Chapter 04:
“…”
At my sharp question, Bertha lowered her gaze and remained silent.
Sometimes, silence itself is an answer.
So it really is because of the high priest.
I clicked my tongue inwardly.
According to Article 1 of this empire’s constitution, the Saintess holds the same authority and status as the Saint-Emperor.
Someone like that would naturally gather supporters just by revealing her face.
So what would happen if I went around openly announcing that I’m the Saintess?
…I’d die.
I smacked my lips bitterly.
The high priest—who currently holds real power—didn’t hesitate to slap the saintess.
Would someone like him just sit back and watch me reveal my identity and gather influence?
Maybe the only reason I’m still alive is because the original Saintess kept quiet and stayed hidden.
As I rubbed the back of my neck, now chilled, a thought crossed my mind.
Maybe the original Saintess had an affair with Rexton… just to survive.
He wasn’t as powerful as the high priest, but as the duke’s mistress, she might have at least secured her life.
Still… She shouldn’t have touched him.
I pursed my lips.
Of all people, why did she go after a married man?
She could’ve seduced an unmarried prince or noble from another country.
Well, not my problem.
I’m not getting involved with the protagonists anyway.
“—Phew.”
After finishing my bath, I carefully read through the materials Bertha had prepared.
It took several hours, but I got almost all the information I needed.
And now—
I was walking through the Grand Temple, holding a map Bertha had drawn.
From the library, go straight down the right path… then left at the pavilion.
Here.
I stopped in front of a large building.
The Inquisition.
This was where I would take my gamble.
I took a deep breath and stepped inside.
Approaching the counter labeled “Civil Affairs,” the staff member looked up.
“How may I help you?”
“It’s about this.”
I held up the badge with the Inquisition’s emblem and smiled.
“Could you find the owner of this insignia?”
The employee’s eyes widened.
“Oh—yes. I’ll make sure it gets returned. Losing something this important…”
I avoided his outstretched hand.
“Um… would it be alright if I returned it personally?”
I blushed slightly, acting shy.
“It’s someone I really want to see again.”
“Ah! I see!”
The employee’s eyes lit up with understanding.
“I’ll find them right away. Please wait a moment!”
He quickly asked a colleague to cover for him and rushed inside.
Looks like they have an internal notification system.
I glanced around.
No one recognizes me at all?
Even here—the core department of the Holy Empire—not a single person recognized the Saintess.
Damn.
Still, this place looked surprisingly normal.
A clean, spacious office. Employees are busy with paperwork.
It felt like an ordinary administrative office.
I had expected torture tools hanging from the ceiling and screams echoing through the halls.
Guess that was just my prejudice.
Still, this is the Inquisition.
From what I read—
This was the central force of the Holy Empire, created to hunt down “heretics”—spirit beasts, elemental spirits, and mages.
Even now, hunts were ongoing.
And the captured ones were kept in a special underground prison here.
“We found them, Miss!”
The employee returned, beaming.
I smiled brightly.
“That’s a relief!”
“Well… the thing is…”
He hesitated.
“Are you sure… that’s the person you’re looking for?”
“…Pardon?”
“I mean… ah…”
He sighed, looking troubled.
“…Of all people… well, I suppose everyone has their tastes. But that person’s personality is quite… well… love is like an accident, isn’t it?”
More like an accident than love, honestly.
I forced a smile.
He looked at me with pity before finally giving up.
“If you go to the eastern exit, they’ll be waiting there!”
“Thank you for your help.”
I walked toward the door he indicated.
***
Creak.
As I pushed open the heavy wooden door, I saw someone standing there.
A tall man, facing away from me, looking at the garden.
I took a step forward—then stopped.
That’s a unique hair color.
In the daylight, I could see it clearly.
His long hair shimmered like a clear blue sky.
“Is it you?”
“…Pardon?”
He turned toward me.
I had been watching his hair, and only a moment later did I meet his gaze—
Or tried to.
“…Huh?”
Thick glasses blocked his eyes.
The lenses were so thick that I couldn’t see his pupils clearly.
That won’t do.
Frowning slightly, I stared at him.
He pointed casually at his collar.
“It’s me.”
Even though the place where the insignia should be was empty, I looked him up and down.
“…Just in case, could you take off your glasses?”
“Why should I?”
He frowned.
I waved the badge slightly.
“To confirm your identity. I shouldn’t return something this important to the wrong person.”
“…You remember my face?”
“I remember your eye color.”
The moment I said that—
Something tightened around my throat.
A strange pressure.
But it disappeared as quickly as it came.
…What was that?
While I was still processing it, he adjusted his glasses again.
“Is that enough?”
“…Yes.”
Gold and gray.
Odd-colored eyes.
Even if it was just for a moment, I was certain.
He was the man from yesterday.
In that case—
I forced a smile.
“Before I return this, could we talk for a moment?”
“No.”
His refusal was immediate.
I responded playfully on purpose.
“It’ll only take a moment. I also have something to say about what I saw yesterday.”
“What you saw.”
His brows twitched slightly.
Then he turned and began walking.
Not toward the Inquisition.
Is he telling me to follow him?
I hurried after him.
“Wait—let’s go together!”
But he didn’t respond, simply continuing ahead.
After about ten minutes—
I didn’t know there was a place like this here.
He led me through remote paths to what looked like an abandoned garden.
Overgrown bushes and ruins are scattered around.
Yes.
A perfect place for a private conversation.
Especially if I’m right about who he is.
I kept my guard up and looked at him.
He glanced back and asked coldly,
“What do you want to talk about?”
“You’re a mage, aren’t you?”
His lips twisted into a crooked smile.
“I didn’t come all this way to hear nonsense.”
“The reason you were being chased yesterday… is because you’re a mage, right?”
“I don’t have time for word games.”
He held out his hand.
“Give it back and leave.”
“What if I refuse?”
I stared at him stubbornly.
“Then I’ll report you as a thief. Refusing to return something is the same as stealing.”
“I will return it. After we talk a bit more—”
He frowned in annoyance.
“If you’re going to keep spouting nonsense about me being a mage, just leave. There’s a limit to insulting an Inquisition officer—”
“The black mage.”
He froze mid-turn.
Behind those thick lenses, I could feel his gaze sharpen.
I smiled deliberately.
“That’s what they called you yesterday. The ones chasing you—they said you might be the ‘Black Mage.’”
According to the books—
Inquisitors, who hunt countless mages, are called “Executioners.”
And the one who has killed the most executioners—
The Black Mage.
I was almost certain.
The man in front of me was that very person.
But he scoffed.
“Ridiculous. The Black Mage is known for having pitch-black hair and eyes. That’s why he’s called that.”
“Hair and eye color can be changed with magic. Someone that infamous couldn’t manage something that simple?”
“Magic? Ha. Inside the Inquisition?”
He laughed in disbelief.
“Inquisition officers can sense magic, even if only faintly. A constant spell like that wouldn’t go unnoticed. Though most low-ranking staff have weak sensitivity—like me.”
“…What if it’s the opposite?”
“What?”
His voice dropped coldly.
I met his gaze.
“What if black hair and eyes are the disguise… and this is your real appearance?”
“Enough nonsense. There’s a limit to falsely accusing an innocent person.”
His eyes turned icy.
“And using yesterday as your basis? You weren’t even in your right mind.”
“You were able to use me because of that, though. But do you know what’s interesting?”
