Chapter 120 : Chapter 120
Chapter 120. The Underground Prison of the Marcellent Temple
“Welcome, Prince.”
It was Kirio who welcomed Radel, who arrived amidst the hospitality of the Supreme Deity Order believers.
Seeing the believers waving to Radel from outside, Kirio seemed concerned and spoke cautiously.
“I am worried that your journey here might have been uncomfortable.”
“I was a little surprised, but it wasn’t uncomfortable.”
Radel answered calmly.
“Just a few months ago, there weren’t many people who knew me. So it is more fascinating and I am grateful.”
Kirio couldn’t help but be touched inwardly by Radel’s words.
What a noble heart!
“As expected, the Prince’s heart is like the deep ocean.”
“Haha.”
Radel could only laugh.
Perhaps because Kirio’s affinity broke through 60 a while ago, his reaction was formidable.
He wondered if Leon, who always went around with followers, lived hearing these kinds of words constantly.
‘How does he endure it?’
Indeed, he wasn’t an ordinary guy.
But to live as a royal, he would have to get used to things like this too. Isn’t Inette also enduring it while shuddering.
Radel made up his mind to arm his mind firmly.
Kirio guided Radel and Gusto to Bishop Lambrado’s office.
“The Bishop had some business and is away for a moment. If you wait a little, he will arrive soon.”
“Have you been in Marcellent continuously, Kirio?”
“Yes, because Marcellent is the headquarters of the Inquisitors. When I am not in the capital, I often stay here.”
Just in time, Radel asked subtly about Obsidian while Kirio was there.
“By the way, could I know where the Helsington professor caught at the Academy is right now?”
“You mean Belphegor’s slave.”
Kirio’s voice, which had been soft, became cold.
It was as if he became a different person.
“The crime of trying to harm the Prince with evil magic without daring to know his place, it is fitting to pull out his tongue, but since the interrogation is not over yet, we have confined him.”
To Radel, it sounded like it meant he wanted to kill him right away but was enduring it.
The Inquisitors’ hatred for heretics was certainly extraordinary.
Gusto asked Kirio.
“Was he really Belphegor’s henchman?”
“That is correct. A mark appeared on the sole of his foot.”
Those who offered their souls to devils were bound to have a mark of contracting with a devil appear on their body when Divine Power was infused.
Radel also recalled the content he read in the library.
“So it is the Devil of Sloth.”
At Radel’s words, Kirio nodded.
“That is correct. When they lure people, they tempt them saying they don’t need to do anything. So they are one of the heretics that are even harder to find.”
“Hard to find?”
“Yes. Those who fall for them often do not take a step out of their homes. They corrupt people’s souls secretly to that extent.”
Listening to it, indeed, it was a vicious devil.
Doesn’t it mean they manipulate the desire everyone has as a human cleverly.
Radel wanted to converse with Obsidian even more.
“If it’s okay, can I try conversing with him?”
Kirio’s eyes wavered.
“You will converse with him personally, Prince? It is too dangerous.”
“It is fine. I know how dangerous it is. I have been to the underground prison before too.”
Radel persuaded Kirio.
“I will go with Gusto. I want to know more details about the Black Order. Since it seems I cannot avoid it in the future, I want to investigate them thoroughly.”
It was a fact Kirio also knew that Radel had been to the underground prison with Bishop Lambrado before.
And that the heretics suffered from the prayer containing Radel’s sincerity there.
Since even Lambrado, the head of Inquisitors who saw that, was surprised, Radel’s ability was as good as proven.
Eventually, Kirio had no choice but to nod.
* * *
Obsidian was confined in solitary confinement.
“It is not the underground prison?”
“……It is an embarrassing story, but there is no space in the underground prison right now.”
According to Kirio, the prison in the basement of the Marcellent Supreme Deity Order temple was currently saturated.
“It is because there are too many heretics. There is insufficient space to accommodate all the heretics being caught continuously.”
He didn’t know, but it seemed there were more heretics who sold their souls to devils in the Empire than expected.
He said there was also an opinion to expand the underground prison.
Kirio shook his head firmly.
“However, I do not want to use the precious donations given by Supreme Deity Order believers for such evil bastards.”
His words were understandable too.
Heretics didn’t end just by killing them.
Those who contracted with weak devils could be purified with Divine Power, but those who contracted with strong devils were different.
If killed carelessly, the corrupted soul dwelling in them could immediately seek the next sacrifice.
The only thing the temple could do was just confine them.
“Sometimes I feel frustrated by this situation.”
Kirio sighed and said belatedly looking at Radel.
“I didn’t intend to complain to the Prince, it is a little embarrassing.”
“That can happen.”
It was then.
Ding.
[A Quest occurs!]
[Interrogate the Fallen One]
You who receive attention from the Black Order.
You have emerged as a threat to the Black Order. Furthermore, you even obtained the keys that sealed the devils.
However, since there is one who turned their back on god in the temple, a crisis will come if you reveal the existence of the keys.
For now, let’s interrogate the fallen one quietly and find out the existence of the insider.
Condition: Keep it a secret that you have the black keys
Success: Gusto Zebro’s favor, Marcellent Bishop’s reward
Failure: Heresy Trial
Seeing the word Heresy Trial after a long time, Radel’s eyes couldn’t help but widen.
Honestly, he did consider revealing about the black keys if he met Bishop Lambrado.
Because it was also true that it felt uncomfortable for Radel to possess them.
However, if there was an insider in the temple, the story was different.
They could associate Radel with the devils and frame him with suspicion of heresy again.
‘It seems I am popular in the Supreme Deity Order though.’
Didn’t he feel it when entering the temple with Gusto earlier too.
There could be those who were displeased with the believers’ interest and favor towards him.
It was fully predictable what would happen if such people joined forces.
‘Let’s follow the quest for now.’
Radel asked Kirio for a favor.
“By any chance, can I go in with holy water?”
Interrogating a fallen one required preparation.
* * *
“Nice to meet you again, Professor.”
Obsidian was startled at the familiar voice.
He thought Inquisitors were coming in as usual, but a completely different person entered.
“Surely you are?”
“Yes, it’s me. Have you been well in the meantime?”
Seeing Radel’s face, Obsidian’s blood rushed backwards.
“You bastard! Because of you!”
He wanted to go and take revenge on Radel right now, but he was tied up helplessly.
The only thing Obsidian could do was spit out curses with his mouth.
“Even if I grind and drink you, it won’t be enough! If I get out of here, I will kill you most terribly in the world!”
As Obsidian, tied to the chair, screamed wildly and twisted his body, Gusto blocked Radel’s front.
“A dirty heretic dares to run his mouth carelessly at the Prince. If you keep behaving like that, I will tear your mouth apart.”
Gusto warned calmly and drew his sword halfway from the scabbard.
Obsidian flinched slightly at Gusto’s fierce spirit.
“It’s okay, Gusto. Just let him speak.”
Radel dissuaded Gusto and stepped forward.
Although Radel didn’t know well about interrogation, he could guess one thing.
That he had to agitate the emotions of the subject being interrogated.
He thought that way, he might make a slip of the tongue.
“I would like you to answer my question. Why is the Black Order targeting me?”
“Ha, don’t make me laugh! We have no interest in you!”
Obsidian had no intention of answering obediently.
He was someone who had endured the harsh interrogation of Inquisitors until now.
He didn’t know what information other traitors leaked, but he would absolutely not spit out words that would be helpful to Radel.
It was the moment Obsidian pledged so.
Radel nodded with an expression of understanding very well.
“Actually, I know. It must be because of my popularity.”
“What nonsense is that?”
“I came knowing everything. When you cast a curse on me, Professor, didn’t you think that you absolutely had to kill me here?”
Obsidian glared at Radel.
Of course, he did have such a thought.
Especially when Radel showed the key, his eyes rolled back with anger.
But Radel’s words were gradually crossing the line.
“From the Black Order’s perspective, it might have been dangerous. They must have been afraid of me.”
“No, it is not……!”
“Weren’t you afraid that I would become too popular in the Supreme Deity Order?”
Does one usually say such things with one’s own mouth?
He was no ordinary shameless guy.
Obsidian shuddered.
I should have killed that viper-like guy back then!
“Don’t be mistaken! Because your popularity is nothing but an illusion!”
“Considering that, it seems the Black Order is too conscious of me.”
Gusto spoke with a serious expression from the side.
“That is correct. It is certain they are jealous of the Prince’s popularity.”
“Heretics are like that. Since they aren’t popular with people.”
Not popular?
Putting other things aside, Obsidian couldn’t help but get excited at those words.
“Do you think we targeted you because we liked to? The very thought that everyone in the Supreme Deity Order would like you is wrong! Crazy bastard……. Not even knowing who is trying to kill him.”
Took the bait.
Radel smiled and approached Obsidian.
“Really? So not everyone likes me. Then who in the Supreme Deity Order hates me enough to kill me. I am so curious.”
At Radel’s words, Gusto, who noticed something, also changed his expression.
Radel grabbed Obsidian’s shoulder.
Holy water was held in his hand before anyone knew it.