Chapter 657 - Fourth Story: The Second Great Unity Conference ⑤
It was that night when the bandits' location was identified. This was because among the three priests, one was a fairly elderly bishop. Since he wasn't physically strong, he was apparently on standby alone, and by the time the royal guards tracking Hermit-sama's marker surrounded the mountain hut that was the bandits' meeting place, Hermit-sama had lured the guarding thugs outside and easily defeated them. And once Fiona knocked out the priests one after another with her Lightning technique, they were apparently apprehended.
After confirming they were tied up, thrown into a cart, and escorted away, Hermit-sama and Fiona returned. By then, Phillips-sama and Harris-sama had also arrived. It seemed the plan Sianya explained had already been coordinated, and Yorg-sama also arrived. Apparently, the investigation will be done in the region where Yorg-sama serves as the acting lord. Well, if we did it in the royal capital, it would attract attention no matter what, so this is much better.
"That was a disaster. Did you hear about what happens next?"
For some reason, Yorg-sama looks happy.
"Yes. I heard you'll be using Thought Communication."
"Yes, there's a handy place near my house, so we'll do the interrogation there."
"Please do."
It seems I really was the only one who didn't know...
"It's my first time seeing an interrogation using Thought Communication. I wonder what it'll be like? I'm looking forward to it."
Theresia-sama looked at Yorg-sama as if startled, and Harris-sama was laughing loudly.
Is he misunderstanding something?
We moved during the night to avoid public notice. The five bandits were all tied up, gagged, put into hemp sacks, and further stuffed into barrels, being transported to the port just like cargo. They were then loaded onto Yorg-sama's ship. Those involved in the interrogation are Theresia-sama, Sianya, Harris-sama, Yorg-sama, me, and Fiona, who returned and merged. That said, the one doing the interrogation is Harris-sama, and the others will just silently read their thoughts.
Anri-sama, Lloyd-sama, Price-sama, Hermit-sama, and Mary also boarded the ship, but they won't be present for the interrogation. They'll be resting at Yorg-sama's mansion.
At the port, I also met the Jeanne here. she was in the sailors' breakroom that was provided as a resting place until the ship's departure preparations were finished.
"Jeanne, you were safe. I'm glad. You weren't hit or anything?"
"Thank you. There were three priests among the bandits, after all. And one was a bishop. I was treated quite politely."
"I see. That's good."
Hmm. It was the same when I was kidnapped, but priests really do have a final sense of decency. Although, there was a fanatic who insisted on immediate killing.
"Besides, Hermit-sama? And I heard from Mary that there's one more person... a scout from Sertoria, right? I was told they'd track me. And the place I was taken to was somewhere I knew well, so I wasn't scared at all."
"That's good. I was surprised when I heard the story. But I'm really glad you're safe. I'm sorry, for you to be kidnapped in my place."
"Don't apologize for that. This is my job."
Jeanne is her real name, and she actually does collect herbs. Well, a hunter is, in other words, a scout. Usually, she collects herbs in the forest south of the capital. Her father was also a hunter, and her husband! was also a hunter. In other words, the part about being an illegitimate child of a noble was a lie.
The Jeanne here's mission was to disguise herself as an herb seller along with her father and husband and gather information on the White Island... especially in Engrio and Primordia. No wonder her language was fluent and she was knowledgeable about herbs. However, unfortunately, after her father and husband defected to the Engrio side during the war, they died in battle against the resisting nobles.
King Seldic apparently gave condolence money to the bereaved families of those low-status people who defected and joined his side, and encouraged them to continue doing their best. That part was properly handed over to Theresia-sama as well. The Jeanne here is knowledgeable about herbs and speaks the language of the White Island fluently. Judging that she had value just for that, she was apparently hired as a scout and herb researcher directly under her. According to Theresia-sama, the deciding factor was her hair and eye color, and the fact that her face somehow felt similar to mine.
In this matter, she also came to cooperate with Sianya as Theresia-sama's messenger. Sianya is a princess. She's trusted that much, so I guess she's been promoted.
And she was also introduced to Mary. Surely, the story has reached Eleanor-sama and Magdalena-sama too. I don't know if the Jeanne here knows, but she's gained a connection with the Sertoria royal family as well.
Incidentally, the Green Marble was apparently Mary's idea. Since I'm always wearing Green Marble despite being a priest, she spread that rumor to make it easier for the Jeanne here to be kidnapped.
So that's why Sianya told me to wear priest robes at the port in Primordia. In other words, it has become common knowledge in Germania that I always wander around in plain clothes despite being a priest. In another sense, I might be called a delinquent by the fanatics here too.
While we were talking about such things, Theresia-sama, who had been coordinating with Yorg-sama outside, entered. The Jeanne here stood up and tried to leave. It's likely the wall of status difference. She can't be present in a place with the ruler of the country and guests.
"Ah, Jeanne. Not the Jeanne of Sertoria, but you. You stay here too."
"Eh? Is that alright?"
"It's fine. You will likely be knighted within the year. I permit you to be present in advance."
"Eh? Me?"
That's wonderful. Surely her activity this time was evaluated.
"Not by our country, but by Sertoria. It's apparently for the merit of protecting Jeanne, a citizen of the Kingdom of Sertoria and the only user of the magic that creates magic water."
Eh? Is that so? I wonder if Harris-sama said something.
"Eh? I'm a knight of Sertoria?"
She's dazed, not understanding the meaning.
I know, I know. It was the same when I became a knight of Medioland.
"As such, our country cannot afford not to make you a knight. Soon, a letter of appointment and a Knight's Staff will arrive from the King of Sertoria, but at the time of that announcement, I will knight you in our country. We can't afford to have a skilled scout taken by Sertoria, after all."
"Th-Thank you very much."
Her legs must have given out, as she plopped down on her backside.
"It's okay. Even if you become a knight of Sertoria, you shouldn't have to pay taxes to Sertoria or swear loyalty to the King of Sertoria."
"Y-Yes. That's true, isn't it?"
Theresia-sama and Sianya burst out laughing. I think it's an important thing, though.
The interrogation of the five bandits, who were bound and blindfolded, proceeded without any particularly dramatic developments externally after Thought Communication was cast, and ended quite easily.
Prior to the interrogation, Harris-sama divided the five bandits into four groups. The two thugs were put together. And then each priest individually. After moving them to separate rooms, Theresia-sama explained that the person who cooperated most with the interrogation would have their sentence reduced. After that, it was Harris-sama's turn. He asked each person individually the questions he had prepared. However, they remained gagged. Once he finished saying all the questions, he asked them to remove the gag and answer. He didn't particularly threaten them, and of course, he didn't torture them. He just asked. There was no way the five would talk. The thugs blustered to kill them quickly, and the priests either stayed silent or chanted words of prayer.
Then, he organized the few things he had learned and conveyed that content to the person during the second interrogation. In other words, he made them think someone had defected. It was especially easy with the two thugs. They were together. Even if they were blindfolded, they could hear each other's voices, so they would have known immediately. Moreover, when Harris-sama went to interrogate the priests, he went out of his way to tell the two of them before going. After that, when Harris-sama said the two's names, where they lived, and the name of the boss who was assigning them work, the two thought the priests had betrayed them. They must have thought that at this rate, the priests would be forgiven and they would be killed. They started blabbing.
Incidentally, Theresia-sama and Yorg-sama were kept outside the range where thoughts are transmitted, so they just watched Harris-sama writing down the content he read on parchment. If our intentions were inadvertently transmitted to the opponent, it would be ruined. For starters, Yorg-sama knows the effect of Thought Communication. He should know what's happening. Despite that, during the interrogation, he looked quite happy and occasionally went outside to shout something. It was incredibly annoying. However, I didn't know what Yorg-sama said, but I could hear him shouting loudly. It was funny how the bandits flinched every time. He might have been surprisingly useful.
As for the content heard, it was roughly as I had been told beforehand. The thugs had just come as they were told by the boss, and were told that the person to be kidnapped was an apostate who was an enemy of the church. Moreover, three priests were with them. Since it would be good earnings, they apparently came to Germania with the priests without thinking deeply. The pretext was as guards for the journey. It ended in an attempt, and the people themselves were, so to speak, deceived. Death penalty would be pitiful.
"We thought for sure she was a real apostate. We had no idea she was the great Bishop who makes that magic water. Of course, if we'd known, we wouldn't have kidnapped her. If it were known to the world that we did such a thing, once we returned to West Liber, we'd definitely be killed. Right, brother?"
"A-Ah, exactly. Even some of our acquaintances were crying with joy, saying their child's life was saved thanks to the magic water. We were all grateful for it."
For saying that, you kidnapped her quite easily.
"No, I mean, a priest in such a strange outfit isn't normal, right? It's a pattern like a hibernating frog. Right, brother?"
"A-Ah, exactly. Anyone who wears that as everyday clothes must be out of their mind. We just ended up thinking so."
"We heard that the one we kidnapped was a fake. In short, that's it, she wore those clothes and stood out on purpose. As expected of the Duke of Germania. He's smart. Right, brother?"
"A-Ah, exactly. No, it's impressive. We were completely fooled. Even if we look like this, our main business is the mercenary trade. Well, as you can see, we're light infantry whose bodies are our capital. Somehow, the quality of our natural wits is different."
Sorry for being a hibernating frog who's out of her mind. Theresia-sama, these guys are definitely heinous criminals. Let's show no mercy.
Jokes aside, even the name of the boss who gave the orders to the two thugs was identified. If this leaks to the world, the two will undoubtedly have their lives targeted. The people themselves were prepared for that, and that's precisely why they talked about everything they knew in order to survive. As a result, even the church the priests belonged to was identified. It's a church in the West Liber Capital. There was no doubt that the priests were exclusionists. However, the people themselves insisted that they had thought of it themselves and hadn't been incited by anyone. There were people who flickered in their minds in the background. However, they weren't lying.
"I suppose you could call it a conviction. The people themselves believe they thought of this matter themselves. As long as that's the case, nothing more might come out."
According to Harris-sama, there's a possibility they were guided by someone. To begin with, they are exclusionists who could even be called fanatical. If they think only they are right, conversation won't be established.
The person who was emphasizing the effect of prayer in the summary of the Great Unity Conference must have been thinking of promoting reconciliation with people like these three. I can sympathize with the extent of their hardships.
I asked Theresia-sama to let me meet with the person who seemed to be the leader, the bishop, with his blindfold removed. I could have gone alone, but I was refused by everyone. So, Theresia-sama, Sianya, Yorg-sama, and Harris-sama also stood by.
"You pagan witch who uses suspicious magic to delude Theresia-sama and the people!"
When I gave my name, I was suddenly questioned.
"On the White Island, women who use magic are called witches, so in that sense, I am certainly a witch."
"I knew it! Soon you will incur God's wrath and fall into hell!"
"That may be so. Or it may not be so. However, that is for the Goddess to judge, not for you to judge."
"Believing in a false god like the Goddess is precisely your sin!"
This guy! For lack of anything better to say, on what basis do you treat the god someone believes in as a false god!
"Have you ever saved even a single seriously ill plague patient?"
"I-I am sending them to heaven. Since they can go to God's kingdom, there is no problem."
"Since you are alive, there's no problem for you, I suppose. Then, did the person who died desire death? If you say the magic water I make is wrong, why don't you reject it as a whole church instead of as an individual? You can't do that, can you? If you say you can't, you are merely acting on an individual conviction."
"W-What are you saying! Don't say such clever things!"
"I am clever. I am only human, after all. The only one who is truly wise is God."
"Fool! That's a diversion from the point!"
"Does the god you believe in refuse dialogue with others? Did he say to kill those with different ideas? Your scriptures also have God's words written in them, right? Is that what's written there?"
"W-What, you pitiful pagan who understands nothing! We are saying we will teach you the truth. You should just listen quietly!"
"Don't forget that to me, you are the pagans who don't try to understand the truth."
"A pagan refers only to those who do not worship our God. Despite not even knowing the definition of words, what is with that attitude!"
Can these guys only see things one-dimensionally? And they're still priests?
"Enough. Jeanne, it's useless to talk any further."
Theresia-sama ended up stepping in.
"Actually, we had made an inquiry to the West Liber Capital Great Church in advance through the church here. As a result, we have obtained the view that those who deny the magic water of the White Island will be removed from the rolls. I will convey the names of these people along with the details in my letter. If that happens, they will be formally removed. The date is scheduled to be the day before the conference. In other words, these people are already not priests."
The three priests are dazed. Since they aren't excommunicated, they are still believers.
"Would you leave the treatment of these people to me? As soon as the formal letter of removal arrives, I will deal with them for the crime of kidnapping in accordance with our country's laws."
This time, I was the one who was dazed. Could it be the death penalty? I don't want that...
"Since it was practically an attempt, it will be forced labor. We'll have them work for twenty years."
I see. That's good. Perhaps out of relief, my legs gave out and I slumped down.
Incidentally, the two thugs are apparently sentenced to death on the surface. To be precise, it was decided that someone died during the capture, and the charge of murder was added to the attempted kidnapping. Death penalty. Of course, it's just on the surface. As a rumor, it was decided they died from torture. Of course, they're alive. They can't return to West Liber anyway. After being thrown in jail for a while, once things have cooled down, they'll apparently be hired as mercenaries under different names.