I'm a Villain in My Own Game?

[Brian PoV]

Time had passed quickly — I'd already been on field practicum in the Duchy of Grenaut for over a month now.

The academy students' activities here mostly involved patrol support, unless a bandit case or monster attack came up. This left me fairly bored, and I'd asked Inquisitor Marcus to bring me along on harder missions instead.

He then took me to the Main Temple of the Duchy of Grenaut.

The Inquisitor said there'd be a discussion about heretic movements, led by Bishop Vermind, the Priest holding the highest authority in the Duchy of Grenaut.

After riding for nearly an hour, we finally arrived in Grenaut City and hurried toward the city's Main Temple.

We soon reached the religious complex of Grenaut City — where the Main Temple stood.

Many old buildings stood here, suggesting this area had been built long ago.

This area also served as one of the branches of the Temple of Goddess Diana's authority within the Empire, meaning it housed plenty of Inquisitors and priests from the Holy City of Notredame.

"Inquisitor, why do the Temple's people hate heretics so much?" I asked him. "Isn't that why you were ordered to come here — something related to this heretic group?"

"Listen, Brian, the Temple of Goddess Diana holds enormous influence across this continent," the Inquisitor answered. "They constantly heal people from various diseases, help struggling citizens, drive away demons, and always donate to those in need. That's exactly why they're so deeply respected by everyone on this continent."

That was true. Even in the remote place where I grew up, villagers always called for a Priest whenever trouble struck our village, whether an epidemic, a monster attack, or bandit raids.

The Priests of the Temple of Goddess Diana had become an essential part of life in this nation.

"Their decisions are practically law in this world — even some nations wouldn't dare fall on the Temple authority's bad side," Inquisitor Marcus explained. "That's exactly why the Temple's authority despises heretics who try to weaken their influence across the continent through actions that defy the Temple of Goddess Diana's power."

I see. If the Temple allowed heretic actions to go unchecked, people across the continent might start believing the Temple's authority was weakening, that its decisions weren't absolute after all.

As a result, it would become far harder for the Temple's authority to enforce laws or specific decrees on its followers.

"I think I understand now, Inquisitor."

"Heee~ It's rare for you to understand my explanation after hearing it just once," Inquisitor Marcus teased.

"What do you mean by that, Inquisitor! I'm not that slow to understand things!"

After walking a few more minutes through the religious complex, we finally arrived at the Main Temple, standing at the center of this area.

Plenty of Aques stood guard here. Security here rivaled that of the Main Temple in the imperial capital.

We finally entered the Temple. Inside, countless priests moved about, carrying documents or chatting with one another.

It seemed priests' work wasn't limited to healing people alone.

"The Temple of Goddess Diana has several divisions," the Inquisitor said, addressing my confusion. "You already know about the Temple's military unit called the Aques. The Temple also has an administrative and religious unit called the Cleric."

The Inquisitor explained that the Cleric's duties included regular sermons and record-keeping of the Temple of Goddess Diana's activities.

Beyond that, special priests assigned to healing and assisting the Aques in the field against monsters or demons were called Purifiers. They also frequently performed exorcisms on people possessed by dark magic or demons.

"Marcus, you've finally arrived."

Suddenly, a man who appeared to be in his fifties, wearing priest's robes, approached us.

"Bishop Vermind, how are you?" the Inquisitor greeted respectfully. It seemed he was an acquaintance of Inquisitor Marcus.

"Ah, I'm doing just fine, as always," the Bishop said, smiling broadly. "So, who's this young man beside you?" He turned his attention to me.

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"This is Brian, my new Squire as a knight," the Inquisitor answered.

Last month, after our raid on the monster nest, the Inquisitor had taken me on as his personal Squire.

A Squire was a knight's attendant, helping clean their weapons and armor, feed their horse, and handle other needs. In return, the knight would teach the Squire combat techniques and pass on their knowledge.

"Brian, is it...? You're quite handsome and look brave," the Bishop said, smiling at me. "Nice to meet you, Brian. I hope one day you'll become a great knight, perhaps even a Holy Knight."

Hearing the Bishop's praise and blessing lifted my mood considerably.

"Thank you, Bishop Vermind! I'll live up to your expectations!"

The Bishop simply nodded in response to my words. He then turned his attention back to Inquisitor Marcus.

"Marcus, let's head to the meeting room quickly so we don't keep the others waiting," the Bishop said, walking ahead of us.

"Brian, let's follow behind Bishop Vermind," the Inquisitor told me.

We walked, following the Bishop. Before long, the three of us arrived at a large door guarded by two sentries.

Noticing our arrival, the two guards opened the door.

Entering the room, I saw plenty of Inquisitors and priests already gathered. Inquisitor Marcus and I took seats side by side in the remaining empty chairs.

"Now that Bishop Vermind has arrived, let's begin today's meeting," a priestess said, seated beside the Bishop's podium.

Everyone present turned their attention to the Bishop, who held a sheet of paper.

"Thank you all for gathering here at the Main Temple of the Duchy of Grenaut," the Bishop said, opening his address. "Today we'll discuss the heretic groups, the Devil Cult and The Masquerade, who've recently become active again."

I'd never once encountered a heretic myself. I wondered just how powerful this group was, that it caused the Temple's authority so much trouble.

"We've detected several instances of Devil Cult activity in the northeastern region of the Empire," the Bishop revealed. "We suspect their movements are connected to the demon appearance in the Margraviate of Cataluna."

A month ago, dozens of villagers had vanished without explanation in the region where Ariel had carried out her field practicum.

After investigation, the perpetrators turned out to be a group of Vampires who'd come from another world.

Demons could pass between our world and their own. But only demons of noble rank or lower could enter our world, and only once every few decades.

"After conducting a search operation, our Inquisitor unit killed and captured approximately 37 Devil Cult members roaming the northeastern region," the Bishop said. "For now, there have been no further reports linking this heretic group to the demons they worship."

I'd heard that even the lowest-ranking demons possessed strength equal to a knight. I couldn't even imagine how powerful a noble demon, or the Demon King himself, must be.

A knight was an elite soldier of a nation, having gone through extensive training and possessing combat abilities far superior to ordinary soldiers.

"Second is the matter of the heretic group, The Masquerade."

The Bishop said he'd received a report about a new Cursed Child appearing in a village within the Duchy of Grenaut. But when the Temple's forces dispatched a group of Inquisitors to that village, the child had already vanished.

They'd only managed to detain the father and interrogate him.

"Brothers and sisters, in the past we were unable to control a Cursed Child's power well enough to turn them into a powerful weapon for the Temple," the Bishop said, putting away the paper he'd been reading. "But now, things are different. I've developed my own power to erase the emotions of these cursed children."

Erase emotions? What did emotions have to do with a Cursed Child?

"Inquisitor, I don't understand what the Bishop means," I said to my mentor.

"A Cursed Child can't control their power at all — that's exactly what makes them so unpredictable and dangerous," Inquisitor Marcus answered. "If their emotions become unstable, their magical power can burst out without them even realizing it."

The Inquisitor also mentioned he'd once hunted a Cursed Child. That operation had resulted in dozens of civilian deaths and several fellow Inquisitors killed at that Cursed Child's hands.

"B-but Inquisitor, isn't there any other way to save that Cursed Child? Aren't they just children?" I asked him.

Hearing my words, Inquisitor Marcus's expression turned grim.

"Listen, Brian, evil doesn't discriminate by age, and everyone must answer for what they do," the Inquisitor said firmly. "If those children endanger innocent lives, then as security forces, we must eliminate that threat, whatever it takes."

I could only lower my head, hearing his words.

Would I too have to stain my sword with the blood of innocent children?

The meeting continued until evening. The Inquisitor and I decided to stay overnight at this complex before heading back to our base.

[Raul PoV]

A few days after successfully bringing Runa to the orphanage, it was now time for Puppeteer and me to complete our second mission from Keeper: killing Bishop Vermind, the Priest holding the highest authority in the Duchy of Grenaut.

Tonight, we were positioned within the religious complex where Bishop Vermind was reportedly attending a meeting with Inquisitors and other priests.

"Hey, Puppeteer, is there another reason Keeper wants us to eliminate this Bishop?" I asked him.

Honestly, this event didn't exist in the game at all. That's why I had no idea what urgency there was to kill a Bishop in a place guarded this tightly.

"If I remember correctly, Keeper mentioned this Bishop has the ability to manipulate memories," Puppeteer answered. "According to Keeper's analysis, if he develops this power further, he could even erase a person's emotions entirely."

"Which means, does this Bishop want to control the Cursed Children by erasing their emotions, turning them into living corpses without feelings?" I said, my emotions getting the better of me.

"Exactly. That's why we need to kill him now."

Puppeteer then pulled out five dolls from his pouch and began chanting an incantation.

Before long, the five dolls grew to the size of full-grown adults. Their hands, feet, hair, and entire bodies closely resembled real human bodies.

"Are these dolls actually made from real human bodies?" I asked, wanting to confirm.

In the game, I only knew of one doll he used in combat — the one currently gripped in his right hand.

"Their bodies really do come from actual human corpses, but I've modified them to fight in various conditions," Puppeteer answered.

It seemed he wouldn't use his strongest doll right away this time. If I remembered correctly... the name of his strongest doll, currently held in his hand, was Annabelle.

"Joker, you'll go find the Bishop and kill him," Puppeteer ordered me. "I'll draw the attention of the Inquisitors and security forces in this area with my dolls."

"Understood, I'll find the Bishop and finish this mission quickly."