Holy Idol [EN]: Chapter 742

742. The Scary Inquisitor

Rembrary stared at Cherub, his eyes wide with concern.

Cherub didn’t meet Rembrary’s gaze, focusing instead on the doctor.

“Sir Cherub, did this happen because of me?”

At Rembrary’s question, the doctor glanced at him, a question in his eyes.

“No. That’s impossible.”

Cherub smiled gently and tapped Rembrary’s palm.

“You only attack monsters, right?”

Rembrary didn’t laugh, even at the attempt at humor. He continued to stare intently at Cherub, his expression serious.

Cherub averted his gaze, a flicker of discomfort in his eyes. Sensing something amiss, the doctor looked back and forth between the paladin and the child, a growing unease in his expression.

“It’s really not because of you.”

Cherub smiled and patted Rembrary’s shoulder, trying to reassure him.

“That damn black magician did it. Just because I saved you doesn’t mean it’s your fault. Do you think it was the old priest’s fault that you were almost in danger?”

“No. It was my choice.”

“This was my choice too.”

Cherub echoed Rembrary’s words, then winked at the doctor, signaling him to play along.

“Rembrary, would you like a snack? There’s cake.”

The doctor quickly chimed in, his voice deliberately cheerful.

“Yes, please give me cake.”

As Rembrary responded, the doctor rose from his seat and headed towards the cabinet, hoping to distract him.

“Sir Cherub.”

However, Rembrary brushed aside the distraction and returned to the original topic, his focus unwavering. The doctor was left standing awkwardly. Cherub sighed, realizing the conversation couldn’t be avoided.

Rembrary sat in the chair the doctor had vacated, rested his chin on his hand, and tapped Cherub’s knee insistently.

“Sir Cherub, don’t avoid me. I have something to tell you.”

The doctor bit his lip, suppressing a laugh. Since the paladin couldn’t use divine power, he absolutely mustn’t laugh and risk exposure.

“Yes, I’m listening.”

“Sir Cherub, the black magician who tried to attack me said something. ‘You’re Rembrary! I’m a black magician. You’re a talented and clever child, so I’m going to take away your divine power!’ Like this.”

Cherub recognized the black magician’s dramatic lines, though he hadn’t been quite so verbose when he’d attacked.

“I see.”

“And then the black magician attacked me. But you grabbed me and rolled away.”

“Um. That’s right.”

Cherub was worried that Rembrary would start crying, blaming himself for Cherub’s injuries.

Cherub would have thrown himself to protect any other child, or even a grown adult, who was there instead of Rembrary. He didn’t want the child to feel excessive guilt.

“Here.”

Unexpectedly, Rembrary didn’t cry. He reached out his hand. As Cherub inadvertently took it, Rembrary held his hand tightly and whispered.

“I will definitely heal you, Sir Cherub.”

“!”

Cherub raised his eyebrows, surprised by the child’s earnest declaration. Rembrary’s face was serious, determined.

“I promise.”

Cherub smiled, touched by the gesture, and nodded.

“Okay.”

* * *

“Who removed the ward [a magical barrier] from the dormitory!”

The highest-ranking priest, usually soft-spoken, shouted with a force that made everyone wince.

The room fell silent. Most of those gathered had no idea what he was talking about.

“There have been three victims.”

The highest-ranking priest said in a somber voice, looking down at the three bodies covered with white cloths.

He closed his eyes tightly, and the other priests gathered quietly offered prayers for the deceased.

As the prayer ended, the highest-ranking priest opened his eyes and addressed the priest wearing glasses.

“Bring the inquisitor.”

The priest wearing glasses immediately hurried out of the room.

The highest-ranking priest looked at the assembled priests and raised his voice again.

“Black magicians can’t even touch the wards. There is definitely an accomplice inside. We must find the person who removed the ward. Not only ordinary priests but also high-ranking priests, non-priest staff, and even trainee priests and tourists will all have to be inspected by the inquisitor!”

* * *

“Rembrary is a truly commendable and amazing child. What would you like as a gift?”

Around dinner time, the highest-ranking priest personally approached Rembrary, who was eating, and asked with a warm smile.

Heather smiled, anticipating that Rembrary would ask for more food.

Ridal looked at Rembrary with a spoon still in his mouth, curious about his answer.

“The Grand Priest’s room.”

“!”

Heather’s smile vanished instantly, replaced by a look of apprehension. The highest-ranking priest, however, burst out laughing.

“The Grand Priest’s room?”

The highest-ranking priest, whose expression had been tense due to the recent crisis, laughed heartily and patted Rembrary’s back.

“Do you like it there?”

“Yes. It’s spacious.”

“But you can’t stay there unless you’re the Grand Priest, you know?”

As Rembrary’s expression turned serious, Heather quickly apologized, mortified by the child’s audacity.

“I’m sorry, Highest-Ranking Priest.”

“It’s alright.”

The highest-ranking priest waved his hand dismissively and, leaning an arm on the chair where Rembrary was sitting, proposed a compromise.

“Then let’s do this. You’ll have to stay here for a few more days, so I’ll let you stay there during that time. How about it?”

“Okay!”

Rembrary excitedly accepted the offer, his face lighting up.

The highest-ranking priest immediately instructed the secretary priest.

“Move all of Rembrary’s belongings to the Grand Priest’s room.”

“Highest-Ranking Priest, there’s no need to do that.”

Heather protested, rising halfway from her seat.

“No, it’s alright. There should be a reward for your efforts in protecting the temple.”

The highest-ranking priest kept his promise to Rembrary. As soon as Rembrary entered the Grand Priest’s room, he lay down on the bed and rolled from one end to the other, reveling in the space.

“Now that it’s come to this, let’s have a good time while we’re here.”

Heather, who had suddenly found herself sharing the Grand Priest’s room, patted Ridal’s shoulder and said brightly, trying to inject some enthusiasm into the situation.

Ridal sat down in the corner of the bed, looking small and withdrawn.

‘This is bad.’

Heather clicked her tongue inwardly. The gentle, lively, and kind child had become completely gloomy after the two monster attacks.

Ridal slumped on the opposite side of the bed and stared blankly at Rembrary, who was already trying to fall asleep.

‘I hope you don’t compare yourself, since it’s just that Rembrary is unique.’

Heather sighed, realizing that the reason for Ridal’s discouragement was half monsters and half Rembrary’s extraordinary nature.

* * *

“Rembrary. Rembrary.”

Rembrary forcibly lifted his eyelids at the sound of his name. Heather was standing next to him, dressed in neat, new clothes.

“Lady Heather?”

Rembrary looked out the large window. The sun had risen, but the early morning light was still dim.

“What’s wrong?”

“Get up. We need to find out who tore the ward in the dormitory. The Highest-Ranking Priest has told everyone to gather in the main building.”

“At this hour?”

“Because there are many people to examine.”

While Rembrary was yawning and getting out of bed, Heather also woke up Ridal.

Heather quickly washed the two children, dressed them in new clothes, and then took them to the hall. Many priests and staff were already gathered there.

“Are we supposed to be here too?”

There were also a few groups of bewildered tourists, looking out of place.

“Everyone. I’m sorry to call you from early morning. But this is an important matter, so I ask for everyone’s cooperation.”

As the highest-ranking priest appeared and spoke loudly, everyone fell silent. With the Grand Priest absent, the highest-ranking priest was the most authoritative person in the Redrin Temple.

“Please, those who came for sightseeing, come forward.”

Since it was difficult to detain the tourists for long, the priests called them first.

The tourists were guided by several staff priests and entered a small side room connected to the hall. They went inside and came out quickly.

“What do you think they’re doing?”

Ridal asked Rembrary quietly.

“I don’t know.”

“They say there’s an inquisitor inside. Do you think Seditto will be there too?”

“Who is that person?”

“…The inquisitor who came to our temple before.”

Soon the number of people dwindled rapidly. The next in line were the young trainee priests.

“Okay, follow them and then go back to the dormitory later.”

Heather said, pushing Ridal and Rembrary towards the staff priests. Rembrary entered the side room with Heather.

Inside, the inquisitor, looking tired and weary, handed out gray stones one by one.

“Okay, just hold it.”

Ridal received the stone, but nothing happened.

Rembrary looked down at his hand. The stone he received was already crumbling and dissolving.

Ridal, who glanced to the side, widened his eyes in shock.

“Rembrary…?”

“What is this?”

Rembrary shook his hands, watching the stone turn to dust, and looked at the inquisitor who had given it to him.

“Um…”

The inquisitor blinked, then got up and frowned, muttering to himself.

“That’s proof that you’ve been in contact with evil within three days.”

“!”

* * *

Rembrary was led by the priest wearing glasses and taken to another room. Finding a sofa, Rembrary promptly sat down and fell asleep.

“He’s so bold.”

“This child really has no fear.”

When he woke up, other priests were gathered around, watching him. The crowd was larger than before he fell asleep. There was even an old priest among them.

“Priest?”

As Rembrary called out, the old priest, who had been talking to someone else, quickly approached.

“There’s no need to be afraid. The stones of those who were attacked also broke.”

The old priest immediately reassured Rembrary.

“Sir Cherub also went there earlier.”

As the old priest explained, after the entire examination was over, all those who had been attacked were released.

Rembrary returned to the Grand Priest’s room and finished the sleep he had been deprived of in the early morning.

After spending the day like that, he woke up late in the evening and was yawning when Ridal came in from outside, spotted Rembrary, and ran over.

“I asked people, and there was someone among the dormitory staff who tore the ward.”

Ridal seemed to have become a little closer to the people here while Rembrary was sleeping soundly.

“Really?”

“Yeah. Do you want to go see? The priest who tore the ward is being taken away.”

“I’m hungry.”

“That’s because you keep sleeping.”

Ridal grumbled but still went to the cafeteria with Rembrary.

“It wasn’t me!”

As they were walking, they heard a scream not far away. Ridal grabbed Rembrary’s arm.

Rembrary turned his head.

In the passage that he had been told led to the basement, a priest was being dragged away by several inquisitors, his arms held tightly.

Ridal grabbed Rembrary’s arm even more forcefully.

“I’m really innocent! I just thought there was a replacement operation [a plan to switch out certain individuals]! How could I have known that something like this would happen inside the Grand Priest’s residence!”

The employee’s scream as he struggled was desperate.

The inquisitors showed no mercy as they dragged their suspect away.

“That’s how they take them away.”

As they disappeared from sight, Ridal muttered quietly. Rembrary pulled Ridal, who seemed rooted to the spot, and led him into the cafeteria.

After receiving grilled corn and tomato dishes and sitting down, Ridal whispered so that only Rembrary could hear.

“I will never become an inquisitor.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. They seem too… cruel.”

Rembrary recalled the ‘Inquisitor’ who had escorted him to the temple.

That person had also lied for Rembrary. He didn’t seem like a bad person.

“And no one from the inquisitor’s background has ever risen high.”

Ridal whispered again, reinforcing his point.

* * *

“I, really, really didn’t know that the culprit would attack the children! I just heard that there was a replacement operation, so I removed the ward in advance! How could I have known that something like this would happen inside the Grand Priest’s residence!”

The dragged suspect shouted as he was forcibly seated in a chair made of iron.

But the inquisitors didn’t even change their expressions. It was as if the suspect’s voice wasn’t even heard.

The suspect trembled, looking down at the tight leather straps that were tightening his arms, and desperately shouted as one of the inquisitors approached with a strange weapon.

“Th-that prince child!”