Chapter 20
“That was, certainly, not the power of a demon.”
Bardo, the 20-year veteran Inquisitor of Paganoa, muttered with a confused expression.
“Any other Inquisitor besides me would judge it the same way. There's no need to even bring up an Inquisitor; anyone who saw that scene would have the same opinion.”
He had seen it.
At the Serigel City Hall, a place filled with red demonic energy, Reinhardt had saved innocent citizens.
It was a scene that could only be described as salvation.
Reinhardt was shining.
By simply extending a finger imbued with light and touching their foreheads, he had purified humans tainted by Black Magic.
“Rather, I would have believed it if he were a priest. Don't you think so, Dame Evangeline?”
“It was the first time I had seen such a thing.”
“I thought as much. Otherwise, you wouldn't have called me all the way here. Ah, I'm not blaming you. I'm rather grateful to you, Dame.”
An incomprehensible power.
But a power with a definite effect against demons.
Knight Reinhardt certainly had something.
Even if he himself was unaware, it would surely be a great help considering the path Paganoa would walk in the future.
“My duty as an Inquisitor seems to be over. From now on, I will assist you, Dame. Do what you must.”
“What do you mean by assist me?”
“Aren't you planning to recommend his enlistment? If not, I would advise you to consider it. Paganoa is always thirsty for talent.”
“……I see. You are right.”
Only then did Evangeline understand the changed situation.
She had suspected him of being a Minion of evil, but the suspicion was a preposterous misunderstanding.
If so, what she had to do was clear.
Besides, hadn't Reinhardt also said he wanted to join Paganoa?
If he had such power, the personnel committee would surely approve without any disagreement.
“Dame Evangeline. And Inquisitor Bardo. I was just waiting for you.”
Evangeline immediately sought out Ethan Taton. When she said she wanted to speak with Reinhardt, he brightened up and nodded.
“I will bring Sir Reinhardt. I will excuse myself for a moment.”
Evangeline and Bardo waited in silence.
Soon, Reinhardt appeared with the sound of footsteps. With his usual calm, upright, and confident expression.
“I heard you called for me.”
A Knight of Paganoa.
At that name alone, most knights would show a sense of awe.
But Reinhardt was not. His gaze was merely that of one person facing another.
“Sir Reinhardt.”
Calling his name first, Evangeline got straight to the point without any complicated rhetoric.
“If you wish, I intend to recommend your enlistment into Paganoa. I will be your recommender, and Inquisitor Bardo here has also offered to lend his support…….”
“That is not the help I need.”
“Pardon?”
Evangeline was flustered by the unexpected answer. Bardo also let out a cough, looking flustered.
To the two of them, Reinhardt emphasized again in a firm voice.
“I have no intention of ever leaving the Taton Knights.”
Paganoa.
Those who stood at the pinnacle of knighthood.
Of course, the fact that they were knights was proof of their skill.
It meant that even if they weren't respected, their swordsmanship was certain.
But the weight of the name was different.
Being a member of the Paganoa Knights meant being one of the strongest in the Empire. It meant being someone who could physically cut down evil.
Reinhardt refused the offer to join such a place.
“There was a time when the name Paganoa was my dream. It is true that I once pursued the dream of dedicating myself as a knight there.”
There was a time when he had such a dream. Even as he said so, Reinhardt showed a firm refusal.
“But not anymore. I was already beginning to feel it, and today's events have given me certainty. I will not leave the Taton Knights.”
“Can you tell me the reason for your decision?”
“Today, Serigel needed me. If I had not been there by chance, many lives would have been sacrificed.”
It was a reason that flowed out without a moment's hesitation.
Evangeline's slender eyebrows twitched, and Bardo let out a low hum and nodded.
“I am Bardo, an Inquisitor of Paganoa. If I understand correctly, you are concerned about the safety of the citizens residing here in the city of Serigel.”
“That is correct.”
“Since the knights of Paganoa do not stay here. But it doesn't seem like anyone else will faithfully perform your role either.”
“I am not doubting their skills. It is just that there is something I can do here. As a knight of Taton.”
Those who stand high cannot see below.
They can barely see if they bow their heads deeply and open their eyes wide, but it is not realistically easy.
Because those like Paganoa must deal with more serious and heavy problems.
If there were a lost child crying and a demon that would bring a crisis to the world, they would naturally look at the latter.
“Your heart is firm.”
“That is correct.”
“Wealth and honor will not be of great value to you. Am I right?”
“It is not an important issue.”
“You simply walk the path a knight should walk. I, Bardo, also feel I have learned a great deal from your appearance. Now that I have confirmed your intentions, I will not press you further.”
Inquisitor Bardo offered a final handshake. When Reinhardt took it, he shook it vigorously.
“I hope we will meet again. Preferably for a good reason.”
“Yes.”
“Dame Evangeline seems to have more to sort out. I will take my leave first.”
Bardo took one last look at Reinhardt and left the commander's office with no lingering steps.
Two people remained.
Knight Reinhardt and Evangeline.
“Sir Reinhardt.”
After calling Reinhardt, Evangeline slightly lowered her gaze and fidgeted with her lips.
Her gaze, which was as cold as she was called the Knight of Frost, was subdued.
Deep contemplation was etched around her eyes.
“There is not much I can tell you. But to a certain extent…….”
“No. I will not listen. Excessive curiosity sometimes torments both the speaker and the listener.”
“……Paganoa is fighting against the same kind of enemies you faced today. This much I can tell you.”
“I understand. I will listen only that far.”
That was enough excessive information.
Reinhardt made it clear with his eyes that he did not want to hear any more.
Evangeline was probably in a position where she couldn't speak freely either.
In any case, topics like demons and warlocks were not something that could be easily brought up yet.
Evangeline brought up the next topic with a hint of regret.
“Sir Reinhardt, you said so. That you were just doing what you had to do. That when the moment came that you must, you just did it.”
“That is true.”
“Was today such a moment?”
“Yes. I went where I had to go. I executed the enemy I had to execute. That is all there is to it. And…….”
“I suppose it was the same for ‘treating’ the innocent citizens.”
“Yes. I was able to do so. Unfortunately, I do not know the reason why I am able to do so.”
He can do it.
But he doesn't know how he did it.
With those words, Reinhardt completely blocked any further questions. He exuded an atmosphere that he couldn't tell them even if they asked.
It was something only Reinhardt could say, and fortunately, Evangeline seemed to have understood it to some extent.
“I understand. I will not press you further to join. But when the world needs help, Sir Reinhardt will willingly lend a hand.”
“I will.”
“Even if solving that problem is the role of Paganoa.”
“To me, it is not such a different problem.”
When asked if he would help if they requested it someday, Reinhardt affirmed without a moment's hesitation.
Because that was a Reinhardt-like action.
“That's a relief.”
A light of relief appeared in Evangeline's eyes.
In any case, a faint thread of connection had been formed between the two.
“And…….”
Evangeline's lips twitched.
She slightly opened her mouth as if to say something, but then closed it again as if in resignation.
“I will see you again, Sir Reinhardt.”
Evangeline, who left her farewell, had become the Knight of Frost again.
The wavering expression was gone, and she had returned to the person who always calmly said only what needed to be said.
Even her departing figure was like that.
Her silver hair fluttered lightly. No lingering feelings were felt from her back.
At that, Reinhardt firmly suppressed the twitching corners of his lips.
‘That's right. This is how Evangeline should be.’
This was the right conclusion.
Reinhardt himself would stay here, and his relationship with Evangeline would be maintained.
Just by maintaining that subtle relationship, it would be much easier to deal with the incidents that would occur in the future.
And a little while later.
“S-Sir Reinhardt!”
The door burst open and a pale-faced Ethan Taton rushed in.
He had the expression of someone who had received a great shock.
His face was pale, and he looked to be in a very bad state.
“I just heard an unbelievable joke. They say you refused to join Paganoa. I didn't think Dame Evangeline had such a mischievous side…….”
He forced a smile and trailed off, then his expression hardened. With a tearful face, he asked Reinhardt.
“It's a joke, right? Tell me it's a joke!”
“I am staying here. As a member of the Taton Knights.”
“No! Why would you throw away such an opportunity!”
“I have things to do here. If you have nothing more to say, I will take my leave.”
“N-no! Wait a minute! Sir Reinhardt!”
Reinhardt ignored him and left the commander's office.
Thud.
An incomprehensible scream erupted from beyond the closed door.
The employees turned in surprise at Ethan Taton's wail, but upon seeing Reinhardt walking out, they quickly turned their heads back.
“Peep?”
Bitdori also seemed to find Ethan's scream loud.
It blinked its eyes as if tired, then flew up slightly, settled on the top of Reinhardt's head, and fell asleep.
‘Now I need to decide what to do with Bitdori.’
The Bitdori on his head was Reinhardt's next task.
He had to grasp its identity, grasp its abilities, and then devise countermeasures based on the conclusions he had drawn.
‘No way. It must be a similar but different being. The order I got it from was different, too.’
Reinhardt tried to console himself and returned to his quarters.
After leaving a message for his attendant to refuse all visitors, he closed the door tightly and secluded himself.
“Bitdori.”
“Peep?”
“Let's do that. That thing. The thing we did earlier.”
Bitdori was still sleepy, so its reaction was slow. But it was trying its best to listen to Reinhardt's story.
“Peep?”
“Sparkle, sparkle.”
“Peeep!”
Bitdori floated up into the air. Then it started swinging its short fists wildly.
‘Does it even understand me.’
Reinhardt sighed and continued to try.
He thought he would have to spend the whole day like this with Bitdori.
“Sparkle, sparkle. The thing we did earlier. Like this, sparkle, sparkle…….”