Fifteen Days Before the Start of the Semester
At the point when Ihan had received an explanation from the old priest about why the Heretic Inquisition suspected him of heresy and targeted him...
Ihan made a bold request.
“You have the list of cardinals and senior priests who are after me, right? Can you give it to me?”“I see no issue with giving it to you, but may I ask why you need it?”“To deal with them myself, of course. ...Though I might try resolving it through a conversation.”“Haha, the latter part is a lie, isn’t it?”“......”
Once again, Ihan was planning to play the assassin.
After all, if he could eliminate the high-ranking individuals targeting him, the temple would have no reason to continue pursuing him.
He was confident.
If he could fully utilize his abilities, he might even be able to aim for what some called the "return of the Silent Divine Assassin."
“Not a bad idea.”“...?”
The unexpected approval left Ihan baffled.
“...I’m saying I’ll do it, but are you really okay with this?”“Haha, my moral training is not so profound as to forgive the scum who use the name of the Light for their personal gain. At times, drastic measures are necessary. Do not worry; even if you commit a sin, I will take responsibility and bear it all as I descend into hell.”“That... that’s not what I was aiming for.”
The old man might be even more extreme than Ihan himself.
“...However.”“Yeah?”“Killing them won’t solve the problem.”“...Keep talking, I’m listening.”“Thank you. What I mean is this: to borrow your analogy, pests always return, no matter how many you eliminate. Just as finding one ant in a house means there are countless others scattered throughout, the same applies here.”“...You’re saying that even if I kill them, new pests will emerge?”
It was a perspective Ihan could agree with.
As the old saying goes, “Burning the entire house to kill a single bedbug” might bring unintended consequences. Alternatively, one could interpret it like this:
“To completely eradicate pests, you have to be prepared to burn down the whole house.”
If he were to act, he’d have to root them out entirely.
Killing high-ranking temple members might bring immediate satisfaction and resolve some issues, but it would also prompt the temple to produce more troublesome individuals to oppose him.
The temple had already taken notice of him, ensuring that new pests would buzz around his ears.
Annoyingly so...
“Furthermore, inquisitors from the Heretic Inquisition never give up. Gradually, stronger individuals will come after you. Especially if those called 'Special Grade Inquisitors' appear, even you won’t escape unscathed.”“Are they strong?”“They are less about strength and more about their willingness to use any means necessary. Worse yet, they might target those around you instead.”“......If that happens, it’ll mean the temple and I can no longer coexist under the same sky.”
Though the temple was formidable, Ihan believed that if he worked alone, he could bring it down—even if it took ten years.
This wasn’t arrogance but confidence.
He couldn’t endure being wronged, and only returning tenfold—no, a thousandfold—of what he suffered would bring him peace.
“That would be a tragedy for both you and the temple. Therefore, I suggest we take some time to approach this strategically.”“Time?”
Would giving it time really solve anything?
Ihan questioned it, but Raphael answered without hesitation.
“Of course. I haven’t been idle either. Fortunately, some brothers have been kind enough to assist this insignificant old man.”“Oh?”
Ihan immediately understood what that meant.
It seemed the old priest had been gradually building a ‘faction’ within the temple since his return.
A former cardinal, the temple’s most senior figure, and even a candidate for sainthood.
If someone like him were to establish a faction, those who supported him would surely be influential as well.
“Once those who support me are gathered, it will be time for me to carry out my final mission in life.”“Are you planning a reform?”“If necessary.”“...That won’t be easy.”
“If it must be done, I am the one to do it.”
“...Alright. For now, let’s put assassination on the back burner.”“Thank you, Brother.”“But keep this in mind—if things start getting annoying, I’ll have no choice but to go with the ‘backup plan.’”“Haha, of course. But rest assured, as long as I am within the Inquisition, neither the priests nor the inquisitors will act recklessly.”
“People greedy for power never create opportunities for their authority to be undermined.”“Haha, you seem to understand the psyche of the powerful quite well.”“...It just sort of happened.”
“So, what should we do about them?”“......”
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