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“I’ll save Mi-rae. But you have to testify that her heretical values came from the teachings of Mage Jae-hyuk.”

At Desmond’s words, Shin Mi-rae’s mind went blank.

It turned white before her first thought became a question.

The one condemned as a heretic is herself. So why is this inquisitor targeting her uncle instead of her?

‘You’re scared of being dragged to the Inquisition, right? Then accept my proposal. I’ve had no interest in you since the beginning, as you’re just a worthless student.’

Desmond’s true intention.

He was actually aiming for Kim Jae-hyuk from the very start, not Shin Mi-rae. To understand why this inquisitor is after Kim Jae-hyuk, one must look into the political currents of the central religious sphere.

Currently, the empire’s religious community is fundamentally divided into two factions, regardless of denomination.

One group emphasizes traditional beliefs, insisting on a strict interpretation of the scriptures without a single deviation, the fundamentalist radicals.

The other believes that faith is just a part of life and advocates for a more relaxed religion, pursuing secular values that can be widely accepted by the public, the secular moderates.

Kim Jae-hyuk belonged to the latter, the moderates, or the secular faction. Considering his background, the former was never even an option.

Anyway, Kim Jae-hyuk, belonging to the moderate faction, boasted a dazzling career. He contributed significantly to the study and development of the scriptures as a scholar, and additionally showcased his knowledge across various fields like mathematics, medicine, physics, law, and commerce.

His name gradually became famous in the central region. In his youth, Kim Jae-hyuk was regarded as a prodigy destined to lead for the next fifty years, garnering the attention and expectations of many.

However.

Naturally, the opposing radicals frequently attempted to undermine or sabotage him. Kim Jae-hyuk’s rise meant the rise of the moderates, which directly implied the weakening of the radicals.

And sensing this movement, Kim Jae-hyuk retired without hesitation.

Rather than greedily getting embroiled in politics and facing execution, he had already achieved enough and intended to spend the rest of his life comfortably in a suburban cathedral.

However.

For the radicals who were keeping an eye on him, his sudden decision to step back was both a relief and a source of suspicion.

Surely there must be some scheme behind it.

In a world where society, institutions, and ideologies revolve around religion, it is uncommon for a promising clergyman to say, “I’ve had enough and I’m retiring”.

For a clergyman, their vocation is a mission and a belief. It would be one thing to be forced to give it up, but to willingly give it up? Especially at a relatively young middle age for a clergyman?

The radicals naturally became engulfed in such suspicions, and when his two students entered the seminary as freshmen and started to make a name for themselves, they finally turned suspicion into certainty.

Kim Jae-hyuk had not withdrawn from the center.

He was merely pretending to step back to avoid opposition while maneuvering his people from behind to exert influence in the center.

The senior radicals, having convinced themselves that they understood Kim Jae-hyuk’s intentions, sought to bring about his downfall. They commissioned a highly skilled inquisitor to carry out their plans.

That inquisitor was Desmond.

As Desmond was gathering intel around Kim Jae-hyuk, he focused on the two freshmen who had entered the seminary. In doing so, he happened to overhear Shin Mi-rae’s prayer and realized what kind of values she held.

She denied the existence of God yet was aware of it, and out of fear, she prayed merely to escape suffering and punishment—a false believer.

That alone could easily entangle her as a heretic. It would be very simple.

However, dragging Kim Jae-hyuk into it was not as easy.

Even if they were guardians, they were ultimately not related by blood. In a kingdom without collective punishment, it would be impossible to penalize the supporter merely because the supported student had been declared a heretic.

Shin Mi-rae possessing heretical values was solely her choice. If dismissed in such a way, that would be the end of it.

But what if Shin Mi-rae’s heartfelt testimony existed?

Claiming that she became a heretic entirely because of Kim Jae-hyuk? That he instilled such concepts in her since childhood?

If such a testimony emerged and could strike a blow at Kim Jae-hyuk based on it.

Kim Jae-hyuk would never be able to recover. He would be labeled a heretic, and the moderate faction he belonged to would suffer a significant blow.

This would be an opportunity for the opposing group, the fundamentalist radicals, to seize power in the central region. For those who entrusted the job to Desmond, it would be a satisfying outcome.

Thus, Desmond meticulously approached Kim Jae-hyuk, Park Yoo-jin, and Shin Mi-rae.

Due to the nature of his profession as an inquisitor, it was nearly impossible to approach without raising suspicion. Even if he hid his profession at first, someone of Kim Jae-hyuk’s caliber would take only moments to uncover it.

What if he were to clumsily hide his identity while gathering intel, and his cover was blown? At that moment, their defenses would be at peak, making it impossible to find gaps to attack.

So Desmond dramatically changed his approach.

Instead, he decided to reveal everything right from the start.

From the moment he approached Shin Mi-rae, he declared his identity as an inquisitor. Naturally, the image of this profession would make her wary.

However, that wariness stemmed only from professional prejudice.

Even though the man in front of her was an inquisitor, if she realized he was not your typical inquisitor, that wariness could quickly dissipate.

Fortunately, Desmond was not only skilled as a “real inquisitor” but also talented as a researcher. He had a unique charm that easily penetrated into people’s hearts, and his acting skills were also highly regarded.

Approaching them without arousing suspicion was tough. Yet, if he deliberately raised suspicion and then resolved it, they would no longer regard him as a threat.

Accordingly, Desmond showed only the thoroughly staged version of himself to the three.

To Park Yoo-jin, he portrayed himself as a diligent researcher.

To Kim Jae-hyuk, he presented himself as a devoted clergyman who genuinely cared about his students’ welfare.

And to Shin Mi-rae, he exhibited both personas simultaneously. While she had the most worry and suspicion, on the flip side, she was also easily influenced by the opinions of the other two. If he could ease the defenses of those two, Shin Mi-rae would essentially be an automatic door.

And so.

Desmond finally created an opportunity.

Meeting alone with Shin Mi-rae, he assured her of her heretic status under the lamp of the Asras Church and proposed a deal, which brings us to the current situation.

“If I were to arrest you here, neither Jae-hyuk nor Yoo-jin would be safe either. They would thoroughly investigate those close to heretics, and for me, it wouldn’t be difficult to entangle the remaining two as heretics and execute them as well. It may not be easy, but I can certainly do it.”

At his words, Shin Mi-rae’s shoulders trembled.

Of course. This was the expected reaction.

She was particularly weak to fear. The thought of not only herself but the other two being executed gripped her, rendering her unable to think rationally.

Then let’s switch to offering a carrot instead of a stick.

“However, I don’t want to put so much effort into this. My aim here is solely Mage Jae-hyuk.”

“So if you betray him, I’ll turn a blind eye to the other two.”

At those words, Shin Mi-rae snapped out of her daze and, with a trembling voice, replied.

“The two… they’re not like me. They’re definitely not heretics…”

“Don’t fool yourself. You grew up in the same orphanage, with the same guardian. Wouldn’t Yoo-jin be much different from you? Even if she doesn’t live in guilt like you, their beliefs are probably similar. Of course, Jae-hyuk, who taught both of you, is the same.”

But he brushed aside Shin Mi-rae’s justifications in an instant. The words left her mouth in a stutter as she found herself at a loss, tears brimming in her eyes.

“…Don’t think too hard about it. It’s a simple issue. Sacrifice one to save two. If you help me arrest Mage Jae-hyuk, I won’t lay a finger on the remaining two. I swear to the gods.”

Swear to the gods.

That phrase weighed heavily on Shin Mi-rae’s heart.

She understood all too well the weight of those words, spoken not by a false believer like herself, but by a truly devout believer.

Desmond genuinely intended to let the two go. As Shin Mi-rae realized this, amazement filled her eyes as she looked at him, and Desmond smiled softly.

“Still, you’ll need some time to think, right? I’ll stay here at the orphanage for tonight and leave tomorrow. So make your decision by then and let me know.”

With that, Desmond casually added that if she attempted to escape or warn Kim Jae-hyuk, he would immediately arrest all three of them.

“The porters I brought earlier weren’t brought here carelessly. There won’t be a single place in this orphanage that’s out of my watchful eye. So think wisely and consider carefully.”

As he concluded, Desmond gave Shin Mi-rae’s shoulder a light pat and left.

-Thump.

Shin Mi-rae crumpled to the floor, her legs giving way.

Gasping for breath, her heart raced wildly, and the cold sweat that began to seep out drenched her back.

‘W-What should I do…?’

This was a life-and-death situation where she was not only exposed but threatened by the inquisitor.

If it were someone else, she might not know, but for Shin Mi-rae at this moment, the question of “What should I do?” was meaningless. After all, she wasn’t in a state to make a proper decision alone.

After remaining seated and sobbing for a while, she finally decided to go meet the other two.

“Oh, Mi-rae. Did you rest well? I heard from Mr. Desmond that you suddenly became unwell.”

Upon entering the dining hall, the Head Nun looked at Shin Mi-rae with a concerned tone.

Unbeknownst to her, nearly two hours had passed while she’d been sitting there in distress. The dining hall was filled with the fragrance of a meal in progress. It seemed Desmond had crafted an appropriate excuse for her sudden disappearance.

“Mi-rae! Over here! Here!”

Waving her hand, Park Yoo-jin called out to her from a table. Beside her was Kim Jae-hyuk, and surprisingly enough, Desmond blended in with the two as if he were part of the group.

“…I’m not feeling well. I’m going to my room first.”

Leaving those words behind, Shin Mi-rae swiftly exited the dining hall.

-Doot, doot, doot.

Shin Mi-rae walked quickly down the corridor. A bead of cold sweat trickled down her cheek.

‘He’s following me…’

The subordinate of Desmond, who had been waiting in front of the dining hall earlier, was trailing her from a distance. Shin Mi-rae squeezed her eyes shut.

Desmond’s words were true. There was nowhere in this orphanage that wasn’t under the watch of his men.

In other words, consultations were impossible.

Suddenly suggesting to the two people to run away would end up with their capture while trying to explain the situation.

No, could they even escape in the first place? In this empire, where religion held tremendous authority, was it possible to elude the inquisitors who specialized in judgment?

What if they escaped and got captured? Wouldn’t they just be punished even more severely?

‘They might be fine, but I’ve been definitively marked as a heretic. If I get captured, I’m certain to face execution.’

Shin Mi-rae’s thoughts began to fracture, each piece leading to the same destination.

Execution.

If a person is executed, they die.

Death.

What happens when you die?

The religions of this world uphold a consistent afterlife belief. Upon death, one ascends to heaven for judgment by the gods. The righteous go to paradise, while the wicked fall into hell.

Am I righteous?

No, I certainly must be wicked since I doubt and don’t believe in the gods.

Thus, my only destination is hell.

I would fall into the depths of hell, suffering for eternity amidst flames.

“Ugh…!”

As the realization sank in, the fear she had temporarily forgotten surged back with vigor.

“Huff…! Hah!”

She couldn’t even breathe properly. With hyperventilation, Shin Mi-rae sank to the ground, clutching her chest.

“Mi-rae!”

At that moment, Yoo-jin dashed over from the other end of the corridor, supporting Shin Mi-rae.

“Mi-rae, are you okay? Are you feeling very unwell? Do you need medicine?”

“Y-Yoo-jin…”

Shin Mi-rae lifted her gaze. There was Park Yoo-jin, looking at her with worried eyes.

Her childhood friend, who had come to this world with her.

Someone who had grown up together with her since they were little, now more precious than even true family—her true, unique, and cherished other half.

Looking at her, Shin Mi-rae thought.

…Above all, I cannot put her in danger.

Therefore, the decision I make now is not just for my safety but a lesser evil choice to save her.

“You’re always on my side, right, Yoo-jin…?”

With deep self-justification, Shin Mi-rae asked Park Yoo-jin.

“Yes. Of course.”

Sadly, Yoo-jin answered without a moment’s hesitation to that question.