Player-Hunting Inquisitors

Chapter 17

A week after the believers began wandering around the academy.

"Saint! Isn't this measure too excessive, no matter what?"

A few professors knocked on the door of my office in the church.

"Excessive? What exactly do you mean by excessive... I don't quite understand."

I could guess their purpose.

They must be asking for the believers to be withdrawn.

"Even though the academy allows freedom of religion, the current situation is far too inappropriate."

"Hmm... I don't quite understand what you mean. Those affiliated with the church are also undoubtedly academy staff. What's wrong with them wandering around the academy?"

I answered them while feigning ignorance.

"Let me be straightforward. Their presence disrupts the lectures. Please withdraw the believers from the academy."

Perhaps feeling frustrated, the professor standing at the front raised his voice.

"Is that the opinion of the entire academy? Or just the professors here?"

"That is...."

Well, I can roughly guess. These professors, who usually discriminated against commoners, must have come here because they felt guilty.

I didn't intervene much after inciting the believers.

The current situation was created entirely by the believers themselves.

"Thanks to us, the academy's order has been restored, yet instead of gratitude, we receive this kind of reaction. It's a bit disappointing, isn't it?"

"If we had just a little more time, the faculty alone could have resolved it!"

However, the professors who came all the way here didn't give up easily.

Annoyed by dealing with them, I decided to throw them the carrot they wanted.

"Well, I plan to withdraw them around the time the midterms are over. Since they disrupt the classes, there's no other choice."

I, too, couldn't keep sending believers into the academy indefinitely.

Anyway, the players will have no choice but to take action soon.

Finding a reasonable compromise with these professors is ideal.

"In return, please keep the withdrawal timing a secret from the students. I'm worried it might have a negative impact if it spreads."

"Understood, Saint."

Having achieved their goal, they returned with much lighter expressions than when they came to the church.

I closed my eyes and reflected on their reactions.

'Among them, there's a high chance someone has been influenced by the players. They must have taken this step because their quest was disrupted.'

I made a separate list of the professors who had visited me.

I included all the students attending their lectures, teaching assistants, and graduate students as suspects.

'It's not a top priority right now, but I'll have to find out someday.'

What I need to focus on now is eliminating the status discrimination within the academy.

Since the players' intentions are blatantly obvious, there's no need to leave it unattended.

"Kian! I'm here!"

At that moment, Riel entered the office, waving her hand energetically.

"Welcome. Great work."

"Hmm! Yes, yes! Praise me more!"

I lightly flicked Riel on the forehead, whose shoulders were practically touching the sky.

"Sit down quietly."

"Ouch! That's mean!"

Riel rubbed her forehead and sat on the sofa in the office.

After catching her breath with a cup of tea I brewed, Riel brought up the reason for her visit.

"I've searched all the rooms. There was a letter left in one of the students' rooms."

"A letter?"

Riel took an envelope out of her pocket and handed it to me.

"Of course, it's a copy. It'd be dangerous if I got caught."

"Got it. Let's see...."

At first glance, the contents of the letter seemed insignificant.

It mainly consisted of inquiries about the well-being of the recipient as a sponsor.

'I don't sense anything particularly strange....'

Tilting my head, I handed the letter back to Riel.

"I don't know. Should I request someone to analyze the code?"

"Natasha has already asked for that."

Riel held the letter she had received back from me.

A small flame appeared in her palm and quickly burned the letter into ashes.

With a crackling sound, smoke rose, and soon the ashes scattered to the floor.

"It seems she needs an opportunity to analyze the professors' handwriting. She probably plans to compare it with the handwriting in that letter."

Indeed, doubting the internal members first is reasonable.

After all, the Goddess's ultimate target is the academy.

"There's a trash dump behind the school. Tell her there's a way to search through the discarded papers there. If that seems too time-consuming..., she'll have to enter the professors' research rooms directly."

Of course, the professors' research rooms are equipped with security measures, so it won't be an easy task.

However, if it's Natasha, she'll manage without much trouble.

"Got it. I'll pass it along."

After finishing her tea, Riel left the church.

I, too, headed to the academy for lectures, following Riel.

**

Meanwhile, Yuria was enjoying tea at a café on campus.

Her entire faction had gathered inside the café.

At first glance, it seemed like an ordinary tea meeting, but in reality, it was a gathering to determine the course of action for Yuria's faction.

Naturally, they had to act according to Yuria's will.

When Yuria set down her teacup, tension filled the table.

"Everyone, I believe that nobles must uphold the duties that come with their status."

Yuria slowly looked around.

Although her eyes were covered by a blindfold and couldn't be seen, those standing in the direction her head turned trembled as if they were mice cornered by a snake.

After scanning the surroundings once, Yuria issued a dismissal order.

"I'm sure everyone here knows what to do without me having to say it."

The number of people filling the café dispersed at her single word.

"Are you all right?"

"Lilin, what do you mean?"

Among them, only one person standing directly behind Yuria remained in place.

"You've seemed fatigued lately."

The Floria Family, which had supported the Tenia Family throughout most of the Empire's long history.

As a member of that family, Lilin Floria now stood by Yuria's side.

"I'm fine. It's probably the chaotic atmosphere at the academy lately."

Although Lilin worried about her master's fatigue, as always, Yuria paid no mind.

"In that case, how about taking a more direct approach? If you gather more people beyond those who just assembled...."

Hearing Lilin's suggestion, Yuria shook her head.

"No, there's no need for that. I don't have to act directly; the Saint will take care of it."

"Understood. As you wish, my master."

As the master-servant conversation unfolded in the café, a group of commoners approached.

"Here, our order!"

The group that entered the café took their seats and began talking noisily.

"Customers, please refrain from making a commotion."

The staff tried to stop them, but they ignored it and raised their voices.

"Hmph, let the high-and-mighty nobles do that. Are we not allowed to use the café?"

"A while ago, dozens of nobles came and went. I guess it was quiet back then?"

As if harboring resentment, the unwelcome guests started picking fights with the staff.

Unable to tolerate the ruined atmosphere of the café, Lilin stood up and addressed them.

"This is a place to quietly enjoy coffee! If you want to have a conversation, find another place."

"Shouldn't the noble lords step aside? We are also paying customers."

"That's right! Are you saying we should leave because we lack refinement?"

However, they shamelessly directed absurd arguments at Lilin.

As Lilin, her anger reaching its peak, sprang to her feet, Yuria stopped her.

"Lilin, please sit down."

"...Understood, my lord."

Yuria calmly savored her tea as if the recent commotion was of no concern.

The uninvited guests, seemingly displeased with Yuria's demeanor, directed their hostility at her.

"Ha, it seems the noble lady can't even hear the words of commoners?"

"You scoundrels!"

Lilin, unable to hold back, tried to stand up again but sat back down after noticing Yuria's gaze.

Letting the insults directed at her and Lilin pass through one ear, Yuria reflected on the situation.

'What could be the reason for them causing such an unnatural commotion? Is it a ploy of the Player?'

Yuria extended her senses to observe outside the café.

However, she couldn't detect any peculiarities.

'Changing perspectives, why are they targeting me and picking fights? For what purpose?'

While Yuria was lost in thought, the group, exhausted on their own, left the café to avoid the approaching cult members.

By the time Yuria finished her thoughts, it was near sunset.

Yuria apologized to Lilin, who had stayed by her side for a long time.

"Too much time has passed. Lilin, I'm sorry."

"It's nothing, my lord."

After her prolonged contemplation, Yuria appeared much brighter.

Observing her lord's complexion, Lilin asked the reason.

"Did you figure something out?"

"Not yet. I think I need to observe the situation for a few more days to be sure."

Yuria left her seat, with Lilin hurriedly following behind.

Although questions still lingered in Lilin's mind, she set them aside and followed Yuria.

Even after that day, commoners continued to provoke Yuria and Lilin.

In various places such as restaurants, lecture halls, and dormitory entrances, groups appeared to harass Yuria.

Sometimes, the same person would appear multiple times, and at other times, it would be someone they met for the first time.

Regardless of who or when they appeared, Yuria always responded with indifference.

Lilin, too, followed her lord's will and did not react.

After several days, Yuria's surroundings became quiet as if it were a lie.

Yuria made a request to Lilin.

"Could you create a list of the people involved in the disputes between nobles and commoners at the school? Include not only the main individuals but also everyone around them."

"Understood."

"Ah, and if possible, please also look into how the groups were formed during the field practice."

The Flonia Family, renowned for having the best intelligence in the Empire, as always, did not betray Yuria's expectations.

A few days later, when Lilin brought back the requested list.

Yuria was finally able to find a clue about the Player.