Sena walked with his hands clasped behind his back.
He hummed a tune, looking like a picture-perfect image.
“So, who are you?”
Karon, who had accepted the proposal but was still curious about Sena’s identity, asked.
‘He’s not an ordinary person.’
That was half a certainty.
Sena exuded an aura completely different from that of ordinary people.
“I’m Sena.”
Sena replied with an unchanging smile.
“No, that’s not what I’m asking. What is your position?”
“I’m a bishop of the Silania Church… I’d like to say.”
Sena scratched his head.
For some reason, he didn’t want to hide his identity from these people.
“I’m a physician. Just an ordinary, someone’s personal physician.”
“Physician…?”
In this world, healers are not highly regarded.
That’s because there are priests, who are considered superior in every way.
But, an ordinary healer emitting such an aura?
It’s an unbelievable lie.
Karon was pondering the true intent behind Sena’s answer when two women who had discovered Sena hurriedly approached.
“Sena-nim! We’ve been looking all over for you.”
“So, this is where you were. Are you hurt anywhere?”
‘Who are these people?’
This time, he could ascertain their identities.
Unlike the plainly dressed Sena, the women were wearing sacred robes.
They were an inquisitor and an archbishop who had come for an investigation.
‘That, such people are addressing him with honorifics?’
Priests address equals or inferiors with titles like ‘sister’ or ‘brother’.
Not using those titles and calling him ‘nim’ meant one thing: an obviously higher rank.
But, was there a higher rank within the church than the archbishop?
‘Just who exactly is this person?’
“I’m surprisingly good at running away.”
“…You really do run well. We can’t even sense you because you have no magic. Please inform us next time you leave. It’s worrisome.”
“Huh? I did tell you. In my mind.”
Lucia’s body slumped.
“A-Are you Inquisitor Lucia?”
Hannes asked nervously.
“Yes, is there a problem?”
Lucia spoke in a chilling tone, unlike when she had spoken to Sena.
“…N-No, I just thought you had already left for the investigation.”
That’s right. Lucia had come to this territory to find devil worshippers, hadn’t she?
Sena stroked his chin. He hadn’t forgotten something quite important.
‘War. Devil worshippers. And the Baron’s murder.’
He thought they might be related. The possibility of those three terrible events occurring by chance was slim.
“Who stands to gain from the baron’s death?”
Hannes answered Sena’s question.
“It’s likely the two Earls.”
“Why?”
“The baron was looking to profit from the war. He was selling large quantities of supplies to only the disadvantaged fronts. He wanted this war to last as long as possible. But from their perspective, it must have been quite annoying. They want to end the war quickly, but they can’t.”
“How long has this war been going on?”
“Three years.”
‘A territorial war for three years?’
Usually, people don’t go to territorial wars with the intent to die.
After all, they’re still part of the same empire.
The longer the war drags on, the more it’s a curse that eats away at both sides.
Even if they win, there’s no real benefit.
“I see. I understand the situation.”
‘You were too greedy, Baron Bernard.’
Thus, it was certain that the two counts had the motive.
Sena briskly walked and opened the mansion door.
“Come to think of it, I apologize. I’ve been treating this mansion like my own home.”
In truth, this behavior was quite irritating to the two retainers.
No matter his status, he was acting as if he were the master of the house.
However, neither Karon nor Hannes thought much of it. That was because it felt so natural for Sena to open the mansion door.
“No, it’s fine. You’re helping us who have nothing.”
‘Revenge might be possible.’
Although they still couldn’t grasp Sena’s identity, they were certain he held a significant position within the church.
There was no way an inquisitor would act so humble otherwise.
There was hope.
Karon and Hannes began to see hope.
“I’m going in.”
Sena opened the door to the room where Astria and Sylvia remained.
The two were discussing with a map of Baron Bernard’s territory.
They were strategizing on how to deal with the Holy Knights should they arrive.
‘So, we need to resolve this quickly.’
He didn’t want them to fight.
If possible, he wanted to avoid it until his dying breath.
Moreover, he didn’t have much time left.
“You’re back.”
“Where have you been wandering off to, Senior?”
‘But, something about their atmosphere feels tense.’
For some reason, it felt like their relationship had suddenly worsened.
“It seems likely that one of the two earls engaged in the war is the culprit.”
“I thought as much.”
“Did you know?”
Astria nodded slowly without taking her eyes off the map.
“Judging by the location, the side that takes over this barony has a higher chance of winning the war.”
She seemed to be looking at the incident from a war strategist’s perspective.
“Can you handle it?”
Astria spoke quietly as Sena was pondering how to solve the case.
“Yes?”
“I’m asking if you can really solve this case by yourself.”
That was Sena’s determination.
While the two considered how to deal with the Holy Knights, Sena focused on solving the case.
Since he had insisted on taking it on, it was only right he resolved it himself, according to Sena’s logic.
“Of course.”
“You seem quite confident. Do you have a plan? You know we’re running out of time.”
Astria took a deep breath.
“Judging by the structure of this castle, we can hold off the Holy Knights for about half a day. Of course, if we kill them all, we can hold indefinitely.”
Sena shook his head four times, indicating his strong refusal.
“I don’t want anyone else to get hurt.”
Astria narrowed her eyes.
“You heard that, Miss Sylvia? This furball is hopeless.”
“Senior…”
This time, even Sylvia couldn’t defend Sena.
Preventing the Holy Knights from breaking in without anyone getting hurt?
“I still refuse. And by the way, I won’t allow either of you to get hurt either. If it comes to that, I’ll just surrender to the Church.”
But Sena’s resolve was firm.
Astria furrowed her brows.
‘I’d like to dismiss his opinion, but…’
Fear.
It was Astria’s favored tool for achieving her goals.
She was proficient in its use.
Thus, Astria knew.
‘Truly precious things’ should never be touched.
She had seen it many times. People who lost what was most precious to them would do anything.
To Sena, the most precious thing was ‘human life’ itself.
Astria instinctively understood that if she disregarded Sena’s most valued principle any further, there would be no turning back.
“If we calculate their arrival time, we have about three days. You must resolve everything within that time.”
‘This is the last. The very last concession. Once this is over, I will address all the rudeness I have endured.’
Astria resolved herself.
Once they left this territory, she would properly educate that insolent furball.
Who he belonged to and what he should do.
Just the thought of what she would do in the future relieved her so much that Astria smirked.
“Ugh.”
Sena rubbed his arms as goosebumps rose.
He felt an ominous premonition.
Anyway.
“Don’t worry.”
Sena had already thought of the only way to solve this case.
“I have a plan.”
“Oh, that’s quick.”
“Our senior is surprisingly smart.”
“…Why are you happy? And don’t say ‘our’.”
Astria growled at Sylvia, then barely held back her anger and looked at Sena.
“So, what’s the plan?”
“I’ll be the bait.”
Sena whispered as if sharing a crucial secret.
“…What?”
“The culprit not only killed the baron but also wiped out his entire family. Conversely, it would be troublesome for them if any family members were still alive.”
Sena clasped his hands behind his back and walked around the room.
He stopped in front of Karon and Hannes.
Initially, he thought it was an earl’s revenge against the baron who had involved the Church.
But one thing puzzled him. The Church operates like a meticulously wound clock. Once it’s set in motion, it keeps going even if the person who wound it dies.
In other words, killing the baron wouldn’t help at all.
However, after hearing the story from the baron’s retainers, he realized the truth was more practical and straightforward.
‘In the Empire, if there’s no legitimate heir, the territory automatically reverts to the monarch.’
Once it reverts to the emperor’s domain, all previous entanglements of the territory are reset.
“Do you know which earl had the last significant transaction with the baron? It must have been a substantial deal.”
“The Earl of Queensbury. He took a large quantity of military supplies. And food too.”
“The payment hasn’t been received yet, has it?”
“No. During the war, it’s common to deliver supplies first… Wait, could it be…?”
Simply put, it might have been a scheme by the Earl of Queensbury to avoid paying that large sum.
But thinking a bit more intricately, it could have been a message to someone who might catch on to the truth.
“That’s pure heresy. They must be judged immediately.”
Lucia’s voice was filled with murderous intent, and Sena smiled.
There was no group as pure as the Church in this world.
“I get the gist. But what do you mean by becoming bait?”
Astria asked, sensing something unusual.
“Senior, I really don’t want to lock you up somewhere.”
Even Sylvia was cold this time.
Sena awkwardly smiled and motioned for everyone to sit.
“Anyway, regardless of the truth, one thing is clear. If someone appears to succeed the baron, they will probably come to kill again.”
Sena looked at Karon, who seemed dazed, clasped his hands, and looked at him with sparkling eyes.
“Sir Knight, did you know?”
“Yes, yes?”
“I am actually the hidden illegitimate child of Baron Bernard.”
“…!”
“So, I am the next in line to inherit the title of Baron Bernard.”
There was a brief moment of silence.
As Astria and Sylvia stared at Sena’s upright hair with sour eyes, Karon and Hannes simultaneously knelt on one knee.
“Your Excellency, the 31st Baron Bernard.”
