Chapter 231

“What are you trying to do?”

“He said, ‘Humans are deceivers; men lie in front of women, and women put on airs in front of men. This is because what was originally one has been divided into two.'”

Lacey raised her cross-shaped spear high. The metal weight at the tip gleamed menacingly.

“Since there are no women among us who wish to become one with Iza, we have no choice but to turn a man into not a man to hear the truth.”

Uh… that proverb probably didn’t mean to do something like that. Isn’t it more about not lying to each other and loving sincerely…?

Whatever. No need to dwell on it now.

– *Crunch.*

The cross-shaped spear turned the Archbishop into a woman.

—-

“Gwaaaaaaah!”

Robert, with his eyes half-popping out, screamed and thrashed around. He probably wanted to grab between his legs and curl up, but with his broken limbs, that was impossible.

Instead, he seemed to try to flail his waist as if venting his pain, but his heavy belly made it impossible for him to bounce. In the end, all he—or rather, she—could do was flail around like a boiling pot lid.

“Hiiiiie… ehieeishaa…!”

Though the pronunciation was unclear, it was easy to guess what he was saying. Probably calling out to Elpinel. Seeing the vein on Bels’ forehead, it was obvious.

They say the pain that doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. It seemed the excruciating pain had reignited Robert’s faith.

“How dare a heretic like you utter His name…!”

Bels muttered through gritted teeth. If Lacey hadn’t been there, he would’ve ripped out Robert’s tongue.

Honestly. Calling out to the god you betrayed now? What a joke.

“You don’t need to cry out like that, Robert. Elpinel is already watching over us. Now that we’ve greeted Him, shall we begin the ‘trial’?”

Lacey smiled faintly and slammed her spear into the ground.

The *thud* echoed through the hallway. Robert flinched and let out a beast-like groan.

His fancy ceremonial pants were soaked in some liquid—whether it was blood or urine, it was probably both.

“Your charges are as follows. First, the crime of ignoring the suffering of the people during the civil war and abetting their deaths under the guise of neutrality. Elpinel forbids His lambs from fighting among themselves, so this is a violation of His word. An act of heresy.”

The spear struck Robert’s left hand.

“Gwaaaaaah!”

Robert’s hand was crushed and burst like a torn dumpling.

“Second, as someone bearing the responsibility of an Elector, you defined the rebellion against the Empire’s laws as a dispute over the throne, blocking the Imperial Army’s justification for intervention. Had the Legion Commanders not taken decisive action despite the stigma, how many more would have been sacrificed to the beastmen?”

Though it was more due to Leopold’s threats than decisive action.

“Facing the threat of non-human races is one of Elpinel’s most important commandments… Yet you violated His word. An act of heresy.”

Robert’s left foot turned into a lump of meat.

“Grrrrr…!”

It was more of a groan than a scream. Robert’s pupils were half-dilated.

“Wait, isn’t he going to die at this rate?”

“…Ah, you’re right. Thank you for pointing that out.”

As if she had forgotten, Lacey nodded and cast a healing miracle—very weakly. Robert looked utterly despairing as white holy light enveloped his body.

He probably wanted to die right then and there… but it was still too early for that.

“Now, let’s continue the trial. Third, the crime of announcing my disappearance and, instead of searching for me, tying the Church’s hands with false announcements. It’s reasonable to assume you had some connection with those targeting me. Do you have anything to say in your defense?”

“Aah! Aaah oaah! Hauuaa uun isl ha uuu!”

Unfortunately for Robert, none of us could understand his dialect. Lacey slowly shook her head.

“…I see you have nothing to say. We’ll take that as an admission of guilt.”

“Ee aahaa!”

Was he calling us demons? What can we do? No matter how much he protests, we can’t understand a word.

If he didn’t want to be misunderstood, he should’ve practiced his pronunciation more.

“Elpinel said that bearing the priesthood means bearing the duty to protect the faithful. Abetting or conspiring in the danger of the faithful is a clear violation of His word. An act of heresy.”

Robert’s right foot was crushed. Now, only his broken right hand remained.

“…These are the reasons you stand before this religious tribunal. Now, we must deliberate whether these charges are true or not. A formal trial would take a long time, but since this is a summary trial, we’ll proceed briefly based on evidence and confessions. Any objections? No? Good.”

She’s not even waiting for an answer now.

“Unfortunately, we don’t have physical evidence, so we’ll present the defendant’s confession as evidence. Robert, you are permitted a final statement. Do you have any evidence to refute the charges mentioned so far? Words are meaningless, so please present physical evidence if you have any.”

While Lacey paused, I leaned closer to Bels and whispered.

“Hey, do we really have to do this? Feels like a waste of time.”

“It’s the procedure for a heresy trial. Even if it’s summary, the trial itself must be conducted.”

If you call this a trial, angry judges might smash your head with a law book.

“Is this really a trial? Feels more like torture to extract a confession.”

“No. It may seem that way to Sir Median, but… the Church’s interrogation adopts more humane and rational methods.”

Humane and rational, huh?

Means?

Don’t tell me that’s it.

“Uh, repeatedly cutting and regenerating the brain?”

“…You knew about that? Impressive. Indeed, that is one method of interrogation. But it takes a long time… Lady Elmain would probably choose a more merciful and certain method.”

First off, it’s clear that the word “mercy” here has a completely different meaning from what I know.

If it’s not about brainwashing to create a truth machine… what exactly is Lacey planning to do?

Honestly, I was curious.

“…I see you have no evidence. I thought so. Then it’s time to start the ‘interrogation.’ Please cooperate.”

Lacey stepped forward and kissed the holy symbol.

Just from that gesture, Robert seemed to have guessed Lacey’s intentions, as he convulsed like a madman.

Tears, snot, and saliva mixed together, his face a mess, with cold sweat pouring down. It was dirty and ugly.

“Ah-ah-ah-ah! Ah-ah-ah-oh!”

I guess it roughly translates to “I’ll confess, I’ll confess!”…?

I’m starting to get the hang of Robert’s language.

“Didn’t I mention earlier? Only a purified body can speak the truth. A confession from an unpurified person is meaningless.”

Lacey smiled like a saint. A pure white light swirled from the cross she held to her chest.

The radiant holy light enveloped her entire body.

“Elpinel, the clear sky that hates evil, the pure grace for the good. Direct your wrath here.”

Huh?

That incantation, could it be…!

“…Until all the sins of this world are eradicated.”

– Hwaruk.

Flames bloom.

A small flame, like a candle, that could be extinguished just by clenching a fist.

But the holy power within it was enough to fill the entire cathedral.

The dark corridor became as bright as day.

The violent impulse within me growled and retreated.

It felt like a cool morning breeze washing over my mind, like a cloudless autumn sky.

[What is that, what is that?]

Even Hersela, who had been silent, couldn’t hide her shock.

I couldn’t even think of answering her, just staring blankly at Lacey’s fingertips.

Could she really use it already…?

Not the crimson magic flames, nor the dark red Up-hwa, but a blue flame flickering with a holy light.

Holy Flame.

The flame of Elpinel that burns all evil to a handful of ash.

Lacey, with a blue flame at her fingertips, approached Robert with a bright smile.

“Robert. You, who once held the position of Archbishop, must know well what this flame is. The flame that warmly embraces the innocent and burns the guilty.”

Robert’s pupils shook with the flickering of the flame.

“Uh… uh… uh-uh-uh…!”

“Rejoice. If all the charges against you are false, and you have not a speck of sin, this Holy Flame will prove your innocence. Conversely, if all of it is true, and you have betrayed Elpinel by siding with witches… the Holy Flame will purify your sins. Either way, it’s something to rejoice about. So, smile.”

…So the “merciful and certain method” Bels mentioned was burning with Holy Flame.

Theoretically, it makes sense.

The Holy Flame burns the wicked, so if someone is evil, they’ll burn the moment it touches them. If someone is innocent, they’ll just feel a bit of warmth.

According to Elpinel’s doctrine, there’s no more certain way to distinguish the guilty from the innocent.

The problem is…

“Has anyone ever not burned in that flame?”

“Not a single one so far. It means they were all sinners.”

Bels answered nonchalantly.

…Yeah. That’s the problem.

The Holy Flame burns those with evil in their hearts.

But how many people in the world have never harbored even a bit of evil in their hearts?

Even Lacey, who manifested the Holy Flame, would probably burn like a torch if someone else directed it at her.

Anyone who could touch that flame and not burn would probably be able to pull out a holy sword.

In other words, directing the Holy Flame at someone is just a slightly more sacred-looking execution.

I’m not sure if Lacey knows that.

“Elpinel said, ‘The eye is the lamp of the body and the window of the soul. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness.’ To cleanse the darkness in body and soul, we must first purify the eyes with bright light.”

…I’d bet Leopold’s neck that’s not what it means.

Does Lacey have some kind of mustache filter in her head? The teachings full of lessons turn into terrifying threats the moment they pass her tongue.

Elpinel, is she really the best you’ve got?

Her faith might be impeccable, but her way of thinking is a bit…

“Now, let’s begin the purification ritual.”

Lacey lightly tapped Robert’s swollen eyes with her fingertips.

The Holy Flame transferred to his eyes, burning with a blue flame.

Robert screamed like a drunken pterodactyl.