylight?

“Do you think McLain Kingdom will remain unscathed after defying the will of the gods!?” Esel threatened with anger, though the threat had some basis in truth. Even the mighty Ares Empire was cautious about officially opposing the temple, and now this insignificant kingdom?

Despite the threat, the Sword Duke remained calm. “It’s not the will of the gods, but the will of the temple, I would say. With the amount of divine power you folks possess, reattaching an arm should hardly be a problem.”

Esel was left speechless by the absurdity, remaining frozen mid-shout as the fighting had already stopped. The emotionless Inquisitors, recognizing the turn of events amongst their leadership, ceased the battle and grouped together, while McLain’s knights did not bother to stop them.

“Well, since no one has died yet, it seems possible to clean up this mess now. What do you think?”

“Are you insane? Do you need to witness the ruin of a country to come to your senses…?”

“Unfortunately for you, whether this country falls or not, it seems His Eminence the Cardinal won’t get to see it.”

When had he approached? The Sword Duke, who had been over twenty meters away, was suddenly whispering in Esel’s ear, causing his tongue to freeze against his will.

“Ah, a Cardinal could reattach his severed head, could he not?”

Esel’s face, wrinkled with age, broke out in a cold sweat as a deep voice carried a weight of killing intent. It was an unnatural scene, even if no sword touched his throat.

“Eminence the Cardinal!”

“Your Grace!”

“How dare you!”

The lieutenants, with their arms regenerating amidst a brilliant light, were about to react. However…

“Stop!”

Esel’s sudden command caused the fervent aura to dissipate like a spring breeze.

“Oh, there seems to be a misunderstanding. Disarm!”

The great stature of a Cardinal seemed laughable now, as Esel, possessing neither the divine power of a high priest nor the combat prowess of a knight, could not withstand the overt display of aura by the aura-user.

“Eminence the Cardinal! Do not succumb to threats!”

“We will fight to the very end!”

“The will of the gods cannot be broken!”

The Inquisitors, who had always been expressionless, now shouted with their faces flushed with fervor. It looked like the lieutenants were ready to lead them back into battle at any moment, and Esel’s face contorted in frustration.

‘Damn it all.’

How could he not feel ashamed of this moment? Yet, the temple’s promising new star, who became a high priest at a young age through deep understanding and acceptance of doctrine, wasn’t there. What stood in his place was a corrupt individual who, over the decades, had grown to value himself more than the gods.

‘I must survive first.’

And that petty man used his acting skills to their fullest extent.

“…Faith does not give in to threats. This area was permitted to break the taboo by Sister Ilia. We were hasty.”

“But Eminence! That Bishop Ilia is currently being returned for religious interrogation…”

“Until the judgment is passed, that remains the official stance of the temple. I did not consider that.”

The Inquisitors seemed to realize something all at once, and the knights of McLain shared the same thought amongst themselves.

– Those crazy bastards.

The words the Cardinal threw were only desperate efforts to survive, yet everyone seemed to accept that nonsense and re-sheathe their weapons.

‘It’s best not to associate with zealots.’

Even the Sword Duke, who had caused the situation, could only let out a hollow laugh at the absurdity.

“Thank you for your cooperation, Eminence the Cardinal.”

The Sword Duke smirked and bowed, and Esel responded in a very low voice with a glint in his eye.

“Heh… Heheh. I will remember this humiliation.”

Even in response to those words, the Duke only grinned, further infuriating Esel.

Who could have imagined that someone would threaten the leader of the Inquisitors, a force capable of deciding the fate of nations, with mere physical force?

‘Madmen. I will make you weep blood.’

Esel engraved this grudge in his heart, but the ordeal of the investigators was just beginning.

“Ha ha ha. The investigative team has declared there is no heresy in drinking deer blood, right?”

“Really? That’s such a relief. Truly, a relief.”

The knights, on their way to Laphitan Castle, gossiped amongst the villagers they encountered at each stop, deliberately manipulating public opinion. Those short conversations would soon spread across the kingdom on the winds of rumor.

‘It was merely deferred judgment, wasn’t it?’

The situation was ludicrous to the Inquisitors, but with their leader remaining silent, they did not openly refute it. Meanwhile, Esel, clutching something in his robe, internally ground his teeth.

‘Your laughter will soon end.’

Focusing on this single thought, Esel turned a blind eye to the knights’ conduct.

Heeeein!

“Inform everyone that the Inquisitorial Squad has visited.”

Esel had confidently made that declaration at the gate of Laphitan.

“Oh my, Eminence the Cardinal! It is an honor to meet you.”

Even as the territorial lord practically leaped out to greet him and bow, Esel believed he would soon be able to return the favor of this humiliation. He passed by the lord with an unaffected face, entered the castle, and as soon as he was taken to the guest quarters, he slammed the door and pulled out a white crystal orb.

However, contrary to his expectations, the response from his supposed savior, the Pope, was not positive. The Pope hardened his expression as he listened to Esel’s earnest pleas.

[The reaction inside the kingdom regarding the investigation team is not favorable… Did you summon me to state the obvious, Esel?]

“But, Your Holiness! They went so far as to use force to stop the heretic tribunal!”

[Oh, so? Which of the priests died?]

“Not dead, but… many are severely injured…!”

Remembering the lieutenants staggering, unable to shake off the aura remnants despite having their arms reattached, Esel implored once more.

[No one has died. Hah… Cardinal Esel, you continue to disappoint me.]

Was this truly coming from the Pope’s mouth? Esel, momentarily stunned and unable to continue, was met with an annoyed and impatient tone from the Pope.

[Esel. Surely you do not believe that gathering evidence against heresy is the entirety of your duty?]

“Eh? The command I received was entirely…”

[Hah… Disappointing. Perhaps I’ve allowed you to indulge too long in luxury. The serpent has lost all of its venom.]

With a sharp rebuke and an increasingly cold gaze from the Pope, Esel quickly came to his senses.

“Your Holiness. Please, enlighten your foolish servant!”

Thud. Thud.

Esel continuously banged his head on the floor, but the Pope’s voice remained frosty.

[Your duty is to provide a justifiable reason for the temple to intervene decisively in McLain Kingdom.]

“Your words mean…?”

[It is acceptable if you find evidence of heresy, but if that proves too difficult, some of the dispatched priests enduring ‘a grave misfortune’ would also suffice as a valid reason.]

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