Chapter : 45
Beyond the veil, a gentle smile could be seen curving the corners of her lips. However, Gabriel could not bring himself to return it. In front of the veiled woman lay a corpse whose entire body had melted, leaving holes behind.
“I felt it was a sin for a sinner to wear a monastic robe, so I had it removed.”
Because the face was completely unrecognizable, Gabriel only realized the corpse belonged to a Berga monastery priest after noticing the neatly folded priestly robes beside him.
“I couldn’t detect a heartbeat. Do you see the depression in the head? He likely died at that moment.”
As the severely wounded corpse that should have been long dead twitched, Bishop Marik grabbed it by the hair and lifted it as if to demonstrate.
“Even in this state, it still moves.”
Though several bottles of holy water had been used, all it accomplished was melting the flesh. To completely kill it, they would have to submerge it in holy water and drown it. Since there was nothing more to extract, that would be the only way to dispose of it.
“To think he could not be embraced by Lady Rachel in death… This is the fate of those who betray the divine.”
When Marik released his grip, the corpse collapsed back onto the floor.
Perhaps because the subject was a heinous criminal, his handling was harsher than usual. Bishop Marik had originally been a nun, so the atrocities committed by Berga at the remote monastery must have been particularly abhorrent to him.
Thanks to Daisy’s testimony, Berga and two monks aligned with him had been transferred for judgment together.
Although they could not locate the “demon” Daisy had claimed to see, it was clearly revealed through bloodstained papers in Berga’s room that he had been using a ritual magic array. In addition, evidence and witnesses surfaced regarding bribery and sexual assault. Once even murder and covering up evidence were exposed, the noble family that had supported Berga quickly cut ties, fearing the temple’s scrutiny.
“He must have performed his sorcery using the painting displayed in the temple.”
Marik had recognized the ritual array early on.
“Do you remember the massacre of the heretics twenty years ago, Knight Commander?”
“Massacre? Please choose your words carefully. That was a purification operation. Of course I remember. That was around the time I left the monastery.”
This devout bishop did not hesitate to shed blood for Lady Rachel. It was through that very merit that Marik had risen to his current position.
“You seem too young to remember it.”
In contrast, Marik’s memories of that time were vivid. Perhaps because it was when he was at his youngest and most fervent.
Recollecting the past, Marik shared his knowledge with his junior.
“The markings of sorcerers are very easy to distinguish. They always contain stars.”
If the sun under Rachel’s dominion symbolized the one true divinity, then stars represented its opposite. They were likened to trivial, wicked things that threatened the sun but could never truly endanger it.
Thus, ritualists drew many stars in their patterns. Those unworthy of even gazing upon Lady Rachel instead made wishes upon stars rather than the divine. But since their counterpart was not omnipotent, a price was always required. Because they were malevolent, contracts had to be bound.
“They claim that by offering sacrifices and making wishes, a contract is formed.”
Gabriel recalled the woman he had met earlier that day.
“So you recognized the danger of the painting because you already knew.”
“Yes. If I had known that the calamity would spread along the current carried by Donau Blue, I would have disposed of that painting sooner. Even if the other brothers and sisters opposed it, I should have taken a firmer stance myself…”
“Spread along a current…”
Gabriel mulled over the words. Though Marik sounded resolute, his phrasing suggested he almost wished for such a spread.
Bishop Marik held considerable influence among his peers. If he had truly wanted the painting removed, it could have been done far more easily before it was burned.
One might reasonably suspect that he had deliberately displayed Donau’s painting, hoped it would spread, and then used the ensuing arrests of sorcerers to earn merit. It would not be strange to think he had chosen to repeat past events in order to ascend to the rank of cardinal.
However, Marik smiled kindly, as though harboring no ulterior motives.
“It is fortunate that a fire broke out and the painting was burned before things escalated further.”
Gabriel could not bring himself to see the destruction of the painting as fortunate.
While investigating the cause of the fire, he happened to learn about the recent whereabouts of the painter Jim Nofedi.
Jim had traveled across the land seeking inspiration for a masterpiece that would surpass his previous works. Since he had been inspired by Donau’s death, the places he visited were of a similar nature. However, few families would tolerate the desecration of their loved ones’ bodies.
Eventually, Jim found a corpse he particularly liked. He approached an elderly woman who had lost her young grandchild and asked permission to praise the child’s body and use it as a subject for his painting. The woman drove him away in fury, and cornered, Jim went so far as to steal the corpse.
Enraged, the woman, together with villagers who sided with her, tracked him down and beat him to death. Coincidentally, the painting burned at the same time Jim died.
“Miss Rowanson, was it? The young lady who helped extinguish the fire.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
When Evangeline Rowanson was mentioned, Gabriel observed Marik’s expression carefully.
“Ha ha. Do you think I would harm her? Of course not… I merely wish to commend someone who acted justly.”
At the previous meeting, Gabriel had ultimately chosen silence. He minimized the information about Evangeline Rowanson and erased traces of her actions.
“You’re quite protective of the lady you admire.”
And in the process of diminishing Evangeline’s presence, he filled in the gaps with rather implausible explanations.
From the moment Donau’s corpse was discovered, Evangeline Rowanson became a pitiful lady concerned for the servants engulfed in flames.
Gabriel’s visit to the Rowanson estate was framed as an attempt to console the lady he admired. The letters he sent to report progress became love letters, and Evangeline’s visits to the temple were recast as a kind of date.
Regarding Daisy and the Ainoah orphanage, most statements were omitted. Daisy was presented solely as a whistleblower in Berga’s case, with no connection to the orphanage.
Instead, he aligned his account with Troy, stating that Evangeline had previously volunteered at the orphanage and thus noticed the irregularities. Naturally, he said nothing about the ritual array discovered there.
He had originally intended to avoid mentioning Evangeline’s name altogether, but Raphaela raised objections, noting that Gabriel and Evangeline were too frequently connected.
“Commander. If you keep meeting a noble lady, visiting her, and exchanging letters, what do you think people will assume?”
“Hmm.”
“They’ll think Sir Gabriel is pursuing a suspicious criminal and is determined to chase her to the ends of the earth to uncover the truth.”
Raphaela emphasized that there was only one way to avoid such perceptions.
“Commander, you’re in love. Even the great Captain of the Phalaros Order has fallen in love, so now you’re just a man chasing after a woman.”
Moreover, since they would need Evangeline’s cooperation going forward, this was the best way to avoid public suspicion.
And, somewhat ironically, it worked quite well. Throughout the meeting, mentions of Evangeline were casually brushed aside under the label of “affection.”
“You’re quite presentable for someone your age.”
A priest who usually held little regard for Gabriel even patted his shoulder in encouragement as the meeting ended.
Watching this, Raphaela was astonished, remarking that Gabriel might have a talent for acting. Of course, it didn’t convince everyone—for example, the devout believer standing before him who would not hesitate to kill even a loved one for Lady Rachel.
“Come to think of it, another room has been filled. Since it concerns Miss Rowanson, did the Knight Commander come to see it?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Seeing that Gabriel had no intention of discussing Evangeline further, Marik changed the subject. Although he had not attended the meeting, he seemed to have been informed of Merai’s case by Zabaniya.
“It seems the Knight Commander has matters to discuss with the sinner. We shall take our leave.”
“Carry on.”
Marik stepped forward, finally pressing his foot down on Berga as if crushing him before turning away.
“May the sins committed in the shadows today remain hidden from the sun.”
Leaving behind this unusually worded farewell, Marik ascended the stairs. He assumed Gabriel would interrogate Merai.
Upon returning to the surface, Marik handed over his soiled outer robe, which a nearby priest respectfully received.
“Bishop Zabaniya.”
“Yes, Marik.”
Zabaniya replied promptly. Though they held the same title, the hierarchy between them was clear—like an old fox riding Marik’s influence.
“It seems the Knight Commander has entered his rebellious phase. He’s even keeping secrets from you, whom he once compared to a parent.”
“He is a man in his prime. It would be natural for him to feel embarrassed discussing matters of romance openly.”
Zabaniya had previously embellished his relationship with Gabriel to curry favor with Marik, claiming Gabriel regarded him like a parent and was a loyal subordinate.
Now, seeing Gabriel act independently while he himself stood awkwardly by, he felt as though his own exaggerations had backfired.
Marik overlooked Zabaniya’s failure with benevolence and offered him a chance to redeem himself.
“I’m curious about Miss Rowanson. You said you’ve seen her in person, didn’t you? What was she like?”
