Chapter 730 – Daughter and Mother

000

It was shocking, even to Cleon, to see Selena so embarrassed that she broke out in a cold sweat, and whether it was fear or some other reason, she fell into a panic.

And, it also goes without saying that the thing that made her that way was none other than her own mother – that is, the Duchess of Regent.

“Calm down for now, Selena. Are you saying your mother is coming to check if you are doing well on your mission?”

＂Damn, let’s meet…! By now, it wouldn’t be strange to hear a call saying they’ve caught Cleon, but since there was no call, they must have been suspicious…!”

＂Ah~…＂

Cleon heard that it was really difficult to know how to react.

I could tell from her reaction that if she told her mother that she hadn’t caught up yet, she would be scolded harshly by her mother.

That’s why Cleon thinks it’s better to leave this place first before getting caught up in troublesome matters.

“That’s a big deal. Okay then!”

“Now, wait!? Where are you going, you cowardly man!?”

Looking at Selena, who was holding onto Cleon’s wrist tightly and screaming without letting go, Cleon looked embarrassed and tried to escape from her grasp.

“Well, I can’t get involved in family matters!”

“If you look at the cause, Cleon, the reason is that you persuaded me!? So, I suggest you try to persuade my mother with that magic snout!”

If you think about it, it seems to be true to some extent, but Cleon felt like something more troublesome would happen with the combination of Selena and her mother.

I guess he is like that too.

Just as Cleon knew the Duke of Regent, he also knew of the Duchess of Regent, his wife and Selena’s mother.

She, too, is a famous figure among the kingdom’s nobles in another sense.

Selena’s mother is ‘Namiri Regent.’.

She is a woman from the Inquisitor-Inquisitor of the Order of Protection of Saints who has been active since just before the end of the Great War between the Kingdom and Empire.

In other words, she was originally a priest of the church, and the position of Inquisitor, which was considered to be the most dangerous among them, was so radical that if she uttered malicious slander against the church, her head could be broken in a fight on the spot. .

In the past, it is said that there were over hundreds of inquisitors, but in modern times, the church’s stance has changed to embrace others as much as possible, and the number has decreased significantly, to less than 10 even in the temple of the royal capital, the headquarters of the church.

However, just because the number has decreased does not mean that their quality has decreased, and they use divine magic along with their excellent magic detection ability to detect various evil things hidden in this world.

For example, demons, cultists who sacrifice humans, external beings who call themselves demons who accept and eat such sacrifices, monsters who came from the gap in another dimension, etc.

Those who fight against such things and act as a shield to protect the humans of the continent are the Inquisitors.

Originally, even in a religious sect whose doctrine is that human salvation is achieved through the Trinity of a saint, a holy sword, and a warrior, it is quite alien to save humans through the power of those who do not belong to any of them, but in a position to receive help, such a thing is possible. Since they were not in a position to argue, they were beings who appeared at some point and solved the problem when they thought that anyone would want to help them.

However, since they are fundamentally outside the Trinity and not recognized as saints, the fact that they do not hesitate to use any means to deal with enemies stronger than themselves is quite damaging to their image.

For example, in the distant past, people tried to purify an entire village with fire in order to catch one heretic hiding in the village.

In order to defeat one great devil, you use a large amount of explosives to collapse a mountain and trap the devil inside.

Sometimes, the Inquisitors who work to solve evil beings – heresy – cause greater damage than the heresy, and there were people who were angry at the Inquisitors because their navels were bigger than their stomachs.

Namiri’s last name before marrying Duke Regent – So, her original family, the Sprenger family, was a famous family that had produced heresy inquisitors for generations, and naturally, Namiri was the leader of the Inquisitors at the time.

An iron maiden without blood or tears, she was called ‘Iron Maiden Namiri’, and she used various torture tools and powerful sacred magic to form a deep-rooted cult that existed before the war between the kingdom and the empire – that is, a pagan. There was a record of uprooting a group.

It was an extremely barbaric organization of druids where human sacrifice was not even possible, and there was a history of frequently kidnapping kingdom people and using them for their own rituals, so there would have been no room for sympathy, but at the time, she was the Pope who personally witnessed the torture – that is, Esca’s predecessor. There was even a rumor that he left because his stomach was weakened by the sight of the interrogation being so cruel.

Of course, because of its thoroughness and perfection, it would have succeeded in eradicating the heretics.

Coolness, composure, insight into the root of evil, and powerful magical abilities to support it.

In addition, a strong sense of justice that never forgives evil.

It didn’t take long to think about it to figure out where parts of Selena’s personality and the source of her magical abilities came from.

Naturally, the impression of the dark horse clan that causes a lot of problems will not be good.

Although he had never met Cleon face to face, he didn’t want to imagine what would have happened if he had.

Even though it has been about 20 years since I got married and retired.

Anyway, for this reason, Cleon also wanted to avoid meeting Selena’s mother directly.

“… Now that it’s like this, I lie and say I haven’t found what’s hidden somewhere─ I guess it’s hard because I’m the type of person who can’t lie…”

There is no way Selena could tell a lie with her upright personality.

Even if it is a white lie and the person she is talking about is her own mother.

“Well, it’s not like I can’t lie!? However, if you lie, you will feel remorse and have to lie down with a fever for a day…”

＂What kind of structure is this…＂

Although she thought it was causing a mysterious physical reaction, she was about to think for a moment about what to do.

Selena speaks while looking at Cleon with her troubled face.

＂… In fact, when she talked to her mother a little while ago, she said that she had already arrived outside of her camp… ＂

“Wait a minute, then you can’t even go out…”

At that time, I hear footsteps approaching from outside.

One was the military boots, the footsteps of a man, and the sound of her armor clanking as she walked made it clear that she was one of the soldiers in the garrison.

And what was heard together were the voices of a man and a woman talking to each other, although the footsteps were barely audible.

“But, I was really surprised. Namiri, who must be in the royal capital, is coming to visit in person.”

“I’m really sorry for visiting suddenly. Doesn’t my daughter cause you any trouble?”

“Well, it’s lungs. He is someone who is worthy of becoming an example for the people of the kingdom.”

A woman’s voice seemed to have arrived right in front of the tent – even Cleon, who was hearing the voice for the first time, could tell that it was Selena’s mother.

＂Tsk, tsk, laugh, ah.＂

“Wait a minute, her head is overloaded, and she’s making noises like a broken doll…!”

As Selena clutches her head with her rolling eyes, Cleon looks at her in bewilderment.

And the moment Selena and Cleon’s eyes met, she looked around and for a moment her gaze fell on a huge chest in the corner of the room – large enough for one person to enter.

＂──＂

And once again, the two people’s eyes meet.

＂Wait, no way.＂

And before Cleon, who noticed what kind of gaze she was giving, could say anything, Selena pulled Cleon and pushed him into the box.

“I’m sorry Cleon, please stay inside for a while…!”

“Okay, okay, so don’t push her head in first…!”

Perhaps using magic, Cleon fell into the room that was as wide as a room in a noble house, and when he looked up at her, he saw Selena looking down at him.

“Oh, when your mother goes, I’ll take it out for you…! Oh, and you can check the outside with this…!”

While saying that, throwing a magic tool in the form of a crystal.

“Selena? What are you doing now?”

It was almost at the same time that Namiri’s voice was heard.

Bang! And when she closes the lid of her chest, her eyes immediately turn dark, but at the same time, light comes out from the magic tool she gave her and illuminates her surroundings.

Beyond the crystal, the inside of the tent where Cleon had just been was clearly visible.

A woman wearing clothes that were rugged, not like an aristocrat, but did not restrict her movements, was looking at Selena.

Her silver hair is braided and falls below her shoulders, and her eyes are so thin that you can’t tell if they are closed or open.

She couldn’t help but think of her hairstyle, which Lila had previously called her ‘short-lived hair’.

However, Cleon couldn’t help but be a little embarrassed by the appearance of his mother, who was so gentle and gentle that he could not have imagined it from the scary rumors of the past, but at the same time seemed like an ordinary mother who could be found anywhere.

This is the Iron Maiden…?

She was a young and beautiful woman who looked like she was in her late 20s or early 30s.

“Ah, it’s nothing! Well, you came much sooner than that?”

“Of course, I came to ask for the portal magic. Anyway, I heard some stories from the soldiers on the way here. “I heard you were attacked by guys wearing strange masks as soon as you arrived?”

But no matter how much she looked like her normal self, Cleon took a deep breath as if her mouth was dry.

She felt like she wanted a drink of water.

That’s because the strange masked guys were Cleon himself, who was caught up in Diora’s plan.

“Well, don’t worry. Because I solved it without any problem. As you can see, it’s fine~ Ohhohoho~”

I could tell that she was quite nervous, as her smile was less energetic than usual.

However, looking at Selena’s reaction, Namiri lets out a small sigh.

“Resolution is a word that can be used when both the problem and the cause that caused it have been rooted out.”

As expected, when Namiri spoke to her daughter about the mindset of an inquisitor, she opened her eyes gently.

Although she was almost invisible.

And what I could see between those small, open eyes were gray, sky-blue eyes that felt as cold as ice.

Ah, it must be that one.

When you look into her cold eyes, you will feel like you are seeing all the sins in her heart.

And when Selena froze for a moment like a frog in front of her snake due to the intimidation her mother gave off, Namiri closed her eyes again and smiled a little, as if to get rid of the intimidation.

“But I don’t think you’ll make any progress for a few days after you arrive in Asteris. Clearly, he was collecting information necessary to catch the traitor and the princess, or doing something more important.”

At her words, as if to give her a chance, Selena raises her head, and then she thinks about something for a moment and nods her head up and down.

＂Oh, please meet me, mother. Before arresting Cleon and his group, we investigated why they were carrying out this kidnapping!”

To be precise, it was closer to the subject coming directly and explaining the reason.

Namiri, who heard Selena’s words, said ‘Hmph’ and spoke while looking at her daughter.

Unlike before, the problem was that I couldn’t tell what kind of gaze it was, perhaps because my eyes didn’t open.

“Then let me tell you. For what reason did they run away with the princess who rebelled against the royal family?”

Then, even though she was scolded, Selena took the opportunity to make her excuse, took a deep breath, and told her mother as hard as she could-

It was telling the truth about Princess Amelia that Cleon had told him.

001

The story didn’t last that long, about 5 minutes.

Due to Selena’s inability to lie, the words ‘Cleon told me’ might have accidentally popped out somewhere, but Cleon in her chest listened to the story with nervousness.

Her general information was all correct, and I wanted to quietly applaud her for finishing her explanation neatly while somehow glossing over the parts about Diora and Cleon.

And Namiri, who had heard the whole story, kept her mouth shut, but this time she looked at her daughter with her eyes slightly open.

Selena seemed to have once again become hard as her eyes gave off that ice-cold, intimidating look.

… It was somewhat predictable how she would be feeling during her daily life, even in her own mansion.

“So, Princess Amelia was actually a Saint Princess struggling to protect the kingdom, and Cleon, the magic swordsman, is a person who, along with Amelia, fights against the gigantic being that controls the kingdom… Is that what you’re talking about?”

＂Damn, get it right!＂

When her mother nodded, thinking she understood what she was saying, Namiri put her hand up to her face and smiled wryly.

“That’s amazing, Selena. She obtained such important information with her own power.”

＂Eh…＂

When a compliment came to her that didn’t match her expression, Selena couldn’t help but flinch and tremble in embarrassment.

“Why are you doing that? Try to guess, what am I thinking right now?”

＂…＂

From her expression, it seemed like no matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t come to the conclusion that it was a good idea.

“Don’t you know? If so, I’ll tell you directly. I have interrogated hundreds of heretics in the past. While some stubbornly refused to testify at first, there were others who opened their mouths fluently from the beginning. And most of them – justify their actions. With all kinds of sugar-coating and blind faith in the truth that only they have noticed.”

As she said that, she trudged past the chairs, approached the chest where Cleon was hiding, and sat down on the square lid.

Cleon is so nervous that her heart beats rapidly, but she sits on the chest and talks to her daughter.

“The kingdom’s enemies have deceived you.”

“That…! I wasn’t deceived or anything! I thought and made the right decision!”

Selena raises her voice for the first time, hearing her own mother’s words.

It may have been because she trusted Cleon’s words, but it was also because of him that her own pride was hurt.

Certainly, with the title of court wizard, there is usually no reason or opportunity to deal with criminals, and going directly on a mission to catch traitors is one of the most unusual.

But that doesn’t mean Selena is stupid enough to believe everything they say.

“There is a basis for my belief in them. A series of suspicious events that have recently occurred in the kingdom. His Highness Cassius suddenly disappeared, reappeared, and then transformed. The organization called the Expulsion Church is real. It seemed like my father wanted Cleon to be the mastermind behind that series of events. “I’m not here!”

Have you ever raised your voice this loudly to your mother?

However, she had reasons to use her own voice.

That is—

“And her mother always said, buy it. ‘Blind justice is another name for evil,’ she said. In order to avoid being blind to justice, she has no choice but to believe what she sees and hears.”

＂… So, I will refuse the given order. So that’s what it is?”

“If the order is wrong, Selena. Since she is a noblewoman, there is no reason to follow unfair orders.”

Between Selena and Namiri, who spoke so confidently, silence and tension flowed together.

Miri sat on her chest for a while without saying anything, and then-

“Okay. What. If that’s the case.”

‘, She responded calmly and got up from where she was sitting.

When Selena flinches and her body trembles as her tension loosens and loosens, I speak to her.

“When I was on active duty, the word I heard from my seniors and father was ‘be suspicious.’ “It’s what you’re worst at.”

＂Ugh…＂

Cleon thinks to himself, “It may be true, but…”

“Of course, that suspicion is the most natural and basic part for an inquisitor to doubt the words of the criminal, doubt the fabricated evidence, and doubt their true intentions – and at the same time.”

She said that and turned her body, reaching out her hand toward her chest.

＂Ah!? Now, wait!”

Cleon is in it! Before Selena, who couldn’t even say anything, could stop her mother, Miri opened her unlocked chest.

“She doubts what she has believed until now. When values ​​are reversed, it is the most basic doubt to judge who is evil and who is justice.”

And when she peeks inside her chest, she makes eye contact with Cleon, who is sitting inside and looking up at her, and smiles.

＂… Nice to meet you.＂

Cleon greets her with a confused expression.

And, looking at Cleon like that, Namiri smiled surprisingly kindly.

“Hello, you are Cleon. He’s a neater-looking young man than I thought. What are you doing in a place like that?”

＂…＂

Cleon couldn’t answer on his own, and Selena had a blank expression on her face as she looked at her mother.

“By the way, Cleon. Are you still an adventurer?”

＂… Yes?＂

“I have a request for something, so would you like to come out first? Because I won’t catch you.”

＂… Yes? ＂