My Childhood Friend Became an Inquisitor

“Who are you? I’ve never seen your face in this village before.”
“……”
“Oh, are you the child from the yellow-roofed house? The one they say is always sick and stays indoors.”
*

“Oh, Ailim…”

Upon hearing Anne’s words, the commander of the Crusaders made the sign of the cross by bending his right wrist.

Despite her young age and easily underestimated appearance, she was a rising star among the Inquisitors, renowned for her terrifying force and unwavering determination. Though she might lack some experience, it was said that her abilities were on par with seniors decades ahead of her.

Of course, such a devout and noble soul would never utter a lie. The commander did not doubt her, and was shocked in proportion to his faith.

“You say there’s such powerful evil that even you couldn’t touch it, Sister?”

“Yes. Shamefully, I couldn’t identify the source of the heretical acts… But I saw that the hand of an evil god has already touched the entire village.”

“It seems Ailim is testing us once again…”

They were silent for a moment in the somber atmosphere. The young commander had his face exposed, but the Inquisitor still wore her helmet despite how stifling it must have been. As if she didn’t want to show her expression.

The commander was a bit flustered when he received no response, unlike usual, but he soon continued steadfastly.

“However, we must not avoid the test given to us, if only to prove that we are His righteous ones.”

“Yes.”

At least that elicited a response.

“Surely we can overcome this…”

Unlike her usually crisp manner of speaking, her words trailed off vaguely like mist. Noticing something amiss, the commander hesitated before broaching a sensitive topic.

“Will you be alright?”

“Pardon?”

“That village is your hometown, isn’t it, Sister?”

“……”

One who seeks to stand before God’s glory must not hide their past. How can one praise the light with a body concealed in darkness, unworthy to be shown?

Anne’s past was also well known, as much as her fame. That she had lived a life unrelated to religion in her childhood, growing up in this small rural village.

Of course, no one faulted her for such a past, but this time the situation was special. At this rate, she would end up burning her hometown with her own hands.

“That is precisely why I must be the one to carry this out.”

But Anne spoke firmly. Her resolve, which had wavered momentarily, soon stood up straight again. It was truly a model example of an Inquisitor.

“It’s already too late to turn back… but if there are those who can be saved, I will save them, and those who cannot be saved…”

Her fist was clenched so tightly she didn’t even realize it herself. But her flesh, having partaken of the Holy Body, was so strong that even as her nails dug into her tender skin, not a drop of blood was shed.

Nevertheless, that dull pain was more than enough to awaken her reason.

“I must give them rest by my own hands.”

“…I apologize for doubting your conviction, Viche Anne.”

“I understand.”

The commander made the sign of the cross to her once more before leaving, and Anne’s heavily downcast gaze followed his back before shifting to the entire barracks.

Dong. Dong. Dong. The clear bell sound announces the departure and clears the minds of the faithful. But the dark cloud coiled in Anne’s mind showed no sign of dissipating from just that.

The army moves in perfect unison, like a single living organism. Knights outfit their horses with armor, while soldiers tend to their weapons, preparing for the impending time of judgment.

As an Inquisitor, Anne would have to stand before them. She would wield her mace at the very front, crushing the darkness, and the path she treads will be piled with corpses, not just of heretics but of faithful believers as well.

It was a fate she had already shouldered, but the reason the weight of her armor felt especially heavy on her shoulders today was…

“Holy war!”

Because of her unworthiness, hidden beneath her dazzling armor and glorious helmet.

Today, for the first time in her life, Anne had lied before God.

Even after returning to the village, my deeply sunken mood showed no signs of improving for a while.

Come to think of it, this must have been Anne’s first visit to the village in years. Is it alright for her to leave like this without greeting anyone else? But it’s not like I could chase after her and stop her either.

Though I kept heaving sighs, I couldn’t just sit there forever, so I eventually left the place where I met Anne and returned home.

“I need to prepare for the next trade run…”

Even mumbling to myself to push myself doesn’t give me any energy. But I can’t stay discouraged forever, so after dawdling for a while, I finally force my heavy body to get up again.

I’m a merchant. Well, not anything grand, just a small merchant traveling alone with a single cart.

The reason I don’t even need to hire mercenaries is partly because this village is close to the city, and partly because this area is under the influence of the Church. It’s a job with low profits, but also low risk and low burden.

All that’s needed is the perseverance to keep circling the same places endlessly. If our timing had been off by just a little, Anne and I might not have met at all.

Being caught with my fiancée right beside me.
Not meeting at all, and hearing about my engagement from the villagers instead.

Which would have been worse? No, either way would have been terrible.
Of course, the worst of all was me. Me, who broke my promise citing reality, who abandoned my first love and rationalized it.

“Haah…”

Even such a hopeless guy has to make a living, so my body moves on its own, gathering what I need for the next trade run.

A bit of dried meat, clumsily woven straw dolls, old books hard to find even in the city… Mostly odds and ends worth buying for their cheap price rather than usefulness. Just the kind of goods a guy like me would deal in.

It’s not like I never dreamed of becoming a great merchant, but how could an barely literate ignoramus like me? After letting go of the brightest thing that ever came into my hands, giving up on other dreams became even easier.

Yes, someone like me doesn’t suit Anne either. Rather than this shabby house and these trinkets worth only pocket change, grand mansions and brilliant jewels suit you much better.

Things I can’t give you. I shouldn’t expect what I’ve given up on.

Trying to shake off my gloomy mood, I pretended to focus more on my work. As I was packing another bundle, my hands slipped and one of the straw dolls inside fell out.

“Oh.”

Seeing that the final knot wasn’t neat and the contents were slightly spilling out, it’s clearly a defective product. Thinking it might be for the best, I picked up the fallen doll when suddenly-

“…!”

With an indescribable premonition, I dropped the doll again.

The fear of death. The same sensation as when I encountered a wolf while taking a forest path, hoping to return quickly during my inexperienced days. But why?

Things I hadn’t noticed because I was focused on work, or lost in thought, I can feel them now. A terrible rumbling as if something massive is gradually approaching, and unified chants that grow louder with each repetition.

“For Ailim!”

“For our Lord!”

Why are the Crusaders here?

Opening the window, I could see dust clouds rapidly approaching the village, and flashes of silver occasionally visible within the dust. The emblem on the flag mounted on a pole higher than anything else confirmed my suspicion.

The honorable warriors who always made me feel reassured whenever I saw them, as they subjugated the bandits and monsters of the region. But now, seeing that familiar sight, I was suddenly gripped by terrible fear.

Perhaps I sensed it instinctively. That they were no longer the kind and reliable protectors they used to be. A revulsion welling up from deep within my chest.

My mind goes blank. Not knowing what to do, I reflexively ducked under the window sill. Praying to God that they hadn’t seen me.

But aren’t they the very ones who carry out God’s will?

“Waaaaaah!”

The battle cry that had suddenly grown much louder. Should I run? No, that won’t work. The pack horse pulling my cart is a sickly beast that couldn’t outrun the Crusaders’ knights.

I need to hide, but where? This tiny house doesn’t have any proper spaces. Like a foolish bird that buries its head thinking it can’t be seen, I pressed myself as flat as possible against the bare floor.

As I lay prone, my eyes accidentally met those of the doll rolling on the floor. Thrown down twice, with its lower half half-torn off, the doll seemed to speak to me with its motionless smiling face.

=You’ll soon be like me.=

In my extreme terror, I could barely even breathe. The sound of hoofbeats now right in front of me, and the crashing sounds of the village’s flimsy palisades being smashed and broken.

It couldn’t be that person, but for some reason, a familiar shouting voice pierced my ears.

“Judge all heretics-!”