Chapter 28

Chapter 28. The City of Sin, Trist (2)

In the Church of the Seven Goddesses, the hierarchy of Inquisitors who deal with necromancers is divided into three levels.

Third-Class Inquisitors are those who have just completed their training and have been newly assigned to fieldwork.

Their skills are still insufficient to directly confront necromancers. Therefore, they are usually tasked with safer follow-up duties, such as handling corpses after an incident or purifying areas tainted by malevolent energy.

When an Inquisitor reaches Second-Class, they are finally deployed to actual combat.

The primary duty at this level is the detection of necromancers.

Securing evidence and reporting it to the Church is the top priority, but if the situation becomes dire, they may engage in direct combat with the necromancer.

Due to the high number of casualties during these missions, the Church prioritizes supporting Second-Class Inquisitors as its main combat force.

First-Class Inquisitors have enough authority to take command of situations.

They are capable of not only detecting necromancers and securing evidence but also directly punishing them. Additionally, they have the autonomy to manage the Church’s funds at their discretion.

Thus, a First-Class Inquisitor, given their authority to allocate budget, can hire skilled adventurers as needed.

A First-Class Inquisitor is strong enough to handle most necromancers alone, so when they team up with adventurers, they can resolve cases independently.

However, First-Class Inquisitors rarely hired adventurers. Instead, they often resolved cases with the cooperation of knights or mages from nearby noble families.

Adventurers demand money, but nobles seek honor.

For adventurers, who wander like floating weeds, money is paramount. However, for nobles, who already hold power, influence is far more important.

Rather than receiving a small sum of money, it is much more beneficial for them to strengthen their ties with the Church of the Seven Goddesses and increase their family’s reputation.

This is why Alius had his eye on Karnak and his companions.

Even though the Church’s budget could be used, wouldn’t it be better to resolve the matter without spending any money?

Alius had witnessed the strength of Karnak and Varos with his own eyes. If their origins were secure, there couldn’t be more desirable allies.

Upon returning to the Church, Alius researched the Zestrad family and discovered that they harbored a deep hatred for necromancy.

“To have lost parents and siblings to necromancers and nearly had their territory stolen! They have a clear reason to eradicate necromancers!”

Well, the late Randolph might jump up in frustration, but Alius had no way of knowing that much.

Three days after the incident in Gelfa Village, a formal request for cooperation was sent.

“In the name of the Hatoba Church, I kindly ask for your assistance. Could you help the Church with its sacred duties, at least while you’re staying in Derat City?”

Karnak readily accepted the request.

“It would be an honor. I gladly offer my assistance in the name of the Zestrad family.”

After all, they were searching for the “Doom of Darkness.”

After all, they had necromancers to hunt.

[But isn’t it great that they’re handing over related information for free?]

Varos, who had been observing the situation, asked via magical telepathy.

[Isn’t there a reason to refuse?]

It was customary in the Church of the Seven Goddesses to assign a skilled Inquisitor to any collaborator dealing with necromancers.

[This means that a priest from the Hatoba Church will be accompanying us.]

With someone watching, it would be difficult to freely use necromancy or pocket the “Doom of Darkness.”

Varos had pointed this out, but Karnak didn’t seem concerned.

[I had a feeling this would happen, so I looked into it ahead of time.]

Recently, the Hatoba Church lacked the resources to assign Inquisitors to every collaborator.

After all, dealing with necromancers required specialized priests who had undergone proper training.

But how many cases of the “Doom of Darkness” were there?

With more tasks than hands to handle them, the Hatoba Church, along with most other branches of the Church of the Seven Goddesses, typically provided information to collaborators and had them handle the matter directly, unless it was a particularly significant case.

[Oh, so it’ll just be the two of us?]

[Exactly!]

And the benefits didn’t end there.

Alius, looking somewhat apologetic, continued.

“You might already be aware, but given the current situation, it’s difficult to assign an Inquisitor unless it’s a major incident. However, we can provide you with holy water, talismans, and other items to combat necromancy. Considering your abilities, I’m confident you’ll be able to handle this task, and I ask for your help.”

[See? No priest following us, and they’re giving us free holy water and talismans!]

For others, this might have been a risk worth considering, but for these two, it was a situation with nothing but gains.

So why refuse?

Seeing Karnak accept without a moment’s hesitation, Alius was once again impressed.

‘He’s willing to take on risks without hesitation—truly a righteous nature. But why does someone like him have such a notorious reputation?’

* * *

Recalling the past, Varos muttered.

“Alius did say they couldn’t assign an Inquisitor unless it was a significant case, right?”

“He did.”

In comparison, Riltein, being a Sixth Circle mage, was significantly more advanced.

*‘Well, that’s only if you’re talking about conventional mana,’* Karnak thought to himself, as his true power lay elsewhere, specifically in chaotic mana.

Meanwhile, Varos was curiously eyeing the woman.

[I don’t recognize her. Was there a female swordsman that attractive among Alius’ collaborators?]

She had striking red hair and soft, reddish-brown eyes. While not a beauty that could topple kingdoms, she was undeniably very pretty.

Her physique also clearly showed the results of extensive training. The vibrant energy of a wild horse was evident, even through her light armor.

[With that kind of appearance and skill, she’d have to be famous, wouldn’t she?]

And indeed, she was well-known.

Even Karnak, who typically wasn’t interested in others, had heard her name before.

“I am Serati Allen, affiliated with the Adventurers’ Guild.”

Karnak was slightly surprised by the woman’s introduction.

“Ah, so you’re Lady Serati. I’ve heard of your reputation.”

As Karnak often explored various gourmet spots in the city, he couldn’t help but overhear the rumors circulating on the streets.

This woman was currently the most talked-about adventurer.

Born as the daughter of commoners, she chose the path of a warrior, a field generally unfavorable to women. She began making a name for herself as an adventurer at the age of twenty. Recently, she even awakened the aura that all knights dream of, making her a true genius blessed by the heavens.

Serati shook her head modestly.

“I’m just an adventurer. I’m not a knight, so the title ‘Lady’ doesn’t really suit me.”

“An aura user can be knighted anytime they wish, can’t they?”

“I was just fortunate to awaken my aura a bit earlier than others. I still have a long way to go.”

It seemed she genuinely believed this, not just out of politeness.

Indeed, among aura users, she had only just taken her first steps. She was at the entry-level stage of a *Red Knight*, so it was natural for her to feel inexperienced.

Moreover, by Karnak’s standards, her level wasn’t particularly impressive.

*‘She’s definitely a genius at her age, but on a continent-wide scale, there are easily hundreds of people with that level of talent.’*

Still, since she was a well-known figure in the area, Karnak knew he had to react appropriately.

Karnak made a show of enthusiasm.

“It’s truly an honor for someone like me to meet a renowned aura user in person.”

Serati looked at him with a mix of disbelief.

“Someone like you? What do you mean? You’re both quite famous yourselves.”

“Famous?”

“We are?”

Karnak and Varos both widened their eyes in surprise.

[Wait, what have we done to become famous?]

[Exactly. We’ve only taken down a few third-rate necromancers.]

Riltein smiled faintly.

“You’re both quite humble. Did you really think you wouldn’t become famous after taking down so many necromancers in just two months?”

“Well, that’s...”

Varos scratched his head, realizing the truth of the matter.

*‘Come to think of it, it makes sense that we’d become a topic of discussion.’*

While Karnak and Varos were so familiar with necromancy that they could handle it easily, even a third-rate necromancer typically had power surpassing that of an ordinary first-rate mage.

Even Luke, whom they captured without much effort, would have required five or six skilled knights or mages to bring down.

Considering how many they had taken down in such a short time, Karnak and Varos had naturally gained considerable fame around Derat City, known as the “Shadow Hunters” of the Hatoba Church.

[Is it okay to be famous, Young Master? Didn’t we agree not to live like we did before?]

In his past life, Karnak’s fame—or rather infamy—had spread far and wide, to the point where there was no one in the world who didn’t know his name.

All of humanity had once called for the downfall of the “Necromancer King” with fear and hatred.

[But this isn’t infamy, so it should be fine, right?]

[Right? We’re not going back to the way we lived before, right?]

It was only after this double-check that Varos let out a deep sigh of relief.

[Ah, living like a normal person is harder than I thought.]

[I know, right? There’s so much to worry about.]

Regardless, from Alius’s perspective, he had undeniably gathered some significant figures.

A Sixth Circle mage and an aura user were powerful individuals who would be respected anywhere they went.

Karnak adopted a more serious expression and asked, “This sounds like it’s not an ordinary situation, is it?”

“Yes.”

Alius nodded and gestured for them to take a seat.

“Please, have a seat first.”