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A pitch-black veil enveloped everything.

The barrier created by Evan’s black magic exuded an eerie aura, one so oppressive it made my skin crawl.

A concept completely opposite to ‘holiness’.

Despair, desperation, or perhaps even the scent of sheer survival.

It was only natural.

When I dispelled Evan’s black magic, my emotions mirrored that sensation: the agony of a severed wrist, death looming before my eyes, and the unrelenting desperation to do anything to survive.

Tapping into the shadows embedded deep in the earth wasn’t particularly challenging.

Of course, it wasn’t perfect.

— Crackle!

But these intrusions were nothing the Inquisitor couldn’t handle.

“Hahaha! Everyone, hide behind me!”

He laughed brightly as he dealt with everything.

Does this man ever stop smiling?

Thus, the crisis was unexpectedly resolved through cooperation.

— Vrrrmmm!

When I finally dispersed the shroud, nearly collapsing from exhaustion, the cursed “threads” disappeared at the same time.

“Phew…”

A long, deep sigh escaped me. A part of me couldn’t help but wonder about the face of the one who devised such a vile assassination method and created this kind of technique.

Or maybe, it was better not to know.

Whoever it was, they were undoubtedly a master of overwhelming skill.

If the compressed energy of those threads had been unleashed at the moment of confrontation?

‘…I don’t even want to imagine it.’

It would have been an undeniable defeat.

Above all.

“Destructive” divine power.

An ability that disrupts the very foundation of divine power, which is inherently non-destructive, could not be taken lightly.

A revelation of an entirely different level.

At the very least, they must have surpassed the limits of 5-Star.

‘Though I can’t say for sure if such a thing is possible…’

Systematically, 5-Star is the limit.

But having approached it myself, I believe there must be a level beyond.

If so, the compressed thread attack earlier was undoubtedly at least two levels above 5-Star.

A sixth or even seventh-tier master might have launched it.

A difference in realms, quite literally.

“Haah…”

I sighed again, but only briefly.

I raised my head and scanned the interior.

The wrecked building was filled with debris, barely holding together as if by sheer luck.

— Step.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Someone was moving.

Still as radiant as ever, with a bright, unshaken smile.

Oscar Javert.

His steps were deliberate. His destination was clear—me.

Effortlessly avoiding the debris, he stood before me.

“You have quite an interesting skill, Sir Ian Blackangers.”

“Looking around, I’d say it’s not exactly something to laugh about.”

“Haha! Well, to be fair, things could’ve been dangerous without your little tricks.”

Before Oscar could finish, Lord Lipenstein cut in sharply.

“No. Without Ian here, we all would’ve died. Inquisitor, weren’t you supposed to guard us from outside? That was the agreement, was it not?”

“The noise inside was far too loud to ignore. But thanks to it, I was able to protect everyone, wasn’t I?”

Oscar laughed refreshingly and shrugged. Looking at him like this, he could be mistaken for just a charming, carefree young man.

It’s hard to believe that someone like him—who casually jokes about life-and-death situations—was also an incredibly strong inquisitor.

In any case…

It was clear to anyone that Oscar was trying to call out my use of “black magic”.

Of course, black magic is an undeniably illegal form of magic. The fields in which it’s used are typically shadowy, and its mechanics are far from anything that could be called “legitimate”.

Thus, it was no surprise that Count Lipenstein spoke up in my defense.

Facing Oscar, he smiled.

“The same logic applies to Ian, doesn’t it? While we may not know exactly what kind of magic Ian used…”

He placed particular emphasis on the “not know,” while glancing at me.

Hmm.

I appreciated the sentiment, even if the shield he was putting up for me was thin.

“In any case, he protected me, you, Minister Blitter, and even the Archbishop. I would say he fulfilled his role more than adequately.”

Blitter, the Empire’s Foreign Minister, nodded in agreement, his round face jiggling slightly.

“Whatever kind of magic Student Ian used, the Empire has no intention of raising an issue over it.”

The Archbishop of the Vatican, however, looked uneasy.

“…It’s a bit more complicated for us. Black magic is inherently tied to heretical concepts, after all.”

Count Lipenstein turned toward the Archbishop and spoke calmly.

“Can’t you just turn a blind eye this once? Besides, he accomplished something truly remarkable.”

“…Hmm.”

The Archbishop hesitated before nodding ever so slightly.

“Indeed, if we judge by the results alone, his contribution cannot be overlooked.”

I had to admire Count Lipenstein’s skill.

He had effortlessly shifted the atmosphere in this partially ruined conference hall into one where it seemed essential to protect me.

‘…Interesting.’

Of course, whether that was truly in my best interest was another matter entirely.

Why?

‘Because I still need to meet the Pope at some point.’

I let out a long sigh and recalled the concept of [Titles].

In Fantasy X Academy’s system, [Titles] are special rewards given for achieving specific feats.

There are many titles available, but one of the most important for me to obtain is [The One Who Beheld the Pinnacle].

——” The One Who Beheld the Pinnacle” ——

Few have had the honor of standing before the two great pillars of the continent: the Emperor of the Britannian Empire and the Pope of the Holy Constantine Church. Such glory comes at a cost.

< Acquisition Conditions >

– Meet the Emperor of the Empire: (1/1)

– Meet the Pope of the Deus Church: (0/1)

< Effects >

– <Special> Resolute Spirit

– <Special> Status Ailment Resistance

————

Both effects are absolutely necessary for me right now.

They are the minimum requirements to face the final boss of this scenario—or rather, this game—the Bloodstone Cult Master.

The Resolute Spirit effect ensures my mind remains stable, no matter the opponent’s overwhelming presence. The Status Ailment Resistance effect increases resistance against debuffs like stuns or slows. Both are crucial rewards I can’t afford to miss.

Therefore…

“Hahaha! I’m sorry, but I can’t simply turn a blind eye.”

Oscar’s response was frustrating, but I couldn’t entirely resent him for it.

Well, maybe just a little. But at least I could understand where he was coming from.

“Inquisitor Oscar—this could become a diplomatic issue!”

“Could it, though?”

Oscar tilted his head innocently, his smile growing even more radiant.

“Isn’t concealing someone who uses blatant black magic an even greater issue?”

His argument wasn’t particularly strong, but it silenced everyone.

The reason was simple: his logic was technically correct.

—Creak.

The steel beam under his feet bent slightly.

Oscar was the strongest person here.

Even if dozens of knights rushed in to stop him, he could likely deal with them all single-handedly.

“My position grants me the authority to execute not only heretics but also those who shield them. This applies anywhere under the influence of the Deus Church.”

Much like diplomats are granted immunity, inquisitors are granted the right of execution.

While there are limits to their power, Oscar’s statement wasn’t entirely untrue.

The room fell silent.

Everyone here knew Oscar’s reputation as a madman.

No one dared to speak up. Even if this became a diplomatic issue later, dealing with him right now was unthinkable.

For now, his overwhelming presence and unpredictability kept everyone in check.

— Step.

It was no surprise that Oscar once again stood before me, smiling.

“Hahaha! Haven’t you had enough time to prepare yourself, Sir Ian?”

I nodded, acknowledging his comment about being prepared. Oscar tilted his head, his inquisitor’s eyes narrowing playfully.

“You seem quite composed.”

“I already knew this was inevitable.”

“You do realize that if you’re taken in like this, you’ll be executed?”

“Do you really think that will happen?”

My question only made the inquisitor laugh even harder.

“That black magic of yours… I’m sure an investigation will uncover all sorts of things.”

“Well, we won’t know until you try, will we?”

“Ha! Excellent!”

His laughter turned into something close to a guffaw.

What could possibly be so amusing?

I was being serious, after all.

“You seem ready, so let’s get moving.”

And with that, the scenario “Witch Hunt” truly began.

◆

Thump. Thump.

The rattling of the carriage echoed loudly as it rolled roughly down the road.

No, calling it a “carriage” might be too generous.

It was more like a prisoner transport, and a particularly unpleasant one at that.

“Bleh! Ugh, this is the worst treatment for a prisoner I’ve ever seen!”

The cramped vehicle carried not just me but two other passengers.

One was a rugged-looking middle-aged man, clearly hardened by life.

The other was a woman who seemed weighed down by sorrow—anyone could tell she had the air of a widow.

The two of them had apparently exchanged quite a bit of conversation already, but the dynamic was clear: the woman had clearly submitted to the man’s dominance.

It was as if the hierarchy had been firmly established, even in a grimy transport like this.

Not that there’s much to establish in a place like this, I thought.

‘Lucky me.’

Still, it wasn’t every day you got a chance to build connections in a situation like this.

The middle-aged man turned his attention to me and asked gruffly.

“So… what’re you in for?”

“Huh?”

“What crime did you commit to end up here? You must’ve done something.”

He was testing me, trying to establish dominance early on.

I smiled faintly.

“Well, isn’t it obvious? This is simply the fastest way to meet the Pope.”