Dark Fantasy Normalized

54 – The Mage and the Priest (3)

The Inquisitors, priests tasked by the Order to ferret out black mages.

When they begin their interrogation, they invariably extract the answers they seek.

Gerhen knew nothing of their secrets or methods, but at this moment, he was certain of one thing.

That Goze had no real intention of interrogating the wandering mage.

-Is that the truth?

-It is not the truth.

-So, it’s not the truth.

How on earth could that be called an Inquisitor’s interrogation?

Even a clueless parent scolding their child would be more strict than that.

‘What is this special treatment?’

Gerhen was considerably flustered.

The Inquisitors he knew were fanatics, who, at the slightest hint of black magic, would obliterate any concept of compromise within themselves.

That was why Gerhen had tried to instill suspicion about Rishir in Goze, hoping to seize the momentum completely through him.

Convincing an Inquisitor who’d become suspicious was harder than extinguishing a fire with gasoline.

If the Inquisitor were to pressure Rishir in this situation, nothing could be more reassuring.

But what was this?

The Inquisitor was showing unconditional trust toward the black magic suspect, an absolute travesty.

As a result, a situation completely contrary to his intentions had unfolded.

“That attire… she is an Inquisitor, right?”

“Judging by the red cross insignia, she’s not just a simple Inquisitor, but a high-ranking priest…”

“What on earth was that ridiculous back and forth just now?”

“…Could she have felt something from him, perhaps?”

Gerhen, upon hearing the report that Rishir had shown himself at the magic tower, had been waiting for him at the front gate, the most bustling place of human traffic.

His aim was to capture as much attention as possible.

The greatest purpose of this plan was to raise suspicion against Rishir in front of as many eyes as possible.

It was meant to reverse the tide of public opinion that was leaning against him by the moment.

And now, the numerous onlookers gathered there were beginning to murmur.

“I knew he had a special ability, but to be recognized at a glance by Goze?”

“…So, a dark mage’s accomplice, is he?”

“What do you think?”

“Are you asking me whether I trust Goje or the dark mage’s judgment? Come on now. I wouldn’t be able to slip out of an Inquisitor’s interrogation that smoothly.”

“Heh heh heh. I spoke foolishly.”

“No. It’s not you who spoke foolishly, but-“

I find the unusual favoritism the Inquisitor showed to Rissir quite intriguing.

At this rate, far from reversing public opinion, it’ll only accelerate its downward spiral.

Sensing the urgency, Gerhen, having quickly devised a plan, sprang into action.

“How baffling. That’s all?”

“Yes. Based on what I’ve sensed, he is not lying.”

Just as Goje was about to explain the basis and criteria for her judgment,

“Such blatant favoritism makes one question his intentions.”

Gerhen, deeming the reaction sufficiently provoked, cut her off.

Gerhen, who had ascended to a position representing the noble faction through his innate political acumen,

was not so naive as to allow himself to be swayed by Goje’s status and bungle the situation.

Master and Goje.

Their external standing could be considered on par.

Things might be different when dealing with heresy or cult-related matters-

but this was the Mage Tower.

One of the few places where the Order couldn’t act rashly.

Although they secured justification for intervention in the Order, following Master Didoha’s request, she was still considered an outsider.

If Gerhen were to utilize his position to exclude her, there wouldn’t be many counter moves she could take.

“Favoritism, you say. It sounds like you’re suggesting I’m advocating heresy for a specific purpose.”

Of course, she, standing in a position where she could represent the Order’s stance alone, was absolutely not someone to be taken lightly.

She immediately responded to Gerhen’s barbed words with equally barbed ones.

-Are you saying I’m defending a dark mage now?

-I didn’t say that, but aren’t you overreacting? Seems even more suspicious, doesn’t it?

In that state of being just moments from a mudslinging fight, Gerhen retreated a step, sporting a sly smile.

“Goje. As Master Gerhen already mentioned, this case has taken a new turn.”

Immediately, there were those who stepped forward.

“I don’t know what Master Didoh told you, but for us, this incident isn’t over yet.”

“As proud members of the Magic Tower, we wish to resolve this matter independently to the best of our ability, would you please respect that?”

They were Masters holding high positions within the noble faction.

Having a closer relationship with Gerhen, they were in a position to say they were in the same boat as him.

If Gerhen gets fucked, I get fucked!

Under that belief, they completely supported Gerhen’s statements.

“…”

Their cunning rhetoric suddenly made Goje look strange.

Like an outsider trying to forcibly intervene in the affairs of the Magic Tower for a specific purpose.

Some scholars, having seen through Gerhen’s gang’s intentions, felt disillusioned, but couldn’t show it.

It was a public place with a large number of scholars gathered.

If they sided with Goje here, they’d be branded as scholars who abandoned the Magic Tower and sided with the Order.

Gerhen’s sly intention, though having suffered a slight setback, was definitely working.

Separately, Gerhen felt impatient.

‘Damn. How did it-‘

He had somehow succeeded in regaining the initiative, but the situation was worse than ever before.

This was supposed to be an opportunity to leisurely corner Lisir.

But, with Goje’s intervention, it had become a precarious situation, like walking on thin ice-

“What? What’s going on?”

“Master Gerhen is holding Lisir-“

“You know, that thing? Master Didoh brought the Order’s Goje from outside-“

Even while this was happening, the crowd of onlookers was growing.

Gerhen’s mind was working more actively than ever.

Gerhen made a quick decision.

His sharp political senses were sending a warning.

If he were to push further here, he would have to be prepared to go all the way.

He was already prepared for that.

Otherwise, how could he have thought of bribing a black mage to commit perjury?

The problem was the situation.

With the intervention of the major variable of ‘Goje, who is sympathetic to the suspect’, it was too dangerous a situation to risk that preparedness.

‘Even with some losses, we need to retreat now.’

Surely another opportunity will come later.

It was at that moment, when Gerhen was about to act to smooth things over.

“So, what exactly are you suggesting?”

The chaotic atmosphere of the place immediately became tense.

The High Prelate of the Order.

The noble faction wielding strong influence within the Magic Tower.

Even they were wary, not daring to speak carelessly, but then an unexpected figure spoke up abruptly.

And with great force.

Rishir.

He stared at Gerhen and said clearly,

“I don’t know why, but it seems I’ve irked your sensibilities, so let’s settle this properly this time.”

Gerhen’s face contorted with bewilderment and anger.

The Order’s High Prelate and the Magic Tower’s Masters were engaged in a war of nerves around him.

In this situation, he never imagined that a mere wandering mage, a b*stard no less, would boldly express his opinion.

“Tulan. That man is a dark mage who dared to deceive the mages of the Magic Tower. And, because of me, his whole plan was exposed and he lost everything, a failure. If he has anything to say about me, the intent behind his words is clear. Deception and hatred.”

“Are you saying that I, I’m being played by that dark mage’s deception?”

Gerhen glared at Rishir with subtle intimidation.

Rishir simply ignored the gaze and continued to speak.

“Master Gerhen, you are the respected Master of the Gray Magic Tower. You wouldn’t have cornered me based solely on the ramblings of a dark mage.”

Gerhen clenched his fist as hard as he could. His fingernails dug into his skin.

He felt insulted by the b*stard, who didn’t know his place. However, he couldn’t show it outwardly.

If he tried to use his authority to crush him in this situation, it would clearly backfire.

It wasn’t just him who understood Gerhen’s intention for choosing such a crowded place to set the stage.

“Surely, you must have had other grounds, other plans. Otherwise, it would be no different than being censured for ‘uncovering a dark mage’. Therefore, I rightfully demand to know.”

Rishir had spent decades living on the fringes of noble families, reading their moods.

He knew very well how to act in situations like this.

He spoke with proper formality.

His vocabulary and tone were as refined as any high-ranking noble.

Before long, everyone in the place was listening to Rishir’s words.

Right now, this instant. He was neither a prodigal, wandering mage nor a b*stard.

A speaker with legitimate right.

The eyes of the assembly followed the path of his gaze.

Gerchen.

The audience’s attention focused on him.

The escape routes he’d scouted all collapsed at once.

A situation pushed to the edge.

Now he, whether he wanted to or not, was forced to see this through to the end.

“So very confident.”

Gerchen, acting calm with effort, pulled out the item he’d prepared.

“I can take that as you’re sure you can prove your innocence, correct?”

Using this item before Goje’s eyes was not something he wanted, but right now was not the time for such considerations.

“That’s–”

***

Meltas and Pien instantly recognized what Gerchen had produced.

Inside the case, two feathers of a unique form –

No, a single, split feather was preserved.

It was a feather of a spirit beast called ‘Puresoul,’ possessing the property of turning black in response to the ‘karma’ of a target, though the precise mechanism remained unknown.

Puresoul feathers were broadly divided into three types:

Tail feathers.

Wing feathers.

Body feathers.

The property of Puresoul feathers reacting to ‘karma’ grew stronger the closer they were to the Puresoul’s heart.

The Order used this property of the Puresoul feathers to select the aptitude of priests.

The ones generally used were tail feathers.

Even a cleric who had lived his entire life with utmost integrity would see the purity of a tail feather tarnish slightly upon contact.

Only high-ranking priests could keep the feather’s purity intact when touching a wing feather.

“This is a tail feather of a Puresoul. If you truly are innocent, this pure feather will prove it.”

Hearing Gerchen’s words, Pien and Meltas thought.

It’s a fallacy.

The fact that he was carrying a dark mage wasn’t the deciding factor.

But his story had the power to subtly persuade his audience.

Pure Feather and dark magic.

Those two words combined, piqued people’s curiosity.

The attention of the crowd refocused on Rishir.

‘…’

Soon, the two people nodded, looking at Rishir.

Rishir.

If it was him, he might be able to prove his innocence even through the mismatched method of the pure-breed’s tail feather.

Rishir also nodded, and reached for the box Gerhen offered.

***

“…”

Rishir’s hand approached slowly.

Gerhen smiled inwardly, a triumphant grin.

He seemed rather confident, reaching for the pure feather without hesitation, but that was hopeless.

The fact was, that pure feather was a ‘body feather’ crafted to *look* like a ‘tail feather’.

Even Gerhen himself thought it was a flimsy trick.

But it was okay.

Gerhen knew that the decisive factor in a situation like this wasn’t reason or logic, but the immediate intensity.

A body feather, so sensitive it defied description, was something even the saints of the order couldn’t keep perfectly white.

The feather, the moment Rishir’s hand touched it, would not only fade but burn black, leaving an unforgettable, intense impression on the crowd.

‘That’s it.’

Gerhen silently cheered.

Rishir’s hand touched the pure feather and picked it up.

And-

“…”

And-

…Nothing happened.

Even after what everyone felt was enough time.

The crowd began to stir.

“…No!”

Gerhen cried out without even realizing it.

It didn’t have to be a violent reaction.

Even if the feather just turned slightly darker, Gerhen was confident he could handle it.

But the feather didn’t give an inch, remaining exactly the same pure white as before.

“Something, something is definitely wrong!”

Panicked, and thinking he had to do something, Gerhen did something he would never normally do.

He reflexively picked up the other half of the feather left in the box.

*Fwoosh.*

The feather’s other half, beyond fading, blackened and burned away without a trace.

“…”

“…”

The murmuring of the crowd ceased instantly.

Their attention was suddenly drawn away from Rishir’s pristine white feather, and focused on Gerhen’s empty hand.

“…”

Gerhen himself was speechless, staring blankly at his own hand.

***

“…Ha.”

Gohje, Bardross, who had been watching the entire scene from the side, let out a scoff.

She’d been sure Gerhen had tampered with the tail feather separately.

So she’d been preparing to speak on Rishir’s behalf in case anything went wrong–

But what kind of ridiculous situation was this?

Whatever.

At this point, there’s no harm in her stepping in, right?

She approached Rishir and received the pure feather from his hand.

And, just as she was about to open her mouth to resolve the situation,

she felt a sense of unease and checked her own hand.

Was it a delusion, that the ‘tail feather’, which just moments ago had held a pure, innocent white, now looked somewhat faded?

***

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[Title: Dude What the FUCK is Wrong With This Body Feathers]

Content: Can’t I just pump up my Divine Power or something?

– : Pick it up, prove your purity by picking it up

– : It’s not about Divine Power, it’s about your Karma, duh

-[OP]: The only Karma I know is leveling up, you little shit

– : Open your stat window, you’ll see “Karma” there

-[OP]: Karma?

– : Yeah, that’s your Karma

-[OP]: Oh jeez;;; Why does that sound like a slur

-[OP]: So what the hell is it?

– : Basically, it’s a numerical value of the good influence you’ve had on the world

-[OP]: Oh, *that’s* what Karma is? I was wondering why that champ’s name was here

-[OP]: Is 21 high?

– : You think?

-[OP]: Shit, how do I raise it then?

– : It just goes up as you progress through fate quests, you’ll see

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