Regressor Of The Fallen Family [EN]: Chapter 269

“What is this nonsense?!” Logan’s voice boomed, louder than he meant it to be.

*A land forsaken by the gods.*

Just the thought of those words made his blood boil. How could anyone even *say* such a terrible thing? Whispering those words, even softly, would be enough to terrify everyone in Maclaine.

Pamiel, sweating a lot, tried to explain, but Logan’s anger didn’t go away.

“So, are you saying that because children in Maclaine are born without the power of the gods, that old fool of a Pope is calling it a land forsaken by the gods?”

Pamiel saw Logan was very angry. Logan was so angry, Pamiel was scared. Logan had even made a small mistake in his words, but Pamiel didn’t dare point it out. Pamiel just waved his hands quickly.

“H-He’s just asking a question! If the investigation is good, he’ll change his mind. Yes, for sure. Heh heh.”

“And if it isn’t good?”

“Th-That’s impossible. A land forsaken by the gods is only for the Southern Mountains or the Demon Forest. It can’t be for a country where people live well. It’s just not possible, is it?”

It probably is.

Logan watched the archbishop force a smile, and he felt even more worried.

‘The records show they’re all just lunatics.’

Logan had read about the Inquisitors on his way to the temple. He learned they were just as bad as the bad priest Balama. The only difference was who they hurt: innocent people or actual cult members.

Stories were common about farmers being burned for cursing Aion, the god of water and farming, after their crops failed.

‘Maybe even that bad priest only killed cult members by his own rules.’

Logan gritted his teeth. If the priests heard that thought, they would be very angry.

Imagine a soldier guarding the forest. If he suddenly got a stomach ache and had to pee in the woods, a normal punishment would be a warning.

But the Inquisitors would say it was desertion and hunt him down. That’s what they did.

They made up crimes that weren’t real. And if there was a small crime, they made it seem a hundred times bigger. That’s what they did.

So, if Logan just waited for a good result, the worst thing would probably happen.

“Is there any way to talk the Inquisitors out of this? I mean, legally, without going against the gods.”

Would giving them money work?

“Heh heh. I don’t know. The Inquisitors at the Central Temple aren’t as easy to deal with as priests like me. Really…”

Pamiel looked at Logan but didn’t meet his eyes.

That meant it would be hard.

“…Then, what should I know when I talk to the Inquisitors?”

Is there no other way?

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty, but I can’t get involved with the Inquisition…”

“Archbishop, if you just tell me what I already know, why should I give you money?”

Logan saw Pamiel trying to back away and used his secret weapon. Pamiel jumped a little, then sighed quietly, and kept talking.

“…The Inquisitors are trained to think a certain way. They believe that being flexible is a sin.”

So, giving money is a sin.

“But Cardinal Eschel, who leads them, is different. He is a priest who is flexible, like me.”

“Hoo…”

But if he’s on our side, it’s a gift.

“You mean he’s a cardinal who is flexible?”

So, he likes money too?

“I was his close friend for over ten years before I came to Grandia, ahem, ahem. Sorry, it’s a habit… before I came to the Maclaine Diocese.”

A priest as bad as you.

Logan felt relieved at the somewhat good news.

“Hmm. Then you must know what he likes, Archbishop?”

“Ah…, haha. Well…”

Pamiel kept looking around, making Logan worried. Logan narrowed his eyes, waiting for an answer. Pamiel hesitated, then spoke.

“It would be bad if anyone knew I told you this. It’s just that my friend is in a high position…”

“Of course.”

Even though Logan said ‘Of course,’ Pamiel kept sweating a lot. He started to speak slowly and with pauses.

“Cardinal Eschel likes money, but he also likes… female followers even more.”

“…Pardon?”

Logan’s face changed a little.

“And… ahem. He likes young female followers. Th-Those who are in their early teens…”

Pamiel’s last words made Logan very angry.

“…A cardinal?”

Even if the priests were bad, a cardinal with the same power as the archbishop, who could vote for the next pope, was using women? And young children?

Did I hear that right?

He stared at Pamiel, shocked. Pamiel waved his hands quickly.

“Your Majesty. Please, please don’t say I told you this!”

Pamiel was worried about himself, which made his words seem true.

Haa…

“Bloody hell…”

It was not right for the king to say that in front of the archbishop, but Pamiel didn’t argue.

Logan returned after talking to the Archbishop.

He looked very unhappy.

Viktor had even worse news. He spoke carefully, and his face was tight.

“As you asked, I found out about Bishop Ilia in the temple and confirmed some things.”

“Speak.”

“It’s true that Bishop Ilia was sent back to the Central Temple, but the reason they told everyone was not the real reason. It seems he was taken away as a prisoner.”

Logan stopped walking when he heard that.

“Huh…”

Logan looked up, feeling angry. He saw a clear blue sky, not a single cloud.

That clear blue sky made him feel even worse.

“The temple… they really do everything.”

He spoke quietly, but he was very angry.

He never thought Bishop Ilia was called for a good reason. The reasons included the words ‘forbidden’ and ‘questioning.’

But to be treated like a prisoner from the place where he was the bishop?

That meant they would punish him without letting him defend himself.

He thought of the only priest he knew who was truly good, and he felt even more trapped.

Logan was not the only one in a bad mood. Viktor said something surprising, something he usually wouldn’t say.

“…Is there no way to save the Bishop?”

Logan looked at Viktor, surprised. Viktor rarely showed his feelings, so it was unexpected.

Viktor spoke about Bishop Ilia, his voice quiet. “He was very popular with the orphans in the slums. Even the local thugs respected him.”

Cardinal Esel leaned forward slightly, a thin smile on his wrinkled face. “So, Your Majesty, you’ve heard the rumors, I presume?”

Viktor nodded. “I met Bishop Ilia a few times. I volunteered at the orphanage when I wasn’t working. He was a very warm person.”

Logan blinked, surprised. *Volunteering?* He stared at Viktor. In Logan’s mind, Viktor was still the ruthless killer from his past. The idea of *that* Viktor helping orphans… it was almost unbelievable.

*That rascal…* Logan thought, a flicker of amusement in the midst of his worry.

But in the current situation, even Viktor’s clear transformation from his past was but a minor joy. Logan frowned and shook his head.

“That’s too bad, but I can’t do anything. I’ll be called a heretic even before the Inquisitors start looking into it.”

“If we’re going to be branded heretics anyway, wouldn’t it be better to save the priest?”

“What?”

“Lia says there hasn’t been a single case where someone was found innocent after an Inquisitorial investigation. That’s why I’m saying this.”

At Viktor’s words, Logan’s expression hardened even further.

“So, you think they will decide it’s heresy no matter what?”

“I apologize if that was presumptuous.”

“No, no. You’re right. That’s highly probable. Haa…”

It was obvious.

Only then did Logan realize that he had been unconsciously seeking only the possibility of a positive outcome.

‘What an idiot…’

If the temple had been planning this from the start, then no matter what measures he prepared, it would be meaningless.

‘If I try to bribe them, they’ll just use it against me.’

He almost made a big mistake.

“You’ve spoken well, Viktor.”

Logan rubbed the goosebumps on his arm and reorganized his thoughts. It was right to prepare for the worst, not the best.

“Summon Damian. And inform the Knights as well. From now on…”

As Logan spoke, Viktor’s expression grew increasingly rigid.

A month later.

A group of about 300 people entered the gates of Gran.

Considering Gran’s floating population, it wasn’t a significant number, but their unique appearance captured the attention of everyone who passed by.

“A priest…?”

“It looks like a robe, but why is it black?”

“And what’s that they’re wearing on their heads instead of a mitre?”

People instinctively took a step back at the sight of their jet-black robes, expressionless faces, and steel helmets instead of mitres.

People with sharp eyes saw silver armor under the black robes, like their helmets. Others knew who these people were from old stories. They were known for spreading fear while talking about justice. People who knew this became very pale.

“Could it be…”

“Nah, it can’t be.”

The group, having attracted so much attention, was quickly surrounded by the Knights who came out of the royal palace and headed towards the palace.

A small number of intellectuals who could deduce the meaning turned pale and hurried home.

“It is an honor to meet you, Your Majesty.”

An old man with many fine wrinkles gave a gentle smile and bowed his head towards Logan.

“The honor is mine to meet you, Cardinal. However, given the nature of the matter, I cannot simply be pleased.”

“Haha. What is there for Your Majesty to be concerned about? Everything will flow according to the will of the Nine Gods, in accordance with natural order.”

Cardinal Esel Fabrun. With his kind face and elegant tone, he seemed to be the very epitome of a priest.

But after hearing Archbishop Famiel’s words and Damian’s investigation results, Logan couldn’t possibly treat this man with a smiling face.

“I hope everything will be fair. So, where will you start your investigation?”

“I am thinking of starting with the Laphtan region, I believe it was called? The area where the plague broke out. There has been a worrying report that the temple’s taboos have been violated.”

Cardinal Esel spoke harsh words while smiling gently. Logan’s face became serious.

“It was part of the process to create a cure for the plague. The bishop who accompanied us at the time also permitted it.”

“Oh, you mean Sister Ilia. Sadly, she’s probably being called back to the main temple right now. Didn’t you know?”

Esel Fabrun smiled as he conveyed the message, ‘You’re screwed.’

Looking at that face, Logan protested with a somewhat aggrieved expression.

“I know there may be disagreements within the clergy, but isn’t this unfair to us? It’s not our fault that the temple changed its mind.”

“Of course, that’s true. That’s why I would like to report favorably to the Pope if possible. But, you see… I also have my own position. Heh heh. Perhaps if Your Majesty shows some sincerity, things might be different.”

The old man tapped the table with his thumb and forefinger curled into a circle.

The Cardinal made a rude hand gesture asking for money. It was so obvious and cheap, even a common criminal wouldn’t do it like that. It was disgusting, especially after Logan’s first impression of him.

But Logan smiled and nodded.

Then Viktor, who had been waiting beside him, took out a sack almost the size of a human head and placed it on the table in front of the Cardinal.

Thud.

Clink.

“Oh ho. Your Majesty, what is this?”

Looking at the Cardinal, who was smiling suspiciously, Logan smiled back.

“It’s a small token, but please use it as a down payment for the investigation. I will give you plenty more when you leave. Ah, if it’s inconvenient, you can give me the Cardinal’s personal account number.”

“Oh ho. That’s very kind of you, but…”

Esel, who had been smiling suspiciously, raised the corners of his mouth even further and flashed his brown eyes. Then, he pulled the sack towards him and said.

“Your Majesty. Giving a bribe to a priest who is investigating heresy is considered an admission of guilt to some extent. I wonder if you were aware of that. Brother Robb, you are recording this, aren’t you?”

Along with the Cardinal’s cunning smile, one of the priests standing in the back nodded.

But Logan also nodded with a smile.

“Yes? Hmm. Of course, I know. I never imagined that the Cardinal would see me as such an ignorant person.”

“What?”

Esel’s expression twisted involuntarily as Logan continued.

“The royal family’s finances haven’t been good lately, so I prepared coppers instead of gold. It probably doesn’t even add up to 10 gold in total. The official standard for a bribe was 100 gold, wasn’t it?”

Grab.

Rattle.

Esel angrily opened the sack. Old copper coins, which were not used much anymore, spilled out.

Seeing the reddish-brown coins filling his eyes, he bit his lip irritably. Then, as if he had never made such an expression, he suddenly gave an awkward smile and bowed his head.

“I have made a great mistake, Your Majesty. I am a little impatient…”

“It’s alright. You could do that. Well…”

The two exchanged forced smiles.

But both knew that their true intentions had been revealed to some extent.

Especially.

‘That bribe-taking pedophile, that piece of trash, rejected the bribe. He must have come here with a plan.’

Logan realized that this was the worst-case scenario he had anticipated, and he couldn’t help but harden his expression.