Apostate Judas (3)

The numbers don’t add up.

That’s the conclusion I reached after exiling Cardinal Judas Sicarii.

What happens when a king of a nation disappears overnight?

Naturally, things get complicated.

And I can’t exactly assign work to the now-exiled Cardinal Sicarii.

Of course, there should be designated deputies for such situations.

But right now, I had to handle everything myself.

I, who had declared I would personally exile him, needed to manage the fallout.

“Let’s freeze all plans for now. That should be possible since the person in charge has been removed due to unfortunate circumstances, right?”

“It’s possible, but there might be significant backlash. Since this involves coordination with various guilds, the situation could deteriorate in many ways…”

“We can’t just leave it as is either.”

First, I’m withdrawing the poverty relief policy that has lost both its foundation and its leader. This is an issue that needs to be discussed by people smarter than me.

If I meddled thoughtlessly, it would end in financial ruin for everyone, the poor included.

So the best I can do right now is freeze the plan.

I don’t even know how things are currently progressing.

Rather than stepping in and making things worse, it’s better to cut our losses and stop everything.

“Show me the relevant documents later. For now, please focus on treating the injured and issuing orders to contain the confusion…”

Cardinal Sicarii was escorted away by paladins.

Whether it was an escort or protective custody is unclear, but that’s how it would have appeared to onlookers.

The battle was brief, but the aftermath is significant.

I might be stuck here for a while.

“Lost.”

“Ah, Línea. Good work. Sorry for involving you in something like this again.”

“No, it’s only natural, isn’t it? But I feel like I wasn’t much help…”

“Don’t say that. This was essentially Claire’s debut.”

And she ended up on her knees after blocking just one aura blade.

Of course, considering she took that devastatingly powerful technique with only armor’s defense and no shield, it’s understandable.

Even for someone who has lived in pain her whole life, experiencing such a weighty impact must be a first for Claire.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“I am.”

“Ah, from when you were hit by the scabbard?”

For me or Titan, it wouldn’t be a problem, but it’s different for Línea.

She’s not someone who should be, or is accustomed to, living with such injuries.

“A bruise? Or has it gone deeper? Hmm, let me take a look.”

“…If you insist.”

Línea hesitated briefly before giving a meaningful look to the priest who was explaining the situation to me.

“Ah! I understand.”

I’m not sure what he understood, but the priest nodded and left the tent. As he left, he thoroughly tied the tent entrance, making his assumptions quite clear.

“Ahem, ahem. He’s quite perceptive. Lucky for us.”

“No…”

Línea stepped closer and grabbed the hem of my shirt.

Her intentions were unmistakably transparent.

But she only clutched the hem without taking any further action.

Her face turned crimson, and her hands trembled slightly.

“…”

I can’t welcome this situation wholeheartedly, not knowing which direction Línea might spiral.

While she was hesitating, I simply cast a healing spell.

“I healed your entire body just to be safe. That should do it.”

“How could you!”

Línea yelled, but the healing was already done.

If she had been more assertive, I might have felt less awkward about the whole thing.

“You said you wouldn’t push me away! Lost, you’re a liar.”

“I never pushed you away.”

I simply didn’t pull her in.

Beyond that, what did she expect would happen if I had waited for her to make some kind of decision?

If she had acted more confidently, it might have been different, but if she lost control and did something rash, who knows what would have happened.

I promised not to push her away, but I never said I would cross any lines.

Right now, I need to focus elsewhere.

I can’t even prepare for hunting Belial properly, and now I’ve taken on responsibilities at the headquarters too.

Adding Línea to my list of concerns is just too much.

“Later.”

“When later?”

“Later.”

“…”

Línea pouted but didn’t complain further.

She must have realized there was no benefit in pushing me more.

“Let me see. I’ll check things over.”

Having escaped the heat of the moment that even she couldn’t control, Línea began examining the documents the priest had left behind.

This was probably her original intention. If I hadn’t asked if she was hurt, that whole scene might not have happened.

“You saved me.”

“…Then treat me better. Compliment me more often too.”

“I’ll try.”

“You always just say that.”

Línea expressed her dissatisfaction with a pout, yet she still did her work.

Grateful, I patted her head, and I could see her mood softening like her swaying tail.

Afterward, Línea and I sorted through the poverty relief plan documents while chatting. Her basic education is clearly much higher than mine.

She processes three pages in the time it takes me to finish one.

Well, not everyone can become a doctor, so that’s only natural.

“Looking at this, it seems like nothing went according to plan.”

“As expected.”

Honestly, I thought it was credible—the idea that Cardinal Sicarii was deliberately trying to fail.

But just by looking at these documents, I could tell. He was sincerely trying to help the poor, not working toward failure.

He was still a child of the gods despite losing his holy power, and he was a human being making more effort than anyone.

What drove him to this point was the gods’ inability to communicate, and my foolish hasty assumptions without knowing the facts.

“Everyone makes mistakes sometimes. But you handled it well, didn’t you? That’s what I think is important.”

“Well, I’m not so sure.”

“Ah, I’ve finished this section.”

Tap tap.

Línea organized the sorted documents with a gentle smile.

Then she reached out her hand toward me. Yes, I am slow at this kind of work.

This sort of paperwork should be handled by those who are good at it.

Of course, including my time before regression, I’ve spent years organizing documents on behalf of the Saintess, but still.

I’m probably not as good as a doctor who writes and reviews diagnoses every day.

I took half of the documents I was working on and handed them to Línea. Effectively, Línea is handling three-quarters of the Pantheon Temple’s work, but what does it matter?

Think of it as consulting an expert, and there’s no problem.

“By the way, where are the others?”

“Titan went to the training ground in anger. I think he’s not happy with how things turned out.”

“Well, fighting until someone drops can’t happen every day. It’s enough that we managed to persuade him somehow.”

“Ahaha.”

Línea laughed awkwardly.

Titan might be upset, but it seems Línea prefers this outcome, which is fortunate.

“How about Claire? Is she still feeling down?”

Claire, who couldn’t contribute much despite using the sacred artifact Vitege’s Armor. I wonder how she’s doing.

Personally, while I’ve been guiding her not to become arrogant, I don’t want her to be too dejected either.

“You should see for yourself.”

Línea lifted the tent flap with a mischievous smile.

I could see a priest lingering nearby, listening in, but I’d deal with that later.

Right now, I needed to process the scene unfolding before my eyes.

“Truly incredible! How could you with such a delicate body…!”

“To wear Vitege’s Armor at your age, you must have undergone rigorous training!”

“Claire will surely go down in the Pantheon Temple’s history as an exceptional paladin…!”

Claire was surrounded by priests and paladins, bathing in their praise.

“Well, not to that extent… ahem, ahem.”

“Woooaaahhh! So humble too!”

Claire was trying to maintain her usual expressionless face as if nothing affected her, but she couldn’t hide the twitching corners of her mouth.

“This is driving me crazy.”

It’s shocking in multiple ways.

First, these paladins and priests are fawning over a mere paladin with an apostle right in front of them.

Second, Claire, who collapsed after blocking just one attack, is now holding her head high as if she’s something special, her pride soaring after I’d worked so hard to keep it in check.

And third, these bastards are standing around watching this spectacle as if enjoying a puppy’s tricks, even amid all this chaos.

“Lost, aren’t the first and second points essentially just jealousy? It’s a bit unsightly of you, if I may say so.”

“Línea, I might start disliking you for saying that.”

“I was joking. Claire needs more education, doesn’t she?”

“Yes, that’s exactly it.”

That’s the Línea I like.

I’ll need to deflate that impudent kid’s ego again soon.

Yes, I’ll have her spar with Titan. He’d enjoy watching a warrior grow, and Claire could get practical combat training.

“Yes, this is all for Claire’s sake. Our child is going to become a judge someday.”

“I don’t see the connection between being a judge and physical power, but if you say so, it must be true.”

“Of course, a judge needs strength. To fend off those who might attack when displeased with a verdict, overwhelming power is necessary.”

“Yes, yes, of course.”

“…”

Watching Línea nod in boundless agreement makes me wonder if what I’m doing is right. Have I killed someone’s personality? I’ll need to deflate Claire’s ego and explain things properly later.

I don’t want to be a bastard who exploits Línea’s goodwill.

As a heresy inquisitor, I remember that such bastards were among those who died the most frequently.

“Hmm?”

As I was reflecting and planning how to thoroughly trample Claire’s pride, a murmur spread through the spectators still watching.

From far to near. As if announcing someone’s approach.

And it wasn’t fear or negativity I sensed in that murmur.

It was admiration and awe.

Once I understood its meaning, I couldn’t help but smile.

“I greet Your Holiness.”

“Ah! Apostle! Please don’t do this! How could you kneel to a mere servant like me!”

Pope Cotinus.

He had returned to the headquarters.

*     *      *

Thanks to Cotinus’s return, the issues at headquarters were quickly contained.

Of course, it’s just a temporary fix, but now that the Pope is here, they can gradually resolve things.

After calming everyone down and sending the priests and paladins back to their duties,

I finally regained my freedom and requested a private audience with Cotinus.

“Your Holiness.”

“The night breeze is chilly. Let’s warm up with some hot tea first.”

“I gratefully accept.”

A terrace illuminated by moonlight.

The season is transitioning from summer to early autumn.

I drink the herbal tea Cotinus offers, moistening my throat.

For a while, we drink tea in peaceful silence.

My throat is moist now, and my body feels warm. The weather is turning toward autumn soon anyway.

This is enough.

“About Cardinal Sicarii… no, Judas Sicarii, I assume you’ve heard.”

“Yes, Apostle. I’ve already heard about that friend of mine.”

“That’s why I find it puzzling.”

I intend not to hide my tears from those I trust.

At least from now on.

If you can’t show your weakness to someone, can they truly be called a comrade?

It’s alright to reveal weakness to comrades who fight alongside you on the frontlines.

Because reliable comrades will fill in for those weaknesses.

That’s why I want to ask.

“You knew.”

“Knew what… exactly?”

“That Cardinal Sicarii had lost his holy power. Someone of your position couldn’t possibly have been unaware.”

“…”

Whether Cotinus is truly trustworthy.

I still haven’t forgotten.

The inner thoughts I shared with him when we first met.

“And you knew this too.”

Pope Cotinus G Eden is, as far as I know, the one who best understands and upholds the gods’ will. He could only be Pope because at least five cardinals certified that.

“You knew why Cardinal Sicarii lost his holy power. At least better than my inexperienced self.”

It was just speculation.

The idea that he had wanted to lose his holy power was merely my hopeful interpretation.

A fitting inference and hope. They just happened to align, but I couldn’t claim certainty.

But what about the person before me?

He knows the gods’ will better than I do and understands Cardinal Sicarii better than I do.

“You knew and yet you left him be? Let Cardinal Sicarii become like this.”

He couldn’t possibly have been unaware.

This too isn’t certainty. It’s just inference based on circumstances and Cotinus’s personal tendencies.

I’d hoped this would end up being a mistaken assumption like before, but.

“That’s correct.”

Cotinus finally confirmed it.