Chapter 299: Chapter 298: Cult Detector (2)

“…Partner?”

Wait, that’s what’s surprising to him?

Focus on the cultist detection method, please!

Though it’s ridiculous, I get it. The Church of Righteous Radiance considers fighting cultists their destiny.

Everyone likely assumes they have some method of identifying cultists, and after all, Helena did say I’d received a blessing directly from the Righteous Radiance.

So, it’s believable.

But a saintess marrying a man who’s surrounded by a harem of women?

Now, that is unacceptable.

While polygamy and polyandry are permitted, there are always exceptions.

If the woman holds a noble status, the man is often expected to be considerate—either not taking other women or, if he does, only taking one as a concubine.

For a saintess, she’s in such a high position that if she told him to sell off his slave concubines, no one would dare criticize her.

Yet here he was, with three exceptionally beautiful slave women, and even Iona, who may not surpass the Saintess in beauty but was still stunning.

How did he manage that???

It’s a natural reaction to have.

But I couldn’t respond to this directly. I was told not to speak first and to keep my head bowed until asked.

Following the basic etiquette I learned in a hurry, I bowed respectfully and waited. Soon enough, Rodrigo seemed to remember something and looked thoughtfully into the air before speaking.

“Yandel… Yes, I’ve heard of you. You’re the one who exposed those vermin, dealt a severe blow to those cultists recently, and even led the battle at Solaris to victory.”

“It is an honor that Your Majesty remembers.”

“…Now that I think about it, I recall the first time I heard your name; I was told you discovered cultists while dueling, unable to tolerate an insult to your beloved.”

“That’s correct. However, as an alchemist, she couldn’t accompany me to Solaris.”

“Impressive! I heard you were born a commoner, yet you’ve proven yourself more than most noblemen! Indeed, such a hero deserves it! Hahaha!”

Rodrigo burst out laughing, even clapping his hands. Fiona, standing beside him, covered her mouth and laughed politely, showing a seemingly harmonious relationship between the couple. �

…So far, so good, but exposing Fiona might be tricky.

I sighed internally and bowed a bit deeper, as if overwhelmed with gratitude.

“That’s enough. I’d like to see your face, Yandel. Raise your head.”

“As you command.”

Only then did I lift my head. Rodrigo studied me intently before letting a slight smile cross his lips.

“Indeed. Not quite what I was in my youth, but impressive nonetheless. Very well, with my curiosity satisfied, let’s move on to the main point. Yandel, you claim to possess a method for detecting cultists?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Is it the same method used before, involving the sacred artifact?”

“That’s one detection method, but by now, they’ve likely found ways to counter it. This time, I plan to use a new blessing granted directly by the Righteous Radiance.”

Though it’s actually a power bestowed by Fafnir’s arrangement… Solaris did say I could invoke her name freely, so I should make use of it.

I subtly checked Fiona’s reaction; despite my mention of a new blessing, she merely stared intently without showing any suspicion.

She’s either not foolish enough to reveal any cracks over this or has prepared a way to disguise herself against the Righteous Radiance’s divine power, just as I suspected.

Rodrigo, oblivious to my thoughts, laughed heartily.

“Well! This is intriguing. What kind of blessing is it that gives you and the Saintess such confidence?”

“If I strike a cultist, I can inflict a deeper wound.”

“…Hm?”

“If I strike someone just hard enough not to kill them, and they die, they’re a cultist. If they survive, they’re innocent.”

I spoke confidently, but the reaction was lukewarm.

“That sounds… like a witch hunt.”

Rodrigo looked uncomfortable. I noticed that other high-ranking officials and knights in attendance were also looking a bit skeptical.

Sigh. Charging forward with pure bravado won’t work, I see. Of course, it’s a bit absurd, even to me.

But at times like this, it’s best to be even bolder.

“It’s true, Your Majesty. If someone were to bring me a suspected cultist, I’d gladly demonstrate.”

“A demonstration, you say… Well. While I may not question a miracle of the gods, as a leader representing humanity, I must ask: how is this different from you merely striking harder? Couldn’t this just be a ruse to brand someone you dislike as a cultist?”

“I understand Your Majesty’s doubts, given that we’ve only just met. But if not me, what about Sir Havel?”

“Are you asking if I trust the Swordmaster?”

Rodrigo, who hadn’t expected Havel to be mentioned, blinked in surprise, but then seemed to conclude that he could trust Havel and nodded emphatically.

“Of course, I trust the Swordmaster. He is the Empire’s sword, its guardian, and the only Swordmaster on the Eurelia Continent. But what does he have to do with this matter?”

“We need the Swordmaster’s keen eye. Just as Your Majesty said, we need someone to verify whether I’m simply striking harder or if the result differs despite identical strikes. Sir Havel would be able to discern it all.”

Rodrigo silently observed Havel, who, feeling his gaze, bowed slightly and responded.

“It is true, Your Majesty. I can discern precisely how deeply a blade cuts and whether it strikes with the same force as before.”

“Is that so? It sounds absurd to me, but if you say so, then it must be possible.”

Accepting Havel’s words quickly, Rodrigo raised his voice.

“Guards! Bring a cultist under interrogation and another suitable petty criminal here immediately.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

With a resounding reply, a knight stationed in the corner left the audience chamber in a brisk stride.

After some time, the knight returned, slightly out of breath, dragging two tightly bound men.

“Wh-where am I…? Please, I’m innocent! Spare me!”

“Hahaha… When the day comes, all of you will be swallowed by Him! Slaves! Commoners! Nobles! Royals! And those hypocritical priests! The so-called noble magicians! The ignorant knights! You’ll all be melted down into one glorious amalgam! Why reject His blessing? Oh, make me one with you, O God of Tainted Unity! Draw me to Your holy seat!”

One of them, looking somewhat rough and terrified, darted his eyes around wildly.

The other, bloody and bruised, laughed madly, hurling curses in every direction.

There was no need to guess—the latter was clearly the cultist, oozing with evil energy and blasphemous words.

It was as if a swarm of insects was crawling over my skin, laying eggs within. Truly revolting.

Most of those present frowned at the cultist’s rant, but Rodrigo, who had orchestrated this, continued calmly.

“He’s the archbishop of the God of Tainted Unity. We captured him months ago after he dared to commit an act of terror here in the Imperial Palace.”

“Y-Your Majesty! I’m innocent! I merely stole a few coins from some drunkards…”

“Silence. I did not give you permission to speak. If you wish to avoid losing your tongue as well, follow instructions quietly.”

“Gulp…”

With Rodrigo’s stern command, the petty criminal clammed up, and Rodrigo looked at me with a spark of interest.

“Now then, can you demonstrate? I’ll allow the use of magic. Or, if you prefer, you may borrow a sword from one of the knights.”

“Thank you.”

I bowed slightly and summoned a small blade with a simple ice spell.

A faintly shimmering, translucent blade emitting a chill. Seeing this, the petty criminal began to tremble.

“P-Please! Have mercy! I promise I’ll live honestly from now on… Please…”

“Shh. His Majesty ordered silence. And I’m not aiming to behead you, so just hold out your hand.”

“Yes…? Oh, alright.”

Despite his trembling, the petty criminal extended his hand as instructed. I swung the ice blade at it.

Swish!

“Gah!”

The petty criminal let out a gasp, but it was just a superficial cut, barely grazing his skin.

A single drop of blood trickled down his hand, and that was all.

I held up his hand to Havel for inspection.

“What do you think?”

“Impressive. Though I’ve heard you’re a magician, to wield such a precise cut without any aid shows remarkable skill.”

“Ah… I meant the injury, not my form.”

“Hmm.”

Havel examined the man’s hand closely, then nodded toward Rodrigo.

“The wound matches the force applied. Anyone else could achieve the same result if they replicated the exact cut.”

“I see. Then, that leaves the cultist…”

“Haha! I am Him and He is me! Together, we are an eternal being that shall consume the world!”

“Hm. It seems he won’t offer his hand willingly. Sir Havel, may I ask for your assistance?”

“Leave it to me, Your Majesty.”

With a quick nod, Havel seized the cultist from behind and forced his hand open.

Using the full strength of a Swordmaster, it was a rough approach, but for a deranged cultist whose powers had been sealed by divine energy, it was undoubtedly effective.

As I raised my ice blade toward the madly chanting cultist, I swung with the same stance, angle, and force as before.

“Huh?”

Havel’s eyes glimmered with curiosity as he watched from close up.

Splurt!

Blood erupted from the cultist’s hand in a dramatic spray.