A Priest's Life as a Villain

Chapter 008

The capital, Gerinhild, was the most prosperous city on the continent. Some called it the heart of the Empire and the essence of civilization, while others insisted the land chosen by the god Asriel was not Quersa, but Gerinhild.

The Special Unit headquarters was beneath this glamorous city.

"May the Lord's radiance seep into the deepest shadows where the brethren dwell. Standard-bearer of the Lord, draw your sword in the darkness, lift the Lord's lamp."

Bern recited the consecration prayer commemorating the completion of the Emperor's Special Unit headquarters. It was one of the habits he maintained to remind himself of his duties as both the 3rd Division Leader in the Special Unit and a priest of the church.

Ran stood, watching Bern from behind.

"Hoo. Well, Ran. Once again, you've returned alone, as always. Well past your scheduled date, too."

"There were circumstances."

Bern lifted an eyebrow. He was tired of talking about it—it happened so often. He turned, pouring wine into a glass.

"One-Armed Jack applied for asylum through the church, I hear. Didn't he mention as much to you?"

"No, there wasn't any particular resistance."

"That's fortunate. In any case, you saved my face. Damn bastards. So this is how they're going to act."

Bern closed his eyes, then opened them half-lidded, savoring the aroma of the wine.

3rd Division faced checks from the other divisions within the Special Unit.

Apart from 3rd Division, the rest of the Special Unit was composed entirely of priests from the church. They resented that their reputation plummeted whenever it became entangled with that of the inquisitors. And yet, the senior members were envious of 3rd Division's daily achievements.

"So now they won't even cooperate on basic operations."

"No wonder heretics are still running rampant. I heard the news from Lucerne. You saved us some damage by locating the beast's vessel in time."

"No, had I acted faster, High Priest Boras would have survived."

"Revolutionaries rats. Tch, enemies in every direction."

Bern sloshed the wine in his mouth irritably.

In Ran's mind, a single word floated.

'Politics.'

It was a foreign concept. Not even Quersa had taught him this. At first, it was strange—he couldn't understand why people with the same goals in a single organization would fight for their own interests.

War was a clash of ideals. Politics was a dark game of desires.

'Collapse starts with a tiny crack.'

Ran recalled something Iscarang had once said. There were ways to bring down the church without war.

"There's a job I need you for,"

Bern said, suppressing his anger.

"A special order from the Special Unit commander to clean the area before the Brinhill church opening ceremony."

Brinhill was a town lying ambiguously distant from Gerinhild. It wasn't far from the spot where he had met Zilla.

"Is there a particular reason for this special order?"

"It seems there are Revolutionaries hiding nearby. We're to assist 1st Division so they can wipe them out."

"In other words, you want me to locate their hideout."

"That's right, exactly. If, by chance, the Revolutionaries stir up trouble during the ceremony, both 1st Division and us, the entire Special Unit, will be ruined."

The civil war had left many churches damaged or burned to the ground. In times like these, a church opening ceremony was highly symbolic and drew the attention of the upper ranks.

'Even if I hate working with them, the Special Unit must be protected.'

Bern interlocked his fingers. He had lived as the shadow of the church, dedicating his life to the organization from the deepest and darkest of places. The Special Unit's history was his own.

He could never allow the fall of the Special Unit or losing its fruits to others.

"Ran. Make sure those pampered ones understand just how filthy the work we do is."

Now it was time to seek the light. His ambitions aimed farther still.

"Understood. I'll take this opportunity to look around a few other places on the way back."

"Permission granted."

Ran placed his right fist over his left chest, performing the crisp salute of the Special Unit, quietly laughing inside.

* * *

Ran emerged through an exit leading to the inner ring of the city. As soon as he stepped out, he removed his mask.

"Hoo."

The sunlight on his bare skin was warm. He closed his eyes, spreading his arms. He breathed deeply, as if he were someone finally breathing fresh air after being confined.

"Ugh."

A foul smell crept up—it was his own body odor.

'It has been a while since I last washed.'

Ran quickly blended into the crowded streets. He slipped through a narrow path between buildings into a shady alley. Even in broad daylight, women's coquettish moans could be heard from all sides. Ran, as if accustomed, entered a building. Inside, it was as dark as a den of drugs. A rat scurried past his feet.

"Madam."

A response soon came from inside.

"Oh my! Look who it is—it's our inquisitor brother. I thought something happened since I haven't seen you for days! I worried so much."

A burly middle-aged man greeted Ran, twirling the ends of his wig.

"Same as always, two nights?"

"Yes."

"Adorable, as always."

The madam puckered his bright red lips. His chin was stained with stubble. Ran turned his face away, barely keeping his stomach down.

"I'll, uh, wash up first."

"Hoho, go ahead!"

Soaking himself in warm water after so long felt wonderful. He grew so relaxed he almost fell asleep. After a long soak, he emerged in a daze.

Ran dried off and lay down in a small room. The musty smell of mold felt oddly sweet.

Knock, knock.

"Brother~ coming in!"

The madam's voice floated from outside. The door opened to admit a plump middle-aged woman.

Ran smiled.

"It's been a while, Susan."

Susan smiled back at him—a simple, makeup-free woman.

She climbed onto the bed, sitting with her legs outstretched. Ran placed a blanket on Susan's knees and lay his head there, turning over.

"A lot of complicated things have happened in the past few days."

The room was so quiet, every sensual moan from afar could be heard. Each time, Ran curled himself up further. Gentle fingers ran through his hair.

"I had so much to say, but I'm so sleepy."

His heavy eyelids kept closing despite all his effort to stay awake. Before long, Ran had fallen asleep.

Susan quietly sat stroking Ran's hair, sometimes fanning him. She could neither hear nor speak.

The sounds of passion beyond the wall grew more intense as night fell. Yet, the space shared by Ran and Susan remained peaceful and silent.

* * *

A few days later, Ran headed for the outer city gates.

Nearly thirty 1st Division Special Unit members were busy preparing for departure. Each wore a white priestly robe, with more than half donning silver pauldrons and carrying weapons. They glittered even from a distance.

Ran paused, glancing back and forth between himself and them.

He was dressed entirely in black.

'??.'

A few who were loading baggage onto wagons noticed Ran first, whispering among themselves. Disdainful gazes began gathering on him. He stood among them like a crow amidst a flock of white egrets.

"I am Martin Sergio, overall lead for this expedition."

A handsome blond man with a well-groomed beard approached Ran, introducing himself without any formality, flanked by two priests.

"Nice to meet you. And I am..."

"I know. 'Mad Dog' Ran, right?"

All the priests who had been watching burst into laughter. Martin grinned at both them and Ran.

Whatever their affiliation with the Special Unit, at their core, they were clergy, and to them, an inquisitor was an outsider.

His intent to embarrass Ran was obvious, but Ran responded calmly.

"That's right, priest Martin. It's my first time working with the 1st Division team. Please teach me well."

"It's not that hard. Remember, higher command's orders are for 3rd Division to cooperate fully with 1st Division, so just follow my lead quietly. Not to boast, but I'm about to be promoted to High Priest. Let's avoid any unnecessary conflict."

"Of course."

Martin was the loyal right-hand of the 1st Division leader. He had a seasoned understanding of the Special Unit dynamics—every division leader was gunning for the next commander's seat.

'Next 1st Division leader will be me.'

Martin turned away.

Soon, preparations were complete. Heavy gates opened, and a long procession began.

Right before departure, a merchant caravan joined to be escorted by 1st Division. Rumor had it the merchant leader was acquainted with the 1st Division leader, who had offered to accompany the caravan since their routes overlapped.

'Hardly the full truth.'

Ran looked at the merchant leader sticking his head out of the carriage window. The merchant scanned the procession, then snapped the curtain shut. The merchant hadn't hired only the Special Unit for protection; there were plenty of mercenaries, too. Had he known in advance that the Special Unit would escort him, he wouldn't have wasted so much money on mercenaries.

Knock, knock.

Martin rode up close to the merchant leader's carriage and tapped on the door lightly. The merchant opened the curtain.

"Priest Martin. What brings you?"

"Nothing. The leader just asked me to pass on his greetings."

"I am well, thanks to you."

"That's good. Still, you appear unwell—are you not feeling well?"

"Hm, must have eaten something spoiled this morning."

"Oh dear. The Lord is always with our Special Unit, you know. Would you upset the Lord with such a gloomy face?"

"I—I'll be careful."

Martin nudged his horse forward. The merchant glared at his retreating figure.

'You bastard punk!'

Martin had learned much from his leader, including how to handle sponsors.

Ran watched silently from behind. Things unimaginable in Quersa happened daily here. It was hard to define where corruption began or ended in the church. Such degeneration would've been impossible for Quersa's clergy, unless they were all cursed at once.

'Quersa truly was a different world.'

The procession crossed the plains.

Though they could have taken a mountain pass to save time, risking this many people on a mountain trail was foolish.

Around half a day after departure, Martin called for a break. The priests and merchants began preparing their meals.

"Going somewhere?"

Martin stopped Ran, who was turning his horse.

"I was going to check the surroundings. No need to mind me?"

"Didn't I already tell you? Don't act without instructions. Don't worry about food—just sit in a corner and eat quietly."

Ran didn't reply. He dismounted, tying the reins to a shrub and surveying the area.

Martin hadn't ordered a security watch. The open terrain meant that even if there were an ambush, it would be easy to respond. The mountains were well behind them.

"Better eat without that. Don't have any flasks, you know?"

A priest in charge of rations dumped some soup into Ran's bowl, while those eating nearby snickered.

"What kind of soup is this?"

"Beef soup. Why? Don't like it?"

Inside the whitish broth, there wasn't a single solid ingredient.

Ran shook his head.

"Not at all."

Thunk—

Almost as soon as Ran answered, a disturbing sound rang out. The priest serving food dropped the ladle. An arrowhead pierced through the back of his head and protruded from the center of his forehead. Blood trickled down between his eyes as he fell forward, spilling all the food.

"It's an ambush!"

Shouts erupted, with the sound of weapons being drawn. The area was instantly thrown into chaos.

'Let the unkind suffer.'

Ran spilled his soup to the ground and spoke in his mind. Someone tapped him on the back.

"Didn't think you'd be so petty about food."

It was Dante, who had blended in with the mercenaries. He slyly handed Ran a piece of jerky.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
Damn, a lot of things are happening.
Ran's fixation on a woman's thigh.
How corrupt the mainland priests really are.
Dante blending in with the mercenaries.
The "Madam".
The politics in the church.
Inquisitors being outcasts.
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】