Chapter 9: Chapter 9 - An uncomfortable meal. (2)
"It's been a long time, Bishop Andrei."
The bishop nodded at the mention of his name, and his smile grew bigger. The bishop's eyes disappeared, and the rosary around his neck glowed faintly like the moon on the street lights.
"It's probably the first time we've seen each other since before your first expedition… before you went to defeat the 'Third Disaster.' Have you enjoyed your vacation so far?"
'Vacation? Can't you see I just came back after hunting? Are you being sarcastic?' I wasn't ready to discuss my situation, so I immediately changed the subject.
"What brings you to the Kingdom of Kairos, Bishop?"
The bishop raised an eyebrow. He seemed to be wondering if I really just asked him that.
"Well, I'm sure you know better, and it's not something I'd want to talk about on a roadside like this…."
The bishop said this while glancing around. Yes, I know. It must have something to do with Iris' sudden departure from the Hero Part. Daphne's bewildered look, my subtle expression, and Bishop Andrei's good-natured smile all created a strange scene. Bishop Andrei glanced at Daphne, then raised his head in greeting.
"You must be the hero's new companion, my lady. A pleasure to meet you. I'm Andrei Jarvin."
"D-Daphne Epifon."
Daphne hesitantly accepted the bishop's greeting, then slinked behind me. There was a strange atmosphere as he smiled gently. I sighed and stepped forward, blocking Daphne from his view. Bishop Andrei was scary in a different way. I knew all too well what lurked beneath that façade. Glancing at the bishop's shifting shadow, I went into alert mode.
"You must have a lot on your plate in the Holy Land, but you've still found the time to see me in person."
"If it concerns you, Hero, why would I send someone lesser than me? The Pope has commanded me to go, so it is only right that I make the move."
Bishop Andrei let out a small sigh as he said that. If it weren't for his clerical garb, you'd be forgiven for thinking he looked like a regular late-night office worker. The bishop quickly wiped the tired look from his face and clapped his hands together. He then forced a smile.
"By the way, have you eaten? If you don't mind, I'd like to have a chat over a meal–"
The bishop turned his head to look at Daphne. I felt Daphne press herself on my back.
"What about you, Daphne? Since you're part of a Hero Party, I'd be happy if you have this meal with us. I've arranged for a decent restaurant."
Daphne immediately shook her head. It was a wise choice. Daphne turned a worried glance toward me.
"You should go first, Daphne. Tomorrow is the weekend, so get some rest and return on Monday."
Daphne left, but she seemed to look back after every step. She looked like a puppy waiting for its owner to follow her. After I gave her a reassuring smile, she waved goodbye and slowly, with one last look this way and disappeared down the illuminated path.
The back of my head stung. When I turned my head again, Bishop Andrei looked at me with surprise.
"…It seems your personality has changed a bit, or is she something special?"
"I don't think we've known each other long enough to talk about personalities."
I answered with a deliberately harsh tone, but Bishop Andrei didn't seem to mind. It was more in character for him.
"Well, that's fine. By the way, are you free at the moment? If not, I can't help it, but…."
I shivered, feeling a chill creep up my spine and into my brain. I didn't want to alert him by showing my fear. I put on my best nonchalant face and nodded.
"No, that's fine. I know you need a moment to talk."
After nodding his head satisfactorily at my answer, Bishop Andrei turned and began to walk away without another word. The rosary around the bishop's neck flickered and glistened. I tensed and slowly followed him, reminding myself of who he was in the original story.
Andrei Jarvin.
One of the bishops of the Puritans, the main religion in [I will never go back]. He has short, neatly cut blond hair with a hint of gray in his eyes and a gentle demeanor. He's about the same height as Elroy and has a thin build. So far, he sounds like an ordinary clerical supporting character, but….
"It's a beautiful day."
Behind that smile was a butcher with a cross.
Some called him the Executioner, others the Judge. His detractors called him the dog of the Puritans or the Pope's dog, but there was an official term for Andrei Jarvin and his group.
Inquisitor.
A group of men who would do anything to uphold the authority of the Puritans. Their specialty was murder, their hobby was torture, and kidnapping and intimidation were as natural as breathing. Of course, the Inquisitors were the most secretive of the Puritans, and they didn't do much of anything, so most people didn't know of their existence, let alone their members. If they did hear of them, they dismissed the group as an urban legend.
Well, at least I know very well that this is not the case. And now I'm about to dine alone with the leader of those monsters. I'm sure I'll be well-fed.
"Now, this is the restaurant I found. It looks pretty good, doesn't it? I can't believe I've lived in the capital all this time and not discovered this treasure trove of a place."
"…I don't have the luxury of looking for good restaurants."
"That's unfortunate."
Andrei gestured to me at the entrance to a small restaurant labeled 'Full Moon.' I stepped toward the restaurant door that Andrei held open, feeling like I was carrying firewood and walking into a blaze.
"I stumbled across this place a few months ago when I visited, and I must say, their service is exceptional, and their food matches my tastes. You've got a lot to look forward to."
Andrei said as he sat in the corner as if he's done it many times before. Bishop Andrei did not kill the hero. Also, Elroy died elsewhere in the original, so it's possible that he's really just here to talk to me today.
Pop. Pssshhh.
The wine was placed on the table. Andrei happily took the bottle and uncorked it. It probably wasn't excellent wine, but he didn't seem to mind. Clink. My glass was filled with dark red wine, and I tried my best not to associate its color with blood.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you this, but congratulations on repelling the 'Third Disaster.' Though, it's a little late for it."
Andrei lifted his glass. I reluctantly raised my own glass in a toast.
"There is no need for that. I'm embarrassed to hear that from you."
Bishop Andrei pursed his lips and smiled. His gray eyes, peeking through thin lids, captured mine. I hope there's not a blade lurking in there.
"Well, how modest of you. To say the least, your defeat of the third disaster now places you in the same league as the legendary heroes of the past. If you are embarrassed by such praise, you will have a difficult life ahead of–."
"This is a long introduction."
I interrupted Bishop Andrei. It wasn't unnecessary, nor was it intentionally provocative. As if to prove it, Bishop Andrei set down his wine glass and turned his inquisitive eyes to me.
"Wasn't there something else you wanted to ask me?"
The bishop took another sip of wine. The more I sulked, the more Bishop Andrei's interest in this conversation seemed to increase. Perverted bastard. I don't know if increased interest is a good thing or a bad thing.
"I realized early on, when I first saw you, that you had a conflict with Iris."
"I think Iris probably knew that, too."
I replied nonchalantly, and Bishop Andrei chuckled.
"Your public reputation is important, Hero, and that is why we have given you so much authority in the expedition."
The bishop swirled his wine glass slowly in the air. While I hadn't touched my drink, the bishop emptied a third of his glass.
"You are not merely a Hero who will defeat the threats of the world," he said, "you are also an envoy of the Kingdom of Kairos who travels abroad, and for us, the Holy Land, you are a chosen warrior, a proponent of mythology, and a preacher of the faith."
Every time the bishop opened his mouth, another layer of emotion was added. I threw up my hands and frowned, not wanting to hear more.
"So, what is it you want to say?"
"We cannot separate the saintess from the hero because of that mercenary, do you understand?"
Clink
Plates began to be placed between Bishop Andrei and me. A steaming hunk of meat was placed before me, and a bean salad and bread in front of the bishop. The bishop picked up his fork with amusement, stabbed it into the vegetables, and brought it to his mouth. A vegetarian inquisitor. It was a combination that didn't even elicit a smile. The bishop politely chewed, swallowed his salad, and opened his mouth again.
"Whatever reason you banished that mercenary, Iris shouldn't have left. She should have stayed by your side until the end. This makes me wonder if we might have been a little hasty in assembling your party while the door was still open."
Indeed.
Iris must have thought the Holy Land would not touch her, and while that was true, she was overlooking an important point. They couldn't touch her, but they could deal with Arjen, who was now just a wandering mercenary.
"Don't worry, the saintess will be back with the party soon enough, and we'll be able to punish the mercenary who tempted her."
'Let's say Arjen tricked Iris into leaving the party with him. I'll overlook everything else.' What a fantastic thing for a bishop to suggest.
The bishop's smile was gentle, which made it all the more eerie. It was as if I were talking face-to-face with a beast that could stab me in the neck any moment.
"Luckily, we've found a replacement for that mercenary, so you needn't worry about him. We can delay our next expedition and have time to reorganize the party when Iris returns."
In the original story, there was an episode where Arjen fought the Inquisitors. The Inquisitors kidnap Iris, who barely reunites with Arjen. Arjen, blinded by anger, grows stronger and fights the Inquisitors. This event makes Arjen actively hunt the Disasters, tarnishing the Puritans' reputation and sending Elroy spiraling downward.
'First, I must stop him. He is dangerous, even if I prepared against him. So how do I get out of this?'
"But I don't want to wait too long, so I need to resolve this as soon as possible–"
"Iris…"
I cut the bishop off mid-sentence. I could only think of one solution.
"She didn't leave the party to follow that mercenary, Arjen."
"…Ho-ho."
Bishop Andrei's gray eyes narrowed. The Inquisitor's gaze seemed to pierce my eyes, trapping me like the bars of a prison cell.
"What if…"
I said as nonchalantly as possible, setting my fork down on my plate and leaning back in my chair to face Bishop Andrei. I had a haughty glint in my eye, just as the original Elroy would have.
"I banished the saintess myself."
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