Chapter 38
Seated atop his horse, Godfrey watched as Karl, battered and worn, emerged from the underground.
“I was just on my way down, but it seems you’ve already finished.”
Though his tone remained formal, perhaps because it was their second meeting, his expression was noticeably softer than before.
“I heard from the mercenaries that Viscount Julio made a pact with a demon. A demon, huh… If I’d heard that just a few months ago, I wouldn’t have believed it for a second.”
“That’s slander! I’ve never had any reason to seek anything from a demon! Sir Godfrey! You’re not the commander of the Holy Knights for nothing! Please, examine the situation carefully and make the right judgment! Let’s say what happened during the chaos—your threatening me—never occurred. It was a chaotic situation, wasn’t it? I understand, I do!”
Viscount Julio, detained nearby, shouted in desperation.
“All truths will be revealed through investigation. So please, remain calm and cooperate fully with the inquiry.”
“The Holy Knights have no authority to detain nobles of the Empire!”
“Of course not. But there are exceptions in special cases—like, say, a confirmed contract with a demon.”
As Godfrey continued speaking, the color drained from Julio’s face. Just when he thought everything was over—
“Ah…! No… no…!”
Julio began screaming like a madman. And then, all eyes turned to Andrew—whose body was literally melting.
His dissolving form turned into a blue liquid. Because the fluid was a surreal blue, the scene was even more unnerving and grotesque.
Watching his son melt into a puddle before him, Julio made an animalistic sound.
“Ah…! Aaah…!”
Weakened in both body and mind over a long period, Viscount Julio collapsed to the ground and scooped up what was once Andrew with his bare hands.
Since both the magic that had revived Andrew and the blue liquid were of Dragul’s making, it all fell apart once Dragul was killed.
A fitting end for a man who had discarded all morals in pursuit of his goal.
Still, I couldn’t help feeling some pity for Andrew, who was revived only to melt away moments later, never knowing what had happened.
I turned away from the broken viscount and approached Godfrey.
“Hm.”
Godfrey looked at the liquified Andrew with a troubled expression.
“Dagger of Vermon.”
I handed over the dagger I had been carrying.
It would now be taken as evidence and sealed away by the Holy Knights.
That meant Count Calido would no longer have a chance to get his hands on it.
Looking dazed, Godfrey received the dagger and gave me a slightly awkward nod.
“I’m staying at the only inn in the village. If you need me, come find me there. I’m tired.”
I turned away. At that moment, the mercenaries all deeply bowed to me.
“Sir Karl! Thank you! We’ll never forget this, not even in death!”
I glanced back, waved a few times, and continued on. Once I reached the inn and entered my room, I didn’t even have the strength to lift a finger. Still clad in armor, I collapsed into a deep, unconscious sleep.
***
Upon waking, I checked my condition as always by moving around in an open space.
My body's recovery speed had greatly increased—most injuries now healed within a day.
But the wounds from the battle with Dragul seemed to need a little more time.
“Come to think of it…”
I slowly recalled the system message I saw last night.
[Progress has surpassed 5%. Skill function is now unlocked.]
[Skill: Sword Mastery has been added.]
‘…’
A 21st-century office worker whose only experience with blades was box cutters and kitchen knives—suddenly becoming a knight in a world where swords could cut steel. I had been desperate.
Yet throughout all that agony, I hadn’t seen even the faintest trace of a “skill.” I had reached this point solely through relentless effort.
And now, the skill I was finally granted was something I had already mastered—Sword Mastery.
[Basic Sword Mastery: Improves swordsmanship ability.]
With a sigh, I calmed my frustration at the absurdly short description.
[Anomaly detected. Adjusting mastery skill to match user.]
Several windows popped up and vanished until the system settled on: [Advanced Sword Mastery]
[Advanced Sword Mastery: Greatly enhances swordsmanship. Boosts aura-related abilities.]
A magnificent gift for a half-baked knight who couldn’t even use aura.
“…Aura.”
I gripped my sword and muttered softly so no one would hear. As expected, no Qi manifested.
“….”
Feeling a bit embarrassed, I swung the sword instead.
Whoosh. Slice.
‘Hm.’
The more I swung, the more I felt it.
Subtle—but unmistakable.
My sword and Qi moved more freely than before.
A crude comparison, but it felt like the air was parting more smoothly.
Most people wouldn’t notice it, but I could feel the difference.
‘Is this the effect of the skill?’
The slight yet distinct improvement left me with a strange expression.
‘I really didn’t want to admit it.’
[Progress: 5.5%]
Regardless, I’d acquired my first skill with the completion of the last mission, and my progress bar had meaningfully advanced.
Qi hadn’t awakened, but my enhanced physical and mental resistance were significant leaps forward.
‘Alright, one step at a time. Slowly.’
Step by step—eventually, I’d reach 100% completion.
I cast away stray thoughts as I continued swinging my sword.
I had been at it for a while when—
A familiar voice tickled my ear.
“It’s been a while, Sir Karl.”
A graceful woman’s voice, speaking in a masculine tone. It had been a while since I’d heard that voice.
***
In a small room, a man and a woman sat facing each other.
The atmosphere was heavy.
Wearing light armor and seated with a strict expression, Isabel, the Inquisitor, was the very embodiment of her order.
“It’s been a while.”
“It has.”
“We were deeply indebted to you last time. I never had the chance to thank you, so I’ll do so now.”
Her polite nod reflected her nature.
“No need for pleasantries. Why are you here? That matter was settled, wasn’t it?”
“Sir Godfrey requested assistance in investigating serious heretical activities in this domain. I happened to be nearby and came to help with the case.”
I had no reason to press further if that was her explanation.
“I see.”
“…May I ask one thing? How did you come to suspect Viscount Julio and end up here?”
It wasn’t Julio or Dragul she was suspicious of.
It was me. And it wasn’t the first time I’d been involved in these blasphemous situations.
“I went to the black market on a friend’s request and heard that Dagger of Vermon was being passed from Julio to Count Calido. I came to investigate, and found the Viscount performing some resurrection ritual for a demon.”
“Count Calido and Sir Karl were active on the West Continent around the same time for several years. But you didn’t seem to have any personal grudge. Who was this ‘friend’ of yours?”
A suffocating moment.
I couldn’t say I got involved because I was chasing something called a “progress bar.” So I stayed silent.
“…Sir Karl, are you a former member of the Imperial Intelligence Bureau?”
My silence seemed to deepen Isabel’s speculation. And her conclusion arrived at one possibility.
Under the first unified emperor, there had been two secret units under direct command. One was the Intelligence Bureau. The other—the Shadow Knights.
After the first and last unified emperor died, both organizations vanished.
But there was no concrete evidence that they were ever disbanded.
Given my combat ability, Shadow Knight seemed more fitting. But based on my wanderings, Intelligence Bureau was more likely.
Nothing else could explain the irregularities surrounding me.
“If it’s difficult to answer, that’s fine. At the very least, I’m relieved to see that you are not part of those heretical forces.”
Isabel took my continued silence as confirmation. With that conclusion, a faint smile appeared on her face. It was a look of relief.
“….”
There was no need to correct her, so I rose to leave.
“Wait.”
Isabel gently halted me with her voice.
“Is there something else?”
“Well…”
Looking a bit troubled, she spoke again.
“Cardinal Thomas of the Inquisition would like to meet with you.”
“Cardinal Thomas?”
“…He can’t travel due to certain circumstances, so he’s invited you to the Vatican.”
That was what had made her hesitant.
Being “invited” by the Order often carried a coercive air to it, and she clearly didn’t feel right about summoning me like that.
I had no real reason to go just because they asked.
[Quest: Shadow Cast by the Light]
At that moment, a new mission appeared before me—its title very different from before. Unlike the usual commands, this one felt more like a suggestion.
‘So it’s not telling me to do anything specific…?’
Watching me hesitate, Isabel looked uncomfortable.
“Alright. I’ll go.”
“…Thank you!”
Isabel bowed her head in gratitude.
“I’ve heard the Vatican has the best wine?”
Much like how the churches of medieval Europe developed and spread wine, the clergy here were also considered masters of winemaking.
Having discovered truly good wine only after coming to this world, I smiled at the thought.
“I’m sure you’ll have all the fine wine you could ever want.”
To Isabel, wine was only a sacred symbol—so my reaction surprised her.
“Do you enjoy drinking?”
“I enjoy anything that tastes good. It’s rare around here.”
Come to think of it, the last time we met, I had shown quite the interest in food too.
‘He must’ve had a rough life…’
She had no way of knowing where my taste for good food came from.